bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Compilation of Apatite Fission-Track Data from the Northeast Atlantic Realm: A Jigsaw Puzzle with Missing Pieces
Authors: Jess Scott , Gröger Heike , Hendriks Bart , Peace Alexander , Schiffer Christian
Published: June 2024

The northeast (NE) Atlantic is one of the best-studied geological regions in the world, incorporating a wide array of geological phenomena including extensional tectonism, passive margin development, orogenesis, and breakup-related volcanism. Apatite fission-track (AFT) thermochronology has been an important tool in studying the onshore evolution of the NE Atlantic for several decades. Unfortunately, large regional-scale studies are rare, making it difficult to study geological processes across the whole region. In this work, a compilation of published AFT data is presented from across Fennoscandia, the British Isles, East Greenland, and Svalbard, with the goal of providing an accessible overview of the data and how this vast body of work has improved our understanding of the region’s evolution. Alongside a review of previous literature, interpolated maps of fission track age and mean track length (MTL) highlight regional trends in the data that may result from major first-order processes and areas of low sample density that should be targeted for future study. Additionally, in the absence of metadata required for thermal history modeling, apparent exhumation rate estimates are calculated from available elevation profiles and the timing of major exhumation events inferred from “boomerang plots” of fission track ages against MTL values. Across Fennoscandia, data suggests that the opening of the NE Atlantic and exhumation of the margin have clearly played a major role in the thermal history of the upper crust. The remaining areas of Britain, Ireland, East Greenland, and Svalbard all present more complex trends consistent with a combination of the NE Atlantic’s opening and the interplay between specific bedrock geology of sampling sites and localized geological processes. Areas of low sample density include southern Britain, NE Britain, southeast Greenland, southern Svalbard, and Eastern Fennoscandia, each of which provides the natural laboratory required to answer many unresolved questions.
Primary Heat Network Temperature Control of Two-degree-of-freedom PID based on PSO Algorithm
Authors: He Lixin , Shi Boyang , Fan Yifei , Zhang Zheng
Published: June 2024

Central heating system is a nolinear system with the features of thermal inertia and hysteretic nature, etc. In order to solve the temperature control problem of heat network uniform heating, this paper designs a flow controller using two-degree-of-freedom PID (Proportional-Integral-Derivative) control algorithm, which can adjust the two parameters of external disturbance inhibition property and target tracking feature independently and respectively to the best simultaneously so that the effects of thermal inertia, hysteretic nature and external disturbance on the system are reduced. Pipeline heat media flow is controlled by two-degree-of-freedom PID through the control of valve opening to change the heating capacity. All PID control parameters of the controller were set through particle swarm optimization. Several groups of simulation experiments were conducted by the designed two-degree-of-freedom PID controller and the traditional PID controller. According to the experimental results, compared with traditional PID controllers, two-degree-of-freedom PID controller has better control effect with faster response, shorter adjustment time, better robustness and stronger inhibition of disturbance.
From Microscope to AI: Developing an Integrated Diagnostic System with Real-Time Object Detection for Endometrial Cytology
Authors: Terasaki Mika , Tanaka Shun , Shimokawa Ichito , Toda Etsuko , Takakuma Shoichiro , Tabata Ryo , Sakae Kensuke , Kajimoto Yusuke , Kunugi Shinobu , Shimizu Akira , Terasaki Yasuhiro
Published: June 2024

Endometrial cancer is one of the most common gynecological malignancies, with endometrial cytology playing a crucial role in early detection and diagnosis. The diagnosis is complicated and time-consuming due to hormone-induced morphological changes in cells and the thickness of cell clusters. Although most currently reported AI support systems for cytology are designed for use with digital images from whole-slide imaging (WSI), the digitalization of endometrial cytological slides is challenging due to focusing issues caused by the thickness of cell clusters. Despite the high demand for artificial intelligence (AI)-supported diagnostic systems, studies of endometrial cytodiagnostic support AI systems have been delayed. This study introduces a real-time abnormal cell cluster detection system utilizing You Only Look Once version 5x (YOLOv5x) under a microscope to bypass the use of WSI. We collected 146 preoperative endometrial cytology cases at Nippon Medical School between 2017 and 2023, confirmed by hysterectomy specimens. YOLOv5x was trained using 3,151 images captured with a simple smartphone setup from the cytology slides of 96 cases. For real-time object detection, images were captured using a charge-coupled device (CCD) camera attached to a microscope and fed directly into YOLOv5x. For real-time model evaluation, we adjusted the threshold settings for the cell-cluster and slide levels using 30 new cases. In the final assessment, the AI model's diagnostic performance was compared with that of human evaluators, including pathologists and medical students with varying levels of experience, across 20 new cases. The AI model surpassed human evaluators, achieving an accuracy of 85%, a precision of 82%, and a recall of 90%. Moreover, AI-assisted diagnosis substantially reduced the time taken by human evaluators by 37% and notably enhanced diagnostic metrics, particularly among pathologists and medical students accustomed to using the AI system. Overall, our findings demonstrate that real-time detection with an AI-supported system substantially enhances early cancer detection, integrates smoothly into existing workflows, and is invaluable in resource-constrained settings without the need for expensive specialized devices.
High Discrimination Ratio, Broadband Circularly Polarized Light Photodetector Using Dielectric Achiral Nanostructures
Authors: Lu Guowei , Zhang Guanyu , Lyu Xiaying , Qin Yulu , Li Yaolong , Fan Zipu , Meng Xianghan , Cheng Yuqing , Cao Zini , Xu Yixuan , Sun Dong , Gao Yunan , Gong Qihuang
Published: June 2024

