bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Metal-Free Catalytic Conversion of Veratryl and Benzyl Alcohols through Nitrogen-Enriched Carbon Nanotubes
Authors: Gupta Neeraj , Barlocco Ilaria , Khavryuchenko Oleksiy , Villa Alberto
Published: January 2024

Nitrogen-rich carbon nanotubes NCNT700 and NCNT800 were prepared using the chemical vapor deposition method (CVD). The catalysts were characterized via high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analysis. Both the catalysts were found to have an inverted cup-stack-like morphology. The XPS analysis revealed that the catalysts are rich in pyridinic sites with variable amounts of nitrogen on their surface. The NCTN700, with a higher nitrogen content and more pyridinic sites on its surface, was found to be a good catalyst for the oxidation of benzyl and veratryl alcohols into respective aldehydes. It was observed that toluene and 4-methyl veratrole were also produced in this reaction. The amount of toluene produced was as high as 21%, with 99% conversion of benzaldehyde in the presence of NCNTs-700. The mechanistic pathway was revealed through DFT studies, where the unusual product formation of aromatic alkanes such as toluene and 4-methyl veratrole was explained during the reaction. It was astonishing to observe the reduced product in the reaction that proceeds in the forward direction in presence of a peroxide (tert-butyl hydroperoxide, TBHP). During the computational analysis, it was revealed that the reduced product observed in the reaction did not appear to proceed through a direct disproportionation reaction. Rather, the benzyl alcohol (the reactant) used in the reaction may undergo oxidation by releasing the hydrogen radicals. The hydrogen atoms released during the oxidation reaction appear to have been trapped on pyrrolic sites on the surface of catalyst and later transferred to the reactant molecules to produce toluene as a side product.
Real-World Outcomes of Crizotinib in ROS1-Rearranged Advanced Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer
Authors: Kim Hyeon Hwa , Lee Jae Cheol , Oh In-Jae , Kim Eun Young , Yoon Seong Hoon , Lee Shin Yup , Lee Min Ki , Lee Jeong Eun , Park Chan Kwon , Lee Kye Young , Lee Sung Yong , Kim Seung Joon , Lim Jun Hyeok , Choi Chang-min
Published: January 2024

Real-world data on the use and outcomes of crizotinib in ROS1-rearranged non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) are limited. This study aims to analyze the real-world efficacy of crizotinib in South Korea and explore the utilization of liquid biopsies that implement next-generation sequencing (NGS) using cell-free total nucleic acids. In this prospective multicenter cohort study, 40 patients with ROS1-rearranged NSCLC, either starting or already on crizotinib, were enrolled. Patients had a median age of 61 years, with 32.5% presenting brain/central nervous system (CNS) metastases at treatment initiation. At the data cutoff, 48.0% were still in treatment; four continued with it even after disease progression due to the clinical benefits. The objective response rate was 70.0%, with a median duration of response of 27.8 months. The median progression-free survival was 24.1 months, while the median overall survival was not reached. Adverse events occurred in 90.0% of patients, primarily with elevated transaminases, yet these were mostly manageable. The NGS assay detected a CD74–ROS1 fusion in 2 of the 14 patients at treatment initiation and identified emerging mutations, such as ROS1 G2032R, ROS1 D2033N, and KRAS G12D, during disease progression. These findings confirm crizotinib’s sustained clinical efficacy and safety in a real-world context, which was characterized by a higher elderly population and higher rates of brain/CNS metastases. The study highlights the clinical relevance of liquid biopsy for detecting resistance mechanisms, suggesting its value in personalized treatment strategies.
A Comprehensive Investigation of Active Learning Strategies for Conducting Anti-Cancer Drug Screening
Authors: Vasanthakumari Priyanka , Zhu Yitan , Brettin Thomas , Partin Alexander , Shukla Maulik , Xia Fangfang , Narykov Oleksandr , Weil Michael Ryan , Stevens Rick L.
Published: January 2024

It is well-known that cancers of the same histology type can respond differently to a treatment. Thus, computational drug response prediction is of paramount importance for both preclinical drug screening studies and clinical treatment design. To build drug response prediction models, treatment response data need to be generated through screening experiments and used as input to train the prediction models. In this study, we investigate various active learning strategies of selecting experiments to generate response data for the purposes of (1) improving the performance of drug response prediction models built on the data and (2) identifying effective treatments. Here, we focus on constructing drug-specific response prediction models for cancer cell lines. Various approaches have been designed and applied to select cell lines for screening, including a random, greedy, uncertainty, diversity, combination of greedy and uncertainty, sampling-based hybrid, and iteration-based hybrid approach. All of these approaches are evaluated and compared using two criteria: (1) the number of identified hits that are selected experiments validated to be responsive, and (2) the performance of the response prediction model trained on the data of selected experiments. The analysis was conducted for 57 drugs and the results show a significant improvement on identifying hits using active learning approaches compared with the random and greedy sampling method. Active learning approaches also show an improvement on response prediction performance for some of the drugs and analysis runs compared with the greedy sampling method.
Impact of KIR-HLA Genotype on Natural-Killer-Cell-Based Immunotherapy for Preventing Hepatocellular Carcinoma after Living-Donor Liver Transplantation
Authors: Tanimine Naoki , Ohira Masahiro , Kurita Emi , Nakano Ryosuke , Sakai Hiroshi , Tahara Hiroyuki , Ide Kentaro , Kobayashi Tsuyoshi , Tanaka Yuka , Ohdan Hideki
Published: January 2024

