bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Neighborhood Matters: An Exploration of Neighborhood-Level Disadvantage and Cancer Protective Behaviors in Hispanic Youth with Unhealthy Weight
Authors: Lovan Padideh , Graefe Beck , Porter Andrew , Szapocznik José , Penedo Frank J , Messiah Sarah E. , Prado Guillermo
Published: January 2024

Purpose: The present study aimed to assess the relationships between youth CPB (i.e., healthy dietary intake and physical activity), neighborhood influences measured by the Area Deprivation Index (ADI), parent stress, and parent socio-demographic characteristics (i.e., education, household income, and marital status) among Hispanic families who have youth with unhealthy weight. Additionally, we examined whether parent stress mediated the relationship between youth ADI and CPB.
Methods: Baseline data from 280 Hispanic youth (Mage = 13.01 ± 0.83; 52.1% females; MBody Mass Index (BMI) Percentile = 94.55 ± 4.15) and their parents (Mage = 41.87 ± 6.49; 88.2% females) who enrolled in an RCT were used. Self-reported data on youth dietary intake and physical activity, parent stress, and parent socio-demographic characteristics were collected. Neighborhood impact was examined using ADI, a validated measure to classify neighborhood disadvantage (e.g., housing quality and neighborhood income) using data from the US Census Bureau. Structural Equation Modeling was used to evaluate the study model.
Results: Our findings indicated significant associations between ADI and youth CPB (b = -0.17, p = .019), and parent stress (b = 0.23, p = .001). However, parent stress did not mediate the relationship between youth ADI and CPB.
Conclusion: Our findings suggest that Hispanic youth living in disadvantaged neighborhoods may be less likely than youth in non-disadvantaged neighborhoods to engage in CPB. Future research should evaluate neighborhood resources to encourage physical activity and healthy eating.
Identifying potential biomarkers of Ferroptosis for Osteoporosis based on using TMT proteomics and bioinformatics analysis
Authors: su Hui , Xue Haipeng , Guo WenXuan , Yu jinsheng , Xu Zhanwang , Zhuang Rujie , Tan Guoqing
Published: January 2024

Background: primary osteoporosis has increasingly become a major problem affecting human health, and its specific pathogenic mechanism is complex. Ferroptosis,as a research hotspot, has found play an important role in the pathogenesis of primary osteoporosis, in order to explore the connection and specific target genes between Ferroptosis and primary osteoporosis .
Methods:We used TMT proteomics and bioinformatics analysis to elucidate the connection and key targets of the Ferroptosis pathway in the Ovariectomized osteoporosis rat model.Forty 12-week-old female SD rats were used in the study, 20 rats were ovariectomized as the OVX group and 20 rats as the SHAM group , after the rats were sacrificed, and left femur of rat was removed for computerized tomography testing, and right femurs were used for hematoxylin and eosin staining. Finally, we extract bone tissue protein for TMT proteomics analysis and western spotting verification.
Results:The proteomic results of the OVX and SHAM groups showed that 133 proteins were significantly changed, of which 91 were up-regulated proteins and 42 were down-regulated proteins, TXN, TMSB4X, TFRC, TF, RELA, PARP14, CP, CAPG, and ADIPOQ. The expression of key proteins in bone tissue was detected by Western blotting.TFR1 and TF expression were upregulated, and the expression levels in Cp and BMP-2 were downregulated.
Conclusions: The TMT proteomics and functional enrichment analyses in our study confirmed that in osteoporosis, lipid metabolism is disturbed causing the appearance of oxidative stress accompanied by an imbalance in iron homeostasis.
Surface damage reduction effect of super long working face with large mining height in Shangwan Coal Mine
Authors: xinjie liu , yingming yang , yongqiang zhao , gang liu , zhuhe xu
Published: January 2024

Green mining is the basic background of high-quality mining, and source reduction is the most important part, among which the optimization of working face height and length is the most active. How to control the working face parameters, reasonably evaluate the surface subsidence characteristics of the super-long working face, and identify the limit working face length and the surface discontinuous deformation threshold is particularly important. In order to solve the problem of irreversible damage to the surface caused by the mining process of the working face, this paper discusses the whole process of surface movement in the 8.8 m super-large mining height working face of Shangwan Coal Mine through field investigation, in-situ monitoring and data analysis. Combined with the inflection point trajectory, advancing degree and subsidence coefficient, the 0.9 coefficient of the working face subsidence basin boundary and the loss reduction strategy far from the limit working face threshold are proposed. The results show that the subsidence basin of 12401 working face accounts for 34%, the continuous deformation area of surface accounts for 64%, and the influence area of discontinuous deformation area is within 10 times of mining height. With the help of borehole detection verification, the time effect of rock movement in different layers is further revealed, which provides a strong basis for the optimization design of working face and the timing of surface ecological management.
A Study on Magnetic-sensitivity Wavelength Position of the Working Line Used by the Full-Disk Magnetograph onboard the Advanced Space based Solar Observatory (ASO-S/FMG)
Authors: Liu S. , Su J. T. , Bai X. Y. , Deng Y. Y. , Chen J. , Song Y. L. , Wang X. F. , Xu H. Q. , Yang X. , Idrees Shahid
Published: January 2024

