bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The Investigation of the Mediator Effect of C-peptide in the Relationship Between PC/HDL and MAFLD-a cross-sectional study in adult patients with type 2 diabetes
Authors: Xing Yuling , Chen Jinhu , Liu Jing , Hou Xiaoyu , Gao Yu , Ma Huijuan 
Published: February 2024

Abstract
Background:
This study aimed to examine the ratio of platelet counts to high-density lipoprotein‐cholesterol ratio (PC/HDL) and its association with metabolic-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) among type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients. To figure out the role played by the area under the C-peptide curve (AUCCP) in the influence of PC/HDL on MAFLD.
Methods:
A total of 2687 patients with type 2 diabetes who were hospitalized in the Department of Endocrinology at Hebei General Hospital between January 2021 and January 2022 were enrolled.Demographic data was collected and all patients went through biochemical indicators and other routine blood examinations.Multivariate logistic regression model was performed to examine the association between PC/HDL, AUCCP and MAFLD with adjustments for confounders.Mediation effects were used to explore whether AUCCP mediated the association between PC/HDL and MAFLD.
Results:
The prevalence of MAFLD was 38.0% (n = 2687).The MAFLD group had a higher level of PC/HDL than the non-MAFLD group.After adjusting for confounding factors, multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that PC/HDL was a risk factor for MAFLD.Mediational analysis showed that effect of PC/HDL on MAFLD was mediated by AUCCP.Subgroup analysis and interaction analysis suggested that the positive correlation between PC/HDL and the prevalence of MAFLD was more significant in women with T2DM, while the interaction was not significant in other subgroups.
Conclusion:
PC/HDL was positively associated with MAFLD incidence, and AUCCP partly mediated the association in T2DM patients. Moreover, the correlation between PC/HDL and MAFLD was more significant in women.
Optimal Active State-of-Charge Balancing with Temperature Control for Lithium-Ion Battery Cells Considering the Aging Effect
Authors: Van Chi Nguyen , Quang Duy Ta 
Published: February 2024

Abstract
This article presents an active State-of-Charge (SoC) balancing control method that considers the aging effect on the Lithium-Ion battery cells in a series connection implemented by a bidirectional CuK converter circuit. The purpose of balancing the SoC process for cells in the series ensures that, in all operating conditions, the current and temperature of the cells do not exceed the technical limits corresponding to the degree of aging of the cells. The nonlinear optimal control problem is established based on constraints on the balancing current, temperature, and the effect of cell aging in the dynamic model of the SoC balancing system. The sequential quadratic programming (SQP) method is used to solve the optimization problem at sampling time to determine the optimal duty cycle of the pulse width modulation (PWM) pulse to be applied to the balancing circuits. The SoC balancing results for cells are compared between the case where all cells in the series are new and the case where cells in the series have different levels of aging, showing differences in the control of balancing current and cell temperature in the SoC balancing process. The application of the optimal active SoC balancing method for cells in the series proposed in this article allows the cells in the series to operate safely, extend the life of the battery cells, reduce costs for energy storage applications aimed at popularizing the use of renewable energy sources and promoting the development of the electric vehicle industry, accelerating the implementation of global carbon reduction and environmental protection.
Berndt-Type Integrals of Order Three and Series Associated with Jacobi Elliptic Functions
Authors: Rui Hongyuan , Xu Ce , Zhao Jianqiang 
Published: February 2024

Abstract
In this paper, we first establish explicit evaluations of six classes of hyperbolic sums by special values of the Gamma function by using the tools of the Fourier series expansions and the Maclaurin series expansions of a few Jacobi elliptic functions developed in our previous paper. Then, using the method of contour integrations involving hyperbolic and trigonometric functions, we establish explicit evaluations of two families of Berndt-type integrals of order three by special values of the Gamma function. Furthermore, we present some interesting consequences and illustrative examples.
AMS Subject Classifications (2020): 05A30, 32A27, 42A16, 33E05, 11B68.
Bidirectional causal relationships between IgA nephropathy and COVID-19: genetic evidence from Mendelian randomization
Authors: Gao Zhao-Xing , Hu Xiao , Zhao Yan , Zhang Peng , Ge Man , Xu Yi-Qing , He Tian , Wang Peng , Wang De-Guang , Pan Hai-Feng 
Published: February 2024

