bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A novel model for predicting the prognosis of postoperative intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma patients
Authors: Lv Yinghao , Liu Hu , He Penghui , Xie Sinan , Yin Xiuchun , Cai Yunshi , Wu Hong
Published: July 2023

Objective: Intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC) accounts for 20% of liver malignancies with a 5-year survival rate of 35% at best with limited prognostic predictors. Lung Immune Prognostic Index (LIPI) is a novel prognostic factor in pulmonary cancers. In this study, we developed a modified prognostic model from LIPI called intrahepatic immune prognostic index (IIPI) for ICC.
Patients and method: A retrospectively study was conducted at Liver Transplant Center of West China Hospital between January 2015 and January 2023. Hematological factors and clinical features of ICC patients were collected and analyzed. The area under curve (AUC) and optimal cuff-off of each single hematological factor was calculated.
Results: In this study, derived neurtrophil to lymphocyte ratio (dNLR), arbohydrate antigen199 (CA199) and carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) have higher AUC values. LIPI was composed of dNLR and was further modified by combing CA199 and CEA, forming the IIPI. The IIPI consists of four grades which are None, Light, Moderate and Severe. Compared to other prognostic factors, IIPI exhibited better ability to predict overall survival. The multivariate analysis indicated that cirrhosis, differentiation, hilar invasion and IIPI were independent prognostic factors for ICC patients. An IIPI-based nomogram was also established and could predict the overall survival. In addition, the subgroup analyses based on clinical prognostic factors showed that the IIPI exhibited excellent prognostic influence.
Conclusion: IIPI model is suitable for predicting the prognosis of postoperative ICC patients. Further research is needed to explore the relationship between postoperative recurrence and metastasis of ICC patients and IIPI.
CELSR3 is a Prognostic Marker in HNSCC and Correlates with Immune Cell Infiltration in the Tumor Microenvironment
Authors: Wu Zhongbiao , Zhu Zhongyan , Wu Weikun , Hu Shiping , Cao Jian , Huang Xinmei , Xie Qiang , Deng Chengcheng
Published: July 2023

Objectives: HNSCC is the world's sixth most prevalent cancer. CELSR3 is engaged in immune system regulation and has activation and inhibition potential. However, it is unknown whether CELSR3 impacts the prognosis of HNSCC. The purpose of this study was to look at the diagnostic value of the CELSR3 gene in HNSCC and its effect on tumor immune invasion, which is important for enhancing HNSCC treatment.
Materials and Methods: Several bioinformatics tools were employed to investigate CELSR3's putative oncogenic pathway in HNSCC, and datasets from the TCGA, TIMER, GEPIA, and LinkedOmics were extracted and evaluated. CELSR3 has been linked to tumor immune cell infiltration, immunological checkpoints, and immune-related genes. CELSR3's putative roles were investigated using GO, KEGG, and pathway enrichment analysis. The expression level of CELSR3 in HNSCC tissues and cells was detected by RT-qPCR. The effects of CELSR3 on proliferation of HNSCC cells were detected by CCK-8 assay.
Results: CELSR3 was shown to be expressed differently in different types of cancer and normal tissues. CELSR3 gene expression was linked to pN-stage, pM-stage, and age. Patients with high CELSR3 expression also have a well prognosis. CELSR3 expression was found to be an independent predictive factor for HNSCC in both univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses. We discovered the functional network of CELSR3 in HNSCC using GO and KEGG analysis. CELSR3 expression levels were found to be favorably associated with immune cell infiltration levels. Furthermore, CELSR3 expression levels were significantly correlated with the expression levels of many immune molecules, such as MHC genes, immune activation genes, chemokine receptors, and chemokines. CELSR3 is highly expressed in HNSCC tissues and cells. CELSR3 overexpression significantly inhibited the proliferation of HNSCC cells. CELSR3 expression may affect the immune microenvironment and, as a result, the prognosis of HNSCC.
Conclusion: CELSR3 expression is elevated in HNSCC tumor tissues, and high CELSR3 expression is associated with well prognosis, which inhibited the proliferation of NHSCC cells. CELSR3 has the potential to influence tumor formation by controlling tumor-infiltrating cells in the TME. As a result, CELSR3 may have diagnostic significance in HNSCC.
Evaluation of Tourism Climate Suitability and Analysis of Temporal and Spatial Characteristics of Comfort in Jiangxi Province
Authors: Liu Jian , Zhao Jun , Che Yanjun
Published: July 2023

