bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Investigation on Zoning Management of Saline Soil in Cotton Fields in Alar Reclamation Area, Xinjiang
Authors: Zhang Fangshuo , Wang Hengyou , Zhao Xinyu , Jiang Qingsong
Published: December 2023

Aiming at assessing the problems of the high land salinity, high spatial variability of soil nutrients, sloppy management, and low efficiency in the Xinjiang region, research on the precise delineation method of field management zones is being conducted to facilitate differentiated fertilizer management for farmers and increase the level of saline soil improvement. Taking the plots in the experimental area as the research object, traditional statistics, principal component analysis, and fuzzy c-mean classification were applied to divide the management zoning in the study area, and the suitability and effectiveness of the management zoning were evaluated. The study area was at a mild salinization level; the soil organic matter and total nitrogen content were at a low level; total phosphorus was at a medium level; and total potassium and pH reached a high level. pH had a coefficient of variation <0.1, which was weak, and the other soil attributes were of medium variability intensity. The spatial distribution of the soil attributes was highly variable. The results of the principal component analysis showed that the six soil attributes grouped into statistical factors could be divided into three principal components. The results of the fuzzy c-means classification showed that the study area could be divided into four management zones, and there were significant differences in the soil salinity, organic matter, soil nutrients, and other attributes in the different management zones. The different soil attributes could be utilized to determine the management zoning of farmland in the study area with the help of fuzzy c-mean classification.
Some Agronomic Properties of Winter Wheat Genotypes Grown at Different Locations in Croatia
Authors: Spanic Valentina , Jukic Goran , Zoric Marina , Varnica Ivan
Published: December 2023

A collection of fourteen winter wheat accessions was evaluated to describe agro-morphological traits over a two-year study at four locations. Changes in grain yield, test weight, and plant height were related to differences in growing seasons, locations, genotypes, and their interactions. Thus, some genotypes are suitable for one location but not for another. However, a PCA showed that genotypes 2, 26, 28, 32, and 31 were the most stable across environments. In the 2022/2023 season, a negative relationship was observed between septoria leaf blotch, septoria nodorum blotch, yellow rust, fusarium head blight, and grain yield. Grain yield decreased by 84.8, 72.3, 37.4, and 4.3% in Kutjevo, Osijek, Tovarnik, and Zagreb, respectively, compared to the 2021/2022 season. Additionally, in the 2022/2023 season, barley yellow dwarf virus weakened wheat plants, especially at the locations Kutjevo, Tovarnik, and Osijek, where a relationship was observed with septoria leaf blotch and powdery mildew. At the Zagreb location, wheat genotypes were planted at the latest sowing date, probably escaping the virus pressure after plants easily tolerated diseases, resulting in a significantly higher mean grain yield.
Short-Term Effects of Olive-Pomace-Based Conditioners on Soil Aggregation Stability
Authors: Royer Ana Caroline , de Figueiredo Tomás , Fonseca Felícia , Lado Marcos , Hernández Zulimar
Published: December 2023

Mediterranean agriculture asks for sustainable strategies to prevent actual soil organic matter decline rates. Composting agri-food by-products for application in farmland, besides contributing to a circular economy at regional or local scales, may improve soil resistance to physical degradation. Aggregate stability (AS) is a crucial property for building up such resistance. Olive pomace is an abundant by-product of the olive oil industry that may be valorized through composting. This study aimed to assess the influence on AS of olive-pomace-based composts (OPC) applied to a sandy loam Leptosol and a clay loam Fluvisol. To assess the effects of compost characteristics on AS, three OPCs resulting from different olive pomace proportions in the composting raw material (44, 31, and 25% by volume) were applied to aggregate samples in three doses (10, 20, and 40 t.ha−1, plus control) with fine and coarse grain sizes. Controlled laboratory conditions subjected samples to daily wetting-drying cycles during a 30-day experiment. AS was measured by wet sieving. OPC application significantly increased AS in the Leptosol amended with fine (+15% vs. control) and coarse (+19%) grain-size compost. In well-aggregated Fluvisol, amendment induced a significant increase in AS only in the compost coarse grain size (+12%). The application dose significantly affected AS, with 10 t.ha−1 being the best-performing dose. OPC applications in weakly aggregated soils are seemingly an encouraging soil management practice for improving soil resistance to physical degradation and reducing soil organic matter decline rates in Mediterranean farmland.
Estimation of Additional Costs in Patients with Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia
Authors: Cabrera-Tejada Ginger G. , Chico-Sánchez Pablo , Gras-Valentí Paula , Jaime-Sánchez Francisco A. , Galiana-Ivars Maria , Balboa-Esteve Sonia , Gómez-Sotero Isel L. , Sánchez-Payá José , Ronda-Pérez Elena
Published: December 2023

Healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) present a global public health challenge, contributing to high morbidity and mortality and substantial economic burdens. Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) ranks as the second most prevalent HAI in intensive care units (ICUs), emphasizing the need for economic analyses in this context. This retrospective cohort study, conducted at the General Hospital of Alicante from 2012 to 2019, aimed to assess additional costs related to VAP by comparing the extended length of stay for infected and non-infected ICU patients undergoing mechanical ventilation (MV) for more than 48 h. Employing propensity score association, 434 VAP patients were compared to an equal number without VAP. The findings indicate a significantly longer mechanical ventilation period for VAP patients (17.40 vs. 8.93 days, p < 0.001), resulting in an extra 13.56 days of stay and an additional cost of EUR 20,965.28 per VAP episode. The study estimated a total cost of EUR 12,348,965.28 for VAP during the study period, underscoring the economic impact of VAP. These findings underscore the urgent need for rigorous infection surveillance, prevention, and control measures to enhance healthcare quality and reduce overall expenditures.
Chenodeoxycholic Acid Improves Embryo Implantation and Metabolic Health through Modulating Gut Microbiota–Host Metabolites Interaction during Early Pregnancy
Authors: Chen Meixia , Zhao Ying , Ji Haifeng , Li Lu , Liu Hui , Wang Sixin , Zhang Dongyan , Yin Jingdong , Wang Jing , Zhang Xin
Published: December 2023

Fetus loss in early pregnancy is of major concern to both humans and animals, and this issue is largely influenced by embryo implantation. Chenodeoxycholic acid (CDCA), a primary bile acid, contributes to metabolic improvements and protects against intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy. However, the effect of CDCA on embryo implantation during early pregnancy has not been investigated. The present study demonstrated that CDCA administration during early pregnancy improved embryo implantation in sows and rats, thereby improving the pregnancy outcomes of sows. CDCA significantly reduced inflammation, oxidative stress, and insulin resistance. The metabolomics analysis indicated significant differences in the fecal metabolome, especially regarding the level of secondary bile acids, between the control and CDCA-treated sows. CDCA also influenced the serum metabolite profiles in sows, and the serum L-Histidine level was significantly correlated with the abundance of 19 differential fecal metabolites. Importantly, L-Histidine administration improved embryo implantation and metabolic health in rats during early pregnancy. Moreover, CDCA administration during early pregnancy also led to long-term metabolic improvements in sows. Our data indicated that CDCA improved embryo implantation by alleviating inflammation and oxidative stress, improving insulin sensitivity, and modulating the interaction between the gut microbiota and host metabolites. Therefore, CDCA intervention is a potential therapeutic strategy regarding embryo loss during pregnancy.
Application of Near-Infrared Spectroscopy and Aquaphotomics in Understanding the Water Behavior during Cold Atmospheric Plasma Processing
Authors: Luo Junsha , Xu Tianao , Ding Wenshuo , Wei Xiaoying , Zang Hengchang , Wang Xiaolong , Li Lian
Published: December 2023

Plasma-activated water (PAW), obtained by exposing liquid to cold atmospheric plasma (CAP) for a period, has gained widespread attention for its potential as anti-bacterial, anti-infective, anti-cancer and other biological agents. It is important to understand the PAW behavior and express it in a ‘visualization’ form. Near-infrared spectroscopy (NIR) and aquaphotomics were introduced in this study to investigate the PAW spectra to visualize the water molecular species and try to analyze the production and changes of the active substances in PAW. Second-order derivative, PCA and PLS were applied to identify specific peaks to construct the aquagram and reference method for the ROS assay used to prove the spectral results. The results showed that a longer treatment time resulted in greater spectral changes which could be visualized with 12 water matrix coordinates (WAMACS) and the change trends were in accordance with the ROS concentration variations. Furthermore, during PAW sample storage, there were fluctuations in spectral changes, with a general trend of increase, and a gradual decrease in ROS concentration due to active substance reactions in PAW. In conclusion, this study presents a new perspective on examining the water behavior of PAW and offers a new method to explore cold plasma biomedical materials.
Clustering Approach for Reliable Wireless Communication
Authors: Florea Carmen , Berceanu Mădălina-Georgiana , Trifan Răzvan-Florentin , Marcu Ioana-Manuela
Published: December 2023

Multiple access techniques for 5G systems are based on principles related to security, efficiency, and performance increase. Multi-user shared access (MUSA) is included in code-domain non-orthogonal multiple access (CD-NOMA) techniques with multiple benefits including multiple-access interference minimization and system capacity increase. The additional benefits of MUSA include its grant-free nature, which makes it applicable to scenarios involving random access channels, minimal latency communications, etc. Depending on the high-frequency diversity of the fading-affected channels, this technique is also used to lessen their effects. This paper illustrates the concept of code correlation used in MUSA by proposing a method to allocate MUSA codes to active users in an uplink data transmission system based on clusters. This clustering approach (grouping of 3GPP TR 38.812 spreading codewords) enables performance improvement in different system configurations by implementing various scenarios and providing reliable results. It is demonstrated that four-length spreading code selection from 3GPP family codes is a satisfactory solution, and this cluster grouping can be designed in a less overloaded multi-user system. The challenges, advantages, and limitations of the proposed method are outlined throughout the study.
Estimating Riparian Vegetation Volume in the River by 3D Point Cloud from UAV Imagery and Alpha Shape
Authors: Jang Eunkyung , Kang Woochul
Published: December 2023

This study employs technology that has many different applications, including flood management, flood level control, and identification of vegetation type by patch size. Recent climate change, characterized by severe droughts and floods, intensifies riparian vegetation growth, demanding accurate environmental data. Traditional methods for analyzing vegetation in rivers involve on-site measurements or estimating the growth phase of the vegetation; however, these methods have limitations. Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and ground laser scanning, meanwhile, offer cost-effective, versatile solutions. This study uses UAVs to generate 3D riparian vegetation point clouds, employing the alpha shape technique. Performance was evaluated by analyzing the estimated volume results, considering the influence of the alpha radius. Results are most significant with an alpha radius of 0.75. This technology benefits river management by addressing vegetation volume, scale, flood control, and identification of vegetation type.
Effect of the Mid-Layer on the Diversion Length and Drainage Performance of a Three-Layer Cover with Capillary Barrier
Authors: Aslan Fidan Ayşenur , Berilgen Mehmet Muhit
Published: December 2023