Utilizing data from the Solar M agnetism and Activity T elescope (SMAT), analytical solutions of polarized radiative transfer equations, and in-orbit test data from the Full-disk Magnetograph (FMG) onboard the Advanced Space based Solar Observatory (ASO-S), this study reveals the magnetic-sensitivity spectral positions for the Fe i λ5234.19Å working line used by FMG. From the experimental data of SMAT, it is found that the most sensitivity position is located at the line center for linear polarization (Stokes-Q/U), while it is about-0.07Å away from the line center for circular polarization (Stokes-V). Moreover , both the theoretical analysis and the in-orbit test data analysis of FMG prove again the above results. Additionally, the theoretical analysis suggests the presence of distinct spectral pockets (centered at 0.08-0.15Å) from the line, harboring intense magnetic sensitivity across all three Stokes parameters. Striking a balance between high sensitivity for both linear and circular polarization while capturing additional valuable information, a spectral position of-0.08Å emerges as the champion for routine FMG magnetic-field observations.
Development of simultaneous analysis method for 11 respiratory drug substances including theobromine and analysis of commercial products using UPLC-PDA
Authors: Kim Mi Jin , Shin Hyunil , Choi Hwan Seong , Kim Nam Sook , Lee Ji Hyun , Choi Jang Duck
Published: January 2024

Recently, the number of people suffering from respiratory symptoms has continued to increase owing to the effects of COVID-19 and particulate matter, and accordingly, the demand for respiratory-related dietary supplements is increasing. Over the past few years, dietary supplements adulterated with pharmaceutical drug substances have been appearing continuously; thus, preventive measures are needed. In this study, we developed a simultaneous analysis method for 11 respiratory-related pharmaceutical compounds using ultra-performance liquid chromatography with photodiode array (UPLC-PDA). The sample preparation method was optimized by comparing three clean-up methods including the QuEChERS for hard capsule, tablet, powder, and liquid formulations, and the analysis conditions were established by comparing various analysis parameters. In method validation, the limit of detection, limit of quantitation, specificity, linearity, recovery, precision, accuracy, matrix effect, and stability all met the standards of the ICH guidelines. Subsequently, 52 types of dietary supplements promoting relief of respiratory-related symptoms were purchased online and analyzed using UPLC-PDA. Theobromine was detected in one product, and the content was calculated to be 247.7 mg/g (117.1 mg/capsule). This study can contribute to preventively blocking dietary supplements adulterated with respiratory-related substances and can be used as a reference for future research.
Predictive model of pre-operative prognostic nutrition index for biochemical recurrence in patients undergoing robot-assisted laparoscopic radical prostatectomy: a retrospective clinical study
Authors: Zhao Yifan , Qian Shian , Li Xianchuang , Jin Hengxi , Zhao Xiaojun
Published: January 2024

Objective: To investigate the predictive value of pre-operative prognostic nutritional index (PNI) in biochemical recurrence (BCR) in patients with robot-assistedlaparoscopic radical prostatectomy (RARP) and to establish a BCR risk score model based on PNI.
Methods: The clinical data of 157 patients treated with RARP in the Department of Urology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University were retrospectively analyzed. The endpoint of observation was BCR. The area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was evaluated to determine the optimal cutoff value for PNI. Kaplan-Meier analysis and Cox regression analysis were used to evaluate the correlation between PNI and BCR. 157 patients were divided into a training group and a validation group by a ratio of 7:3. By univariate and multivariate Cox regression analysis, independent prognostic factors were screened from the relevant clinicopathological factors, a BCR prediction model and nomogramwere established, then verified its value.
Results: According to the ROC curve, the optimal cutoff value of PNI for 157 patients in this study was 47.425. According to multivariate Cox regression analysis, PNI and prostate-specific antigen (PSA) were identified as independent prognostic factors for predicting BCR in patients treated with RARP. A BCR prediction model formula was established based on PNI and PSA. It was proved to have good predictive value in both the training group and the validation group. Nomogram was constructed to predict the BCR of patients treated with RARP at 6-, 12-, and 24-months after surgery. The results of the calibration plots showed that the nomogram performed well in the training group and the validation group.
Conclusion: PNI is an independent prognostic factor for predicting BCR in patients treated with RARP. The scoring model and nomogram based on PNI and PSA can effectively predict the risk of BCR in patients treated with RARP.
Large field-of-view intravascular ultrasound for actual valve-in-valve transcatheter heart valve expansion. A Pilot study.
Authors: Kalińczuk Łukasz , Mintz Gary S , Skotarczak Wiktor , Sadowski Karol A , Stokłosa Patrycjusz , Kochańska Sara , Dąbrowski Maciej , Woźniak Olgierd , Kubik Agata , Kowalik Ilona , Sondergaard Lars , Witkowski Adam , Michałowska Ilona , Demkow Marcin
Published: January 2024

