bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Comparison of contrast-enhanced mammography and breast magnetic resonance in the evaluation of response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy
Authors: Acar Omer , Ekinci Ferhat , Açar Çağdaş Rıza , Örgüç İhsan Şebnem , Şahbazlar Mustafa , Erdoğan Atike Pınar
Published: March 2024

Objective: Contrast-enhanced mammography (CEM) is a relatively inexpensive and convenient new imaging method obtained by administering enhanced iodinated contrast agent using the dual-energy technique to evaluate tumor neovascularity. CEM provides similar morphological and physiological information to breast magnetic resonance (MRI), the gold standard for detecting breast cancer. We aimed to compare CEM techniques, which have increased in popularity in recent years, with MRI, which has been the gold standard imaging technique to date, using the histopathological evaluation of patients with breast cancer who were operated after receiving neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC).
Material and Method: CEM and breast MRI images of patients who were scheduled for surgery due to locally advanced breast cancer were taken before and after NAC. Responses to treatment and residual tumor sizes of patients operated after NAC were recorded.
Results: CEM estimated the residual tumor size to within 1 cm accuracy in 84.7% of the patients. MRI estimated the residual tumor size to within 1 cm accuracy in 76.4% of the patients. When we used histopathological evaluation as a reference, the Lin’s correlation concordance was higher for CEM than MRI. The sensitivity, NPV and PPV were higher compared to MRI. The superiority of MRI over CEM was its higher specificity rate.
Conclusion: Our findings showed that in patients receiving NAC, CEM was superior to MRI in identifying patients with pathological complete response and was at least as successful as MRI in patients with residual tumor.
QuATON: Quantization Aware Training of Optical Neurons
Authors: Wadduwage Dushan , Kariyawasam Hasindu , Hettiarachchi Ramith , Yang Quansan , Matlock Alex , Nambara Takahiro , Kusaka Hiroyuki , Kunai Yuichiro , So Peter , Boyden Edward
Published: March 2024

Optical processors, built with "optical neurons", can efficiently perform high-dimensional linear operations at the speed of light. Thus they are a promising avenue to accelerate large-scale linear computations. With the current advances in micro-fabrication, such optical processors can now be 3D fabricated, but with a limited precision. This limitation translates to quantization of learnable parameters in optical neurons, and should be handled during the design of the optical processor in order to avoid a model mismatch. Specifically, optical neurons should be trained or designed within the physical-constraints at a predefined quantized precision level. To address this critical issues we propose a physics-informed quantization-aware training framework. Our approach accounts for physical constraints during the training process, leading to robust designs. We demonstrate that our approach can design state of the art optical processors using diffractive networks for multiple physics based tasks despite quantized learnable parameters. We thus lay the foundation upon which improved optical processors may be 3D fabricated in the future.
Mutant p53 Induces Amyloid Aggregation in p63 and p73 Liquid Droplets: Mechanistic Insights into Oncogenic Phase Transitions
Authors: Silva Jerson , Petronilho Elaine , de Andrade Guilherme , de Sousa Gileno , Almeida Fernando , Mota Michelle , Marques Mayra , Vieira Tuane , de Oliveira Guilherme
Published: March 2024

Phase separation (PS) of p53 is critical in its path to amyloid aggregation, a process linked to cancer. P63 and p73 exhibit dual roles as tumor suppressors and oncogenes and are often heightened in tumors. Their coaggregation has been proposed in cancer, yet their PS contribution remains unknown. This study investigates the phase behaviors of p53, p63, and p73. P63 and p73 undergo liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS). Unlike p53, p63 and p73 do not form amyloids under increased temperatures, underscoring an aspect of the processes involved in cancer. Unlike p63 and p73, wild-type and the M237I mutant p53 initially form droplets at 4°C, but at temperatures up to 37°C, they begin to aggregate and bind to Congo red, showing amyloidogenesis. Intriguingly, mutant p53 promotes amyloid-like states in p63 and p73 and hijacks p73 into membrane less organelles. Wild-type p53 has a moderate effect on p63 and p73's amyloid aggregation. Additionally, heparin prevents the prion-like aggregation of p63 and p73 induced by p53. Our results shed light on how mutant and wild-type p53 may trigger amyloid aggregation of p63 and p73, revealing the capacity of p53 amyloid droplets within cancer. These insights expand the possibilities for developing cancer therapies targeting the prion-like conversion of p63 and p73 influenced by mutated p53.
A multicenter analysis of registry data on postoperative orthopedic pain: a retrospective cohort study
Authors: Thiel Bram , Godfried Marc B. , Koopman Seppe J.H.A. , Huijboom Marina , Opschoor Krijna , Aarnoudse Martijn , Poolman Rudolf W. , Verlaan Jorrit Jan , Kitzen Joep , Kalkman Cor J.
Published: March 2024

