bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Unveiling the Complexity of KMT2A Rearrangements in Acute Myeloid Leukemias with Optical Genome Mapping
Authors: Lacoste Sandrine A. , Gagnon Vanessa , Béliveau François , Lavallée Sylvie , Collin Vanessa , Hébert Josée
Published: December 2024

Background: KMT2A rearrangements are major genetic entities in the classification of acute myeloid leukemias (AMLs), but their diverse and frequently cryptic nature makes their detection and characterization challenging. Karyotypic anomalies at the KMT2A locus and/or abnormal KMT2A Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) results strongly indicate a KMT2A fusion, but the identification of the translocation partner gene often requires further investigation. KMT2A partial tandem duplications (PTDs), on the other hand, are undetectable by standard cytogenetics methods. Methods: We herein report the optical genome mapping (OGM) analysis of 38 AML samples: 12 cryptic/hard-to-characterize KMT2A fusions, 20 KMT2A-PTDs and 6 cases with no KMT2A anomaly. Results: In all the fusion cases, the rearrangement between 5’KMT2A and the 3’partner gene was identified as a translocation t(v;11q23.3)(v;118479068), and the analysis of co-occurring variants elucidated the formation of the rearrangement. The KMT2A variants detected in the KMT2A-PTD cases were surprisingly diverse. Combined with RNAseq data, OGM analysis identified 9 distinct in-frame KMT2A-PTD variants among the 20 cases analyzed. Conclusions: With the clinical development of menin inhibitors for the treatment of patients with KMT2A-rearranged acute leukemias, the characterization of these rearrangements is of utmost importance. Our results suggest that OGM is a promising tool for accurate genetic diagnosis in this context.
The Diagnosis and Evolution of Patients with LARS Syndrome: A Five-Year Retrospective Study from a Single Surgery Unit
Authors: Obleagă Cosmin Vasile , Cazacu Sergiu Marian , Țenea Cojan Tiberiu Ștefăniță , Mirea Cecil Sorin , Florescu Dan Nicolae , Constantin Cristian , Șerbănescu Mircea-Sebastian , Florescu Mirela Marinela , Streba Liliana , Popescu Dragoș Marian , Vîlcea Ionică Daniel , Ciorbagiu Mihai Călin
Published: December 2024

Objectives: The aim of the study was to assess the diagnosis and evolution of low anterior rectal resection syndrome (LARS) in patients admitted to a tertiary surgical center in Romania. Materials and Methods: From 120 patients initially included in the analysis, after applying the exclusion criteria, we selected 102 patients diagnosed and operated on for neoplasm of the upper, middle, and lower rectum for which resection and excision (partial or total) of mesorectum was associated. All the patients we treated in the general surgery department of the County Emergency Hospital of Craiova within a time frame of 5 years (1 October 2017–1 September 2022), and all experienced at least one symptom associated with LARS. The group included 68 men and 34 women aged between 35 and 88, who were followed-up for at least 2 years. Patients with progression of neoplastic disease, with advanced neurological disease, and those who died less than 2 years after surgery were excluded. Results: The overall incidence varied by gender, site of the tumor (requiring a certain type of surgery), and anastomotic complications, and it was directly proportional to the time interval between resection and restoration of continuity of digestion. Conclusions: Obesity, size of the remaining rectum, total excision of the mesorectum, anastomotic complications, and prolonged ileostomy time are cofactors in the etiology of LARS. The LARS score decreased in most patients during the 2-year follow-up, although there were a small number of patients in whom the decrease was insignificant. The persistence of major LARS at 6 months after surgery may predict the need for a definitive colostomy.
Fulvestrant Monotherapy After CDK4/6 Inhibitors in Metastatic Breast Cancer Patients: A Real-Life Experience
Authors: Agostini Margherita , Mandrioli Anna , Zamagni Claudio
Published: December 2024

Background: The treatment of hormone receptor positive (HR+), HER-2 negative metastatic breast cancer (MBC) has radically changed over the last few years. CDK4/6 inhibitors combined with endocrine therapy have become the standard of care as a front-line therapeutic approach, conferring a significant improvement in progression-free survival and overall survival compared to traditional endocrine therapy (ET) alone. However, the wide administration of these drugs in clinical practice paved the way for the emergence of new intrinsic and acquired mechanisms of resistance that seem to compromise second-line treatment effectiveness. In this context, fulvestrant monotherapy appears disqualified. Materials and Methods: we evaluated a population of 30 women currently treated in our oncology unit with HR+/HER2- metastatic breast cancer, receiving fulvestrant 500 mg every 28 days after progression to first-line therapy with CDK 4/6 inhibitors combined with aromatase inhibitors. Results: Of 30 patients observed, 23 progressed to fulvestrant with a median PFS of 3.7 months (range 1–9.7 months). Conclusions: our real-life experience suggests that second-line fulvestrant monotherapy confers very poor disease control and is quite an inadequate therapeutic option. CDK4/6i administration beyond progression could possibly be considered as more valid option, in the absence of targetable mutations or newer, more effective drugs.
Loading Frequency Classification in Shape Memory Alloys: A Machine Learning Approach
Authors: Tymoshchuk Dmytro , Yasniy Oleh , Maruschak Pavlo , Iasnii Volodymyr , Didych Iryna
Published: December 2024

