bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Tamoxifen or aromatase inhibitors with ovarian function suppression in pre-menopausal stage I-III lobular breast cancer
Authors: Record Helena , Clelland Elle , Rothschild Harriet T. , Kaur Mandeep , Chien A. Jo , Melisko Michelle , Rugo Hope S. , Mujir Firdows , Huppert Laura , Mukhtar Rita A.
Published: October 2023

While adjuvant treatment with the selective-estrogen receptor modulator (SERM) tamoxifen has been the standard of care for pre-menopausal patients with hormone receptor (HR) positive breast cancer, recent trials showed a benefit of aromatase inhibitors (AI) and ovarian function suppression (OFS) for some patients. The approach to endocrine therapy has not been well studied in pre-menopausal patients with invasive lobular carcinoma (ILC). We identified 202 pre-menopausal patients with HR positive stage I-III ILC in an institutional database. We investigated factors associated with endocrine therapy type and determined changes in systemic therapy from 1990–2021. We evaluated associations between endocrine therapy type and disease-free survival (DFS) with a multivariate Cox proportional hazards model. Of 202 patients, most (69.3%) were prescribed a SERM (99.3% tamoxifen). Those who received an AI had significantly higher stage disease. Over time, use of OFS and AI increased significantly in stage II or III cases (from 0% in 1990 to 56% after 2015 for stage II; from 0% to 80% after 2015 for stage III). Concurrently, adjuvant chemotherapy use significantly decreased in stage II cases (from 67% to 19%). In an exploratory multivariable model, longer duration of AI compared to tamoxifen was associated with significantly improved DFS (HR 0.31; 95% CI 0.11–0.86; p = 0.025). While most pre-menopausal patients received adjuvant tamoxifen, the use of OFS and AIs increased significantly over time. The association between AI use and improved DFS may be consistent with prior randomized trials and warrants further investigation into predictive factors to guide treatment selection.
Adsorption of phenol using adsorbent derived from Saccharum officinarum biomass: optimization, isotherms, kinetics, and thermodynamic study
Authors: Darla Upendra R. , Lataye Dilip H. , Kumar Anuj , Pandit Bidhan , Ubaidullah Mohd
Published: October 2023

The present research shows the application of Taguchi's design of experiment approach to optimize the process parameters for the removal of phenol onto surface of Saccharum officinarum biomass activated carbon (SBAC) from an aqueous solution to maximize adsorption capacity of SBAC. The effect of adsorption parameters viz. adsorbent dose (m), temperature (T), initial concentration (C0) and mixing time (t) on response characteristics i.e., adsorption capacity (qt) has been studied at three levels by using L9 orthogonal array (OA) which further analyzed by variance analysis (ANOVA) for adsorption data and signal/noise (S/N) ratio data by using ‘larger the better’ characteristics. Using ANOVA, the optimum parameters are found to be m = 2 g/L, C0 = 150 mg/L, T = 313 K and t = 90 min, resulting in a maximum adsorption capacity of 64.59 mg/g. Adopting ANOVA, the percentage contribution of each process parameter in descending order of sequence is adsorbent dose 59.97% > initial phenol concentration 31.70% > contact time 4.28% > temperature 4.04%. The phenol adsorption onto SBAC was best fitted with the pseudo-second-order kinetic model and follows the Radke-Prausnitz isotherm model. Thermodynamic parameters suggested a spontaneous, exothermic nature and the adsorption process approaches physisorption followed by chemisorption. Hence the application of Taguchi orthogonal array design is a cost-effective and time-efficient approach for carrying out experiments and optimizing procedures for adsorption of phenol and improve the adsorption capacity of SBAC.
Spiking neural networks for predictive and explainable modelling of multimodal streaming data with a case study on financial time series and online news
Authors: AbouHassan Iman , Kasabov Nikola K. , Jagtap Vinayak , Kulkarni Parag
Published: October 2023

In a first study, this paper argues and demonstrates that spiking neural networks (SNN) can be successfully used for predictive and explainable modelling of multimodal streaming data. The paper proposes a new method, where both time series and on-line news are integrated as numerical streaming data in the same time domain and then used to train incrementally a SNN model. The connectivity and the spiking activity of the SNN are then analyzed through clustering and dynamic graph extraction to reveal on-line interaction between all input variables in regard to the predicted one. The paper answers the main research question of how to understand the dynamic interaction of time series and on-line news through their integrative modelling. It offers a new method to evaluate the efficiency of using on-line news on the predictive modelling of time series. Results on financial stock time series and online news are presented. In contrast to traditional machine learning techniques, the method reveals the dynamic interaction between stock variables and news and their dynamic impact on model accuracy when compared to models that do not use news information. Along with the used financial data, the method is applicable to a wide range of other multimodal time series and news data, such as economic, medical, environmental and social. The proposed method, being based on SNN, promotes the use of massively parallel and low energy neuromorphic hardware for multivariate on-line data modelling.
Attention and feature transfer based knowledge distillation
Authors: Yang Guoliang , Yu Shuaiying , Sheng Yangyang , Yang Hao
Published: October 2023

