Root Mean Square Difference Research Articles

Recovering Bathymetry Using BP Neural Network Combined with Modified Gravity–Geologic Method: A Case Study in the South China Sea

The gravity–geologic method (GGM) is widely used for bathymetric predictions. However, the conventional GGM cannot be applied in regions without actual bathymetric data. The modified gravity–geologic method (MGGM) enhances the accuracy of bathymetric models by supplementing short-wavelength gravity anomalies with an a priori bathymetric model, but it overlooks the significance of actual bathymetric data in the prediction process. In this study, we used the BP neural network (BPNN), incorporating shipborne depth soundings and coastline data as zero-depth estimates combined with the MGGM to produce a bathymetric model (BPGGM_BAT) for the South China Sea (105°E–122°E, 0°N–26°N). The results indicate that the BPGGM_BAT model decreases the root-mean-square (RMS) of bathymetry differences from 154.33 m to approximately 140.43 m relative to multibeam depth data. Additionally, the RMS differences between the BPGGM_BAT model and multibeam depth data show further improvements of 19.63%, 20.10%, and 19.54% when compared with the recently released SRTM15_V2.6, GEBCO_2022, and topo_V27.1 models, respectively. The precision of the BPGGM_BAT model is comparable to that of the SDUST2023BCO model, as verified using multibeam depth data in open sea regions. The BPGGM_BAT model outperforms existing models with RMS differences of 8.54% to 32.66%, as verified using Electronic Navigational Chart (ENC) bathymetric data in the regions around the Zhongsha and Nansha Islands. A power density analysis suggests that the BPGGM_BAT model is superior to the MGGM_BAT model for predicting seafloor topography within wavelengths shorter than 15 km, and its performance is closely consistent with that of the topo_V27.1 and SDUST2023BCO models. Overall, this integrated method demonstrates significant potential for improving the accuracy of bathymetric predictions.

Oleanolic acid purified from the stem bark of Olax subscorpioidea Oliv. inhibits the function and catalysis of human 17β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase 1

Cancer is a leading cause of global death. Medicinal plants have gained increasing attention in cancer drug discovery. In this study, the stem bark extract of Olax subscorpioidea, which is used in ethnomedicine to treat cancer, was subjected to phytochemical investigation leading to the isolation of oleanolic acid (OA). The structure was elucidated by 1-dimensional and 2-dimensional nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopic (NMR) data, and by comparing its data with previously reported data. Molecular docking was used to investigate the interactions of OA with nine selected cancer-related protein targets. OA docked well with human 17β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type-1 (17βHSD1), caspase-3, and epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase (binding affinities: −9.8, −9.3, and −9.1 kcal/mol, respectively). OA is a triterpenoid compound with structural similarity to steroids. This similarity with the substrates of 17βHSD1 gives the inhibitor candidate an excellent opportunity to bind to 17βHSD1. The structural and functional dynamics of OA-17βHSD1 were investigated by molecular dynamics simulations at 240 ns. Molecular mechanics/Poisson-Boltzmann surface area (MMPBSA) studies showed that OA had a binding free energy that is comparable with that of vincristine (–52.76, and −63.56 kcal/mol, respectively). The average C-α root mean square of deviation (RMSD) value of OA (1.69 Å) compared with the unbound protein (2.01 Å) indicated its high stability at the protein’s active site. The binding energy and stability at the active site of 17βHSD1 recorded in this study indicate that OA exhibited profound inhibitory potential. OA could be a good scaffold for developing new anti-breast cancer drugs.

Validity of test score interpretations and cross-cultural comparisons in the First and Second International Science Studies

AbstractIn international large-scale assessments, student performance comparisons across educational systems are frequently done to assess the state and development in different domains. These results often have a large impact on educational policy and on the perceptions of an educational system’s performance. Early assessments, such as the First and Second International Science Studies (FISS and SISS), have been used alongside recent studies to create unique scales for investigating changes in constructs. The implicit assumptions in system comparisons are that the measures are valid, reliable, and comparable. However, these assumptions have not always been investigated thoroughly. This study aims to investigate the validity and cross-system comparability of scores from the FISS and SISS, conducted by the International Association for the Evaluation of Educational Achievement in 1970–1971 and 1983–1984. Findings based on item response theory (IRT) modeling indicate that scores in most educational systems can be viewed as reliable measures of a single science construct, supporting the validity of test score interpretations in these educational systems individually. In a robust assessment of measurement invariance using standard IRT methods, an alignment-based method, and the root mean square difference (RMSD) fit statistic, we demonstrate that measurement invariance is violated across systems. The alignment-based method identified a well-fitting model with complex restrictions but no items exhibited invariance across all systems, a result supported by the RMSD statistics. These results question the appropriateness of score comparisons across systems in FISS and SISS. We discuss the implications of these results and outline consequences for score comparisons across time.

