bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Review: Biomacromolecules‐based encapsulation technologies for the protection of oxygen‐sensitive next‐generation probiotics
Authors: Phùng Thị‐Thanh‐Trúc , Karbowiak Thomas
Published: December 2024

In the recent years, various strains of the gut microbiota have been discovered to possess significant therapeutic potential, they are defined as next‐generation probiotics (NGPs). Akkermansia, Faecalibacterium, Bacteriodes, Eubacterium, and Bifidobacteria are among the typical NGP strains which exhibit several interesting bioactivities as live biotherapeutics. However, some strains of NGP are extremely sensitive to oxygen, such as Faecalibacterium prausnitzii. This hinders their cultivation and large‐scale production. Therefore, it is essential to develop a strategy to protect them during production, storage, and colonic administration. This review, highlights key NGP strains developed in recent years, alongside the encapsulation strategies used to protect them. The primary criterion for selecting encapsulating techniques is their feasibility to be performed under strictly anaerobic conditions. Various processes have been selected according to the physical forms of the products, including liquid, gel, and solid forms, as well as the final shaping of the product. The critical factors for selecting encapsulation materials include biocompatibility, safety, effective oxygen barrier properties, and an optimal release profile in the gastrointestinal tract. This review discusses protection strategies aimed at improving the survival and thereby effectiveness of NGPs.
Prevalence and Factors Associated With Severity of Undernutrition Among Children Aged 6–59 Months in Tanzania
Authors: Khamis Ahmed Gharib , Mwanri Akwilina Wendelin , Ntwenya Julius Edward
Published: December 2024

Undernutrition has been identified as a significant public health challenge in developing nations like Tanzania. Severe childhood undernutrition is a life‐threatening problem that can result in impaired growth, weakened immune systems, and even death. The primary aim of this study was to identify the prevalence of multiple forms of severe undernutrition and factors associated with the severity of childhood undernutrition in children aged 6–59 months in Tanzania. This was a secondary data analysis conducted on a cross‐sectional survey obtained from the 2022 Tanzania Demographic and Health Survey Malaria Indicator Survey (TDHS‐MIS). This analysis comprised 4224 children with complete information. The study employed the proportional odds model of ordinal logistic regression to identify factors associated with severity of stunting, wasting, and anemia. Out of the 4224 included children, 8.6% were severely stunted, 0.8% were severely wasted, and 1.7% were severely anemic. The prevalence of multiple forms of severe undernutrition was 10.4%. Significant associations were observed between socioeconomic factors—including the gender and age of the household head, household wealth status, possession of health insurance, and availability of mosquito nets with severe undernutrition. Maternal factors such as nutrition status, current age, age at first birth, education, marriage, and occupation were related to the severity of undernutrition. Approximately one children out of every 10 suffers from some form of severe undernutrition in Tanzania. Several factors including maternal and socioeconomic were identified as potentially influencing severe undernutrition. Multifaceted efforts are required to lessen the severity of undernutrition.
Explainable machine learning model for pre‐frailty risk assessment in community‐dwelling older adults
Authors: Du Chenlin , Zhang Zeyu , Liu Baoqin , Cao Zijian , Jiang Nan , Zhang Zongjiu
Published: December 2024

Background

Frailty in older adults is linked to increased risks and lower quality of life. Pre‐frailty, a condition preceding frailty, is intervenable, but its determinants and assessment are challenging. This study aims to develop and validate an explainable machine learning model for pre‐frailty risk assessment among community‐dwelling older adults.

Methods

The study included 3141 adults aged 60 or above from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study. Pre‐frailty was characterized by one or two criteria from the physical frailty phenotype scale. We extracted 80 distinct features across seven dimensions to evaluate pre‐frailty risk. A model was constructed using recursive feature elimination and a stacking‐CatBoost distillation module on 80% of the sample and validated on a separate 20% holdout data set.

Results

The study used data from 2508 community‐dwelling older adults (mean age, 67.24 years [range, 60–96]; 1215 [48.44%] females) to develop a pre‐frailty risk assessment model. We selected 57 predictive features and built a distilled CatBoost model, which achieved the highest discrimination (AUROC: 0.7560 [95% CI: 0.7169, 0.7928]) on the 20% holdout data set. The living city, BMI, and peak expiratory flow (PEF) were the three most significant contributors to pre‐frailty risk. Physical and environmental factors were the top 2 impactful feature dimensions.

Conclusions

An accurate and interpretable pre‐frailty risk assessment framework using state‐of‐the‐art machine learning techniques and explanation methods has been developed. Our framework incorporates a wide range of features and determinants, allowing for a comprehensive and nuanced understanding of pre‐frailty risk.
How an Airport Strike in Copenhagen Led to the Discovery of Septohippocampal Disinhibition
Authors: Freund Tamás F.
Published: December 2024

My most important contribution to research on the hippocampus was the discovery that certain phylogenetically ancient subcortical nuclei that carry information about motivation, emotions and autonomic state exert their profound effects on hippocampal functions by selectively innervating interneurons. Diverse effects on network activity patterns and plasticity can be achieved via activating or inhibiting these functionally distinct interneuron types. In the following, I will present the series of serendipitous events that prompted me to shift my research interest from the visual cortex and the basal ganglia to the hippocampus and its subcortical control.
Choline kinases: Enzymatic activity, involvement in cancer and other diseases, inhibitors
Authors: Korbecki Jan , Bosiacki Mateusz , Kupnicka Patrycja , Barczak Katarzyna , Ziętek Paweł , Chlubek Dariusz , Baranowska‐Bosiacka Irena
Published: December 2024