Existing knowledge distillation (KD) methods are mainly based on features, logic, or attention, where features and logic represent the results of reasoning at different stages of a convolutional neural network, and attention maps symbolize the reasoning process. Because of the continuity of the two in time, transferring only one of them to the student network will lead to unsatisfactory results. We study the knowledge transfer between the teacher-student network to different degrees, revealing the importance of simultaneously transferring knowledge related to the reasoning process and reasoning results to the student network, providing a new perspective for the study of KD. On this basis, we proposed the knowledge distillation method based on attention and feature transfer (AFT-KD). First, we use transformation structures to transform intermediate features into attentional and feature block (AFB) that contain both inference process information and inference outcome information, and force students to learn the knowledge in AFBs. To save computation in the learning process, we use block operations to align the teacher-student network. In addition, in order to balance the attenuation ratio between different losses, we design an adaptive loss function based on the loss optimization rate. Experiments have shown that AFT-KD achieves state-of-the-art performance in multiple benchmark tests.
Characterization of hypermetabolic lymph nodes after SARS-CoV-2 vaccination using PET-CT derived node-RADS, in patients with melanoma
Authors: Gennari Antonio G. , Rossi Alexia , Sartoretti Thomas , Maurer Alexander , Skawran Stephan , Treyer Valerie , Sartoretti Elisabeth , Curioni-Fontecedro Alessandra , Schwyzer Moritz , Waelti Stephan , Huellner Martin W. , Messerli Michael
Published: October 2023

This study aimed to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of Node Reporting and Data System (Node-RADS) in discriminating between normal, reactive, and metastatic axillary LNs in patients with melanoma who underwent SARS-CoV-2 vaccination. Patients with proven melanoma who underwent a 2-[18F]-fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography (2-[18F]-FDG PET/CT) between February and April 2021 were included in this retrospective study. Primary melanoma site, vaccination status, injection site, and 2-[18F]-FDG PET/CT were used to classify axillary LNs into normal, inflammatory, and metastatic (combined classification). An adapted Node-RADS classification (A-Node-RADS) was generated based on LN anatomical characteristics on low-dose CT images and compared to the combined classification. 108 patients were included in the study (54 vaccinated). HALNs were detected in 42 patients (32.8%), of whom 97.6% were vaccinated. 172 LNs were classified as normal, 30 as inflammatory, and 14 as metastatic using the combined classification. 152, 22, 29, 12, and 1 LNs were classified A-Node-RADS 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5, respectively. Hence, 174, 29, and 13 LNs were deemed benign, equivocal, and metastatic. The concordance between the classifications was very good (Cohen’s k: 0.91, CI 0.86–0.95; p-value < 0.0001). A-Node-RADS can assist the classification of axillary LNs in melanoma patients who underwent 2-[18F]-FDG PET/CT and SARS-CoV-2 vaccination.
Direct current conduction mechanism in the methyl acrylate–vinyl acetate composite thin films
Authors: Sheikh Md. Saddam , Bhuiyan A. H. , Rahman Mohammad Jellur
Published: October 2023

Plasma polymerized (PP) methyl acrylate (MA) and vinyl acetate (VA) composite thin films were deposited onto glass substrate varying MA and VA monomer concentrations. Thickness of the composite polymers is observed to vary on the MA and VA monomer ratios, where MA is found more reactive. The FESEM images of the composite polymers show better surface morphology compared to those of the homopolymers. Appearance of broad absorption bands in the FTIR spectra of polymer indicates the structural changes compared to monomer during polymerization. Thermogravimetric analysis and differential scanning calorimetry indicate that composite films are thermally more stable (up to 617 K) compared to homopolymer thin films (563 K). The current density versus voltage (J–V) characteristics of PP(MA-VA) composite films (sandwiched between aluminum electrodes) with different MA and VA ratios showed that the J values of the composite films gradually increase with elevating VA monomer and also with temperature (298–373 K). On the other hand, this value increases with decreasing the thickness of the composite films, which complies with the other studies. The conduction of the thickness-dependent composite films showed Ohmic in nature in the lower voltage region (< 10 V) while the space charge-limited conduction is found to be dominated in the higher voltage region (> 10 V) operating over the entire range of temperature. The activation energy at room temperature was found to be ~ 0.019 eV in the Ohmic region and 0.260 eV in the non-Ohmic region.
Patient reported outcome measures and cardiovascular outcomes following high dose modern intravenous iron in non-dialysis dependent chronic kidney disease: secondary analysis of ExplorIRON-CKD
Authors: Kassianides Xenophon , Bhandari Sunil
Published: October 2023

Intravenous iron is commonly used to treat iron deficiency anemia in non-dialysis chronic kidney disease (ND-CKD). There is a paucity of information on the potential impact of intravenous iron on patient reported outcome measures, functional status and markers of cardiovascular health. As part of the secondary analysis of this double-blind exploratory randomized controlled trial focusing on patients with iron deficiency (+ /− anemia) and ND-CKD (serum ferritin < 200 µg/L or transferrin saturation ≤ 20% and serum ferritin 200–299 µg/L; CKD stages: 3a-5), 26 patients were randomized in a 1:1 ratio to receive ferric derisomaltose or ferric carboxymaltose. Participants received 1000 mg at baseline and 500–1000 mg at one month to achieve iron repletion. Quality of life and fatigue status were assessed using the Short-Form (36) questionnaire and the fatigue severity scale. Functional status was evaluated using the Duke Activity Status Index and the 1-min-sit-to-stand test. Cardiac markers such as NT-proBNP, Troponin T and pulse wave velocity were monitored. Intravenous iron was associated with similar improvements in most domains of the Short-Form (36) questionnaire, fatigue status, and 1-min-sit-to-stand ability increased significantly by the end of the trial in both groups (p < 0.001). Markers of cardiac function remained stable, with no arterial stiffness impact. Longer term studies are required to further evaluate the impact of intravenous iron on quality of life and cardiac safety in patients with ND-CKD.
SSH-DAuth: secret sharing based decentralized OAuth using decentralized identifier
Authors: Krishna Danda Prudhvi , Ramaguru R. , Praveen K. , Sethumadhavan M. , Ravichandran Kattur Soundarapandian , Krishankumar Raghunathan , Gandomi Amir H.
Published: October 2023