Natural killer (NK) cells have immunosurveillance potential in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). We performed adaptive immunotherapy using donor-liver-derived natural killer (NK) cells after living-donor liver transplantation (LDLT) to prevent HCC recurrence. Dominant inhibitory signals tightly regulate NK cell activity via human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-specific inhibitory receptors, such as killer immunoglobulin-like receptors (KIRs). The functional recognition of HLA through KIR raises the NK cell capacity, which is a process termed “licensing.” Here, we investigated the effect of polymorphic KIR-HLA genotypes on the efficacy of NK-cell-based immunotherapy after LDLT. Seventy-seven Japanese recipients with HCC who underwent LDLT and their corresponding donors between 1996 and 2016 were enrolled in this study. The median follow-up period was 8.3 years. The HCC recurrence risk was stratified using radiological and pathological assessments according to the Milan criteria. Of the 77 recipients, 38 received immunotherapy. Immunotherapy improves early post-transplantation survival and lowers the recurrence rate in the intermediate-risk recipients. We analyzed the genotypes of five inhibitory KIRs and HLA using sequence-specific polymorphism-based typing. The polymorphic KIR-HLA genotype revealed that genetically vulnerable liver transplant recipients with a poorly licensed NK genotype have an improved prognosis by immunotherapy with donor-liver-derived NK cells. Thus, the combination of recipient and donor KIR-HLA genotypes is worthy of attention for further investigation, especially considering the clinical application of NK-cell-based immunotherapy.
PIM3 Kinase: A Promising Novel Target in Solid Cancers
Authors: Atalay Pinar , Ozpolat Bulent
Published: January 2024

PIM3 (provirus-integrating Moloney site 3) is a serine/threonine kinase and belongs to the PIM family (PIM1, PIM2, and PIM3). PIM3 is a proto-oncogene that is frequently overexpressed in cancers originating from endoderm-derived tissues, such as the liver, pancreas, colon, stomach, prostate, and breast cancer. PIM3 plays a critical role in activating multiple oncogenic signaling pathways promoting cancer cell proliferation, survival, invasion, tumor growth, metastasis, and progression, as well as chemo- and radiation therapy resistance and immunosuppressive microenvironment. Genetic inhibition of PIM3 expression suppresses in vitro cell proliferation and in vivo tumor growth and metastasis in mice with solid cancers, indicating that PIM3 is a potential therapeutic target. Although several pan-PIM inhibitors entered phase I clinical trials in hematological cancers, there are currently no FDA-approved inhibitors for the treatment of patients. This review provides an overview of recent developments and insights into the role of PIM3 in various cancers and its potential as a novel molecular target for cancer therapy. We also discuss the current status of PIM-targeted therapies in clinical trials.
The Burden of Thin Melanomas in Tuscany, Italy, 1985–2017: Age- and Sex-Specific Temporal Trends in Incidence and Mortality
Authors: Manneschi Gianfranco , Caldarella Adele , Caini Saverio , Checchi Saverio , Intrieri Teresa , Chiarugi Alessandra , Nardini Paolo , Masala Giovanna
Published: January 2024

A steady increase in the incidence and mortality burden correlated to thin melanomas (≤1 mm) has been reported in recent years in some international studies, but there is currently a paucity of data from the Mediterranean area. We aimed to describe the epidemiological characteristics of thin melanoma in Tuscany, Central Italy. A total of 6002 first cutaneous invasive melanomas occurring from 1985 to 2017 were selected for analysis; data were retrieved from the local population-based cancer registry. The standardized incidence rate was 15.0 per 100,000 in the population, higher among men than women (16.5 vs. 14.1). Incidence rates tended to increase over time across all age group-specific population strata, with annual percent changes moderately higher among men (+8.0%) than women (+6.9%), especially among the elderly. Among both sexes and in each age group, the trend toward increasing incidence rates was particularly strong for thin melanomas. Survival was better among women than men across all categories of thickness. Approximately 15% of deaths occurred among patients with thin lesions, with no major temporal changes in recent years. This study contributes to an improved understanding of melanoma epidemiology in Tuscany and underscores the need for primary prevention strategies tackling the growing burden of thin melanomas.
Editorial for the Specific Issue of Radioprobes and Other Bioconjugates for Cancer Theranostics
Authors: Arano Yasushi
Published: January 2024

Theranostics refers to the systematic integration of targeted diagnostics and therapeutics, which promotes precise and personalized cancer treatment [...]
Cancer and HIV: The Molecular Mechanisms of the Deadly Duo
Authors: Omar Aadilah , Marques Natasia , Crawford Nicole
Published: January 2024