Ultrasonography-Guided Dental Implant Surgery: A Feasibility Study.

To evaluate the feasibility of ultrasound-image-based computer-assisted implant planning and placement. Intraoral scans, cone-beam computerized tomography (CBCT), and ultrasound (US) scans with a custom positioning device were acquired in nine patients. Prosthetic-driven surgical guides were planned and fabricated based on ultrasound images and intraoral scans. Implants were then placed. Postoperative implant position was obtained intra-surgically by intraoral scan. Aside from the ultrasound-based plan, conventional implant planning was performed by the same operator on a pre-surgical CBCT for comparison. Linear deviations between ultrasound and CBCT-planned implant positions were measured and compared with the intra-surgical implant position, and the position deviations between two consecutive plannings were performed on the same CBCT by the same operator. The linear deviation between the 3D scan surface of the edentulous region and the ultrasonographic soft tissue profile segmentation was also assessed with reverse-engineering software. Means, standard deviations, and root mean square differences (RMSD) were calculated for every variable. All the ultrasound-planned implants were successfully placed, and no complications were recorded. The mean deviations in angles, shoulders, and apexes were 5.27 ± 1.75° (RMSD: 5.53°), 0.92 ± 0.26 mm (RMSD: 0.95 mm), and 1.41 ± 0.61 mm (RMSD: 1.53 mm), respectively, between the US and CBCT-planned implants; 2.63 ± 0.43° (RMSD: 2.66°), 1.16 ± 0.30 mm (RMSD: 1.19 mm), and 1.26 ± 0.27 mm (RMSD: 1.28 mm) between the planned implant and intra-surgically recorded positions; and 2.90 ± 1.36° (RMSD: 3.18°), 0.65 ± 0.27 mm (RMSD: 0.70 mm), and 0.99 ± 0.37 mm (RMSD: 1.05 mm) between two consecutive CBCTs planning performed by the same operator. The mean deviation between the 3D surfaces of model scans and ultrasound-derived soft tissue profile in the edentulous area was 0.19 ± 0.08 mm. Ultrasound-guided implant surgery represents a feasible non-ionizing alternative to conventional static guided implant surgical protocols for implant placement in sites with favorable characteristics.

Impact of slouching on heart rate variability and cardiovascular health among medical students

Background: Medical students frequently adopt poor postures such as slouching potentially impacting health. Heart rate variability (HRV) serves as an indicator of autonomic nervous system function, correlated with cardiovascular health. Aims and Objectives: The objective of the study was to compare HRV parameters among medical students in three postures: Sitting erect, easy pose (cross-legged), and slouching (stooping head and shoulders). Materials and Methods: A comparative cross-sectional study enrolled 26 male medical students. Participants were instructed to maintain each posture for 5 min while HRV was recorded using a Polar V800. Time domain and frequency domain parameters among different postures were analyzed using Friedman’s test and post hoc tests for pairwise comparisons. P<0.05 was considered significant. Data were expressed as median interquartile range. Results: Significant differences were observed in HRV parameters between postures. The easy pose demonstrated a significantly higher median value of root mean square of differences of successive RR intervals (48.28 ms vs. 35.35 ms) and pNN50% (24.40% vs. 13.62%) compared to slouching. Frequency domain analysis revealed a significantly higher median value of high-frequency (HF) power in easy pose (626.56 ms² vs. 378.15 ms²) and HF normalized unit (33.78 vs. 22.55) compared to slouching. A lower low frequency (LF)/HF ratio and (1.96 vs. 3.43) lower LF normalized unit (66.18 vs. 77.30) was also seen in easy pose. Although statistically not significant, the parasympathetic indicators of HRV were higher in erect sitting compared to slouching posture. Conclusion: Among medical students, adopting the easy pose (cross-legged sitting) appeared to enhance HRV and thus increase parasympathetic activity, whereas adopting slouching postures decreased it.