OAuth2.0 is a Single Sign-On approach that helps to authorize users to log into multiple applications without re-entering the credentials. Here, the OAuth service provider controls the central repository where data is stored, which may lead to third-party fraud and identity theft. To circumvent this problem, we need a distributed framework to authenticate and authorize the user without third-party involvement. This paper proposes a distributed authentication and authorization framework using a secret-sharing mechanism that comprises a blockchain-based decentralized identifier and a private distributed storage via an interplanetary file system. We implemented our proposed framework in Hyperledger Fabric (permissioned blockchain) and Ethereum TestNet (permissionless blockchain). Our performance analysis indicates that secret sharing-based authentication takes negligible time for generation and a combination of shares for verification. Moreover, security analysis shows that our model is robust, end-to-end secure, and compliant with the Universal Composability Framework.
Mitochondrial DNA copy number in Hepatitis C virus-related chronic liver disease: impact of direct-acting antiviral therapy
Authors: Elyamany Amany , Ghazala Rasha , Fayed Omnia , Hamed Yasmin , El-Shendidi Assem
Published: October 2023

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection can regulate the number and dynamics of mitochondria, and is associated with a prominent hepatic mitochondrial injury. Mitochondrial distress conveys oxidative damage which is implicated in liver disease progression. The present study was conducted to assess the change of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) copy number in patients with HCV-related chronic liver disease and the impact of direct-acting antiviral (DAA) therapy. Whole blood mtDNA copy number was measured using real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction at baseline and 12 weeks after the end of therapy in 50 treatment-naïve HCV-infected patients who achieved sustained viral response (SVR) after DAA therapy and 20 healthy controls. Whole blood mtDNA copy number appeared significantly lower in HCV-infected patients before therapy compared to healthy subjects (P < 0.001). Post-treatment, there was significant increase of mtDNA copy number in HCV-infected patients at SVR12 compared to the pre-treatment values (P < 0.001), meanwhile it didn’t differ significantly between HCV-infected patients after therapy and healthy subjects (P = 0.059). Whole blood mtDNA copy number correlated inversely to the serum bilirubin in HCV-infected patients (P = 0.013), however it didn’t correlate significantly to the serum aminotransferases, viral load or fibrosis-4 score (P > 0.05). In conclusion, chronic HCV infection has been associated with a prominent mitochondrial injury which could mediate a progressive liver disease. The improved mtDNA content after DAA therapy highlights a possible potential of these drugs to alleviate mitochondrial damage in HCV-related liver disease.
Cesarean section and the risk of allergic rhinitis in children: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Liu Zixin , Xie Li , Liu Xiaohua , Chen JunRong , Zhou Yaqian , Zhang Jialin , Su Honghui , Yang Yide , Tian Mei , Li Jian , Dong Yunpeng
Published: October 2023

Multiple evidence indicates that perinatal factors make impact on immune development and affect offspring allergic rhinitis (AR) risk. In this systematic review and meta-analysis, we examined available published studies to clarify the relationship between cesarean section (C-section) and offspring AR in children. To explore the relationship between C-section, especially the special attention was paid to different cesarean delivery mode, and the risk of AR in children. Articles were searched using PubMed, Web of Science, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, China knowledge Network, Wanfang, and China Science and Technology Journal databases. A meta-analysis of 22 studies published before August 1, 2022, which included 1,464,868 participants, was conducted for statistical analysis with RevMan5.4. The correlation strength between C-section and offspring AR was determined by combining odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (95% CI). Meta-regression and subgroup analyses were used to explore potential sources of heterogeneity. Publication bias was detected using the funnel chart and Egger tests. Meta-analysis revealed that there was a significant correlation between C-section and children AR (OR = 1.19, 95% CI: 1.12–1.27, P < 0.001), especially C-section with a family history of allergy (OR = 1.82, 95% CI: 1.36–2.43, P < 0.001). Moreover, elective C-section (without genital tract microbe exposure) had the higher risk of offspring AR (OR = 1.24, 95% CI: 1.05–1.46, P = 0.010) compared with the whole study. Meta-regression demonstrated that sample size explained 38.0% of the variability between studies, and year of publication explained 18.8%. Delivery by C-section, particularly elective C-section and C-section with a family history of allergy can increase the risk of AR in children.
Classical analogue to driven quantum bits based on macroscopic pendula
Authors: Lorenz Heribert , Kohler Sigmund , Parafilo Anton , Kiselev Mikhail , Ludwig Stefan
Published: October 2023

Quantum mechanics increasingly penetrates modern technologies but, due to its non-deterministic nature seemingly contradicting our classical everyday world, our comprehension often stays elusive. Arguing along the correspondence principle, classical mechanics is often seen as a theory for large systems where quantum coherence is completely averaged out. Surprisingly, it is still possible to reconstruct the coherent dynamics of a quantum bit (qubit) by using a classical model system. This classical-to-quantum analogue is based on wave mechanics, which applies to both, the classical and the quantum world. In this spirit we investigate the dynamics of macroscopic physical pendula with a modulated coupling. As a proof of principle, we demonstrate full control of our one-to-one analogue to a qubit by realizing Rabi oscillations, Landau-Zener transitions and Landau-Zener-Stückelberg-Majorana interferometry. Our classical qubit demonstrator can help comprehending and developing useful quantum technologies.
Urinary lumirubin excretion in jaundiced preterm neonates during phototherapy with blue light-emitting diode vs. green fluorescent lamp
Authors: Uchida Yumiko , Takahashi Yukihiro , Kurata Chikara , Morimoto Yukihiro , Ohtani Eishin , Tosaki Asako , Kumagai Akiko , Greimel Peter , Nishikubo Toshiya , Miyawaki Atsushi
Published: October 2023