The immune deficiency associated with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection causes a distinct increased risk of developing certain cancer types. Kaposi sarcoma (KS), invasive cervical cancer and non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (NHL) are the prominent malignancies that manifest as a result of opportunistic viral infections in patients with advanced HIV infection. Despite the implementation of antiretroviral therapy (ART), the prevalence of these acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS)-defining malignancies (ADMs) remains high in developing countries. In contrast, developed countries have experienced a steady decline in the occurrence of these cancer types. However, there has been an increased mortality rate attributed to non-ADMs. Here, we provide a review of the molecular mechanisms that are responsible for the development of ADMs and non-ADMs which occur in HIV-infected individuals. It is evident that ART alone is not sufficient to fully mitigate the potential for ADMs and non-ADMs in HIV-infected individuals. To enhance the diagnosis and treatment of both HIV and malignancies, a thorough comprehension of the mechanisms driving the development of such cancers is imperative.
The Effects of Buffer Nature on Immobilized Lipase Stability Depend on Enzyme Support Loading
Authors: Abellanas-Perez Pedro , Carballares Diego , Rocha-Martin Javier , Fernandez-Lafuente Roberto
Published: January 2024

The lipases from Thermomyces lanuginosus (TLL) and Candida antarctica (B) (CALB) were immobilized on octyl-agarose beads at 1 mg/g (a loading under the capacity of the support) and by overloading the support with the enzymes. These biocatalysts were compared in their stabilities in 10 mM of sodium phosphate, HEPES, and Tris-HCl at pH 7. Lowly loaded CALB was more stable than highly loaded CALB preparation, while with TLL this effect was smaller. Phosphate was very negative for the stability of the CALB biocatalyst and moderately negative using TLL at both loadings. The stability of the enzymes in HEPES and Tris-HCl presented a different response as a function of the enzyme loading (e.g., using lowly loaded CALB, the stabilities were similar in both buffers, but it was clearly smaller in HEPES using the highly loaded biocatalysts). Moreover, the specific activity of the immobilized enzymes versus p-nitrophenol butyrate, triacetin and R- or S-methyl mandelate depended on the buffer, enzyme loading, and interaction between them. In some cases, almost twice the expected activity could be obtained using highly loaded octyl-CALB, depending on the buffer. A co-interaction between the effects on enzyme activity and the specificity of support enzyme loading and buffer nature was detected.
Basic Properties of ZnO, Ga2O3, and MgO—Quantitative IR Studies
Authors: Podobiński Jerzy , Datka Jerzy
Published: January 2024

In our previous study, we elaborated a method of determination of concentrations of the basic sites O2− and OH− in a quantitative IR study of CO2 adsorption. Previous adsorption studies or TPD experiments only provided the total basicity without distinguishing between O2− and OH−. In this study, we determined the concentration of O2− and OH− on ZnO, Ga2O3, and MgO surfaces. The basicity of ZnO and MgO was found to be significantly higher than that of Ga2O3. The surface of ZnO was rich in O2−, the contribution of OH− was very small, and the Ga2O3 surface contained mainly OH−. For MgO, the contribution of O2− and OH− was comparable. According to the IR results, only a small fraction of all surface hydroxyls were sufficiently basic to react with CO2. The partial dehydroxylation changed the proportion of the concentrations of O2− and OH− on the oxides. We also elaborated upon a new method to determine the total concentration of basic sites via CO2 desorption monitored using IR. For all the oxides, we studied the sum of the concentrations of O2− and OH−, as determined in our quantitative IR studies, to find whether they were comparable with the total basicity determined in the desorption experiments.
IL-1 Family Members in Bone Sarcomas
Authors: Landuzzi Lorena , Ruzzi Francesca , Pellegrini Evelin , Lollini Pier-Luigi , Scotlandi Katia , Manara Maria Cristina
Published: January 2024

IL-1 family members have multiple pleiotropic functions affecting various tissues and cells, including the regulation of the immune response, hematopoietic homeostasis, bone remodeling, neuronal physiology, and synaptic plasticity. Many of these activities are involved in various pathological processes and immunological disorders, including tumor initiation and progression. Indeed, IL-1 family members have been described to contribute to shaping the tumor microenvironment (TME), determining immune evasion and drug resistance, and to sustain tumor aggressiveness and metastasis. This review addresses the role of IL-1 family members in bone sarcomas, particularly the highly metastatic osteosarcoma (OS) and Ewing sarcoma (EWS), and discusses the IL-1-family-related mechanisms that play a role in bone metastasis development. We also consider the therapeutic implications of targeting IL-1 family members, which have been proposed as (i) relevant targets for anti-tumor and anti-metastatic drugs; (ii) immune checkpoints for immune suppression; and (iii) potential antigens for immunotherapy.
A Systematic Review on Drugs Acting as Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptor Agonists in the Treatment of Dementia
Authors: Crestini Alessio , Carbone Elena , Rivabene Roberto , Ancidoni Antonio , Rosa Paolo , Tata Ada Maria , Fabrizi Elisa , Locuratolo Nicoletta , Vanacore Nicola , Lacorte Eleonora , Piscopo Paola
Published: January 2024

