bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Analyzing Laterally Loaded Piles in Multi-layered Cohesive Soils: a Hybrid Bnwf Approach With Validation and Parametric Study
Authors: Gendy Mahmoud EL 
Published: February 2024

Abstract

Pile foundations frequently encounter lateral loads originating from various hazards. These types of foundations are commonly utilized in structures like bridges, retaining walls, and high-rise buildings. Analyzing laterally loaded piles presents a complex geotechnical problem that entails considering multiple interrelated design factors. It requires accounting for structural bending behavior, soil-structure interaction, soil nonlinearity, and optimizing for cost-effectiveness. In this paper, the commonly used approach beam on nonlinear Winkler foundation is developed. This methodology involves representing the pile using one-dimensional finite elements in the vertical direction, incorporating nonlinear bending stiffness. Additionally, soil deformation is determined using empirically derived P-y curves, which are obtained from full-scale field tests. By combining the pile stiffness with the soil stiffness considering the full interaction between the pile and the surrounding soil, the complete stiffness matrix of the single pile is formed, leading to a reduction in the number of equations that need to be solved. Both Euler and Timoshenko beams are considered, and the analysis is conducted using both finite elements and finite difference methods. The proposed hybrid approach is validated by comparing its results from analyzing laterally loaded piles in multi-layered soil profiles with those obtained from different models in existing literature and available field measurements. The well-known software ELPLA is equipped with the proposed hybrid technique. Furthermore, a parametric study investigates the behavior of laterally loaded pipe piles in soft and stiff clay, culminating in the presentation of dimensionless curves from this study.
Knowledge-Guided Surgery: Augmented Reality based Registration and Projection for Anatomical Tissues and Preoperative Planned Approaches
Authors: Wang Hongpeng , Chen Jianren , Sun Xiaoxue , Liu Teng , Liang Siquan , Li Haitao , Qin Yanding , Han Jianda 
Published: February 2024

Abstract
To address the challenges of providing real-time guidance during surgical procedures and fully utilizing preoperative lesion data information intraoperatively, we propose an augmented reality-based, knowledge-guided method for surgical procedures. Our method involves designing a semantic segmentation algorithm for medical images to achieve accurate lesion tissues segmentation. With the segmentation results, we localize the tissues and organs, plan the surgical approaches based on safety constraints, and generate a virtual knowledge model containing semantic information of the lesion and the preoperative planned approaches through 3D visualization operations. To align the virtual surgical knowledge model with the patient's lesion site in the real surgical environment, we establish a portable high-precision augmented reality display system with external depth cameras. We use joint calibration, point cloud alignment, and wireless communication transmission to improve the augmented reality device's scene perception capability and achieve the precise integration of virtual and real objects in holographic projection. Our proposed method achieves the goal of knowledge-guided surgery process. This paper presents the personalized 3D representation of medical images and demonstrates the precise application of augmented reality technology in surgery, which provides solutions to the problems of surgery planning and navigation.
Garvicin-SHAMU-LG6, A Novel Bacteriocin from Lactococcus garvieae That Exert Broad Antimicrobial Activity Against Drug-Resistant Pathogens
Authors: Weng Shengnan , Leng Guiyun , Gao Ju , Wang Yawu , Yao Jie , Li Xin , Liu Zhou , Zhou Qiang , Tang Wei 
Published: February 2024