Background. Actual expansion of a transcatheter heart valve (THV) might differ from nominal particularly during non-aortic valve-in-valve (VIV) for degenerated bioprosthetic surgical heart valve (SHV).
Aims. To compare THV expansion measured using large-field-of-view intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) versus multi-slice computer tomography (MSCT) and assess the correlation between THV dimensions and transvalvular gradients.
Methods. Fourteen patients were successfully treated with mitral/tricuspid VIV SAPIEN 3 implantation sized using the true SHV inner diameter; all 14 had baseline MSCT and transvalvular gradients measured at baseline, post-procedure, and at discharge. Peri-procedural IVUS (in 6 patients using with a Philips 10MHz Vision PV035) was compared with post-procedural MSCT (in 9 patients) with offline measurements performed at 1-mm steps along the THV height, and analyzed 190 MSCT and paired 124 IVUS cross-sections.
Results. There was very good agreement between IVUS THV dimensions and corresponding MSCT measurements (intraclass correlation coefficient ≥0.986 and p<0.001). IVUS measured THV expansion (percent of the nominal cross-sectional area) was smaller within the inflow and middle of the THV overlapping the ring (85.9±11.3%, 83.8±11.8%) than within the outflow (98.8±12.7%). The residual mean transvalvular gradient increased from peri-procedural to pre-discharge (3.5±2.0 vs 6.3±1.7mmHg, p<0.001). The only independent predictor of pre-discharge maximal transvalvular gradient was the smallest minimal inner THV frame diameter (r2=0.67), predicted by true SHV internal diameter (Beta = 0.066, 95%CI = 0.015 – 0.117, r2=0.49, p=0.037).
Conclusions. Peri-procedural use of a large field-of-view IVUS offers accurate insight into actual THV expansion when deployed valve-in-valve. Minimal inner THV stent frame dimensions correlate with increased post-procedural transvalvular gradients.
Arterial blood pressure monitoring using three different technologies during neuro radiological procedure: a prospective, monocentric, observational study
Authors: Chapalain Xavier , Morvan Thomas , Gentric Jean-Christophe , Subileau Aurélie , Jacob Christophe , Cadic Anna , Caillard Anaïs , Huet Olivier
Published: January 2024

Background
In the perioperative setting, the most accurate way to continuously measure Arterial Blood Pressure (ABP) is using an arterial catheter. Surrogate methods such as finger cuff have been developped to allow non invasive measurements and are increasingly used, but needs further evaluation. The aim of this study is to evaluate accuracy and clinical concordance between three devices for the measurement of ABP during neuroradiological procedure.
Methods
This is a prospective, monocentric, observational study. All consecutive patients undergoing a neuro radiological procedure were eligible. Patients who needed arterial catheter for blood pressure measurement were included. During neuroradiological procedure, ABP (systolic, mean and diatolic blood pressure) was measured with three different technologies: radial artery catheter, Arm Cuff and Nexfin. Bland-Altman and error grid analysis were performed to evaluat accuracy and clinical concordance between devices.
Results
From March 2022 to November 2022, we included 50 patients, mostly ASA 3 (60%) and required a cerebral embolization (94%) under general anaesthesia (96%). Compare to artery catheter, a significant relationship was found for SAP (r2 = 0.78) and MAP (r2 = 0.80) with the Nexfin (p < 0.001). Bias and limits of agreement (LOA) were respectively 9.6 mmHg (-15.6 to 34.8 mmHg) and − 0.8 mmHg (-17.2 to 15.6 mmHg), for SAP and MAP. We found a significant relationship for SAP (r2 = 0.82) and MAP (r2 = 0.74) with Arm Cuff (p < 0.001). Bias and LOA were respectively 5.8 mmHg (-30.4 to 22.9 mmHg) and − 1.4 mmHg (-17.3 to 14.4 mmHg), for SAP and MAP. Error grid analysis showed that 99% of non-invasive ABP measures obtained with the Nexfin and Arm Cuff were located in the risk zone A or B.
Conclusions
Despite an inaccuracy which are larger than acceptable, ABP measurement with non-invasive devices induced almost no changes in individual patient care during neuro radiological procedure.
Trial registration:
Clinicaltrials.gov, registration number: NCT05283824
Enhancing the Robustness of Hybrid Metal-Composite Connections through 3D printed Micro Penetrative Anchors
Authors: Raimondi Luca , Tomesani Luca , Zucchelli Andrea
Published: January 2024

This work proposes a novel solution for manufacturing hybrid metal-composite joints, in which different pin shapes are evaluated for their capability to penetrate long carbon fiber epoxy composites successfully and for the mechanical behavior determined by each configuration. On the metal side, pins are manufactured by Laser Powder Bed Fusion (LPBF), downsizing the currently adopted solutions and, at the same time, developing new blocking features aimed at enhancing the mechanical properties of the joint. The different configurations were evaluated in two distinct experiments: the first to evaluate the induced defects in the composite substrate and the second to characterize the mechanical behavior of the joint. It emerges that smaller pins produce much less damage and misalignments in the composite structure with respect to the conventional pin solution, whereas the new "blocking features" configurations consistently increase maximum pullout load and energy with respect to the conventional pin solution, with the same level of fiber damage.
Clinical Features Associated with Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor Nephritis: A Single-Center Clinical Case Series
Authors: Muddasani Ramya , Talwar Neel , Mambetsariev Isa , Fricke Jeremy , Lin Mercury , Schmolze Daniel , Yue Andrew , Rizvi Amna , Salgia Ravi
Published: January 2024

