bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Normative connectome-based analysis of sensorimotor deficits in acute subcortical stroke
Authors: Weigel Karolin , Klingner Carsten M. , Brodoehl Stefan , Wagner Franziska , Schwab Matthias , Güllmar Daniel , Mayer Thomas E. , Güttler Felix V. , Teichgräber Ulf , Gaser Christian
Published: August 2024

The interrelation between acute ischemic stroke, persistent disability, and uncertain prognosis underscores the need for improved methods to predict clinical outcomes. Traditional approaches have largely focused on analysis of clinical metrics, lesion characteristics, and network connectivity, using techniques such as resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI) and diffusion tensor imaging (DTI). However, these methods are not routinely used in acute stroke diagnostics. This study introduces an innovative approach that not only considers the lesion size in relation to the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS score), but also evaluates the impact of disrupted fibers and their connections to cortical regions by introducing a disconnection value. By identifying fibers traversing the lesion and estimating their number within predefined regions of interest (ROIs) using a normative connectome atlas, our method bypasses the need for individual DTI scans. In our analysis of MRI data (T1 and T2) from 51 patients with acute or subacute subcortical stroke presenting with motor or sensory deficits, we used simple linear regression to assess the explanatory power of lesion size and disconnection value on NIHSS score. Subsequent hierarchical multiple linear regression analysis determined the incremental value of disconnection metrics over lesion size alone in relation to NIHSS score. Our results showed that models incorporating the disconnection value accounted for more variance than those based solely on lesion size (lesion size explained 44% variance, disconnection value 60%). Furthermore, hierarchical regression revealed a significant improvement (p < 0.001) in model fit when adding the disconnection value, confirming its critical role in stroke assessment. Our approach, which integrates a normative connectome to quantify disconnections to cortical regions, provides a significant improvement in assessing the current state of stroke impact compared to traditional measures that focus on lesion size. This is achieved by taking into account the lesion’s location and the connectivity of the affected white matter tracts, providing a more comprehensive assessment of stroke severity as reflected in the NIHSS score. Future research should extend the validation of this approach to larger and more diverse populations, with a focus on refining its applicability to clinical assessment and long-term outcome prediction.
The impact of vitamin E, vitamin B6, and niacin intake on cataract incidence based on NHANES 2005-2008 data
Authors: Zhuang Guo-Bin , Li Xiang , Wu Shi-Nan , Zhang Si-Qi , Zhang Zhi-Jie , Dong Nuo
Published: August 2024

Objective

This investigation aims to elucidate the correlations between dietary intakes of vitamin E, B6, and niacin and the incidence of cataracts, utilizing the comprehensive NHANES 2005–2008 dataset to affirm the prophylactic roles of these nutrients against cataract formation.

Methods

Using data from the NHANES 2005–2008 cycles, this analysis concentrated on 7,247 subjects after exclusion based on incomplete dietary or cataract data. The identification of cataracts was determined through participants’ self-reported ophthalmic surgical history. Nutritional intake was gauged using the automated multiple pass method, and the data were analyzed using logistic and quantile regression analyses to investigate the relationship between vitamin consumption and cataract prevalence.

Results

Our analysis identified significant inverse associations between the intake of vitamins E, B6, and niacin and the risk of cataract development. Specifically, higher intakes of vitamin B6 (OR = 0.85, 95% CI = 0.76–0.96, p = 0.0073) and niacin (OR = 0.98, 95% CI = 0.97–1.00, p = 0.0067) in the top quartile were significantly associated with a reduced likelihood of cataract occurrence. Vitamin E intake showed a consistent reduction in cataract risk across different intake levels (OR = 0.96, 95% CI = 0.94–0.99, p = 0.0087), demonstrating a nonlinear inverse correlation.

Conclusion

The outcomes indicate that elevated consumption of vitamin B6 and niacin, in conjunction with regular vitamin E intake, may have the potential to delay or prevent cataract genesis. These results suggest a novel nutritional strategy for cataract prevention and management, advocating that focused nutrient supplementation could be instrumental in preserving eye health and reducing the risk of cataracts. Further research is recommended to validate these findings and establish optimal dosages for maximum benefit.
Construction of a risk prediction model for lung infection after chemotherapy in lung cancer patients based on the machine learning algorithm
Authors: Sun Tao , Liu Jun , Yuan Houqin , Li Xin , Yan Hui
Published: August 2024

Purpose

The objective of this study was to create and validate a machine learning (ML)-based model for predicting the likelihood of lung infections following chemotherapy in patients with lung cancer.

Methods

A retrospective study was conducted on a cohort of 502 lung cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy. Data on age, Body Mass Index (BMI), underlying disease, chemotherapy cycle, number of hospitalizations, and various blood test results were collected from medical records. We used the Synthetic Minority Oversampling Technique (SMOTE) to handle unbalanced data. Feature screening was performed using the Boruta algorithm and The Least Absolute Shrinkage and Selection Operator (LASSO). Subsequently, six ML algorithms, namely Logistic Regression (LR), Random Forest (RF), Gaussian Naive Bayes (GNB), Multi-layer Perceptron (MLP), Support Vector Machine (SVM), and K-Nearest Neighbors (KNN) were employed to train and develop an ML model using a 10-fold cross-validation methodology. The model’s performance was evaluated through various metrics, including the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC), accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, F1 score, calibration curve, decision curves, clinical impact curve, and confusion matrix. In addition, model interpretation was performed by the Shapley Additive Explanations (SHAP) analysis to clarify the importance of each feature of the model and its decision basis. Finally, we constructed nomograms to make the predictive model results more readable.