Abstract
Background
Accelerating growth and global expansion of antimicrobial resistance has deepened the demand for discovery of novel antimicrobial agents. Bacteriocins have attracted increasing interest because of their high efficiency, low toxicity and being not easy to cause drug resistance. This study aims to investigate a novel broad-spectrum bacteriocin, contributing to the pharmaceutical fields.
Results
From a human urine specimen, we isolated a strain thatproduced a novel broad-spectrum bacteriocin, which was identified as Lactococcus garvieae SHAMU-LG6. The bacteriocin, termed garvicin-SHAMU-LG6. The Oxford cup methoddemonstrated it could inhibit the growth of various clinically pathogenic and multidrug-resistant pathogens (MDRP). Whole genome sequencing analysis found a putative gene cluster, that shared 10% similarity with the most similar known bacteriocin cluster. In addition, the cell-free supernatant (CFS) of L. garvieae SHAMU-LG6 exerts antimicrobial activity against S. aureus by disrupting the integrity of bacterial cells. Furthermore, garvicin-SHAMU-LG6 was preliminary purified from the CFS of L. garvieae SHAMU-LG6. Its crude extraction showed good pH (pH 3 to 11) and heat stability (30℃ to 121℃) and resistance to the digestion of chymotrypsin, trypsin, proteinase K, and bromelain.
Conclusions
All these studies suggested that garvicin-SHAMU-LG6 has the potential to be used as a therapeutic drug against pathogenic bacteria as well as MDRP in the food and pharmaceutical fields.
Swallowing function and influencing factors in hospitalized patients with mental illnesses: A cross-sectional study of 392 patients in Guangzhou, China
Authors: Ye Junrong , Chen Jiao , Wei Yanheng , Huang Xingxiao , Wu Shengwei , Wang Wen , Zhou Tingwei , Pan Yuanxin , Li Zezhi , Xiao Aixiang 
Published: February 2024

Abstract
Objective: This study aims to explore the swallowing function and influencing factors of hospitalized patients with mental illnesses (PMI).
Methods: A total of 392 hospitalized PMI were selected for this study. Their swallowing function was evaluated using the Standardized Swallowing Assessment (SSA). The data collected included sociodemographic characteristics, the Social Support Rating Scale (SSRS), and the Activity of Daily Living Scale (ADL).
Results: Most patients (75.0%) had dementia and 332 (84.7%) were over 60 years old. The significant factors influencing the swallowing function among PMI included age, diagnosis, duration of illness, somatic comorbidities, and admission routes (P < 0.05). After subjecting these factors to linear regression analysis, it was revealed that the swallow function of PMI was strongly correlated with dementia (β = 2.405, 95% CI: 1.761–3.05, P < 0.001), ADL (moderate dependence: β =1.764, 95% CI:0.931–2.597, P < 0.001); severe dependence: β = 2.28, 95% CI:1.412–3.149, P < 0.001), somatic comorbidities (β = 1.126, 95% CI: 0.349–1.903, P = 0.005), SSRS (utilization of social support: β = 0.162, 95% CI: 0.035–0.29, P = 0.012; objective support: β = -0.181, 95% CI: –0.298 to 0.063, P = 0.003).
Conclusion The swallowing function of PMI was associated with dementia, the ability to perform daily activities, somatic comorbidities, and social support. Future studies should focus on the recovery of swallowing function and somatic comorbidities, self-care ability, and multi-level social support for PMI.
Capturing sources of health system legitimacy in fragmented conflict zones under different governance models. A case study of northwest Syria
Authors: Alkhalil Munzer , Turkmani Rim , Gharibah Mazen , Patel Preeti , Mehchy Zaki 
Published: February 2024

Abstract

Introduction Legitimacy and trust are crucial for resilient health systems in fragmented conflict zones. This study evaluates the legitimacy of public health authorities in northwest Syria under different governance models.Methods Using a deductive and inductive mixed-methods approach, the research team developed a framework with 4 indices and 18 indicators to assess the legitimacy of public health authorities that operate under different health governance models – top-down, bottom-up, and hybrid – in the context of the response to the earthquake that hit Syria in February 2023. The study includes surveys, workshops, stakeholder consultations, and an expert panel conducted in northwest Syria and online.Results The findings indicate that bottom-up health governance model is perceived as the most legitimate, followed by the mixed model, while top-down model is perceived as the least legitimate. This preference is measured across all legitimacy source indices, including legality, justification, consent and performance and across the overall Health Sector Legitimacy Index (HSLI). However, the hybrid governance approach showed limited superiority at the sub-source level regarding long-term health system response.Conclusion This study highlights the importance of considering the legitimacy of the health system in fragmented conflict zones. It helps explaining the effectiveness of the bottom-up approach and community-based governance in enhancing trust, cooperative behaviour, health interventions and achieving sustainability. Additionally, the study highlighted the role of legitimate public authorities in practising civic virtue and promoting social justice, thus contributing to peace-building efforts. These insights are crucial for policymakers and development donors to strengthen health systems in challenging contexts.
Do we invest as we are? The role of early non-cognitive skills on household savings in adulthood
Authors: Martínez-Gabaldón Eduardo 
Published: February 2024