Background
Acute kidney injury (AKI) has been well described as a complication of immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy. We present a series of patients, the majority with lung adenocarcinoma, who developed AKI while actively receiving immune checkpoint inhibitors.
Methods
This is a retrospectively analyzed clinical case series of six patients treated at City of Hope Comprehensive Cancer Center. Data was collected on gender, age, ethnicity, comorbidities, concomitant medications, type of malignancy, treatments, and renal function. All patients underwent renal biopsy for classification of the mechanism of AKI. Comprehensive genomic profiling (CGP) was performed on tumor tissue for all patients.
Results
Patterns of AKI included acute interstitial nephritis and acute tubular necrosis. Contributing factors included the use of concomitant medications known to contribute to AKI. All but two patients had full resolution of the AKI with the use of steroids. There were several mutations found on CGP that were notable including an Exon 20 insertion as well as multiple NF1 and TP53 mutations. There was high PD-L1 expression on tumor tissue noted in two out of six patients. In addition to AKI, a subset of patients had proteinuria with biopsies revealing corresponding glomerular lesions of minimal change disease and focal and segmental glomerulosclerosis.
Conclusions
Our case series demonstrates that AKI from immune checkpoint inhibitors has a variable presentation that may require an individualized treatment approach. Further studies are needed to identify biomarkers that may help identify those at risk and guide the management of this condition.
Screening for SARS-CoV-2 and other coronaviruses in urban pigeons (Columbiformes) from the North of Spain under a ‘One Health’ perspective
Authors: Portillo Aránzazu , Cervera-Acedo Cristina , Palomar Ana M. , Ruiz-Arrondo Ignacio , Santibáñez Paula , Santibáñez Sonia , Oteo José A.
Published: January 2024

Coronaviruses have a major impact on human and animal health. As an example, SARS-CoV-2, a Beta-coronavirus responsible for the COVID-19 pandemic, continues circulating and causing human deaths, and its high replication rate results in numerous variants. Coronaviruses are adapted to birds and mammals and constitute serious threats. They are able to accumulate mutations, and the emergence of new viruses by recombination of SARS-CoV-2 with other coronaviruses is likely. Urban pigeons (Columbiformes) are synanthropic birds of great interest from a "One Health" perspective, due to their interaction with humans and other animals. Aware that pigeons may act as reservoirs of viruses and contribute to their spread, we aimed to investigate the possible presence of SARS-CoV-2 and other coronaviruses in pigeons in Logroño city, Spain. Oropharyngeal and cloacal swabs from 203 Columbiformes were collected in August/September 2021, and January/February 2022. SARS-COV-2 was screened by real-time PCRs targeting N1 in all specimens and, subsequently, targeting E gene in 10% of random samples. In addition, PCRs of two RdRp gene regions from all coronaviruses were performed. SARS-CoV-2 was not detected in any sample, whereas coronavirus RNA was found in 13.3% pigeons. RdRp nucleotide sequences showed maximum similarity (96.1–97.2%) with those of Gamma-coronavirus (Igacovirus), found in Columbiformes, mainly in Finland, Poland and China. Monitoring the emergence of recombinant viruses should continue, since SARS-CoV-2 still circulates and there are other coronaviruses in animals in close contact with humans. The presence of Gamma-coronavirus in urban pigeons must be considered for the risk surveillance of human infections.
The evolution of the genetic structure of populations of two species of the Anopheles gambiae s.l. complex using the Kdr gene before and after indoor residual spraying in some agroecological zones of Benin (West Africa)
Authors: Koukpo Come Z. , Fassinou Arsène Jacques Y. H. , Ossè Razaki A. , Tokponon Filemon , Agossa Fiacre R. , Padonou Germain Gil , Govoetchan Renaud , Aboubakar Sidick , Yovogan Boulais , Odjo Esdras M. , Akpodji Serge , Adoha Constantin J. , Baba-Moussa Lamine Saïd , Adégnika Ayola Akim , Akogbeto Martin C. , Sezonlin Michel
Published: January 2024

In Benin, the resistance of An. gambiae s.l. mosquitoes to pyrethroids remains a major concern. The development and use of alternative insecticides seems to be the solution. Organophosphates (Actelic@300 CS) are currently the best candidates to meet this challenge. The present study aims to compare the genetic structure of vector populations of two species of the An. gambiae complex through the L1014F resistance allele of the Kdr gene during two periods marked by characteristic environments to better understand its impact on the dynamics and biology of these organisms. Eight localities divided into three agro-ecological zones, one of which is a control, were studied. Larval surveys were carried out during the rainy seasons from May to July 2016 for the pre-PID period and from May to November 2018 for the subsequent period. Larvae were reared at the insectarium of the Centre de Recherche Entomologique de Cotonou. The adult females obtained were identified morphologically and by molecular approaches. The genetic structure of the populations at various hierarchical levels could be determined using the L1014F and L1014L alleles of Kdr. Molecular analysis revealed three vector species of the An. gambiae complex both before and after IRS, two of which were in the majority. These were 171 An. coluzzii, 297 An. gambiae s.s., 11 An. arabiensis and 211 An. coluzzii, 256 An. gambiae s.s., 8 An. arabiensis respectively out of 479 sampled before treatment and 475 sampled after IRS. In both An. gambiae s.s. and An. coluzzii, the gene frequency of L1014F was found to increase significantly following treatment, approaching the limit of fixation in some populations. A deficit of heterozygosity is widespread with values of the indices, FST, FSC and FCT, expressing little or no differentiation within and between the defined populations. IRS didn’t adversely affect the selection and spread of the L1014F resistant allele of the Kdr gene. The apparent adaptation of An. coluzzii to polluted areas would be a factor in its proliferation to the detriment of its twin sister An. gambiae in IRS areas. The genetic structuring of the populations, whatever the species, remains almost the same despite the treatment.
Gastric emphysema and pneumatosis intestinalis in two common marmosets with duodenal dilation syndrome
Authors: Kawarai Shinpei , Sakai Yasuhiro , Iriki Atsushi , Yamazaki Yumiko
Published: January 2024