Results

The integration of Boruta and LASSO methodologies identified Gender, Smoke, Drink, Chemotherapy cycles, pleural effusion (PE), Neutrophil-lymphocyte count ratio (NLR), Neutrophil-monocyte count ratio (NMR), Lymphocytes (LYM) and Neutrophil (NEUT) as significant predictors. The LR model demonstrated superior performance compared to alternative ML algorithms, achieving an accuracy of 81.80%, a sensitivity of 81.1%, a specificity of 82.5%, an F1 score of 81.6%, and an AUC of 0.888(95%CI(0.863-0.911)). Furthermore, the SHAP method identified Chemotherapy cycles and Smoke as the primary decision factors influencing the ML model’s predictions. Finally, this study successfully constructed interactive nomograms and dynamic nomograms.

Conclusion

The ML algorithm, combining demographic and clinical factors, accurately predicted post-chemotherapy lung infections in cancer patients. The LR model performed well, potentially improving early detection and treatment in clinical practice.
Urinary mRNA-based biomarkers for non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer: a mini-review
Authors: Coelho Karoline Brito Caetano Andrade , Wosniaki Denise Kusma , Marin Anelis Maria , Fabris Laura , Borges dos Reis Rodolfo , Aoki Mateus Nóbrega , Zanette Dalila Lucíola
Published: August 2024

Bladder cancer (BC) is the second most common type of cancer of the urinary system. Approximately 75% of the cases are non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC), which has a high recurrence and progression rate. Current diagnosis and surveillance methods present challenges, including risks to the patients. For this reason, urinary biomarkers have been proposed as alternatives to the methods. The goal of this mini-review is to describe urinary mRNA-based biomarkers available in current literature for NMIBC tumors, using the PubMed database. The search included the following keywords: “biomarkers” AND “bladder cancer” AND “urine” and “RNA” and “non-muscle”. The search yielded 11 original researchers utilizing mRNA-based urinary biomarkers. Although there is a wide variety of biomarkers described, the cohorts of the studies were not exclusively NMIBC, which is the subtype of BC that would mostly benefit from the introduction of a good follow-up biomarker, highlighting the need for randomized interventional trials for NMIBC.
Dual TTK/PLK1 inhibition has potent anticancer activity in TNBC as monotherapy and in combination
Authors: Zanini Elisa , Forster-Gross Nicole , Bachmann Felix , Brüngger Adrian , McSheehy Paul , Litherland Karine , Burger Karin , Groner Anna C. , Roceri Mila , Bury Luc , Stieger Martin , Willemsen-Seegers Nicole , de Man Jos , Vu-Pham Diep , van Riel Helma W. E. , Zaman Guido J. R. , Buijsman Rogier C. , Kellenberger Laurenz , Lane Heidi A.
Published: August 2024

Background

Threonine tyrosine kinase (TTK) and polo-like kinase 1 (PLK1) are common essential kinases that collaborate in activating the spindle assembly checkpoint (SAC) at the kinetochore, ensuring appropriate chromosome alignment and segregation prior to mitotic exit. Targeting of either TTK or PLK1 has been clinically evaluated in cancer patients; however, dual inhibitors have not yet been pursued. Here we present the in vitro and in vivo characterization of a first in class, dual TTK/PLK1 inhibitor (BAL0891).

Methods

Mechanism of action studies utilized biochemical kinase and proteomics-based target-engagement assays. Cellular end-point assays included immunoblot- and flow cytometry-based cell cycle analyses and SAC integrity evaluation using immunoprecipitation and immunofluorescence approaches. Anticancer activity was assessed in vitro using cell growth assays and efficacy was evaluated, alone and in combination with paclitaxel and carboplatin, using mouse models of triple negative breast cancer (TNBC).

Results

BAL0891 elicits a prolonged effect on TTK, with a transient activity on PLK1. This unique profile potentiates SAC disruption, forcing tumor cells to aberrantly exit mitosis with faster kinetics than observed with a TTK-specific inhibitor. Broad anti-proliferative activity was demonstrated across solid tumor cell lines in vitro. Moreover, intermittent intravenous single-agent BAL0891 treatment of the MDA-MB-231 mouse model of TNBC induced profound tumor regressions associated with prolonged TTK and transient PLK1 in-tumor target occupancy. Furthermore, differential tumor responses across a panel of thirteen TNBC patient-derived xenograft models indicated profound anticancer activity in a subset (~40%). Using a flexible dosing approach, pathologically confirmed cures were observed in combination with paclitaxel, whereas synergy with carboplatin was schedule dependent.