Acetylcholine signaling is attenuated in early Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and other dementias. A significant reduction in the expression of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) in the brain of AD patients has also been reported in several molecular biological and in situ labeling studies. The modulation of the functional deficit of the cholinergic system as a pharmacological target could therefore have a clinical benefit, which is not to be neglected. This systematic review was conducted to identify clinical trials, which evaluated the safety and efficacy of nicotinic acetylcholine receptor agonists using Clinicaltrial (CT) and EudraCT databases. Structured searches identified 39 trials, which used 15 different drugs designed to increase the function of the nAChRs. Most of the identified clinical trials were phase II trials, with some of them classified as ongoing for several years. The systematic screening of the literature led to the selection of 14 studies out of the 8261 bibliographic records retrieved. Six trials reported detailed data on adverse events associated with the intervention, while twelve trials reported data on efficacy measures, such as attention, behavior and cognition. Overall, smost of the physical side effects of cholinergic agonists were reported to be well tolerated. Some trials also reported improvements in attention. However, the efficacy of these drugs in other cognitive and behavioral outcomes remains highly controversial.
Novel Vitamin D3 Hydroxymetabolites Require Involvement of the Vitamin D Receptor or Retinoic Acid-Related Orphan Receptors for Their Antifibrogenic Activities in Human Fibroblasts
Authors: Janjetovic Zorica , Qayyum Shariq , Reddy Sivani B. , Podgorska Ewa , Scott S. Gates , Szpotan Justyna , Mobley Alisa A. , Li Wei , Boda Vijay K. , Ravichandran Senthilkumar , Tuckey Robert C. , Jetten Anton M. , Slominski Andrzej T.
Published: January 2024

We investigated multiple signaling pathways activated by CYP11A1-derived vitamin D3 hydroxymetabolites in human skin fibroblasts by assessing the actions of these molecules on their cognate receptors and by investigating the role of CYP27B1 in their biological activities. The actions of 20(OH)D3, 20,23(OH)2D3, 1,20(OH)2D3 and 1,20,23(OH)3D3 were compared to those of classical 1,25(OH)2D3. This was undertaken using wild type (WT) fibroblasts, as well as cells with VDR, RORs, or CYP27B1 genes knocked down with siRNA. Vitamin D3 hydroxymetabolites had an inhibitory effect on the proliferation of WT cells, but this effect was abrogated in cells with silenced VDR or RORs. The collagen expression by WT cells was reduced upon secosteroid treatment. This effect was reversed in cells where VDR or RORs were knocked down where the inhibition of collagen production and the expression of anti-fibrotic genes in response to the hydroxymetabolites was abrogated, along with ablation of their anti-inflammatory action. The knockdown of CYP27B1 did not change the effect of either 20(OH)D3 or 20,23(OH)2D3, indicating that their actions are independent of 1α-hydroxylation. In conclusion, the expression of the VDR and/or RORα/γ receptors in fibroblasts is necessary for the inhibition of both the proliferation and fibrogenic activity of hydroxymetabolites of vitamin D3, while CYP27B1 is not required.
Ultrasound in Pediatric Inflammatory Bowel Disease—A Review of the State of the Art and Future Perspectives
Authors: Hoerning André , Jüngert Jörg , Siebenlist Gregor , Knieling Ferdinand , Regensburger Adrian P.
Published: January 2024

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) comprises a group of relapsing, chronic diseases of the gastrointestinal tract that, in addition to adults, can affect children and adolescents. To detect relapses of inflammation, these patients require close observation, frequent follow-up, and therapeutic adjustments. While reference standard diagnostics include anamnestic factors, laboratory and stool sample assessment, performing specific imaging in children and adolescents is much more challenging than in adults. Endoscopic and classic cross-sectional imaging modalities may be invasive and often require sedation for younger patients. For this reason, intestinal ultrasound (IUS) is becoming increasingly important for the non-invasive assessment of the intestine and its inflammatory affection. In this review, we would like to shed light on the current state of the art and provide an outlook on developments in this field that could potentially spare these patients more invasive follow-up procedures.
3D Back Contour Metrics in Predicting Idiopathic Scoliosis Progression: Retrospective Cohort Analysis, Case Series Report and Proof of Concept
Authors: Patel Milan , Liu Xue-Cheng , Yang Kai , Tassone Channing , Escott Benjamin , Thometz John
Published: January 2024

Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis is a 3D spinal deformity commonly characterized by serial radiographs. Patients with AIS may have increased average radiation exposure compared to unaffected patients and thus may be implicated with a modest increase in cancer risk. To minimize lifetime radiation exposure, alternative imaging modalities such as surface topography are being explored. Surface topography (ST) uses a camera to map anatomic landmarks of the spine and contours of the back to create software-generated spine models. ST has previously shown good correlation to radiographic measures. In this study, we sought to use ST in the creation of a risk stratification model. A total of 38 patients met the inclusion criteria for curve progression prediction. Scoliotic curves were classified as progressing, stabilized, or improving, and a predictive model was created using the proportional odds logistic modeling. The results showed that surface topography was able to moderately appraise scoliosis curvatures when compared to radiographs. The predictive model, using demographic and surface topography measurements, was able to account for 86.9% of the variability in the future Cobb angle. Additionally, attempts at classification of curve progression, stabilization, or improvement were accurately predicted 27/38 times, 71%. These results provide a basis for the creation of a clinical tool in the tracking and prediction of scoliosis progression in order to reduce the number of X-rays required.
Motor Development of Children in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq: Parent Survey
Authors: Policastro Francesca , Yahya Nizar Bakir , Rossi Alessandra , Silli Giorgia , Galeoto Giovanni , Taib Nezar Ismet
Published: January 2024