Comparison of 2-m surface temperature data between reanalysis and observations over the Arabian Peninsula

The 2-m temperature data is a significant indicator for studying the weather extremes and the exchange of water and energy fluxes between the surface and atmosphere. This study compared three reanalysis datasets, i.e., ERA5, ERA5-Land, and MERRA-2, with observations from in-situ sources from 1990 to 2022 using various statistical error metrics and extreme temperature indices over the Arabian Peninsula (AP) region. We selected these reanalysis datasets due to the continuous improvements and higher spatiotemporal output better capturing the temperature variability. The spatiotemporal climatology shows lower temperatures in winter (<15 °C) and maximum in summer (>35 °C); however, the reanalysis data show more deviations in temperature during the cold season than in the warm season. The reanalysis data underestimated the frequency of the cold (<10 °C) and hot (>30 °C) days across the four regions, except ERA5-Land, which closely followed observed data. The strength of the correlation shows better performance (>0.90) in the cold extremes (cold nights and cold days) frequency than the hot extremes. On an interannual scale, reanalysis products exhibit strong correlations (>0.90) with in-situ data across most regions, particularly in winter and autumn, moderate in spring, and weaker in summer. The reanalysis data shows negative biases in the inland regions and positive biases in the coastal areas with consistent root mean square differences (RMSD) spatiotemporally. The differences in performance are due to the topography and poor representation of the energy fluxes, especially in MERRA-2 as well as missing data in observations. This study recommends ERA5-Land as the first choice for extreme weather simulations in the region, followed by MERRA-2 and ERA5 on the same scale, but proper attention is needed when using reanalysis data for cold and hot extremes.

Can deep learning-designed anterior tooth-borne crown fulfill morphologic, aesthetic, and functional criteria in clinical practice?

ObjectivesThis study aimed to compare the design outcomes of anterior crowns generated using deep learning (DL)-based software with those fabricated by a technician using conventional dental computer-assisted design (CAD) software without DL support, with a focus on the evaluation of crown morphology, function, and aesthetics. MethodsTwenty-five in vivo datasets comprising maxillary and mandibular arch scans of prepared maxillary central incisors were utilized to design anterior crowns by using three methods: 1) a DL-based method resulting in as-generated outcome (DB), 2) a DL-based method further optimized by a technician (DM), and 3) a conventional CAD-based method (NC, control). Evaluations were conducted for crown morphology (total discrepancy volume (TDV), root mean square (RMS), positive average (PA) and negative average (NA) deviations), functional aspects (incisal path: deviations, length, and mean inclination), and aesthetics (crown width, height, width-to-height ratio, angular radius of mesioincisal line angle, proximal contact length, and tooth axis angle). ResultsSignificant differences in TDV ratio were noted between the DB–NC (32.3 ± 8.5 %) and DM–NC (26.5 ± 5.4 %) pairs (P = 0.006). No significant differences were observed in TDV between the DB–NC (65.3 ± 24.4 mm3) and DM–NC (54.3 ± 21.0 mm3) pairs (P = 0.095). For the entire palatal surface, significant differences in RMS and PA values were observed between the DB–NC and DM–NC pairs (P < 0.037). Significant differences in RMS values for the incisal half (P = 0.021) and in PA values for the cervical half (P = 0.047) of the palatal surface were also noted between these pairs. Significant differences in the deviation of the incisal path were observed between the DB–NC (290.4 ± 212.4 μm) and DM–NC (132.0 ± 122.3 μm) pairs (P < 0.001). However, no significant differences were found among the groups (DB, DM, and NC) in terms of the length and mean inclination of incisal paths or in aesthetic outcomes. ConclusionsA DL-based method can result in promising outcomes with clinically acceptable morphology and aesthetics for anterior crowns. Minor deviations in incisal path of the crowns may lead to anterior guidance discrepancies, which can be corrected by the dental technician at the design stage. Clinical significanceWith the potential of DL-based design methods in dental applications, integrating AI technology into dental CAD workflow can enhance the clinical efficiency and consistency of anterior crown design, although human intervention may be required to refine functional aspect.