Conclusions

Dual TTK/PLK1 inhibition represents a novel approach for the treatment of human cancer, including TNBC patients, with a potential for potent anticancer activity and a favorable therapeutic index. Moreover, combination approaches may provide an avenue to expand responsive patient populations.
Xiaoyaosan formula augments adjuvant therapy and enhances postoperative breast cancer care
Authors: Wang Chao , Yin Lianfang
Published: August 2024

Introduction

Xiaoyaosan (XYS), a traditional Chinese formula, not only has good antitumor effects but also attenuates distress, anorexia, and quality of life (QoL) by regulating neurology, the microbiota, immunology, and oxidative stress. This study aimed to assess the effect of XYS on QoL, psychological pressure, and spiritual well-being in breast cancer patients undergoing adjuvant chemotherapy.

Methods

This prospective cohort study enrolled 176 postoperative breast cancer patients who received adjuvant chemotherapy combined with (n = 81) or without (n = 95) XYS for comparison. The Quality-of-Life Questionnaire Core-30 (QLQ-C30), Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), University of California Los Angeles (UCLA-LS), and Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy–Spiritual Well-being (FACIT–Sp) scores were evaluated before adjuvant chemotherapy (T0) and after the first (T1), second (T2), third (T3), and fourth cycles (T4) of adjuvant chemotherapy.

Results

XYS improved the QLQ-C30 score at T2 (p = 0.043), T3 (p = 0.021), and T4 (p = 0.040) and the QLQ-C30 score at T4 (p = 0.027); moreover, XYS attenuated the QLQ-C30 score at T2 (p = 0.040), T3 (p = 0.023), and T4 (p = 0.027). Regarding distress, XYS reduced the HADS-anxiety score at T2 (p = 0.010), T3 (p = 0.025), and T4 (p = 0.019) and the HADS-defined anxiety score at T3 (p = 0.038). XYS also decreased the HADS-depression score at T2 (p = 0.016), T3 (p = 0.018), and T4 (p = 0.017) and the HADS-defined depression rate at T2 (p = 0.047), T3 (p = 0.012), and T4 (p = 0.013). In addition, XYS decreased the UCLA-LS at T2 (p = 0.023) but enhanced the FACIT-Sp at T2 (p = 0.029) and T4 (p = 0.026). Furthermore, after adjustment via propensity score matching, most of the significant findings remained.

Discussion

The addition of XYS to adjuvant chemotherapy improved QoL, psychological health, and spiritual well-being in breast cancer patients.
Plant-based nanoparticles targeting malaria management
Authors: Lokole Pathy B. , Byamungu Galilée G. , Mutwale Paulin K. , Ngombe Nadège K. , Mudogo Celestin N. , Krause Rui W. M. , Nkanga Christian I.
Published: August 2024

Malaria is one of the most devastating diseases across the globe, particularly in low-income countries in Sub-Saharan Africa. The increasing incidence of malaria morbidity is mainly due to the shortcomings of preventative measures such as the lack of vaccines and inappropriate control over the parasite vector. Additionally, high mortality rates arise from therapeutic failures due to poor patient adherence and drug resistance development. Although the causative pathogen (Plasmodium spp.) is an intracellular parasite, the recommended antimalarial drugs show large volumes of distribution and low-to no-specificity towards the host cell. This leads to severe side effects that hamper patient compliance and promote the emergence of drug-resistant strains. Recent research efforts are promising to enable the discovery of new antimalarial agents; however, the lack of efficient means to achieve targeted delivery remains a concern, given the risk of further resistance development. New strategies based on green nanotechnologies are a promising avenue for malaria management due to their potential to eliminate malaria vectors (Anopheles sp.) and to encapsulate existing and emerging antimalarial agents and deliver them to different target sites. In this review we summarized studies on the use of plant-derived nanoparticles as cost-effective preventative measures against malaria parasites, starting from the vector stage. We also reviewed plant-based nanoengineering strategies to target malaria parasites, and further discussed the site-specific delivery of natural products using ligand-decorated nanoparticles that act through receptors on the host cells or malaria parasites. The exploration of traditionally established plant medicines, surface-engineered nanoparticles and the molecular targets of parasite/host cells may provide valuable insights for future discovery of antimalarial drugs and open new avenues for advancing science toward the goal of malaria eradication.
The assessment of reliability generalisation of clinician-administered PTSD scale for DSM-5 (CAPS-5): a meta-analysis
Authors: Wojujutari Ajele Kenni , Idemudia Erhabor Sunday , Ugwu Lawrence Ejike
Published: August 2024

Background

The CAPS-5 is a reliable instrument for assessing PTSD symptoms, demonstrating strong consistency, validity, and reliability after a traumatic event. However, further research is warranted to explore the divergent validity of the CAPS-5 and its adaptation to diverse cultural contexts.

Objective

In this meta-analysis, we endeavoured to comprehensively evaluate the reliability generalization of the CAPS-5 across diverse populations and clinical contexts.

Methods

A reliability generalization meta-analysis on the psychometric properties of CAPS-5 was conducted, encompassing 15 studies. The original versions’ psychometric properties were systematically retrieved from databases including PubMed, PsychNet, Medline, CHAHL, ScienceDirect, Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar, with a focus on studies published between 2013 and 2023. Two independent investigators evaluated study quality using QUADAS-2 and COSMIN RB, pre-registering the protocol in the Prospero database for transparency and minimizing bias risk.

