bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Causal role of immune traits and inflammatory proteins in autoimmune thyroid disease: Mendelian randomization study
Authors: Zhang Hanfei , Li Yuhao , Xie Hangyu , Li Lin 
Published: March 2024

Abstract
Purpose
Despite the large-scale discovery of new subpopulations of immune cells and inflammatory proteins, along with their functions in the pathogenesis of autoimmune thyroid disease (AITD), the etiology of AITD remains a mystery in many aspects. We aimed to investigate the causal relationships between the immune traits, inflammatory proteins and AITD.
Methods
We performed bidirectional and multivariable Mendelian randomization (MR) study using summary statistics from the genome-wide association studies of 731 immune traits (N = 3,757), 91 inflammatory proteins (N = 14,824), and AITD obtained from the FinnGen consortium R9 release data (N = 399,034). Next, we conducted colocalization analysis to enhance the association and performed linkage disequilibrium score regression (LDSC) to estimate genetic correlation. Finally, a two-step MR analysis was employed to identify potential mediating proteins.
Results
Sixteen immune traits and five inflammatory proteins are suggestively associated with AITD causally. In multivariable MR analysis, after incorporating smoking status and 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels, some immune traits showed non-significant effects on AITD, albeit with minimal changes in effect sizes. The MR-BMA analysis showed that the five inflammatory proteins played an equal role. Our findings indicate a suggestive genetic correlation between IL-1 alpha and AITD. The mediation MR analysis showed that STAMBP and IL-10 mediated the causal effects of the absolute count of CD33 + HLA-DR + CD14- cells and AITD.
Conclusion
The current MR study provides evidence supporting the causal relationships between several specific immune traits and AITD and potential mediating inflammatory proteins.
Artificial Bee Colony Optimization Algorithm with New Full Dimension Updating Strategy and Its Application
Authors: LI Yuangang , GAO Xinrui , SONG Yingjie , DENG Wu 
Published: March 2024

Abstract
For the low accuracy and slow convergence of artificial bee colony (ABC) algorithm in solving complex optimization problems, a new full dimensional updating ABC/best/1 evolutionary strategy is designed to propose an improved ABC based on the new full dimensional updating strategy(FNABC) in this paper. Because of the low efficiency of one-dimensional search, the full dimensional update search strategy and ABC/best /1 evolutionary strategy are used to design a new full dimensional update ABC/best/1 evolutionary strategy, which expands the search space, improves the mining ability and search efficiency. And a new evolutionary phase of full dimensional update strategy is designed to balance the global search ability and mining ability. Finally, the FNABC is compared with eight state-of-the-art ABC variants in solving 12 functions. The experiment results indicate that the FNABC has better search ability. Additionally, the FNABC is applied to solve a real-world train operation adjustment problem. The results show that it can obtain the ideal results of the train operation adjustment problem.
Separation and identification of berberine in plant extracts using LC-MS for antibacterial activity against E. coli determination and artificial intelligence prediction for other activities
Authors: Alam Syed Dilshad , Ali Imran , Beg Mirza Adil , Kanamarlapudi Viswanath , Deb Prashant , Bagadi Muralidhararao , Locatelli Marcello , ALOthman Zeid A. 
Published: March 2024

Abstract
A fast LC-MS method has been developed for the identification of berberine in plant extracts. The retention times for the standard berberine and berberine extracted from Berberis vulgaris, Berberis aquifolium, and Hydrastis canadensis were 1.80, 1.82, 1.79 and 1.79, respectively, using mobile phase of a mixture of ammonium acetate buffer and acetonitrile with gradient mode. The column used Waters Acquity BEH C18 (50 x 2.1 mm, 1.7 µm). The purity of the standard berberine was recorded as 98.86% with desired mass of 336 while these values were 61.82, 69.02 and 49.98% for berberine extracted from Berberis vulgaris, Berberis aquifolium and Hydrastis canadensis. In addition, an artificial intelligence technique was also applied to predict the possible activity of berberine against 27 known diseases. The results indicated berberine as the most active against Dengue larvicide, E. coli, Alzheimer and PTR L Major with 1.0 as the maximum probability. The outcomes reported herein are very important to determine the purity of the plants that extracted berberine in the future. The antibacterial activity of berberine was carried by MTT assay. The IC50 of berberine was calculated 136.3 µM against E. coli, while IC50 of a standard kanamycin taken as positive drug control calculated 10.87 µM. Also, the applied artificial intelligence may be extended to predict the biological activity of berberine or more diseases.
Development of feedforward and feedback connections between the dorsal lateral geniculate nucleus and the thalamic reticular nucleus
Authors: Campbell Peter W , Govindaiah Gubbi , Guido William 
Published: March 2024