Phototherapy converts lipophilic unconjugated bilirubin to hydrophilic bilirubin photoisomers, such as lumirubin. We comparatively used a blue light-emitting diode (LED) and a green fluorescent lamp (FL) as light sources for phototherapy of hyperbilirubinemic preterm neonates with the aim of examining potential differences in urinary lumirubin excretion between these two wavelengths. Urinary lumirubin levels were measured using a fluorescence assay with blue light exposure in the presence of the unconjugated bilirubin-inducible fluorescent protein UnaG, and denoted as urinary UnaG-bound bilirubin (UUB)/creatinine (Cr) (μg/mg Cr). Preterm neonates born at ≤ 33 weeks gestational age and treated with phototherapy were subjected to this study. The maximum UUB/Cr level during phototherapy per device intensity was compared between neonates treated with the blue LED and the green FL. A total of 61 neonates were examined to determine the maximum UUB/Cr levels. The median of maximum UUB/Cr excretion per light intensity of each device (μg/mg Cr/μW/cm2/nm) was 0.83 for the blue LED and 1.29 for the green FL (p = 0.01). Green light was found to be more effective than blue one for bilirubin excretion via urinary lumirubin excretion. This is the first spectroscopic study to compare the efficacy of phototherapy at different wavelengths using fluorescence assay.
Application of statistical machine learning in biomarker selection
Authors: Vashistha Ritwik , Noor Zubdahe , Dasgupta Shibasish , Pu Jie , Deng Shibing
Published: October 2023

In the recent JAVELIN Bladder 100 phase 3 trial, avelumab plus best supportive care significantly prolonged overall survival relative to best supportive care alone as first-line maintenance therapy following first-line platinum-based chemotherapy in patients with advanced urothelial cancer (aUC). Discovering biomarkers using genomic profiling to understand potential patient heterogeneity is essential to help improve patient care with precision medicine. For the JAVELIN Bladder 100 trial, it is unclear which variable selection methods can most reliably identify biomarkers to inform patient care because the dataset is characterized by high collinearity and low signal. The aim of this paper was to evaluate available selection methods and their ability to discover prognostic and predictive biomarkers in patients with aUC receiving first-line maintenance therapy. A simulation study evaluated the performance of popular variable selection approaches for high-dimensional data including penalized regression models, random survival forests, and Bayesian variable selection methods. For Bayesian variable selection methods, a modified Bayesian Information Criterion (BIC) thresholding rule was proposed in addition to the traditional BIC thresholding rule. These methods were applied to the JAVELIN Bladder 100 dataset to investigate potential biomarkers associated with survival benefit. Results from the simulations demonstrated the strengths and limitations of the different methods. The variable selection methods demonstrated low false discovery rates under different conditions. However, their performance declined in the presence of high collinearity. Using the JAVELIN Bladder 100 data, we identified some potentially significant biomarkers across multiple models. Several lasso-related methods were able to identify potentially biologically meaningful variables in the trial. Some variable selection methods (such as stochastic search variable selection and random survival forest) may not be well suited to this type of data due to the presence of extreme collinearity and low signal. Future research should explore novel variable selection methods that may be more suitable for identifying prognostic and predictive biomarkers in this population.

Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02603432.
Getting closer: compassion training increases feelings of closeness toward a disliked person
Authors: Cernadas Curotto Patricia , Halperin Eran , Sander David , Klimecki Olga
Published: October 2023

Evidence-based interventions to favor more harmonious interactions in difficult relationships remain scarce. This study examined whether compassion training may have beneficial effects in an ongoing tense relationship with a disliked person, by reducing schadenfreude toward them and increasing felt interpersonal closeness. 108 participants were assigned to one of three 5-week trainings in a longitudinal randomized controlled study: compassion training, reappraisal training (emotion regulation control condition), or Italian language training (neutral active control condition). The disliked person was not targeted during the trainings to test potential transfer effects. Misfortune scenarios and a measure of interpersonal closeness were used to test whether schadenfreude and closeness feelings toward a disliked person changed from pre- to post-training, across different experimental and control groups. Only compassion and reappraisal trainees reported a decrease of schadenfreude feelings toward the disliked person compared to their pre-training ratings, no changes were observed in the Italian language training. Importantly, feelings of closeness toward the disliked person increased in the compassion training group compared to the other two groups. This increase of closeness feelings could be a central mechanism for improving social interactions. These transfer effects open new perspectives concerning emotion regulation interventions in conflict resolution.
The second clinical study investigating the surgical method for the kineticomyographic control implementation of the bionic hand
Authors: Daliri Mahla , Akbarzadeh Alireza , Aminzadeh Behzad , Kachooei Amir R. , Hajiaghajani Ghazaleh , Ebrahimzadeh Mohammad H. , Moradi Ali
Published: October 2023