Results

Meta-analysis reveals CAPS-5 global reliability (α = 0.92, 95% CI [0.90, 0.94]), z = 99.44, p < 0.05 across 15 studies, supporting consistent internal consistency. Subscale analysis shows variability in Reexperiencing (α = 0.82), Avoidance (α = 0.68), Cognition and Mood (α = 0.82), and Hyperarousal (α = 0.74), with an overall estimate of 0.77 (95% CI [0.70;0.83]). Language-dependent analysis highlights reliability variations (α range: 0.83 to 0.92) across Brazilian-Portuguese, Dutch, English, French, German, Korean, and Portuguese. Test–retest reliability demonstrates stability (r = 0.82, 95% CI [0.79; 0.85]), with overall convergent validity (r = 0.59, 95% CI [0.50;0.68]).

Conclusion

The meta-analysis affirms CAPS-5’s robust global and subscale reliability across studies and languages, with stable test–retest results. Moderator analysis finds no significant impact, yet substantial residual heterogeneity remains unexplained. Our findings contribute intricate insights into the psychometric properties of this instrument, offering a more complete understanding of its utility in PTSD assessment.

Systematic review registration

https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?ID=CRD42023483748.
Investigating adolescent psychological wellbeing in an educational context using PISA 2018 Canadian data
Authors: Liu Yan , Maltais Natasha S. , Milner-Bolotin Marina , Chachashvili-Bolotin Svetlana
Published: August 2024

Introduction

Adolescent psychological wellbeing has been identified as an important public health priority and one of the major challenges facing young people. However, few studies have examined the wellbeing of Canadian adolescents nationwide in the past decade, and even fewer have focused specifically on immigrant adolescents. This study aims to investigate Canadian adolescent psychological wellbeing (PWB) via nationally representative data from the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) 2018. We explored what social and educational factors were critical in predicting Canadian adolescents' PWB, how adolescents from immigrant families differed from their non-immigrant peers in their wellbeing, and how adolescents' PWB was related to their academic performance.

Methods

A total of 22,651 Grade 8 Canadian students who participated PISA 2018 were included in this study (mean age of 15; 49.9% female; 26% immigrant students). Mixed effects modeling was adopted for data analysis.

Results

Our results showed that various social and educational factors were associated with adolescent PWB, but these relationships varied depending on which aspect of PWB was examined. Immigrant adolescents were shown to have higher levels of PWB when student attitudes toward immigrants were more positive. Additionally, most aspects of PWB were important for achievement performance.

Discussion

It is important to develop healthy and supportive school and disciplinary climates that foster students' sense of belonging. To further support the PWB of immigrant adolescents, educators can implement activities and integrate learning materials on cultural diversity into curricula, encouraging students to develop positive attitudes toward immigrants. Our findings on the PWB of Canadian adolescents could provide valuable insights for other countries with diverse populations, particularly those with significant immigrant communities.
Gender differences in responses to an altruistic message regarding rubella vaccination
Authors: Okuno Hideo , Satoh Hiroshi , Arai Satoru , Suzuki Motoi , Kikkawa Toshiko
Published: August 2024

Background

The supplementary immunization activity (SIA) for the rubella vaccination of adult men born between 1962 and 1978 began in 2019 in Japan because of a vaccine gap in the cohort, as vaccination was not mandatory for those born in that period. However, SIA coverage remains low, despite an active campaign and financial support.

Methods

We conducted a randomized controlled study based on a 2 (scenario: self-vaccination, child vaccination) × 2 (message: self-interest, group-interest) factorial design, using a Japanese online panel. Participants with children were assigned to the child vaccination scenario in Intervention 1, whereas others were assigned to the self-vaccination scenario. After Intervention 1, all participants were given the same information about rubella. In Intervention 2, participants assigned to self-interest messages received a message emphasizing the risk of rubella, and those assigned to group-interest messages received a message emphasizing herd immunity. After Intervention 2, we evaluated the effects using a questionnaire.

Results

Among the 2,206 participants, information regarding rubella was evaluated as more reliable in the group—than in the self-interest message condition, especially among women. Women evaluated the necessity of rubella vaccination for adult men and women to be higher in the child-vaccination scenario and group-interest messages. However, no differences were found among men. By contrast, men exposed to the self-interest message positively evaluated the reliability of the rubella explanation.

Conclusion

The findings indicate that emphasizing self-interest messages is more effective for men in promoting herd immunity against rubella.
Whole-genome sequencing-based genetic diversity, transmission dynamics, and drug-resistant mutations in Mycobacterium tuberculosis isolated from extrapulmonary tuberculosis patients in western Ethiopia
Authors: Chekesa Basha , Singh Harinder , Gonzalez-Juarbe Norberto , Vashee Sanjay , Wiscovitch-Russo Rosana , Dupont Christopher L. , Girma Musse , Kerro Oudessa , Gumi Balako , Ameni Gobena
Published: August 2024

Background

Extrapulmonary tuberculosis (EPTB) refers to a form of Tuberculosis (TB) where the infection occurs outside the lungs. Despite EPTB being a devastating disease of public health concern, it is frequently overlooked as a public health problem. This study aimed to investigate genetic diversity, identify drug-resistance mutations, and trace ongoing transmission chains.

Methods

A cross-sectional study was undertaken on individuals with EPTB in western Ethiopia. In this study, whole-genome sequencing (WGS) was employed to analyze Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) samples obtained from EPTB patients. Out of the 96 genomes initially sequenced, 89 met the required quality standards for genetic diversity, and drug-resistant mutations analysis. The data were processed using robust bioinformatics tools.