The actual literature highlights the importance of the socio-cultural context in the development of children. However, there is a lack of specific evidence about the middle East, especially regarding the development of Kurdish children who are living in a post-war scenario, in a country which is experiencing continuous instability due to the different crises. The main aim of this study is to identify the features of the motor development of Kurdish children according to parents’ opinion. A comparison with Italian children is provided as a Western example, which reflects data from the literature. In the study, 331 parents of Kurdish and Italian children aged between 3 and 7 years were involved. Parents filled the questionnaire at kindergartens, after providing consent. The questionnaire was conceptualized, designed, tested and provided ad hoc for this study; it focused on the timing of development, concerning major milestones like head control, sitting and standing-up. The questionnaire consists of 15 questions and has not been standardized yet. A logistic regression showed several differences between Kurdish and Italian children, like head control (p = 0.007) or the manipulation of big objects (p < 0.0001). These results identify the effect of the socio-cultural context and the impact of the growing environment of the child. Moreover, the results of this survey show the need for introducing different adapted, translated and validated assessment tools for motor development, considering differences related to the socio-cultural context.
Family Reflections on a Lifecourse Journey after Neonatal Intensive Care: Neurodiversity, Enablement and Hope
Authors: Msall Michael E.
Published: January 2024

In 1969, my sister Christianne was born late preterm with a genetic disorder and given a very pessimistic prognosis. I will describe, from a family perspective, some lifecourse lessons about neurodiversity using the World Health Organization International Classification Model of Functioning (WHO-ICF). This model emphasizes that, in communicating about the complexity of outcomes of disability, attention must be paid to facilitators and barriers for optimizing health, functioning in daily life, and participation in the community. I will describe several developmental lifecourse lessons learned in negotiating fragmented systems of health, education, and community care. I will suggest ways to improve physician–parent communication, focusing on enablement to decrease a family’s sense of isolation and despair. I have benefitted from my parents’ archives, discussions with all my seven sisters (including Christianne), and discussions with my brother and sister-in law. They all have provided invaluable feedback from a family perspective during Christianne’s lived lifecourse journey with neurodiversity.
Effects and Mechanisms of Ultralow Concentrations of Different Types of Graphene Oxide Flakes on Fire Resistance of Water-Based Intumescent Coatings
Authors: Zhang Qiuchen , Wang Qin , Li Yan , Li Ziang , Liu Shuang
Published: January 2024

This study examined the effect of ultralow concentrations of three types of graphene oxide (GO) flakes on the fire resistance of water-based intumescent coatings, which are used widely as fire protectants for steel structures. The fire resistance of the coatings was assessed using a small-scale fireproof testing furnace, and their elemental compositions, oxidation states, and char-layer microstructures were analysed using Thermal Gravimetric analyzer (TG), X-ray Diffraction (XRD), Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM)SEM, and X-Ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS)XPS, and the reaction mechanisms were revealed. The results show that three types of GO with different sizes and thicknesses all have the ability to enhance the fire-resistance performance of intumescent coatings at different extremely low dosages (0.001%–0.002%), with a maximum increase of 20% compared to that of the blank. Compared with small GO flakes, large GO flakes more effectively enhanced the fire resistance of coatings. The mechanism of enhancement of GO is attributed to two factors. On the one hand, although the presence of GO did not affect the type of final product of intumescent coatings, it affected the proportion of products. After adding GO, the production of titanium pyrophosphate increased, leading to an increase in the strength of the char layer. On the other hand, the microstructure of the char layer of the intumescent coating added with GO has been improved, leading to a significant improvement in the fire-resistance performance. When the dosage was greater than 0.002%, GO tended to agglomerate, which diminished its ability to enhance the fire resistance of coatings. Agglomerated GO can also leaded to a deterioration in the crystal structure of titanium pyrophosphate, thereby affecting the strength of the char layer.
Least Squares Minimum Class Variance Support Vector Machines
Authors: Panayides Michalis , Artemiou Andreas
Published: January 2024

In this paper, we propose a Support Vector Machine (SVM)-type algorithm, which is statistically faster among other common algorithms in the family of SVM algorithms. The new algorithm uses distributional information of each class and, therefore, combines the benefits of using the class variance in the optimization with the least squares approach, which gives an analytic solution to the minimization problem and, therefore, is computationally efficient. We demonstrate an important property of the algorithm which allows us to address the inversion of a singular matrix in the solution. We also demonstrate through real data experiments that we improve on the computational time without losing any of the accuracy when compared to previously proposed algorithms.
Halogen Bonding versus Nucleophilic Substitution in the Co-Crystallization of Halomethanes and Amines
Authors: Grounds Olivia , Zeller Matthias , Rosokha Sergiy V.
Published: January 2024