One of the aspects of tumor metabolism that distinguish it from healthy tissue is the phosphorylation of choline by choline kinases, which initiates the synthesis of phosphatidylcholine. Presently, there is a lack of comprehensive reviews discussing the current understanding of the role of choline kinase in cancer processes, as well as studies on the anti‐tumor properties of choline kinase inhibitors. To address these gaps, this review delves into the enzymatic and non‐enzymatic properties of CHKα and CHKβ and explores their precise involvement in cancer processes, particularly cancer cell proliferation. Additionally, we discuss clinical aspects of choline kinases in various tumor types, including pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma, ovarian cancer, lung adenocarcinoma, lymphoma, leukemia, hepatocellular carcinoma, colon adenocarcinoma, and breast cancer. We examine the potential of CHKα inhibitors as anti‐tumor drugs, although they are not yet in the clinical trial phase. Finally, the paper also touches upon the significance of choline kinases in non‐cancerous diseases.
Using life history traits to assess climate change vulnerability in understudied species
Authors: Hinderer Ross K. , Hossack Blake R. , Eby Lisa A.
Published: December 2024

Climate change is a primary threat to biodiversity, but for many species, we still lack information required to assess their relative vulnerability to changes. Climate change vulnerability assessment (CCVA) is a widely used technique to rank relative vulnerability to climate change based on species characteristics, such as their distributions, habitat associations, environmental tolerances, and life‐history traits. However, for species that we expect are vulnerable to climate change yet are understudied, like many amphibians, we often lack information required to construct CCVAs using existing methods. We used the CCVA framework to construct trait‐based models based on life history theory, using empirical evidence of traits and distributions that reflected sensitivity of amphibians to environmental perturbation. We performed CCVAs for amphibians in 7 states in the north‐central USA, focusing on 31 aquatic‐breeding species listed as species of greatest conservation need by at least 1 state. Because detailed information on habitat requirements is unavailable for most amphibian species, we used species distributions and information on traits expected to influence vulnerability to a drying climate (e.g., clutch size and habitat breadth). We scored species vulnerability based on changes projected for mid‐century (2040−2069) from 2 climate models representing “least‐dry” and “most‐dry” scenarios for the region. Species characteristics useful for discriminating vulnerability in our models included small range size, small clutch size, inflexible diel activity patterns, and smaller habitat breadth. When projected climate scenarios included a mix of drier and wetter conditions in the future, the exposure of a species to drying conditions was most important to relative rankings. When the scenario was universally drier, species characteristics were more important to relative rankings. Using information typically available even for understudied species and a range of climate projections, our results highlight the potential of using life history traits as indicators of relative climate vulnerability. The commonalities we identified provide a framework that can be used to assess other understudied species threatened by climate change.
Finite Element and Density Functional Theory Modeling Effectively Predict Pitting Degradation of Hydroxyapatite‐Coated Pure Magnesium
Authors: Dunne Reese A. , Dickel Doyl E. , Green Addison M. , Kim Dam , Priddy Lauren B. , Priddy Matthew W.
Published: December 2024

The emergence of degradable orthopedic implants for fracture fixation may abrogate the need for implant removal surgery and minimize pain associated with permanent implants. Magnesium (Mg) and its alloys are being explored as a biomaterial for degradable implants due to mechanical properties similar to those of bone. Previous in vitro studies have determined the degradation rate of pure Mg to be relatively fast when compared to bone regeneration. Hydroxyapatite (HA), the mineral component of bone, may serve as a surface coating on Mg‐based implants to effectively slow and control the degradation rate. The objective of this work was to develop and implement a finite element (FE) model that utilizes a damage evolution law for pitting corrosion to predict the degradation of pure Mg (non‐coated) and HA‐coated pure Mg (coated) materials simulated in physiological conditions. Finite element analysis (FEA) was performed on a cylindrical Mg specimen (25.4 mm diameter, 8 mm height) through Abaqus/Standard software to incrementally monitor the damage value of each Mg element and subsequently delete fully‐degraded elements from the simulation. A Fortran user‐material (UMAT) subroutine assigned each element a pitting parameter, controlling the rate of degradation throughout the simulation and providing necessary inputs of elastic material properties and degradation model parameters for pure Mg and HA into Abaqus. The simulations allowed for the visualization of both pure Mg and HA‐coated pure Mg degradation over a 120‐day period, displaying expected degradation trends such as lower corrosion rates for HA‐coated Mg and degradation propagating from the edges inward. Simulation results were calibrated with our prior results from a 30‐day experimental degradation study via direct comparison with mass loss over time. Additionally, lower length scale, density functional theory (DFT) simulations were performed to provide physical meaning for the model pitting parameter. The FE simulation was extended to model resin‐enclosed pure Mg and HA‐coated pure Mg degradation, where only the top surface of the specimen was exposed to the corrosion surface, for investigating changes in Mg surface roughness (height) over time. The impacts of this work include the establishment of a computational model of pure Mg and HA‐coated pure Mg degradation calibrated using in vitro degradation data to advance the use of Mg‐based biomaterials, and more broadly, to predict degradation rates of next‐generation orthopedic implants.
Who Will Rule the Waves? Geopolitical Threats to Maritime Infrastructure
Authors: Braw Elisabeth
Published: December 2024

Adherence to global maritime rules is indispensable for the functioning of maritime operations and, as a result, the globalized economy. Though maritime rules and conventions have never seen perfect compliance, adherence is waning. A wide range of companies and even national governments openly violate maritime rules, and some even engage in aggression. That puts maritime activities and the ocean's health in jeopardy and threatens the maritime order itself.
Brain‐derived neurotrophic factor as a promising neuromarker which could predict psychomotor developmental impairment in children with unrepaired congenital heart defects
Authors: Chiperi Lacramioara Eliza , Hagau Asmaa Carla , Tecar Cristina , Hutanu Adina , Muntean Iolanda
Published: December 2024

Introduction

The aim of the study was to assess the predicting value of neuromarkers for psychomotor performances of congenital heart defect (CHD) patients before surgery, as until now the researchers only evaluated neuromarkers after the surgical treatment of the CHD.