Utilizing nearly 60 years of meteorological records from ground meteorological station, various reanalysis meteorological datasets, and the widely used Tourist Climatic Suitability Index (TCSI) model, this study combines spatial analysis and statistical methods to analyze the spatiotemporal characteristics of tourist climate comfort in Jiangxi Province. The results indicate that the tourist climate comfort in Jiangxi Province exhibits a bimodal pattern throughout the year, with the optimal tourism time being May and September-October. High-altitude mountainous regions show variations in tourist climate comfort compared to the plains, presenting a unimodal pattern, with the best tourism time falling between June and September. Moreover, there is a clear increasing trend in tourist climate comfort in Jiangxi Province from 1959 to 2018.
Efficacy of aqueous Aegle marmelos leaf extract for the control of Megacopta cribraria
Authors: Modak Moutushi , Begum Rubina Azmeera , Saikia Santana , Naorem Anjana Singha
Published: July 2023

Megacopta cribraria, a new pest of concern worldwide, has been studied extensively to understand its binomics and control. Research on efficacy of botanical pesticides for its control, however is lacking. This study focuses on the efficacy of a plant-based extract derived from Aegle marmelos leaves. The ovicidal potential of crude aqueous A. marmelosleaf extract was tested at five concentrations (1.25%, 2.5%, 5%, 7.5%, and 10%), resulting in a maximum of 30% ovicidal action at the 10% concentration which is significantly higher than the control as in the natural condition 100% egg hatching is observed. The extract also exhibited deterrence activity against adult bugs. At all concentrations, significant deterrence was observed in terms of time spent on the treated surface and the frequency of visitation. At the highest concentration, only 2.5% of the total 10 min observation time was spent on the treated surface as compared to the control. The frequency of visitation to the treated surface (14% visit) also declined significantly at 10% concentration clearly exhibiting the deterrent effect of the extract to the bugs. This deterrence activity was further evident by frequent grooming behavior exhibited by the bugs, trying to cleanse away the extract stuck to their body receptors. The study shows that A. marmelos leaves extract has the potential as a biopesticide against M. cribraria and can be researched further in different aspects of its insecticidal potential and can be considered by agriculturists for the pest control program.
Litter and Soil Carbon Stock Potential of Coffee Agroforestry in Berbere District, Southeast Ethiopia: Implications for Climate Change Mitigation
Authors: Garedew Kefa Feye
Published: July 2023

The impact of climate change on coffee sector and adaptation response is well documented. However, by large literature ignored the contribution of coffee agroforestry farming practices to carbon sequestration and improvement of production and ecological service. Understanding micro level coffee agroforestry and its potentials to sequester carbon has paramount economic and environmental importance. This study estimates the litter and SOC stock contribution of coffee agroforestry and its implication to mitigation in southeast Ethiopia. The coffee agroforestry of the study area which cover 261 hectares was divided into three shade cover types: monoculture, intermediate and dense shade covers. Litters and soil samples were collected in a quadrant 1m2 sub-plots. The carbon stock in litter and soil samples collected from each plot centers were analyzed using titration method based on Walkely methods. Regression equations were used to estimate litter biomass and SOC stock. The result reveals that the carbon stored varies significantly across the shades. The litter pool monoculture shade stored 4.94 ± 1.00 MgCha− 1, the intermediate shade cover stored 6.83 ± 0.73 Mg C ha− 1 and the dense shade cover stored 7.71 ± 0.45 MgCha− 1. Likewise, the soil pool carbon stored in monoculture shade, intermediate shade cover and densely shade cover was 29.07 ± 8.48 Mg C ha− 1, 48.20 ± 4.10 MgCha− 1 and 61.86 ± 7.14 MgCha− 1 respectively. The SOC stock value was larger than the litter carbon stock in all shade categories. In both cases the highest carbon store was witnessed in the densely covered coffee agroforestry, suggesting the importance of tree abundance to sequester large amount of carbon. Coffee agroforestry system is amongst climate change mitigation options with high potential to sequester carbon in the agricultural sector and play a crucial role to enhance the co-existence of ecosystem elements, increase production and services. Hence, it should be promoted.
Changes of the facial soft tissue after mandibular reconstruction using vascularized iliac flap
Authors: Ding Mengkun , Li Chengqian , Kang Yifan , Shan Xiaofeng , Cai Zhigang
Published: July 2023