The on-chip measurement of polarization states plays an increasingly crucial role in modern sensing and imaging applications. While high-performance monolithic linearly polarized photodetectors have been extensively studied, integrated circularly polarized light (CPL) photodetectors are still hindered by inadequate discrimination capability. In this study, we employ achiral all-dielectric nanostructures to develop a broadband CPL photodetector with an impressive discrimination ratio of ~107 at the wavelength of 405 nm, significantly surpassing its counterparts by two orders of magnitude. Our device shows outstanding CPL discrimination capability across the visible band without requiring intensity calibration. Its function mechanism is based on the CPL-dependent near-field modes within achiral structures: under left or right CPL illumination, distinct near-field modes are excited, resulting in asymmetric irradiation of the two electrodes and generating a photovoltage with directions determined by the chirality of the incident light field. The proposed design strategy facilitates the realization of ultra-compact CPL detection across diverse materials, structures, and spectral ranges, presenting a novel avenue for achieving high-performance monolithic CPL detection.
Receptor and metabolic insights on the ability of caffeine to prevent alcohol-induced stimulation of mesolimbic dopamine transmission
Authors: Maccioni Riccardo , Bassareo Valentina , Talani Giuseppe , Zuffa Simone , Abiead Yasin El , Lorrai Irene , Kawamura Tomoya , Pantis Sofia , Puliga Roberta , Vargiu Romina , Lecca Daniele , Enrico Paolo , Peana Alessandra , Dazzi Laura , Dorrestein Pieter C. , Sanna Pietro Paolo , Sanna Enrico , Acquas Elio
Published: June 2024

The consumption of alcohol and caffeine affects the lives of billions of individuals worldwide. Although recent evidence indicates that caffeine impairs the reinforcing properties of alcohol, a characterization of its effects on alcohol-stimulated mesolimbic dopamine (DA) function was lacking. Acting as the pro-drug of salsolinol, alcohol excites DA neurons in the posterior ventral tegmental area (pVTA) and increases DA release in the nucleus accumbens shell (AcbSh). Here we show that caffeine, via antagonistic activity on A2A adenosine receptors (A2AR), prevents alcohol-dependent activation of mesolimbic DA function as assessed, in-vivo, by brain microdialysis of AcbSh DA and, in-vitro, by electrophysiological recordings of pVTA DA neuronal firing. Accordingly, while the A1R antagonist DPCPX fails to prevent the effects of alcohol on DA function, both caffeine and the A2AR antagonist SCH 58261 prevent alcohol-dependent pVTA generation of salsolinol and increase in AcbSh DA in-vivo, as well as alcohol-dependent excitation of pVTA DA neurons in-vitro. However, caffeine also prevents direct salsolinol- and morphine-stimulated DA function, suggesting that it can exert these inhibitory effects also independently from affecting alcohol-induced salsolinol formation or bioavailability. Finally, untargeted metabolomics of the pVTA showcases that caffeine antagonizes alcohol-mediated effects on molecules (e.g. phosphatidylcholines, fatty amides, carnitines) involved in lipid signaling and energy metabolism, which could represent an additional salsolinol-independent mechanism of caffeine in impairing alcohol-mediated stimulation of mesolimbic DA transmission. In conclusion, the outcomes of this study strengthen the potential of caffeine, as well as of A2AR antagonists, for future development of preventive/therapeutic strategies for alcohol use disorder.
Spontaneous reversal of spin chirality and competing phases in the topological magnet EuAl4
Authors: Vibhakar Anuradha , Khalyavin Dmitry , Orlandi Fabio , Moya Jaime , Lei Shiming , Morosan Emilia , Bombardi Alessandro
Published: June 2024

Materials exhibiting a spontaneous reversal of spin chirality have the potential to drive the widespread adoption of chiral magnets in spintronic devices. Unlike the majority of chiral magnets that require the application of an external field to reverse the spin chirality, we observed the spin chirality to spontaneously reverse in the topological magnet EuAl4. Using resonant magnetic x-ray scattering we demonstrate that all four magnetic phases in EuAl4 are single-k, where the first two magnetic phases are characterized by spin density wave order and the last two by helical spin order. We show a single spin chirality was stabilised across the 1mm2 sample, and that the reversal of spin chirality occurred whilst maintaining a helical magnetic structure. At the onset of the helical magnetic order, the crystal symmetry lowers to a chiral monoclinic space group, explaining the asymmetry in the chiral spin order, and establishing a mechanism by which the spin chirality could reverse via magnetostructural coupling.
Understanding the determinants of medical crowdfunding performance: A signaling theory perspective
Authors: Huang Xiaorui , Sun Wei , Zhang Ying , Zhang Qilin
Published: June 2024