Methods

This cross‐sectional study included children with CHD who did not receive treatment (interventional or cardiac surgery). Psychomotor development was evaluated using the Denver II Screening Test. Blood samples were collected for neuromarkers analysis: neuron‐specific enolase (NSE), protein S100 (pS100), brain‐derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP).

Results

We enrolled 77 children. Patients with CHD experienced more frequent developmental delays compared to healthy children (12–34% in the non‐cyanotic group and 26–74% in the cyanotic group). The association between type of CHD and psychomotor impairment was statistically significant (p < 0.0001, RR = 2.604, CI = 2.07–3.26). Neuromarkers value was compared between cyanotic and non‐cyanotic groups: NSE and BDNF values were higher in the cyanotic group, respectively, pS100 and GFAP had slightly higher values in the non‐cyanotic group. A correlation coefficient of 0.35 (p = 0.023) was obtained between psychomotor development and BDNF level. An AUC of 0.72 was obtained for psychomotor development and BDNF in ROC analysis with the cut‐off value of 5895 pg/ml.

Conclusion

BDNF is showing moderate discriminative ability in predicting psychomotor development outcomes in pediatric patients with CHD.
Leveraging transfer learning for predicting total knee arthroplasty failure from post‐operative radiographs
Authors: Corti Anna , Galante Sarah , Rauch Rebecca , Chiappetta Katia , Corino Valentina , Loppini Mattia
Published: December 2024

Purpose

The incidence of both primary and revision total knee arthroplasty (TKA) is expected to rise, making early recognition of TKA failure crucial to prevent extensive revision surgeries. This study aims to develop a deep learning (DL) model to predict TKA failure using radiographic images.

Methods

Two patient cohorts who underwent primary TKA were retrospectively collected: one was used for the model development and the other for the external validation. Each cohort encompassed failed and non‐failed subjects, according to the need for TKA revision surgery. Moreover, for each patient, one anteroposterior and one lateral radiographic view obtained during routine TKA follow‐up, were considered. A transfer learning fine‐tuning approach was employed. After pre‐processing, the images were analyzed using a convolutional neuronal network (CNN) that was originally developed for predicting hip prosthesis failure and was based on the Densenet169 pre‐trained on Imagenet. The model was tested on 20% of the images of the first cohort and externally validated on the images of the second cohort. Metrics, such as accuracy, sensitivity, specificity and area under the receiving operating characteristic curve (AUC), were calculated for the final assessment.

Results

The trained model correctly classified 108 out of 127 images in the test set, providing a classification accuracy of 0.85, sensitivity of 0.80, specificity of 0.89 and AUC of 0.86. Moreover, the model correctly classified 1547 out of 1937 in the external validation set, providing a balanced accuracy of 0.79, sensitivity of 0.80, specificity of 0.78 and AUC of 0.86.

Conclusions

The present DL model predicts TKA failure with moderate accuracy, regardless of the cause of revision surgery. Additionally, the effectiveness of the transfer learning fine‐tuning approach, leveraging a previously developed DL model for hip prosthesis failure, has been successfully demonstrated.

Level of Evidence

Level III, diagnostic study.
Haddon matrix model: Application to workplace violence in a hospital setting
Authors: Derscheid Della J. , Meyer Christopher , Arnetz Judith E.
Published: December 2024

The aim of this study was to identify hospital‐based workplace violence (WPV) risk factors with the Haddon Matrix Model (HMM) to determine its potential utility to conceptualize multiple risks for WPV events. This descriptive study utilized two independent convenience samples Data from behavioral emergencies (2014–2015) for patient violence (N = 192) and from health care staff (N = 380) 12‐month violence survey responses (2015) in a Midwestern academic hospital were analyzed. Logistic regression examined patient features associated with physical violence. Survey questions pertained to employee, environment, and cultural factors associated with WPV; responses were examined with Chi‐square and two‐sample t‐tests. Violence risk factors populated the 4 Haddon Matrix domains at pre‐event time frames as Host (worker)‐age/demographics, Agent (patient)‐age/gender, Physical Environment‐door/window structure, and Social Environment‐worker safety. Risks at event time frames populated for Agent—behavior/delirium, and Physical Environment—event medication/patient identification. The Haddon Matrix identification of hospital violence risks indicates its utility as a comprehensive approach to workplace violence.
Integration of multi‐omics layers empowers precision diagnosis through unveiling pathogenic mechanisms on maple syrup urine disease
Authors: Tejedor Juan Ramón , Soriano‐Sexto Alejandro , Beccari Leonardo , Castejón‐Fernández Natalia , Correcher Patricia , Sainz‐Ledo Lidia , Alba‐Linares Juan José , Urdinguio Rocío G. , Ugarte Magdalena , Fernández Agustín F. , Rodríguez‐Pombo Pilar , Fraga Mario F. , Pérez Belén
Published: December 2024