Background
Postoperative pain has significant implications, including surgical complications, prolonged hospital stays, and increased healthcare costs. The severity of postoperative pain depends predominantly on the surgical procedure, with orthopedic surgeries posing an elevated risk for severe pain. This study aimed to identify orthopedic surgical procedures that induce severe pain in hospitalized patients within the first 72 hours after surgery.
Methods
We retrospectively analysed nurse-recorded pain scores from patients who received inpatient orthopaedic surgery between October 15, 2015, and December 31, 2019, in three different hospitals. Patient and procedure characteristics and the highest numeric rating scale for pain were collected up to 72 hours after surgery. Procedures were coded according to the International Classification of Health Interventions and subsequently ranked based on the highest median numerical rating scale for pain.
Results
A total of 9.918 patients were included in the analysis. The median highest pain score between 3 and 24 hours and between 24 and 48 hours postoperatively was 4 (IQR 3). The median highest pain score between 48 and 72 hours postoperatively was 3 (IQR 2). Open reduction and implantation of the device into the humerus (e.g., plate fixation) ranked highest, with a median NRS for pain of 6 (IQR 3) in the 3- to 48-hour postoperative period and a median NRS of 5 (IQR 3) in the 48- to 72-hour postoperative period. Open procedures of the shoulder joint, open ankle procedures and open fusion of the lumbar spine were among the top ten procedures with the highest median pain scores.
Conclusions
Patients who underwent surgery involving the humerus, shoulder, or lumbar spine had greater pain scores. Further analysis, including the inclusion of analgesic medication data, can contribute to a better understanding of effective interventions for managing postoperative pain for these specific procedures.
Trial registration
The study received formal ethical approval from the ethical committee and the institutional research review board of OLVG Hospital on April 25, 2017, with reference number ACWO-MEC 17u.207/WCHJ/WO 17.051.
Risk Mapping of Groundwater Level in Peatland Area Utilizing a Spatio- Temporal Model with Weight Constructed Based on Minimum Spanning Tree
Authors: Mukhaiyar Utriweni , Mahdiyasa Adilan Widyawan , Suherlan Bagas Caesar , Pasaribu Udjianna Sekteria Pasaribu , Sari Kurnia Novita , Viridi Sparisoma , Indratno Sapto Wahyu , Humam Afif
Published: March 2024

Space-time extrapolation models are usually constrained to a limited number of observed locations and lack the ability to provide information about the values at unobserved locations. However, integrating these models with spatial interpolation techniques, it is possible to obtain more informative visual representations. The Generalized Space-Time Autoregressive (GSTAR) model, as a multivariate space-time extrapolation model, is often used due to its simplicity. Within the framework of the GSTAR model, a crucial component is the spatial weight matrix, which facilitates the establishment of spatial relationships among different locations. This matrix can be constructed by employing graph theory, particularly Minimum Spanning Tree (MST), as an extension of the model. Additionally, spatial interpolation can be achieved through the utilization of kriging methods, by gridding the observed spatial locations. Although the amalgamation of these two models does not exhibit superior performance compared to univariate time series models in risk mapping, particularly in the context of groundwater level observed in peatland areas within Riau Province, Indonesia, the model can provide more robust conclusions.
Adverse fetal outcomes and associated factors among mothers of advanced age at a tertiary hospital, Southwestern Uganda: a cross-sectional study
Authors: Masembe Sezalio , Migisha Richard , Turyasingura Godwin , Aheisibwe Hillary , Lule John Crysistom
Published: March 2024

Background: Pregnancies among mothers of advanced age (≥35 years) are inherently associated with poor fetal outcomes. In this study, we determined the proportion of adverse fetal outcomes and identified associated factors among pregnant mothers of advanced age who delivered at Kabale Regional Referral Hospital (KRRH) in Southwestern Uganda.
Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study at KRRH’s Maternity Ward from March to August 2023. We enrolled post-delivery mothers aged ≥35 years. We collected data on socio-demographic, obstetric, and medical characteristics, as well as fetal outcomes, using interviewer-administered structured questionnaires. We defined an adverse fetal outcome as the occurrence of any of the following complications: early neonatal death, preterm birth, congenital anomalies, macrosomia, low APGAR score, or low birth weight, sustained by the fetus or neonate during pregnancy, delivery, or the immediate post-delivery period before discharge from the hospital. We performed multivariable logistic regression to identify factors associated with adverse fetal outcomes.
Results: We enrolled 417 participants, of whom 206 (49.4%) were aged 35-37 years. The majority (n=273; 65.5%) were multiparous (parity ≥5). Adverse fetal outcomes occurred in 8.4% (n=36; 95% CI: 6.1-11.5%) of participants, with early neonatal death being the most common (3.6%), followed by low birth weight (2.4%), congenital anomalies (2.6%), macrosomia (1.4%), low APGAR score (1.4%), and preterm birth (1.2%). Prolonged labor (adjusted odds ratio [aOR]=3.71, 95% CI: 1.40-9.85) and a history of abortion (aOR=2.56, 95% CI: 1.17-5.60) were significantly associated with adverse fetal outcomes.
Conclusion: Approximately 1 out of every 10 advanced-aged mothers surveyed experienced a poor fetal outcome, with mothers who had prolonged labor or history of abortions having increased odds of the poor fetal outcomes. Close monitoring during pregnancy and neonatal care preparedness among mothers of advanced age especially those with prolonged labour and history of abortion could mitigate risks of adverse fetal outcomes in this study population.
A robot intelligent polishing system for fiber reinforced plastics (FRP) material combined with online measurement
Authors: Yang Ping , Yang Bingya , Wu Runxi
Published: March 2024