Results

Our analysis reveals that the majority (87.64%) of the isolates can be attributed to Lineage-4 (L4), with L4.6.3 and L4.2.2.2 emerging as the predominant sub-lineages, constituting 34.62% and 26.92%, respectively. The overall clustering rate and recent transmission index (RTI) were 30 and 17.24%, respectively. Notably, 7.87% of the isolates demonstrated resistance to at least one anti-TB drug, although multi-drug resistance (MDR) was observed in only 1.12% of the isolates.

Conclusions

The genetic diversity of MTBC strains in western Ethiopia was found to have low inter-lineage diversity, with L4 predominating and exhibiting high intra-lineage diversity. The notably high clustering rate in the region implies a pressing need for enhanced TB infection control measures to effectively disrupt the transmission chain. It’s noteworthy that 68.75% of resistance-conferring mutations went undetected by both GeneXpert MTB/RIF and the line probe assay (LPA) in western Ethiopia. The identification of resistance mutations undetected by both GeneXpert and LPA, along with the detection of mixed infections through WGS, emphasizes the value of adopting WGS as a high-resolution approach for TB diagnosis and molecular epidemiological surveillance.
External RF-EMF alters cell number and ROS balance possibly via the regulation of NADPH metabolism and apoptosis
Authors: Chow Sheung-Ching , Zhang Yang , Ng Raymond W. M. , Hui Shu-Yuen Ron , Solov’yov Ilia A. , Lui Wing-Yee
Published: August 2024

The influence of weak radio-frequency electromagnetic field (RF-EMF) on living organisms raises new concern because of the Industrial, Scientific, and Medical (ISM) frequency band at 6.78 MHz being promoted by the AirFuel Alliance for mid-range wireless power transfer (WPT) applications and product development. Human exposure to the RF-EMF radiation is unavoidable. In this study, we employed in vitro cell culture and molecular biology approach coupled with integrated transcriptomic and proteomic analyses to uncover the effects of RF-EMF on cells at molecular and cellular levels. Our study has demonstrated that weak RF-EMF is sufficient to exert non-thermal effects on human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC). Exposure of weak RF-EMF promotes cell proliferation, inhibits apoptosis and deregulates ROS balance. Alteration of several signaling pathways and key enzymes involved in NADPH metabolism, cell proliferation and ferroptosis were identified. Our current study provide solid evidence for the first time that the present safety standards that solely considered the thermal effect of RF-EMF on cell tissue are inadequate, prompt response and modification of existing Guidelines, Standards and Regulation are warranted.
Diversity of the diet is correlated with osteoporosis in post-menopausal women: an Iranian case-control study
Authors: Abbasi Behnood , Hajinasab Mohammad Mahdi , Mohammadi Zadeh Zahra , Ahmadi Paniz
Published: August 2024

Background

Proper nutrition is a crucial factor in preventing osteoporosis, a significant pathological cause linked to skeletal weakness; this study investigated the relationship between dietary diversity score and food group diversity score with osteoporosis in postmenopausal women.

Methods

This case-control study was conducted on 378 menopausal women aged 45–85 in Tehran, Iran. The age-matching method to control the confounding effect of age was used. The method of dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) was used for assessing the bone mineral density of lumbar vertebrae and femoral neck. The bone mass status was evaluated with WHO criteria. All subjects were divided into the osteoporosis group and the non-osteoporosis group according to their T-score. A convenience sampling method was utilized to select the participants, which included two groups: case (n = 189) and control (n = 189). Data was collected using demographic and anthropometric information questionnaires, a valid 147 item food frequency questionnaire, and a physical activity questionnaire. Statistical analyses were conducted using SPSS-26, and p-values less than 0.05 were deemed to be statistically significant.

Results

The results indicated significant differences in weight, body mass index, physical activity, smoking, and alcohol use between the two groups. The mean ± standard deviation of dietary diversity score (DDS) was lower in participants with osteoporosis (case) (3.31 ± 1.26) than in control (4.64 ± 1.33) (p < 0.001). The mean ± standard deviation of diversity score of cereals, fruits, and vegetables in the osteoporosis group (respectively: 0.71 ± 0.21, 0.94 ± 0.76, and 0.45 ± 0.44) was less than the control group (respectively: 0.80 ± 0.21, 1.64 ± 0.55 and 0.87 ± 0.42) (p < 0.001). After adjusting the confounding variables, the risk of osteoporosis had an inverse relationship with the diversity score of vegetable (OR = 0.16; 95%CI: 0.07–0.35), bread and cereal (OR = 0.21; 95% CI: 0.05–0.87) and fruit (OR = 0.35; 95%CI: 0.22–0.56) (p < 0.05). Nevertheless, no discernible correlation was seen between the tertiles of DDS, dairy and meat diversity score, and osteoporosis.

