bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Development and psychometric properties of Clinical Learning Environment Scale for Chinese nursing students
Authors: XU Yun , ZHENG Yi , Hui-Mei WANG , Fang HUANG
Published: August 2023

Objective
To develop a clinical learning environment scale for Chinese nursing students and test its reliability and validity.
Methods
Based on Moos social environment theory, qualitative interviews and expert consultations were used to develop the pre-test version of the Chinese Nursing Students' Clinical Learning Environment Scale. With a convenience sampling method, 255 and 1582 Chinese nursing students were selected as the prediction and validation samples from December 2022 to March 2023. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses were conducted to determine the final version of the scale and test its reliability and validity.
Results
The scale consisted of 19 items. Exploratory factor analysis extracted three characteristic roots in terms of goal oriented, interpersonal relation, and learning support, which explained 71.500% of the total variance. The results of the confirmatory factor analysis showed that the GFI was 0.848, AGFI was 0.806, RMSEA was 0.090, RMR was 0.041, NFI was 0.910, IFI was 0.916, CFI was 0.916, PCFI was 0.798, and PNFI was 0.793. The reliability values of the three dimensions were 0.870, 0.858, and 0.943, respectively, and the convergent validity values were 0.574, 0.603, and 0.625, respectively.
Conclusion
The reliability and validity of the dimensions of the Chinese Nursing Students' Clinical Learning Environment Scale are acceptable, which can be used as a useful tool to measure the clinical learning environment of Chinese nursing students.
Inflammatory bowel disease may increase the risk of COPD: a two-sample Mendelian randomization study
Authors: Chen Shiyu , Li Xiaojian , Xie Rongfang , Qiu Guirong , Liu Zhongyong , Lan Zhihui
Published: August 2023

Background: The potential relationship between IBD and COPD remains uncertain. necessitating further exploration of their causal relationship. To address this, we employed Mendelian randomization in the present study to investigate the potential causal link between IBD and COPD and provide valuable insights into their interconnectedness.
Methods: We performed a comprehensive two-sample Mendelian randomization analysis utilizing extensive genetic summary data obtained from genome-wide association studies (GWAS).Our study utilized a comprehensive dataset comprising a substantial cohort, including 12,366 ulcerative colitis (UC) cases and 33,609 controls, 25,042 IBD cases and 34,915 controls, and 12,194 Crohn's disease (CD) cases and 28,072 controls. The COPD dataset consisted of 58,925 individuals from various GWAS studies. Our main analyses utilized the IVW method with a random-effects model, complemented by WME and MR-Egger approaches.
Results: Our study demonstrated a significant correlation between genetic predisposition to IBDand the risk of developing COPD, as evidenced by the IVW(odds ratio [OR] = 1.02, 95% CI = 1.00-1.04, p = 0.013). Consistent results were obtained using the WME (OR = 1.02, 95% CI = 1.00-1.04, p = 0.032) and MR-Egger (OR = 1.02, 95% CI = 1.00-1.04, p = 0.032) methods. Importantly, our analysis did not reveal any evidence of directional pleiotropy between IBD and rosacea, as confirmed by both funnel plots and MR-Egger intercepts. Subgroup analysis further indicated a robust association between Crohn's disease (CD) and rosacea (IVW: OR = 1.01, 95% CI = 1.00-1.02, p = 0.008), while the causal association between ulcerative colitis (UC) and rosacea did not reach statistical significance (IVW: OR = 1.01, 95% CI = 0.99-1.02, p = 0.169). These findings provide compelling evidence supporting the link between IBD and COPD, shedding light on potential pathogenic mechanisms underlying these conditions.
Conclusions: Our comprehensive MR analysis provides robust evidence of a unidirectional positive association between IBD and COPD, with varying degrees of association observed among different subtypes of IBD. Notably, variations in the SMAD3 gene may play a pivotal role in the increased risk of COPD among individuals with IBD. Recognizing the elevated occurrence of COPD in IBD patients holds significant clinical implications, highlighting the importance of early identification, monitoring, patient education, preventive measures, and collaborative treatment approaches involving healthcare professionals. The TGF-β1/SMAD3 pathway could serve as a promising therapeutic target for managing IBD complicated with COPD.
Cultural adaptation and validation of the Sinhala version of the Frail Non- Disabled Tool (FiND)
Authors: Silva Shehan , Ramadasa Udayangani , Lekamwasam Sarath
Published: August 2023