Haloalkanes and amines are common halogen-bond (XB) donors and acceptors as well as typical reagents in nucleophilic substitution reactions. Thus, crystal engineering using these molecules requires an understanding of the interchange between these processes. Indeed, we previously reported that the interaction of quinuclidine (QN) with CHI3 in acetonitrile yielded co-crystals showing a XB network of these two constituents. In the current work, the interactions of QN with C2H5I or 1,4-diazabicyclo[2.2.2]octane (DABCO) with CH2I2 led to nucleophilic substitution producing I− anions and quaternary ammonium (QN-CH2CH3 or DABCO-CH2I+) cations. Moreover, the reaction of QN with CHI3 in dichloromethane afforded co-crystals containing XB networks of CHI3 with either Cl− or I− anions and QN-CH2Cl+ counter-ions. A similar reaction in acetone produced XB networks comprising CHI3, I− and QN-CH2COCH3+. These distinctions were rationalized through a computational analysis of XB complexes and the transition-state energies for the nucleophilic substitution. It indicated that the outcome of the reactions was determined mostly by the relative energies of the products. The co-crystals obtained in this work showed bonding between the cationic (DABCO-CH2I+, QN-CH2Cl+) or neutral (CHI3) XB donors and the anionic (I−, Cl−) or neutral (CHI3) acceptors. Their analysis showed comparable electron and energy densities at the XB bond critical points and similar XB energies regardless of the charges of the interacting species.
Axial Vibration Control Technique for Crystal Growth from the Melt: Analysis of Vibrational Flows’ Behavior
Authors: Nefedov Oleg , Dovnarovich Alexey , Kostikov Vladimir , Levonovich Boris , Avetissov Igor
Published: January 2024

A problem of efficacy of crystal growth methods for crystallization from solutions or melt has been investigated. The axial vibrational control (AVC) technique was considered as a perspective method to manage both heat-mass transfer and chemical component composition of the melts in the case of crystallization of complex chemical compounds. Numerical modeling and the search for generalized dependencies made it possible to predict the AVC parameters that provide optimal heat and mass transfer modes for creating flat liquid-solid interfaces, as well as the component composition of dissociated melts of various chemical compounds—Ge, NaNO3, CdTe.
Heavy Liquid Separation Method for Enhancement of Trace Asbestos Detection
Authors: Chornkrathok Sasithorn , Dera Przemyslaw , Nguyen Phuong Q. H. , Downs Robert T.
Published: January 2024

Powder X-ray diffraction (XRD) is a widely accepted technique for detecting trace asbestos content in solid samples. However, accurately quantifying asbestos concentrations below 0.5 wt% presents significant challenges with XRD alone. To address this limitation, we conducted a meticulous quantitative analysis using XRD on synthetic samples of talc-based powder spiked with varying amounts of natural tremolite and anthophyllite asbestos. At concentrations exceeding 0.5 wt%, both tremolite and anthophyllite displayed distinct XRD peaks. Yet, at lower concentrations (0.1 wt% and 0.05 wt%), the diffraction peaks of the contaminants became less prominent. To improve detection sensitivity, we explored different protocols of heavy liquid separation utilizing sodium polytungstate (SPT) to concentrate asbestos relative to the other mineral components. The optimized protocol, employing SPT with a density of 2.89 g/cm3, effectively separated amphibole asbestos from lighter, commonly associated minerals, like talc, clinochlore, and mica. Subsequent powder XRD analysis of the heavy fraction confirmed the successful removal of non-target materials, enhancing the diffraction peaks of tremolite and anthophyllite. Tremolite exhibited comparatively less weight loss than anthophyllite during this separation process. This study establishes the theoretical and practical viability of employing centrifugation in a heavy liquid to separate tremolite and anthophyllite from talc, providing valuable insights for asbestos detection and quantification in challenging scenarios.
Genomic Epidemiology Dataset for the Important Nosocomial Pathogenic Bacterium Acinetobacter baumannii
Authors: Shelenkov Andrey , Mikhaylova Yulia , Akimkin Vasiliy
Published: January 2024

The infections caused by various bacterial pathogens both in clinical and community settings represent a significant threat to public healthcare worldwide. The growing resistance to antimicrobial drugs acquired by bacterial species causing healthcare-associated infections has already become a life-threatening danger noticed by the World Health Organization. Several groups or lineages of bacterial isolates, usually called ‘the clones of high risk’, often drive the spread of resistance within particular species. Thus, it is vitally important to reveal and track the spread of such clones and the mechanisms by which they acquire antibiotic resistance and enhance their survival skills. Currently, the analysis of whole-genome sequences for bacterial isolates of interest is increasingly used for these purposes, including epidemiological surveillance and the development of spread prevention measures. However, the availability and uniformity of the data derived from genomic sequences often represent a bottleneck for such investigations. With this dataset, we present the results of a genomic epidemiology analysis of 17,546 genomes of a dangerous bacterial pathogen, Acinetobacter baumannii. Important typing information, including multilocus sequence typing (MLST)-based sequence types (STs), intrinsic blaOXA-51-like gene variants, capsular (KL) and oligosaccharide (OCL) types, CRISPR-Cas systems, and cgMLST profiles are presented, as well as the assignment of particular isolates to nine known international clones of high risk. The presence of antimicrobial resistance genes within the genomes is also reported. These data will be useful for researchers in the field of A. baumannii genomic epidemiology, resistance analysis, and prevention measure development.
Distinctive Imaging Characteristics of Retinal and Cerebral Vessels between Central and Branch Retinal Vein Occlusion by MRI and AI-Based Image Analyzer
Authors: Wang Qiyun , Li Ting , Zhang Xinyuan , Zeng Yiyun , Yang Yang , Zhou Yun , Gu Xinming , Xie Xiaobin , Ling Saiguang
Published: January 2024

