bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Land tenure security and forest cover in the Colombian Amazon
Authors: Jones Kelly W. , Cabra-Ruiz Nicolás , Correa Sánchez Natalia , Molina González Eduardo , Vélez Maria Alejandra
Published: November 2024

Land tenure security (LTS) is important for achieving many sustainable development goals but its influence on forest cover is mixed. The uncertain relationship between LTS and forests is driven, in part, by the moderating influence of other drivers of deforestation. In this paper we illustrate this complex relationship between LTS and forest cover for individual private landholders in the Colombian Amazon. We use household surveys and econometric analysis with matching techniques to examine whether formal land titles and perceptions of LTS influence forest cover. We explore how the effect of a land title on forest cover is moderated by perceptions of LTS, time to markets, and participation in a conservation program. We find that more secure land tenure, on average, has a statistically significant and negative influence on forest cover in our sample. The negative association between LTS and forest cover is stronger when landholders perceive they have secure tenure and are closer to markets. However, we find the negative relationship between land title and forest cover goes away when a landholder participates in a conservation program. While our cross-sectional data and quasi-experimental methods cannot lead to causal statements, our results are in line with many recent studies in the Amazon region, and our household-level data provides important insight regarding drivers of deforestation that moderate the relationship between land title and forest cover. Our results inform the design of future LTS interventions and conservation efforts.
Revolutionizing head and neck squamous cell carcinoma treatment with nanomedicine in the era of immunotherapy
Authors: Li Hong-Xia , Gong Yu-Wen , Yan Pi-Jun , Xu Yong , Qin Gang , Wen Wei-Ping , Teng Fang-Yuan
Published: November 2024

Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is a prevalent malignant tumor globally. Despite advancements in treatment methods, the overall survival rate remains low due to limitations such as poor targeting and low bioavailability, which result in the limited efficacy of traditional drug therapies. Nanomedicine is considered to be a promising strategy in tumor therapy, offering the potential for maximal anti-tumor effects. Nanocarriers can overcome biological barriers, enhance drug delivery efficiency to targeted sites, and minimize damage to normal tissues. Currently, various nano-carriers for drug delivery have been developed to construct new nanomedicine. This review aims to provide an overview of the current status of HNSCC treatment and the necessity of nanomedicine in improving treatment outcomes. Moreover, it delves into the research progress of nanomedicine in HNSCC treatment, with a focus on enhancing radiation sensitivity, improving the efficacy of tumor immunotherapy, effectively delivering chemotherapy drugs, and utilizing small molecule inhibitors. Finally, this article discussed the challenges and prospects of applying nanomedicine in cancer treatment.
Assessment of corticospinal tract damage and cytokines response in early and late stages of acute unilateral brainstem infarction patients
Authors: Shi Mengye , Chen Huiyou , Ci Xiaojiao , Geng Wen , Qi Xinyang , Chen Yuchen , Yin Xindao
Published: November 2024

Background

Acute brainstem infarction is associated with high morbidity and mortality, the integrity of corticospinal tract (CST) detected via diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) can assist in predicting the motor recovery of the patients. In addition to the damage caused by ischemia and reperfusion, sterile inflammation also contributes to the brain injury after stroke. However, the changes in CST integrity detected by DTI in acute brainstem infarction have yet to be fully elucidated, and it is still unclear whether sterile inflammation can cause damage to the CST.

Methods

In this study, the acute brainstem infarction patients in the early (EABI patients, n = 19) and late (LABI patients, n = 21) stages and healthy controls (HCs, n = 22) are employed. The probabilistic tractography technique was used and the fractional anisotropy (FA) value was chosen to evaluated the integrity of the CST, the IL-6, IL-10, IL-17, IL-1β, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α levels in the plasma are measured to evaluate the level of inflammation.

Results

Compared to the HCs (F = 13.634, p ANOVA < 0.001), the CST FA values on the infarcted side were abnormally elevated in EABI patients (p LSD = 0.003), and decreased in LABI patients (p LSD = 0.034). The levels of IL-6 (F = 12.311, p ANOVA < 0.001, EABI vs HCs: p LSD < 0.001, LABI vs HCs: p LSD < 0.001), IL-10 (F = 11.329, p ANOVA < 0.001, EABI vs HCs: p LSD < 0.001, LABI vs HCs: p LSD = 0.017) and IL-1β (F = 15.986, p ANOVA < 0.001, EABI vs HCs: p LSD < 0.001, LABI vs HCs: p LSD < 0.001) were increased in both EABI and LABI patients, while the IL-17 levels were elevated only in LABI patients (F = 4.258, p ANOVA = 0.019, LABI vs HCs: p LSD = 0.027). Among these cytokines, the increased IL-6 (r = 0.663, p = 0.002) and IL-1β (r = 0.615, p = 0.005) levels of EABI patients might be related to the elevated CST FA values, while the increased IL-17 (r = -0.599, p = 0.004) levels of LABI patients might contribute to the decrease of the CST FA values.