Abstract

The thalamic reticular nucleus (TRN) serves as an important node between the thalamus and neocortex, regulating thalamocortical rhythms and sensory processing in a state dependent manner. Disruptions in TRN circuitry also figures prominently in several neurodevelopmental disorders including epilepsy, autism, and attentional defects. An understanding of how and when connections between TRN and 1st order thalamic nuclei, such as the dorsal lateral geniculate nucleus (dLGN), develop is lacking. We used the mouse visual thalamus as a model system to study the organization, pattern of innervation and functional responses between TRN and the dLGN. Genetically modified mouse lines were used to visualize and target the feedforward and feedback components of these intra-thalamic circuits and to understand how peripheral input from the retina impacts their development.
Retrograde tracing of thalamocortical (TC) afferents through TRN revealed that the modality-specific organization seen in the adult, is present at perinatal ages and seems impervious to the loss of peripheral input. To examine the formation and functional maturation of intrathalamic circuits between the visual sector of TRN and dLGN, we examined when projections from each nuclei arrive, and used an acute thalamic slice preparation along with optogenetic stimulation to assess the maturation of functional synaptic responses. Although thalamocortical projections passed through TRN at birth, feedforward axon collaterals determined by vGluT2 labeling, emerged during the second postnatal week, increasing in density through the third week. Optogenetic stimulation of TC axon collaterals in TRN showed infrequent, weak excitatory responses near the end of week 1. During weeks 2-4, responses became more prevalent, grew larger in amplitude and exhibited synaptic depression during repetitive stimulation. Feedback projections from visual TRN to dLGN began to innervate dLGN as early as postnatal day 2 with weak inhibitory responses emerging during week 1. During week 2-4, inhibitory responses continued to grow larger, showing synaptic depression during repetitive stimulation. During this time TRN inhibition started to suppress TC spiking, having its greatest impact by week 4-6. Using a mutant mouse that lacks retinofugal projections revealed that the absence of retinal signaling led to an acceleration of TRN innervation of dLGN but had little impact on the development of feedforward projections from dLGN to TRN. Together, these experiments reveal how and when intrathalamic connections emerge during early postnatal ages and provide foundational knowledge to understand the development of thalamocortical network dynamics as well as neurodevelopmental diseases that involve TRN circuitry.
Obstructed Defecation Syndrome: analysis of the efficacy and mid-term quality of life of an innovative robotic approach
Authors: Cervigni Mauro , Fuschi Andrea , Morciano Andrea , Campanella Lorenzo , Carbone Antonio , Schiavi Michele Carlo 
Published: March 2024

Abstract

Aim The aim of our study is to prove how the combination of the Rectal wall Plication (RP) and the association with robotic Ventral Mesh Rectopexy (VMR) would result in a safe and effective procedure for patients with Obstructed Defecation Syndrome (ODS) and would provide better outcomes in terms of bowel function and Quality of Life.
Methods From January 2018 to December 2021, 78 women affected by ODS and posterior compartment prolapse were enrolled for the study. The minimum follow-up for these patients were 18 months. 30 patients underwent VMR and 33 VMR plus RP. The primary endpoint was to evaluate the effectiveness and the safety of VMR and VMR + RP at median follow-up.The secondary endpoint was to evaluate the impact on quality of life and sexual function of these two surgical procedures.
Results In symptomatic evaluation and analysis of post-operative complications ,at the median follow-up, 6 patients (20%) in VMR group vs 1 patient (3%) in VMR+RP group still had constipation (p=0.023). In the VMR+RP group, the number of sexually active patients after surgery and the PISQ-12 results showed an improvement in the quality of sexual life after at least 18 months of follow up. Finally, at the median follow-up the ODS score values were significantly reduced in both groups
Conclusion Although long-term f-u and a larger group of pats. is required, the findings we have acquired are encouraging and allowed us to say that in pats with ODS and posterior compartment prolapse the combination of rectal wall plication and ventral mesh rectopexy may improve results in terms of bowel function and quality of life.
Mechanism study of EIF4A3-induced circ_0022382 regulation of breast cancer cell biology
Authors: Liu Wei , Zhang Jun , Ye Yu , Zhang Jiawen , Zhu Jianqin , Yu Qiwen , Li Tao , Chen Huabiao , Sun Xiaochun 
Published: March 2024