Background:Common marmosets (Callithrix jacchus) are widely used as primate experimental models in biomedical research. Duodenal dilation with chronic vomiting in captive common marmosets is a recently described life-threatening syndrome that is problematic for health control. However, the pathogenesis and cause of death are not fully understood.
Case presentation: We report two novel necropsy cases in which captive common marmosets were histopathologically diagnosed with gastric emphysema (GE) and pneumatosis intestinalis (PI). Marmoset duodenal dilation syndrome was confirmed in each case by clinical observation of chronic vomiting and by gross necropsy findings showing a dilated, gas-filled and fluid-filled descending duodenum that adhered to the ascending colon. A diagnosis of GE and PI was made on the basis of the bubble-like morphology of the gastric and intestinal mucosa, with histological examination revealing numerous vacuoles diffused throughout the lamina propria mucosae and submucosa. Immunostaining for prospero homeobox 1 and CD31 distinguished gas cysts from blood and lymph vessels. The presence of hepatic portal venous gas in case 1 and possible secondary bacteremia-related septic shock in case 2 were suggested to be acute life-threatening abdominal processes resulting from gastric emphysema and pneumatosis intestinalis.
Conclusions: In both cases, the gross and histopathological findings of gas cysts in the GI tract walls matched the features of human GE and PI. These findings contribute to clarifying the cause of death in captive marmosets that have died of gastrointestinal diseases.
Application of ARIMA-LSTM-CQP Time Rolling Window Multi-Factor Stock Selection Model in Quantitative Investment
Authors: TANG CHEN , Xu Yidan , Bu Shupo , Xiao Sa , Yuan Bo , Cai Jiarong , Yu Qianhua
Published: January 2024

With the support of big data and artificial intelligence, stock price prediction has been a hot topic, which attracts many scholars to explore and study this field. In this paper, to ensure the validity of the factors in the multifactor stock picking model, the factors of different months are acquired rotationally, and the ARIMA-LSTM-CQP time rolling window multifactor model based on ARIMA-LSTM-CQP is proposed. In this paper, by adding the time rolling window model to the acquired data, the IC values of all the factors in each month are characterised by feature selection and correlation tests, and the factors with high correlation are eliminated to lay a robust foundation for the model prediction. Subsequently, ARIMA, LSTM and CQP algorithms are combined to construct multi-factor model factor combinations, and a time rolling window multi-factor model based on ARIMA-LSTM-CQP is established. The obtained multifactor quantitative stock picking model is used for stock picking strategy research, and the multifactor model and stock picking strategy are evaluated through simulated trading and experimentally compared with DeepForest, RF, LSTM, GBDT and LightGBM machine learning algorithm models. After the experimental study, it was found that the ARIMA-LSTM-CQP time rolling window based multifactor model achieves good results in terms of ACC, F1, Recall, Annualized Return and Maximum Retraction.
Toll-like receptors (TLRs) in PDT-induced innate immune response cervical human papillomavirus infection (HPV)
Authors: Maxim Afanasiev , Alexander Dushkin , Tatyana Grishacheva , Oxana Svitich , Polina Kukina , Asmik Avagyan , Elena Biryukova , Khangeldi Akramal , Karaulov Alexander
Published: January 2024

Purpose
Photodynamic therapy (PDT) has emerged as a promising treatment modality for human papillomavirus (HPV) associated diseases, particularly cervical precancer and cancer, offering a non-invasive approach to disease management.
Methods
In this study, we conducted analysis of mRNA TLR-2, -3, -4, and − 8 expressions in cervical smears before and after PDT. A total of 1187 women underwent PDT, and the study focused on evaluating mRNA expression of TLRs 2/3/4/8 on 125 women.
Results
Our findings demonstrated that PDT triggers the activation of early markers of the antiviral innate immune response within two hours of treatment. This activation, in turn, induces a robust antiviral and antitumor immune response.
Conclusion
This study underscores the potential of PDT as a therapeutic strategy for HPV-associated diseases by harnessing its ability to activate the immune response. The observed reduction in the risk of cancer recurrence, coupled with the induction of an antiviral and antitumor immune response, highlights PDT as a promising approach in the treatment of cervical pathologies associated with HPV infection.
CSFNet: A novel crowd counting network for occlusion and scale variation
Authors: Xiong Liyan , Li Zhida , Huang Xiaohui , Wang Heng , Huang Peng
Published: January 2024

The goal of crowd-counting techniques is to estimate the number of people in an image or video in real-time and accurately. In recent years, with the development of deep learning, the accuracy of the crowd-counting task has been improving. However, this task still faces great challenges in crowded scenarios with large individual size variations. To cope with this situation, this paper proposes a new type of crowd-counting network: Context-Scaled Fusion Network. The details include (1) the design of the Multi-Scale Receptive Field Fusion Module (MRFF Module), which employs multiple dilated convolutional layers with different dilatation rates and uses a fusion mechanism to obtain multi-scale hybrid information to generate higher quality feature maps; (2) The Contextual Space Attention Module ( CSA Module) is proposed, which can obtain pixel-level contextual information and combine it with the attention map to enable the model to autonomously learn and pay attention to the important regions to achieve the effect of reducing the counting error. In this paper, we train and test several publicly available and challenging datasets to evaluate the performance of CSFNet. The experimental results show that CSFNet outperforms many SOTA methods on these datasets, demonstrating its superior counting ability and robustness.
Exploring Riboflavin Quantification in Honey via Spectrofluorimetry: A Statistical Examination of Influential Extrinsic Variables
Authors: Khan Shahab , Khan Maaz , Khan Hamayun , Rahman Hameed Ur , AbdelGawwwad Mohamed Ragab , Elsadek Mohamed Farouk
Published: January 2024