Conclusion

Our study reveals that the increased CST FA values in EABI patients may include signals generated by the immune cells which move along the CST. The sterile inflammation may contribute to the impairment of CST integrity in LABI patients.
Global lncRNA expression signature in pre-metastatic lung and their regulatory effects in pulmonary metastasis
Authors: Shi Huifang , Wang Peng , Wang Jiaan , Chen Lei , Qin Yan , Lv Jie
Published: November 2024

Background

Lung metastasis has garnered significant attention due to its prevalent occurrence. Pre-metastatic niche (PMN) establishment is a critical prerequisite for the onset of lung metastasis. Emerging evidence indicates that long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) play pivotal roles in the metastatic cascade to the lungs. However, the relationship between lncRNA expression profiles and the formation of PMN remains uncharacterized. This study aims to explore the expression profiles and potential roles of lncRNAs in the context of pre-metastatic lung microenvironment.

Methods

RNA sequencing was utilized to elucidate the lncRNA landscape in pre-metastatic lung of murine models. Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analyses were performed to infer the prospective functions of the differentially expressed lncRNAs. Among these, lncRNA Gm5144-202 in alveolar macrophages (AMs) was further scrutinized for its role in driving M2 macrophage polarization, facilitating the formation of PMN, and orchestrating the apoptosis, proliferation, and migration of tumor cells in vitro.

Results

A total of 232 lncRNAs exhibited differential expression in pre-metastatic murine lungs compared to normal controls, predominantly enriching pathways such as PI3K-Akt signaling, calcium signaling, neuroactive ligand-receptor interaction, and NF-κB signaling. Notably, lncRNA Gm5144-202 exhibited the most pronounced difference, with elevated level in alveolar macrophages (AMs) during the pre-metastatic phase. Silencing of lncRNA Gm5144-202 impeded the polarization of M2-like macrophages, suppressed the expression of factors critical for the formation of the PMN, and inhibited tumor cell invasion.

Conclusions

Our research delineated the lncRNA expression profiles in pre-metastatic pulmonary tissues and identified, for the first time, the pivotal role of lncRNA Gm5144-202 in modulating M2 macrophage polarization and tumor cell invasiveness. Consequently, targeting lncRNA Gm5144-202 holds substantial promise for translational applications aimed at mitigating pulmonary metastasis.
Killer whales (Orcinus orca) hunt, kill and consume the largest fish on Earth, the whale shark (Rhincodon typus)
Authors: Pancaldi Francesca , Ayres Kathryn A. , Gallagher Austin J. , Moskito James , Williamson Kelsey C. , Higuera Rivas Jesús Erick
Published: November 2024

Killer whales (Orcinus orca) are the apex predator in global oceans, and as such they are afforded access to prey species at all trophic levels and sizes. Due to their enhanced cognitive abilities, they are frequent predators of other ocean giants, including large sharks. Observations of these predator-prey interactions are rare globally; however, records appear to be increasing in recent years, possibly due to increased access to surveillance. Here we present reports of killer whales hunting and preying on the world’s largest fish species, the whale shark (Rhincodon typus), by collating and analyzing photo and video footage collected from four unique predation events spanning six years (2018 – 2024) in the southern Gulf of California. Across all events, orcas displayed a seemingly approach to collaboratively hunting and killing whale sharks, characterized by focusing on attacking the pelvic area (claspers and pelvic fins) which exsanguinates the prey and allows access to the lipid-rich liver. Photo identification of the killer whales revealed that an individual adult male “Moctezuma” was engaged in three of the four events, and the females involved in event four had previously been sighted with him. We suggest the potential existence of a specialized pod of elasmobranch-hunting killer whales occurring in the Gulf of California.
A new target for treating intervertebral disk degeneration: gut microbes
Authors: Wang Kaizhong , Liu Xiangyan , Huang Huagui , Suo Moran , Wang Jinzuo , Liu Xin , Zhang Jing , Chen Xin , Li Zhonghai
Published: November 2024

Intervertebral disk degeneration (IDD) is a common clinical spinal disease and one of the main causes of low back pain (LBP). Generally speaking, IDD is considered a natural degenerative process with age. However, with the deepening of research, people have discovered that IDD is not only related to age, but also has many factors that can induce and accelerate its progression. In addition, the pathogenesis of IDD remains unclear, resulting in limited traditional treatment methods that cannot effectively prevent and treat IDD. Conservative treatment may lead to patients’ dependence on drugs, and the pain relief effect is not obvious. Similarly, surgical treatment is highly invasive, with a longer recovery time and a higher recurrence rate. With the deepening of exploration, people have discovered that intestinal microorganisms are an important symbiotic microbial community in the human body and are closely related to the occurrence and development of various diseases. Changes in intestinal microorganisms and their metabolites may affect the body’s inflammatory response, immune regulation, and metabolic processes, thereby affecting the health of the intervertebral disk. In this context, the gut microbiota has received considerable attention as a potential target for delaying or treating IDD. This article first introduces the impact of gut microbes on common distal organs, and then focuses on three potential mechanisms by which gut microbes and their metabolites influence IDD. Finally, we also summarized the methods of delaying or treating IDD by interfering with intestinal microorganisms and their metabolites. Further understanding of the potential mechanisms between intestinal microorganisms and IDD will help to formulate reasonable IDD treatment strategies to achieve ideal therapeutic effects.
Combination of gallium citrate and levofloxacin induces a distinct metabolome profile and enhances growth inhibition of multidrug-resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis compared to linezolid
Authors: Ilchenko Oleksandr , Nikolaevskaya Elena , Zinchenko Oksana , Ivanytsia Volodymyr , Prat-Aymerich Cristina , Ramstedt Madeleine , Rzhepishevska Olena
Published: November 2024