Evaluation of subsurface soil water content estimate methods: Maximum entropy vs. exponential filter

Profile soil water content (SWC) is a vital variable in the atmosphere-vegetation-soil system. Although remote sensing currently can provide reliable surface SWC data (∼5 cm depth), acquiring accurate subsurface SWC data from existing reanalysis products remain challenging. In this study, we evaluated two widely used methods in estimating subsurface SWC, namely the exponential filter (ExpF) and the principle of maximum entropy (POME). The evaluation is carried out in two distinct areas on the Tibetan Plateau using ground observations collected from two monitoring networks: the Maqu network area characterized by cold humid climate and grassland and the Shiquanhe network area characterized by cold arid climate and bare ground. The results indicate that POME generally performs better than ExpF in both areas, particularly in deeper soil layers. Specifically, the accuracy of estimated SWC using the ExpF method decreases with depth, while it increases with depth using the POME method. Additionally, both methods achieve commendable performance at a depth of 10 cm in both areas. The deficiency of ExpF is mainly reflected in underestimations for dry cases, which is amplified with increasing depth. Dry cases account for 51 % in the humid area and 68 % in the arid area throughout the study period. Consequently, the ExpF method yields higher root mean square differences (RMSD) by 30 % and 113 % in the humid area at depths of 20 and 40 cm, respectively, compared to the POME method. Similarly, it results in higher RMSD values by 220 % and 200 % in the arid area. As expected, the superior performance of POME in deeper soil layers is primarily attributed to the incorporation of additional bottom and profile mean SWC observations. However, it also potentially introduces uncertainties when integrated with satellite-based data, which inherently contains errors compared to ground observations. To assess the potential of these two methods in large-scale applications combined with satellite-based datasets, this study conducted further evaluation of both methods with required input data derived from the soil moisture active and passive mission (SMAP). The results demonstrate that the performance of both methods in estimating subsurface SWC is acceptable in both humid and arid areas, although some bias is transferred from the input data. They achieve average RMSD values of 0.034 and 0.055 m3/m−3(−|−) in the humid area for the ExpF and POME methods, respectively, and 0.021 and 0.014 m3/m−3(−|−) in the arid area.

Monitoring Respiratory Rate Continuously Without Attaching a Sensor During a Challenging Ramped Protocol.

Respiratory rate (RR) is a crucial vital sign in patient monitoring and is often the best marker of the deterioration of a sick patient. It can be used to help diagnose numerous medical conditions and has been demonstrated to be an independent predictor of patient outcomes in various critical care settings and is incorporated in many clinical early warning scores. Here, we report on the performance of depth-camera-based system for the noncontact monitoring of RR during a ramped RR protocol. The ramped breathing protocol was developed specifically to test the relatively rapid changes in rates, which include clinically important low and high ranges of RRs. We performed a series of experimental runs with healthy volunteers who were instructed to breathe over a wide range of RRs, where the rates were ramped up from 4 breaths/min to 50 breaths/min then back down to 4 breaths/min in a series of ramped steps. Depth information was acquired from the scene and used to determine a respiratory rate (RRdepth), and this was compared to capnograph or spirometer respiratory rate reference (RRref). A total of 9,482 contemporaneous data pairs (RRdepth, RRref) were collected during the study for comparison. A Pearson correlation coefficient of 0.995 was achieved and a line of best fit given by RRdepth = 0.99 × RRref + 0.36 breaths/min. The overall root mean squared difference (RMSD) across the runs was 1.29 breaths/min with a corresponding bias of 0.16 breaths/min, respectively. The associated Bland-Altman analysis found limits of agreement of -2.45 and 2.75 breaths/min. When the data were subdivided according to low, medium, and high RRs, corresponding to ≤10, >10 to 20, and >20 breaths/min, the RMSD accuracies were found to be 0.94, 1.34, and 1.55 breaths/min, respectively. The technology performed well, exhibiting an RMSD accuracy well within our target of 3 breaths/min, both across the whole range and across each individual subrange. In summary, our results indicate the potential viability of continuous noncontact monitoring for the determination of RR over a clinically relevant range.

Using superconducting single photon detector to improve the coupling efficiency of multimode fibers in the telescope ranging system

The receiving system adopts the coupling manner of space beam and the multimode fiber among some space target laser ranging system. The fiber coupling efficiency can affect the number of echo photons and ranging accuracy, especially in lunar laser ranging, high orbit satellite laser ranging and space debris tracking. This article proposes a method utilizing the telescope pointing technique and a four-pixel superconducting nanowire single photon detector (SNSPDs) to measure coupling efficiency of multimode fiber. SNSPDs has the excellent performance with high detection efficiency, low dark count rate, and low recovery time. In the experiment, SNSPDs receives the changing signals caused by adjusting the offset angle of the telescope. The root mean square of deviation between measured results and theoretical calculations is 4.48%. The method is based on existing laser ranging systems and is suitable for scientific engineering verification of optical fibers already installed in the system and monitoring of system status.