The present study is focused on the collection of honey samples from the different geographical and climatic conditions of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and analyzing them for determination of riboflavin. Quantification of riboflavin being natively fluorescent, was accomplished using spectrofluorimetric method. Riboflavin has characteristic fluorescence spectra with maximum excitation at 464 nm followed by an emission peak at 525 nm. The procedure followed in this work comprised the construction of a calibration curve by plotting the fluorescence intensity of a series of riboflavin solutions versus concentration. This curve was used for quantification of riboflavin in the collected honey samples. The effect of several external factors such as the altitude of the sampling area, type of honey bee, type of flowers from which the nectar was collected, and sampling season on the concentration of riboflavin in the honey samples was statistically evaluated. It was concluded that the samples collected from lower altitudes have high concentration (1.156±0.08 μg g-1) of riboflavin. Similarly, the samples collected in autumn were found to have a with a maximum average riboflavin concentration of 1.37±0.06 μg g-1, which was higher in comparison to the samples collected in other seasons of the year. Likewise, the effect of flora on the concentration of riboflavin was also investigated and it was found that honey samples collected from areas where the nectar was collected from Ziziphus contains maximum riboflavin concentration averaged at 1.383±0.1 μg g-1. Based on the size of the honey bees the samples collected from hives of small honey bees were found to have maximum riboflavin concentration of 1.176±0.07 μg g-1. This study suggests that beside the studied vitamin, the rest of the vitamins and other nutritional components may vary in the honey samples depending upon external factors.
Facile synthesis of magnetic ionic liquid with magnetic-tuning electrochemical performance
Authors: Gu Ning , Li Xiaolin , Gao Miao , Liu Zixuan , Liu Qichao , Cao Yang , Sun Youyi
Published: January 2024

A new magnetic ionic liquid (MIL) based on 1-methylethyl ether-3-butylimidazole and [FeCl4]− is synthesized for application in electrolyte. It is found that the electrochemical performance of magnetic ionic liquid based mixed electrolyte can be improved by applying magnetic field. The enhanced electrochemical performance is attributed to the formation of microdomain in the mixed electrolyte under magnetic field. The ions of MIL can align along the direction of the magnetic field, providing the efficient transmission path for the migration of Li+ and Cl−. Under magnetic control, the MI-based electrolyte does not only retain its wide electrochemical window characteristics, but also solves the problem of limiting the high viscosity of IL as electrolyte. The work provides a new method to design and prepare high-performance electrolyte for various electrochemical applications.
Synergistic Commutative Algorithm for Securing Vector Spatial Data via GD-PBIBD Fingerprint Encoding and Data Encryption
Authors: Yan Qingbo , Yan Haowen , Zhang Liming
Published: January 2024

Vector spatial data, as the core element supporting business connectivity and facilitating intelligent decision-making, encounters escalating copyright and security challenges throughout its life cycle. There is an urgent demand for a comprehensive life cycle protection solution to ensure data security and compliance with copyright regulations. This article proposes an integrated protection scheme tailored for addressing copyright and security concerns in the full life cycle of vector spatial data. Initially, DNA encryption is applied to the vector spatial data, and the key is encrypted using the RSA public key. Simultaneously, the GD-PBIBD fingerprint encoding generates a fingerprint sequence. Logistic mapping is employed to scramble the sequence, and the quantization mechanism embeds the scrambled fingerprint sequence into coordinates. Subsequently, the RSA private key is utilized to decrypt the key and extract fingerprint information. Finally, Logistic mapping restores the fingerprint sequence, and Hamming distance calculation is employed to identify colluding users and track potential leakers. This research not only bridges the gap in full life cycle copyright and security protection for vector spatial data but also presents a holistic solution for the secure data circulation, demonstrating significant practical value.
Comparison of the efficacy of different fixation techniques in the treatment of Haraguchi type II posterior malleolar fractures associated with supination-external rotation
Authors: lu dongxing , Liu Qian , Wang ChaoFeng , Zhang Kun
Published: January 2024

Purpose
To compare the efficacy of different surgical fixation techniques in the treatment of Haraguchi type II posterior malleolar fractures associated with supination-external rotation.
Methods
A total of 163 patients with Haraguchi type II posterior malleolar fractures ( 44-B) were retrospectively enrolled in the study, of which 96 and 67 were treated with plates and screws, respectively. For these patients, imaging and clinical findings, functional status, visual analog scale(VAS) for pain, incidence of deep and superficial surgical site infections, intraoperative blood loss, and surgical duration were evaluated and compared.
Results
No significant differences were identified in American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Surgery (AOFAS) scores or deep surgical site infections between the patients treated with plates and those treated with screws. Compared with the screw group, the plate group had more bleeding, a longer surgical duration, and a higher incidence of superficial infections (all cured by changing dressings). However, The plate group had an earlier time to full weight-bearing and a lower incidence of venous thrombosis of the lower extremity.
Conclusion
Both internal fixation techniques demonstrated good clinical outcomes. The plate group tolerated early weight-bearing training and had a lower incidence of venous thrombosis complications, compared with the screw group. The screw group underwent a less invasive operation and had a lower incidence of infection, making it a good choice for patients with unfavorable skin conditions.
Treatment algorithm for metastatic malignancies in the lower extremities
Authors: Hashimoto Kazuhiko , Nishimura Shunji , Ito Tomohiko , Kakinoki Ryosuke , Goto Koji
Published: January 2024