In 2018, during our first clinical study on the kineticomyographic (KMG)-controlled bionic hand, we implanted three magnetic tags inside the musculotendinous junction of three paired extensor-flexor transferred tendons. However, the post-operative tissue adhesions affected the independent movements of the implanted tags and consequently the distinct patterns of the obtained signals. To overcome this issue, we modified our surgical procedure from a one-stage tendon transfer to a two-stage. During the first surgery, we created three tunnels using silicon rods for the smooth tendon gliding. In the second stage, we transferred the same three pairs of the forearm agonist–antagonist tendons through the tunnels and implanted the magnetic tags inside the musculotendinous junction. Compared to our prior clinical investigation, fluoroscopy and ultrasound evaluations revealed that the surgical modification in the current study yielded more pronounced independent movements in two specific magnetic tags associated with fingers (maximum 5.7 mm in the first trial vs. 28 mm in the recent trial with grasp and release) and thumb (maximum 3.2 mm in the first trial vs. 9 mm in the current trial with thumb flexion–extension). Furthermore, we observed that utilizing the flexor digitorum superficialis (FDS) tendons for the flexor component in finger and thumb tendon transfer resulted in more independent movements of the implanted tags, compared with the flexor digitorum profundus (FDP) in the prior research. This study can help us plan for our future five-channel bionic limb design by identifying the gestures with the most significant independent tag displacement.
Interaction between functional capability and sleep quality at midterm after total knee arthroplasty: a Japanese retrospective cohort study
Authors: Hamai Satoshi , Harada Satoru , Tsushima Hidetoshi , Kozuma Ryutaro , Yamate Satoshi , Kawahara Shinya , Akasaki Yukio , Harada Tetsunari , Kokubu Yasuhiko , Konishi Toshiki , Nakashima Yasuharu
Published: October 2023

No report has clarified the frequency and interacting factors affecting sleep disturbance among Asian patients at midterm after total knee arthroplasty (TKA). This study aimed to evaluate the frequency of sleep disturbance at midterm after TKA in a Japanese cohort and to identify intervening factors for sleep. We hypothesized that residual knee pain and decreased functional capability negatively interact with sleep quality after TKA. A total of 209 Japanese participants (average age: 77.1 ± 8.3 years; postoperative follow-up period: 4.5 ± 1.9 years) who underwent primary TKA for knee osteoarthritis were included in this study. Sleep quality, satisfaction, pain, functional capability, joint awareness, and mental condition were evaluated using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), Knee Society Score (KSS) 2011, Forgotten Joint Score (FJS)-12, and 12-Item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-12) Mental Component Summary (MCS). Multivariable analysis was performed to determine the influencing factors on PSQI. The scores for the PSQI, satisfaction with pain level while lying in bed, pain during level walking, functional activity category in the KSS 2011, awareness of the artificial joint in bed at night in the FJS-12, and SF-12 MCS were 6.7 ± 3.0, 5.8 ± 1.8, 1.6 ± 2.3, 62 ± 22, 1.5 ± 1.4, and 56 ± 9.3 on average, respectively. Sleep disturbance (PSQI ≥ 5.5) occurred in 54% of the Japanese participants. Multivariable analysis revealed that high functional capability was a significant factor associated with sleep quality improvement (p < 0.05). Decreased functional capability, not residual knee pain, negatively interacted with sleep quality. The sleep disturbance rate was high during the middle postoperative period after TKA in the Japanese cohort.
The value of indocyanine green-FLOW800 in microvasculature for predicting cerebral hyperperfusion syndrome in moyamoya disease patients
Authors: Guo Zhongxiang , Yan Zhaohui , Qu Fan , Cheng Dekui , Wang Chao , Feng Yugong
Published: October 2023

Among the notable complications of direct hemodynamic reconstruction for moyamoya disease (MMD) is cerebral hyperperfusion syndrome (CHS). In this study, we evaluated hemodynamic changes in small regional microvasculature (SRMV) around the anastomosis site by using indocyanine green (ICG)-FLOW800 video angiography and verified that it better predicted the onset of CHS. Intraoperative ICG-FLOW800 analysis was performed on 31 patients (36 cerebral hemispheres) with MMD who underwent superficial temporal artery-middle cerebral artery (MCA) bypass grafting at our institution. The regions of interest were established in the SRMV and thicker MCA around the anastomosis. Calculations were made for half-peak to time (TTP1/2), cerebral blood volume (CBV), and cerebral blood flow (CBF). According to the presence or absence of CHS after surgery, CHS and non-CHS groups of patients were separated. The results showed that ΔCBV and ΔCBF were substantially greater in SRMV than in MCA (p < 0.001). Compared with the non-CHS group, ΔCBF and ΔCBV of SRMV and MCA were considerably greater in the CHS group (p < 0.001). ΔCBF and ΔCBV on the ROC curve for both SRMV and MCA had high sensitivity and specificity (SRMV: ΔCBF, AUC = 0.8586; ΔCBV, AUC = 0.8158. MCA: ΔCBF, AUC = 0.7993; ΔCBV, AUC = 0.8684). ICG-FLOW800 video angiography verified the differential hemodynamic changes in the peri-anastomotic MCA and SRMV before and after bypass surgery in patients with MMD.
Modulating pro-adhesive nature of metallic surfaces through a polypeptide coupling via diazonium chemistry
Authors: Patel Taral , Skonieczna Magdalena , Turczyn Roman , Krukiewicz Katarzyna
Published: October 2023