This paper investigates the use of machine learning methods to predict the loading frequency of shape memory alloys (SMAs) based on experimental data. SMAs, in particular nickel-titanium (NiTi) alloys, have unique properties that restore the original shape after significant deformation. The frequency of loading significantly affects the functional characteristics of SMAs. Experimental data were obtained from cyclic tensile tests of a 1.5 mm diameter Ni55.8Ti44.2 wire at different loading frequencies (0.1, 0.5, 1.0, and 5.0 Hz). Various machine learning methods were used to predict the loading frequency f (Hz) based on input parameters such as stress σ (MPa), number of cycles N, strain ε (%), and loading–unloading stage: boosted trees, random forest, support vector machines, k-nearest neighbors, and artificial neural networks of the MLP type. Experimental data of 100–140 load–unload cycles for four load frequencies were used for training. The dataset contained 13,365 elements. The results showed that the MLP neural network model demonstrated the highest accuracy in load frequency classification. The boosted trees and random forest models also performed well, although slightly below MLP. The SVM method also performed quite well. The KNN method showed the worst results among all models. Additional testing of the MLP model on cycles that were not included in the training data (200th, 300th, and 1035th cycles) showed that the model retains high efficiency in predicting load frequency, although the accuracy gradually decreases on later cycles due to the accumulation of structural changes in the material.
A Comparative Study of Sentiment Analysis on Customer Reviews Using Machine Learning and Deep Learning
Authors: Ashbaugh Logan , Zhang Yan
Published: December 2024

Sentiment analysis is a key technique in natural language processing that enables computers to understand human emotions expressed in text. It is widely used in applications such as customer feedback analysis, social media monitoring, and product reviews. However, sentiment analysis of customer reviews presents unique challenges, including the need for large datasets and the difficulty in accurately capturing subtle emotional nuances in text. In this paper, we present a comparative study of sentiment analysis on customer reviews using both deep learning and traditional machine learning techniques. The deep learning models include Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) and Recursive Neural Network (RNN), while the machine learning methods consist of Logistic Regression, Random Forest, and Naive Bayes. Our dataset is composed of Amazon product reviews, where we utilize the star rating as a proxy for the sentiment expressed in each review. Through comprehensive experiments, we assess the performance of each model in terms of accuracy and effectiveness in detecting sentiment. This study provides valuable insights into the strengths and limitations of both deep learning and traditional machine learning approaches for sentiment analysis.
Augmented Reality for Event Promotion
Authors: Lameirão Tiago , Melo Miguel , Pinto Filipe
Published: December 2024

This article presents the development of an augmented reality (AR) application aimed at promoting events in urban environments. The main goal of the project was to create an immersive experience that enhances user interaction with their surroundings, leveraging AR technology. The application was built using Django Rest Framework (DRF) for backend services and Unity for the AR functionalities and frontend. Key features include user registration and authentication, event viewing, interaction with virtual characters, and feedback on attended events, providing an engaging platform to promote urban events. The development process involved several stages, from requirements analysis and system architecture design to implementation and testing. A series of tests were performed, confirming that the application meets its objectives. These tests highlighted the system’s ability to enhance user interaction with urban environments and demonstrated its potential for commercialization. The results suggest that the AR application contributes to innovation in smart cities, offering a new avenue for promoting events and engaging local communities. Future work will focus on refining the user experience and expanding the app’s functionality to support more complex event scenarios.
Reinterpretation of Conflicting ClinVar BRCA1 Missense Variants Using VarSome and CanVIG-UK Gene-Specific Guidance
Authors: So Min-Kyung , Jung Gaeul , Koh Hyun-Jeong , Park Sholhui , Jeong Tae-Dong , Huh Jungwon
Published: December 2024

Background: The accurate interpretation of the BRCA1/2 variant is critical for diagnosing and treating hereditary breast and ovarian cancers. ClinVar is a widely used public database for genetic variants. Conflicting classifications of pathogenicity can occur when different submitters categorize the same genetic variant inconsistently as pathogenic (PV), likely pathogenic (LPV), likely benign (LBV), benign (BV), or a variant of uncertain significance (VUS). The conflicting ClinVar BRCA1/2 variant classifications hinder clinical decision making. We reinterpreted 450 BRCA1 missense variants with conflicting interpretations in ClinVar (accessed on 20 December 2022). Methods: VarSome and the BRCA1/BRCA2: CanVIG-UK gene-specific guidance (CanVIG-UK) classifications were compared, and the five original classifications were consolidated into three categories (PV/LPV, VUS, and BV/LBV). Consensus analysis was performed between re-extracted ClinVar data and VarSome and CanVIG-UK results. Results: The three-category classification of the variants resulted in an overall concordance rate of 58.9% for BRCA1 missense variant interpretation between CanVIG-UK and VarSome, with VarSome having rates of 11.3, 24.7, and 64.0% for PV/LPV, VUS, and BV/LBV classifications and CanVIG-UK having rates of 11.1, 51.6, and 37.3% for P/LPV, VUS, and BV/LBV classifications, respectively. No variants classified as PV/LPV in VarSome were classified as BV/LBV in CanVIG-UK and vice versa. By 1 May 2024, 3.8% (17/450) of these conflicting variants reached a consensus classification in ClinVar and were definitively classified (9 PV/LPV, 1 VUS, and 7 BV/LBV). Conclusions: VarSome and CanVIG-UK have different features that help improve the accuracy of pathogenicity classification, highlighting the potential complementary use of both tools to support clinical decision making.
Ultrasound Examination of Skin, Fasciae and Subcutaneous Tissue: Optimizing Rehabilitation for Secondary Upper Limb Lymphedema
Authors: Pirri Carmelo , Ferraretto Chiara , Pirri Nina , Bonaldo Lara , De Caro Raffaele , Masiero Stefano , Stecco Carla
Published: December 2024