Maple syrup urine disease (MSUD) is a rare inherited metabolic disorder characterized by deficient activity of the branched‐chain alpha‐ketoacid dehydrogenase (BCKDH) complex, required to metabolize the amino acids leucine, isoleucine, and valine. Despite its profound metabolic implications, the molecular alterations underlying this metabolic impairment had not yet been completely elucidated. We performed a comprehensive multi‐omics integration analysis, including genomic, epigenomic, and transcriptomic data from fibroblasts derived from a cohort of MSUD patients and unaffected controls to genetically characterize an MSUD case and to unravel the MSUD pathophysiology. MSUD patients exhibit a defined episignature that reshapes the global DNA methylation landscape, resulting in the stimulation of HOX cluster genes and the restriction of cell cycle gene‐related signatures. Subsequent data integration revealed the impact of AP1‐related and CEBPB transcription factors on the observed molecular reorganization, with MEIS1 emerging as a potential downstream candidate affected by robust epigenetic repression in MSUD patients. Furthermore, the integration of multi‐omics layers facilitated the identification of a strong epigenetic repression in the DBT promoter in a patient wherein no BCKDH pathogenic variants had been detected. A Circular Chromatin Conformation Capture assay indicated a disturbance of the interactions of DBT promoter, thereby unveiling alternative modes of disease inheritance. Integration of multi‐omics data unveiled underlying molecular networks rewired in MSUD patients and represents a powerful approach with diagnostic potential for rare genetic disorders with unknown genetic bases.
Spermatozoa and Spermatogenesis in the Ribbon Worm Asteronemertes gibsoni (Hoplonemertea, Oerstediidae), a Symbiont of Sea Stars
Authors: Yurchenko Olga V. , Chernyshev Alexey V.
Published: December 2024

In the phylum Nemertea, the class Hoplonemertea (former Enopla) comprises the largest number of studied species with complex spermatozoa. Asteronemertes gibsoni Chernyshev, 1991, a nemertean species having a symbiotic relationship with sea stars, is characterized by complex filiform spermatozoa. Here, spermatogenesis and spermatozoon structure in A. gibsoni have been examined using light and electron microscopy. Numerous proacrosomal vesicles of two kinds have been found in early spermatogenic cells. In spermatozoa, the elongated acrosomal complex consists of two components: a core, which is a spindle‐shaped electron‐dense acrosomal vesicle with a long anterior end, and its casing of moderate electron density that covers the acrosomal vesicle completely. The acrosomal complex is located laterally relative to the elongated nucleus. The acrosomal casing bears two rows of small, short channels between the nucleus and the electron‐dense acrosomal core. In late spermatids, the elongations of the acrosomal complex and the nucleus occur simultaneously and are mediated by numerous microtubules that disappear during the latest stages of spermiogenesis. The flagellum in spermatogenic cells and spermatozoa contains an axoneme with the usual 9 × 2 + 2 microtubular organization and is posteriorly oriented in spermatozoa. As known to date, A. gibsoni has the most modified spermatozoa among investigated Nemertea, and the complex structure of its sperm is suggested to be associated with the reproductive biology, in particular, with fertilization. Additionally, a number of similar ultrastructural features in spermatozoon organization have been found in A. gibsoni and Kurilonemertes phyllospadicola whose phylogenetic relationship was previously proven.
The Corneal Structure of the Yellow‐Legged Gull, Larus michahellis (Naumann, 1840)
Authors: Cobo R. , Navarro‐Sempere A. , Mielgo P. , Segovia Y. , García M.
Published: December 2024

The cornea is the transparent part of the eye's outer sheath and the primary refractive element in the optical system of all vertebrates allowing light to focus on the central part of the retina. Maintenance of its curvature and clarity is therefore essential, providing a smooth optical surface and a protective goggle to ensure a focused image on the retina. However, the corneas of birds have been largely overlooked and the structures and mechanisms controlling corneal shape and hence visual acuity remain unknown. In this work, the cornea of a seabird, that is, the yellow‐legged gull, has been investigated using light and electron microscopy. Histological examination reveals that, as in other vertebrates, the cornea consists of five layers: outer epithelium, Bowman's layer, stroma, Descemet's membrane, and endothelium. The corneal epithelium is a nonkeratinized, stratified squamous epithelium approximately 3–4 cells thick that covers the front of the cornea. The surface of the cornea features two types of microprojections, microridges and microvilli. The acellular Bowman's layer is difficult to define because of its gradual transition into the more regularly arranged stroma, which constitute the bulk of the cornea, a collagen‐rich central layer that comprises nearly 90% of the thickness of the cornea. The collagen fibrils are of uniform diameter and, within a given lamella, are all parallel to each other and run the entire breadth of the cornea. The lamellae are oriented at various angles with respect to each other. Between the lamellae, most of the keratocytes were concentrated in the central region of the corneal stroma. Desçemet's membrane is well‐developed. The endothelium is a single cell‐layer thick of approximately 3 µm in depth. The endothelial cells are polygonal and display irregular and interdigitating borders in basolateral plasma membranes. The results shown different diurnal lifestyle characteristics in the yellow‐legged gull cornea.
Indian Summer Monsoon Rainfall Characteristics Derived From Multiple Gridded Precipitation Datasets: A Comparative Assessment
Authors: Paul Sandipan , Sharma Priyank J. , Teegavarapu Ramesh S. V.
Published: December 2024