Medical crowdfunding has emerged as a novel means of accessing financial resources, particularly in regions with disparities in healthcare access such as China. Despite the establishment of comprehensive medical security systems, many patients still face significant financial burdens. This study aims to identify the determinants of medical crowdfunding success for charitable causes, utilizing signaling theory. Analyzing data from the Sina Micro-charities platform on Sina Weibo, external and internal signals' impact on crowdfunding performance was assessed. Results indicate that both external signals (registration levels, awards) and internal factors (updates, pictures, title length) significantly influence crowdfunding success. This empirical study contributes to understanding medical crowdfunding performance and extends the application of signaling theory in this context, offering practical insights for fundraisers and platforms.
Loxoscelism (Loxosceles reclusa) Envenomation Causing Acute Hemolytic Anemia: Case Report
Authors: Laxton Steven , Whetstone David
Published: June 2024

This case report has the main objective of providing education surrounding the presentation, evaluation, diagnosis, and treatment of Loxosceles reclusa envenomation and presenting a case of loxoscelism that occurred in an adult that subsequently presented to the emergency department. A secondary objective of this case report is to add to the library of images bite wound associated with loxoscelism that resulted in inpatient admission and treatment for acute hemolytic anemia.
Early Noninvasive Tracking of Response to Targeted Therapy in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer
Authors: Husain Hatim , Lu Kevin , Woodward Brian , Singhrao Ruby , Javey Manana , Adams Hans-Peter , Schlecht Ulrich , Du Zhipei Gracie , Morgenstern David
Published: June 2024

There has been a longstanding need to develop improved methods for the rapid detection of response to anti-cancer therapies. Circulating tumor DNA based liquid biopsies allow for longitudinal monitoring of response to treatment. In this report, we analyzed plasma samples of 25 patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer and observed that molecular responders had changes in circulating tumor DNA on therapy. We evaluated pre-treatment and post-treatment specimens from patients using allele frequency (AF), as well as the number of mutant molecules per mL of plasma (MMPM) to understand relative changes in response to therapy. AF and MMPM clearance correlated with time to treatment failure and best overall radiographic response in our cohort. Furthermore, among patients with EGFR mutations, lack of clearance in EGFR mutant variants in plasma was associated with earlier treatment failure on the oral tyrosine kinase inhibitor osimertinib. These analyses provide a more comprehensive approach for evaluating therapeutic response to targeted therapies and have important implications for the management of cancer patients and disease monitoring.
Nambu-Goldstone mode in K3Na(SeO4)2 crystal
Authors: Kaczmarski M. , Jenczyk J. , Mróz B.
Published: June 2024

The Nambu-Goldstone optical mode has been observed in the ferroelastic crystals for the first time. The amplitudon and phason modes have been identified in the Raman spectra of K3Na(SeO4)2 (KNSe) crystal. We discuss the occurrence of such lattice vibration concerning to the possible presence of an incommensurate phase. The potential scenario of the dynamics of SO4 tetrahedron leading to the appearance of IC phase accompanied with critical temperature behavior of two external vibrations of Ag symmetry is given together with molecular mechanism of phase transitions in the material studied. The effect of spatial reorganization of the crystal lattice associated with the ferroelastic domains of the KNSe crystal of W and W' type is also discussed. We show that the emergence of such domain structure may also be a source of incommensurability. Finally, both amplitudon and phason have been classified as type A propagating and diffusion modes respectively.
In situ electrochemical method for measuring the freely dissolved methyl parathion based on the negligible depletion micro-extraction
Authors: Pang Long , Feng Zhigao , Hu Xingru , Hou Jiahui , Cui Guangtao , Liu Jingfu
Published: June 2024

Negligible depletion micro-extraction (nd-ME) plays an important role in measuring the freely dissolved concentration of pollutants but is suffered from a long equilibrium time. In this study, a novel method for in situ determination of freely dissolved methyl parathion (MP) by the electrochemical method was developed based on the nd-ME method. The parameters influencing the adsorption kinetic were investigated in the environmentally relevant ranges, including buffer concentration (5-200 mM), salinity (0-500 mM), and pH value (5.0-8.5). The equilibrium time can be achieved within 16 min between the freely dissolved MP and beta-cyclodextrin decorated reduced graphene oxide composites (β-CD/RGO). Under the equilibrium condition, the sorption coefficients (log KDOC) were 4.56 for Acros humic acid and 4.58 for Suwannee River humic acid, respectively, which were consistent with those by negligible depletion-solid phase microextraction (nd-SPME) with log KDOC = 4.23 for Acros humic acid and log KDOC = 4.27 for Suwannee River humic acid. The freely dissolved MP in water samples ranged from 3.96 to 4.44 µg L− 1, which were in agreement with those by nd-SPME (Cfree = 4.17–4.76 µg L− 1). According to the result, a novel method was developed in this study to estimate the freely dissolved concentration of pollutants using the electrochemical method.
Crop rotation alleviates continuous cropping obstacles in Chrysanthemum morifolium production by regulating rhizosphere microbial communities and metabolites
Authors: Chen Qiaohuan , Li Jinxin , Wang Xiao , Liao Zhiyuan , Xiao Siqian , Miao Yuhuan , Liu Dahui
Published: June 2024