The capillary barrier is a type of soil cover system commonly used in various geotechnical applications, such as limiting infiltration for slopes or landfills or providing cover for solid waste. It serves to prevent the movement of water through the soil layers by utilizing contrasting particle sizes. This paper focuses on investigating the effect of the granular layer on the performance of a three-layer cover with a capillary barrier, integrating the granular layer within clayey sand. The investigation involved one-dimensional infiltration tests utilizing four uniform granular soils with varying grain sizes. These tests were instrumental in calibrating soil water characteristic curves and hydraulic conductivity curves via back analysis. Subsequently, numerical analyses were conducted using a 15 m long model for each of the four distinct cover types. The results indicated that the fine gravel significantly improved the barrier performance beyond one-dimensional tests, owing to its high permeability and the influence of the slope. After the capillary barrier failure, the intermediate layers transitioned into efficient drainage layers, particularly in the gravel layer with the highest lateral drainage capacity. Clayey sand at the bottom delayed percolation, thereby supporting the conversion of the intermediate layer into an effective drainage component. Overall, the multi-layer system showed superior percolation performance compared to the clayey sand cover lacking a granular layer.
Seasonal Water Mass Transformation in the Eastern Indian Ocean from In Situ Observations
Authors: Purba Noir P. , Akhir Mohd Fadzil , Pranowo Widodo S. , Subiyanto  , Zainol Zuraini
Published: December 2023

The Eastern Indian Ocean (EIO) is one of the eastern boundary areas, which control currents circulation and atmospheric dynamics. This research mainly aimed to identify and analyze the water mass transformation in the EIO. The investigated physical properties of the ocean are the temperature, salinity, seasonal temperature–salinity, and water column stability. An extensive amount of in situ data measurements from 1950 to 2018 was downloaded from the global datasets inventory. The visualization and analysis of the data were defined in monthly spatial and vertical profiles. The result showed the mixed layer is shallower during the northwest monsoon relative to the southwest monsoon. The surface water in the EIO is documented to be warmer due to the interaction with the atmosphere. Furthermore, low-salinity surface water around the Java Seas area is caused by a mixing with fresh water from the eastern Indonesia rivers. The data also confirmed that, at latitude 16° S, the maximum salinity occurred at a depth between 150 and 350 m. There are ten types of water masses found in the EIO, which originate from several regions, including the Indonesia Seas, Pacific Ocean, Indian Ocean, and Antarctic. During the northwest and southeast monsoons, a stable layer is found at a depth of 40 to 150 m and 80 to 150 m, respectively. For further research, it is recommended to focus on the coastal region, particularly the Timor Sea and Northwestern Australia, to investigate the dynamics between the Indonesian Throughflow, Holloway Currents, and Leeuwin Currents. Additionally, deep water observations below 800 m are crucial for a comprehensive understanding of the oceanographic variability in the deep layers of the EIO.
S-Embedding of Lie Superalgebras and Its Implications for Fuzzy Lie Algebras
Authors: Assiry Abdullah , Mansour Sabeur , Baklouti Amir
Published: December 2023

This paper performed an investigation into the s-embedding of the Lie superalgebra (→S1∣1), a representation of smooth vector fields on a (1,1)-dimensional super-circle. Our primary objective was to establish a precise definition of the s-embedding, effectively dissecting the Lie superalgebra into the superalgebra of super-pseudodifferential operators ( SψD⊙) residing on the super-circle S1|1. We also introduce and rigorously define the central charge within the framework of (→S1∣1), leveraging the canonical central extension of SψD⊙. Moreover, we expanded the scope of our inquiry to encompass the domain of fuzzy Lie algebras, seeking to elucidate potential connections and parallels between these ostensibly distinct mathematical constructs. Our exploration spanned various facets, including non-commutative structures, representation theory, central extensions, and central charges, as we aimed to bridge the gap between Lie superalgebras and fuzzy Lie algebras. To summarize, this paper is a pioneering work with two pivotal contributions. Initially, a meticulous definition of the s-embedding of the Lie superalgebra (→S1|1) is provided, emphasizing the representationof smooth vector fields on the (1,1)-dimensional super-circle, thereby enriching a fundamental comprehension of the topic. Moreover, an investigation of the realm of fuzzy Lie algebras was undertaken, probing associations with conventional Lie superalgebras. Capitalizing on these discoveries, we expound upon the nexus between central extensions and provide a novel deformed representation of the central charge.
The Golgi Apparatus as an Anticancer Therapeutic Target
Authors: Martins Marta , Vieira João , Pereira-Leite Catarina , Saraiva Nuno , Fernandes Ana Sofia
Published: December 2023