Precipitation, a crucial component of the Earth system processes, regulates the spatiotemporal cyclicity of water, energy, and carbon fluxes. Accurate precipitation datasets leverage the understanding of precipitation dynamics and are vital for hydro‐climatological studies. South Asian monsoon is a complex, multi‐scale interacting, synoptic, and ocean–land–atmosphere coupled system, contributing to significant spatial and temporal variability in summer monsoonal rainfall across India. This study evaluates four types of gridded (observational, satellite, reanalysis, and hybrid) precipitation products in their ability to replicate Indian Summer Monsoonal Rainfall (ISMR) characteristics using the India Meteorological Department (IMD) 0.25° gridded data as the baseline. A comparative assessment is performed in this study that uses several continuous and interval‐based performance measures to evaluate the overall rainfall magnitude detectability and time‐matched capturing of rainfall events. A new metric, rank score, is developed by aggregating multiple measures to find the best product. The analyses based on several performance measures indicate that MSWEP is the best dataset (rank one) that closely approximates the occurrence and magnitude of IMD‐based rainfall events, while APHRODITE, CHIRPS, and IMDAA are ranked as the next best set of products. PGF is ranked the lowest among all products evaluated and is not recommended for applications. Nonetheless, APHRODITE suffers from strong negative biases, while the reanalysis (IMDAA, ERA5‐Land, PGF) datasets show significant positive biases. Among the products evaluated, APHRODITE, ERA5‐Land, and IMDAA have shown a limited ability to detect excess, normal, and deficit monsoon years, respectively. In general, the performance of satellite‐based data products is superior to that of reanalysis datasets in accurately characterising the monsoon years. ERA5‐Land is noted to be the best‐performing dataset among the reanalysis products. The comprehensive comparative assessment carried out in this study benefits the selection and use of appropriate gridded precipitation products for hydroclimatic modelling, climate variability, and change studies.
“Who” Is the Best Creative Thinking Partner? An Experimental Investigation of Human–Human, Human–Internet, and Human–AI Co‐Creation
Authors: Tang Min , Hofreiter Sebastian , Werner Christian H. , Zielińska Aleksandra , Karwowski Maciej
Published: December 2024

Recent research suggests that working with generative artificial intelligence (AI), such as ChatGPT, can produce more creative outcomes than humans alone. However, does AI retain its creative edge when humans have access to alternative information sources, such as another human or the internet. We explored this question in a between‐group experiment with 202 German participants across four conditions (human–human dyads, human–Internet, and two human–AI groups with basic or specific instructions) and four creativity tasks (two alternate uses tasks, a consequences task, and a problem‐solving task). Results showed that the human–human condition obtained higher creativity scores in the divergent thinking tasks than the remaining groups. No significant between‐group differences were observed in the problem‐solving task. Moreover, interacting in human dyads made people more creatively confident, an effect not observed in the other groups. In addition, we compared human‐rated outcomes with AI‐based automated scoring (Ocsai). Interestingly, notable discrepancies emerged between the AI assessment and the human‐judged results, raising concerns about AI's susceptibility to “elaboration bias.” These findings highlight the benefits of human collaboration for creativity and call for further studies about the reliability and potential biases of AI in evaluating creative performance.
Emerging Treatment Modalities for Gastric Cancer With Macroscopic Peritoneal Metastases: A Systematic Review
Authors: Gül Safak , Alberto Miguel , Annika Kurreck , Pratschke Johann , Rau Beate
Published: December 2024

Gastric cancer with macroscopic peritoneal metastases represents a major therapeutic challenge and is associated with a poor prognosis. This review aims to evaluate the efficacy and safety of new treatment modalities. A systematic search of PubMed was conducted to identify studies published between January 2014 and April 2024. Inclusion criteria were trials investigating novel therapies for gastric cancer with peritoneal metastases. Data on treatment efficacy, survival outcomes, and side effects were extracted.
Disparities in Breast Reconstruction After Mastectomy in Southeast Asia: A Systematic Review
Authors: Nguyen Antoinette , Chon Jeewon , Coles Brigid , Galiano Robert
Published: December 2024

Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer among women in Southeast Asia. However, significant disparities in access to postmastectomy breast reconstruction persist due to cultural, economic, and healthcare‐related factors. These disparities result in unequal access to care, impacting patient outcomes, and overall quality of life. A systematic review was conducted following PRISMA guidelines to assess trends, disparities, and outcomes in breast reconstruction across Southeast Asia. The review included 15 studies published between 2000 and 2023 from countries including Singapore, Malaysia, Vietnam, Thailand, and Brunei. Data extracted focused on disparities related to ethnicity, socioeconomic status, geographic location, and surgical outcomes. Statistical analysis included summarizing key variables across studies. Significant cultural and economic barriers to breast reconstruction were identified. Cultural beliefs influenced uptake, with Malay women preferring autologous tissue reconstruction (92.3%), while Chinese women had lower reconstruction rates due to traditional beliefs. Economic constraints limited access to advanced techniques like the DIEP flap, which had a median cost of SGD 11 009.38, significantly higher than the TRAM flap (SGD, 300.51, p < 0.001). Geographic disparities further restricted access, especially in rural areas. Complication rates were higher in obese patients, with total flap loss at 6% and fat necrosis at 10%. Studies from Vietnam and Thailand reported 5‐year overall survival rates of 95% and disease‐free survival rates of 80.7% for early‐stage breast cancer patients undergoing reconstruction. Breast reconstruction disparities in Southeast Asia are driven by complex interactions between cultural, economic, and healthcare‐related factors. Efforts to reduce these disparities must focus on increasing patient education, expanding reconstructive options, and addressing systemic healthcare inequalities. Targeted interventions, including policy changes to subsidize reconstruction and improve surgeon training in rural areas, are critical to ensuring equitable access and improving patient outcomes across the region.
Role of Iron in Stabilization of Soil Organic Carbon Under Different Vegetation Communities of Mangrove Wetlands
Authors: Zhao Haixiao , Tan Qian , Zhang Sibo , Yang Wei , Xia Feiyang , Guo Hongjiang
Published: December 2024