Objectives
To reveal the change patterns of the facial soft tissue after applying mandibular reconstruction.
Materials and Methods
16 Patients with mandibular benign tumor were recruited in this retrospective study. For all patients, segmental mandibular osteotomy and concurrent reconstruction using vascularized iliac flap were conducted. The soft tissue thickness of patients’ lower face was measured with CT scans before surgery, 1 week, 6 months and 1 year after surgery. The time-dependent changes of tissue thickness were analyzed.
Results
The most significant tissue swelling was 28.86%, at 1 week after the surgery. The average increase of tissue thickness was 4.78 ± 5.30 mm across patient. After 1 year of the surgery, tissue thickness decreased to the level before operation or the level of the healthy side. The thickness of the low-density tissue fluctuated mildly, while the thickness of the high-density tissue fluctuated significantly. The disuse atrophy of the masseter occurred 1 week after the surgery, and was reversed after 1 year. The removal of the submandibular gland caused depression in submandibular area, which intensified over time.
Conclusions
Across patients, soft tissue thickness in the lower face after mandibular osteotomy and reconstruction increased significantly 1 week after the surgery, and decreased over time. After 1 year, tissue thickness went back to the pre-surgery level, where matched up with the healthy side.
Clinical Relevance:
We documented the change patterns of the facial soft tissue after mandibular reconstruction. These results can help improve the planning of virtual surgeries and the timing for aesthetic assessment.
Study on Robot Automatic Rounding for Blade Tip Based on Elastic Grinding
Authors: Tian Fengjie , Qi Zijian , Zhang Yanzhi , Li Ruilin
Published: July 2023

In order to achieve automatic rounding for blade tip, the study was conducted on small radius rounding based on elastic grinding, and a method of robot automatic grinding for small radius fillets of blade tip was proposed.The elastic grinding wheel with polyester ammonia fiber as substrate material is utilized the characteristics of elastic envelope deformation contact to grind sharp angles of blade tip to small radius fillets. Based on elastic contact theory and Preston equation, theoretical contact model and material removal model between grinding wheel and blade tip were established. Abaqus software was used to simulate and analyze the contact stress distribution and grinding removal amount. Simulation result demonstrates that the adaptive elastic contact deformation between grinding wheel and sharp angle of blade tip forms small surface envelope contact pattern and variable grinding removal amount, which can realize small radius fillet machining. Robot automatic rounding experiments for blade tip were conducted to verify feasibility and controllability of the machining method. The research results indicate that the elastic deformation of grinding wheel causes an arc-shaped contact stress distribution in the contact area of blade tip and abrasive coated on the substrate can achieve small radius fillet grinding. The combination of passive compliance formed by elastic grinding deformation and active force control is feasible to realize robot automatic rounding for small radius fillets, and the fillet radius can be controlled by changing grinding process parameters. Robot automatic rounding for blade tip is feasible, and machining process and accuracy are controllable and stable, which breaks through the traditional manual sandpaper grinding method and provides a new small radius fillet processing method.
Effects of microbubbles and temperature on the germination of the saltmarsh plant, Suaeda maritima (L.) Dumort
Authors: Lee Na Young , Xing Qikun , Park Ji-Sook , Park Young Cheol , Yarish Charles , Kim Jang Kyun
Published: July 2023

Background
Temperature and dissolved gas availability are important parameters for the germination of saltmarsh plants. As a newly developed method to increase the dissolved gas availability, microbubble technology has shown to increase the crop production. However, the effects of microbubbles on the germination of saltmarsh plants have not been studied. The aim of this study is to investigate the effects of the microbubbles on the germination of Suaeda maritima (L.) Dumort. in different temperatures (6, 12, 18, 24 and 30ºC).
Results
The highest germination rate was observed at 24 ºC in MBs water. The germination rates at microbubbles were significantly higher than those at control, deionized water at 24 ºC. The germination energy was significantly higher at 24 and 30 ºC than at 6 and 12 ºC in both deionized and microbubbles waters. The mean germination time was significantly shorter at 24 and 30 ºC than at 6 and 12 ºC in both waters. However, no significant effects of microbubbles were observed in terms of germination energy and mean germination time.
Conclusion
This study suggests that microbubbles improves the germination rate of S. maritima at the optimal temperature (24ºC), but GE and MGT were not affected by microbubbles but by temperature in S. maritima.
Mental Foramen Position in Class I, II, III Malocclusion on Vertical and Horizontal Dimensions by using CBCT
Authors: Jamilian Abdolreza , Nucci Ludovica , Talaeipour Ahmadreza , Nikkho Neda , Farjaminejad Rosana , Mafi Reza
Published: July 2023