Abstract
Breast cancer is one of the most common cancers in women and poses a serious threat to women's health. In this paper, we examined the role of circular (circ)RNA in breast cancer, and screened out circ_0022382 for high expression in breast cancer by differential analysis of breast cancer and adjacent tissues in the GEO database. The high expression of circ_0022382 in breast cancer cell lines MDA-MB-231, MCF-7 as well as breast cancer tissues was confirmed by qRT-PCR. The proliferation, migration and apoptosis of MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7 breast cancer cells were significantly increased by transfection of siRNA targeting circ_0022382, and dual luciferase reporter assays showed that circ_0022382 bound to microRNA (miR) let-7a-5p. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) signaling pathway enrichment analysis predicted that the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)-AKT signaling pathways were the main pathways regulated by let-7a-5p. The addition of let-7a-5p inhibitor reduced the proliferation and migration of breast cancer cells caused by circ_0022382 knockdown by rescuing the expression of p-AKT. Let-7a-5p also directly regulates the expression of cystine transporter solute carrier family 7 member 11 (SLC7A11) proteins, and through examination of glucose in cell supernatants and the addition of cystine inhibitors (dithiothreitol), we found that this process was closely related to disulfidptosis. In addition, eukaryotic translation initiation factor 4A3 (EIF4A3) promoted increased expression of circ_0022382 in breast cancer cells. In conclusion, EIF4A3-induced circ_0022382 regulates the expression of SLC7A11 proteins and related proteins in the PI3K-AKT signaling pathway by sponging let-7a-5p, which affects glucose metabolism and induces the death of breast cancer cells. Therefore, circ_0022382 may be useful as a marker or therapeutic agent in breast cancer treatment.
Beyond the Virus: QTc Interval Changes in COVID-19 Survivors
Authors: Almuttairi Zinah Ahmed 
Published: March 2024

Abstract
Background: The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) uses angiotensin-converting enzyme-2 receptors on host cells to enter the cells. These receptors are expressed on heart muscle tissue and the tissues of other major organs, which supports the primary accepted theory for the direct cardiac cell injury of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and the associated cardiorespiratory manifestations. The SARS-CoV-2 infection leads to unstable myocardial cell membranes due to hypoxia, myocarditis, myocardial ischemia, and abnormal host immune response. This is the main reason behind arrhythmia and electrocardiogram (ECG) changes during COVID-19. However, the specific effect on QTc after Covid 19 infection has not been studied well. Therefore, this study aimed to examine the association between post COVID-19 infection and QTc changes.Objectives: Examine the association between post COVID-19 infection and QTc changes.Materials and Methods: This is a case control study conducted on middle age of either sex involves 50 adult patients with post-COVID-19 infections (eight were defaulted from the study because they were not cooperative), 23 females and 19 males with mean age (36.98 ± 12.2 years) who were non-vaccinated against Covid 19 after one month to two years of an acute episode of COVID-19 (confirmed by positive real-time reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR)) test according to the World Health Organization (WHO) selected randomly from those attending to the adult Holter and Echocardiography lab in Al-Zahraa Hospital/ Al-Hussein Medical City/ Karbala Province after being referred by Internist during the period from the 12th of October 2022 to the end of January 2024 and divided in to three groups : non hospitalize, hospitalize and admitted to intensive care while control group consisted of 40 healthy persons 23 females and 17 males with mean age (33.28 ± 9.58 years), whom referred by Internist for ECG with no Hx of the previous infection of covid 19. All of them have electrocardiographic evaluation by taking ECG.Conclusion That post COVID-19 patients had prolonged QT and QTc intervals increase the risk for cardiac arrhythmias.
COVID-19’s Hidden Shield: How Post-Infection Hearts Safeguard Against Atrial Contractions
Authors: Almuttairi Zinah Ahmed 
Published: March 2024