Iron (Fe) oxides play an important role in maintaining soil organic carbon (SOC) stability. However, little attention has been paid to the role of Fe oxides in preserving SOC in mangrove wetlands with different vegetation communities. In this study, four soils of dominant vegetation communities:
Phragmites australis
(PA), Acanthus ilicifolius (AI), Sonneratia apetala (SA), and mixed soils of
S. apetala
and A. ilicifolius (SA + AI) were selected from mangrove wetland of Qi'ao Island. The distributions of Fe‐bound organic carbon (OC‐Fe) and Fe oxides (Feo, acid oxalate‐extractable Fe; Fep, pyrophosphate‐extractable Fe), and the role of soil factors in SOC conservation were investigated. The results showed that soil OC‐Fe content ranged from 1.03 to 4.96 g/kg, with a contribution to SOC ranging from 5.97% to 24.07%, which was highest in SA + AI (3.58 ± 0.94 g/kg), followed by PA (2.67 ± 1.07 g/kg), SA (1.88 ± 0.43 g/kg), and AI (1.82 ± 0.32 g/kg). The Fep content was higher in the PA and SA + AI, however, the Feo content was lower. Structural equation modeling indicated that SOC, Feo, and Fep were direct drivers of OC‐Fe formation. Overall, the aboveground biomass of different vegetation communities indirectly affected the OC‐Fe content by regulating SOC inputs. High water contents, low oxygen conditions, and near‐neutral soils in mangrove wetlands favor OC‐Fe formation between Fe oxides and SOC by co‐precipitation or complexation. This study highlights the importance of mangrove wetland vegetation communities in Fe‐C coupling, while providing theoretical support for the study of carbon cycling processes in mangrove wetlands.
Tillage With Straw Returning Promotes Soil Functional Microbiomes and Nitrogen Transformation to Increase Cotton Yield
Authors: Li Wenhao , Qu Wenying , Zong Rui , Li Junfeng , Ho Shih‐Hsin , Wang Zhenhua
Published: December 2024

The soil microbial community and its driven nitrogen (N) conversion are the key processes in cotton production. However, the responses of soil microbial communities to changes in farming practices (e.g., tillage and straw returning) remain unknown. This study sampled soil from the 0–20 cm and 20–40 cm layers of cotton fields under no‐tillage (NT), tillage (T), no‐tillage + straw returning (NT + SR), and tillage + straw returning (T + SR) practices, and high‐throughput sequencing approach method was used to investigate the effects of farming practices on soil physicochemical properties, microbial community structure, and N metabolism pathways, as well as their associations with cotton yield. The survival rate (90.44% ± 0.90%) and yield (5314.0 ± 57.04 kg/ha) of cotton were highest under T + SR, and T improved cotton yield more effectively than SR. T increased the relative abundance of beneficial microorganisms and mediated their assimilation of ammonium nitrogen (NH+ 4‐N) by improving the soil physical properties. In addition, the survival rate and yield of cotton were primarily related to the fungal communities and their pathways of assimilating NH+ 4‐N because fungi had more complex and stable networks. The core microbiota contained most of the taxa that were significantly associated with N cycling genes and cotton yield, and even rare taxa could play an important role in microbial function. This study improves our understanding of the microbial N mechanism; T combined with SR can improve soil quality and establish healthy soil microflora (fungal‐dominated type) to improve cotton production.
Higher expression of mir‐31‐5p is associated with reduced risk of head and neck keloid recurrence following surgical resection
Authors: Levin Albert M. , Okifo Oghenefejiro , Buhl Katherine , Ouchi Takahiro , Parker Bianca , Tan Jessica , Datta Indrani , Dai Xiangguo , Chen Yalei , Palanisamy Nallasivam , Veenstra Jesse , Carskadon Shannon , Li Jia , Ozog David , Keller Christian E. , Chitale Dhananjay , Bobbitt Kevin R. , Crawford Howard C. , Steele Nina , Mi Qing‐Sheng , Jones Lamont R.
Published: December 2024

Objective

In this study, we aimed to evaluate mir‐31‐5p as a prognostic biomarker of keloid disease (KD) recurrence using a retrospective, treatment naïve, surgical cohort of head and neck KD cases from Henry Ford Health.

Methods

Using a tissue microarray, mir‐31‐5p expression was measured with miRNAscope, and mir‐31‐5p cell positivity was determined with QuPath. Logistic regression was used to test the association between mir‐31‐5p positive cells and KD recurrence at 1 year. In an independent dataset, associations between mir‐31‐5p and messenger RNA (mRNA) expression were assessed. Ingenuity Pathway Analysis identified target genes and pathways impacted by mir‐31‐5p.