Abstract

Household face a variety of financial products when making decisions about investing their money, from simple bank accounts to financial products more sophisticated like stocks, funds, or bonds. Getting a greater understanding of the factors influencing the financial household decisions could enhance their financial well-being. The aim of this paper is to examine the link between early non-cognitive skills and household saving decisions in adulthood. Our results suggest that certain early non-cognitive skills are predictors of savings decisions in later life. Specifically, higher level of conscientiousness and neuroticism increases the probability of investing in any financial product, while high level of neuroticism, extraversion, and agreeableness increase the probability of holding financial products with risk. Moreover, the effect of non-cognitive skills was different across monthly income decile. For conscientiousness and neuroticism, a negative gradient effect was found, while this gradient effect was positive for agreeableness and extraversion These findings may be relevant from a policy perspective since boosting non-cognitive skills in childhood through educational policies could improve financial well-being in adulthood.
JEL classification: D14 D91 G11
Dynamics, diversity, and roles of bacterial transmission modes during the first asexual life stages of the freshwater sponge Spongilla lacustris
Authors: Paix Benoit , Valk Elodie van der , de Voogd Nicole J. 
Published: February 2024

Abstract

Background: Sponges-associated bacteria play important roles in the physiology of their host, whose recruitment processes are crucial to maintain symbiotic associations. However, the acquisition of bacterial communities within freshwater sponges is still unexplored. Spongilla lacustris is a model sponge widely distributed in European rivers and lakes, producing dormant cysts (named gemmules) for their asexual reproduction, before winter. Through an in vitroexperiment, this study aims to describe the dynamics of bacterial communities and their transmission modes following the hatching of these gemmules.
Results: An overall change of bacterial β-diversity was observed through the ontology of the new juvenile sponges. These temporal differences were potentially linked first to the osculum acquisition and the development of a canal system, and then, the increasing colonization of the Chlorella-like photosymbionts. Gemmules hatching with a sterilized surface were found to have a more dispersed and less diverse microbiome, revealing the importance of gemmule epibacteria for the whole holobiont stability. These epibacteria were suggested to be vertically transmitted from the maternal tissues to the gemmule surface. Vertical transmission through the incorporation of bacterial communities inside of the gemmule, was also found as a dominant transmission mode, especially with the nitrogen fixers Terasakiellaceae. Finally, we showed that almost no ASVs were shared between the free-living community and the juveniles, suggesting that horizontal recruitment is unlikely to happen during the first stages of development. However, the free-living bacteria filtered are probably used as a source of nutrients, allowing an enrichment of copiotrophic bacteria already present within its microbiome.
Conclusions: This study brings new insight for a better understanding of the microbiome acquisition during the first stages of freshwater sponge development. We showed the importance of epibacterial communities on gemmules for the whole holobiont stability, and demonstrated the near absence of recruitment of free-living bacteria during the first stages.
Screening in rice (Oryza sativa L.) for multiple biotic stress resistance under sodic soil of North Eastern plain zone of India
Authors: SRIVAS SHIV PRAKASH 
Published: February 2024