Background
Frailty, a common geriatric syndrome of vulnerability, is associated with a decline in health and function. The most problematic expression of population ageing is associated with weakness, slowing, decreased energy, lower activity and when severe, unintended weight loss. Frailty is not consciously identified in clinical practice and is not widely studied in Sri Lanka. A validated tool for screening frailty in a busy clinical setting is therefore much needed. This study was done as a part of validating the Sinhala version of the Frail Non-Disabled (S-FiND) tool.
Methods
The FiND tool was translated from English to Sinhala by two translators, blinded to each other. They were combined and translated back to the original language by two separate translators. After verifying the content validity, unambiguity and clarity of items in a focused group discussion, the pre-final version was piloted among 30 volunteers. After assessing the psychometric properties of the pre-final version, the final version was tested among 100 adults older than 65 years from the Colombo South Teaching Hospital. The tool was compared with Fried’s frailty phenotype taken as the gold standard.
Results
Data were analysed for the agreement with the reference standard, the Fried Phenotype. The mean (SD) age of subjects was 73.9 (7.8) years. The overall time taken to fill out the questionnaire was 2 min. The agreement (Kappa) between the S-FiND questionnaire and the Fried phenotype was 0.7 (P < 001). The sensitivity and specificity of FiND in detecting frailty were 92% and 74%, respectively. The agreements (Kappa) between the individual items of S-FiND; involuntary loss of weight/ more than 4.5 kg over one year, the feeling of effort/ not getting going and level of physical activity, with the Fried phenotype, were 0.28 (p = 0.001), 0.06 (p = 0.045) and 0.339 (p < 0.001). respectively. When subjects were categorized frail and robust based on FiND, frail subjects reported a higher incidence of falls (50%) during the previous 12 months, compared to those robust (13%) (p < 0.001 for Chi stat)
Conclusion
The S-FiND is a reliable, valid and well-received tool that can be used in detecting the frailty of non-disabled Sinhala-speaking older adults.
PDPN+ CAFs facilitate the motility of OSCC cells by inhibiting ferroptosis via transferring exosomal lncRNA FTX
Authors: Xia Juan , Li Yaoyin , Ma Zeyi , Li Weiyu , Xu Xiaoqing , Shen Peiqi , Zhang Sien , Cheng Bin
Published: August 2023

Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) are abundant and heterogeneous in tumor microenvironment. Cross-talk between cancer cells and CAFs results in cancer progression. Here, we demonstrated that a distinct cancer-associated fibroblasts with podoplanin (PDPN) positive expression (PDPN+ CAFs) was correlated with poor survival in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). PDPN+ CAFs promoted the progression of OSCC by transferring exosomal lncRNA FTX to OSCC cells. Mechanistically, FTX bound to flap endonuclease-1 (FEN1), forming an RNA‒protein complex. FTX enhanced promoter demethylation of FEN1 by recruiting ten-eleven translocation-2 (TET2). In addition, FTX/FEN1 axis promoted OSCC cells motility by inhibiting ferroptosis. In xenograft experiments, RSL-3, a ferroptosis-inducing agent, suppressed the tumorigenesis potential of FEN1-overexpressed OSCC cells. Furthermore, ACSL4 was confirmed to participate in the motility promotion induced by FEN1 overexpression. FEN1 could bound to promoter region of Acyl-CoA synthetase long-chain family member 4 (ACSL4) and then inhibit ferroptosis in OSCC cells. Our study reveals that PDPN+ CAFs promote the invasiveness of OSCC cells by inhibiting ferroptosis through FTX/FEN1/ACSL4 signaling cascade. PDPN+ CAFs may serve as a novel potential therapeutic target for OSCC.
Leveraging circulating microbiome signatures to predict tumor immune microenvironment and prognosis of patients with non-small cell lung cancer
Authors: Zhou Xiaohan , You Liting , Xin Zhaodan , Su Huiting , Zhou Juan , Ma Ying
Published: August 2023

Background
Accumulating evidence supports the significant role of human microbiome in development and therapeutic response of tumors. Circulating microbial DNA is non-invasive and could show a general view of the microbiome of host, making it a promising biomarker for cancers. However, whether circulating microbiome is associated with prognosis of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and its potential mechanisms on tumor immune microenvironment still remains unknown.
Methods
The blood microbiome data and matching tumor RNA-seq data of TCGA NSCLC patients were obtained from Poore’s study and UCSC Xena. Univariate and multivariate Cox regression analysis were used to identify circulating microbiome signatures associated with overall survival (OS) and construct the circulating microbial abundance prognostic scoring (MAPS) model. Nomograms integrating clinical characteristics and circulating MAPS scores were established to predict OS rate of NSCLC patients. Integrated analysis of multi-omics was used to deciphered the tumor microenvironment landscape of patients in circulating MAPS-high and MAPS-low groups. Finally, the predictive value of circulating MAPS on the efficacy of immunotherapy and chemotherapy were assessed.
Results
A circulating MAPS prediction model consisting of 14 circulating microbes was constructed and had an independent prognostic value for NSCLC. The integration of circulating MAPS into nomograms may improve the prognosis predictive power. Multi-omics analysis revealed potential interactions between prognostic circulating microbiome and tumor immune microenvironment. Especially, intratumor plasma cells and humoral immune response were enriched in circulating MAPS-low group, while intratumor CD4 + Th2 cells and proliferative related pathways were enriched in MAPS-high group. Finally, drug sensitivity analysis indicated the potential of circulating MAPS as a predictor of chemotherapy efficacy.
Conclusion
A circulating MAPS prediction model was constructed successfully and showed great prognostic value for NSCLC. Our study provides new insights of interactions between microbes, tumors and immunity, and may further contribute to precision medicine for NSCLC.
Larvicidal potential and molecular docking analysis of metabolites from new Egyptian bacterial strains as effective biological control agents against Culex pipiens (L: Diptera)
Authors: Mansour Tokaa , Radwan Wafaa H. , Mansour Menna , Gomaa Mohamed , Shepl Mohamed , Farouk Farouk , Soliman Ahmed G. , ElHalim Basma T. Abd- , El-Senosy Mohamed M.K. , bakry Ashraf , Ebeed Naglaa , Alsenosy Neima K. , Elhariry Hesham , galal Ahmed , El-Sayed Salwa M. , Adly Eslam , Abu-Hussien Samah H.
Published: August 2023