Results

Of the 58 KD patients, 42 (72%) received adjuvant triamcinolone injections, and 8 recurred (14%). mir‐31‐5p was expressed in 48 (83%) specimens. Increasing mir‐31‐5p expression was associated with decreased risk of recurrence (p = .031), with an odds ratio of 0.86 (95% CI 0.75–0.98) for each 20% increase in mir‐31‐5p cellular positivity. This effect persisted with triamcinolone treatment (odds ratio 0.82; 95% CI 0.71–0.95; p = .015). mir‐31‐5p correlated with gene expression enriched in KD pathways, including mRNA splicing and autophagy.

Conclusion

Taken together, our data supports the association between mir‐31‐5p expression and KD recurrence. Its potential as a prognostic biomarker should be further investigated.

Level of Evidence

Level 2.
Endoscopic and microscopic video modules are effective for teaching middle ear anatomy
Authors: Tu Leona J. , Nwosu Obinna I. , Chieffe Doug , Daniel Elissa , Cohen Michael S.
Published: December 2024

Objectives

To evaluate the efficacy of video modules in improving trainees' objective knowledge of middle ear anatomy and to compare the efficacy of using the endoscope to the microscope in video modules.

Methods

Medical students and residents were recruited. Two videos reviewing middle ear anatomy were developed. One video was recorded using an endoscope and the other using a microscope. Subjects were randomly assigned to either the endoscopic or microscopic video module group. A 20‐question knowledge assessment designed to assess understanding of anatomic concepts was administered to all subjects prior to the intervention. After completing the endoscopic or microscopic video modules, subjects were administered the same knowledge assessment.

Results

Of the 62 subjects recruited, 32 were randomized to the endoscope group and 30 to the microscope group. Eleven subjects completed all components of the assessment in the endoscope group and nine in the microscope group. Subjects in the endoscope group demonstrated a mean 12.3% increase in assessment scores (SD 9.1%, p = .0008), compared to a mean 11.7% increase in assessment scores in the microscope group (SD 9.4%, p = .0002). When controlling for pretest scores, there was no significant difference in posttest performance between the two groups.

Conclusion

Brief video modules effectively improved objective short‐term knowledge of middle ear anatomy. Although both groups demonstrated a significant improvement in knowledge, there was no significant difference in the educational utility of endoscopic videos compared to microscopic videos. Further studies with larger sample sizes may help quantify which modalities are optimal for teaching.

Level of Evidence

NA.
Rising water levels increase CH4 emissions and decrease CO2 exchange in a temperate salt marsh
Authors: Yang Dan , Jensen Asger Buur , Sorrell Brian K. , Brix Hans , Eller Franziska
Published: December 2024

Saline wetlands play a crucial role in climate regulation through their robust cooling effect, attributed to rapid carbon sequestration and minimal methane production. However, a comprehensive understanding of the mechanisms controlling their greenhouse gas (GHG) balance is lacking, particularly in salt marshes that are fully or partially submerged due to rising sea levels. We conducted a controlled manipulative experiment to test the effect of water levels on GHG emissions, including four water table levels: ‐10, 0, +5 cm and a fluctuating water table. We used soil cores from a Spartina anglica‐dominated salt marsh and examined the CO2 and CH4 fluxes over a growing season. Daylight CO2 uptake and dark CO2 emission were highest at the ‐10cm water table, while CH4 emissions were lowest at this water table. CO2 and CH4 fluxes were primarily driven by air and water temperature and solar irradiance. Our results indicate that salt marshes with near‐surface water levels (‐10 to 5 cm) function as potent CO2 sinks and minor sources of CH4 during the growing season. The high photosynthetic carbon assimilation combined with low CH4 fluxes resulted in a Global Warming Potential value of ‐326 g CO2eq m−2 on a 100‐year scale. Our study accounted for CH4 fluxes, CO2 uptake and emission together, and identified the mechanisms controlling CO2 and CH4 exchange. This approach is crucial for evaluating the potential of saline tidal wetlands as net carbon sinks and for developing scientifically sound climate mitigation policies.
Three‐parameter Triebel–Lizorkin spaces associated with a sum of two flag singular integrals
Authors: Chen Yan , Tao Xiangxing , Zheng Taotao
Published: December 2024

In this paper, the authors establish the three‐parameter Triebel–Lizorkin spaces and characterize these spaces as the intersection of two flag Triebel–Lizorkin spaces by applying the discrete Littlewood–Paley–Stein analysis. Moreover, they obtain the boundedness of product singular integral operators on the three‐parameter Triebel–Lizorkin spaces.
Numerical Simulation on Chain Dynamic of Polymer Solution in Microchannels: A Dissipative Particle Dynamics Study
Authors: Dong Hua , Zhou Hao , Li Yi‐Fei , Li Xiao‐Bao , Fan Liang‐Liang , Wen Bo‐Yao , Zhao Liang
Published: December 2024

The chain dynamics and the rheological property of the polymer solution in the microscale confined space (e.g., microchannel) are complex and still unclear. In this paper, based on the prior research work, a dissipative particle dynamics (DPD) method is established to systematically simulate the dynamic behavior of polymer chains and the properties of the polymer solution in microchannels by combining the modified FENE chain model and a new boundary condition setting, especially for the gradually contracted microchannel. It is found that the concentration of the polymer chain, the degree of constraint, and the Reynolds number influence the dynamic behavior of the polymer chain by changing the constraint effect or the hydrodynamic effect. In addition, the geometrical structure of the microchannel significantly changes the dynamic behavior of the polymer chain. The chain dynamics in the gradually contracted microchannel are quite different from that in the straight microchannel. Finally, the rheological characteristics of the power‐law fluid and the lateral migration of the solid particle in the viscoelastic fluid in the microchannel are also simulated, and the simulation results are in good agreement with the result reported in the literature, which further verifies the accuracy of the present simulation method.
HMGB3 Contributes to Anti‐PD‐1 Resistance by Inhibiting IFN‐γ‐Driven Ferroptosis in TNBC
Authors: Luo Bo , Zheng Hongmei , Liang Gai , Luo Yan , Zhang Qu , Li Xiang
Published: December 2024