Conclusion

We found a correlation between the diversity score of fruits, vegetables, and grains and osteoporosis. However, there is no significant correlation between the DDS triads and the diversity score of dairy products and meats with osteoporosis.
Can Hugging a Soft Robotic Cushion Help When You Feel Worried?
Authors: Haynes Alice , Fielding Jessica L. , Lywood Annie , Kent Christopher , Rossiter Jonathan
Published: August 2024

Have you ever felt worried or scared about something? That feeling is called anxiety, and it is normal to feel this from time to time. Unfortunately, people can sometimes feel so anxious that it makes them feel sick and stops them from doing things that they enjoy. When this happens, taking medicine or talking to a therapist can help, but it would be helpful to have something to use at home that does not involve medicine. So, we made a robotic cushion to help people when they feel anxious. The cushion is soft and comforting like a pillow or teddy bear, but it also does something special when you hug it to help you feel better: it breathes! In this article, we will explain how we made the cushion and how we tested its ability to help people with anxiety.
Besnoitia besnoiti tachyzoite replication in bovine primary endothelial cells relies on host Niemann–Pick type C protein 1 for cholesterol acquisition
Authors: Larrazabal Camilo , Hermosilla Carlos , Taubert Anja , Silva Liliana M. R.
Published: August 2024

Besnoitia besnoiti is a cyst-forming apicomplexan parasite and the causal agent of bovine besnoitiosis. During early phase of infection, tachyzoites replicate within host endothelial cells in a host cell cholesterol-dependent process. By applying U18666A treatments, we here evaluated the role of Niemann–Pick type C protein 1 (NPC1) in both, intracellular B. besnoiti replication and host cellular cholesterol distribution. Additionally, B. besnoiti-driven changes in NPC1 gene transcription were studied by qPCR. Overall, U18666A treatments significantly reduced B. besnoiti proliferation and induced cholesterol accumulation in host cytoplasmic dense vesicles. However, NPC1 gene transcription was not affected by B. besnoiti infection.
Fast UOIS: Unseen Object Instance Segmentation with Adaptive Clustering for Industrial Robotic Grasping
Authors: Fu Kui , Dang Xuanju , Zhang Qingyu , Peng Jiansheng
Published: August 2024

Segmenting unseen object instances in unstructured environments is an important skill for robots to perform grasping-related tasks, where the trade-off between efficiency and accuracy is an urgent challenge to be solved. In this work, we propose a fast unseen object instance segmentation (Fast UOIS) method that utilizes predicted center offsets of objects to compute the positions of local maxima and minima, which are then used for selecting initial seed points required by the mean-shift clustering algorithm. This clustering algorithm that adaptively generates seed points can quickly and accurately obtain instance masks of unseen objects. Accordingly, Fast UOIS first generates pixel-wise predictions of object classes and center offsets from synthetic depth images. Then, these predictions are used by the clustering algorithm to calculate initial seed points and to find possible object instances. Finally, the depth information corresponding to the filtered instance masks is fed into the grasp generation network to generate grasp poses. Benchmark experiments show that our method can be well transferred to the real world and can quickly generate sharp and accurate instance masks. Furthermore, we demonstrate that our method is capable of segmenting instance masks of unseen objects for robotic grasping.
On the Exploration of Temporal Fusion Transformers for Anomaly Detection with Multivariate Aviation Time-Series Data
Authors: Ayhan Bulent , Vargo Erik P. , Tang Huang
Published: August 2024

In this work, we explored the feasibility of using a transformer-based time-series forecasting architecture, known as the Temporal Fusion Transformer (TFT), for anomaly detection using threaded track data from the MITRE Corporation’s Transportation Data Platform (TDP) and digital flight data. The TFT architecture has the flexibility to include both time-varying multivariate data and categorical data from multimodal data sources and conduct single-output or multi-output predictions. For anomaly detection, rather than training a TFT model to predict the outcomes of specific aviation safety events, we train a TFT model to learn nominal behavior. Any significant deviation of the TFT model’s future horizon forecast for the output flight parameters of interest from the observed time-series data is considered an anomaly when conducting evaluations. For proof-of-concept demonstrations, we used an unstable approach (UA) as the anomaly event. This type of anomaly detection approach with nominal behavior learning can be used to develop flight analytics to identify emerging safety hazards in historical flight data and has the potential to be used as an on-board early warning system to assist pilots during flight.
The Brown Marmorated Stink Bug (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae)—A Major Challenge for Global Plant Production
Authors: Pajač Beus Martina , Lemić Darija , Skendžić Sandra , Čirjak Dana , Pajač Živković Ivana
Published: August 2024

The brown marmorated stink bug Halyomorpha halys (Stål, 1855), native to East Asia, is an extremely polyphagous pest that infests more than 300 plant species from 49 families. In Europe and North America, this pest causes enormous damage to the production of economically important crops (tree fruit, vegetables, field crops, and ornamental plants). Global warming favours its spread, as the rise in temperature results in the appearance of further generations of the pest. Halyomorpha halys (nymph and adult) causes damage typical of the Pentatomidae family by attacking host plants throughout their development (buds, stems, fruits, and pods). Ripe fruits are often disfigured, and later suberification and necrotic spots form on the fruit surface, making them accessible to plant pathogens that cause fruit rot and rendering them unmarketable. The increasing global importance of the pest suggests that more coordinated measures are needed to contain its spread. Understanding the biology and ecology of this species is crucial for the development of reliable monitoring and management strategies. Most insecticides available for the control of H. halys have a broad spectrum of modes of action and are not compatible with most integrated pest management systems, so biological control by natural enemies has recently been emphasised. Preventing excessive population growth requires early identification and effective control measures that can be developed quickly and applied rapidly while respecting the environment. This paper presents a comprehensive review of the latest findings on the global distribution of this important pest, its potential spread, biology and ecology, key host plants of economic importance, monitoring methods, and effective biological control strategies, as well as future perspectives for sustainable H. halys control measures.
Influence of Growth Stages and Additives on the Fermentation Quality and Microbial Profiles of Whole-Plant Millet Silage
Authors: Zhao Na , Hao Xia , Yin Maozhe , Li Changqing , Wang Chao , Han Hongyan
Published: August 2024