Mosquito control in Egypt depends on applying chemical synthetic pesticides that impact negatively on human health and the environment as well as the development of antibiotic and chemical resistance. This study aims to control the 3rd and 4th instars of Culex pipines larvae using four bacterial strains. According to Phenotypic and molecular identification, the four isolates were identified as Bacillus subtilis MICUL D2023, Serratia marcescens MICUL A2023, Streptomyces albus LARVICID, and Pseudomonas fluorescens MICUL B2023. All strains were deposited in GenBank under accession numbers OQ764791, OQ729954, OQ726575, and OQ891356, respectively. Larvicidal activity of all microbial strain metabolites against a field strain of C. pipines explored low LC50 results and reached its lowest values on the 3rd day with values of 6.40, 38.4, and 46.33 for P. fluorescens, S. albus, and S. marcescens, respectively. In addition, metabolites of P. fluorescence were more toxic than those of S. albus, followed by S. marcescens. B. subtilis shows no larvicidal effect on both field and lab mosquito strains. Microscopic alterations of 3rd and 4th instars showed toxic effects on different body parts (thorax, midgut, and anal gills), including losing external hairs, abdominal breakage, and larvae shrinkage, as well as different histological malformations in the digestive tract, midgut, and cortex. GC-MS analysis detected 51, 30, and 32 different active compounds from S. albus, S. marcescens, and P. fluorescens, respectively. GC detected 1, 2-BENZEA2:A52NEDICARBOXYLIC ACID, 2-Cyclohexene-1-carboxylic-acid-5-2-butenyl-methyl ester, and 3 octadecahydro2R3S4Z9Z-11R-12S from S. albus, S. marcesens, and P. fluorescens, respectively. Total protein, Total carbohydrate, and Acetylcholine esterase activity indicated significantly low levels on the 3rd day. All strain metabolites were safe against HSF cell lines. The docking results confirmed the role of the produced metabolites as larvicidal agents and Acetylcholine esterase inhibition. Such a problem need more studies on applying more and more natural pesticides.
The relationship between first-dose antibiotic delay intervals and in-hospital mortality on patients with sepsis
Authors: Zhang Chenhong , Huang Hao , Bai Zhaoqing
Published: August 2023

Background To investigate the association between the time interval of antibiotic use and patient in-hospital mortality on sepsis patients, we quantified the time interval of first antibiotic administration in sepsis patients, namely diagnosis delay and administration delay, and explored the relationship between these delay times and patient prognosis.Methods A retrospective study of 452 patients with sepsis attending the emergency department from January 2020 to December 2022 was conducted to quantify the time interval of first antibiotic use, and use the Logistic analysis to evaluatethe the affect on prognosis and antibiotic use interval in these patients.Results Both delay in diagnosis and delay in administration of antibiotics were associated with in-hospital mortality, but there was no significant difference in diagnostic delay for less than 6 hours or administration delay for less than 3 hours when compared with the paired control group without delay.Conclusions Antibiotic delay in sepsis is associated with patient outcomes, but only for longer delays.There was no significant difference in in-hospital mortality between antibiotics use within 1 hour and 3 hours.
Association of Angiogenesis-Related Gene Mutations with Tumor Microenvironment and their Clinical Significance in Bladder Cancer
Authors: Guo Xiaoxiao , Cao Rui , Hao Gangyue
Published: August 2023

Background: Immunotherapy has emerged as a crucial treatment option for various types of cancer, including bladder cancer (BC). The effectiveness of immunotherapy depends on the intricate interplay between the tumor microenvironment (TME) and cancer cells. Angiogenesis, a key feature of cancer progression, has not been fully understood in relation to clinical outcomes, immune cell infiltration, and the impact on immunotherapy in BC.
Methods: We systematically evaluated the expression patterns of genes in 10 predefined angiogenesis-related gene (ARG) sets using data from TCGA and GEO cohorts, and subsequently investigated the association between angiogenesis and transcriptional profiles, as well as their impact on prognosis and immune cell infiltration. An ARG_Score was developed to quantify the angiogenesis subtypes of individual patients, and its potential for predicting prognosis and therapeutic response in BC was assessed.
Results: ARG mutations were identified to be associated with the clinicopathological characteristics, prognosis, and infiltrating TME of patients. The established ARG_Score was significantly associated with the tumor microenvironment and clinical outcomes. A lower ARG_Score was characterized by elevated immune activation and better overall survival (OS). Moreover, the ARG_Score was markedly correlated with drug susceptibility. A nomogram based on the ARG_Score was shown to have high reliability in predicting the OS of BC.
Conclusion: ARG mutations affect the TME, clinicopathological features and prognosis of BC. Utilizing ARG_Score enables the prediction of patients' response to immunotherapy or chemotherapy and improves the accuracy of prognosis prediction.
Spatial analysis of urban sprawling with an emphasis on ecological infrastructure integrity (Case study: Miandoab City)
Authors: Alemohammad Sayedeh , Nasehi Saeedeh , Alemohammad Ali Asghar , Mehrian Majid Ramezani , Farhadi Reza
Published: August 2023