Introduction

Tuberculosis (TB) treatment typically involves a tailored combination of four antibiotics based on the drug resistance profile of the infecting strain. The increasing drug resistance of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) requires the development of novel antibiotics to ensure effective treatment regimens. Gallium (Ga) is being explored as a repurposed drug against TB due to its ability to inhibit Mtb growth and disrupt iron metabolism. Given the potential interactions between Ga and established antibiotics, we investigated how a combination of Ga with levofloxacin (Lfx) or linezolid (Lzd) affects the growth and metabolome of a multidrug-resistant (MDR) Mtb clinical strain.

Methods

Mtb was cultured using a BACTEC 960 system with concentrations of Ga ranging from 125 to 1,000 μM and with 250 to 500 μM of Ga combined with 0.125 mg/L of Lfx or Lzd. For metabolome analysis, the antibacterials were used at concentrations that inhibited the growth of bacteria without causing cell death. Metabolites were extracted from Mtb cells and analyzed using chromatography-mass spectrometry.

Results

The MDR Mtb strain exhibited a dose-dependent response to Ga. Notably, the enhancement in growth inhibition was statistically significant for the Ga/Lfx combination compared to Ga alone, while no such significance was observed for Ga/Lzd. Moreover, exposure to Ga/Lfx or Ga/Lzd resulted in distinct metabolite profiles. Ga treatment increased the level of aconitate, fumarate, and glucose in the cells, suggesting the inhibition of iron-dependent aconitase and fumarate hydratase, as well as disruption of the pentose phosphate pathway. The levels of glucose, succinic acid, citric acid, and hexadecanoic acid followed a similar pattern in cells exposed to Ga and Ga/Lfx at 500 μM Ga but exhibited different trends at 250 μM Ga.

Discussion

In the presence of Lfx, the Mtb metabolome changes induced by Ga are more pronounced compared to those observed with Lzd. Lfx affects nucleic acids and transcription, which may enhance Ga-dependent growth inhibition by preventing the metabolic redirection that bacteria typically use to bypass iron-dependent enzymes.
The prodrome of migraine: mechanistic insights and emerging therapeutic strategies
Authors: Gao Linli , Zhao Fangling , Tu Yujie , Liu Kaiming
Published: November 2024

Migraine is a common clinical chronic neurovascular disease characterized by recurrent, mostly unilateral, moderate or severe, pulsatile headache. It can be divided into four clinical stages: premonitory (prodrome), aura, headache and postdrome. The early warning value of the prodrome in migraine has been largely verified in various studies. In fact, the prodrome of migraine has received increasing attention as it can serve as an ideal therapeutic window for early intervention and effective treatment of migraine. In recent years, the pathophysiological and molecular biological mechanisms in the prodromal stage of migraine have been extensively studied, and great progress has been made in understanding the disease. This review paper aims to provide an overview of recent studies mainly focused on the prodrome of migraine, discuss the biological mechanisms underlying the clinical profile, and reveal novel therapeutic strategies for preventing or blocking migraine onset during its prodrome.
Vitamin D and focal brain atrophy in PD with non-dementia: a VBM study
Authors: Xu Yingying , Wang Erlei , Zhang Qilin , Liu Jing , Luo Weifeng
Published: November 2024

Background

The status of vitamin D has been proposed to have an impact on cognition. Gray matter volume (GMV) is a potential marker of cognitive function. We investigated whether lower serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D level was associated with reduced cerebral GMV in Parkinson’s disease with non-dementia (PDND) patients.

Methods

Baseline neuropsychiatric performance and serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels were examined in 24 PDND patients and 24 healthy controls (HCs). A set of cognitive scales were used to evaluate the cognition. Voxel-based morphometry (VBM) was performed to calculate each PDND patient’s GMV, based on structural magnetic resonance imaging data. Associations between serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels, cognition, and GMV were evaluated.

Results

The serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels of the PDND group were significantly lower than those of the HC group. The simple linear regression analyses between serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels and the scores of subtests that analyzed cognitive function showed that serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels were negatively correlated with Trail Making Test-A scores and positively correlated with Symbol Digit Modalities Test and Auditory Verbal Learning Test scores. Multiple regression analyses revealed a positive correlation between the right fusiform gyrus GMV and serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels.