The design of biomaterials able to facilitate cell adhesion is critical in the field of tissue engineering. Precise control of surface chemistry at the material/tissue interface plays a major role in enhancing the interactions between a biomaterial and living cells. Bio-integration is particularly important in case of various electrotherapies, since a close contact between tissue and electrode's surface facilitates treatment. A promising approach towards surface biofunctionalization involves the electrografting of diazonium salts followed by the modification of organic layer with pro-adhesive polypeptides. This study focuses on the modification of platinum electrodes with a 4-nitrobenzenediazonium layer, which is then converted to the aminobenzene moiety. The electrodes are further biofunctionalized with polypeptides (polylysine and polylysine/laminin) to enhance cell adhesion. This study also explores the differences between physical and chemical coupling of selected polypeptides to modulate pro-adhesive nature of Pt electrodes with respect to human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells and U87 astrocytes. Our results demonstrate the significant enhancement in cell adhesion for biofunctionalized electrodes, with more amplified adhesion noted for covalently coupled polypeptides. The implications of this research are crucial for the development of more effective and functional biomaterials, particularly biomedical electrodes, which have the potential to advance the field of bioelectronics and improve patients' outcomes.
The admission pH is a risk factor of preoperative deep vein thrombosis in geriatric hip fracture: a retrospective cohort study
Authors: Wang Bao-Hui , Sun Yin-Di , Fan Xiao-Chen , Zhang Bin-Fei
Published: October 2023

This study evaluated the association between body pH value and preoperative deep vein thrombosis (DVT) in geriatric hip fractures. Older adult patients with hip fractures were screened between January 2015 and September 2019. The demographic and clinical characteristics of the patients were collected. Multivariate binary logistic regression and generalized additive models were used to identify the linear and nonlinear associations between pH value and preoperative DVT. Analyses were performed using EmpowerStats and R software. A total of 1465 patients were included in the study. DVT occurred in 476 (32.6%) of these admitted older adults. We observed a nonlinear association between the serum pH value and preoperative DVT in geriatric patients with hip fractures. A pH value of 7.39 was the inflection point in the curve, with pH highly correlated with DVT at pH < 7.39 (odds ratio [OR] 19.47; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.45–260.91; P = 0.0249). Patients with lower pH had a lower chance of preoperative DVT formation, and the risk of DVT increased 18.47-fold for every 0.1 unit change in pH. Although at pH > 7.39, pH was not correlated with DVT (OR 1.26; 95% CI 0.85–1.86; P = 0.2561), the odds of DVT did not vary with pH, and the highest risk of thrombosis was reached. The body pH value is nonlinearly associated with preoperative DVT in geriatric patients with hip fractures, and it could be considered a predictor of the risk of DVT.

Registered information This study is registered in the website of Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (ChiCTR: ChiCTR2200057323).
Low-dose ethanol consumption inhibits neutrophil extracellular traps formation to alleviate rheumatoid arthritis
Authors: Jin Lin , Zhang Ziwei , Pan Pin , Zhao Yuchen , Zhou Mengqi , Liu Lianghu , Zhai Yuanfang , Wang Han , Xu Li , Mei Dan , Zhang Han , Yang Yining , Hua Jinghan , Zhang Xianzheng , Zhang Lingling
Published: October 2023

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic systemic autoimmune disease. Ethanol consumption has been reported to reduce morbidity in RA patients, but the mechanism behind it remains unclear. Our results showed that Muribaculaceae was predominant in the gut microbiota of mice after ethanol treatment, and the levels of microbiota metabolite acetate were increased. Acetate reduced arthritis severity in collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) mice, which was associated with a decrease in the articular neutrophils and the myeloperoxidase-deoxyribonucleic acid complex in serum. Meanwhile, in vitro experiments confirmed that acetate affected neutrophil activity by acting on G-protein-coupled receptor 43, which reduced endoplasmic reticulum stress in neutrophils and inhibited neutrophil extracellular traps formation. Furthermore, exogenous acetate reversed CIA mice with exacerbated gut microbial disruption, further confirming that the effect of gut microbial metabolite acetate on neutrophils in vivo is crucial for the immune regulation. Our findings illuminate the metabolic and cellular mechanisms of the gut-joint axis in the regulation of autoimmune arthritis, and may offer alternative avenues to replicate or induce the joint-protective benefits of ethanol without associated detrimental effects.
The glucose transporter 2 regulates CD8+ T cell function via environment sensing
Authors: Fu Hongmei , Vuononvirta Juho , Fanti Silvia , Bonacina Fabrizia , D’Amati Antonio , Wang Guosu , Poobalasingam Thanushiyan , Fankhaenel Maria , Lucchesi Davide , Coleby Rachel , Tarussio David , Thorens Bernard , Hearnden Robert J. , Longhi M. Paula , Grevitt Paul , Sheikh Madeeha H. , Solito Egle , Godinho Susana A. , Bombardieri Michele , Smith David M. , Cooper Dianne , Iqbal Asif J. , Rathmell Jeffrey C. , Schaefer Samuel , Morales Valle , Bianchi Katiuscia , Norata Giuseppe Danilo , Marelli-Berg Federica M.
Published: October 2023