Abstract
Background: Ectopic atrial contractions, also known as premature atrial contractions (PACs), are abnormal heart rhythms originating from the atria (the upper chambers of the heart). These contractions occur earlier than expected during the cardiac cycle and can disrupt the normal rhythm. While they are generally benign, their presence can sometimes cause symptoms such as palpitations. The exact mechanisms linking COVID-19 and EACs are not fully understood, and some evidence suggests that COVID-19 infection can increase the risk of developing EACs or other types of arrhythmias.Objectives: Effects of the EAC on post-COVID-19 patientsMaterials and Methods: This is a case‒control study of middle-aged individuals of either sex involving 50 adult patients with post-COVID-19 infection (eight were excluded from the study because they were not cooperative), 23 females and 19 males with a mean age of 36.98 ± 12.2 years who were not vaccinated against COVID-19 after one month to two years of an acute episode of COVID-19 (confirmed by positive real-time reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT‒PCR)) according to the World Health Organization (WHO) selected randomly from those attending to the adult Holter and Echocardiography Laboratory in Al-Zahraa Hospital/Al-Hussein Medical City/Karbala Province after being referred by an internist during the period from the 12th of October 2022 to the end of January 2024 and divided into three groups: nonhospitalize, hospitalize and admitted to intensive care. The control group consisted of 40 healthy persons, 23 females and 17 males with a mean age of 33.28 ± 9.58 years, who were referred by an internist for ECG and echocardiography with no Hx of the previous infection of COVID-19. All of them underwent electrocardiographic evaluation via ECG and Holter ECG for 24 hours.Conclusion: Post-COVID-19 patients had a lower risk of EAC than control patients, indicating that it may have a protective effect on EAC and reduce the risk of cardiac arrhythmias.
Meteorological Insights: Machine Learning in Rainfall Forecasting
Authors: Jain Kshitij , Pant Mille 
Published: March 2024

Abstract
Life would be much easier if we could control the weather. Until then, we will have to settle for trying to predict weather but weather prediction is very unpredictable as even a small change in the surface and atmospheric properties can heavily impact the weather. General weather forecasts, as we all know, are not all that accurate as they attempt to predict the weather conditions of large areas for a large period of time as the tools or mediums used to predict these weather conditions are not accurate enough. To solve the less accurate weather prediction problem, this research work focuses on preparing a algorithm for precipitation forecasting with the parameters such as Temperature, Wind Speed, Wind Direction, Sea level, and Humidity which are the factors that impact the outcome at the particular spot of interest. Here hyper-accurate forecasts including hour-by-hour precipitation prediction with customizable information using supervised machine learning algorithms, Long Short Term Memory (LSTM), Gated Recurrent Units (GRU), and Linear Regression (LR) and feeding historical weather data from the past 40 years have been utilized. The performance of these algorithms is assessed by comparing their results with each other to find the best algorithm suited for this. The test results show that the Recurrent Neural Network (RNN) algorithms excel the linear regression algorithm in accuracy and indicate that RNN algorithms can be an effective way for weather forecasting.
Recycling Agriculture Waste for Liquid Deposition 3D Printing
Authors: Karsoun Ahmed , Tolba Meryem , Aziz Ahmed Abd El , Hassanin Abdallah M. , Wahby Ahmed , Klingner Anke , Tolba Khaled 
Published: March 2024