Although the discovery of the Golgi apparatus (GA) was made over 125 years ago, only a very limited number of therapeutic approaches have been developed to target this complex organelle. The GA serves as a modification and transport center for proteins and lipids and also has more recently emerged as an important store for some ions. The dysregulation of GA functions is implicated in many cellular processes associated with cancer and some GA proteins are indeed described as cancer biomarkers. This dysregulation can affect protein modification, localization, and secretion, but also cellular metabolism, redox status, extracellular pH, and the extracellular matrix structure. Consequently, it can directly or indirectly affect cancer progression. For these reasons, the GA is an appealing anticancer pharmacological target. Despite this, no anticancer drug specifically targeting the GA has reached the clinic and few have entered the clinical trial stage. Advances in nanodelivery approaches may help change this scenario by specifically targeting tumor cells and/or the GA through passive, active, or physical strategies. This article aims to examine the currently available anticancer GA-targeted drugs and the nanodelivery strategies explored for their administration. The potential benefits and challenges of modulating and specifically targeting the GA function in the context of cancer therapy are discussed.
Fusion Networks of CNN and Transformer with Channel Attention for Accurate Tumor Imaging in Magnetic Particle Imaging
Authors: Shang Yaxin , Liu Jie , Wang Yueqi
Published: December 2023

Background: Magnetic Particle Imaging (MPI) is an emerging molecular imaging technique. However, since X-space reconstruction ignores system properties, it can lead to blurring of the reconstructed image, posing challenges for accurate quantification. To address this issue, we propose the use of deep learning to remove the blurry artifacts; (2) Methods: Our network architecture consists of a combination of Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) and Transformer. The CNN utilizes convolutional layers to automatically extract pixel-level local features and reduces the size of feature maps through pooling layers, effectively capturing local information within the images. The Transformer module is responsible for extracting contextual features from the images and efficiently capturing long-range dependencies, enabling a more effective modeling of global features in the images. By combining the features extracted by both CNN and Transformer, we capture both global and local features simultaneously, thereby improving the quality of reconstructed images; (3) Results: Experimental results demonstrate that the network effectively removes blurry artifacts from the images, and it exhibits high accuracy in precise tumor quantification. The proposed method shows superior performance over the state-of-the-art methods; (4) Conclusions: This bears significant implications for the image quality improvement and clinical application of MPI technology.
Altered CD39 and CD73 Expression in Rheumatoid Arthritis: Implications for Disease Activity and Treatment Response
Authors: Ortiz María Angels , Diaz-Torné Cesar , De Agustin Juan Jose , Estrada Paula , Reina Delia , Hernandez María Victoria , Sang Hye , Zamora Carlos , Cantó Elisabet , Corominas Hector , Vidal Silvia
Published: December 2023

In rheumatoid arthritis (RA) synovium, ATP, and ADP are released, sparking inflammation. Ectoenzymes CD39 and CD73 metabolize these purine nucleotides, generating anti-inflammatory adenosine. Therefore, dysregulated CD39 and CD73 expression may impact RA development. We assessed CD39 and CD73 expression in peripheral blood from 15 healthy controls (Cs) and 35 RA patients at baseline and after 3 and 6 months of tocilizumab treatment using flow cytometry. Additionally, ectoenzyme expression was examined on cultured T cells to understand activation and IL-6 effects. At baseline, RA patients exhibited a lower CD8+CD39−CD73+ cell percentage, which inversely correlated with DAS28. Additionally, they had lower percentages of Treg CD39+CD73+ and CD39−CD73− cells. Good responders tended to have lower B CD39+CD73+ cell percentages at baseline and 3 months. Additionally, Treg, CD8+ T and B cells inversely correlated with DAS28. T-cell activation increased CD39 and decreased CD73 expression, regardless of IL-6. IL-6 reduced IFNγ-secreting CD4+ T-cell percentage in Cs, but increased the percentage of IFNγ-secreting CD4+ and CD8+ T cells in RA patients. These findings indicate differing CD39 and CD73 expression in RA and Cs, influenced by T-cell activation and IL-6. Correlations between these molecules and RA activity suggest their role in dysregulated inflammation in RA.
Structural Characterization and Molecular Dynamics Study of the REPI Fusion Protein from Papaver somniferum L.
Authors: Diaz-Bárcena Alba , Fernandez-Pacios Luis , Giraldo Patricia
Published: December 2023

REPI is a pivotal point enzyme in plant benzylisoquinoline alkaloid metabolism as it promotes the evolution of the biosynthetic branch of morphinan alkaloids. Experimental studies of its activity led to the identification of two modules (DRS and DRR) that catalyze two sequential steps of the epimerization of (S)- to (R)-reticuline. Recently, special attention has been paid to its genetic characterization and evolutionary history, but no structural analyses of the REPI protein have been conducted to date. We present here a computational structural characterization of REPI with heme and NADP cofactors in the apo state and in three complexes with substrate (S)-reticuline in DRS and intermediate 1,2-dehydroreticuline in DRS and in DRR. Since no experimental structure exists for REPI, we used its AlphaFold model as a scaffold to build up these four systems, which were submitted to all-atom molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. A comparison of MD results for the four systems revealed key dynamic changes associated with cofactor and ligand binding and provided a dynamic picture of the evolution of their structures and interactions. We also explored the possible dynamic occurrence of tunnels and electrostatic highways potentially involved in alternative mechanisms for channeling the intermediate from DRS to DRR.
Beta-Amyloid Enhances Vessel Formation in Organotypic Brain Slices Connected to Microcontact Prints
Authors: Steiner Katharina , Humpel Christian
Published: December 2023