Background: Lymphedema represents a frequent cause of disability for patients undergoing oncological treatments and, being a chronic, non-reversible pathology, requires targeted and continuous rehabilitation treatments. To date, the studies available on the use of ultrasound in patients with lymphedema mainly report descriptive data; therefore, with this study, we wanted to describe in a more objective way the typical ultrasound alterations found in these patients, measuring the thickness of the different superficial structures, and defining subcutis echogenicity. Methods: 14 patients affected by secondary lymphedema of the upper limbs were enrolled in this cross-sectional observational study (12 had breast cancer and 2 with melanoma as their primary diagnosis). All patients were classified as stage II according to the ISL classification. Patients were examined between March and July 2023 with a clinical and an ultrasound evaluation. Ultrasound evaluation was performed following a protocol and took into consideration thickness of the cutis, subcutis, superficial and deep fascia, and subcutis echogenicity. Results: The cutis of the affected limbs was thicker in the distal anterior region of the arm and throughout the anterior region of the forearm. The subcutaneous tissue was thicker in the posterior region of the distal arm and throughout the forearm, including the dorsum of the hand and excluding only the proximal posterior region of the forearm. Fascial structures did not demonstrate statistically significant differences in thickness between pathological and healthy limbs, despite undergoing significant changes from a qualitative point of view (loss of the trilaminar skin appearance and the development of anechoic areas due to fluid accumulation around the hyperechoic adipose lobule). A statistically significant difference in the echogenicity of subcutaneous tissue was found at the distal anterior region of the arm and at the entire anterior forearm. Conclusions: High-resolution ultrasound has been confirmed to be a tool capable of supporting the diagnosis of lymphedema and identifying the most compromised regions of the limb. A tailored rehabilitation plan can be developed based on the non-uniform alterations in subcutaneous tissue, where some areas are affected earlier than others. This compartmentalization should be considered in lymphedema staging and management. Ultrasound may provide early detection of these changes, guiding a more precise therapeutic approach.
Designing Synchronous Online Learning and Teaching Lab: An Online Professional Development Program to Foster the Technical and Social Competences of Synchronous Online Teachers
Authors: Grammens Maaike , De Smedt Fien , De Wever Bram
Published: December 2024

Synchronous Online Teaching (SOT) is becoming increasingly popular, but research shows many teachers are inadequately prepared, calling for greater investment in professional development (PD). Additionally, there is a significant gap in research systematically describing the design of evidence-based PD initiatives. Consequently, researchers and educators lack an understanding of the essential components of these interventions, which obstructs the replication, dissemination, and implementation of evidence-based PD programs for synchronous online teachers. This study presents the design of SOL-lab, an online PD program aimed at fostering teachers’ technical and social SOT competences. A detailed overview of the online PD design is offered, encompassing the underlying theoretical and empirical foundations, macro-level design principles, and micro-level instructional and learning activities. More particularly, three key design principles guided the online PD development process: focused observation of SOT, providing and receiving feedback, and stimulating the transfer of learning. By integrating authentic learning experiences and fostering reflective practice, our program aims to empower teachers with the necessary competences to thrive in SOT environments. An analysis of teachers’ perceptions indicates that they had a positive experience with the effective features of the PD program. This study offers valuable insights for the development of effective online PD initiatives for SOT.
Designing a Prototype Platform for Real-Time Event Extraction: A Scalable Natural Language Processing and Data Mining Approach
Authors: Avornicului Mihai-Constantin , Bresfelean Vasile Paul , Popa Silviu-Claudiu , Forman Norbert , Comes Calin-Adrian
Published: December 2024

In this paper, we present a modular, high-performance prototype platform for real-time event extraction, designed to address key challenges in processing large volumes of unstructured data across applications like crisis management, social media monitoring and news aggregation. The prototype integrates advanced natural language processing (NLP) techniques (Term Frequency–Inverse Document Frequency (TF-IDF), Latent Semantic Indexing (LSI), Named Entity Recognition (NER)) with data mining strategies to improve precision in relevance scoring, clustering and entity extraction. The platform is designed to handle real-time constraints in an efficient manner, by combining TF-IDF, LSI and NER into a hybrid pipeline. Unlike the transformer-based architectures that often struggle with latency, our prototype is scalable and flexible enough to support various domains like disaster management and social media monitoring. The initial quantitative and qualitative evaluations demonstrate the platform’s efficiency, accuracy, scalability, and are validated by metrics like F1-score, response time, and user satisfaction. Its design has a balance between fast computation and precise semantic analysis, and this can make it effective for applications that necessitate rapid processing. This prototype offers a robust foundation for high-frequency data processing, adaptable and scalable for real-time scenarios. In our future work, we will further explore contextual understanding, scalability through microservices and cross-platform data fusion for expanded event coverage.
Identification of Plant Diseases in Jordan Using Convolutional Neural Networks
Authors: Al-Shannaq Moy’awiah , AL-Khateeb Shahed , Bsoul Abed , Saifan Ahmad
Published: December 2024