Retinal vessels have been good predictive and prognostic imaging biomarkers for systemic or eye diseases. Numerous studies have shown that the two retinal vein occlusion entities may correlate with cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events or primary open-angle glaucoma. This study aims to investigate if there is a disparity in the correlations between branch RVO (BRVO) and central RVO (CRVO) with systemic disorders or POAG, thus explaining the pathogenic difference between BRVO and CRVO. This retrospective case-control study enrolled 59 RVO subjects (118 eyes), including 25 CRVO and 34 BRVO subjects, who received routine eye and brain MRI examinations. The geometric characteristics of the caliber of the retinal and cerebral blood vessels and the optic nerve subarachnoid space width (ONSASW) were measured. Multivariable logistic regression analysis showed that ONSASW at 3 mm behind the globe (p = 0.044) and the relative retinal venular calibers (p = 0.031) were independent risk factors for the CRVO-affected eyes group in comparison with the BRVO-affected eyes group after adjusting for age, duration of hypertension, BMI, and IOP. In the CRVO-affected eyes, narrower relative retinal arteriolar calibers (p = 0.041) and wider relative venular calibers (p = 0.011) were independent risk factors compared with the CRVO-contralateral normal eyes when adjusting for IOP. We concluded that BRVO may be more associated with cerebrovascular diseases, and CRVO may be correlated with primary angle glaucoma. The geometric characteristics difference between the retinal and cerebrovascular may explain the pathological difference between CRVO and BRVO.
High-Dimensional Feature Selection for Automatic Classification of Coronary Stenosis Using an Evolutionary Algorithm
Authors: Gil-Rios Miguel-Angel , Cruz-Aceves Ivan , Hernandez-Aguirre Arturo , Moya-Albor Ernesto , Brieva Jorge , Hernandez-Gonzalez Martha-Alicia , Solorio-Meza Sergio-Eduardo
Published: January 2024

In this paper, a novel strategy to perform high-dimensional feature selection using an evolutionary algorithm for the automatic classification of coronary stenosis is introduced. The method involves a feature extraction stage to form a bank of 473 features considering different types such as intensity, texture and shape. The feature selection task is carried out on a high-dimensional feature bank, where the search space is denoted by O(2n) and n=473. The proposed evolutionary search strategy was compared in terms of the Jaccard coefficient and accuracy classification with different state-of-the-art methods. The highest feature selection rate, along with the best classification performance, was obtained with a subset of four features, representing a 99% discrimination rate. In the last stage, the feature subset was used as input to train a support vector machine using an independent testing set. The classification of coronary stenosis cases involves a binary classification type by considering positive and negative classes. The highest classification performance was obtained with the four-feature subset in terms of accuracy (0.86) and Jaccard coefficient (0.75) metrics. In addition, a second dataset containing 2788 instances was formed from a public image database, obtaining an accuracy of 0.89 and a Jaccard Coefficient of 0.80. Finally, based on the performance achieved with the four-feature subset, they can be suitable for use in a clinical decision support system.
Near-Infrared In Vivo Imaging of Claudin-1 Expression by Orthotopically Implanted Patient-Derived Colonic Adenoma Organoids
Authors: Jaiswal Sangeeta , Wang Fa , Wu Xiaoli , Chang Tse-Shao , Shirazi Ahmad , Lee Miki , Dame Michael K. , Spence Jason R. , Wang Thomas D.
Published: January 2024

Background: Claudin-1 becomes overexpressed during the transformation of normal colonic mucosa to colorectal cancer (CRC). Methods: Patient-derived organoids expressed clinically relevant target levels and genetic heterogeneity, and were established from human adenoma and normal colons. Colonoids were implanted orthotopically in the colon of immunocompromised mice. This pre-clinical model of CRC provides an intact microenvironment and representative vasculature. Colonoid growth was monitored using white light endoscopy. A peptide specific for claudin-1 was fluorescently labeled for intravenous administration. NIR fluorescence images were collected using endoscopy and endomicroscopy. Results: NIR fluorescence images collected using wide-field endoscopy showed a significantly greater target-to-background (T/B) ratio for adenoma versus normal (1.89 ± 0.35 and 1.26 ± 0.06) colonoids at 1 h post-injection. These results were confirmed by optical sections collected using endomicroscopy. Optical sections were collected in vivo with sub-cellular resolution in vertical and horizontal planes. Greater claudin-1 expression by individual epithelial cells in adenomatous versus normal crypts was visualized. A human-specific cytokeratin stain ex vivo verified the presence of human tissues implanted adjacent to normal mouse colonic mucosa. Conclusions: Increased claudin-1 expression was observed from adenoma versus normal colonoids in vivo using imaging with wide field endoscopy and endomicrosopy.
Beyond Diagnosis: Preliminary Study of Impact on Children and Parents in Neurodevelopmental Disorders and Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis-Associated Uveitis
Authors: Palmieri Roberta , Albano Valeria , Guerriero Silvana , Craig Francesco , La Torre Francesco , Filoni Serena , Sardella Dario , Petruzzelli Maria Giuseppina , Lecce Paola , De Giacomo Andrea
Published: January 2024

