bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Occurrence, source apportionment, and ecological risk assessment of organophosphate esters in surface sediment from the Ogun and Osun Rivers, Southwest Nigeria
Authors: Gbadamosi Muideen Remilekun , Ogunneye Adeyemi Lawrence , Jegede David Olaoluwa , Abdallah Mohamed Abou-Elwafa , Harrad Stuart 
Published: October 2023

Abstract
Organophosphate esters (OPEs) are synthetic chemicals widely used as e.g., flame retardants and plasticisers in various consumer products. Due to the toxicity of OPEs in aquatic ecosystems, exposure of fauna and flora to these compounds is of potential concern. In this study, the concentrations, profiles, sources, and ecological risk of eight OPEs were investigated in two major rivers in southwest Nigeria. Concentrations of SOPEs in surface sediments were in the range 13.1 – 2110 ng/g dry weight (dw) (median: 378 ng/g dw) in the Ogun River and 24.7 - 589 ng/g dw (median: 174 ng/g dw) in the Osun River. These concentrations are broadly within the range of those reported in surface sediment in previous studies conducted in other locations around the world. Tris (butoxyethyl) phosphate (TBOEP) was the dominant OPE in the sediment samples with a median concentration of 337 and 126 ng/g dw for the Ogun and Osun Rivers respectively, while tri-n-butyl phosphate (TnBP) was not detected in any sample. Excluding TBOEP, the chlorinated organophosphate esters: tris(2-chloroethyl) phosphate (TCEP), tris(2-chloro-propyl) phosphate (TCIPP), and tris(1,3-dichloro-2-propyl) phosphate (TDCIPP) were the dominant OPEs in the Osun River, while the aryl-OPEs: triphenyl phosphate (TPHP), 2-ethylhexyl diphenyl phosphate (EHDPP), and tri-m-tolyl phosphate(TMTP) were dominant in the Ogun River. Under a median exposure scenario, moderate ecological risk was predicted from exposure to TCIPP in the Osun River. In contrast, under a high exposure scenario, concentrations of TDCIPP (risk quotient, RQ = 5.33 - 5.37) constituted a high ecological risk in both rivers, with moderate risks observed for tris(2-butoxyethyl) phosphate TBOEP (RQ = 0.022 - 0.18) and TCIPP (RQ = 0.097 – 0.16). Therefore, the risk to aquatic organisms from concomitant exposure to mixtures of OPEs and their metabolites in freshwater ecosystems requires further investigation.
Autism Spectrum Disorder Classification Using Enhanced Whale Optimization and Improved Convolutional Neural Network Algorithm
Authors: R.P Meenaakshisundhari , L Murali , R Rajesh Sharma , A Nivethitha , Abebe Mesfin 
Published: October 2023

Abstract

The phrase "autism spectra disorder" (ASD) signifies a collection of neurodevelopmental diseases that are distinguished by difficulties in interacting with others and communicating, in addition to limited interests and behaviours that are performed in a repetitive manner. The frequency of ASD has grown in recent years, although the disorder's fundamental symptom remains unclear. Even though there is no real cure for ASD, early diagnosis is still preferable since it enables more effective treatment to mitigate symptoms. Usually, ASD is diagnosed by the age of two; however, if the symptoms are minimal, the diagnosis may be made later. In the existing system, classification accuracy and feature selection is not ensured significantly. To solve these issues, the Enhanced Whale Optimization (EWO) algorithm and Improved Convolutional Neural Network (ICNN) algorithm are proposed for ASD prediction effectively. The proposed work consists of preprocessing, feature selection, and classification. The research's three primary components are pre-processing, classification, and feature selection. A procedure known as data pre-processing is used to make meaning of enormous quantities of raw data. EWO is used to identify the most relevant autistic dataset characteristics for the feature selection technique. Using the objective function of the EWO algorithm, selecting optimum fitness characteristics is one way to increase classification precision. The more precise ASD findings are then classified using the ICNN classification algorithm. The experimental outcomes demonstrate that the proposed EWO - ICNN algorithm provides superior sensitivity, accuracy, precision, and False Positive Rate (FPR) compared to existing methods.
Patient characteristics and predictors of mortality among children hospitalised with tuberculosis: A six-year case series study in Uganda
Authors: Amuge Pauline , Becker Greta L , Ssebunya Rogers N. , Nalumansi Esther , Adaku Alex , Juma Michael , Jackson J Brooks , Kekitiinwa Adeodata R. , Elyanu Peter , Wobudeya Eric , Blount Robert J 
Published: October 2023