In the realm of global food security, plants serve as the primary source of sustenance. However, plant diseases pose a significant threat to this security. The process for diagnosing these diseases forms the bedrock of disease control efforts. The precision and expediency of these diagnoses wield substantial influence over disease management and the consequent reduction of economic losses. This research endeavors to diagnose the prevalent crops in Jordan, as identified by the Jordanian Department of Statistics for the year 2019. These crops encompass four key agricultural varieties: cucumbers, tomatoes, lettuce, and cabbage. To facilitate this, a novel dataset known as “Jordan22” was meticulously curated. Jordan22 was compiled by collecting images of diseased and healthy plants captured on Jordanian farms. These images underwent meticulous classification by a panel of three agricultural specialists well-versed in plant disease identification and prevention. The Jordan22 dataset comprises a substantial size, amounting to 3210 images. The results yielded by the CNN were remarkable, with a test accuracy rate reaching an impressive 0.9712. Optimal performance was observed when images were resized to 256 × 256 dimensions, and max pooling was used instead of average pooling. Furthermore, the initial convolutional layer was set at a size of 32, with subsequent convolutional layers standardized at 128 in size. In conclusion, this research represents a pivotal step towards enhancing plant disease diagnosis and, by extension, global food security. Through the creation of the Jordan22 dataset and the meticulous training of a CNN model, we have achieved substantial accuracy in disease detection, paving the way for more effective disease management strategies in agriculture.
Check-In Heterogeneous Hypergraph and Personalized Preference Transfers for Cross-City POI Recommendation Method
Authors: Wei Ning , Li Yunfei , Wu You , Chen Xiao , Guo Jingfeng
Published: December 2024

The objective of cross-city recommendation is to suggest points-of-interest (POI) in the target city that may be of interest to users, based on their check-in records from their source city. Although significant progress has been made in studying user preference transfers, there is a lack of research focusing on personalized user preference transfers. Furthermore, the mining of user preferences from the source city is impacted by errors and missing information. To address these challenges, this paper proposes a Check-In Heterogeneous Hypergraph and Personalized Preference Transfers for Cross-City POI Recommendation Method (CHHPPT). Firstly, a check-in heterogeneous hypergraph network is introduced in the user source city preference-mining module. This network, through Heterogeneous Hypergraph Embeddings (HHE), captures user preferences in the source city, thereby mitigating the impact of errors and missing information on user preference. Subsequently, in the user-personalized preference transfer module, a user’s transferable features are obtained through a POI aggregation network. These features are then combined with a meta-network and transfer networks to achieve user-personalized preference transfer. Finally, in the target city point-of-interest recommendation module, a POI-geographical graph is constructed using the geographical information of POI. This graph, in conjunction with category information, yields a joint embedding representation. The final recommendation is achieved by integrating the user-personalized preference transfer embeddings with the target city’s POI embeddings. Extensive experiments conducted on two real-world datasets demonstrate the effectiveness of CHHPPT in cross-city recommendation tasks.
Two-Stage Energy Storage Allocation Considering Voltage Management and Loss Reduction Requirements in Unbalanced Distribution Networks
Authors: Cao Hu , Ma Lingling , Liu Guoying , Liu Zhijian , Dong Hang
Published: December 2024

The authors propose a two-stage sequential configuration method for energy storage systems to solve the problems of the heavy load, low voltage, and increased network loss caused by the large number of electric vehicle (EV) charging piles and distributed photovoltaic (PV) access in urban, old and unbalanced distribution networks. At the stage of selecting the location of energy storage, a comprehensive power flow sensitivity variance (CPFSV) is defined to determine the location of the energy storage. At the energy storage capacity configuration stage, the energy storage capacity is optimized by considering the benefits of peak shaving and valley filling, energy storage costs, and distribution network voltage deviations. Finally, simulations are conducted using a modified IEEE-33-node system, and the results obtained using the improved beluga whale optimization algorithm show that the peak-to-valley difference of the system after the addition of energy storage decreased by 43.7% and 51.1% compared to the original system and the system with EV and PV resources added, respectively. The maximum CPFSV of the system decreased by 52% and 75.1%, respectively. In addition, the engineering value of this method is verified through a real-machine system with 199 nodes in a district of Kunming. Therefore, the energy storage configuration method proposed in this article can provide a reference for solving the outstanding problems caused by the large-scale access of EVs and PVs to the distribution network.
Research on the Measurement of AC Resistance of Overhead Transmission Lines Considering Actual Operating Conditions
Authors: Xie Dexin , Qin Zhen , Xie Shian , Jiang Jian , Bai Feng , Li Jiaqi , He Gaohui
Published: December 2024