Chronic diseases are a growing problem for global health due to the large number of people they involve, the repercussions they have on the mental and physical well-being of those affected, and the costs to society. Particularly, chronic illnesses of childhood have important psychological implications, not only for affected children but also for their parents. Among these pathologies, neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs) and uveitis associated with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA-U) may affect mental and physical health, emotions, memory, learning, and socializing. This study evaluates the psychological and behavioral/emotional impact of NDDs and JIA-U on children and parents. Specifically, 30 children with active JIA-U and 30 children with NDDs and their parents completed the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) and Parent Stress Index—Short Form (PSI) questionnaires. Children with NDDs have statistically significant differences in all the emotional and behavioral variables compared to JIA-U children, and parents of children with NDDs experience an increased stress load compared to parents of children with JIA-U. This study emphasizes the wide range of emotional and behavioral challenges that parents face with NDDs. This study emphasizes that parents of children with NDDs not only experience higher levels of stress compared to parents of normally developing children but also experience higher levels of stress compared to parents of children with potentially debilitating chronic diseases such as JIA-U.
Initial Imaging of Pregnant Patients in the Trauma Bay—Discussion and Review of Presentations at a Level-1 Trauma Centre
Authors: MacDermott Roisin , Berger Ferco H. , Phillips Andrea , Robins Jason A. , O’Keeffe Michael E. , Mughli Rawan Abu , MacLean David B. , Liu Grace , Heipel Heather , Nathens Avery B. , Qamar Sadia Raheez
Published: January 2024

Trauma is the leading non-obstetric cause of maternal and fetal mortality and affects an estimated 5–7% of all pregnancies. Pregnant women, thankfully, are a small subset of patients presenting in the trauma bay, but they do have distinctive physiologic and anatomic changes. These increase the risk of certain traumatic injuries, and the gravid uterus can both be the primary site of injury and mask other injuries. The primary focus of the initial management of the pregnant trauma patient should be that of maternal stabilization and treatment since it directly affects the fetal outcome. Diagnostic imaging plays a pivotal role in initial traumatic injury assessment and should not deviate from normal routine in the pregnant patient. Radiographs and focused assessment with sonography in the trauma bay will direct the use of contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT), which remains the cornerstone to evaluate the potential presence of further management-altering injuries. A thorough understanding of its risks and benefits is paramount, especially in the pregnant patient. However, like any other trauma patient, if evaluation for injury with CT is indicated, it should not be denied to a pregnant trauma patient due to fear of radiation exposure.
Distributed Dynamic Event-Triggered Control to Leader-Following Consensus of Nonlinear Multi-Agent Systems with Directed Graphs
Authors: Guan Jia-Cheng , Ren Hong-Wei , Tan Guo-Liang
Published: January 2024

This paper investigates achieving leader-following consensus in a class of multi-agent systems with nonlinear dynamics. Initially, it introduces a dynamic event-triggered strategy designed to effectively alleviate the strain on the system’s communication resources. Subsequently, a distributed control strategy is proposed and implemented in the nonlinear leader-follower system using the dynamic event-triggered mechanism, aiming to ensure synchronization across all nodes at an exponential convergence speed. Thirdly, the research shows that under the dynamic event-triggered strategy the minimum event interval of any two consecutive triggers guarantees the elimination of Zeno behavior. Lastly, the validity of the calculation results is verified by a simulation example.
Biology and Geology Teachers and Ecoethics Education: From the Guidelines and Training Offered to the Training Needs Felt by Teachers
Authors: Carvalho Luísa , Dourado Luís
Published: January 2024

Ecoethics studies the moral relationship among human beings, the environment and its non-human components, whereas education for ecoethics involves a reflexion on how to live, how to make environmental choices and how to think about the consequences of human activities. To promote this reflexion, teachers must be able to teach subjects related to ecoethics, having adequate teacher training in the field. Thus, it was considered pertinent to investigate if and how ecoethics appears in the guiding documents for teachers' practices and in initial and continuing training courses for Portuguese biology and geology teachers, as well as whether these teachers feel they need training in ecoethics. To achieve this, document analysis was carried out, and a questionnaire with both close- and open-ended questions was applied at a national level. The main results show that little emphasis is given to ecoethics both in the guiding documents and in initial and continuing training courses for Portuguese BG teachers; most teachers say that they have not dealt with ecoethics issues in their initial and ongoing teacher training but consider them essential. Given the teachers’ influence on students, a focus on teacher training in ecoethics is essential so that they can contribute to solving environmental problems.
Urban Delay-Tolerant Multicast Using Uncontrolled Mobile Relay
Authors: Musznicki Bartosz , Zwierzykowski Piotr
Published: January 2024

The development of network functionalities in the urban environment is accompanied by the emergence of new publicly available data sources. They are the basis of the introduced research architecture and environment which are used to investigate the new multicast algorithms proposed in this paper. These message-oriented algorithms are primarily intended to meet the needs of opportunistic routing in heterogeneous urban sensor networks. Although, due to their generalized and protocol-agnostic design, they can be of use in other network applications and research areas. Uncontrolled mobile relay devices are the key elements of the presented delay-tolerant multicast framework. Multicast structures are modeled in four Polish cities based on open data on the location of public transportation vehicles and elements of urban infrastructure. Over 16,000 graphs were built and analyzed. It has been shown that the use of uncontrolled mobile relay enables the construction of time-spanning time-changing multicast structures. Their features are determined by the topology of a given city area, the distribution of destination nodes, as well as the number and the routes of mobile relay nodes. The efficacy and efficiency of the algorithms depend on the radio range of the nodes, maximum time span of forwarded messages, and network structure knowledge availability.