Our previous studies showed HMGB3 expression may correlate with immunotherapy efficacy in breast cancer patients. Here, we investigated whether HMGB3 overexpression has an impact on anti‐PD‐1 therapy in triple‐negative breast cancer (TNBC) and its molecular mechanisms. Animal models were established to observe the effect of HMGB3 on sensitivity to anti‐PD‐1 treatment. Correlation of HMGB3 expression and ferroptosis preventive proteins in TNBC patients' tissues with anti‐PD‐1 therapy efficacy was analyzed. The impact of HMGB3 on IFN‐γ (Interferon‐gamma) inhibitory effects and signaling was examined in human TNBC cells where HMGB3 expression was knocked down using siRNA. Moreover, TNBC cells stably transfected with lentiviral vectors containing cDNA of HMGB3 were also used to confirm the effect of overexpression of HMGB3 on IFN‐γ inhibitory effect and signaling. Effect of HMGB3 on IFN‐γ‐driven ferroptosis and ferroptosis‐associated protein expression were also investigated. Correlation of HMGB3 and IRF1 and GPX4 expression in patient's cancer tissue were also investigated. Our results demonstrated that HMGB3 expression contributes to resistance to anti‐PD‐1 therapy in vivo. HMGB3 expression correlated with treatment efficacy of immunotherapy and survival in TNBC patients. HMGB3 silence decreased resistance of breast cancer cells to IFN‐γ cytotoxic effect, while HMGB3 overexpression increased resistance of these cancer cells. HMGB3 silence increased STAT1 phosphorylation and IRF1 expression upon IFN‐γ treatment compared with control. Overexpression of HMGB3 inhibited STAT1 phosphorylation and IFN‐γ signaling in TNBC cells. Moreover, HMGB3 also increased STAT3 activation and had an effect of interaction between STAT1 and STAT3. HMGB3 overexpression decreased IFN‐γ‐driven ferroptosis in TNBC cells. HMGB3 increased ferroptosis‐inhibitory proteins (SLC7A11, GPX4, and SLC3A2) expression in TNBC cells. Ferroptosis inhibition recovers resistance to anti‐PD‐1 therapy in vivo. Immunohistochemistry showed HMGB3 expression correlated with ferroptosis‐associated proteins and IRF1 expression in breast cancer tissue. HMGB3 contributes to anti‐PD‐1 resistance by inhibiting IFN‐γ‐driven ferroptosis in TNBC which suggested HMGB3 is a potential co‐target with anti‐PD‐1 therapy for TNBC.
Emergence and detection of gastro‐enteric virulence genes in non‐pathogenic Vibrio cholerae: Implications for public health and water safety in African developmental regions
Authors: Igere Bright Esegbuyota
Published: December 2024

Background

Water, an indispensable component of life, has in recent times been associated with the distribution/spread of gastro‐enteric diseases especially as safe water is a concern in Southern, Eastern and Western African developmental regions.

Methods

This study evaluated the molecular fingerprints of potential gastro‐enteric associated virulence genes of 58 somatic antigen non‐agglutinating Vibrio cholerae 1/139 (SA‐NAG‐Vc‐1/139) strains from domestic water sources. Strains were isolated and characterized applying both culture‐based‐microbiological techniques and molecular‐fingerprinting of target‐specific identification genes using simplex/multiplex PCR assay and ERIC‐PCR fingerprints.

Results

Our study revealed diverse gene‐based indices vis T3SS (29/58, 50.00%), T6SS (33/58, 56.9%), rtxA (37/58, 63.79%), rtxC (12/58, 20.69%), NAG‐stn/sto (13/58, 22.41%), prtV (17/58, 29.31%), hlyA (41/58, 70.69%), nanH (40/58, 68.97%), mshA (44/58, 75.86%), chxA (37/58, 63.79%), hapA (17/58, 29.31%), ace (22/58, 37.93%), and cep (20/58, 34.48%) etc. Such results show that 53.45% (31/58) of isolates harboured more than three virulence associated genes while nanH, mshA, chxA, T6SS, T3SS, rtxA, hlyA, mshA, chxA, ace and cep fingerprints were detected predominantly with corresponding ilea‐loop test positive strains. ERIC‐PCR also showed multiple target specific repetitive intergenic consensus sequence regions ranging from 2 to 8.

Conclusions

This is an indication that the previously known non‐pathogenic strains now harbour potential gastro‐enteric virulence which may be controlled by more than one virulent gene dynamics. It also suggests a current potential shift in the virulence dynamics of V. cholerae strains recovered from the study area and a re‐evaluated view of the previously non‐pathogenic V. cholerae strains. Furthermore, the presence of such genes in SA‐NAG‐Vc‐1/139 strains indicates a potential public health related concern. Although these detected potential gastro‐enteric associated genes may be implicated in sporadic gastroenteritis, our result has re‐emphasized their probable public health concern as they may be involved in both endemic and severe gastroenteritis cases, which suggests the need for water routine monitoring or surveillance.