In Alzheimer’s disease, the blood–brain barrier breakdown, blood vessel damage and re-organization are early events. Deposits of the small toxic peptide beta-amyloid (Aβ) cause the formation of extracellular plaques and accumulate in vessels disrupting the blood flow but may also play a role in blood clotting. In the present study, we aim to explore the impact of Aβ on the migration of endothelial cells and subsequent vessel formation. We use organotypic brain slices of postnatal day 10 wildtype mice (C57BL/6) and connect them to small microcontact prints (µCPs) of collagen. Our data show that laminin-positive endothelial cells migrate onto collagen µCPs, but without any vessel formation after 4 weeks. When the µCPs are loaded with human Aβ40, (aggregated) human Aβ42 and mouse Aβ42 peptides, the number and migration distance of endothelial cells are significantly reduced, but with a more pronounced subsequent vessel formation. The vessel formation is verified by zonula occludens (ZO)-1 and -2 stainings and confocal microscopy. In addition, the vessel formation is accompanied by a stronger GFAP-positive astroglial formation. Finally, we show that vessels can grow towards convergence when two opposed slices are connected via microcontact-printed lanes. In conclusion, our data show that Aβ promotes vessel formation, and organotypic brain slices connected to collagen µCPs provide a potent tool to study vessel formation.
Targeted Immunotherapies for Cancers
Authors: Cheung Anthony , Chenoweth Alicia
Published: December 2023

Advancements in immunotherapy have revolutionized cancer treatment in a broad variety of hematological and solid malignancies and rejuvenated the field of cancer immunology [...]
Kinase Insert Domain Receptor Q472H Pathogenic Germline Variant Impacts Melanoma Tumor Growth and Patient Treatment Outcomes
Authors: Ibrahim Milad , Illa-Bochaca Irineu , Fa’ak Faisal , Monson Kelsey R. , Ferguson Robert , Lyu Chen , Vega-Saenz de Miera Eleazar , Johannet Paul , Chou Margaret , Mastroianni Justin , Darvishian Farbod , Kirchhoff Tomas , Zhong Judy , Krogsgaard Michelle , Osman Iman
Published: December 2023

Background: We previously reported a higher incidence of a pathogenic germline variant in the kinase insert domain receptor (KDR) in melanoma patients compared to the general population. Here, we dissect the impact of this genotype on melanoma tumor growth kinetics, tumor phenotype, and response to treatment with immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) or targeted therapy. Methods: The KDR genotype was determined and the associations between the KDR Q472H variant (KDR-Var), angiogenesis, tumor immunophenotype, and response to MAPK inhibition or ICI treatment were examined. Melanoma B16 cell lines were transfected with KDR-Var or KDR wild type (KDR-WT), and the differences in tumor kinetics were evaluated. We also examined the impact of KDR-Var on the response of melanoma cells to a combination of VEGFR inhibition with MAPKi. Results: We identified the KDR-Var genotype in 81/489 (37%) patients, and it was associated with a more angiogenic (p = 0.003) and immune-suppressive tumor phenotype. KDR-Var was also associated with decreased PFS to MAPKi (p = 0.022) and a trend with worse PFS to anti-PD1 therapy (p = 0.06). KDR-Var B16 murine models had increased average tumor volume (p = 0.0027) and decreased CD45 tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (p = 0.0282). The anti-VEGFR treatment Lenvatinib reduced the tumor size of KDR-Var murine tumors (p = 0.0159), and KDR-Var cells showed synergistic cytotoxicity to the combination of dabrafenib and lenvatinib. Conclusions: Our data demonstrate a role of germline KDR-Var in modulating melanoma behavior, including response to treatment. Our data also suggest that anti-angiogenic therapy might be beneficial in patients harboring this genotype, which needs to be tested in clinical trials.
The Duality of Adiponectin: The Role of Sex in Atherosclerosis
Authors: Cullen Abigail E. , Centner Ann M. , Deitado Riley , Ukhanov Vladimir , Muller-Delp Judy , Salazar Gloria
Published: December 2023

The hormone adiponectin has many beneficial effects in atherosclerosis, as gene deficiency in adiponectin or its receptor has shown detrimental effects on plaque burden in mice. Our objective was to understand the potential roles adiponectin deficiency has on aortic plaque content, inflammation, and markers of cardiovascular disease according to sex and age. To study the influence of adiponectin status on sex and atherosclerosis, we used young male and female adipoq−/−apoe−/−, adipoq+/−apoe−/−, and apoe−/− mice, which were given a high-fat diet (HFD). Even a 50% reduction in the expression of adiponectin led to a plaque reduction in males and an increase in females compared with apoe−/− controls. Changes in plaque were not attributed to changes in cholesterol or cardiovascular disease markers but correlated with inflammatory markers. Plaque reduction in males was associated with reduced monocyte chemoattractant protein 1 (MCP1) and increased colony stimulating factor 3 (CSF3), while the increase in plaque in females correlated with the opposite effect in these markers. In old mice, both adiponectin-deficient genotypes and sexes accumulated more plaque than their respective apoe−/− controls. The increase in plaque with adiponectin deficiency according to age was not explained by a worsening lipid profile but correlated with increased levels of C-C motif chemokine ligand 5 (CCL5). Overall, our study uncovered genotype-specific effects that differed by sex and age of adiponectin deficiency in atherosclerosis.
Evaluation of the Spiranthes spiralis Population’s Phenotypic Density in the Plant Community of Medicagini minimae–Festucetum valesiacae Meadows in the Natura 2000 Jiului Corridor Site, Romania (ROSCI0045)
Authors: Niculescu Mariana , Păniță Ovidiu Florin , Iancu Paula , Făgăraș Marius Mirodon
Published: December 2023