Abstract
Rice is one of the most important cereal crops in developing countries and the staple food of about 65% of the world’s population. The dependence of such a large population to meet their daily dietary requirements on this tropical crop causes different insect-pests of rice that significantly reduce crop yield, and quality as well as affect marketability in different parts of the world. Traditionally, several pesticides have been utilized to prevent the insect-pest, but this approach has various drawbacks, including the development of pesticide resistance, and negative effects on the environment and human health. Therefore, it was essential to screen the bacterial leaf blight (BLB), blast, brown spot, narrow brown leaf spot (NBLS), sheath rot, yellow stem borer (YSB) and leaf folder resistant rice genotypes under sodic soil conditions at Main Experimental Station of ANDUAT, Ayodhya, (U.P.), during 2016 to 2018. The present investigation reveals that the genotype Sushk Samrat showed high resistance for brown spot, NBLS, sheath rot, YSB, and leaf folder as well as resistance for Blast followed by CSR 10 showed high resistance for BLB, sheath rot, YSB and resistance for brown spot & Sarjoo 52 showed highly resistant for brown spot, sheath rot, leaf folder and resistant BLB, NBLS, YSB, respectively. The majority of cross combinations of the highly resistant parents showed high resistance and resistance in F1s, the best heterotic combination is Narendra Usar Dhan 2 x Narendra Usar Dhan 3 showed highly resistant for blast, brown spot, sheath rot, YSB, and resistance for BLB, NBLS, leaf folder; IR-85897x Narendra Usar Dhan 3 showed highly resistant for NBLS, sheath rot, YSB, and resistant for BLB, blast, leaf folder; Sushk Samrat x Narendra Usar Dhan 3 showed highly resistant for brown spot, YSB, and resistant for BLB, blast, NBLS, sheath rot, leaf folder; Sarjoo 52 x Narendra Usar Dhan 3 showed highly resistant for sheath rot, YSM, and resistant for BLB, blast, brown spot, NBLS and leaf folder. It reflects that Sushk Samrat and Sarjoo 52 have strong genetic backgrounds responsible for resisting these elite genetic stocks against various diseases prevalent in this northeast plainagro-climatic zone. Hence, these varieties can be utilized as donors in hybridization programmes to pyramid various biotic and abiotic stresses in widely adopted cultivars to increase productivity in sodic soil areas.
Floral development insights into two species of Erythrina (Fabaceae: Papilionoideae: Phaseoleae) pollinated by hummingbirds and passerines
Authors: de Souza Lukas Gabriel Macedo Pessanha , Falcão Marcus José de Azevedo , Basso-Alves João Paulo , Mansano Vidal de Freitas 
Published: February 2024

Abstract

Erythrina is a Pantropical bird-pollinated genus of Fabaceae. Thus, its flowers are usually large, showy, red, or yellowish, which offer nectar as a floral resource. There are two main interaction systems with birds: in one, the inflorescences are erect, and the flowers are horizontal, offering no landing platform; in the other, the inflorescences are horizontal, and the flowers parts are more exposed. Despite their structural variation, little is known about how species of the same genus diverge ontogenetically to form functionally different flowers. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate floral development in two species according to their pollination system. Erythrina speciosa is pollinated by hummingbirds, and E. poeppigiana is pollinated by passerines. Flowers and buds were collected and fixed for analysis using scanning electron microscopy and light microscopy. Some characteristics are common to both species: the formation of a pseudoracemose inflorescence, the unidirectional emergence of floral organs, and the formation of a short staminal tube involving nine of the ten stamens (androecium diadelphous). Other characteristics, notably those related to the late stages of floral development, gradually diverged. Among them are inflorescence formation pattern; the formation of reduced and free keel petals in E. speciosa, while in E. poeppigiana they are longer and merge; and the participation of the standard in the floral display. Such characteristics may not be phylogenetically related and reveal the potential ontogenetic pathways of functional convergence that flowers have experienced throughout evolution in Erythrina.
Properties of sandwich boards with a core made of bio-composite particleboard containing wood particles and walnut shells
Authors: Dukarska Dorota , Grześkowiak Wojciech , Kawalerczyk Jakub , Klucewicz Maciej , Florczak Maciej , Góral Błażej 
Published: February 2024

Abstract

The aim of the research was to investigate the possibility of producing bio-composite particleboard with a density reduced to 500–550 kg/m3, containing 25% and 50% of walnut shells. In addition, the study also concerned the possibility of using these materials in sandwich systems. Based on the results, it was found that partial replacement of wood particles with ground shells leads to a significant reduction in the strength of the boards bonded with urea-formaldehyde (UF) resin. However, the implementation of a hybrid gluing method consisting of gluing wood particles with UF resin and walnut shells with 4,4′-methylenediphenyl isocyanate (pMDI) causes a significant improvement in the strength of the boards, especially for the variant with the highest shells content. Despite this achievement, the manufactured materials still do not meet the requirements for furniture boards. The next step of the research has shown that these boards can perform well as a core layer in the sandwich boards covered with high-strength HDF boards. Moreover, it was found that increasing the share of walnut shells positively affects the dimensional stability of boards (thickness swelling and water absorption). However, substitution of wood with shells accelerates the ignition and flameout times of the boards. It increases the heat release without significantly affecting the percentage loss of the boards’ mass during exposure to fire.
A novel two-stage reliability analysis method combining improved cross-entropy adaptive sampling and relevant vector machine
Authors: Fan Xin , Yang Xufeng , Liu Yongshou 
Published: February 2024