Abstract
Purpose
Previous studies have suggested that patients with IgA nephropathy (IgAN) was associated with an increased risk of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection. However, the findings were inconsistent, and whether there was a causality between IgAN and COVID-19 infection remains unknown. This study was performed to estimate the casual effect between IgAN and COVID-19 infection with the implementation of bidirectional Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis.
Methods
Genetic summary data of IgAN was derived from a large genome-wide association study (GWAS) that consisted of 14,361 cases and 43,923 controls. The genetic data of COVID-19 comprised of three phenotypes, including hospitalization, severity and infection, which had a population more than 20 million. The methods of inverse variance weighting (IVW), MR-Egger, weight median and weighted mode were applied for causal inference in MR analysis.
Results
In the forward direction, the IVW’s results proved that IgAN did not have causal relationships with hospitalization COVID-19 (OR = 1.077, 95%CI: 0.953–1.217, P = 0.236), severe COVID-19 (OR = 1.059, 95%CI: 0.878–1.278, P = 0.547) and COVID-19 infection (OR = 0.973, 95%CI: 0.929–1.109, P = 0.243). Furthermore, reverse MR analysis showed no evidence of causal associations of hospitalization COVID-19 (OR = 1.017, 95%CI: 0.968–1.069, P = 0.499), severe COVID-19 (OR = 1.005, 95%CI: 0.979–1.078, P = 0.781) and COVID-19 infection (OR = 1.030, 95%CI: 0.909–1.169, P = 0.641) with the risk of IgAN.
Conclusion
Our study does not support a casual association of IgAN with the risk of COVID-19 infection, nor does the causality between COVID-19 infection and IgAN risk.
Influences of the vibration frequency and phase of the core of ultra-high voltage shunt reactors on suspended discharge in oil-paper insulation
Authors: yu hua , liu hong , li shuai , liang jizhong , niu shu 
Published: February 2024

Abstract
Severe vibration of the core of ultra-high voltage (UHV) shunt reactors under the operating conditions often leads to the occurrence of suspension electrode, and such a suspended discharge defect will destroy the oil-paper insulation. It is necessary to investigate the influence of vibration on suspended discharge when determining the best operating condition of UHV shunt reactors. The vibration frequency of the suspension electrode and the phase difference between the applied voltage and the vibration are studied by simulation and experiment. The simulation results show that the phase difference between the voltage and the vibration parameters will result in the increase of the surface maximum field strength. The distortion of the field intensity caused by several typical vibration frequencies of reactor vibration is ranked (in ascending order) thus: 100 Hz, 300 Hz, 50 Hz, and 200 Hz. There is a coupling relationship between the phase difference and the vibration frequency on the suspended discharge, which will lead to an inconsistency between the field intensity and each single factor. The partial discharge test results of the collision between the suspension electrode and the high-voltage electrode show that the discharge generated by vibration at 100 Hz is much higher than that at other frequencies, followed by those at 300 Hz and 50 Hz, and the discharge generated by vibration at 200 Hz is very small. When the phase difference of voltage advance vibration is between 0 and 90°, the quantity of local discharge is large. When the phase difference is between 90° and 180°, the local discharge is small.
Elliptic Intuitionistic Fuzzy Aggregation Operators and Their Applications in MCDM
Authors: Roopadevi P. , Karpagadevi M. , Arifmohammed K. M. , Krishnaprakash S. , Said Broumi 
Published: February 2024

Abstract
This article introduces definitions for elliptical intuitionistic fuzzy operators, specifically fo-cusing on the weighted additive aggregation operator and the weighted geometric aggregation operator. Ellipses, characterized by major and minor axes, exhibit adaptability to elongated or asymmetrical point distributions, demonstrating versatility across diverse orientations and aspect ratios. Their flexibility extends to accommodating non-uniform point distributions and varied geometric relationships, making ellipses well-suited for addressing diverse spatial patterns. These operators find application in Multiple Criteria Decision Making (MCDM), facilitating the ranking of alternatives based on their proximity to the ideal option. The selection of optimal alternative(s) is determined through this ranking process, exemplified by a numerical case study showcasing the practical effectiveness of the proposed approach in decision-making scenarios.
Association of serum sclerostin levels with marrow adiposity in postmenopausal women with glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis
Authors: Li Wei , Wang Wei , Zhang Minlan , Chen Qi , Li Fengyi , Li Shaojun 
Published: February 2024