There are few reports related to the presence of Spiranthes spiralis in the Oltenia region in southern Romania. This study develops the information concerning the presence of this type of orchid in Gorj County. The studies on the populations of this orchid species have been conducted in the Natura 2000 site of the Community ROSCI0045 Jiului Corridor. In the researched territory, during the investigations, twelve populations of Spiranthes spiralis were sampled for the first time. In 2022–2023, we studied the distribution of this species and assessed its population densities. Our observations indicate that it is a relatively widespread species in the studied area and its populations are more abundant in meadows, in the Medicagini minimae–Festucetum valesiacae plant community.
Sonographic, Demographic, and Clinical Characteristics of Pre- and Postmenopausal Women with Endometrial Cancer; Results from a Post Hoc Analysis of the IETA4 (International Endometrial Tumor Analysis) Multicenter Cohort
Authors: Green Rasmus W. , Fischerová Daniela , Testa Antonia C. , Franchi Dorella , Frühauf Filip , Lindqvist Pelle G. , di Legge Alessia , Cibula David , Fruscio Robert , Haak Lucia A. , Opolskiene Gina , Vidal Urbinati Ailyn M. , Timmerman Dirk , Bourne Tom , van den Bosch Thierry , Epstein Elisabeth
Published: December 2023

In this study, we conducted a comparative analysis of demographic, histopathological, and sonographic characteristics between pre- and postmenopausal women diagnosed with endometrial cancer, while also examining sonographic and anthropometric features in ‘low’ and ‘intermediate/high-risk’ cases, stratified by menopausal status. Our analysis, based on data from the International Endometrial Tumor Analysis (IETA) 4 cohort comprising 1538 women (161 premenopausal, 1377 postmenopausal) with biopsy-confirmed endometrial cancer, revealed that premenopausal women, compared to their postmenopausal counterparts, exhibited lower parity (median 1, IQR 0–2 vs. 1, IQR 1–2, p = 0.001), a higher family history of colon cancer (16% vs. 7%, p = 0.001), and smaller waist circumferences (median 92 cm, IQR 82–108 cm vs. 98 cm, IQR 87–112 cm, p = 0.002). Premenopausal women more often had a regular endometrial–myometrial border (39% vs. 23%, p < 0.001), a visible endometrial midline (23% vs. 11%, p < 0.001), and undefined tumor (73% vs. 84%, p = 0.001). Notably, despite experiencing a longer duration of abnormal uterine bleeding (median 5 months, IQR 3–12 vs. 3 months, 2–6, p < 0.001), premenopausal women more often had ‘low’ risk disease (78% vs. 46%, p < 0.001). Among sonographic and anthropometric features, only an irregular endometrial–myometrial border was associated with ‘intermediate/high’ risk in premenopausal women. Conversely, in postmenopausal women, multiple features correlated with ‘intermediate/high’ risk disease. Our findings emphasize the importance of considering menopausal status when evaluating sonographic features in women with endometrial cancer.
Automated Prediction of Neoadjuvant Chemoradiotherapy Response in Locally Advanced Cervical Cancer Using Hybrid Model-Based MRI Radiomics
Authors: Yang Hua , Xu Yinan , Dong Mohan , Zhang Ying , Gong Jie , Huang Dong , He Junhua , Wei Lichun , Huang Shigao , Zhao Lina
Published: December 2023

Background: This study aimed to develop a model that automatically predicts the neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (nCRT) response for patients with locally advanced cervical cancer (LACC) based on T2-weighted MR images and clinical parameters. Methods: A total of 138 patients were enrolled, and T2-weighted MR images and clinical information of the patients before treatment were collected. Clinical information included age, stage, pathological type, squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) level, and lymph node status. A hybrid model extracted the domain-specific features from the computational radiomics system, the abstract features from the deep learning network, and the clinical parameters. Then, it employed an ensemble learning classifier weighted by logistic regression (LR) classifier, support vector machine (SVM) classifier, K-Nearest Neighbor (KNN) classifier, and Bayesian classifier to predict the pathologic complete response (pCR). The area under the receiver operating characteristics curve (AUC), accuracy (ACC), true positive rate (TPR), true negative rate (TNR), and precision were used as evaluation metrics. Results: Among the 138 LACC patients, 74 were in the pCR group, and 64 were in the non-pCR group. There was no significant difference between the two cohorts in terms of tumor diameter (p = 0.787), lymph node (p = 0.068), and stage before radiotherapy (p = 0.846), respectively. The 109-dimension domain features and 1472-dimension abstract features from MRI images were used to form a hybrid model. The average AUC, ACC, TPR, TNR, and precision of the proposed hybrid model were about 0.80, 0.71, 0.75, 0.66, and 0.71, while the AUC values of using clinical parameters, domain-specific features, and abstract features alone were 0.61, 0.67 and 0.76, respectively. The AUC value of the model without an ensemble learning classifier was 0.76. Conclusions: The proposed hybrid model can predict the radiotherapy response of patients with LACC, which might help radiation oncologists create personalized treatment plans for patients.
Prediction of Chemotherapy Efficacy in Patients with Colorectal Cancer Ovarian Metastases: A Preliminary Study Using Contrast-Enhanced Computed-Tomography-Based Radiomics
Authors: Yu Jinghan , Li Xiaofen , Zeng Hanjiang , Yin Hongkun , Wang Ya , Wang Bo , Qiu Meng , Wu Bing
Published: December 2023