Conclusion

We hypothesized that the lower serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D level in patients with PDND might affect auditory word learning and spatial cognition ability by reducing the gray matter volume of the right fusiform gyrus, thereby leading to deterioration of semantic understanding and memory function.
Case report: Extreme respiratory sinus arrhythmia in a non-athlete female student - a peculiar finding at the Physiology practicum
Authors: Karemaker John M.
Published: November 2024

During an ECG-training course, a case of extreme respiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSA) was found in a 19-year-old slender, female student who was not active in sports. The heart rate (HR) fluctuated from above 100 to below 60 beats per minute (bpm), often from one beat to the next. The pattern was repetitive and appeared to be linked to respiration, representing an extreme form of RSA. The initial recording of the HR and blood pressure (BP) by finger blood pressure showed concomitant drops in diastolic BP of up to 25 mmHg. The student agreed to participate in a short follow-up study, during which HR, BP, and respiration (measured by temperature and pCO2 of the airflow at the nose) were recorded in the supine and upright tilted positions. Measurements were taken during 5 min of rest, during paced breathing (1 min each at 6, 10, and 15 breaths per min), and during end-expiratory breath-hold. This study presents a beat-by-beat analysis of the observed interrelations between respiration, HR, and BP. Her respiratory rate with maximal RSA was found to be only slightly lower than the spontaneous rate, at 10 versus 12 breaths per min. From the combined observations, it was concluded that, in this case, the baroreflex relationship between spontaneous BP and HR changes was overridden by near on/off gating of (possibly massive) cardiac vagal outflow. This is due to a central, respiration-coupled gating mechanism, with the vagus nerve being “on” during expiration and “off” during inspiration. Such a system will destabilize blood pressure. It shows an evolutionary remnant of optimizing lung perfusion during air inflation, regardless of the consequences for systemic blood pressure.
Revealing the causal role of immune cells in malignant neoplasms of the head and neck: insights from Mendelian randomization
Authors: Zhou En , Yuan MingHao , Zhong JiaYu , Xiao XuPing
Published: November 2024

Background

Immune escape and immunosuppression play crucial roles in the onset and progression of head and neck malignant neoplasms (HNMN). However, previous studies on the relationship between immune cells and HNMN have yielded inconsistent results.

Methods

In this study, we performed bidirectional two-sample Mendelian randomisation (MR) analyses using genome-wide association study (GWAS) and FinnGen databases to examine the association between 731 immune cell features and the risk of HNMN. We conducted sensitivity analyses to assess the robustness of the findings.

Results

Subsequent to false discovery rate (FDR) correction, three immune cell phenotypes were found to have a significant correlation with the risk of HNMN: CD28−CD8+ absolute cells (AC) (inverse-variance weighted [IVW] using the multiplicative random effects model: OR [95%]: 1.325 [1.413 to 1.539], P = 0.0002, Pfdr = 0.054), CD3 on secreting Treg (IVW: OR [95%]: 0.887 [0.835 to 0.941], P = 0.00007, Pfdr = 0.025), and CD3 on resting Treg (IVW: OR [95%]: 0.891 [0.842 to 0.943], P = 0.00006, Pfdr = 0.026). The results of the sensitivity analysis were aligned with the primary findings. No statistically significant effects of HNMN on the immunophenotypes were observed.

Conclusions

Our research indicates causal relationships among the three immune cell phenotypes and vulnerability to HNMN, providing new insights into immune infiltration within the HNMN tumour microenvironment and the development of immunotherapy drugs targeting checkpoint inhibitors of HNMN.
Current status of research on the mechanisms of tumor-associated macrophages in esophageal cancer progression
Authors: Tang Yuchao , Shi Tingting , Lin Shu , Fang Taiyong
Published: November 2024

Esophageal carcinoma (EC) is one of the most common tumors in China and seriously affects patient survival and quality of life. In recent years, increasing studies have shown that the tumor microenvironment is crucial in promoting tumor progression and metastasis. Tumor-associated macrophages (TAM) are key components of the tumor immune microenvironment and promote both tumor growth and antitumor immunity. Much evidence suggests that TAMs are closely associated with esophageal tumors. However, understanding of the clinical value and mechanism of action of TAM in esophageal cancer remains limited. Therefore, we reviewed the status of research on the role and mechanism of action of TAM in EC progression and summarized its potential clinical application value to provide a theoretical basis for the clinical treatment of EC.
Establishment of a prognostic nomogram based on the clinical and inflammatory parameters as well as acute radiation enteritis for patients with cervical cancer receiving radiotherapy
Authors: Hu Jing , Shi Qianjin , Gong Xiaoqin , You Tao , Dai Chunhua , Chen Fei
Published: November 2024

Objective

Acute radiation enteritis is one of the most common complications of radiotherapy for patients with cervical cancer. This study aims to investigate the effect of acute radiation enteritis on the prognosis of patients with cervical cancer receiving radiotherapy and to establish a nomogram predicting the patients’ overall survival (OS).