T cell activation is associated with a profound and rapid metabolic response to meet increased energy demands for cell division, differentiation and development of effector function. Glucose uptake and engagement of the glycolytic pathway are major checkpoints for this event. Here we show that the low-affinity, concentration-dependent glucose transporter 2 (Glut2) regulates the development of CD8+ T cell effector responses in mice by promoting glucose uptake, glycolysis and glucose storage. Expression of Glut2 is modulated by environmental factors including glucose and oxygen availability and extracellular acidification. Glut2 is highly expressed by circulating, recently primed T cells, allowing efficient glucose uptake and storage. In glucose-deprived inflammatory environments, Glut2 becomes downregulated, thus preventing passive loss of intracellular glucose. Mechanistically, Glut2 expression is regulated by a combination of molecular interactions involving hypoxia-inducible factor-1 alpha, galectin-9 and stomatin. Finally, we show that human T cells also rely on this glucose transporter, thus providing a potential target for therapeutic immunomodulation.
Influence of secondhand smoke exposure on the retinal vasculature of children in Hong Kong
Authors: Cheung Carol Y. , Zhang Xiu Juan , Chan Hei-Nga , Zhang Yuzhou , Yuen Vincent L. , Hsu Wynne , Lee Mong Li , Xu Dejiang , Wong Jason , Tang Fang Yao , Kam Kai Wai , Young Alvin , Ng Mandy P. , Ip Patrick , Chen Li Jia , Wong Tien Y. , Pang Chi Pui , Tham Clement C. , Yam Jason C.
Published: October 2023

Background

A recent prospective demonstrated that cardiovascular risk factors in early childhood were associated with later cardiovascular events. However, the impact of secondhand smoke (SHS) on children is unclear. The aims of this study is to determine the effects of SHS exposure on the retinal vasculature of children.

Methods

This is a population-based cross-sectional study of children aged 6 to 8 years. All participants received comprehensive ophthalmic examinations and retinal photography. Data on SHS exposure was derived from a validated questionnaire. A validated deep-learning system was used to automatically estimate retinal arteriolar and venular calibers from retinal photographs. Associations of quantitative retinal vessel caliber values with SHS exposure, number of smokers in the household, and total number of cigarettes smoked were determined by analyses of covariance (ANCOVA) after adjusting for potential confounders. Test of trend was determined by treating categorical risk factors as continuous ordinal variables.

Results

Here we show children exposed to SHS have wider retinal arteriolar (CRAE 152.1 µm vs. 151.3 µm, p < 0.001) and venular (CRVE 216.7 µm vs. 215.5 µm, p < 0.001) calibers compared to those in smoke-free homes, after adjustment for different factors. Wider arteriolar and venular calibers are also associated with increasing number of smokers in the family (p trend < 0.001) and more cigarettes smoked among family smokers (p trend<0.001).

Conclusions

Exposure to SHS at home is associated with changes in retinal vasculature among children. This reinforces the adverse effect of secondhand smoking around children though further research incorporating comprehensive assessment of potential confounders is necessary.
BBLN triggers CAMK2D pathology in mice under cardiac pressure overload and potentially in unrepaired hearts with tetralogy of Fallot
Authors: Abd Alla Joshua , Langer Andreas , Wolf Stefan , Fu Xuebin , Rageh Mohamed Abdelfattah , Quitterer Ursula
Published: October 2023

Tetralogy of Fallot (TOF) is one of the most prevalent congenital heart defects, with adverse cardiac remodeling and long-term cardiac complications. Here, searching for pathomechanisms, we find upregulated bublin coiled-coil protein (BBLN) in heart specimens of TOF patients with cyanosis, which positively correlates with cardiac remodeling pathways. Human BBLN, a protein with largely unknown function, promoted heart failure features, with increased mortality when overexpressed in mice, in a protein dosage-dependent manner. BBLN enhanced cardiac inflammation, fibrosis and necroptosis by calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II delta (CAMK2D) activation, whereas a BBLN mutant with impaired CAMK2D binding was inert. Downregulation of CAMK2D by an interfering RNA retarded BBLN-induced symptoms of heart failure. Endogenous BBLN was induced by hypoxia as a major TOF feature in human patients and by chronic pressure overload in mice, and its downregulation decreased CAMK2D hyperactivity, necroptosis and cardiovascular dysfunction. Thus, BBLN promotes CAMK2D-induced pathways to pathological cardiac remodeling, which are triggered by hypoxia in TOF.
Aerodynamic effect for collision-free reactive navigation of a small quadcopter
Authors: Ding Runze , Bai Songnan , Dong Kaixu , Chirarattananon Pakpong
Published: October 2023

The small footprint of tiny multirotor vehicles is advantageous for accessing tight spaces, but their limited payload and endurance impact the ability to carry powerful sensory and computing units for navigation. This article reports an aerodynamics-based strategy for a ducted rotorcraft to avoid wall collisions and explore unknown environments. The vehicle uses the minimal sensing system conventionally conceived only for hovering. The framework leverages the duct-strengthened interaction between the propeller wake and vertical surfaces. When incorporated with the flight dynamics, the derived momentum-theory-based model allows the robot to estimate the obstacle’s distance and direction without range sensors or vision. To this end, we devised a flight controller and reactive navigation methods for the robot to fly safely in unexplored environments. Flight experiments validated the detection and collision avoidance ability. The robot successfully identified and followed the wall contour to negotiate a staircase and evaded detected obstacles in proof-of-concept flights.
Tactile perception: a biomimetic whisker-based method for clinical gastrointestinal diseases screening
Authors: Wang Zeyu , Lo Frank P.-W. , Huang Yunran , Chen Junhong , Calo James , Chen Wei , Lo Benny
Published: October 2023