Background
A high prevalence of proximal femoral metastases persists in cancer patients, especially regarding lower extremity fractures. This study offers a detailed analysis of the clinical characteristics in patients undergoing surgical treatment for pathological or impending fractures, enhancing treatment strategies in metastatic malignancies.
Methods
Thirty patients who underwent treatment for impending and pathological fractures at our hospital were included. The retrospective study covered parameters such as age, sex, fracture site, type of primary malignancy, number of metastases, pre-fracture Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status (ECOG-PS) score, adjuvant therapy, treatment modality, operative time, blood loss, postoperative complications, Musculoskeletal Tumor Society (MSTS) score, outcome, and follow-up period. We compared post-treatment MSTS scores in cases of impending and pathological fractures, and between intramedullary nailing and other surgical procedures. The one-year postoperative survival rate was also calculated. Furthermore, we compared the operative time, blood loss, and survival rates of impending and pathological fractures.
Results
Participants had a median age of 70.5 years, with disease sites primarily in the subtrochanteric femur, trochanteric femur, femoral diaphysis, femoral neck, and other locations. Pathologies included multiple myeloma, unknown primary, lung, breast, kidney, liver, gastric, esophageal, and uterine cancers. The median ECOG-PS score pre-fracture was 2. Treatment approaches involved radiotherapy, chemotherapy, and a combination of both. Surgical interventions included intramedullary nailing (16 cases), endoprosthesis (1 case), bipolar head replacement (3 cases), and compression hip screw (3 cases), among others. A negative correlation (r = -0.63) existed between MSTS and pre-fracture ECOG-PS scores. Operative time was significantly shorter in impending than pathological fractures, with impending fractures also showing significantly lower blood loss.
Conclusion
Our treatment algorithm for malignant bone tumors of the lower extremity was efficient, potentially optimizing treatment strategies for such cases, and contributing to improved patient care and outcomes in oncology and orthopedic surgery.
Implementation and External Validation of the Cambridge Multimorbidity Score in the UK Biobank cohort
Authors: Harrison Hannah , Ip Samantha , Renzi Cristina , Li Yangfan , Barclay Matthew , Usher-Smith Juliet , Lyratzopoulos Georgios , Wood Angela , Antoniou Antonis C.
Published: January 2024

Background
Patients with multiple conditions present a growing challenge for healthcare provision. Measures of multimorbidity may support clinical management, healthcare resource allocation and accounting for the health of participants in purpose-designed cohorts. The recently developed Cambridge Multimorbidity scores (CMS) have the potential to achieve these aims using primary care records, however, they have not yet been validated outside of their development cohort.
Methods
The CMS, developed in the Clinical Research Practice Dataset (CPRD), were validated in UK Biobank participants whose data is not available in CPRD (the cohort used for CMS development) with available primary care records (n = 111,898). This required mapping of the 37 pre-existing conditions used in the CMS to the coding frameworks used by UK Biobank data providers. We used calibration plots and measures of discrimination to validate the CMS for two of the three outcomes used in the development study (death and primary care consultation rate) and explored variation by age and sex. We also examined the predictive ability of the CMS for the outcome of cancer diagnosis. The results were compared to an unweighted count score of the 37 pre-existing conditions.
Results
For all three outcomes considered, the CMS were poorly calibrated in UK Biobank. We observed a similar discriminative ability for the outcome of primary care consultation rate to that reported in the development study (C-index: 0.67 (95%CI:0.66–0.68) for both, 5-year follow-up); however, we report lower discrimination for the outcome of death than the development study (0.69 (0.68–0.70) and 0.89 (0.88–0.90) respectively). Discrimination for cancer diagnosis was adequate (0.64 (0.63–0.65)). The CMS performs favourably to the unweighted count score for death, but not for the outcomes of primary care consultation rate or cancer diagnosis.
Conclusions
In the UK Biobank, CMS discriminates reasonably for the outcomes of death, primary care consultation rate and cancer diagnosis and may be a valuable resource for clinicians, public health professionals and data scientists. However, recalibration will be required to make accurate predictions when cohort composition and risk levels differ substantially from the development cohort. The generated resources (including codelists for the conditions and code for CMS implementation in UK Biobank) are available online.
Quantitation and correlation of selected nutrients in the soil, foliar, stem and root of edible weed, Talinum Paniculatum around University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, South Africa
Authors: Achieng George O. , Omondi Reinner , Shikuku Victor O. , Okowa George M.
Published: January 2024