Abstract
Background: The high case-fatality rates among children with tuberculosis (TB) are reportedly driven by in-hospital mortality and severe forms of TB. Therefore, there is need to better understand the predictors of mortality among children hospitalised with TB. We examined the patient clinical profiles, length of hospital stay, and predictors of mortality among children hospitalised with TB at two tertiary hospitals in Uganda.
Methods: We conducted a case-series study of children below 15 years of age hospitalised with TB, from January 1st, 2016, to December 31st, 2021. Convenience sampling was done to select TB cases from paper-based medical records at Mulago National Referral Hospital (MNRH) in urban Kampala, and Fort Portal Regional Referral Hospital (FRRH) in rural Fort Portal. We fit linear and logistic regression models with length of stay and in-hospital mortality as outcomes.
Results: Out of the 201 children hospitalised with TB, 50 were at FRRH, and 151 at MNRH. The male to female ratio was 1.5 with median age of 2.6 years (Interquartile range-IQR 1-6). There was a high prevalence of HIV (67/171, 39%), severe malnutrition reported as weight-for-age Z-score <-3SD (51/168, 30%). Among children with pulmonary TB who initiated anti-tuberculosis therapy (ATT) either during hospitalisation or within seven days prior to hospitalisation; cough (134/143, 94%), fever (111/143, 78%), and dyspnoea (78/143, 55%) were common symptoms. Children with TB meningitis commonly presented with fever (17/24, 71%), convulsions (14/24 58%), and cough (13/24, 54%). The median length of hospital stay was 8 days (IQR 5-15). Of the 199 children with known in-hospital outcomes, 34 (17.1%) died during hospitalisation. TB meningitis was associated with in-hospital mortality (aOR=3.50, 95% CI=1.10-11.17, p=0.035), while male sex was associated with reduced mortality (aOR=0.33, 95% CI=0.12-0.95, p=0.035). Hospitalisation in the urban hospital predicted a 0.48-day increase in natural log-transformed length of hospital stay (ln-length of stay) (95% CI 0.15- 0.82, p = 0.005), but not age, sex, HIV, malnutrition, or TB meningitis.
Conclusions: In-hospital mortality was high, driven by TB meningitis, with longer hospital stay among children in urban hospitals. The high in-hospital mortality and long hospital stay may be reduced by timely TB diagnosis and treatment initiation among children.
Influence of molecular symmetry on multiple pathways of crystallization
Authors: Lee Geun Woo , Cho Yong chan , Lee Sooheyong , Wang Lei , Lee Yun-Hee , Kim Seongheun , Lee Hyun Hwi , Lee Jonghyun 
Published: October 2023

Abstract
Solute structure and its evolution in supersaturated aqueous solutions are key clues to understand Ostwald’s step rule. Here, we measure the structural evolution of solute molecules in extremely supersaturated solutions (KH2PO4 (KDP) and NH4H2PO4 (ADP)) using a combination of electrostatic levitation and synchrotron X-ray scattering. The measurement reveals the existence of a solution-solution transition in KDP solution, caused by changing molecular symmetries and structural evolution of the solution with supersaturation. Moreover, we find that the molecular symmetry of H2PO4− impacts on phase selection. These findings manifest that molecular symmetry and its structural evolution can govern the crystallization pathways in aqueous solutions, explaining the microscopic origin of Ostwald’s step rule.
Comparative Field Studies of Biochemical and Agro-physiological Parametersin semi-arid zone with rainfall Moroccan climate Of Durum wheat
Authors: IDRISSI IMANE SAGHOURI EL , Rajae KETTANI , Moha FERRAHI , Mohamed EL FECHTALI , Rabea ZIRI , Najiba BRHADDA 
Published: October 2023