Evaluating soil moisture retrieval in Arctic and sub-Arctic environments using passive microwave satellite data

ABSTRACT Soil Moisture (SM) is a key parameter in northern Arctic and sub-Arctic (A-SA) environments that are highly vulnerable to climate change. We evaluated six SM satellite passive microwave datasets using thirteen ground-based SM stations across Northwestern America. The best agreement was obtained with SMAP (Soil Moisture Active Passive) products with the lowest RMSD (Root Mean Square Difference) (0.07 m 3 m − 3 ) and the highest R (0.55). ESA CCI (European Space Agency Climate Change Initiative) also performed well in terms of correlation with a similar R (0.55) but showed a strong variation among sites. Weak results were obtained over sites with high water body fractions. This study also details and evaluates a dedicated retrieval of SM from SMOS (Soil Moisture and Ocean Salinity) brightness temperatures based on the τ − ω model. Two soil dielectric models (Mironov and Bircher) and a dedicated soil roughness and single scattering albedo parameterization were tested. Water body correction in the retrieval shows limited improvement. The metrics of our retrievals (RMSD = 0.08 m 3 m − 3 and R = 0.41) are better than SMOS but outperformed by SMAP. Passive microwave satellite remote sensing is suitable for SM retrieval in the A-SA region, but a dedicated approach should be considered.

A clinical randomized trial: Effects of early application of sacubitril/valsartan on ventricular remodeling and prognosis in acute myocardial infarction patients

ObjectivesTo explore the effects of early application of sacubitril/valsartan on ventricular remodeling and prognosis in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI). MethodsTotal of 295 patients with AMI admitted to the hospital were enrolled between August 2019 and August 2021. According to different treatment methods, they were divided into observation group (sacubitril/valsartan sodium tables combined with standard treatment, 132 patients) and control group (benazepril hydrochloride tablets combined with standard treatment, 163 patients). The levels of plasma N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP), creatinine (Cr) and serum K+ before and at 6 months after treatment, standard deviation of all normal-to-normal intervals (SDNN), standard deviation of the average all normal-to-normal intervals (SDANN), root mean square of differences between adjacent normal-to-normal intervals/root mean square differences of successive R-R (RMSSD), left ventricular end-diastolic volume (LVEDV), left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and left ventricular end-systolic volume (LVESV) in the two groups were compared. The adverse reactions during treatment and major adverse cardiac events (MACE) during 6 months of follow-up in both groups were statistically analyzed. ResultsThe levels of NT-proBNP, Cr and K+, LVEDV and LVESV in observation group were significantly lower than those in control group (P < 0.05), while LVEF, SDNN, SDANN and RMSSD were significantly higher than those in control group (P < 0.05). The incidence of MACE in observation group was lower than that in control group during 6 months of follow-up (7.58 % vs 27.61 %, P < 0.05), but there was no significant difference in the incidence of adverse reactions (9.85 % vs 12.88 %, P > 0.05). ConclusionEarly application of sacubitril/valsartan sodium can effectively delay ventricular remodeling, improve cardiac function and heart rate variability indexes, reduce NT-proBNP level and improve prognosis in AMI patients.

Regional validation of the solar irradiance tool SolaRes in clear-sky conditions, with a focus on the aerosol module