Fiber Reinforced Plastics (FRP) are extensively employed in the fabrication of mannequins. However, the manual polishing process of FRP is characterized by a deficiency in efficiency and poses detrimental effects on the workforce. An industrial robot combined with an online measurement method is proposed for polishing the surface of the mannequin arm made of FPR material. In this paper, the factors affecting the removal depth of FRP materials are discussed by establishing a mathematical model. Based on the simulation analysis, the removal depth and the range of machining parameters are derived. The online measuring device manufactured by Keyence model LJ-X8200 is mounted on the flange of an ABB IRB6700 industrial robot, which obtains the 3D digital data from arm surface before and after the polishing process. A sub-regional hand-eye calibration is applied to establish the spatial transformation matrix from the sensor coordinate to the workpiece coordinate to refine the calibration range and accuracy. Then, the processing data points are extracted by equal interval and coplanar method. In addition, the robot processing posture is obtained from the surface fitting curve based on the least square method. Finally, the polishing processing experiments are performed to analyze robot intelligent location recognition and verify the surface removal effect based on the optimum polishing parameters. Comparing the 3D measuring data before and after the polishing process, it is shown that the average value of workpiece surface roughness has been reduced to 2.518µm.
Analysis of the efficacy of multidisciplinary integration based on 3D reconstruction technology for the treatment of gout stone
Authors: Zhou Shizhe , Zhang Zengxiao , Liu Tian , Yang Min , Ma Lidan , Cheng Xiaoyu , Sun Ruixia , Xu Yijun , Ning Chunping , Li Changgui , Pan Yuehai , Chen Ying
Published: March 2024

Objective:
This study investigates the efficacy of multidisciplinary fusion therapy based on 3D reconstruction technology for the treatment of gouty stone by comparing the efficacy of multidisciplinary fusion therapy with pharmacologic therapy.
Methods:
This study is a cohort study.Patients who underwent gout stone surgery at the Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University from November 2020 to November 2022 were included in this study, totaling 85 to form the MDT surgery group, and matched among gout stone patients in the outpatient clinic during the same period to form the medication group. Patients in the 2 groups were followed up for 6 months to compare baseline and follow-up data.
Results:
Both groups experienced a decrease in uric acid levels and an increase in SF-36 scores during follow-up. After adjusting for confounders, multifactorial logistic regression showed that the uric acid attainment rate of patients in the MDT surgery group was 4.011 times higher than that of the drug group (OR: 4.011, 95% CI: 1.595, 10.086, P = 0.003); the proportion of patients with an increase in SF-36 in the MDT surgery group was 4.976 times higher than that of the drug group (OR: 4.976, 95% CI : 2.243, 11.040, P < 0.001); the proportion of patients treated with high-dose medication in the MDT surgery group was 1.8% of that of patients in the drug group (OR: 0.018, 95% CI: 0.002, 0.148, P < 0.001); and the proportion of patients in the MDT surgery group who developed frequent gout was 2.8% of that in the drug group (OR: 0.028 95% CI: 0.003, 0.2398, P = 0.001). the proportion of patients in the MDT surgery group who developed abnormal liver function was 0.317 times higher than that in the drug group (OR: 0.317, 95% CI: 0.121, 0.831, P = 0.019).
Conclusion:
The multidisciplinary integration of 3D reconstructive techniques for gout stone treatment resulted in an increase in uric acid compliance, a decrease in the frequency of gout and the appearance of liver impairment; and a greater benefit in terms of improvement in the quality of life of the patients after treatment.
Advancing Targeted Combination Chemotherapy in Triple Negative Breast Cancer: Nucleolin Aptamer-Mediated Controlled Drug Release
Authors: MA Yuan , Xie Duoli , Shen Xinyang , Wu Xiaoqiu , Pan Yufei , Chen Zefeng , Li Fangfei , Lu Aiping , Zhang Ge
Published: March 2024

Triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) poses a significant challenge due to its aggressive nature and limited treatment options. While scheduled treatment with paclitaxel and fluorouracil has shown efficacy, their uncontrolled distribution remains challenging. To address this issue, we designed a dual chemo-loaded aptamer with redox-sensitive caged paclitaxel for rapid release and non-cleavable caged fluorouracil for slow release. The nucleolin aptamer significantly improved tumor-targeting, enhancing the effectiveness of the conjugated drugs in TNBC cells. Through nucleolin-mediated endocytosis, the drugs achieved scheduled release, resulting in improved antitumor activity and reduced toxicity in vitro and in vivo. These findings offer new possibilities for developing targeted combination chemotherapy in TNBC.
Identification and validation of tumor-specific T cell receptors from tumor infiltrating lymphocytes using tumor organoid co-cultures
Authors: Li Zhilang , Ma Lisha , Gao Zhaoya , Wang Xiya , Che Xuan , Zhang Pengchong , Li Yixian , Zhang Qianjing , Liu Tianxing , Sun Yuan , bai yun , Deng Hong-kui
Published: March 2024