Methods

The clinical data of 288 patients with cervical cancer who were admitted to our department from 2014 to 2020 were retrospectively analyzed, and the survival of patients were followed up. The Kaplan-Meier method was used to calculate the survival rate and for univariate analysis, and the Cox regression model was used for multivariate prognostic analysis. A nomogram survival prediction model was established based on independent risk factors, and the concordance index (C-index), receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve and calibration curve were used to evaluate the predictive accuracy of the model. The clinical applicability of the model was assessed by the decision curve. External validation of the nomogram prediction model was performed in 74 patients admitted to our hospital from 2020 to 2021.

Results

60 patients (20.8%) developed grade 2 or higher acute radiation enteritis. The 1-, 3-, and 5-year OS rates were 94.4%, 80.9%, and 77.4%, respectively. Multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that: Age ≥ 60 years, diabetes/hypertension, anemia, FIGO stage III-IV, poor differentiation, pelvic lymph node metastasis, NLR ≥ 2.54 and grade 2 or higher acute radiation enteritis were independent risk factors for OS in cervical cancer patients undergoing radiotherapy (P < 0.05). The C-index of OS nomogram model was 0.815 (95% CI: 0.766-0.864). The AUC of 3-year and 5-year OS were 0.849 (95%CI: 0.789-0.909) and 0.840 (95%CI: 0.782-0.899), respectively. The AUC value of 3-year OS in the external validation set was 0.779 (95%CI: 0.635-0.922). The calibration curve showed that the model was well calibrated, and the decision curve verified the clinical applicability of the constructed nomogram.

Conclusion

This study established an accurate predicting nomogram based on independent prognostic factors in cervical cancer patients receiving radiotherapy, and patients with grade 2 or higher acute radiation enteritis should be paid more attention to in clinical practice.
Surgical treatment for complete resection of transthoracic and abdominal schwannoma with diaphragm invasion using the transthoracic approach: a case report and literature review
Authors: Zhang Wen-jun , Pang Li-song , Hu Dong-xia , Le Yi-guan
Published: November 2024

Background

The removal of schwannomas involving the chest and abdominal cavities is difficult, which requires a high level of overall proficiency and technical expertise from surgeons. Therefore, this study explored a safe and feasible surgical method for the complete resection of this type of tumor.

Methods

We collected the medical records of a 44-year-old female patient with space-occupying lesions near the thoracic vertebrae.

Results

The transthoracic approach could effectively expose the relationship between the tumor and adjacent tissues, reduce the patient’s additional injury, completely remove the tumor tissue, and repair the diaphragm defect well. The amount of blood loss during the operation was approximately 600 ml. After the operation, there was a small amount of pleural effusion, the patient recovered well, and no other complications occurred. Through follow-up for 3 months after the surgery, the patient had no other complications and his physical condition had recovered.

Conclusions

For patients with transthoracic and abdominal schwannoma complicated by diaphragmatic invasion, performing tumor resection using the transabdominal approach may be difficult, but the transthoracic approach may be a safe and feasible surgical option.
Crosstalk between lactate and tumor-associated immune cells: clinical relevance and insight
Authors: Sun Kemin , Shen Ye , Xiao Xiang , Xu Hao , Zhang Quanli , Li Ming
Published: November 2024

Lactate, which was traditionally viewed as a metabolic byproduct of anaerobic glycolysis, has emerged as a significant signaling molecule involved in the development of tumors. Current studies highlight its dual function, where it not only fuels tumor development but also modulates immune responses. Lactate has an effect on various tumor-associated immune cells, promoting immunosuppressive conditions that facilitate tumor growth and immune evasion. This phenomenon is strongly associated with the Warburg effect, a metabolic shift observed in many cancers that favors glycolysis over oxidative phosphorylation, resulting in elevated lactate production. Exploring the complex interplay between lactate metabolism and tumor immunity provides a novel understanding regarding the mechanisms of tumor immune evasion and resistance to therapies. This review discusses the unique biology of lactate in the TME, its impact on immune cell dynamics, and its potential as a tumor treatment target.
Rasch analysis and targeting assessment of the teach-CVI survey tool in a cohort of CVI patients
Authors: Martin Jem , Bradley Chris , Kran Barry S. , Ross Nicole C.
Published: November 2024

Purpose

Cerebral Visual Impairment (CVI) is the leading cause of pediatric visual impairment. Given the diversity of clinical presentations of CVI, we are interested in whether questionnaires appropriately target the spectrum CVI cases, specifically the Teach-CVI Screening Tool. Rasch analysis is a standard psychometric technique for assessing the targeting of questionnaire items, however this analysis technique has not yet been applied to this questionnaire.

Methods

We performed a retrospective review of clinical CVI cases from the NECO Center for Eye Care at Perkins School for the Blind from January 2016 to December 2022. Electronic medical records were reviewed to identify patients with an ICD-9 or ICD-10 code of CVI or other neurological visual impairment. Age, gender, diagnoses, visual acuity, contrast sensitivity, visual fields, ocular alignment, and Teach-CVI responses were collected. We applied the method of successive dichotomizations, a polytomous Rasch model, to estimate item measures and person measures from the survey. Targeting of questionnaire items to the sample population was explored by comparing estimated item measures to person measures. Multiple linear regression was used to determine which factors influence patient visual ability (i.e., Teach-CVI person measure).