Chrysanthemum morifolium is widely used as a raw material in traditional Chinese medicine and in health drinks. However, continuous cropping obstacles have produced bottlenecks in C. morifolium production. Crop rotation is considered to be the cheapest and most effective method to restore soil quality. Therefore, we here studied the impact of two crop rotation models (Prunella vulgaris-C. morifolium and Brassica napus-C. morifolium) on C. morifolium productivity and soil quality. Our results showed that both rotation models led to a higher C. morifolium yield and quality advantage than monoculture model; subsequently, the main reasons for improving C. morifolium productivity by these two crop rotation modes were analyzed. Levels of soil nutrients, such as total nitrogen, available phosphorus, and available iron, showed significant augment in crop rotation; similar situation were observed for the activities of soil acid phosphatase, sucrase, and β-glucosidase. Furthermore, the reduced wilt disease incidence and the decreased Fusarium pathogen adundance under rotation could be attributed to the changes in bacterial community structure and rhizosphere metabolites. In addition, changes in the abundance of metabolites in the rhizosphere soil were key factors affecting the bacterial and fungal community structure. For instance, two rotation systems decreased the presence of Proteobacteria and increased other bacterial phyla (e.g. Actinobacteria, Acidobacteriota, Cyanobacteria), potentially influenced by rhizosphere soil metabolites. This study offers new insights into the mechanisms by which continuous cropping challenges can be overcome and provides concrete suggestions for improving yield of an economically and medicinally important plant species.
Qualitative analysis by OCTA in patients with choroidal neovascularization secondary to angioid streaks as predictors of disease recurrences over time
Authors: Velez-Montoya Raul , Osorio-Landa Hillary K. , Franco-Ramirez K. Carolina , Martínez-Pacheco Victor , Ramirez-Estudillo J. Abel , Rosales-Padrón Jaime Francisco , Ledesma-Gil Gerardo , Fromow-Guerra Jans
Published: June 2024

Background: To report the risk of exudation recurrence and long-term outcomes in patients with choroidal neovascularization secondary to angioid streaks, according to its morphology and characteristics by optical coherence tomography angiography.
Methods: Retrospective analysis of electronic medical records from three hospitals. We enrolled patients with a clinical diagnosis of angioid streaks choroidal neovascularization that had a minimum follow-up of 12 months. From each record, we extracted general demographic data, best corrected visual acuity (baseline, before and after each disease recurrence and last on file), type of treatment, time between last intravitreal injection and disease recurrence, and classification of the neovascular lesion morphology by optical coherence tomography, and optical coherence tomography angiography. Patients with myopic choroidal neovascularization were used as controls. Interobserver agreement was assessed with a Cohen-Kappa test. The Odds ratio was calculated with a chi2 test for significance. Visual acuity change through time was assessed with an ANOVA for repeated measurements with an alpha value of 0.05 for statistical significance.
Results: We enrolled 30 patients in the study group and 14 in the control group. In the study group, the baseline and final BCVA was 0.861 ± 0.59 and 1.095 ± 0.61 logMAR (p=0.1). Control group: 1.045 ± 0.57 and 0.617 ± 0.53 logMAR (p<0.05). In the study group, the predominant CNV type by OCTA was mixed (37%), and interlacing (57%) in the control group. Mixed and cog-wheel patterns at baseline had increased Odds for recurrence in the study group (1.2 to 7.4) although it was not significant. Patients in the study group required fewer intravitreal injections on each recurrence episode to achieve disease control (3.5±1.5 vs.1.4±0.2, p<0.01).
Conclusions: The benefits of anti-VEGF treatment are lost over time in patients with angioid streaks and CNV. Lesion characteristics by optical coherence tomography angiography could help physicians predict the risk of recurrence.
Trial Registration:Retrospective registered, and IRB approved.
Discordant Cardiac Inflammation between 18F-FDG PET and CMR in Patients with Cardiac Sarcoidosis
Authors: Hutt Erika , Brizneda Maria Paula Vega , Jellis Christine L. , Neto Manuel L. Ribeiro , Jaber Wael A. , Cremer Paul C.
Published: June 2024

Current diagnostic criteria for cardiac sarcoidosis (CS) rely on non-invasive imaging tools including positron emission tomography (PET-CT) and cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR). The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of discordant myocardial inflammation between PET-CT and CMR in patients with known cardiac sarcoidosis. We retrospectively identified patients with both 18F-FDG PET-CT and CMR who had histology-proven sarcoidosis (N = 148). Among these 25 (17%) had abnormal 18F-FDG metabolism with normal tissue characterization by CMR. Of these, 13 (9%) had the studies concomitantly within 180 days (median 5 days, IQR 1–31). During median follow up of 7 years, 3 (23%) deaths were documented. Although prospective studies are required to address the best imaging approach for cardiac inflammation, our observation that some patients with CS have evidence of disease activity on PET-CT, but not on limited CMR without mapping suggests that a negative limited CMR may not fully exclude CS.
Development of a predictive model for postoperative major adverse cardiovascular events in elderly patients undergoing major abdominal surgery
Authors: Kurexi Adilai , Yan Rui , Yuan Tingting , Taati Zhaenhaer , Mijiti Maimaiti , Li Dan
Published: June 2024