The presence of alternating current (AC) resistance in overhead conductors contributes to additional energy losses during electrical energy transmission and affects the current-carrying capacity of the lines. However, a standardized measurement method for AC resistance remains unavailable. This paper presents the design of an experimental platform for measuring the AC resistance of conductors using an electrical measurement approach in conjunction with the least squares method. In the experiments, data were collected for four conductors, including current, AC resistance, and temperature. The study analyzes the relationships among the AC resistance of the conductors, their temperature, and the AC/DC resistance ratio as the current varies. The results from measuring the AC/DC resistance ratio indicate that the platform is effective for AC resistance measurement and can serve as a valuable reference for evaluating the AC losses of existing line conductors.
Phenological Response of an Evergreen Broadleaf Tree, Quercus acuta, to Meteorological Variability: Evaluation of the Performance of Time Series Models
Authors: Park Jeongsoo , Hong Minki , Lee Hyohyemi
Published: December 2024

Phenological events are key indicators for the assessment of climate change impacts on ecosystems. Most previous studies have focused on identifying the timing of phenological events, such as flowering, leaf-out, leaf-fall, etc. In this study, we explored the characteristics of the green chromatic coordinate (GCC) values of the evergreen broadleaf tree (Quercus acuta Thunb.), which is a widely used index that serves as a proxy for the seasonal and physiological responses of trees. Additionally, we estimated their relationship with meteorological variables using time series models, including time series decomposition and a seasonal autoregressive integrated moving average with exogenous regressors (SARIMAX). Our results showed that the GCC values and the meteorological variables, which were collected at daily intervals, exhibited a strong autocorrelation and seasonality. This suggests that time series analysis methods are more suitable than ordinary least squares (OLS) regression methods for the fulfillment of statistical assumptions. The time series analysis results highlighted a strong association between precipitation and GCC variation in evergreen broadleaf trees, particularly during the dry season. These results improve our understanding of the response of plant phenology to climate change.
Investigation of Geographical Differences of Arabinoxylan in Wheat Grain and Gel Properties of Arabinoxylan/Starch Complexes and In Vitro Digestion
Authors: Wu Haixia , Zhou Ting , Ying Ruifeng , Sun Yuanlin
Published: December 2024

With an increasing number of people pursuing a healthy diet, people have gradually realized the significance of adequate dietary fiber in their diets. In this experiment, wheat bran was collected from eight regions in China with different longitudes and latitudes, different altitudes, and average temperatures during the filling period to study the differences in the Arabinoxylan (AX) of wheat bran. The higher the altitude of the wheat production area was, the higher the AX content in the wheat bran was. Therefore, wheat bran from high-altitude production areas was selected for extracting AX. Different proportions of AX were added to wheat starch (WS) to explore the influence of different concentrations of AX on the gelatinization of WS, including the solubility, swelling capacity, rheological properties, and microstructure of the gelatinized products. Among these eight kinds of wheat, the content of total AX accounted for 11.90–15.79% of their dry weight, with the highest content being in wheat from Wuwei, Gansu. Among them, the content of water-soluble AX accounted for approximately 0.85% of their dry weight content. After adding different concentrations of 0.05–2% AX to the WS system, the gel network structure was changed. The starch hydrolysis rate of bread with 2% AX added was the lowest, of which the contents of rapidly digestible starch and slowly digestible starch were 40.02% and 36.61%, and resistant starch was as high as 25.31%. The addition of AX to starch-based foods is helpful for controlling postprandial blood sugar and insulin levels.
Esterase-Mediated Pyrethroid Resistance in Populations of an Invasive Malaria Vector Anopheles stephensi from Ethiopia
Authors: Zhong Daibin , Degefa Teshome , Zhou Guofa , Lee Ming-Chieh , Wang Chloe , Chen Jiale , Yewhalaw Delenasaw , Yan Guiyun
Published: December 2024

Background: The swift expansion of the invasive malaria vector Anopheles stephensi throughout Africa presents a major challenge to malaria control initiatives. Unlike the native African vectors, An. stephensi thrives in urban settings and has developed resistance to multiple classes of insecticides, including pyrethroids, organophosphates, and carbamates. Methods: Insecticide susceptibility tests were performed on field-collected An. stephensi mosquitoes from Awash Sebac Kilo, Ethiopia, to assess insecticide resistance levels. Illumina RNA-seq analysis was then employed to compare the transcriptomes of field-resistant populations and susceptible laboratory strains (STE2). Results: An. stephensi populations exhibited high levels of resistance to both deltamethrin (mortality, 39.4 ± 6.0%) and permethrin (mortality, 59.3 ± 26.3%) in WHO tube bioassays. RNA-seq analysis revealed that both field-resistant and field-unexposed populations exhibited increased expressions of genes associated with pyrethroid resistance, including esterases, P450s, and GSTs, compared to the susceptible STE2 strain. Notably, esterase E4 and venom carboxylesterase-6 were significantly overexpressed, up to 70-fold, compared to the laboratory strain. Functional enrichment analysis revealed a significant overrepresentation of genes associated with catalytic activity under molecular functions and metabolic process under biological process. Using weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA), we identified two co-expression modules (green and blue) that included 48 genes strongly linked to pyrethroid insecticide resistance. A co-expression network was subsequently built based on the weight values within these modules. Conclusions: This study highlights the role of esterases in the pyrethroid resistance of an An. stephensi population. The identification of candidate genes associated with insecticide resistance will facilitate the development of rapid diagnostic tools to monitor resistance trends.
Influence of Type of Dental Visit on the Incidence of COVID-19 and Related Hospitalisation Among Older People in Japan
Authors: Saito Mizuki , Shimazaki Yoshihiro , Nonoyama Toshiya , Inamoto Yoshinori
Published: December 2024