T cell receptor-engineered T cells (TCR-Ts) therapy is promising for cancer immunotherapy. Most studies have focused on identifying tumor-specific T cell receptors (TCRs) through predicted tumor neoantigens. However, current prediction algorithms for tumor neoantigens are not reliable and many tumor neoantigens are derive from non-coding regions. Thus, the technological platform for identifying tumor-specific TCRs using natural antigens expressed on tumor cells is urgently need. In this study, tumor organoids-enriched tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (oeT) were obtained by repeatedly stimulating of autologous patient-derived organoids (PDO) in vitro. The oeT cells specifically responded to autologous tumor PDO by detecting CD137 expression and the secretion of IFN-γ using enzyme-linked immunospot (ELISPOT) assay. The measurement of oeT cell-mediated killing of three-dimensional organoids was conducted using a caspase3/7 flow cytometry assay kit. Subsequently, tumor-specific T cells were isolated based on CD137 expression and their TCRs were identified through single-cell RT-PCR analysis. The specificity cytotoxic of TCRs were confirmed by transferring to primary peripheral blood T cells. The co-culture system proved highly effective in generating CD8 + tumor-specific oeT cells. These oeT cells effectively induced IFN-γ secretion and exhibited specificity in killing autologous tumor organoids, while not eliciting a cytotoxic response against normal organoids. The analysis conducted by TCRs revealed a significant expansion of T cells within a specific subset of TCRs. Subsequently, the TCRs were cloned and transferred to peripheral blood T cells generation engineered TCR-Ts, which adequately recognized and killed tumor cell in a patient-specific manner. The co-culture system provided an approach to generate tumor-specific TCRs from tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) of patients with colorectal cancer (CRC), and tumor-specific TCRs can potentially be used for personalized TCR-Ts therapy.
Causal relationship between immune cells and Osteonecrosis: a bidirectional Mendelian randomization study
Authors: meng Chen , Qi Baochuang , Luo Huan , Tang Zhifang , Ren Junxiao , Shi Hongxin , Li Chuan , Xu Yongqing
Published: March 2024

Objectives
Research indicates a close association between aberrant immune reactions in osteonecrotic tissues and immune cell infiltration, yet the causal relationship between them remains elusive. We aim to determine whether a causality exists between immune cell infiltration and osteonecrosis.
Methods
A comprehensive Mendelian Randomization (MR) analysis was conducted to determine the causal relationship between immune cell characteristics and osteonecrosis in this study. Utilizing publicly available genetic data, we explored the causal relationships between 731 immune cell features and 604 cases from the FinnGen Finnish database, as well as 257 cases from the UK Biobank database with osteonecrosis data. The inverse-variance weighted (IVW) method was used for the primary analysis, and we employed sensitivity analyses to assess the robustness of the main results. Additionally, meta-analysis was performed on significantly associated immune cells with osteonecrosis outcomes (False Discovery Rate FDR < 0.05).
Results
By leveraging bidirectional MR, we revealed that 11 cell types exhibited a significantly associated (FDR < 0.05) association with the potential to either increase or decrease the risk of osteonecrosis. The occurrence and progression of osteonecrosis were found to have a significant causal relationship with the increase or decrease in six immune cell types (FDR < 0.05). Meta-analysis was conducted on the differential results between the FinnGen and UK Biobank datasets. Ultimately, CD20-% lymphocytes, CD62L- monocyte % monocytes, CD33br HLA DR + CD14- % CD33br HLA DR+, EM CD4 + activated cells and DP (CD4 + CD8+) % T cells were identified to increase or decrease the odds of osteonecrosis. Notably, osteonecrosis was associated with a potential decrease in CD45 on immature MDSC cell content.
Conclusion
From a genetic perspective, we demonstrated a close association between immune cells and osteonecrosis. These findings significantly enhance our understanding of the interplay between immune cell infiltration and the risk of osteonecrosis, contributing to the potential design of therapeutic strategies from an immunological standpoint.
Global Existence for an Isotropic Landau Model
Authors: Bowman David , Ji Sehyun
Published: March 2024

Following the recent ideas of Guillen and Silvestre, we prove that the Fisher information is non-increasing along the flow of the isotropic Landau equation. We then use this fact to deduce global existence for the equation ∂tf = (−∆)−1f · ∆f + f2 under a relatively lax set of conditions on the initial data. In particular, we remove the restrictive radially decreasing assumption of previous works.
Perception of patients’ rights in clinical services among clients attending the outpatient department at the Mawenzi Regional Referral Hospital, Tanzania
Authors: Ernest Bahat , Ochieng Joseph , Kwagala Betty
Published: March 2024