Abstract. The Solar Resource estimate (SolaRes) tool based on the Speed-up Monte Carlo Advanced Radiative Transfer code using GPU (SMART-G) has the ambition to fulfil both research and industrial applications by providing accurate, precise, and high-time-resolution simulations of the solar resource. We investigate the capacity of SolaRes to reproduce the radiation field, relying on 2 years of ground-based measurements by pyrheliometers and pyranometers acquired in northern France (Lille and Palaiseau). Our main objective is to provide, as a first step in clear-sky conditions, a thorough regional validation of SolaRes, allowing us to investigate aerosol impacts on solar resource. We perform comparisons between SolaRes-simulated and clear-sky-measured global horizontal irradiance (GHI), direct normal irradiance (DNI), diffuse horizontal irradiance (DifHI), and global and diffuse irradiance on a tilted plane (GTI, DifTI), and we even consider the circumsolar contributions. Using spectral aerosol optical thickness (AOT) data sets as input, which are delivered by the AErosol RObotic NETwork (AERONET) and the Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service (CAMS), we examine the influence of aerosol input data sets in SolaRes on the comparison scores. Two aerosol models are mixed to compute aerosol optical properties. We also perform a sensitivity study on the aerosol parametrisation and investigate the influence of applying more or less strict cloud-screening methods to derive ground-based proof data sets of clear-sky moments. SolaRes is validated with the (relative) root mean square difference (RMSD) in GHI as low as 1 % and a negligible mean bias difference (MBD). The impact of the cloud-screening method in GHI is 0.5 % of RMSD and 0.3 % of MBD. SolaRes also estimates the circumsolar contribution, which improves MBD in DNI and DifHI by 1 % and 4 %, respectively, and RMSD by ∼ 0.5 %. MBD in DNI is around −1 % and RMSD around 2 %, and MBD in DifHI is 2 % and RMSD around 9 %. RMSD and MBD in both DNI and DifHI are larger than in GHI because they are more sensitive to the aerosol and surface properties. DifTI measured on a vertical plane facing south is simulated by SolaRes with an RMSD of 8 %, comparable to that obtained for DifHI. Our results suggest a strong influence of reflection by not only ground surface but also surrounding buildings. The sensitivity studies on the aerosol parameterisation show that the spectral AOT contains enough information for high performance in DNI simulations, with low influence of the choice of the aerosol models on the RMSD. However, choosing a model with smaller aerosol single scattering albedo significantly decreases SolaRes DifHI and GHI. The best combination in Lille and Palaiseau consists of continental clean mixed with desert dust. Also, complementary information on angular scattering and aerosol absorption provided by the AERONET-inverted model further improves simulated clear-sky GHI by reducing RMSD by ∼ 0.5 % and MBD by ∼ 0.8 %. Eventually, the choice of the data source has a significant influence. Indeed, using CAMS AOT instead of AERONET AOT increases the RMSD in GHI by ∼ 1 % and MBD by ∼ 0.4 % and RMSD in DNI by 5 %. The RMSD in GHI remains slightly smaller than state-of-the-art methods.

Targeting MDM2-p53 interaction in Glioblastoma: Transcriptomic analysis and Peptide-Based inhibition strategy

MDM2 is a gene that encodes a protein involved in cell survival, growth, and DNA repair. It has been implicated in the development and progression of glioblastoma (GBM). Inhibition of the MDM2-p53 interaction has emerged as a promising strategy for treating GBM. In this study, we performed comprehensive transcriptomic expression analysis from diverse datasets and observed MDM2 overexpression in a subset of GBM cases. MDM2 negatively regulates the major onco-suppressor p53. The interaction between MDM2 and p53 is a promising target for cancer therapy, as it can trigger p53-mediated cell death in response to different stress conditions, such as oncogene activation or DNA damage. In this study, we have identified a peptide-based inhibition of MDM2 as a therapeutic strategy for GBM. We have further validated the stability of the MDM2-peptide interaction using a molecular structural dynamics approach. The major trajectories, including root mean square of deviation (RMSD), root mean square of fluctuation (RMSF), and radius of gyration (RoG), indicate that the candidate peptides have a more stable binding compared to the native ligand and control drug. The stability of the binding interaction was further estimated by MMGBSA analysis, which also suggests that MDM2 has a stable binding with both peptide molecules. Based on these results, peptides P-1843 and P-3837 could be tested further for experimental validation to confirm their targeted inhibition of MDM-2. This approach could provide a highly selective and efficient inhibitor with potentially fewer side effects and less toxicity compared to small drug-based molecules.

Lactoferrin's role in modulating NF-κB pathway to alleviate diabetes-associated inflammation: A novel in-silico study

Lactoferrin (LF), a multifunctional glycoprotein found in mammalian milk and various exocrine secretions, plays a pivotal role in modulating various responses. Lactoferrin plays a significant role in type-2 diabetes by improving hepatic insulin resistance and pancreatic dysfunction however, the exact mechanism for this improvement is not thoroughly elucidated. To this date, there are no evidence that attributes the direct interaction of lactoferrin with components of NF-κB pathway. Considering this precedent, the current study aimed to investigate the interaction of LF with key components of NF-κB pathway using molecular docking and simulation approaches. Results indicated that LF has shown highly stable interactions with IL-1β, IL-6, IκBα and NF-κB, and relatively weaker interactions with IKK and TNF-α. All four trajectories, including root mean square of deviations (RMSD), root mean square of fluctuation (RMSF), hydrogen bond interactions, and radius of gyration (RoG), confirmed the stable interactions of LF with NF-κB pathway components. Molecular Mechanics/Generalized Born Surface Area (MM/GBSA) analysis further supports their stable interactions. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to provide convincing evidence that LF can interact with all six major components of the NF-κB pathway. This study provides pioneering in-silico evidence that lactoferrin (LF) can interact with all six major components of the NF-κB pathway, demonstrating highly stable interactions with IL-1β, IL-6, IκBα, and NF-κB, and relatively weaker interactions with IKK and TNF-α. These findings suggest that LF and its peptides have significant potential for both preventive and therapeutic applications by targeting the NF-κB pathway to inhibit inflammation, thereby improving insulin sensitivity and aiding in the management of diabetes.