In 2020, the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic began worldwide. We examined the association between dental visit status and the incidence of COVID-19 and hospitalisation for it among older people based on medical claims data to help reduce COVID-19 severity. The study included 170,232 people who were 75–85 years old in fiscal 2019, with fiscal 2020 and 2021 serving as the follow-up period to ascertain the status of COVID-19. Using medical claims data, we investigated four types of dental visit (no visit, only periodontal treatment, periodontal and other treatment, and only other treatment) during fiscal 2019 and the incidence of COVID-19 and hospitalisation for COVID-19 during the follow-up period. Logistic regression analyses were performed with the incidence of COVID-19 and hospitalisation for COVID-19 as the dependent variables. Of the participants, 3206 (1.9%) developed COVID-19, of whom, 559 (17.4%) were hospitalised. There was not a significant association between the incidence of COVID-19 and type of dental visit. Participants with dental visits for periodontal treatment during the baseline year had a significantly lower odds ratio (OR) for hospitalisation due to COVID-19 compared to those without dental visits (OR: 0.71, 95% confidence interval: 0.58–0.78). The results suggest that dental visits for periodontal treatment including maintenance are important not only for maintaining oral health but also for preventing severe COVID-19.
Adopting a Holistic Approach to Alcohol Brief Interventions for Women in a Prison Setting in the UK: A Qualitative Exploration
Authors: Ferguson Jennifer Louise
Published: December 2024

Currently, women make up only 5% of the prison population, with 3604 women in prison in the UK compared to 74,981 men. Risky drinking is highly prevalent in both the male and female prison population, however, significantly more females drink in a risky way prior to prison (24% compared to 18% of men). In addition to risky drinking, those entering the criminal justice system (CJS), particularly women, are more likely to suffer from inequalities in society. Such inequalities can be linked to the pains of imprisonment for women. The overall research methods discussed in this paper are qualitative interviews. The interviews were designed after two systematic reviews exploring: the gendered pains of imprisonment and the feasibility and acceptability of women and alcohol brief interventions (ABI) were conducted. Interviews were conducted in an open prison setting, with both female residents and relevant staff and stakeholders. To date there is a dearth of evidence in relation to delivering ABI’s in prison, specifically with women. This research explored the feasibility and acceptability of delivering ABI to women in prison and found that when delivering ABI’s in a prison setting, by underpinning the research with criminological theory, could help women capitalise on the “teachable moment” necessary to induce behaviour change. The findings of the interviews found the intervention was both feasible and acceptable and identified five themes highlighting the women’s journey through prison chronologically to enable a more holistic ABI to be developed in future.
Lifestyle Factors and Associations with Individual and Comorbid Cardiometabolic and Pulmonary Disease Among U.S. Adults
Authors: Agbonlahor Osayande , Mattingly Delvon T. , Richardson Maggie K. , Hart Joy L. , McLeish Alison C. , Walker Kandi L.
Published: December 2024

Background: Although lifestyle factors have been linked to chronic diseases among adults, their association with diagnosed individual and comorbid cardiometabolic (CMD) and pulmonary disease (PD) is not fully known. This study aimed to examine the associations between lifestyle factors and individual and comorbid CMD and PD among U.S. adults. Methods: We used cross-sectional data from the 2017–2020 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (n = 7394). Health care provider’s diagnosis of CMD and PD and lifestyle factors (i.e., past 5-day tobacco use, past 12-month alcohol use, diet, sleep troubles, and physical activity) were assessed. Adjusted odds ratios were estimated using logistic and multinomial logistic regression. Results: Trouble sleeping was associated with increased odds of CMD (OR: 2.47) and PD (OR: 2.29) individually, while physical activity was associated with lower odds (OR: 0.75, OR: 0.77). Past 5-day tobacco (OR: 2.36) and past year alcohol (OR: 1.61) use were associated with increased PD odds. Lifestyle factors were associated with increased odds of comorbid CMD and PD. Conclusions: Lifestyle factors were associated with increased odds of individual and comorbid CMD and PD among adults. CMD and PD prevention should involve promoting lifestyle modification and implementation of policies that eliminate structural barriers to healthy lifestyle adoption.
Assessing the Association Between Urban Amenities and Urban Green Space Transformation in Guangzhou
Authors: Zhang Shawei , Chen Jiawen , Cai Yuxuan , Wen Yuhan , Niu Jiaqi , Chen Mingze
Published: December 2024