The sprawling growth of urban settlements is a dominant spatial process in many cities of developing countries. This development's most severe apparent effects are the loss of ecological infrastructure. In this way, consequently, the ecosystem services that have been provided for human settlements for thousands of years will be lost. This research aims to spatially analyze the sprawling growth of Miandoab City with an emphasis on ecological infrastructures. In this regard, first, land cover maps have been prepared. Then the future land cover is simulated and predicted by the CA-MARKOV chain method. Also, the metrics of the number of patches, the patch size, and the patch cohesion of spots have been calculated for all land cover types in the landscape. In addition, the urban expansion intensity in different directions and changes in the density of built land cover have been estimated. According to the findings, Miandoab City has experienced a very sprawling growth until 2023, during which the structural integrity of green infrastructure and bare lands has been severely destroyed in favor of built land cover. The direction of physical-spatial development of the city has been towards the eastern suburbs. Most of the bare lands and intensive growth potential are in these areas. Solutions with three strategies (protective, defensive, and opportunistic) have been presented for balancing physical-spatial development and increasing urban and extra-urban ecological infrastructure integrity.
Facile metabolic reprogramming distinguishes mycobacterial adaptation to hypoxia and starvation:
The role of ketosis in starvation-induced persistence
Authors: Dedon Peter , Davis Nick , Chionh Yok Hian , McBee Megan , Hia Fabian , Ma Duanduan , Liang Cui , Sharaf Mariam , Cai Weiling Maggie , Jumpathong Watthanachai , Levine Stuart , Alonso Sylvie
Published: August 2023

Mycobacteria adapt to infection stresses by entering a reversible non-replicating persistence (NRP) with slow or no cell growth and broad antimicrobial tolerance. Hypoxia and nutrient deprivation are two well-studied stresses commonly used to model the NRP, yet little is known about the molecular differences in mycobacterial adaptation to these distinct stresses that lead to a comparable NRP phenotype. Here we performed a multisystem interrogation of the Mycobacterium bovis BCG (BCG) starvation response, which revealed a coordinated metabolic shift away from the glycolysis of nutrient-replete growth to depletion of lipid stores, lipolysis, and fatty acid ß-oxidation in NRP. This contrasts with BCG’s NRP hypoxia response involving a shift to cholesterol metabolism and triglyceride storage. Our analysis reveals cryptic metabolic vulnerabilities of the starvation-induced NRP state, such as their newfound hypersensitivity to H2O2. These observations pave the way for developing precision therapeutics against these otherwise drug refractory pathogens.
Research on Unbalanced Sample Classification Algorithm Based on Redundant Data Elimination
Authors: YU TINGTING , SUN YU
Published: August 2023

The unlabeled data in multi-user social network is unbalanced, which leads to poor classification in the process of data scheduling and detection. In order to reduce the error rate of unlabeled unbalanced sample data classification in multi-user social network, a method of unlabeled unbalanced sample data classification in multi-user social network based on redundant data elimination is proposed. The subspace fusion filter detection model is used to filter redundant data and suppress anti-interference on the prior features of randomly sampled unlabeled unbalanced sample data of multi-user social network, the statistical average analysis and distributed fusion detection method of autocorrelation features are used to extract the clustering convergence feature parameters of unlabeled unbalanced sample data of multi-user social network, and the constrained evolution method of multi-level iterative regression analysis is used to estimate the classification feature quantity of unlabeled unbalanced sample data. The characteristic parameters of the classification target are input into the SVM classifier, and the adaptive weight distribution control of SVM classification is carried out in combination with the dynamic learning algorithm, which improves the adaptability of data classification and realizes the optimal classification of unlabeled unbalanced sample data in multi-user social networks. The simulation results show that this algorithm can effectively reduce the interference of redundant data when classifying unlabeled unbalanced sample data of multi-user social network, and the fidelity rate of data classification is high, and the error rate is low, which improves the dynamic data management ability of multi-user social network.
Analysis of high temperature trends and spatial and temporal distribution characteristics in Inner Mongolia in the last fifty years
Authors: Wang Shaohui , Zhou Chunjiang , Li Hui , Huang Gang , Liu Dongwei
Published: August 2023

Using the daily maximum temperature and ECMWF Reanalysis v5 (ERA5) reanalysis data of 11 municipal meteorological stations in Inner Mongolia in summer, the comfort index (33.5°C), a high temperature threshold for the Inner Mongolia Region, was redefined by the percentile method and the Climatology method. The weather with maximum temperature ≥ 33.5°C was statistically analyzed and the spatial and temporal distribution of extreme high temperature in Inner Mongolia during the summer of 1973–2022 was studied. The results show that the average temperature in Inner Mongolia has increased in the past 50 years; the total number of high temperature days in the 23 years studied was 1179, with the highest number of high temperature days in Alashan League (265) and the lowest number of high temperature days in Hulunbeier City (18); The total number of hot days in Inner Mongolia from low to high is in the middle, east and west. The findings of the study can provide reference for the research on high temperature and agriculture and health in Inner Mongolia Region.
Pancreas-sparing tumor resection for peripancreatic paraganglioma: A case series of six patients
Authors: Sunakawa Taiki , Kobayashi Shin , Kudo Masashi , Sugimoto Motokazu , Kobayashi Tatsushi , Gotohda Naoto
Published: August 2023