Stability of estimation item parameter in IRT dichotomy considering the number of participants

This research is related to item response theory (IRT) which is needed to measure the goodness of a test set, while item parameter estimation is needed to determine the technical properties of a test item. Stability of item parameter estimation is conducted to determine the minimum sample that can be used to obtain good item parameter estimation results. The purpose of this study is to describe the effect of the number of test takers on the stability of item parameter estimation with the Bayes method (expected a posteriori, EAP) on dichotomous data. This research is an exploratory descriptive research with a bootstrap approach using the EAP method. The EAP method is performed by modifying the likelihood and function to include prior information about the participant's 9 score. Bootstrapping on the original data is done to take bootstrap samples. with ten different sample sizes of 100, 150, 250, 300, 500, 700, 1,000, 1,500, 2,000, 2,500 were then replicated ten times and grain parameter estimation was performed. Each sample data with ten replications was calculated Root Mean Squared Difference (RMSD) value. The results showed that the 2PL model was chosen as the best model. The RMSD value obtained proves that many test participants affect the stability of item parameter estimation on dichotomous data with the 2PL model. The minimum sample to ensure the stability of item parameter estimates with the 2PL model is 1,000 test participants.

Exploring CT pixel and voxel size effect on anatomic modeling in mandibular reconstruction

BackgroundComputer-aided modeling and design (CAM/CAD) of patient anatomy from computed tomography (CT) imaging and 3D printing technology enable the creation of tangible, patient-specific anatomic models that can be used for surgical guidance. These models have been associated with better patient outcomes; however, a lack of CT imaging guidelines risks the capture of unsuitable imaging for patient-specific modeling. This study aims to investigate how CT image pixel size (X-Y) and slice thickness (Z) impact the accuracy of mandibular models.MethodsSix cadaver heads were CT scanned at varying slice thicknesses and pixel sizes and turned into CAD models of the mandible for each scan. The cadaveric mandibles were then dissected and surface scanned, producing a CAD model of the true anatomy to be used as the gold standard for digital comparison. The root mean square (RMS) value of these comparisons, and the percentage of points that deviated from the true cadaveric anatomy by over 2.00 mm were used to evaluate accuracy. Two-way ANOVA and Tukey-Kramer post-hoc tests were used to determine significant differences in accuracy.ResultsTwo-way ANOVA demonstrated significant difference in RMS for slice thickness but not pixel size while post-hoc testing showed a significant difference in pixel size only between pixels of 0.32 mm and 1.32 mm. For slice thickness, post-hoc testing revealed significantly smaller RMS values for scans with slice thicknesses of 0.67 mm, 1.25 mm, and 3.00 mm compared to those with a slice thickness of 5.00 mm. No significant differences were found between 0.67 mm, 1.25 mm, and 3.00 mm slice thicknesses. Results for the percentage of points deviating from cadaveric anatomy greater than 2.00 mm agreed with those for RMS except when comparing pixel sizes of 0.75 mm and 0.818 mm against 1.32 mm in post-hoc testing, which showed a significant difference as well.ConclusionThis study suggests that slice thickness has a more significant impact on 3D model accuracy than pixel size, providing objective validation for guidelines favoring rigorous standards for slice thickness while recommending isotropic voxels. Additionally, our results indicate that CT scans up to 3.00 mm in slice thickness may provide an adequate 3D model for facial bony anatomy, such as the mandible, depending on the clinical indication.