Objective
To investigate the predictive value of a short physical performance test (SPPB) for postoperative major adverse cardiovascular events(MACEs) in elderly patients undergoing major abdominal surgery and to develop a nomogram risk prediction model.
Methods
A total of 427 elderly patients aged ≥ 65 years who underwent major abdominal surgery at our hospital between June 2023 and March 2024 were selected for the study, and 416 patients were ultimately included. The preoperative SPPB score was measured,and the patients were divided into two groups: a high SPPB group (≥ 10) and a low SPPB group (< 10). The subjects' clinical datasets and postoperative major adverse cardiovascular event (MACEs) occurrence data were recorded. LASSO regression analysis was performed to screen predictor variables and develop a nomogram risk prediction model for predicting MACEs. The clinical efficacy of the model was assessed by the area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve (AUC), calibration curve, and decision curve analysis (DCA).
Results
The incidence of postoperative MACE in elderly patients who underwent major abdominal surgery was 5%. LASSO regression analysis revealed that arrhythmia, creatine kinase, SPPB, anesthesia duration, age, intraoperative minimum heart rate, BMI, and coronary artery disease were significant predictors of MACEs. The nomogram risk prediction model based on SPPB and clinical indicators can better predict the occurrence of MACE and can guide preoperative interventions and help to improve perioperative management.The area under the curve (AUC) was 0.852 (95% CI, 0.749–0.954), the calibration curve showed good agreement, and the decision curve showed promising clinical efficacy.
Conclusion
The nomogram risk prediction model based on SPPB and clinical indicators can better predict the occurrence of MACEs and can guide preoperative intervention and help to improve perioperative management.
Prenatal exposure of azadiradione leads to developmental disabilities
Authors: Jana Sudipta , Das Sagarika , Giri Bhaskarjyoti , Archak Raghavendra , Bandyopadhyay Sharba , Jana Nihar Ranjan
Published: June 2024

Azadiradione is a brain permeable phytochemical present in the seed of an Indian medicinal plant, Azadirachta Indica, well-known as Neem. Recently, this small bioactive molecule has been revealed to induce the expression of Ube3a, an ubiquitin ligase whose loss and gain of function is associated with two diverse neurodevelopmental disorders. Here we report that in uteroexposure of azadiradione in mice result in severe developmental disabilities. Treatment of well tolerated dose of azadiradione into the pregnant dam (at an embryonic day 12 and 14) causes substantial decrease in the body weight of the new-born pups at their early developmental periods along with significant cognitive, motor and communication deficits and increased anxiety-like behaviours. As the animals grow from adolescent to adult, their body weight and many behavioural deficits are gradually restored to normalcy, although, the cognitive deficit persists significantly. Biochemical analysis reveals that the azadiradione prenatally exposed mice brain exhibits about 2-3 fold increase in the level of Ube3a at post natal day 25 along with significant increase some of its target proteins linked to synaptic function and plasticity indicating enduring effect of the drug on Ube3a expression. The prenatally azadiradione exposed mice also display increased number of dendritic spines in the hippocampal and cortical pyramidal neurons. These results suggest that Ube3a might be one of the key players in azadiradione-induced developmental disabilities.
Protein Disulfide Isomerase-Enriched Extracellular Vesicles from Bladder Cancer Cells Support Tumor Survival and Malignant Transformation in the Bladder
Authors: Lee Yi-Fen , Wu Chia-Hao , Yuen Kit , Molony Ryan , Silvers Christopher , H Akash Md. Mahmudul , Messing Edward
Published: June 2024

Bladder cancer (BC) patients face high rates of disease recurrence, partially driven by the cancer field effect. This effect is mediated in part by the release of pro-tumorigenic cargos in membrane-enclosed extracellular vesicles (EVs), but the specific underlying mechanisms remain poorly understood. Protein disulfide isomerase (PDI) catalyze disulfide bond formation and can help mitigate endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, potentially supporting tumor survival. Here, BC cells were found to exhibit better survival under ER stress when PDI was downregulated. These cells maintained homeostatic PDI levels through the EV-mediated release of PDI. Chronic exposure of urothelial cells to these PDI-enriched BCEVs induced oxidative stress and DNA damage, ultimately leading to the malignant transformation of recipient cells. The EV-transformed cells exhibited DNA damage patterns potentially attributable to oxidative damage, and PDI was found to be a key tumorigenic cargo within EVs. Tissue microarray analyses of BC recurrence confirmed a significant correlation between tumor recurrence and the levels of both PDI and ER stress. Together, these data suggest that cancer cells selectively sort oxidized PDI into EVs for removal, and these EVs can, in turn, induce oxidative stress in recipient urothelial cells, predisposing them to malignant transformation and thereby increasing the risk of recurrence.
Exploring the effect of pre-connected pressure sensor on ultrasound-guided radial artery puncture in patients with gastrointestinal tumors
Authors: Zhong Weibo , Weng Qiaoling , Yang Qiao , Jin Xianwei , He Weihua
Published: June 2024