Abstract

Background: Glucocorticoids and sclerostin act as inhibitors of the Wnt signaling pathway, thereby hindering bone formation. Given the pathway's intricate association with mesenchymal stem cells, the hypothesis suggests that heightened sclerostin levels may be intricately linked to an augmentation in marrow adiposity induced by glucocorticoids. This study endeavored to delve into the nuanced relationship between circulating sclerostin and bone marrow adipose tissue in postmenopausal women grappling with glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis (GIO).
Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 103 patients with autoimmune-associated diseases underwent glucocorticoid treatment, boasting an average age of 61.3 years (standard deviation 7.1 years). The investigation encompassed a thorough assessment, incorporating medical history, anthropometric data, biochemical analysis, and dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry measurements of lumbar and femoral bone mineral density (BMD). Osteoporosis criteria were established at a T-score of -2.5 or lower. Additionally, MR spectroscopy quantified the vertebral marrow fat fraction.
Results: BMD at the femoral neck, total hip, and lumbar spine showcased an inverse correlation with marrow fat fraction (r = –0.511 to – 0.647, P< 0.001). Serum sclerostin levels exhibited a positive correlation with BMD at various skeletal sites (r = 0.476 to 0.589, P < 0.001). A noteworthy correlation emerged between circulating sclerostin and marrow fat fraction at the lumbar spine (r = –0.731, 95% CI, –0.810 to –0.627, P< 0.001). Multivariate analysis brought to light that vertebral marrow fat fraction significantly contributed to sclerostin serum concentrations (standardized regression coefficient ß = 0.462, P < 0.001). Even after adjusting for age, body mass index, physical activity, renal function, BMD, and the duration and doses of glucocorticoid treatment, serum sclerostin levels maintained a significant correlation with marrow fat fraction.
Conclusions: Circulating sclerostin levels exhibited a noteworthy association with marrow adiposity in postmenopausal women grappling with GIO.
Genome-wide DNA methylation status is a predictor of the efficacy of anti-EGFR antibodies in the second-line treatment of metastatic colorectal cancer: Translational research of the EPIC trial
Authors: Ouchi Kota , Takahashi Shin , Sasaki Keiju , Yoshida Yuya , Taniguchi Sakura , Kasahara Yuki , Komine Keigo , Imai Hiroo , Saijo Ken , Shirota Hidekazu , Takahashi Masanobu , Ishioka Chikashi 
Published: February 2024

Abstract

Purpose:
The genome-wide DNA methylation status (GWMS) is a predictor of therapeutic response to anti-epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) antibodies. We verified the significance of GWMS as a predictive factor for the efficacy of anti-EGFR antibodies in the second-line treatment of metastatic colorectal cancer.
Methods:
Clinical data were obtained from a prospective trial database, and a genome-wide DNA methylation analysis was performed. GWMS was classified into high-methylated colorectal cancer (HMCC) and low-methylated colorectal cancer (LMCC). The patients were divided into subgroups according to the treatment arm (cetuximab plus irinotecan or irinotecan alone) and GWMS, and the clinical outcomes were compared between the subgroups.
Results:
Of the 112 patients, 58 (51.8%) were in the cetuximab plus irinotecan arm, and 54 (48.2%) were in the irinotecan arm; 47 (42.0%) were in the HMCC, and 65 (58.0%) were in the LMCC group regarding GWMS. Compared with the LMCC group, the progression-free survival (PFS) was significantly shortened in the HMCC group in the cetuximab plus irinotecan arm (median 1.4 vs. 4.1 months, p = 0.001, hazard ratio = 2.56), whereas no significant differences were observed in the irinotecan arm. A multivariate analysis showed that GWMS was an independent predictor of PFS and overall survival (OS) in the cetuximab plus irinotecan arm (p = 0.002, p = 0.005, respectively), whereas GWMS did not contribute to either PFS or OS in the irinotecan arm.
Conclusions:
GWMS was a predictive factor for the efficacy of anti-EGFR antibodies in the second-line treatment of metastatic colorectal cancer.
Impact of strontium, magnesium, and zinc ions on the in vitro osteogenesis of maxillary sinus membrane stem cells
Authors: Zhang Zhihao , Gong Ning , Wang Ying , Xu Lei , Zhao Sinan , Liu Yanshan , Tan Fei 
Published: February 2024