The use of wild edible herbs as leafy vegetables is notably prevalent in South Africa, where they are commonly prepared as potherbs alongside cornmeal or incorporated into side dishes. However,Talinum Paniculatum (T. Paniculatum), a wild edible herb, remains relatively obscure and underappreciated compared to introduced non-native vegetables. It needs increased attention, given its status as a ubiquitous weed and its potential to meet daily human nutritional needs. This study aimed to assess the nutrient content in the soil, foliage, stem, and roots of the edible weedT. Paniculatumin the vicinity of the University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, South Africa. Additionally, the study sought to establish correlations between nutrient levels in foliar and soil samples. Triplicates of plant matter and soil samples were collected from campus, roadside, and riverside sites, carefully prepared, and analyzed following the standardized protocols. Results were compared against FAO/WHO standard limits to determine compliance status. Notably, compliant levels of Fe, Cu, Zn, and Na were observed in the foliar samples across all three sampling sites. However, levels of Ca and K fell within tolerable limits only in campus and riverside samples, respectively. It is noteworthy, that the foliar samples exhibited an average gross calorific value of 0.6561 kcal/g. Conversely, levels of Mn, Mg, and Pb exceeded permissible limits as stipulated by standards. Soil analysis revealed that pH, Fe, Cu (except in campus samples), Mn, Zn, and Pb were within permissible limits. Nevertheless, concentrations of Ca, Na, Mg, and K surpassed tolerable levels. This comprehensive examination sheds light on the nutritional potential ofT. Paniculatum, emphasizing the importance of recognizing and harnessing the benefits of this underutilized wild edible herb.
A foundation for comparative genomics and evolutionary studies in Nucella lapillus based on complete mitogenome assembly
Authors: Garcia-Souto Daniel , Fernández-Rodríguez Jonathan , Vidal-Capón André , Fuller Neil , Pasantes Juan J , Galindo Juan
Published: January 2024

The Atlantic Whelk, Nucella lapillus, is a marine snail that exhibits divergent evolution in response to habitat adaptation, resulting in distinct populations at the phenotypic, genotypic, and karyotypic levels. In this study, we utilized short- and long-read NGS data to perform a de novo assembly of the entire mitochondrial genome of N. lapillus and developed a multiplex PCR protocol to sequence most of its length using ONT sequencing. Our analysis revealed a typical circular configuration of 16,490 bp in length with 13 protein-coding genes, 22 different tRNA genes, two of them showing two copies, 2 rRNA genes, and a control region. Long-read sequencing enabled us to identify a 1,826 bp perfect inverted repeat within the control region. Comparative analysis of the mitogenomes of related species in the Muricidae family revealed a conserved gene configuration for N. lapillus. We found a low genetic diversity, as well as a moderate genetic differentiation among the studied populations. Interestingly, there was no observed differentiation between the two chromosomal races, indicating that introgression of either mitochondrial DNA haplotype and substitution could be responsible for the observed pattern. Our study serves as a foundation for comparative genomics and evolutionary investigations in this species.
Real-world outcomes of the efficacy and safety of polatuzumab vedotin combination regimen in patients with relapsed/refractory diffuse large B cell lymphoma
Authors: Shi Yuanfei , Xu Yi , Wan Jinghan , Zheng Xiaolong , Li Xueying , Jin Jie , Tong Hongyan , Xie Wanzhuo
Published: January 2024

Objective Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) is the most common subtype of non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL), with approximately 60% of patients being successfully treated with R-CHOP therapy. However, a significant proportion, around 40%-45%, do not respond to initial treatment or experience relapse, leading to a poor prognosis for this patient group. Therefore, the exploration of targeted drugs and combination therapies is crucial. Among these options, polatuzumab vedotin (Pola), an anti-CD79B antibody-drug conjugate (ADC), shows promise and plays a significant role in combination therapy. Two of the most promising combination regimens involving Pola-bendamustine and rituximab (Pola-BR) and Pola-rituximab + cyclophosphamide + doxorubicin/epirubicin + prednisone (Pola-RCHP). We aim to analyze the efficacy and safety of Pola combined with BR and Pola combined with R-CHP in the treatment of relapsed/refractory DLBCL (R/R DLBCL).
Methods This retrospective study aimed to assess the efficacy and safety of the Pola-based combination regimen at our center during the period from May 1, 2023, to September 30, 2023. Eligible participants were patients with R/R DLBCL, with Ann Arbor stages 3-4, aged between 36 to 88 years, and who had previously undergone at least one standard chemotherapy regimen. We conducted a retrospective analysis of clinical data from 19 patients who were enrolled in our center during the specified period, consisting of 11 males and 8 females. The median age of these patients was 65 years, with an age range of 36 to 88 years. Out of the 19 patients, 13 were treated with Pola-BR, while 6 received Pola-R-CHP. We examined various clinical characteristics, medication regimens, treatment efficacy, and the occurrence of adverse reactions. The primary objective of this study is to investigate and understand the factors contributing to adverse events in both the Pola-BR and Pola-R-CHP treatment groups.
Results As of September 30, 2023, in the efficacy evaluation of 19 patients, the overall response rate (ORR) was 68.4% (13/19), and the complete response (CR) rate was 52.6% (10/19). Progression-free survival (PFS) with a median follow-up of 45 days showed that 3 cases (12%) experienced disease progression. When comparing the Pola-RCHP group to the Pola-BR group, a lower incidence of adverse reactions was observed. The primary adverse event reported was pulmonary infection, with 38.5% (5/13) occurring in the Pola-BR group and 16.7% (1/6) in the Pola-R-CHP group. It’s worth noting that no severe pneumonia cases occurred in either group.
Conclusion Compared to the traditional R-CHOP regimen, the combination of Pola with BR/RCHP appears to offer superior therapeutic efficacy and more promising prospects for the treatment of patients with R/R DLBCL.