Background Paragangliomas(PGLs) located around the pancreas are rare and challenging to diagnose preoperatively. Tumor resection with pancreatectomy is often performed for peripancreatic PGL. However, pancreas-sparing tumor resection can be indicated with an accurate preoperative diagnosis.Methods This case series included six patients with pathologically diagnosed peripancreatic PGL resected at the National Cancer Center Hospital East between 2002 and 2020. The clinical data of the patients were retrospectively collected from our medical records.Results Five of six patients were suspected of peripancreatic PGL on imaging studies due to the fat plane identified between the hypervascular tumor and pancreas, and subsequently diagnosed with PGL preoperatively based on elevated urinary catecholamine levels and/or metaiodobenzylguanidine scintigraphy results without tumor biopsy. All patients underwent pancreas-sparing tumor resection with negative surgical margins, and they did not develop postoperative complications related to potential damage to the pancreas.Conclusions A fat plane between the hypervascular tumor and pancreas on imaging studies and hormone levels are key findings for obtaining an accurate preoperative diagnosis of peripancreatic PGL, which can be managed with pancreas-sparing tumor resection.
Growth of fungi and yeasts in food production waste streams: a bioremediation feasibility study
Authors: Bansfield Danielle , Spilling Kristian , Mikola Anna , Piiparinen Jonna
Published: August 2023

Food production produces large amounts of nutrient-rich waste streams which are disposed of - a wasted opportunity given nutrients such as phosphorus and nitrogen are in short supply. A more circular approach would be to reuse these waste streams. Fungi and yeasts are possible candidates as they require lots of organic carbon (which is especially high in food production waste streams) for growth, producing value-added biomass. Here, we determined the growth of seven fungi and three yeasts in five different food production waste streams. Initial tests were done to find the most appropriate waste stream for growth. All species were then cultured in the waste stream best suited for growth. Oxygen uptake was measured to gauge metabolic activity and as a proxy for growth rate. Pelletization’s effect on metabolic rates was tested on the most pellet-forming species, by adding agar to inhibit pellet formation. The most promising waste stream for yeast/fungal growth was cheese whey (Whey). Pellet inhibition (i.e., filamentous growth) resulted in increased metabolism in the confectionary bakery waste stream but decreased metabolism in Whey. The best growing species, Geotrichum candidum, has potential commercial value as a producer of enzymes, biochemicals and lipids and could provide added value while improving the circularity of water and nutrients in food production.
Optimal Allocation of DSTATCOM to Improve Operational Performance of Microgrid Network with Plug-in Electrical Vehicle Charging Station
Authors: Yasmeena . , Lakshmi Shubh , Tewari Somesh Vinayak
Published: August 2023

Microgrids (MGs) are getting installed with plug-in electric vehicle charging stations (PEVCSs) to provide charging services to plug-in electric vehicles. However, the integration of PEVCSs greatly affects the operational performance of MGs. This paper presents optimization- and exhaustive search-based approaches for optimal allocation of DSTATCOM to improve the operational performance of an existing MG with PEVCS. A two-stage optimization problem is formulated. In stage 1 optimization, the total cost of MG planning which includes installation costs, operation and maintenance costs, generation costs, emission costs, and cost of energy loss, is minimized to optimally allocate generating units. In stage 2 optimization, the operational performance index of MG which is a weighted sum of the voltage deviation index and energy loss index is minimized to optimally allocate PEVCS and DSTATCOM. Further, exhaustive search-based approaches are developed to know the impact of the placement of a PEVCS in different locations of MG and to know whether the placement of DSTATCOM in the same location of PEVCS or in a different location is better for improving the operational performance of MG with PEVCS. The standard 33-bus network is used to validate the approaches. The simulation results show that the optimal placement of DSTATCOM significantly improves the operational performance of MG with PEVCS.
Comparative putative metabolites profiling of Tachypleus gigas and Carcinoscorpius rotundicauda hemocytes stimulated with lipopolysaccharide
Authors: jasni Nurhana , Wee Chee Lee , Ismail Noraznawati , Yaacob Nik Soriani , Othman Nurulhasanah
Published: August 2023

Horseshoe crabs are among the most studied invertebrates due to their unique, innate immune system and biological processes. The metabolomics study was conducted on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated and non-stimulated hemocytes isolated from the Malaysian Tachypleus gigas and Carcinoscorpius rotundicauda. LC-TOF-MS, multivariate analyses, Principal Component Analysis (PCA), and Partial least squares-discriminant analysis (PLS-DA) were included in this study to profile the metabolites. A total of 37 metabolites were identified to be differentially abundant and were selected based on VIP>1. However, of the 37 putative metabolites, only 23 were found to be significant with ANOVA at p< 0.05. The metabolites were identified using several databases, and the literature review of the metabolites was reported in the manuscript. Thus, this study has provided further insights into the putative metabolites' presence in the hemocytes of horseshoe crabs that are stimulated and non-stimulated with LPS and their abundance in each species. Several putative metabolites showed they have medicinal values from previous studies.
Does vaginal bacterial colonization contribute to preterm birth in women with asymptomatic shortened cervix?
Authors: Steetskamp Joscha , Zander Mara , Laufs Valeria , Elger Tania , Hasenburg Annette , Skala Christine Elisabeth
Published: August 2023