Abstract
Purpose
Human Maxillary Sinus Membrane Stem Cells (hMSMSCs) contribute significantly to bone formation following maxillary sinus floor augmentation (MSFA). The biological behavior of mesenchymal stem cells is notably influenced by varying concentrations of magnesium (Mg2+), strontium (Sr2+), and zinc (Zn2+) ions; however, their specific effects on hMSMSCs have not been comprehensively studied.
Methods
We isolated hMSMSCs and identified their mesenchymal stem cell characteristics by flow cytometry and multilineage differentiation experiments. Subsequently, the hMSMSCs were cultured in media containing different concentrations of these metal ions. The proliferation and viability of hMSMSCs were assessed using CCK-8 and Calcein AM/PI staining. After osteogenic induction, cells were evaluated for alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity, ALP staining, and Alizarin Red staining. Additionally, qRT-PCR was used to detect differences in osteogenic gene expression, and immunofluorescence staining was used to observe variations in OCN protein levels.
Results
The results indicated that 1mM Mg2+, 0.01mM Sr2+, and 0.001mM Zn2+ significantly improved the proliferation and activity of hMSMSCs. These concentrations also notably enhanced ALP secretion, increased bone-related gene expression, and augmented osteocalcin expression and formation of extracellular calcium nodules, thereby improving osteogenic differentiation. However, higher concentrations of Mg2+, Sr2+, and Zn2+ decreased cell viability and osteogenic differentiation.
Conclusions
Mg2+, Sr2+, and Zn2+ promote osteogenic differentiation and proliferation of hMSMSCs in a concentration-dependent manner, indicating that the type and concentration of ions in the extracellular environment can significantly alter hMSMSCs behavior, which is a crucial consideration for material design in maxillary sinus elevation applications.
Clinical Relevance:
Our findings demonstrate that Mg2+, Sr2+, and Zn2+ enhance osteogenic differentiation and proliferation of hMSMSCs, offering a strategic approach to improve bone regeneration in maxillary sinus elevation procedures.
Vehicle Re-identification with a Pose-aware Discriminative Part Learning Model
Authors: Sun Ya , Lu Jianfeng , Li Minxian , Ren Gang , Ma Jingfeng 
Published: February 2024

Abstract
Vehicle re-identification (re-ID) aims to identify all instances of a specific vehicle in a large-scale database. Existing re-ID models mostly consider images as a whole entity for feature representation learning. However, features learned from global appearance may lose their discriminative abilities for local details, due to similarities in vehicle model or color. To address this issue, we propose a novel Pose-aware Discriminative Part deep Model (PDPM) to learn discriminative feature representation for vehicle re-ID. This PDPM can learn both global and local part features simultaneously, thereby increasing robustness for differing views and imaging conditions. We also introduce a novel pose-aware discriminative part proposal technique, which considers vehicles to be a type of rigid body and can identify distinctive local parts by assessing fine-grain differences among vehicles in similar poses. Experimental results demonstrated the effectiveness of our proposed PDPM in comparison with state-of-the-art methods applied to VehicleID and VeRi-776, two large-scale vehicle re-ID benchmark datasets.
Clinicopathological and etiological characteristics for urinary tract infections in cervical cancer patients with radical surgery with ureteral stents indwelling
Authors: Jin Chengwen , Xue Yingfeng , Bu Hualei , Xiang Jiangdong , Wu Sufang , Jin Chengjuan 
Published: February 2024

Abstract
Background: To investigate the clinicopathological and etiological characteristics for urinary tract infections in cervical cancer radical surgery with indwelling ureteral stents.
Methods: A total of 24 patients received cervical cancer radical surgery and retained ureteral stents in Shanghai General Hospital from July 2018 to December 2022 were recruited, the medical data were retrospectively collected and analyzed.
Results: Total 15 patients complicated with urinary tract infections, with the infection rate reaching up to 62.5%. Postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy might be the risk factor for urinary tract infections, although with no significant statistic difference (P = 0.074). A total of 30 strains of pathogens were isolated, with Escherichia coli ranking the most common pathogen. Two strains of CRE were identified. 70.83% patients were inserted ureteral stents for 3 to 12 months. With the placement time of ureteral stents exceeding 2 months, antibiotics sensitivity against the same pathogen decreased. Fungi infection occurred more frequently when placement time of ureteral stents reaching more than 4 months.
Conclusions: Ureteral tract infections were extremely high in LACC with radical surgery with ureteral stents insertion. The Escherichia coli are relatively resistant to Penicillins and Cephalosporins. With the prolongation of ureteral stents placement, antibiotics sensitivity targeting the same pathogen decreased and the pathogenic microbes changed from bacteria into fungi. This study could provide basis for determining appropriate time to remove or replace ureteral stents and selecting effective antibiotics for urinary tract infections during ureteral stents indwelling, to prevent severe infections and reduce disease burden.
The domains where Smale's mean value problem does not hold
Authors: Ma Lande , Ma Zhaokun 
Published: February 2024