Ovarian metastasis (OM) from colorectal cancer (CRC) is infrequent and has a poor prognosis. The purpose of this study is to investigate the value of a contrast-enhanced CT-based radiomics model in predicting ovarian metastasis from colorectal cancer outcomes after systemic chemotherapy. A total of 52 ovarian metastatic CRC patients who received first-line systemic chemotherapy were retrospectively included in this study and were categorized into chemo-benefit (C+) and no-chemo-benefit (C−) groups, using Response Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST v1.1) as the standard. A total of 1743 radiomics features were extracted from baseline CT, three methods were adopted during the feature selection, and five prediction models were constructed. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis, calibration analysis, and decision curve analysis (DCA) were used to evaluate the diagnostic performance and clinical utility of each model. Among those machine-learning-based radiomics models, the SVM model showed the best performance on the validation dataset, with AUC, accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity of 0.903 (95% CI, 0.788–0.967), 88.5%, 95.7%, and 82.8%, respectively. All radiomics models exhibited good calibration, and the DCA demonstrated that the SVM model had a higher net benefit than other models across the majority of the range of threshold probabilities. Our findings showed that contrast-enhanced CT-based radiomics models have high discriminating power in predicting the outcome of colorectal cancer ovarian metastases patients receiving chemotherapy.
18F-FDG PET Is Not Inferior to 68Ga-PSMA PET for Detecting Biochemical Recurrent Prostate Cancer with a High Gleason Score: A Head-to-Head Comparison Study
Authors: Xu Lian , Chen Ruohua , Yu Xiaofeng , Liu Jianjun , Wang Yuetao
Published: December 2023

Previous studies have indicated that 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (18F-FDG) positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) in biochemical recurrence (BCR) patients with poorly differentiated prostate adenocarcinoma had higher diagnostic sensitivity than those with well differentiated adenocarcinoma, but whether the performance of FDG PET can achieve the effect of prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) PET in BCR patients with a high Gleason score remains poorly understood. This study aimed to compare the efficacies of 18F-FDG PET/CT and 68Ga-PSMA PET/CT for BCR patients and evaluate whether 18F-FDG PET was not inferior to 68Ga-PSMA PET for detecting BCR with a high Gleason score. This was a retrospective, head-to-head comparative study completed at Ren Ji Hospital between May 2018 and June 2021. Patients underwent both 18F-FDG and 68Ga-PSMA PET/CT. The detection rate of BCR at the patient level and at the anatomical region level was evaluated. In total, 145 patients were enrolled in this study. 18F-FDG PET/CT (24.1%, 35/145) had lower detection rates than 68Ga-PSMA PET/CT (59.3%, 86/145; p < 0.001) at the patient level and at any anatomical region (p < 0.05). The PSA level (p < 0.001, OR = 11.026, 95% CI: 3.214–37.824) and the Gleason score (p < 0.001, OR = 20.227, 95% CI: 5.741–71.267) were independent predictive factors of the detection rate on 18F-FDG PET/CT, while the PSA level (p < 0.001, OR = 4.862, 95% CI: 2.338–10.110) was the only predictor of the detection rate on 68Ga-PSMA PET/CT. 18F-FDG PET/CT had a similar detection rate as 68Ga-PSMA PET/CT in patients with a Gleason score of 9 at the patient level (64.3% vs. 71.4%, p = 0.567) and any anatomical region (all p > 0.05), but 18F-FDG PET/CT had a lower detection rate than 68Ga-PSMA PET/CT in patients with a Gleason score of 6–8. 18F-FDG PET is not inferior to 68Ga-PSMA PET for detecting BCR with a Gleason score of 9; therefore, 18F-FDG PET/CT could be considered in BCR patients with a Gleason score of 9. However, 68Ga-PSMA is a better tracer than 18F-FDG in PET/CT for treatment decision making in BCR patients with a Gleason score of 6–8.
Traffic-Predictive Routing Strategy for Satellite Networks
Authors: Liu Zhiguo , Liu Zhengxia , Wang Lin , Li Weijie
Published: December 2023

To address the issues of uneven satellite network load and unstable link connections, a globally adaptive satellite network routing strategy based on traffic prediction (G-AODV) is proposed by enhancing the existing Ad hoc On-Demand Distance Vector Routing (AODV) protocol. To prevent heavily loaded nodes from becoming intermediate nodes, G-AODV introduces a traffic prediction mechanism in the route discovery phase. The routing request packet adopts the corresponding forwarding control policy based on the comparison between the predicted traffic load value at the next moment and the dynamic threshold. At the same time, a path replacement strategy is adopted to replace paths before node congestion occurs to achieve load balancing. Considering the unstable characteristics of the satellite chain that easily breaks, the route maintenance phase selects a path repair method by judging the node stability to avoid secondary breaks in the route. The simulation results show that in scenarios with different packet delivery rates, compared with the three comparative routing strategies, the packet delivery rate of G-AODV is increased by up to 20%, the packet loss rate is reduced by 22%, and the end-to-end delay is significantly reduced. In scenarios with different communication connection pairs, G-AODV’s packet delivery rate increased by up to 20%, the packet loss rate decreased by 18%, and the end-to-end delay was still reduced.
Construction of an Event Knowledge Graph Based on a Dynamic Resource Scheduling Optimization Algorithm and Semantic Graph Convolutional Neural Networks
Authors: Liu Xing , Zhang Long , Zheng Qiusheng , Wei Fupeng , Wang Kezheng , Zhang Zheng , Chen Ziwei , Niu Liyue , Liu Jizong
Published: December 2023