Background: Ethical principles and patients’ rights should guide all encounters with patients. Failure to observe ethical guidelines can lead to patient dissatisfaction and medical malpractice, and without an appropriate understanding of the patient’s rights, the healthcare team may at times be prone to various tendencies, such as failure to respect patient autonomy, such as acting in a paternalist manner or making clinical decisions on behalf of the patient or family. Another way to do so can occur, including in cases in which not all options, risks, or side effects may be appropriately disclosed. This study explored the perceptions of patients’ rights to clinical services among clients attending the outpatient department at the Mawenzi Regional Referral Hospital.
Methods: This was an exploratory, cross-sectional study design that employed qualitative methods for data collection. The study was carried out among 34 clients attending the outpatient department at Mawenzi Regional Referral Hospital in the Kilimanjaro region of Tanzania: the medical unit, the Care and Treatment Clinic (CTC) unit, the gynaecology unit, and the TB and leprosy unit. In-depth interviews were conducted with 20 participants, while 14 participants participated in group discussions. The data were analysed via inductive thematic analysis, which allowed the data to identify and determine the themes in this study, which were then presented in the form of extracts or quotes. Nvivo 12 software was used to support the data analysis.
Results: The majority of the participants perceived that patients' rights were well implemented in health facilities and that they were satisfied with them. The minority stated that they are not satisfied with patients' rights because of various challenges that cause their rights to be poorly implemented. The main reasons for the poor implementation and dissatisfaction suggested were corruption in health facilities, the beating of patients, wastage of time while in health care facilities, poor communication with some health care providers, a shortage of medical equipment and healthcare providers, gaps in existing regulations, and follow-up.
Conclusion: To enhance satisfaction with patients' rights, there is a need for more sensitization of patients' rights through the client's service charter for health facilities and a relevant health policy to guide the implementation of patients' rights.
Exploring Gravitational Potential and Velocity Profiles through Hypergeometric and Bessel Functions
Authors: Qadri Durakhshan Ashraf , Hameeda Mir , Gani Qudsia , Rocca M. C.
Published: March 2024

This paper explores the behavior of gravitational potential in the form of Bessel functions and Hypergeo-metric functions[1, 2, 3]. Building upon our earlier research[4, 5] on gravitational potential characterized by Bessel functions[6], we now investigate the gravitational potential as a hypergeometric function. Through various examples and formulations, including Newton’s gravity and Tohline’s gravity[7], we present various forms of gravitational potential and velocity profiles as hypergeometric functions. Additionally, we discuss the combination of the homogeneous hypergeometric solution with the homogeneous Bessel solution, along with Newton’s gravity and Tohline’s gravity. Finally, we present an oscillatory model incorporating both the hypergeometric function and the Bessel function, combined with the Newton potential or the Tohline potential to observe the quantized behavior of speed. To further lend credence to this study and previous work, the authors have proposed a possible interpretation of neutrino oscillations while using the same functional form of gravitational potential as obtained in this paper. Neutrinos have a feeble mass and interact via gravity. These flip their flavour during the course of their flight which is called as neutrino oscillation. So far neutrino oscillation has been described as quantum mechanical phenomenon which arises since the mass eigenstates of neutrinos are not identical with their flavour eigenstates. However, an alternate classical description may be that neutrinos oscillate due to oscillatory nature of gravitational potential.
Transmural healing is not associated with less disability than complete endoscopic mucosal healing: a prospective study in a patient with Crohn's disease
Authors: Yzet Clara , Brazier Franck , Hautefeuille Vincent , Grados Lucien , Richard Nicolas , Decrombecque Catherine , Diouf Momar , Fumery Mathurin
Published: March 2024

Introduction:
Crohn's disease (CD) is associated with disability by affecting physical and emotional well-being, and by altering social interactions. The impact of transmural healing on disability is currently unknown.
Methods
We conducted a monocentric cross-sectional study. Patients followed for CD in endoscopic remission (CDEIS < 4) underwent within < 4 weeks an intestinal ultrasound (IUS) and a disability assessment by an IBD-disk and were consecutively included. Four groups were considered: (A) transmural healing defined by the combination of complete endoscopic healing (CDEIS = 0) and ultrasound healing (bowel wall thickness (BWT) less than 3 mm), (B) complete endoscopic healing, (C) ultrasound healing and (D) Partial healing. Moderate to severe disability was defined as an overall score ≥ 40.
Results
A total of 85 patients were included. Forty-four (51.7%) were female, the median age and disease duration were 38 years ([IQR], 33–44) and 12.0 years (IQR, 5–20). The median global IBD-Disk score was 25 (IQR, 9–41) and 24 patients (28.2%) had moderate to severe disability. Transmural healing (group A) was observed in 40 patients (47.1%). Moderate to severe disability was identified in 17.5% (7/40) of patients with transmural healing, 25% (4/16) with endoscopic healing, 44.4% (8/18) with ultrasound healing and 45.4% (5/11) without healing. There was no difference in terms of severe disability between patients with transmural healing and complete endoscopic healing (group B versus A OR = 1.5 95% CI [0.3, 6.2], p = 0.525)
Conclusions
Transmural healing did not provide any benefit in terms of disability compared to complete endoscopic healing.
Multi-player quantum data hiding by nonlocal quantum state ensembles
Authors: Kim Jeong San , Ha Donghoon
Published: March 2024

We provide multi-player quantum data hiding based on nonlocal quantum state ensembles arising from multi-party quantum state discrimination.
Using bounds on local minimum-error discrimination of multi-party quantum states, we construct a multi-player quantum data-hiding scheme.
Our data-hiding scheme can be used to hide multiple bits, asymptotically, unless all the players collaborate.
We also illustrate our results by examples of nonlocal quantum state ensembles.
An Approximation algorithm for the combination of G-variational inequality and fixed point problems
Authors: Kheawborisut Araya , Kangtunyakarn Atid
Published: March 2024