Abstract
Durum wheat production is highly unpredictable throughout the year because of uncertain rainfall and frequent dry spells, and it is absolutely necessary to characterize the impact of drought on grain yield. The objective in this research is to carry out a comparative analysis of biochemical and physiological responses and production parameters of durum wheat (Triticum durum) in semi-arid zone with rainfall in Morocco's climates. Thirteen durum wheat genotypes selected at INRA-Morocco and three control varieties were evaluated under Moroccan rainfed conditions for two growing seasons (2019/20 and 2020/21). The INRA-Morocco-Douyet Fez experimental field site was where the trials were conducted (34°2 N, 5°W, 416 m). Different parameters were studied: leaf area, leaf temperature, relative water content, chlorophyll content, proline, yield and yield components. Decreased rainfall significantly increased proline content, leaf temperature and decreased leaf area, seed yield, chlorophyll and relative water content (P < 0.01). Based on these results, field-induced rainfall variations resulted in inconsistencies in the response of the assessed traits to drought-related interactions between both growing seasons (2020–2021) in order to identify stable, high-yielding genotypes in the presence and absence of rainfall, which requires a strong association of drought-related traits.
Prevalence, Causes and Early Outcomes of Shunt Revisions at a Tertiary Hospital in Tanzania
Authors: Machaku Dennis , Rabiel Happiness , Chilonga Kondo 
Published: October 2023

Abstract

BACKGROUND The mainstay treatment for patients presenting with hydrocephalus is surgical, with VPS placement being a routine practice, especially in hospitals with limited resources and workforce. Nonetheless, avoidable complications following VPS placements are still evident compounding to significant patient morbidity and mortality.METHODS This study was carried out at a tertiary hospital between March 2020 and March 2023. It includes 263 patients who underwent initial VPS surgeries. Postoperatively, the patients had routine follow-up care for three months, at which time their characteristics in relation to shunt complications were evaluated. The SPSS version 26 was utilized for analyzing the data that had been gathered.RESULTS VPS revisions were performed on 90 of 263 patients, a prevalence of 34.2%. The majority (92.2%) were pediatric patients. Females made up 52.2% of the patients. The most common reason for revisions was shunt infection (50%), followed by malposition (27.8%), blockage (15.6%), and shunt dislocation (6.7%). SSI increased the likelihood of shunt revision by 29.8%. Shunt revision was 31% more likely in operations lasting longer than 45 minutes. Intraoperative involvement of a junior surgical trainee raised the possibility of revision by 25%, and a revised VPS system is 13.2 times more likely to fail, integrating to longer hospital stays.CONCLUSION The emphasis on long surgery durations and a surgeon's skill as risk factors for revisions demonstrates a need for change in surgical practice to enhance surgical outcomes. Given the high likelihood of re-revisions after VPS revisions, it is suggested that the surgical practice from the index operation be enhanced to reduce complications. The findings of this study might serve as an initial guide for developing interventional techniques to enhance good surgical outcomes.
Research on robot sewing method based on process modeling
Authors: Li Fengming , Hou Dang , Fu Tianyu , Song Jiexin , He Wenbin , Song Rui 
Published: October 2023

Abstract
In the actual sewing process, the clothing styles are diverse, and the sewing parts are complex. There are different seam type requirements for different parts. Sewing components such as pockets, chest linings, front and rear sheets are made up of straight lines and curved edges of different shapes. The operation trajectory of the robot is difficult to plan, especially for the sewing of curved edge cutting pieces. Aiming at the problem that it is difficult to carry out complex performance measurement and mechanical modeling for fabric, this paper proposes a robot sewing method based on process modeling. The robot complex sewing task is divided into two parts : straight line and curve. Based on the ductility, the sewing tension is predicted, and the robot linear sewing based on the expected tension is realized. At the same time, the trajectory planning is carried out on the basis of the line identification of the curved edge to realize the curve sewing. Finally, the robot complex stitch sewing under different curvatures is realized on the built physical experiment platform. It is verified that the effectiveness of the robot sewing method based on process modeling.
Circulatory inflammatory proteins as early diagnostic biomarkers for invasive aspergillosis in patients with hematologic malignancies
Authors: Aerts Robina , Ponce Isis Ricano , Bruno Mariolina , Mercier Toine , Rosati Diletta , Maertens Johan , Kumar Vinod , Carvalho Agostinho , Netea Mihai G. , Hoenigl Martin 
Published: October 2023