Abstract

The computational burden becomes unbearable when reliability analysis involves time-consuming finite element analysis, especially for rare events. Therefore, reducing the number of performance function calls is the only way to improve computing efficiency. This paper proposes a novel reliability analysis method that combines relevant vector machine (RVM) and improved cross-entropy adaptive sampling (iCE). In this method, RVM is employed to approximate the limit state surface and iCE is performed based on the constructed RVM. To guarantee the precision of RVM, the first level samples and the last level samples of iCE are used as candidate samples and the last level samples are regenerated along with the RVM updates. To prevent unnecessary updates of RVM, the proposed method considers the positions of the samples in the current design of experiment. In addition, based on the statistical properties of RVM and iCE, an error-based stopping criterion is proposed. The accuracy and efficiency of the proposed method were validated through four benchmark examples. Finally, the proposed method is applied to engineering problems which are working in extreme environment.
De novo proteins ESF1 and MIPEP promote luminal breast cancer proliferation and predict the patient’s prognosis
Authors: Yu Qing , Qu Chunhua , Liang Jinliang , Chen Peiqi , Zhang Kaiying , Zhang Yanji , Zhang Yuening , Li Zherui , Yang Zhaoshou , Sun Hongyan , Yang Anli 
Published: February 2024

Abstract

Background
Luminal breast cancer accounts for two-thirds of all breast cancers, and its early and late recurrences still threaten patients' long-term survival and quality of life. Finding candidate tumor antigens and potential therapeutic targets is critical to address this unmet need.
Method
Isobaric tags for relative and absolute quantitation (iTRAQ) proteomic analysis was employed to identify the differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) between luminal breast cancer and corresponding adjacent normal tissue. Candidate DEPs were screened by bioinformatic analyses, and their expression was confirmed by immunohistochemistry (IHC) and western blot. A series of in vitro experiments, including wound healing assay, colony formation, and cell cycle assay, were performed to reveal the functions of selected DEPs. Additionally, their clinical significances were further analyzed.
Result
A total of 369 DEPs (fold change ≥ 2.0 or ≤ 0.66, P < 0.05) were discovered. Compared with normal tissue, 358 proteins were up-regulated and 11 proteins were down-regulated in lumina breast cancer. GO and KEGG enrichment analysis showed that DEPs were closely associated with apoptotic and metabolic pathways. STRING analysis found ESF1 and MIPEP were the de novo hub genes in breast cancer, whose increased expressions were verified by the IHC and western blot. Knocking down ESF1 and MIPEP inhibited colony formation and increased cell apoptosis. Besides, knocking down ESF1 inhibited wound healing but not MIPEP. In addition, ESF1 and MIPEP expression negatively correlated with patient prognosis and helped predict their immunotherapy efficacy.
Conclusion
The upregulation of ESF1 and MIPEP promoted luminal breast cancer proliferation, which might provide novel targets for the development of new therapies.
Superficial siderosis of the central nervous system mimicking degenerative cerebellar ataxia
Authors: Li Quan-Fu , Zhang Qing , Zhang Juan , Qi Guan-shu 
Published: February 2024

Abstract

Background
Superficial siderosis of the central nervous system (SSCNS) is a rare neurological disorder characterized by hemosiderin deposits on the surface of the brain, spinal cord, and cranial nerves. SSCNS is easily misdiagnosed and the etiology is unknown in some patients.
Case presentation:
We reported a 64-year-old Chinese male patient of SSCNS, who was diagnosed as neurodegenerative cerebellar ataxia for ten years. Susceptibility-weighted imaging (SWI) showed extensive hemosiderin deposits on brain surfaces. Spinal magnetic resonance hydrography revealed a dural defect and cerebrospinal fluid leak at the third thoracic vertebrae level. He received iron chelator (deferoxamine mesylate) and the neurological symptoms improved.
Conclusions
SSCNS is easily misdiagnosed at the early disease stage and SWI is sensitive to detect superficial siderosis. Iron chelator is a worthwhile drug treatment option for SSCNS.