In this paper, we introduce a new problem is called the combination of G-variational inequality problem in a Hilbert space endowed with graphs and an iterative scheme to find a common element of the set of fixed points of a G-nonexpansive mapping and the solution set of the proposed problem. Under suitable assumptions, a strong convergence theorem has been proved in the framework of a Hilbert space endowed with graphs. Applying our main result, we solve the G-minimization problem. We also give examples to support our main results. Mathematics Subject Classification (2010). 47H09, 47H10, 90C99. Keywords. the combination of G-variational inequality problems, fixed point problem, G-inverse strongly monotone mapping.
Mathematics Subject Classification (2010). 47H09, 47H10, 90C99.
Optical Properties of Eu 3+ doped CaSiO 3 Phosphors
Authors: Rao Ch. Atchyutha , Murthy K. V.R.
Published: March 2024

Optical properties of Eu3+ doped CaSiO3 Phosphor were synthesized using the conventional Solid-State Reaction (SSR) technique. The morphology, size, and shape of the synthesized Nano phosphorous powder were investigated using photoluminescence (PL), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and CIE colour coordinates (1931-Chart) analysis. XRD profiles of samples sintered over 1200◦C, suggested phase shift from amorphous powder grain to more ordered polycrystalline powder of triclinic type CaSiO3 phosphor, with preferred crystal phase orientation of (112) and tetragonal type cristobalites of SiO2. The grain size, crystallinity, and chemical composition of the host matrix, activator and sensitizer strongly affected both the absorption and emission bands of these samples. The amplitude of both the orange and red emission bands significantly increased with sintering temperature. The emission band is red-shifted with decreasing grain sizes.
Evaluation of Cancer Stem Cells in Patient-derived Xenografts of Retinoblastoma in a Chick Embryo-Chorioallontoic Membrane Model
Authors: VL Narayana Revu , Mishra Dilip K , Jakati Saumya , Kaliki Swathi , Vemuganti Geeta K
Published: March 2024

Background: Cancer stem cells (CSCs) in most tumors, including retinoblastoma (Rb), are associated with tumor initiation, metastasis, and drug resistance. Our previous studies identified Rb CSCs as CD44+/CD133- by flowcytometry using size and phenotype. In this study, we further evaluated two prime characteristics of CSCs, i.e., chemoresistance and tumor-initiating properties using Chick embryo-Chorioallantoic Membrane (CE-CAM) model.
Methods: After IRB approval was obtained, fresh Rb tumors (n=15) were collected and sorted using antibodies against CD44, followed by CD133. Drug resistance and gene expression were evaluated using the MTT assay and qPCR. Tumor-initiation and metastatic ability were assessed using the CE-CAM assay by transplanting one million cells into a day-7 chick embryo and were evaluated by gross, confocal microscopy, IVIS spectral imaging, alu-qPCR, and histology.
Results: The percentage of CSCs in Rb tumors ranged from 4.8 to 28.4%, exhibiting greater drug resistance and enhanced expression of genes related to CSCs, stemness, drug resistance, EMT and invasion, and metastasis-specific genes than tumor non-CSCs (P<0.0001). The CSCs transplanted cells formed white-colored glistening tumor nodules on the CAM and significantly higher localization of fluorescence signals than non-CSCs (p<0.0001). IVIS imaging revealed positive signals in the brain, which confirmed malignant round cells on histopathology and were quantitatively measured by alu-qPCR.
Conclusion: Rb CSCs (CD44+/CD133-) are endowed with inherent drug resistance and tumor initiation potential, as demonstrated by their enhanced capacity to form tumor xenografts in the CE-CAM model with evidence of metastasis. The CE-CAM is a valuable, cost-effective pre-clinical model that evaluates the pathogenesis of tumor progression and targets therapies.
Regularized NCA based Prominent Feature Selection for Load Identification Using Boosted Tree Classifier
Authors: Muqeet Hafiz Abdul , Liaqat Rehan , Hussain Asif , Sajjad Intisar Ali , Ahmad Hussaan , Mehmood Asad
Published: March 2024

Accurate and efficient energy management in residential and commercial buildings can be achieved by providing real-time monitoring of appliances and providing detailed insight to consumers about their consumption behaviors. These insights identify energy wastage and support demand-side management. Non-intrusive load monitoring provides disaggregated energy information of target appliances by observing the feature variations in aggregate demand. Nowadays, most residential appliances are non-linear and draw non-sinusoidal currents, therefore employing fundamental active and reactive power as input features results in degraded performance of load identification algorithms. To deal with this drawback, this research proposes an improved load identification method which incorporates the fundamental and harmonic characteristics of current and voltage besides the active power and reactive power features. In this work, 21 features computed by IEEE standard 1459, harmonic energy distribution, wavelet transformation, spectral flatness measures, etc. are analyzed for appliance recognition. To select the prominent features, regularized neighborhood component analysis (NCA) is applied. The selected features are then applied to boosted tree classifier (BTC). The proposed load identification approach is validated using high-frequency start-up events of appliances from WHITED and COOLL datasets. Results obtained by the proposed technique surpass various recent techniques in classifying various appliance activations.
Hispanic Ethnicity and Steatohepatitis are associated with increased risk of peptic ulcer disease in the cystic fibrosis population: a national database study
Authors: Mahmoud Maya , Nwankwo Eugene , Zhang Zidong , Matiwala Neel , Tripathi Rohan , Mohamed Islam , Barrios Christopher , Syn Wing-Kin , Hachem Christine
Published: March 2024