Results

119 patient records were included, 54% of which were male. The mean age was 8.9 years (SD = 6.12) with a range of 0 to 33 years of age. Mean visual acuity was 0.46 logMAR (SD = 0.40), or 20/57. The majority of patients in the sample had a co-occurring visual disorder in addition to CVI (84%), the most frequent being strabismus (69.9%) or visual field loss (25.3%). Item measures ranged from -2.67 to 1.77 logits (SD = 0.76), with a mean of 0 logit by convention. Estimated person measures ranged from -2.19 to 3.08 logits (SD = 1.10) with a mean of -0.03 logit. The range of item measures covered 93.3% of the person measures, and all person measures, except one, were within one logit of an item measure. Visual measures were not statistically significantly associated with Teach-CVI person measures.

Conclusion

The findings from this study suggest that the Teach-CVI survey is well targeted and an appropriate patient reported outcome measure for CVI.
Application of nanotechnology in the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma
Authors: Cai Liu , Du Yanyuan , Xiong Hongtai , Zheng Honggang
Published: November 2024

Hepatocellular carcinoma is the predominant histologic variant of hepatic malignancy and has become a major challenge to global health. The increasing incidence and mortality of hepatocellular carcinoma has created an urgent need for effective prevention, diagnosis, and treatment strategies. This is despite the impressive results of multiple treatments in the clinic. However, the unique tumor immunosuppressive microenvironment of hepatocellular carcinoma increases the difficulty of treatment and immune tolerance. In recent years, the application of nanoparticles in the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma has brought new hope for tumor patients. Nano agents target tumor-associated fibroblasts, regulatory T cells, myeloid suppressor cells, tumor-associated macrophages, tumor-associated neutrophils, and immature dendritic cells, reversed the immunosuppressive microenvironment of hepatocellular carcinoma. In addition, he purpose of this review is to summarize the advantages of nanotechnology in guiding surgical excision, local ablation, TACE, standard chemotherapy, and immunotherapy, application of nano-vaccines has also continuously enriched the treatment of liver cancer. This study aims to investigate the potential applications of nanotechnology in the management of hepatocellular carcinoma, with the ultimate goal of enhancing therapeutic outcomes and improving the prognosis for patients affected by this malignancy.
BHC-YOLOV8 : improved YOLOv8-based BHC target detection model for tea leaf disease and defect in real-world scenarios
Authors: Zhan BaiShao , Xiong Xi , Li Xiaoli , Luo Wei
Published: December 2024

Introduction

The detection efficiency of tea diseases and defects ensures the quality and yield of tea. However, in actual production, on the one hand, the tea plantation has high mountains and long roads, and the safety of inspection personnel cannot be guaranteed; on the other hand, the inspection personnel have factors such as lack of experience and fatigue, resulting in incomplete and slow testing results. Introducing visual inspection technology can avoid the above problems.

Methods

Firstly, a dynamic sparse attention mechanism (Bi Former) is introduced into the model backbone. It filters out irrelevant key value pairs at the coarse region level, utilizing sparsity to save computation and memory; jointly apply fine region token to token attention in the remaining candidate regions. Secondly, Haar wavelets are introduced to improve the down sampling module. By processing the input information flow horizontally, vertically, and diagonally, the original image is reconstructed. Finally, a new feature fusion network is designed using a multi-head attention mechanism to decompose the main network into several cascaded stages, each stage comprising a sub-backbone for parallel processing of different features. Simultaneously, skip connections are performed on features from the same layer, and unbounded fusion weight normalization is introduced to constrain the range of each weight value.

Results

After the above improvements, the confidence level of the current mainstream models increased by 7.1%, mAP0.5 increased by 8%, and reached 94.5%. After conducting ablation experiments and comparing with mainstream models, the feature fusion network proposed in this paper reduced computational complexity by 10.6 GFlops, increased confidence by 2.7%, and increased mAP0.5 by 3.2%.

Discussion

This paper developed a new network based on YOLOv8 to overcome the difficulties of tea diseases and defects such as small target, multiple occlusion and complex background.
Multivariate analysis between environmental factors and fruit quality of citrus at the core navel orange-producing area in China
Authors: Yu Xiaoxuan , Du Chao , Wang Xiaojun , Gao Fengying , Lu Jing , Di Xinyue , Zhuang Xia , Cheng Chen , Yao Fengxian
Published: December 2024

Gannan is the largest navel orange production area in China. Most studies have primarily focused on the effects of either soil or topographic factors on the quality of navel oranges. However, there has been a lack of research exploring the relationship between navel orange quality and multiple environmental factors (meteorological, topographic, and soil). This study focused on Gannan navel oranges, selecting standard orchards in the core navel orange-producing area as the research region. It employed the Partial Least Squares Regression (PLSR) method to investigate the extent of the impact of environmental factors on fruit quality. The results indicated that the effect of soil factors on fruit shape and fruit flavor was greater than that of meteorological and topographic factors in the Gannan area. And the fruit peel is more uniformly influenced by environmental factors. Based on the degree of impact of various environmental factors, multiple regression equations for fruit quality have been established to identify the optimal conditions conducive to the comprehensive development of Gannan navel oranges. These findings help determine the optimal planting areas for Gannan navel oranges, providing practical evidence for the future development of navel oranges.
Crossing digital borders: technology in the migration process across the United States, Mexico, Honduras, and Chile
Authors: Cabrera-Medina Johana , Magaña Frade Irene , Diaz Alejandro , Cruz Isabel
Published: November 2024