This study explores the intricate relationship between urban amenities and the transformation of urban green spaces (UGS) in Guangzhou, China, over the decade from 2013 to 2022. Amid rapid urbanization, maintaining and expanding green spaces has become increasingly challenging, especially in densely populated urban centers. This research utilizes remote sensing data and Point of Interest (POI) data to assess how different types of urban amenities influence UGS dynamics based on geospatial analytics. The study focuses on the central districts of Guangzhou, a city facing significant urban development pressures, to provide a nuanced understanding of these interactions. Employing both Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) regression and Random Forest (RF) models, the analysis examines the impact of 23 categories of POIs on the spatial and temporal changes in UGS. Key findings reveal that amenities such as auto repair shops, shopping services, and transit facilities are negatively correlated with UGS, indicating that their presence may contribute to the reduction in green space. Conversely, amenities like scenic spots and life services show a positive correlation, suggesting they might support the preservation or expansion of green spaces. The results underscore the dual role of urban amenities in both supporting and constraining green space development, highlighting the need for carefully balanced urban planning strategies. This study provides valuable insights for policymakers and urban planners aiming to promote sustainable urban growth while preserving essential green spaces, ensuring that urban environments remain livable and ecologically resilient.
Investigation of N-Acetyllactosamine and N,N-Diacetyllactosamine Residues of Seminal Plasma Prolactin-Induced Protein as Ligands Recognized by Galectin-3
Authors: Kałuża Anna , Trzęsicka Katarzyna , Drzyzga Damian , Ferens-Sieczkowska Mirosława
Published: December 2024

Prolactin induced-protein (PIP) has been found to be rich in immunomodulatory epitopes, including N-acetyllactosamine (LacNAc) and N,N-diacetyllactosamine (LacdiNAc) residues, which may constitute ligands for galecin-3 (Gal-3). In the current study, we aimed to investigate the reactivity of galactose- and N-acetylgalactosamine-specific lectins with human seminal plasma PIP. Subsequently, we examined the direct interaction between seminal plasma PIP and galectin-3, and next analyzed whether there are any differences in the interaction associated with impaired semen parameters. The reactivity of terminal galactose-presenting glycans in seminal plasma PIP with Ricinus communis agglutinin I in the asthenozoospermic group was significantly higher compared to the normozoospermic fertile subjects. Investigating the reactivity of Wisteria floribunda lectin with PIP glycans, we found likewise significantly higher relative reactivity in the normozoospermic infertile as well as the oligoasthenozoopermic group compared to the control group. These results are related to the expression of LacdiNAc epitopes in the oligosaccharide chain of PIP. Finally, we observed that PIP reactivity with Wisteria floribunda lectin correlates positively with the interaction between galectin-3 and PIP in the seminal plasma. This can suggest that LacdiNAc residues are engaged in the interaction between PIP and galectin-3.
Targeting 5-HT Is a Potential Therapeutic Strategy for Neurodegenerative Diseases
Authors: Xing Cencan , Chen Hongyu , Bi Wangyu , Lei Tong , Hang Zhongci , Du Hongwu
Published: December 2024

There is increasing interest in the potential therapeutic role of 5-HT (serotonin) in the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases, which are characterized by the progressive degeneration and death of nerve cells. 5-HT is a vital neurotransmitter that plays a central role in regulating mood, cognition, and various physiological processes in the body. Disruptions in the 5-HT system have been linked to several neurological and psychiatric disorders, making it an attractive target for therapeutic intervention. Although the exact causes of neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease (AD), Parkinson’s disease (PD), and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) are not fully understood, researchers believe that regulating the 5-HT system could help alleviate symptoms and potentially slow the progression of these diseases. Here, we delve into the potential of harnessing 5-HT as a therapeutic target for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases. It is important to note that the current clinical drugs targeting 5-HT are still limited in the treatment of these complex diseases. Therefore, further research and clinical trials are needed to evaluate the feasibility and effectiveness of its clinical application.
Chromosome-Level Genome Assembly of Discogobio brachyphysallidos (Teleostei, Cyprinidae) and Population Genomics of the D. brachyphysallidos Complex: Impacts of Geological and Climate Changes on Species Evolution in Southwest China
Authors: Zheng Lan-Ping , Wu Li-Li , Sun Hua-Ying
Published: December 2024