Purpose
The aim of this study is to describe the typical microbial spectrum and the influence of distinct vaginal infections on preterm birth in pregnancies affected by cervical incompetence.
Methods
327 patients were admitted because of asymptomatic shortening of the cervix in the second and third trimester of pregnancy. Clinical data like age, cervical length, gestational age at admission and at delivery and vaginal microbiologic findings were collected and analyzed.
Results
The spectrum of germs in the vagina revealed seven different distinct species, the most common bacteria were Ureaplasma spp. and E. coli. In 327 included patients, 217 revealed a bacterial colonization, 110 did not. Most common bacteria in women with preterm birth before 34 weeks were Ureaplasma spp., while E. coli was most common in women undergoing preterm birth after 34 weeks. Nevertheless, the rates of occurrence of these bacterial taxa were not significantly different between who underwent preterm birth to those who did not
Conclusions
This study gives an overview over the vaginal bacterial colonization in pregnant women with cervical incompetence. The clinical relevance of vaginal bacterial colonization remains unclear.
Tunneling nanotubes (TNT) between free living amoebae: a new route for microbial resistance and pathogenesis?
Authors: costa damien , Lefebvre Marion , Benard Magalie , Razakandrainibe Romy , Villena Isabelle , Favennec Loic , Galas Ludovic
Published: August 2023

Free-living amoebae (FLA) have multiple roles in the ecology of microorganisms. Tunneling nanotubes (TNTs) are cytoplasmic bridges now considered as a major pathway of cell-to-cell communication for eukaryotic mammalian cells. Interestingly, TNTs can be hijacked by microorganisms to promote their intercellular spreading. Here, type 1 and type 2 of TNTs were observed between trophozoites of Acanthamoeba castellanii. Both types of TNTs contained actin while tubulin was only detected in TNT1. Hovering freely above substratum, TNT1 connected isolated long distance motile amoebae with a length up to 82 µm. In contrast, TNT2 (< 5µm) bridged short distance between FLA trophozoites. The mechanism of TNT formation in amoebae is likely to be through cell dislodgement. To our knowledge, this is the first time that TNTs were observed between unicellular eukaryotes. It suggest a primitive mode of cell connectivity and upset current knowledge. This opens many study opportunities including microbial exchange and resistance.
Multi Agent Collaborative Search Many-objective Optimization Algorithm
Authors: Cao Li , Wang Maocai , Dai Guangming , Vasile Massimiliano
Published: August 2023

MACS (Multi Agent Collaborative Search) is a creative multi-objective optimization algorithm which is effective for handling standard benchmarks and real engineering problems. It has a long improving history and the latest version is Improved archiving and search strategies for Multi Agent Collaborative Search (MACS2.1). But its ability on solving many-objective optimization problems is not good enough. This paper extends the original MACS2.1 to improve its performance to treat those problems and proposes a new multi agent collaborative search many-objective optimization algorithm (named Ma-MACS). Firstly, a more reasonable computing resources allocation approach (utility function) is applied to balance the quality for each individual. Secondly, a neighborhood updating process is embedded to increase evolution speed. Next, more mutation operators and related choosing strategy are applied to enhance the quality of the offspring. Finally, a weight vectors adjusting procedure is introduced to replace the inappropriate vectors. The new algorithm is compared with some state-of-art algorithms and MACS2.1 on the test cases.
Different effects of social intention on movement kinematics when interacting with a human or virtual agent
Authors: Gigliotti Maria Francesca , Desrosiers Paul-Audain , Ott Laurent , Daoudi Mohamed , Coello Yann
Published: August 2023

The execution of object-directed motor actions is known to be influenced by the intention to interact with others. In this study, we tested whether the effects of social intention on the kinematics of object-directed actions depended on whether the task was performed in the presence of a human or a virtual confederate. In two experiments, participants had to grasp a glass and place it to a new position, with either a personal intention (to fill the glass themselves using a bottle) or a social one (to have the glass filled by the human confederate or the virtual agent using the bottle). Experiment 1 showed that the kinematics of the object-directed actions was modulated by the social intention but only when interacting with a human confederate. Experiment 2 showed that the effects of social intention on object-directed actions performance can be improved using feedback-based learning. Specifically, participants proved able to progressively adapt their motor performances to express social intention to a virtual confederate as well. These findings emphasize the importance of the modulatory role of social intention on non-verbal motor behaviour, and enrich the understanding of the interaction with virtual agents.
Characteristics of incidental prostate cancer in the United States
Authors: Scheipner Lukas , Incesu Reha-Baris , Morra Simone , Baudo Andrea , Assad Anis , Jannello Letizia , Siech Carolin , de Angelis Mario , Barletta Francesco , Tian Zhe , Saad Fred , Shariat Shahrokh F. , Briganti Alberto , Chun Felix , Tilki Derya , Longo Nicola , Carmignani Luca , De Cobelli Ottavio , Ahyai Sascha , Karakiewicz Pierre
Published: August 2023

Background: Data regarding North-American incidental (cT1a/b) prostate cancer (PCa) patients is scarce. To address this, incidental PCa characteristics (age, PSA values at diagnosis, Gleason score [GS]), subsequent treatment and cancer-specific mortality rates were explored.Methods: Incidental PCa patients were identified within the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database (2004–2015). Descriptive statistics, annual percentage changes (EAPC), Kaplan-Meier plots, as well as Cox regression models were used.Results: Of all 344,031 newly diagnosed non metastatic PCa patients, 5,155 harbored incidental PCa. Annual rates of incidental PCa increased from 1.9% (2004) to 2.5% (2015; p = 0.02). PSA values at diagnosis were 0–4 ng/ml in 48% vs. 4–10 ng/ml in 31% vs. > 10 ng/ml in 21%. Of all incidental PCa patients, 64% harbored GS 6 vs. 25% GS 7 vs. 11% GS ≥ 8. Of all incidental PCa patients, 47% were aged < 70, 35% were between 70–79 and 18% were ≥ 80 years. Subsequently, 71% underwent no local treatment (NLT) vs. 16% radical prostatectomy (RP) vs. 14% radiotherapy (RT). Proportions of patients with NLT increased from 65 to 81% (p = 0.0001) over the study period (2004–2015). CSM-free survival at six years ranged from 58% in GS ≥ 8 patients with NLT to 100% in patients who harbored GS 6 and underwent either RP or RT.Conclusion: Incidental PCa in the United States is rare. Most incidental PCa patients are diagnosed in men aged less than 80 years of age. The majority of incidental PCa patients undergo NLT and enjoy excellent CSM.
Non-cytotoxic carbon nanotubes bioconjugated with fucosyltransferase 4-derived peptides modulate macrophage polarization in vitro
Authors: Guzmán-Mendoza J. J. , Sánchez-Ramírez B. , Cigarroa-Mayorga O. E. , Orrantia-Borunda E. , Talamás-Rohana P.
Published: August 2023