This study examines the role of technology in migration processes across the United States, Mexico, Honduras, and Chile, with a focus on how technological tools are used primarily for control and management, and to a lesser extent, for facilitating integration. Through a qualitative methodology, including a comprehensive review of gray literature, this research analyzes the deployment of technologies by governmental and non-governmental institutions. Key findings reveal significant disparities in technological implementation, with the United States leading in advanced surveillance and control technologies, including biometric systems, artificial intelligence, and mobile applications like CBP One. In contrast, Mexico and Chile employ more limited technological tools, with Chile showing an emphasis on social inclusion through the Migrapp app. Honduras, on the other hand, lacks significant technological infrastructure for migration governance. The study highlights the risks associated with privacy invasion, surveillance, and social exclusion, particularly in the U.S, and calls for the responsible design and use of technology to ensure the protection of migrants' rights and to foster inclusion rather than exacerbate inequalities.
Proactive personality, burnout, and teaching enjoyment: exploring relationships in Chinese English teachers
Authors: Chunyan Hu , Ying Liao
Published: November 2024

Introduction

This study examines the relationships between proactive personality, burnout, and teaching enjoyment among Chinese English as a Foreign Language (EFL) teachers. The research aims to clarify how proactive personality traits relate to teaching enjoyment and burnout and to explore their interactions in the context of EFL instruction.

Methods

The study included a sample of 420 Chinese EFL teachers, and Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) was used to assess the relationships among proactive personality, burnout, and teaching enjoyment. Data underwent detailed statistical analysis to identify both direct and mediating effects within the proposed model.

Results

The findings from the SEM analysis revealed significant direct relationships between proactive personality, burnout, and teaching enjoyment among Chinese EFL educators. Proactive personality was associated with a decrease in burnout (β = −0.366, SE = 0.159, p < 0.001). For every unit increase in proactive personality, teachers reported experiencing higher levels of teaching enjoyment (β = 0.487, SE = 0.176, p < 0.001). Teaching enjoyment, in turn, was a significant mediator in the relationship between proactive personality and burnout (β = −0.249, SE = 0.102, p < 0.001). These findings suggest that proactive personality is positively associated with teaching enjoyment, which, in turn, may relate to lower levels of burnout among EFL teachers.

Discussion

This study highlights the importance of proactive personality traits in enhancing teaching enjoyment and reducing burnout among Chinese EFL teachers. The findings emphasize how proactive tendencies contribute to teachers’ well-being, professional satisfaction, and, ultimately, the quality of EFL instruction. These results suggest practical applications, such as developing interventions that encourage proactive traits and increase teaching enjoyment among EFL educators, which may improve the educational experience for EFL students.
Exploring sense of spaciousness in interior settings: Screen-based assessments with eye tracking, and virtual reality evaluations
Authors: Tural Alp , Tural Elif
Published: November 2024

This study investigates the perception of spaciousness in interior environments using screen-based assessments with eye tracking, and virtual reality (VR) technologies. The research explores how four key design elements -view access, view content, materiality, and ceiling geometry- influence perceived spaciousness. Thirty-five college students participated in screen-based and VR-based evaluations of 16 photorealistic interior settings. Eye tracking data were collected during screen-based assessments to analyze visual attention patterns. Statistical analyses included repeated measures ANOVAs, pairwise comparisons, and correlations between screen and VR assessments. Results showed that view access significantly affected perceived spaciousness in both screen and VR conditions, with larger windows correlating to higher spaciousness ratings. Materiality also demonstrated significant effects, with natural and textured materials perceived as more spacious than concrete surfaces. View content and ceiling geometry showed trends towards influencing spaciousness perception but did not reach statistical significance. VR presentations generally yielded higher spaciousness ratings compared to screen-based presentations, suggesting that immersive technologies may enhance spatial perception. Eye tracking analyses revealed common gaze patterns and variations in visual attention across different design conditions. This study contributes to the understanding of how design elements influence spatial perception and demonstrates the potential of integrating eye tracking and VR technologies in environmental psychology research. The findings have implications for evidence-based design practices aimed at enhancing perceived spaciousness in interior environments.
Suboptimal nutritional status of school-age children in Addis Ababa: evidence from the analysis of socioeconomic, environmental, and behavioral factors
Authors: Mihretie Adugna Yimer , Ayelign Abebe , Zerfu Taddese Alemu
Published: November 2024

Background

School-aged children (6–14 years old) are susceptible to malnutrition and micronutrient deficiencies. Environmental and behavioral factors greatly influence their nutritional status. This study aimed to examine the association between dietary factors and the nutritional status of school-aged children attending public and private schools in Addis Ababa.