Background
Although cystic fibrosis (CF) is widely considered a lung disease, the prevalence of CF-specific gastrointestinal symptoms and diseases has continued to rise. Peptic ulcer disease (PUD) has not been well-studied among people with CF (PwCF) and may be a common cause of abdominal symptoms. In PwCF, impaired bicarbonate secretion and unbuffered gastric acid production have been attributed to the development of ulcers, although ulcers remain uncommon. The objective of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of PUD in PwCF and assess for possible contributing factors.
Methods
This study utilized the National Inpatient Sample (NIS) database. All patients 18 years or older with CF were identified from 2014 to 2019. Relevant patient characteristics and procedures were identified using ICD-9 and ICD-10 codes. Linear trend, bivariate analyses, and multiple regression analysis were performed. The outcomes of interest were peptic ulcer disease, pancreatic insufficiency, and nonalcoholic steatohepatitis or NASH. All analyses accounted for complex sampling scheme of the NIS.
Results
The total prevalence of PwCF in the National Inpatient Sample (NIS) database was 0.08%, and the number was stable year to year from 2014 to 2019. Hispanic patients were more likely to be diagnosed with PUD than other white (aOR 1.802 [1.311,2.476]). Multiple regression analysis indicated that PUD in PwCF was strongly associated with a diagnosis of NASH (aOR 2.421[1.197, 4.898]). PUD patients were less likely to have pancreatic insufficiency compared to the non-PUD group (aOR 0.583 [0.455, 0.745]). All outcomes were adjusted for the use of proton pump inhibitors, H2 blockers, and NSAIDs.
Conclusion
Although cystic fibrosis has been historically known as a disease of childhood, advancements in therapy have led to prolonged life expectancy and higher prevalence for cystic fibrosis-related digestive diseases. This study revealed a low prevalence of PUD in PwCF. Hispanics and those with NASH are more likely to develop peptic ulcers. To validate these findings, additional multi-center prospective studies are warranted.
The Innovation of the Production System in the Italian Regions
Authors: Leogrande Angelo
Published: March 2024

In this article I analysed the trend of innovation in the production system in the Italian regions using ISTAT-BES data. After presenting a static analysis and innovation trends of the production system, I present a clustering with a k-Means algorithm optimized with the Silhouette coefficient. Subsequently, an econometric analysis is presented for estimating the determinants of innovation in production systems. Finally, the results are critically discussed with economic policy recommendations.
JEL CODE: O3, O31, O32, O33, O34
How best to diagnose in-home mould exposure: The validity and accuracy of self-reported measures
Authors: Li Ang , Toll Mathew , Candido Christhina , Bentley Rebecca
Published: March 2024

Mould growth is indicative of unhealthy indoor environments and, with a warming climate, increasingly poses a health risk. Understanding the prevalence and scope of the exposure largely relies on resident self-diagnosis; yet there is little guidance on how to optimise self-reported measures of mould in homes to achieve more accurate diagnosis of exposure. We compared the predictive performance of a range of self-reported measures that varied by their vernacular, framing, reference period, and severity of mould to be identified, against measures of mould taken from dust samples in 100 homes and analyzed using the quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) tests. Kappa and areas under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) statistics were used to test the validity and accuracy of self-diagnosis of domestic mould. We find moderate agreement between self-reported and lab tested mould measures. Occupants tended to overestimate the presence of mould when asked about visible mould and suspicion of mould and to underestimate the presence of mould when asked about mould size, odour, dampness, and water damage. Identification of visible mould had the highest sensitivity while identification of mould larger than an A4 sheet of paper had the highest specificity. Combining self-reported visible mould and mould size achieved the best accuracy. When using self-rated mould severity (no, mild, moderate, or severe mould), grouping mild, moderate, and severe mould best detected actual mould presence. Prediction accuracy also varies by occupant sociodemographic and residential factors, with older age, lower household income, and major plumbing problems associated with better accuracy of self-diagnosed mould.
Knowledge Workers across the Italian Regions
Authors: Leogrande Angelo
Published: March 2024

In the following article I take into consideration the role of knowledge workers in the Italian regions. The analysed data refers to the ISTAT-BES database. The metric analysis consists of an in-depth analysis of the trends of the regions and macro-regions, followed by clustering with the k-Means algorithm, the application of machine learning algorithms for prediction, and the presentation of an econometric model with panel methods date. The results are also critically discussed in light of the North-South divide and the economic policy implications.
JEL CODE: O3, O31, O32, O33, O34
Researching Affect Multilingually: Body Mapping as Method
Authors: Heinrichs Danielle H. , Hameed Suraiya , Parada Carla Tapia
Published: March 2024