This study aimed to determine the optimal growth stage and additives for producing high quality millet silage through two experiments. Experiment 1: Whole-plant millet from the same field and under uniform management was harvested at the heading, sizing, milking, dough, and full-maturity stages. Then, it was chopped into 2–3 cm segments, vacuum-sealed in plastic bags without any further treatment, stored at 20 °C, and opened after 60 days. The results indicated that the dough stage had the highest water-soluble carbohydrate (WSC) and crude protein (CP) contents. The lactic acid (LA) and acetic acid (AA) contents during the dough and maturity stages were significantly higher than other stages, with the lowest pH observed during the dough stage. Experiment 2: The whole-plant millet was harvested at the dough stage. It was then chopped into 2–3 cm segments using a forage chopper, mixed thoroughly, and subjected to different treatments—inoculation with 106 CFU/g FM of Lactiplantibacillus plantarum (LP), adding of 1% FM sucrose (S), and a combination of Lactiplantibacillus plantarum and sucrose (MIX)—with a control group (CK) receiving an equivalent amount of water. The MIX treatment significantly enhanced the WSC content compared to other treatments (p < 0.05), and both the LP and MIX treatments showed superior LA and AA contents and lactic acid bacteria counts. These additives significantly altered the bacterial community, shifting dominance from Proteobacteria in the CK and raw materials to Firmicutes. Klebsiella dominated the CK group but was significantly reduced in the additive treatments, where Lentilactobacillus became the dominant genus. Therefore, we recommend harvesting millet at the dough stage and adding a mixture of Lactiplantibacillus plantarum and sugar to improve fermentation quality and aerobic stability.
Comprehensive Identification of Rhubarb Species Based on DNA Barcoding and Multiple-Indicator Quantification
Authors: Wang Yifan , Yang Lin , Yang Zhao , Zhang Min , Shen Luyi , Lu Yiwen , Lin Jing , Tang Fan , Jiang Qiong , Zhu Cheng , Zhang Leilei , Ding Yanfei
Published: August 2024

Rhubarb is a significant medicinal herb in China. Its adulteration or fabrication is common in the market. Consequently, it is necessary to establish a comprehensive identification method to accurately identify genuine rhubarb and its adulterants. In this study, the sequences of chloroplast genes rps3-rpl22 and rpl16 from three genuine rhubarbs (Rheum tanguticum, Rh. palmatum and Rh. officinale) and their adulterants (Rumex japonicus and Rumex spp.) were amplified, sequenced and subjected to genetic analyses. The genetic distances for rps3-rpl22 and rpl16 between genuine rhubarbs and their adulterants showed that there was an evident barcoding gap, which allowed the adulterants to be distinguished from the genuine rhubarbs, as demonstrated by a neighbor joining tree. Additionally, Rh. officinale could be distinguished from the other two genuine rhubarbs. The anthraquinone, sennoside, polysaccharide and protein contents were analyzed in seven rhubarbs using high-performance liquid chromatography and ultraviolet spectrophotometry. Cluster and principal component analyses results showed that Rh. tanguticum and Rh. palmatum could be effectively distinguished. The study suggests that DNA barcoding based on rps3-rpl22 and rpl16 sequences coupled with multiple-indicator quantification can be successfully applied to identify rhubarb species and distinguish among the three genuine rhubarbs, and this can provide a scientific foundation for rhubarb quality assurance.
Amur Tiger Individual Identification Based on the Improved InceptionResNetV2
Authors: Wu Ling , Jinma Yongyi , Wang Xinyang , Yang Feng , Xu Fu , Cui Xiaohui , Sun Qiao
Published: August 2024

Accurate and intelligent identification of rare and endangered individuals of flagship wildlife species, such as Amur tiger (Panthera tigris altaica), is crucial for understanding population structure and distribution, thereby facilitating targeted conservation measures. However, many mathematical modeling methods, including deep learning models, often yield unsatisfactory results. This paper proposes an individual recognition method for Amur tigers based on an improved InceptionResNetV2 model. Initially, the YOLOv5 model is employed to automatically detect and segment facial, left stripe, and right stripe areas from images of 107 individual Amur tigers, achieving a high average classification accuracy of 97.3%. By introducing a dropout layer and a dual-attention mechanism, we enhance the InceptionResNetV2 model to better capture the stripe features of individual tigers at various granularities and reduce overfitting during training. Experimental results demonstrate that our model outperforms other classic models, offering optimal recognition accuracy and ideal loss changes. The average recognition accuracy for different body part features is 95.36%, with left stripes achieving a peak accuracy of 99.37%. These results highlight the model’s excellent recognition capabilities. Our research provides a valuable and practical approach to the individual identification of rare and endangered animals, offering significant potential for improving conservation efforts.
Sex Differences in Hepatic Inflammation, Lipid Metabolism, and Mitochondrial Function Following Early Lipopolysaccharide Exposure in Epileptic WAG/Rij Rats
Authors: Melini Stefania , Trinchese Giovanna , Lama Adriano , Cimmino Fabiano , Del Piano Filomena , Comella Federica , Opallo Nicola , Leo Antonio , Citraro Rita , Trabace Luigia , Mattace Raso Giuseppina , Pirozzi Claudio , Mollica Maria Pina , Meli Rosaria
Published: August 2024