OBJECTIVE This study aims to investigate the impact of pre-connecting pressure transducers on the efficacy of ultrasound-guided radial artery puncture and catheterization in patients with gastrointestinal tumors.Method Seventy-five eligible patients undergoing elective gastrointestinal tumor surgery were randomly divided into two groups: the pre-connected pressure sensor puncture group (group P = 38) and the conventional puncture group (group C = 37). The patients' vital signs were monitored upon entering the room, and a senior anesthesiologist performed the radial artery puncture and catheterization for both groups. The radial artery puncture catheterization was guided by ultrasound in both groups, Prior to the puncture, patients in group P were pre-connected to the pressure sensor. After zeroing and exhausting, the radial artery puncture catheter was performed under ultrasound guidance. with group C undergoing direct ultrasound-guided puncture catheterization. The success rate of first puncture catheterization, puncture time, puncture times, and puncture failure rate were recorded.Result The success rate of radial artery catheterization on the first attempt was significantly higher in group P compared to group C (P < 0.05). Furthermore, group P demonstrated a decrease in both arterial punctures and VAS pain scores. (P < 0.05).Conclusion Pre-connecting a pressure sensor when performing radial artery puncture and catheterization in patients with gastrointestinal tumors can enhance the success rate of radial artery puncture and catheterization under ultrasound guidance.
Analysis of the value of NLR, MLR and PLR levels in peripheral blood of patients with RRMS
Authors: Ren Jiayun , Zhang Weihua , Xue Lamei , Chen Hongping , Du Xinshu , Yu Zizhe , Zhong Di , Li Guozhong
Published: June 2024

Background
There is limited research on the relevance of neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), monocyte-lymphocyte ratio (MLR), and platelet-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) in patients diagnosed with relapse-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS).
Objective
The main objective of this study was to evaluate the significance of NLR, MLR, and PLR levels in the peripheral blood of patients diagnosed with RRMS.
Methods
A total of 109 patients with RRMS recruited from the Department of Neurology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University from January 2018 to January 2024 were retrospectively analyzed, and 71 healthy population as controls (HC). Clinical data including age, sex, blood routine, serum uric acid (SUA),radiological investigations including magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of brain and spinal cord were done(A standardized protocol of MRI comprising T2-weighted and T1-weighted gadolinium enhancing were performed using 3.0 Tesla superconducting MR imager)and Extended Disability Status Scale (EDSS) of all RRMS patients were collected.
Results
The levels of NLR, MLR and PLR were significantly higher in RRMS patients compared to the HC. RRMS patients with moderate-severe disability had higher NLR and MLR levels than those with mild disability. Logistic regression analysis showed that NLR was associated with disease disability (odds ratio(OR):1.470; confidence interval(CI):1.024–1.153; P:0.046). The cutoff value for the NLR to predict RRMS disability was 2.17.NLR was higher in RRMS patients with disease activity than in those without activity (p = 0.045), while SUA was lower in RRMS patients with disease activity than in those without activity (p = 0.033). Compared with HC,RRMS patients had lower SUA levels (p = 0.008). Additionally, SUA levels decreased with the increase of EDSS scores (P = 0.003), and NLR value was negatively correlated with SUA (p = 0.022).
Conclusions
The levels of NLR,MLR and PLR in peripheral blood of RRMS patients in the acute phase are higher than those of healthy people, and NLR has a certain predictive value for the severity of disability. Furthermore, we suggest that NLR and SUA are related to the disability and activity of RRMS, albeit exerting opposing effects on the disease.
The Effect of Self-compassion, Spousal Support and Selected Factors on Psychological Well-being in Women With Breast Cancer
Authors: Atik Zeynep , Çürük Gülsüm Nihal , Karayurt Ozgül
Published: June 2024

Purpose
This study investigated the positive effects of self-compassion, spousal support and selected factors on the psychology of women diagnosed with breast cancer.
Methods
Data were collected The Self-Compassion Scale-Short Form, The Spousal Support Scale and The Psychological Well-Being Scale.
Results
A significant, positive relation was found between self-compassion and psychological well-being scores of the women diagnosed with breast cancer (p < 0.05). The education level of the patients and the status of undergoing reconstruction operation after breast cancer surgery significantly affected their psychological well-being (p < 0.05).
Conclusion
In this study, the women diagnosed as breast cancer were found to have moderate levels of self-compassion and higher than moderate levels of spousal support and psychological wellbeing. The women having a high education level and a high self-compassion level and undergoing reconstruction had a significantly high level pf psychological wellbeing.
Implications for Practice:
It is important to identify patients with low levels of self-compassion and partner support, to plan interventions to increase their levels of self-compassion and partner support, and to refer patients to support groups for this purpose.
Associations of dietary magnesium intake with all-cause and cause-specific mortality among individuals with gout and hyperuricemia
Authors: Lu Xuanni , Wang Anqi , Liu Ke , Chen Ying , Chen Weiwei , Mao Yingying , Ye Ding
Published: June 2024