Early screening for gastrointestinal diseases is of vital importance for reducing mortality through introducing early intervention. In this paper, a biomimetic artificial whisker-based hardware system with artificial intelligence-enabled self-learning capability is proposed for endoluminal diagnosis. The proposed method provides an end-to-end screening strategy based on tactile information to extract the structural and textural details of the tissues in the lumen, enabling objective screening and reducing the inter-endoscopist variability. Benchmark performance analysis of the proposed was conducted to assess the electrical characteristics and core functions. To validate the feasibility of the proposed for endoluminal diagnosis, an ex-vivo study was conducted to detect some common tissue structures and our method shows promising results with the test accuracy up to 94.44% with 0.9167 kappa. This previously unexplored tactile-based method could potentially enhance or complement the current endoluminal diagnosis.
Trimmed helicoids: an architectured soft structure yielding soft robots with high precision, large workspace, and compliant interactions
Authors: Guan Qinghua , Stella Francesco , Della Santina Cosimo , Leng Jinsong , Hughes Josie
Published: October 2023

The development and use of architectured structures is changing the means by which we design and fabricate soft robots. These materials utilize their topology and geometry to control physical and mechanical structural properties. We propose an architectured structure based on trimmed helicoids that allows for independent regulation of the bending and axial stiffness which facilitates tuneability of the resulting soft robot properties. Leveraging FEA and computational analysis we select a geometry that provides an optimal trade-off between controllability, sensitivity to errors in control, and compliance. By combining these modular trimmed helicoid structures in conjunction with control methods, we demonstrate a meter-scale soft manipulator that shows control precision, large workspace, and compliant interactions with the environment. These properties enable the robot to perform complex tasks that leverage robot-human and robot-environment interactions such as human feeding and collaborative object manipulation.
Ba3(BS3)(PS4): the first alkaline-earth metal thioborate–thiophosphate with strong optical anisotropy originating from planar [BS3] units
Authors: Zhou Jiazheng , Wang Linan , Wang Hongshan , Luo Ling , Li Junjie , Yu Feng
Published: October 2023

The first alkaline-earth metal thioborate–thiophosphate Ba3(BS3)(PS4) was designed from Ba3(BO3)(PO4) by S–O substitution and fabricated experimentally.
Synthesis, structures and properties of two new selenite optical materials: K2Zn3Se4O12 and K4Zn3V4Se2O19
Authors: Feng Qiuyuan , Gao Zhixia , Hou Ketian , Wang Jialong , Du Hong , Jing Qun
Published: October 2023

Two new selenites, K2Zn3Se4O12 (compound 1) and K4Zn3V4Se2O19 (compound 2), have been successfully synthesized by solid-state reactions in vacuum tubes.
Traffic, marine ships and nucleation as the main sources of ultrafine particles in suburban Shanghai, China
Authors: Wang Qingsong , Huo Juntao , Chen Hui , Duan Yusen , Fu Qingyan , Sun Yi , Zhang Kun , Huang Ling , Wang Yangjun , Tan Jiani , Li Li , Wang Lina , Li Dan , George Christian , Mellouki Abdelwahid , Chen Jianmin
Published: October 2023

The NMF algorithm assigns PNSD to multiple sources at two Shanghai suburban sites. Main sources of UFPs linked to respiratory deposition are traffic nucleation and emissions, marine ship emissions and photochemical nucleation and growth.
Synthesis and detonation performance of novel tetrazolyl–triazine nitrogen-rich energetic materials
Authors: Richardson Paul , Kitos Alexandros A. , Triglav Michael , Ovens Jeffrey S. , Laroche Isabelle , Delisle Stéphanie , Jolicoeur Benoit , Brusso Jaclyn L. , Murugesu Muralee
Published: October 2023

A novel N-rich (73.7%) energetic material, 2,4,6-tris(1H-tetrazol-5-yl)-1,3,5-triazine, along with a series of its salts were synthesized and physically characterized revealing excellent thermal stability and intriguing detonation parameters.
Valley manipulation by sliding-induced tuning of the magnetic proximity effect in heterostructures
Authors: Ma Xikui , Fan Yingcai , Li Weifeng , Li Yangyang , Liu Xiangdong , Zhao Xian , Zhao Mingwen
Published: October 2023

Spontaneous valley polarization, resulting from the magnetic proximity effect, holds tremendous potential for information processing and storage.
Exploring the potential of Eu3+ and Mn4+ activated LaAlO3 phosphors as red and far-red emitters for horticulture lighting
Authors: Jakka S. K. , Silva M. M. P. , Soares M. J. , Pavani K.
Published: October 2023

Contour of emission intensity variation in LAO:Eu/Mn phosphor with change in excitation wavelength.
Highly dispersive PEI-modified CDs@ZIF-L dual-emitting fluorescent sensor for detecting metal ions
Authors: Liu Xiaoyun , Sun Chunyan , Chai Mingxia , Song Weijun
Published: October 2023

The leaf-like zeolitic imidazolate framework (ZIF-L) is a promising porous nanomaterial that has attracted increasing attention as an ideal host material to encapsulate functional fluorescent nanoparticles for designing fluorescent sensors.
Molecular orbital and topological electron density study of n → π* interactions: amides and thioamides cases
Authors: Briceño-Vargas Flor María , Quesadas-Rojas Mariana , Mirón-López Gumersindo , Cáceres-Castillo David , Carballo Rubén M. , Mena-Rejón Gonzalo J. , Quijano-Quiñones Ramiro F.
Published: October 2023

The IGM can isolate the n → π* interaction in δgisosurfaces. The interaction is identified as a green flat disc in the middle of the interaction zone. However, is not able to reproduce the trends in the relative force found in NBO results.