Among the non-communicable neurological diseases, epilepsy is characterized by abnormal brain activity with several peripheral implications. The role of peripheral inflammation in the relationship between seizure development and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease based on sex difference remains still overlooked. Severe early-life infections lead to increased inflammation that can aggravate epilepsy and hepatic damage progression, both related to increased odds of hospitalization for epileptic patients with liver diseases. Here, we induced a post-natal-day 3 (PND3) infection by LPS (1 mg/kg, i.p.) to determine the hepatic damage in a genetic model of young epileptic WAG/Rij rats (PND45). We evaluated intra- and inter-gender differences in systemic and liver inflammation, hepatic lipid dysmetabolism, and oxidative damage related to mitochondrial functional impairment. First, epileptic rats exposed to LPS, regardless of gender, displayed increased serum hepatic enzymes and altered lipid profile. Endotoxin challenge triggered a more severe inflammatory and immune response in male epileptic rats, compared to females in both serum and liver, increasing pro-inflammatory cytokines and hepatic immune cell recruitment. Conversely, LPS-treated female rats showed significant alterations in systemic and hepatic lipid profiles and reduced mitochondrial fatty acid oxidation. The two different sex-dependent mechanisms of LPS-induced liver injury converge in increased ROS production and related mitochondrial oxidative damage in both sexes. Notably, a compensatory increase in antioxidant defense was evidenced only in female rats. Our study with a translational potential demonstrates, for the first time, that early post-natal infections in epileptic rats induced or worsened hepatic disorders in a sex-dependent manner, amplifying inflammation, lipid dysmetabolism, and mitochondrial impairment.
Antioxidant Potential of Exosomes in Animal Nutrition
Authors: Jin Hengyu , Liu Jianxin , Wang Diming
Published: August 2024

This review delves into the advantages of exosomes as novel antioxidants in animal nutrition and their potential for regulating oxidative stress. Although traditional nutritional approaches promote oxidative stress defense systems in mammalian animals, several issues remain to be solved, such as low bioavailability, targeted tissue efficiency, and high-dose by-effect. As an important candidate offering regulation opportunities concerned with cellular communication, disease prevention, and physiology regulation in multiple biological systems, the potential of exosomes in mediating redox status in biological systems has not been well described. A previously reported relationship between redox system regulation and circulating exosomes suggested exosomes as a fundamental candidate for both a regulator and biomarker for a redox system. Herein, we review the effects of oxidative stress on exosomes in animals and the potential application of exosomes as antioxidants in animal nutrition. Then, we highlight the advantages of exosomes as redox regulators due to their higher bioavailability and physiological heterogeneity-targeted properties, providing a theoretical foundation and feed industry application. Therefore, exosomes have shown great potential as novel antioxidants in the field of animal nutrition. They can overcome the limitations of traditional antioxidants in terms of dosage and side effects, which will provide unprecedented opportunities in nutritional management and disease prevention, and may become a major breakthrough in the field of animal nutrition.
Vitamin C-Dependent Uptake of Non-Heme Iron by Enterocytes, Its Impact on Erythropoiesis and Redox Capacity of Human Erythrocytes
Authors: Pan Xia , Köberle Martin , Ghashghaeinia Mehrdad
Published: August 2024

In the small intestine, nutrients from ingested food are absorbed and broken down by enterocytes, which constitute over 95% of the intestinal epithelium. Enterocytes demonstrate diet- and segment-dependent metabolic flexibility, enabling them to take up large amounts of glutamine and glucose to meet their energy needs and transfer these nutrients into the bloodstream. During glycolysis, ATP, lactate, and H+ ions are produced within the enterocytes. Based on extensive but incomplete glutamine oxidation large amounts of alanine or lactate are produced. Lactate, in turn, promotes hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (Hif-1α) activation and Hif-1α-dependent transcription of various proton channels and exchangers, which extrude cytoplasmic H+-ions into the intestinal lumen. In parallel, the vitamin C-dependent and duodenal cytochrome b-mediated conversion of ferric iron into ferrous iron progresses. Finally, the generated electrochemical gradient is utilized by the divalent metal transporter 1 for H+-coupled uptake of non-heme Fe2+-ions. Iron efflux from enterocytes, subsequent binding to the plasma protein transferrin, and systemic distribution supply a wide range of cells with iron, including erythroid precursors essential for erythropoiesis. In this review, we discuss the impact of vitamin C on the redox capacity of human erythrocytes and connect enterocyte function with iron metabolism, highlighting its effects on erythropoiesis.