Background: We aimed to evaluate the relationship of dietary magnesium intake with all-cause and cause-specific mortality among patients with gout and hyperuricemia (HUA).
Methods: We analyzed data of 1171 gout patients and 6707 patients with HUA from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2007-2018 and 2001-2018, respectively. Dietary intake data were obtained from 24-hour dietary recall interviews. Mortality status was determined using the NHANES public-use linked mortality fill. We used Cox regression model and restricted cubic spline analysis to probe the association of dietary magnesium intake and mortality among individuals with gout and HUA.
Results: During 7081 person-years of follow-up, 257 deaths were documented in gout patients, among which 74 died from cardiovascular disease (CVD) and 48 died from cancer. For HUA patients followed up for 58,216 person-years, 1315 all-cause deaths occurred, including 411 CVD deaths and 224 cancer deaths. After multifactorial adjustments, higher dietary magnesium intake was associated with lower risk of all-cause mortality among participants with gout and HUA. Restricted cubic splines showed a nonlinear inverse association between dietary magnesium intake with CVD mortality among HUA patients (P for nonlinear < 0.05), with the inflection point of 272mg/d. The results were robust in subgroup and sensitivity analyses.
Conclusions: High dietary magnesium intake was associated with decreased risk of all-cause mortality among patients with gout and HUA, and had a nonlinear inverse association with CVD mortality in HUA patients. The results highlight the potential advantages of assessing dietary magnesium intake in preventing all-cause and CVD mortality in patients with gout and HUA.
Semi-Automatic Quantification of REM Sleep Without
Atonia in Natural Sleep Environment
Authors: Hanein Yael , Possti Daniel , Oz Shani , Gerston Aaron , Wasserman Danielle , Duncan Iain , Cesari Matteo , Dagay Andrew , Tauman Riva , Mirelman Anat
Published: June 2024

Background: Polysomnography (PSG), the gold standard diagnostic tool in sleep medicine, typically evaluates sleep patterns and sleep-related disorders in an artificial environment, potentially leading to distorted sleep. Sleep macro-structures such as sleep stages are particularly sensitive to environmental effects, whereas micro-structures (i.e., sleep spindles, REM sleep without atonia, RSWA) tend to remain more stable.
Objective: This study aimed to apply automated algorithms to capture RSWA and sleep spindles and to compare between values measured in the lab and those recorded under natural sleep conditions at home.
Methods: The analysis included 107 full-night recordings from 55 subjects: 24 healthy adults , 28 patients with Parkinson’s disease (PD), and three individuals with isolated Rem sleep behavior disorder (RBD). The PD population included 15 PD patients with RBD and 13 PD patients without RBD. All sessions were manually scored for sleep staging. An automatic algorithm for quantifying RSWA was developed and tested against manual scoring. Automatic artifact removal was incorporated into the process.
Results: Home versus lab RSWA, derived using the semi-automatic algorithm were moderately correlated (60% correlation).RBD detection in the home environment was achieved with 83% sensitivity, 79% specificity, and 81% balanced accuracy.
Discussion: A semi-automated algorithm was found to accurately quantify RSWA in the lab and in the home environment, enabling the detection of RBD patients. These findings could enhance clinical research, facilitate more frequent and accessible sleep testing, and provide a possible alternative for screening RBD.
Measuring the Diffusion Coefficient of Concrete with Dental X-ray Equipment
Authors: Parastegari Niloofar , Ley Tyler
Published: June 2024

The diffusion coefficient (Dic) is an essential parameter that helps to understand various durability issues in concrete, like corrosion, alkali-silica reaction (ASR), and freeze-thaw damage. However, most research in this area has focused on homogeneous materials like paste and mortar, while concrete has proven to be challenging because of its inhomogeneous nature. This study used dental X-ray equipment adapted for transmission X-ray measurements to measure ion diffusion. This device is named CHIP (Checking Ion Penetration). This work applies the CHIP on 104 paste samples and 104 concrete samples with hydration times between 45 and 1100 days. This work improved the accuracy by combining measurements from multiple angles and correcting for X-ray beam hardening. This approach improved the accuracy of concrete Dic measurements by 20% (as indicated by R square) while also reducing variability (expressed as the coefficient of variation) by 63%.
Behavioral Activation impacts symptoms of depression and anxiety, psychological distress, and quality of life among colorectal cancer patients in medical settings
Authors: Li Anlong , Ge Han , Huang Runze , Liu Dajie , Liu Shaochun , Jia Yingxue , Chai Jiaying , Liu Lijun , Li Wen , Cai Yinlian , Zhang Qianqian , Gan Chen , Xu Jian , Wang Menglian , Tang Lingxue , Yao Shenbang , Yu Sheng , Cheng Huaidong
Published: June 2024

Background and Objectives: The protracted treatment of colorectal cancer often leads to diminished quality of life and the manifestation of psychological symptoms, notably depression, as patient survival increases. Behavioral Activation (BA) therapy is designed to bolster patients' reinforcement sources and diminish avoidance behaviors, thereby progressively fostering proactive engagement. This study aims to assess the influence of BA on the behavioral patterns of colorectal cancer patients, its therapeutic efficacy against negative emotions such as depression, and its impact on their quality of life.
Methods:One hundred and seven colorectal cancer patients with depressive symptoms were randomized into two groups: a BA group (n=54) and a conventional treatment group (n=53). Evaluations were conducted before the intervention (T0), after the fourth intervention session (T1), and upon completion of the intervention (T2).
Results:Notable differences emerged between the BA group and the conventional treatment group. Repeated measures ANOVA revealed BA’s significant efficacy in ameliorating depression (F=39.113, p<0.001, ηp²=0.439), alleviating anxiety (F=29.847, p<0.001, ηp²=0.374), enhancing quality of life (F=23.086, p<0.01, ηp²=0.316), and reducing psychological distress (F=93.684, p<0.001, ηp²=0.652). The analysis also substantiated the correlation between activation and avoidance behavioral patterns and the symptoms of depression.
Conclusion:Behavioral Activation proves to be a potent intervention for ameliorating depressive and other adverse emotional states, as well as for enhancing the quality of life among colorectal cancer patients. It effectively modifies the behavioral patterns of patients undergoing conventional treatments within clinical settings.
Trial registration number: ChiCTR2100052108, 10/17/2021.
Jumping DNA polymerases in bacteriophages
Authors: Yutin Natalya , Tolstoy Igor , Mutz Pascal , Wolf Yuri I , Krupovic Mart , Koonin Eugene V
Published: June 2024