In recent years, nanotechnology has had an important development in nanoparticle-based therapies. Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are among the most valuable nanoparticles, given their physicochemical properties and functionalization possibilities; therefore, they are proposed as peptide carriers in immunotherapies. Immunotherapy has been explored as a promising therapy in ovarian cancer (OvCa), and it has been reported that macrophage polarization into M1 and M2 phenotypes plays a pivotal role in OvCa initiation, progression, and metastasis, providing therapeutic targets for macrophage-targeted treatment. In this work, we explored the initial stages for the design of CNTs-based immunotherapy for ovarian cancer (OvCa) using fucosyltransferase-4-derived T cell epitopes conjugated with CNTs (f-CNTs). Their cytotoxicity and biological interactions were analyzed in macrophages (J774A.1) and human ovarian cancer cells (SKOV-3). Here we showed that f-CNTs do not show cytotoxicity signs in concentrations < 6 µg/mL; additionally, they induced morphological changes and activation in macrophages, time-dependent uptake in lysosomes, production of M1-like cytokines, upregulation of CD80, CD86, and MHC II, and downregulation of ARG-1. In conclusion, f-CNTs exhibited biocompatibility in both cell lines and displayed M1-like polarization in macrophages, allowing us to propose them as a peptide carrier system for macrophage activation and polarization for being explored in ovarian cancer immunotherapies.
Lexicalization of Motion Events the in Physical Environments from the Cognitive Perspective in Vietnamese
Authors: Toan Ly Ngoc
Published: August 2023

The present research endeavors to examine the distinct contextual settings of physicality within which motion events are articulated by Vietnamese speakers. The underlying theoretical framework of this study draws upon Talmy's lexicalization patterns, offering a solid foundation for analysis. To investigate this phenomenon, a corpus of motion event verbs was compiled from ten narratives and subsequently subjected to comprehensive scrutiny using the software tools Wordsmith and Endnote. The empirical findings of this investigation reveal that within the aerial domain, motion events are primarily expressed through the utilization of path-lexicalized verbs. Conversely, within the aquatic and terrestrial realms, these events are predominantly conveyed by employing manner-lexicalized verbs. To be more precise, Vietnamese speakers exhibit a proclivity towards the use of manner-lexicalized verbs when expressing motion, as opposed to path-lexicalized verbs. It is hoped that this study will make a valuable contribution to the field of Vietnamese linguistic typology by dissecting the semantic attributes inherent in these two distinct categories of motion verbs.
The metagenomic characterization of bacterial community in aquacultured Shrimp Penaeus monodon
Authors: S DINI CHANDRAN C , SIVADASAN REKHA
Published: August 2023

Aquaculture has grown rapidly during the last few decades due to research and developmental activities aiming at various aspects of aquaculture. The use of microorganisms in aquaculture as environmental biomarkers, bioremediators, probiotics, and as a direct food source for the cultured species has expanded further in the last few decades. However, we are still unaware of the various microbial species thriving within the aquaculture systems and their specific roles. Evidence has revealed that the diversity of microorganisms in aquaculture systems is far from being elucidated. Metagenomics is the study of genetic material recovered directly from the environmental sample. It is a culture-independent approach that provides an ample opportunity to discover the unexplored microbial community. The knowledge of bacterial communities in the brackish shrimp farming in Kerala is still insufficient.16S rRNA gene-based high-throughput sequencing revealed distinct and diverse microbial communities in the analyzed sample. Analysis of the results showed a high abundance of Betaproteobacteria, followed by Alphaproteobacteria, Clostridia, Actinobacteria, Gammaproteobacteria and Bacilli in the metagenome retrieved from the gut sample. Unclassified bacteria also contributed a significant portion of the metagenome. Microbes that play essential roles in nutrient cycling and mineralization of organic compounds such as Bacteroidetes, Planctomycetes, Gammaproteobacteria, Firmicutes, Cyanobacteria, and Actinobacteria could also be identified. Due to the strong influence of the gut microbiota on fish health, dominant bacterial species in the gut are strong candidates for probiotics. This study aimed to characterize the gut microbiota of giant tiger shrimp, Penaeus monodon. These findings provide valuable information on the microbial community and contribute to control the diseases in shrimp farms.
Tumor analysis of MMR genes in Lynch-like syndrome: challenges associated to results interpretation
Authors: Pineda Marta , Rofes Paula , Dueñas Nuria , Valle Jesús del , Navarro Matilde , Balmaña Judith , Cajal Teresa Ramon y , Tuset Noemí , Castillo Carmen , González Sara , Brunet Joan , Capellá Gabriel , Lázaro Conxi
Published: August 2023