Precise orbit determination of the LuTan satellite using GPS, BDS-2, and BDS-3 signals

Abstract The LuTan satellite is the first formation-flying mission of China enabling synthetic aperture radar interferometry in the L-band. As a key mission requirement, the absolute position of each satellite must be determined with an accuracy of 5 cm in three dimensions (3D). To fulfill this demand, each satellite carries a Global Positioning System/Beidou Navigation Satellite System (GPS/BDS) dual-constellation Global Navigation Satellite System receiver that can simultaneously track the GPS L1 and L2 signals, the BDS-2 B1I and B3I signals (BD2), and the BDS-3 B1C and B2a signals (BD3). In this study, we assess the performances of precise orbit determination with different signals and their combinations. For that purpose, we produce a total of five sets of orbit solutions, i.e., GPS-based, BD2-based, BD3-based, GPS/BD2 combined, and GPS/BD3 combined solutions. To evaluate the orbit solutions, comparisons in the orbital overlaps and with the GPS-based orbit are adopted. The orbital overlap analysis shows that the GPS-based solution has the smallest root mean square (RMS) of overlap orbit differences than other single-constellation solutions with 3.7 mm in 3D. The BD2- and BD3-based orbits are suffered from large errors and the overlap RMS differences are 24.7 and 18.9 mm, respectively. Furthermore, all of the combined orbits (both 3.1 mm for the GPS/BD2 and GPS/BD3 combined orbits) based on the variance component estimation method can obtain improvement than GPS-based solutions. For orbit comparisons, the GPS-based solution is selected to serve as the reference. The RMS values of the orbit differences are 29.9 and 15.4 mm for the BD2- and BD3-based solutions, respectively. For the GPS/BD2 and GPS/BD3 combined solutions, the values are 4.1 and 4.8 mm. In general, the results agree with those obtained in the overlap analysis. These results indicate that the BD3-based orbit is superior to the BD2-based orbit, while both of them are inferior to the GPS-based orbit. We show that inaccurate ephemerides of the BDS satellites can partly explain the degraded performance of the BDS-derived orbits. Nevertheless, the orbits still fulfill the 5 cm accuracy demand and can be readily used for subsequent precise baseline determination.

Mechanomyography reflects the changes in oxygenated hemoglobin during electrically evoked cycling in individuals with spinal cord injury.

Functional electrical stimulation (FES) cycling has been reported to enhance muscle strength and improve muscle fatigue resistance after spinal cord injury (SCI). Despite its proposed benefits, the quantification of muscle fatigue during FES cycling remains poorly documented. This study sought to quantify the relationship between the vibrational performance of electrically-evoked muscles measured through mechanomyography (MMG) and its oxidative metabolism through near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) characteristics during FES cycling in fatiguing paralyzed muscles in individuals with SCI. Six individuals with SCI participated in the study. They performed 30 min of FES cycling with MMG and NIRS sensors on their quadriceps throughout the cycling, and the signals were analyzed. A moderate negative correlation was found between MMG root mean square (RMS) and oxyhaemoglobin (O2Hb) [r = -0.38, p = 0.003], and between MMG RMS and total hemoglobin (tHb) saturation [r = -0.31, p = 0.017]. Statistically significant differences in MMG RMS, O2Hb, and tHb saturation occurred during pre- and post-fatigue of FES cycling (p < 0.05). MMG RMS was negatively associated with O2Hb and muscle oxygen derived from NIRS. MMG and NIRS sensors showed good inter-correlations, suggesting a promising use of MMG for characterizing metabolic fatigue at the muscle oxygenation level during FES cycling in individuals with SCI.

The operational CMEMS wind wave forecasting system of the Black Sea

ABSTRACT Accurate wind wave data is essential for ship navigation, safety at sea, and offshore energy production. Access to real-time and forecast wave data, with quality metrics, is vital for operational services. The Copernicus Marine Environment Monitoring Service (CMEMS) operational wave forecasting system of the Black Sea relies on the third-generation WAve Model (WAM). It offers a 1-day hindcast and 10-day forecast at 2.5 km spatial and 1-hour temporal resolutions. The model is driven by ECMWF IFS010 winds as well as surface currents and sea surface heights from a hydrodynamic model. The model's validation against satellite and buoy data indicates good overall performance. For two-year satellite significant wave heights, error statistics include a root mean square difference (RMSD) of 27 cm, a bias of – 16 cm, a scatter index of 0.22, and a correlation coefficient of 0.93. Wave buoy comparisons show a RMSD of 1.09 s for the TM02 period and a 30.5° standard deviation of the mean direction. The model performs well during storm events and provides reliable wave forecasts for up to four days, despite slightly underestimating the significant wave height. The driving wind fields generally perform well, but assessments reveal shortcomings along the coasts.