Presently, road and traffic control construction on most university campuses cannot keep up with the growth of the universities. Campus roads are not very wide, crossings do not have lights, and there are no full-time traffic management personnel. Teachers and students are prone to forming a peak flow of people when going to and from classes. This has led to a constant stream of traffic accidents. It is critical to conduct a comprehensive analysis of this issue by utilizing voluminous data pertaining to school traffic incidents in order to safeguard the lives of faculty and students. In the case of domestic universities, fewer studies have studied knowledge graph construction methods for traffic safety incidents. In event knowledge graph construction, the reasonable release and recycling of computational resources are inefficient, and existing entity–relationship joint extraction methods are unable to deal with ternary overlapping and entity boundary ambiguity problems in relationship extraction. In response to the above problems, this paper proposes a knowledge graph construction method for university on-campus traffic safety events with improved dynamic resource scheduling algorithms and multi-layer semantic graph convolutional neural networks. The experiment’s results show that the proposed dynamic computational resource scheduling method increases GPU and CPU use by 25% and 9%. On the public dataset, the proposed data extraction model’s F1 scores for event triples increase by 1.3% on the NYT dataset and by 0.4% on the WebNLG dataset. This method can help the relevant university personnel in dealing with unexpected traffic incidents and reduce the impact on public opinion.
Evaluation Method of IP Geolocation Database Based on City Delay Characteristics
Authors: Xie Yuancheng , Zhang Zhaoxin , Liu Yang , Chen Enhao , Li Ning
Published: December 2023

Despite the widespread use of IP geolocation databases, a robust and precise method for evaluating their accuracy remains elusive. This study presents a novel algorithm designed to assess the reliability of IP geolocation databases, leveraging the congruence of delay distributions across network segments and cities. We developed a fusion reference database, termed CDCDB, to facilitate the evaluation of commercial IP geolocation databases. Remarkably, CDCDB achieves an average positioning accuracy at the city level of 94%, coupled with a city coverage of 99.99%. This allows for an effective and comprehensive evaluation of IP geolocation databases. When compared to IPUU, CDCDB demonstrates an increase in the number of network segments by 18.7%, an increase in the number of high-quality network segments by 13.2%, and an enhancement in the coverage of city-level network segments by 20.92%. The evaluation outcomes reveal that the reliability of IP geolocation databases is not uniform across different cities. Moreover, distinct IP geolocation databases display varying preferences for cities. Consequently, we advise online service providers to select suitable IP geolocation databases based on the cities they cater to, as this could significantly enhance service quality.
A Comparative Investigation of the Emissions of a Heavy-Duty Diesel Engine under World Harmonized Transient Cycle and Road Spectrum Cycle
Authors: Deng Banglin , Yu Weijiao , Zhou Lili , Sun Chengqi
Published: December 2023

In the present study, detailed comparative experiments on a heavy-duty diesel engine used in the world harmonized transient cycle (WHTC) and road spectrum reversely deduced cycle (RSRDC, which was derived from a road test) were carried out. Fuel consumption and gaseous and particulate pollutants, along with some engine operation parameters, were measured transiently; thus, specific emissions can be calculated. Results showed that the BSFC of WHTC and RSRDC was 201.8 and 210 g/kW·h, respectively, because the real road driving cycle (RSRDC) had wider operating point distributions and more points located in the low-efficiency zone relative to WHTC. Thus, WHTC operations exhibited higher raw CO (abundant CO formation needed a specific temperature threshold) and NOx but lower HC. Furthermore, with aftertreatment, all pollutants met the newest China regulation limit. Finally, transient emissions were analyzed in detail. Although the specific emissions of some pollutants were similar in value for both cycles, transient processes may largely be different. Therefore, the current study is meaningful, and we not only provide broad and detailed information but also directly compare two types of operations (one is a real road driving cycle) in the laboratory: this is rarely discussed in the literature.
A Sensitive and Specific Monoclonal Antibody Based Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay for the Rapid Detection of Pretilachlor in Grains and the Environment
Authors: Zhang Linwei , Yin Xiaoyang , Yang Hongfei , Wen Hao , Han Shiyun , Pan Xiaoming , Li Huaming , Peng Dapeng
Published: December 2023

Pretilachlor is a chloroacetamide herbicide mainly used for weed and broadleaf weed control in rice, that is widely utilized in China. In order to detect the residue of pretilachlor in the environment and food, a highly sensitive and specific monoclonal antibody (mAb) against pretilachlor was prepared, and the half maximum inhibitory concentration (IC50) of the monoclonal antibody was validated to be 31.47 ± 2.35 μg/L. An indirect competitive ELISA (ic-ELISA) based on the antibody with a linear range of 6.25~100 μg/L was developed. The specificity of the antibody was explained by computer simulations and experimental validation. The mAb exhibited negligible cross-reactivity towards alachlor, acetochlor, propisochlor, butachlor, and metalaxyl, and the limits of detection (LOD) for pretilachlor in lake, rice, and soil samples were 4.83~5.23 μg/L. The recoveries of all samples were 78.3~91.3%. The reliability of the ic-ELISA method for residue detection of pretilachlor in the environment and grains was confirmed using high performance liquid chromatography.