Abstract
Objectives
Invasive aspergillosis (IA) is a major cause of mortality in immunocompromised patients and it is difficult to diagnose because of the lack of reliable highly sensitive diagnostics. We aimed to identify circulating immunological markers that could be useful for an early diagnosis of IA.
Methods
We collected longitudinally serum samples from 33 cases with probable/proven IA and two matched control cohorts without IA (one with microbiological and clinical evidence of bacterial or viral non-fungal pneumonia and one without evidence of infection, all matched for neutropenia, primary underlying disease, and receipt of corticosteroids/other immunosuppressants) at a tertiary university hospital. In addition, samples from an independent cohort (n = 20 cases of proven/probable IA and 20 matched controls without infection) were obtained. A panel of 92 circulating proteins involved in inflammation was measured by proximity extension assay. A random forest model was used to predict the development of IA using biomarkers measured before diagnosis.
Results
Concentrations of 30 inflammatory biomarkers were different between cases and non-infected controls, of which nine were independently replicated: PD-L1, MMP-10, Interleukin(IL)-10, IL-15RA, IL-18, IL-18R1, CDCP1, CCL19 and IL-17C. From the differential abundance analysis of serum samples collected more than 10 days before diagnosis and at diagnosis, increased IL-17C concentrations in IA patients were replicated in the independent cohort.
Conclusions
An increased circulating concentration of IL-17C was detected both in the discovery and independent cohort, both at the time of diagnosis and in samples 10 days before the diagnosis of IA, suggesting it could be an (early) biomarker of infection.
Machine Learning-Based Integration Identifies Plasma Cells-Related Gene Signature ST6GAL1 in Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis and Its Pan-Cancer Analysis
Authors: Lin Fanjie , Lin Ken , Li DongLei , Kong Weiguo , Wei Xinguang , He Wei , Xiao Tianchi , Zu Hao , Zhuang Jiayu , Zhang Zili , Lu Wenju 
Published: October 2023

Abstract

Background:Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a chronic, progressive, and fibrotic disease that occurs primarily in older adults, and it is associated with a poor prognosis. Plasma cells are an essential effector cell in IPF development and progression. The aim of this study is to identify biomarkers associated with plasma cells in IPF and initially explore their potential role in the tumor immune microenvironment.Methods:The plasma cells marker genes were extracted via single cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) analysis. Then, gene co-expression networks were generated to determine the hub genes most relevant to the IPF state and plasma cells infiltration level. Moreover, the differential expressed genes (DEGs) screening were conducted based on the bulk RNA-seq and microarray data. In addition, a machine learning-based integrative procedure for constructing a concordance plasma cells-related gene signature (PCRGS) were developed. Furthermore, a core gene in the PCRGS was identified and validated through experiments. Finally, the molecular docking procedure and pan-cancer analysis for the core gene were produced.Results:The established PCRGS based on the seven most potent genes was found to be an independent prognostic factor for overall survival and exhibited superior and robust performance when compared with conventional clinical features and 22 published signatures. Additionally, the PCRGS effectively distinguish IPF patients and normal subjects. Eventually, ST6GAL1 was selected as the core gene and its localization in the plasma cells as well as over-expression in the lungs of bleomycin-injured mice were validated. Three drugs related to ST6GAL1 were predicted, and the results showed that quercetin and ST6GAL1 might have a more stable binding conformation based on the molecular docking procedure. Furthermore, the results of a pan-cancer analysis confirmed a tight association between the ST6GAL1 expression and the prognosis of various tumors.Conclusions:PCRGS is an effective prognostic and predictive biomarker in IPF associated with immune responses, among which ST6GAL1 is a potential therapeutic target in diverse cancers and may act as a pivotal gene connecting IPF and cancer in terms of plasma cells immune effects.
Risk stratification for younger and older patients with acute myeloid leukemia through transcriptomics, clinical data and machine learning
Authors: Silva Raíssa , Riedel Cédric , Reboul Jerome , Guibert Benoit , Ruffle Florence , Gilbert Nicolas , Boureux Anthony , Commes Thérèse 
Published: October 2023

Abstract
Background: Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML) is a heterogeneous disease that can occur at any age, and current AML classifications do not include age as a factor to classify patients. On the other hand, it has been shown that the incidence of AML increases with age, and that different genetic alterations are present in younger versus older patients. We sought to investigate this question using a k-mer based machine learning RNA-seq analysis.
Methods: We analyzed 423 samples with AML initial diagnosis to highlight the differences between younger and older patients in risk stratification. Our methodology used Extreme Gradient Boosting (XGB) algorithm in transcriptome data considering the difference between patients using clinical information. The SHapley Additive eXplanations (SHAP) values were used to interpret our models and identify the main differences between younger and older patients.
Results: In a test set, our XGB models achieved an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.88 in younger patients and 0.89 in older patients in different risk stratification. Furthermore, we identified a list of differently expressed genes for each age group.
Conclusion: This study highlighted important differences between younger and older patients in risk stratification and identified potential age group specific biomarkers to be investigated.
The prevalence of simian malaria in wild long-tailed macaques throughout Peninsular Malaysia
Authors: Shahari Shahhaziq , Abdullah Mohd Lutfi bin , Rohimly Anis Adlina binti Isman , Ashrat Norsharina binti , Amir Amirah , Atroosh Wahib Mohammed Mohsen , Fong Mun Yik , Lau Yee Ling 
Published: October 2023