Up to 70% of suspected Lynch syndrome patients harboring MMR deficient tumors lack identifiable germline pathogenic variants in MMR genes, being referred to as Lynch-like syndrome (LLS). Previous studies have reported biallelic somatic MMR inactivation in 15–95% LLS-associated tumors. However, translating tumor testing results into patient management remains controversial. Our aim is to assess the challenges associated to the implementation of tumoral analyses in routine genetic testing workflows. Here we present the clinical characterization of 229 LLS patients. MMR testing was performed in 39 available tumors, and results were analyzed using two variant allele frequency (VAF) thresholds (≥ 5% and ≥ 10%). More biallelic somatic MMR inactivating events were identified at VAF ≥ 5% than ≥ 10% (35.9% vs. 25.6%), although the rate of non-concordant results regarding immunohistochemical pattern increased (30.8% vs. 20.5%). Standardized protocols for the analysis and interpretation of tumoral MMR testing are needed to improve management of LLS individuals.
Cr(II) and Cr(III) NCN pincer complexes: Synthesis, structure, and catalytic reactivity
Authors: Käfer Matthias G. , Eder Wolfgang , Pecak Jan , Stöger Berthold , Pignitter Marc , Veiros Luis F. , Kirchner Karl Anton
Published: August 2023

The synthesis, characterization and reactivity of several new Cr(II) and Cr(III) complexes featuring an NCN pincer ligand with an arene backbone connected to amine donors NEt2 and NiPr2via CH2-linkers is described. Reacting the in situ lithiated ligand precursor N(C-Br)NCH2-Et (1) with [CrCl3(THF)3] resulted in the formation of the Cr(III) complex trans-[Cr(κ3NCN-NCNCH2-Et)(Cl)2(THF)] (3). Upon reaction of lithiated N(C-Br)NCH2-iPr (2) with a suspension of anhydrous CrCl2, the Cr(II) complex [Cr(κ2NC-NCNCH2-iPr)2] (4) is formed featuring two NCN ligands bound in κ2NC-fashion. In contrast, when lithiated 2 is reacted with a homogeneous solution of anhydrous CrX2 (X = Cl, Br), complexes [Cr(κ3NCN-NCNCH2-iPr)X] (5a,b) are obtained. Treatment of 5a with 1 equiv of PhCH2MgCl and LiCH2SiMe3 afforded the alkyl complexes [Cr(κ3NCN-NCNCH2-iPr)(CH2Ph)] (6) and [Cr(κ3NCN-NCNCH2-iPr)(CH2SiMe3)] (7). All Cr(II) complexes exhibit effective magnetic moments in the range of 4.7–4.9 µB which is indicative for d4 high spin systems. If a solution of lithiated 2 is treated with CrCl2, followed by addition of an excess of Na[HB(Et)3], the dimeric complex [Cr(κ2NC-NCNCH2-iPr)(µ2-H)]2 (8) is obtained bearing two bridging hydride ligands. [Cr(κ3NCN-NCNCH2-iPr)(CH2SiMe3)] (7) turned out to be catalytically active for the hydrosilylation of ketones at room temperature with a catalyst loading of 1 mol%. X-ray structures of all complexes are presented.
Curcumin enhances elvitegravir concentration and alleviates oxidative stress and inflammatory response
Authors: Godse Sandip , Zhou Lina , Sinha Namita , Kodidela Sunitha , Kumar Asit , Singh Udai P , Kumar Santosh
Published: August 2023

In this study, we investigated the potential of using curcumin (CUR) as an adjuvant to enhance the delivery of antiretroviral drug elvitegravir (EVG) across the BBB, and alleviate oxidative stress and inflammatory response, which are the major hallmark of HIV neuropathogenesis. In a mouse model, we compared the biodistribution of EVG alone and in combination with CUR using intraperitoneal (IP) and intranasal (IN) routes. IN administration showed a significantly higher accumulation of EVG in the brain, while both IP and IN routes led to increased EVG levels in the lungs and liver. The addition of CUR further enhanced EVG brain delivery, especially when administered via the IN route. The expression of neural marker proteins, synaptophysin, L1CAM, NeuN, and GFAP was not significantly altered by EVG or CUR alone or their combination, indicating preserved neural homeostasis. After establishing improved brain concentration and safety of CUR-adjuvanted EVG in mice in acute treatment, we studied the effect of this treatment in HIV-infected U1 macrophages. In U1 macrophages, we also observed that the addition of CUR enhanced the intracellular concentration of EVG. The total area under the curve (AUCtot) for EVG was significantly higher in the presence of CUR. We also evaluated the effects of CUR on oxidative stress and antioxidant capacity in EVG-treated U1 macrophages. CUR reduced oxidative stress, as evidenced by decreased reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels and elevated antioxidant enzyme expression. Furthermore, the combination of CUR and EVG exhibited a significant reduction in proinflammatory cytokines (TNFα, IL-1β, IL-18) and chemokines (RANTES, MCP-1) in U1 macrophages. Additionally, western blot analysis confirmed the decreased expression of IL-1β and TNF-α in EVG + CUR-treated cells. These findings suggest the potential of CUR to enhance EVG permeability to the brain and subsequent efficacy of EVG, including HIV neuropathogenesis.