Methods

A community-based cross-sectional study design was employed from March to August 2023. A total of 309 study participants were randomly selected from 10 schools. Data were entered into Epidata version 3.1 and exported to SPSS version 23.0 for analysis. WHO Anthro Plus 1.0.4 was used to assess the measurements of weight-for-age (WAZ), height-for-age (HAZ), and BMI-for-age (BAZ) for overweight, stunting, and underweight, while wasting was assessed using MUAC. A Poisson regression model was used to determine the association between predictor variables and stunting, wasting, underweight, and overweight, with adjusted prevalence ratios (APR). APR and 95% CI were used to identify statistically significant variables.

Results

Findings revealed the prevalence of wasting (15%), stunting (24%), underweight (36%), and overweight (19%) among school-aged children. Factors influencing stunting include marital status, house ownership, education level of parents/caregivers, child sex, and meal skipping. Wasting was linked to wealth index, child age, dietary diversity, dietary habits, water access, and toilet facilities. Underweight predictors include parent/caregiver age, marital status, and meal frequency. Moreover, school type appeared as a significant factor for overweight.

Conclusions

The overall nutritional status of school-aged children is suboptimal, influenced by sociodemographic, environmental, and behavioral factors. Addressing these factors through targeted interventions is crucial, particularly for the most vulnerable groups.
Colposuspension in girls with refractory stress-incontinence, a critical evaluation of a last-resort treatment
Authors: van Geen Frank-Jan , Nieuwhof-Leppink Anka , Klijn Aart , de Kort Laetitia , Chrzan Rafal
Published: November 2024

Introduction

We previously presented promising results with a Burch-type colposuspension (BC) in a heterogeneous group of girls with therapy-resistant daytime incontinence (DUI). In view of our clinical observations, we expect that a small group of girls with refractory DUI based on stress-urinary incontinence (SUI) might also benefit from a BC in order to achieve continence.

Objective

To assess the (long-term) effect of BC on refractory DUI in girls with SUI, and to identify predictive factors for success.

Study design

A retrospective chart study including all girls with refractory DUI who underwent an open or laparoscopic BC at our tertiary referral center between 2003-2017 (n=34) was performed. Patients were considered refractory after having failed all non-invasive treatment methods. The main outcome measurement was continence, expressed as the percentage of children with decreased incontinence at post-surgical follow-up without any additional treatment (complete response 4-6 months after surgery). Additionally, a cross-sectional follow-up was carried out, assessing the long-term effect of BC on DUI and patient satisfaction by means of standardized questionnaires.

Results

Complete continence after surgery was achieved in 12% (4/34) and 12% (4/34) showed a decrease in frequency of incontinence episodes. Patients with an abnormal flow pattern more often failed complete continence or improved incontinence. After a mean duration of 8 years, 84% (16/19) still experienced DUI. 68% (13/19) of those patients would opt for the BC again.

Conclusion

Although 84% of children still experienced any degree DUI after a mean duration of 8 years after BC, most patients do not regret the decision of surgical treatment. Given the limited benefit and invasiveness of the procedure, however, we discourage to routinely perform BC in children with refractory DUI and SUI. Our results should be taken into account when discussing expectations and chances of success.
Giant prostatic hyperplasia in a 54-years old patient treated by prostate artery embolization: case report
Authors: Villard Nicolas , Tsoumakidou Georgia , Moldovan Paul C. , Rosset Rémy , Rouvière Olivier , Fassi-Fehri Hakim , Pagnoux Gaële
Published: November 2024

Giant prostatic hyperplasia (GPH) is defined as benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH) of more than 200 ml. It is a challenging condition because transurethral resection is classically indicated for prostate volume less than 80 ml and open adenectomy remains the gold standard therapy for GPH. Herein, we present the case of a 54-years old male with giant prostatic hyperplasia (total prostate volume of 265 ml) causing lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) and recurrent episodes of acute urinary retention. The patient refused the surgical adenomectomy and underwent bilateral prostate arteries embolization (PAE). Post embolization period was uneventful. Total prostate volume decreased progressively and LUTS disappeared. At more than 5 years follow-up the patient remains still asymptomatic, despite the discrete regrowth of the prostate detected on imaging. This case report suggests that PEA may be a good alternative to open surgery for patients with symptomatic GPH.
Sandmining on Our Coasts Leaves no Sand for Sandcastles
Authors: Rangel-Buitrago Nelson , Neal William
Published: November 2024

Beaches and coastal dunes have always been a source of sand for various purposes. People used to take only small amounts of sand for personal needs, like building sandcastles or making a volleyball court, but now sand is being taken for big construction projects, too. However, as the sea level rises and storms get stronger, beaches and dunes are more important than ever for protecting our coasts, and each grain of sand should stay there. Removing large amounts of sand for construction projects is called coastal sand mining, and it damages coastal ecosystems, including beaches, dunes, mangroves, and rivers. We must work together to protect the beautiful places we love to visit along the coasts! You can help by raising awareness about sand mining and sharing the solutions described in this article with others.