Language and linguistic research takes a keen interest in the emotional and affective factors that influence language learning. Traditionally, affect and emotion in language and linguistic research has drawn on surveys and questionnaires in attempts to measure, quantify and list pre-determined affects and emotions, often with great overlap between the two concepts. As a result, affect and emotion in language and linguistic research have been psychologized and organized into opposing categories (e.g. positive and negative). More recently, there has been growing interest in the complex ways in which affect, and emotion defy the these opposing categories and pre-determined lists and the embodied nature of emotion and affect. However, this has been difficult to explore with prior methods. In this paper, we explore the potential of body mapping: a method of tracing the outline of one’s body and decorating it (with words/images/painting etc.) emotions and affects related to speaking languages. This acts as an alternative and extension to a well-established method in language and linguistic research: language portraits. Language portraits focus on locating languages on the body, by inviting participants to engage with the senses they relate to speaking languages and map these sensations on the body using their full linguistic repertoire, or all their languages. It also builds on the body mapping method which originally began in health research by explicitly focusing on the role of language in sparking affects and emotion. This case study shares examples from students learning Spanish in Australia and the affects they sense when speaking Spanish and offer examples of students speaking Chinese in the Singapore context. Challenges included troubles with translating particular terms for which we offer suggestions pertaining to the inclusion of multilingual strategies in research.
Chromosome-level genome assembly of yellow lupin (Lupinus luteus) provides novel insights into genome evolution, crop adaptation and seed protein in the three most cultivated lupins
Authors: Martinez-Hernandez J. Eduardo , Salvo-Garrido Haroldo , Levicoy Daniela , Caligari Peter D. S. , Rupayán Annally , Moyano Tomas , Carrasco Makarena , Hernandez Sebastián , Armijo-Godoy Grace , Westermeyer Fernando , Larama Giovanni
Published: March 2024

Lupinus luteus is a grain legume crop of agricultural importance due to its high seed protein content. In this study, the first chromosome-scale genome assembly of L. luteus (962.97 Mb) is presented, integrating data from Illumina, PacBio, and Hi-C platforms. The assembly exhibits exceptional completeness (98.9% BUSCO score) and a high repetition rate (76.15%). Genomic annotation identifies 36,884 protein-coding genes, including 2,492 transcription factors and 23 microRNA families. Synteny analysis with lupin species reveals important chromosomal rearrangements, indicating complex interactions between conserved regions and structural variations. Our analyses suggest that chromosome 8 may have originated from a translocation event involving two chromosomes during the speciation of L. luteus. Orthologous group characterization between L. luteus and related species indicates an enrichment in gene families associated with biotic and abiotic stress responses, secondary metabolism, and nutrient reservoir activity. Moreover, 911 resistance (R) genes are identified, highlighting their importance in pathogen defence. Exploration of alkaloid biosynthesis and regulation reveals 16 genes associated with quinolizidine alkaloids (QAs) with expression analysis revealing tissue-specific expression patterns for key enzymes in QA biosynthesis. Furthermore, secondary metabolite transporters are explored, including a Lupinus angustifolius PUP1 ortholog, providing insights into QA translocation mechanisms. This comprehensive genome analysis provides valuable resources for further understanding the genetic basis of important traits in Lupinus luteus, facilitating advancements in crop adaptation, improvement, and sustainability.
Interplanted Small Grain Management in Cucumbers
Authors: Zandstra Bernard H. , Chase William R.
Published: March 2024

Small grains are interseeded with several vegetable crops in Michigan to protect them from wind and water erosion. When the vegetable crop is well-established, the small grain is killed with a graminicide. Research was conducted to determine the optimum combination of small grain species, age of kill, and nitrogen application rate for acceptable pickling cucumber yield in a single harvest. In several experiments, barley, oats, rye, and wheat were seeded at 130 seeds/m2 in the field. Cucumbers were seeded 1 week later. The cover crops were treated with sethoxydim at 0.21 or 0.31 kg·ha–1 plus 1.25% COC when they were 7 to 10 or 13 to 16 cm tall. Small grain size at application had no effect on their kill with sethoxydim or on cucumber yields. Barley and rye were the most vigorous small grains up to 3 weeks after seeding, but oats were similar in size by 4 weeks. Wheat was slower to develop, and more difficult to kill with sethoxydim. The optimum nitrogen treatment was 34 kg·ha–1 before planting the cover crop, followed by 45 kg·ha–1 at the two- to three-leaf stage of cucumber.
Nitrogen Partitioning in the Hazelnut Tree
Authors: Olsen Jeff , Righetti Timothy , Sanchez Enrique
Published: March 2024

Isotopically labeled 15N was applied to `Barcelona' hazelnut trees planted in 1982. The trees were given the following treatments: 120 g N applied to the ground in spring (SG), 120 g N applied to the ground after harvest (PHG), 40 g N applied foliarly after harvest (PHF). The percent of nitrogen from the labeled fertilizer was measured in all of the tree tissues. The uptake of 15N in the leaves was measured monthly for two seasons. The utilization of stored nitrogen reserves was quantified for each treatment. There was a 28% rate of recovery for the applied N. The hazelnut tree showed a strong reliance on stored N reserves in all of the tissues. The fruiting structures were a strong sink for N in the year of application, and for reserve N. Dry matter (DM) partitioning showed that the nuts accounted for 9.1% of the total DW of 11-year-old trees. The SG showed 10.63% of N from 15N in the buds, and 7.40% in the nuts. The PHG treatment was absorbed into the tree, and used the next season in amounts similar to the SG treatments. The PHF was absorbed and used in smaller amounts consistent with the reduced amount of N applied to the foliage.