The genus Discogobio is distributed in the eastern three rivers on the Yunnan–Guizhou Plateau and its adjacent regions, located to the southeast of the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau. Its origin and evolution are likely influenced by the uplift of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. However, the historical impact of geological events on the divergence and distribution of this fish group has not been fully elucidated. In this study, we successfully assembled a chromosome-level genome for Discogobio brachyphysallidos, which is approximately 1.21 Gb in length with a contig N50 of 8.63 Mb. The completeness of the genome assembly was assessed with a BUSCO score of 94.78%. A total of 30,597 protein-coding genes were predicted, with 93.92% functionally annotated. Phylogenetic analysis indicated that D. brachyphysallidos was closely related to Labeo rohita, and the divergence of the subfamily Labeoninae coincided with the significant uplift events of the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau. Additionally, we analyzed 75 samples of D. brachyphysallidos and D. yunnanensis from five populations, yielding 1.82 Tb of clean data and identifying 891,303,336 high-quality SNP sites. Population structure analyses indicated that the populations were clustered into five distinct groups, demonstrating significant genetic differentiation among them and the presence of cryptic species within this genus. Analyses of linkage disequilibrium decay and selective sweep indicated that the Pearl River population exhibited relatively higher genetic diversity compared with the populations from other drainages, and none of the populations showed evidence of expansion. Notably, the two population declines coincided with the early Pleistocene and Quaternary glaciation. It can be assumed that the geological movements of the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau and the Quaternary glaciation contributed to the decline in Discogobio populations and shaped their current size. The population genomics results showed that the present distribution pattern of Discogobio was the outcome of a series of geological events following the uplift of the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau. This study reconstructed the geological evolutionary history of the region from the perspective of species evolution. Furthermore, our study presents the first genome-wide analysis of the genetic divergence of Discogobio.
Risk Factors and Pain Management in the Incidence of Postoperative Delirium in Elderly Patients: A Retrospective Study
Authors: Vizerie Lucas , Morales Timothée , Galey Sophie , Montel Franck , Velly Lionel , Bruder Nicolas , Simeone Pierre
Published: December 2024

Background: Postoperative delirium (POD) is a common surgical complication that increases hospital stay duration, hospitalization costs, readmission rates and mortality. This study aims to describe the incidence of POD in an elderly patient population and to investigate pain assessment as a risk factor for postoperative confusion. Additionally, we aim to determine a predictive model for POD. Methods: We conducted a retrospective, observational, single-center study at La Timone Hospital between September 2020 and September 2021. We included patients aged 65 or older, admitted for scheduled or emergency surgical care, with an expected postoperative stay of three days or more and no history of dementia. Data were collected in three stages of hospitalization: preoperative, perioperative, and postoperative. Preoperative data included medical history and lifestyle; perioperative data included surgical and anesthesia characteristics, and postoperative data were collected. Results: Of the 531 patients admitted for surgical care, we analyzed 109 patients. Among these, 24 (22%) experienced a POD episode within the first three postoperative days. Age, preoperative cognitive impairments, preoperative sensory deficits, and long-term benzodiazepine use were identified as risk factors for POD. A significant difference in pain levels was also observed for all NRS scores during the first three postoperative days. After multivariate analysis, we retained two predictive models for POD. Conclusions: This study identified risk factors for POD and proposed predictive models based on these factors. Two models were particularly notable for their potential use in anesthesia consultations and patient follow-up services to quickly detect patients at risk of POD.
How to Exercise Administrative Authority Efficiently in the Management of PAs Under a Holistic Spatial Protection Perspective—Evidence from China
Authors: Cheng Xiaoya , Gao Haoran
Published: December 2024

Administrative authority in the management of protected areas (PAs) shapes the pattern of the governance network of PAs, which is directly related to the balance and stability of natural resource elements and the whole ecosystem in PAs. A PA itself is a special ecological space, and the management of PAs must be able to guarantee the shaping of the order of this special ecological space. This paper built an analytical framework of administrative authority in the management of PAs from the perspective of holistic spatial protection by utilizing qualitative research methods and analyzing policy texts, legal texts, and typical judicial cases related to the governance of PA to sort out and review the administrative authority in the management of PAs. It proposes to centralize and synergize the exercise of administrative power in the management of PAs to meet the expectation of the comprehensive, synergistic, and holistic management of PAs.
Effects of High-Intensity Interval Training on Blood Pressure Levels in Hypertensive Patients: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Clinical Trials
Authors: Romero-Vera Luis , Ulloa-Díaz David , Araya-Sierralta Sergio , Guede-Rojas Francisco , Andrades-Ramírez Oscar , Carvajal-Parodi Claudio , Muñoz-Bustos Gustavo , Matamala-Aguilera María , Martínez-García Darío
Published: December 2024

Objective: This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to (I) evaluate the evidence on the effects of high-intensity interval training (HIIT) on systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) in hypertensive patients; (II) determine whether HIIT impacts SBP and DBP differently; and (III) assess the clinical relevance of these effects. Methods: A comprehensive search was conducted across multiple electronic databases, resulting in the inclusion of seven randomized clinical trials in the meta-analysis. The outcomes were analyzed using random-effects models to compute mean differences (MD) and standardized mean differences (SMD) for SBP and DBP. Results: A small reduction in SBP was observed with HIIT interventions (MD −3.00; 95% CI −4.61 to −1.39; p < 0.0001; SMD −0.28; 95% CI −0.42 to −0.13; p = 0.0003). However, no statistically significant reductions were detected for DBP (MD −0.70; 95% CI −1.80 to 0.39; p = 0.21; SMD −0.07; 95% CI −0.22 to 0.08; p = 0.35). Despite demonstrating statistical significance for SBP, the effects did not reach clinical relevance. Conclusions: HIIT interventions yield small reductions in SBP, with minimal impact on DBP. These findings suggest limited clinical relevance in the management of hypertension. Further randomized controlled trials are necessary to standardize HIIT protocols, with specific emphasis on intensity control and manipulation, to better understand their potential role in hypertensive populations.