Abstract

The parasite Plasmodium knowlesi has been the sole cause of malaria in Malaysia from 2018–2022. Due to the high burden of P. knowlesi in Malaysia, this has hampered Malaysia from achieving the malaria-free status awarded by the World Health Organisation (WHO). Due to the zoonotic nature of P. knowlesi infections, it is important to study the prevalence of the parasite in the macaque host, the long-tailed macaque (Macaca fascicularis). Apart from P. knowlesi, the long-tailed macaque is also able to harbour Plasmodium cynomolgi, Plasmodium inui, Plasmodium caotneyi and Plasmodium fieldi. Here we report the prevalence of the 5 simian malaria parasites in the wild long-tailed macaque population in 12 out of the 13 states in Peninsular Malaysia using a nested PCR approach targeting the 18s ribosomal RNA (18s rRNA) gene. It was found that all five Plasmodium species were widely distributed throughout Peninsular Malaysia except for states with major cities such as Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya. Of note, Pahang reported a malaria prevalence of 100% in the long-tailed macaque population, identifying it as a potential hotspot for zoonotic transmission. Overall, this study shows the distribution of the 5 simian malaria parasite species throughout Peninsular Malaysia, the data of which could be used to guide future malaria control interventions to target zoonotic malaria.
Modeling of CO Oxidation by Diffusion of Oxygen Atoms in Ceria-Zirconia Particulates in a Three-Way Catalyst Particle Membrane Filter
Authors: Koko Phyozin , Hanamura Katsunori 
Published: October 2023

Abstract
In order to design a novel high-porosity microporous membrane filter comprising Three-way Catalyst (TWC) particles with a size distribution of 1 to 2 microns, isothermal CO oxidation experiments and numerical simulations was conducted to investigate the transport of oxygen atoms within primary Ceria-Zirconia (CZ) particulates. These spherical TWC particles were fabricated through the agglomeration of primary CZ and alumina particulates, incorporating Pd and Rh catalysts. By comparing experimental CO2 emissions with simulation results over time, a temperature-dependent diffusion coefficient was determined. The simulation results reveal that within a temperature range of 175 to 225 °C, the effective distance of oxygen atom transport within CZ particulates, heterogeneously distributed in the spherical TWC particle, is limited to approximately 100 nm from the surface of agglomerated spherical TWC particles.
Clay Soil Porosity Estimation Using Seismic P and S-Wave Velocities along Isfahan Metro Line 2
Authors: Chatrayi Hosein , Hajizadeh Farnusch , Taghavi Behnam 
Published: October 2023

Abstract

To study how the soils, respond to an earthquake, seismic waves are frequently utilized. The purpose of this work is to build the porosity graphs based on the geotechnical parameters of the soils and forecast the porosity of shallow clay soils using seismic wave velocities that analyze the dynamic features of the soil. Compressional (P) and shear (S) wave velocities, seismic velocity ratio, Poisson ratio, bulk modulus, and shear modulus are the factors used to calculate porosity. In this work, porosity values are calculated using grain and dry densities of core samples taken from different boreholes within the study region, and bulk modulus, shear modulus, and Poisson ratio are calculated using P- and S-wave velocities obtained by utilizing the seismic-refraction method, as well as porosity values. The research region is in Iran; Isfahan Metro Line 2 and mostly consists of clay, silt, sand, and gravel deposits. Based on the values of the Poisson ratio, seismic P wave velocity, seismic velocity ratio (Vp/Vs), and the stiffness of the clay soils, the data of the clay soils in the region were individually sorted. These characteristics were used to create novel multi-parameter relationships between clay soil porosity, seismic velocities, shear modulus, and the Poisson ratio. Using the error norm approach, the errors in the parameters utilized for each relationship were identified. The error norm technique's findings show that the shear wave velocity and shear module have the lowest error when calculating porosity. Therefore, it is advised to estimate porosity of shallow clay soils using the given correlations. These relationships can be used to assess the porosity of clay soil and to determine if the soil's pores are saturated with liquid.