Abstract
Smale's mean value problem asks whether there exists a critical point of a given complex polynomial $f(s)$ such that a certain inequality involving the derivative of $f(s)$ is satisfied. In this paper, by the root locus method, we give the adjacent domains for which Smale's mean value problem does not hold.
Mathematics Subject Classi cation: Primary 30C15 Secondary 30C10 , 26C10 , 93C05
Associations between Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices Regarding Hepatitis B Virus Infection and HBV Infection among Blood Donors in Mogadishu, Somalia: A Hospital-based Cross-sectional Study
Authors: Mohamud Abdirahman Khalif , Inchon Pamornsri , Suwannaporn Sirinan , Prasert Kriengkrai 
Published: February 2024

Abstract
Background
Globally, more than 81 million blood units are donated annually, and blood transfusion stands as a crucial medical procedure with no viable substitute. Unsafe blood transfusion contributes to 8 to 16 million new hepatitis B virus (HBV) infections, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa. Somalia faces a high demand for blood transfusions with a prevalent HBV infection rate, driven by various factors, yet no similar previous study exists. The objective of this study was to determine the associations between the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of blood donors concerning HBV infection and their infection status in Mogadishu, Somalia.
Methods
A cross-sectional study was conducted in data collection between February and April 2023, using a 5ml blood sample and a well-structured questionnaire. A rapid test was utilized to indicate HBV positivity. Univariable and multivariable logistic regressions were employed to determine the associations, considering at α = 0.050 as statistically significant.
Results
Out of the 420 blood donors who participated in this study, 34 (8.1%) tested positive for HBV infection. The majority of the participants (94.2%) were males with an average age of 30.4 (SD ± 7.2). In multivariable logistic regression, the study revealed that blood donors with poor knowledge (AOR = 5.80, 95% CI = 1.69–19.89), those with moderate knowledge (AOR = 4.41, 95% CI = 1.09–17.90), and those with poor practices (AOR = 3.52, 95% CI = 1.09–11.34) toward HBV infection were more likely to become infected compared to their counterparts.
Conclusion
Blood donors in Mogadishu, Somalia, face a high burden of HBV infection. To effectively address this issue and ensure a safer blood supply, prioritizing initiatives aimed at enhancing the knowledge of blood donors regarding HBV infection is crucial. This involves educating donors about the various modes of transmission, emphasizing preventive measures, and stressing the importance of regular screenings. Additionally, encouraging better practices related to HBV infection among blood donors is essential in this endeavor.
The Effects of School Groupings on Student Performance in the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education Exam: A Classification Tree Approach
Authors: Ouma Christine 
Published: February 2024

Abstract

This exploratory study aimed to investigate the factors affecting the academic performance of secondary school students in Kenya. The 2011 Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) performance data from 26,067 female and 41,261 male students from 1,162 secondary schools in the Nyanza Region were analyzed. Academic performance was assessed based on whether students achieved a minimum grade (C+) for university admission. Using a data mining technique called Classification Tree (CRT), the study explored the influence of school groupings and gender on student performance. The results showed that school residential status (normalized importance = 100%) was the most important predictor, followed by school type (normalized importance = 95%), school size (normalized importance = 93%), and school designation (normalized importance = 84%). Gender (normalized importance = 2%) of the student had no effect on student performance. The final CRT accurately classified 93.7% of the students below the C + grade threshold and 41.2% of the students at or above the C + grade, yielding an overall classification accuracy of 76.7%. These findings provide valuable insights for educators and policymakers aiming to enhance educational outcomes in secondary schools.