Background Viruses with double-stranded (ds) DNA genomes in the realm Duplodnaviria share a conserved structural gene module but show a broad range of variation in their repertoires of DNA replication proteins. Some of the duplodnaviruses encode (nearly) complete replication systems whereas others lack (almost) all genes required for replication, relying on the host replication machinery. DNA polymerases (DNAPs) comprise the centerpiece of the DNA replication apparatus. The replicative DNAPs are classified into 4 unrelated or distantly related families (A-D), with the protein structures and sequences within each family being, generally, highly conserved. More than half of the duplodnaviruses encode a DNAP of family A, B or C. We showed previously that multiple pairs of closely related viruses in the order Crassvirales encode DNAPs of different families.Methods Groups of phages in which DNAP swapping likely occurred were identified as subtrees of a defined depth in a comprehensive evolutionary tree of tailed bacteriophages that included phages with DNAPs of different families. The DNAP swaps were validated by constrained tree analysis that was performed on phylogenetic tree of large terminase subunits, and the phage genomes encoding swapped DNAPs were aligned using Mauve. The structures of the discovered unusual DNAPs were predicted using AlphaFold2.Results We identified four additional groups of tailed phages in the class Caudoviricetes in which the DNAPs apparently were swapped on multiple occasions, with replacements occurring both between families A and B, or A and C, or between distinct subfamilies within the same family. The DNAP swapping always occurs “in situ”, without changes in the organization of the surrounding genes. In several cases, the DNAP gene is the only region of substantial divergence between closely related phage genomes, whereas in others, the swap apparently involved neighboring genes encoding other proteins involved in phage replication. In addition, we identified two previously undetected, highly divergent groups of family A DNAPs that are encoded in some phage genomes along with the main DNAP implicated in genome replication.Conclusions Replacement of the DNAP gene by one encoding a DNAP of a different family occurred on many independent occasions during the evolution of different families of tailed phages, in some cases, resulting in very closely related phages encoding unrelated DNAPs. DNAP swapping was likely driven by selection for avoidance of host antiphage mechanisms targeting the phage DNAP that remain to be identified, and/or by selection against replicon incompatibility.
The predictive value of serum C-reactive protein levels for disease severity in patients infected with the SARS-CoV-2
Authors: Ren Jingyi , Qiu Yingkun , Li Xiaoyu , Zhang Yaqin , Liao Zhongxian , Chen Jiadi , Cao Yingping
Published: June 2024

In the present study, we explored the predictive value of CRP in patients infected with SARS-CoV-2 omicron variants (omicron patients). 216 omicron patients, comprising 59 ordinary and 157 severe/critical cases, were enrolled in this study. The univariable and multivariate logistical regression revealed that age, neutrophil percentage, lymphocyte percentage, CRP, and complications were independent predictors of disease severity. The area under the ROC curve (AUC) of CRP (0.874) was significantly higher than that of age (0.712), neutrophil percentage (0.729), lymphocyte percentage (0.734), and complications (0.673) in disease severity prediction (all p<0.05). CRP demonstrated a sensitivity of 89.7% and specificity of 78.6% at a cutoff value of 28.17. Thus, CRP could serve as a promising predictor of disease severity in omicron patients.
Effect of Maternal Diabetes on Time to Full Oral Feedings in Infant’s Admitted to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit
Authors: Vachharajani Akshaya , Williams Madyson , Schoening Meredith , Eichman Destri , Almashharawi Laith , Adler Loren , Hanford Jennifer , Allred Stephanie , Goodman Jean
Published: June 2024

Objective
To compare the time to oral feeds in infants born to mothers with and without diabetes.
Study Design
: Retrospective study of infants born at or after 34 weeks gestational age and admitted between 1/1/2020 to 01/31/2022. Time to full oral feedings was compared between infants born to mothers with and without diabetes (267 versus 918) Continuous and binomial variables were analyzed with the Mann Whitney U test and the Chi-Square test respectively. Linear regression was then conducted to explore identified potential relationships from these analyses.
Result
Comparison of groups via univariate analysis revealed a mean difference of two more days to establish full oral feedings (p = 0.0001). Maternal pregestational diabetes (PGDM) and obesity (Body mass index;BMI > 30kg/m2) were associated with longer time for infants to complete oral feeds (p 0.034 and 0.013 respectively)
Conclusion
Infants born to mothers with diabetes took longer to achieve full oral feedings.