Abstract

3D printing is a promising technology for recycling agricultural waste by Liquid Deposition Modeling (LDM). In this paper, we propose a novel method for recycling agricultural waste to be used in Liquid Deposition 3D printing. The method involves converting agricultural waste into suitable powder by grinding and sieving procedures. Then, a paste is prepared based on the powder from agricultural waste, which is then subjected to mechanical and physical testing to study its properties. A 3D printing setup is used to print samples for applying mechanical testing to study the properties of 3D printed agricultural waste. The results of the mechanical and physical testing showed that the agricultural waste paste has promising properties for 3D printing. The paste is strong and durable, and it can be used to print a variety of different products. The results of this research paper demonstrate the potential of 3D printing to recycle agricultural waste and create new products.
In-situ zircon and cassiterite LA-ICP-MS geochronology and implications for granite-hosted Sn deposit models and exploration: Insights from the Cameroon Line
Authors: Betsi Thierry Bineli , Mandeng Eugene Pascal Binam , Bondje Louise Ngo Bidjeck , Beranoaguirre Aratz , Njee Eric Joseph , Mvondo Hubert , Kolb Jochen 
Published: March 2024

Abstract
Tin mineralization of significant economic importance occurs across the continental portion of the Cameroon Line (CL). Tin deposits therein occur as both primary and secondary (residual and alluvial) ore. Though the temporal and, by inference, the genetic link between Sn mineralization and the host granite had long been modeled and widely accepted worldwide, in the CL, however, the age of the granite hosting cassiterite is poorly constrained, preventing a robust assessment of the temporal and genetic relationship between the Sn mineralization and its host rock. Here, we present in-situ zircon and cassiterite laser ablation inductively coupled mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS) U-Pb data in order not only to constrain the age of the granitic rock hosting the primary Sn ore but also to bracket the time frame of Sn mineralization, with respect to the magmatic-hydrothermal evolution of the parental magma of the host granite. Zircon from two greisen-altered, cassiterite-bearing granite samples yield overlapping and concordant ages of 64.21 ± 0.59 Ma and 65.46 ± 0.95 Ma, respectively, which are also overlapping with regional granite magmatism in the CL (ca. 65–30 Ma). On the other hand, cassiterite, which is spatially associated with the Paleocene zircon, yields Lower Eocene ages of 54.99 ± 0.35 Ma and 56.08 ± 0.46 Ma. The ca. 10 Myr time gap between zircon and cassiterite suggests that the granite is a passive host not genetically related to the Sn mineralization, which may be linked to a younger, concealed intrusion of ca. 55 Ma. This finding contrasts with the most widely accepted petrogenetic model of tin granite, according to which Sn mineralization and the host granite are cogenetic.
Comparative evaluation of the dynamics of terrestrial water storage and drought incidences using multiple data sources: Tana sub-basin, Ethiopia
Authors: Berhanu Kibru Gedam , Lohani Tarun Kumar , Hatiye Samuel Dagalo 
Published: March 2024

Abstract

Evaluating water storage changes and addressing drought challenges in areas like the Tana sub-basin in Ethiopia is difficult due to limited data availability. The aim of this study was to evaluate the dynamics of terrestrial water anomaly and drought incidences by employing multiple data source. The Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE) and Global Land Data Assimilation System (GLDAS) datasets were used to assess the long-term water storage dynamics and drought incidences using the weighted water storage deficit index (WWSDI). WWSDI was used to identify drought periods, which ranged from severe to extreme drought. Despite the overall increase in average annual total water storage anomaly (TWSA) by 0.43 cm/year and a net gain of 50.68 cm equivalent water height from 2003 to 2022, there were instances of terrestrial water storage deficits, particularly in 2005, 2006, and 2009, during historical drought periods. The TWSA exhibited a strong correlation with Lake Tana water storage and precipitation anomalies after adjusting lag times. WWSDI displayed a high correlation with WSDI but a weak correlation with SPI and SPEI. Therefore, utilization of GRACE and GLDAS data is promising for evaluating terrestrial water storage and monitoring drought in data-deficient regions like the Tana sub-basin in Ethiopia.
Kongsi’s en kookboeken in het kamp. Een genderperspectief op de overlevingsstrategieën van Nederlandse vrouwen in de Japanse interneringskampen
Authors: Kerkhof Kirsten 
Published: March 2024

In de dagboeken en memoires van Nederlandse vrouwen uit de Japanse interneringskampenblijken talrijke voorbeelden te zijn opgeschreven van genderspecifieke coping- enoverlevingsmechanismen. In de Tweede Wereldoorlog werden traditionele rolpatronen nietalleen doorbroken, er was ook een acceptatie en aanvaarding van het uiten en beoefenenvan normatieve vrouwelijkheid.