Purpose: Mental foramen (MF) is characterised as a funnel-like opening of the mental canal onto the lateral surface of mandible, it serves as a pathway for vessels and nerves.The present study aimed to determine the position of the mental foramen (MF) in CBCT images in Class I, Class II, and Class III malocclusions with different growth patterns.
Material and Methods: In this descriptive-cross-sectional study, 150 CBCT images of individuals with Class I, Class II, and Class III malocclusions were selected. Each sagittal malocclusion had 50 samples, with 25 participants exhibiting a vertical growth pattern and 25 participants exhibiting a horizontal growth pattern for each type of malocclusion.The age range was 18-35 years, and they had no history of specific oral and dental diseases, previous surgeries, or orthodontic treatment. Using CBCT images, measurements were performed on both the left and right sides. MF Shape and MF Position relative to the Nearest Tooth were evaluated. And also MF Length, Hieght, Distance from MF to Inferior Border, Distance from MF to Bone Crest and Mental Canal Angle were measured. The variables of different types of malocclusions were evaluated using one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA). The frequency of MF shape and its position in relation to the nearest tooth, were analysed by using the chi-square test.
Results: No significant differences were observed in terms of shape of MF among different types of malocclusion in sagittal relationship and type of growth pattern. Significant differences in location of MF were observed in terms of growth pattern P=0/0028. However there was not any significant changes in location of MF in sagittal malocclusions. The distance from MF to the inferior border (p<0.001), distance to the crest of the bone (p<0.001), and mental canal angle (p=0.008) were significantly greater in individuals with a vertical growth pattern compared to those with horizontal growth pattern. Distance of MF to inferior border of mandible was 15/96± 0/63 in class II vertical growth pattern which was higher than in class I and II vertical growers. And also the same distance in class II horizontal growers was 13/56± 0/89 which was greater than in class I and II horizontal growers.
Conclusion:
Greater distance between the mental foramen (MF) and the inferior border of the mandible was observed in Class II vertical growth pattern compared to Class I and Class II vertical growers. Similarly, in Class II horizontal growers, the distance was higher compared to Class I and Class II horizontal growers of MF to inferior border of mandible was greater in class II vertical growth pattern in relationship to class I and II vertical growers. And the same distance in class II horizontal growers was higer than in class I and II horizontal growers.
Low Anterior Resection Syndrome And Quality Of Life Of Patients Post Sphincter Preservation Surgery: A Prospective Study
Authors: K Chandramohan , Jacob Akhil Thomas , Muralee Madhu , Sudam Wagh Mira , L Mayadevi , Balakrishnan Sithara
Published: July 2023

Background
Post AR one of the most debilitating syndrome is low anterior resection syndrome (LARS) seen in about 64% of patients. Severity of the LARS score was significantly correlated with neoadjuvant treatment, the extent of rectal surgery, complication by anastomotic leak, female gender and age < 64. In this study we had analysed the impact of various clinical factors on LARS and also the various domains of quality of life.
Purpose
To assess incidence of LARS in patients undergoing sphincter sparing surgery for rectal cancer after the patient starts long term defecating per anus, change in the quality of life and relation to LARS and factors affecting it
Methods
72 patients who had undergone anterior resection in Regional Cancer, one year before were interviewed by the trained interviewer and data was collected from the file. The questionnaires used :Wexner Incontinence Score, LARS Malayalam Questionnaire, EORTC QLQ C30 Malayalam translations.
Statistical measures
The LARS score was used to categorise patients into 3 grades. The scores were compared with clinical and social factors using the χ2 test for association. Continuous variables were compared by the Spearman Rho test.
Results
Details of patients were studied, (male: 55.6 % & female:44.4%) . 50 patients underwent low Anterior resection. Mean LARS score was 25.61, with 47.2% of patients having severe LARS score. Mean Wexner score was 6.84. The relation with type of surgery, approach (laparoscopic vs open), or type of neoadjuvant therapy were not found to be significant. Higher LARS score did not impact overall QoL as assessed by FACT-C. Insomnia and diarrhoea symptoms scores were significantly worsened. Pain score was worse for those undergoing stapler anastomosis. Wexner's score was worse for those who had received adjuvant chemotherapy. Role functioning score was better for AR compared to low anterior resection. Only distance from anal verge was found to be a significant cause of LARS and was negatively correlated
Discussion
LARS of severe degree were seen in most patients. No modifiable risk factors were significantly found to affect the chance of LARS. But LARS did not have a significant impact on quality of life, neither did the type of surgery. So sphincter preservation can be offered to the patients, but all patients undergoing Low Anterior Resection should be counselled well about the risk of LARS before surgery.
The SNP rs460089 in the gene promoter of the drug transporter OCTN1 has prognostic value for treatment-free remission in chronic myeloid leukemia patients treated with imatinib
Authors: Polakova Katerina Machova , Albeer Ali , Polivkova Vaclava , Krutska Monika , Vlcanova Katerina , Curik Nikola , FABARIUS Alice , Klamova Hana , Spieß B , Waller Cornelius , Bruemmendorf Tim , Dengler Jolanta , Kunzmann Volker , Burchert Andreas , Belohlavkova Petra , Mustjoki Satu , Faber Edgar , Mayer Jiri , Zackova Daniela , Panayiotidis Panayiotis , Richter Johan , Hjorth-Hansen Henrik , Kamińska Magdalena , Płonka Magdalena , Szczepanek Elżbieta , Szarejko Monika , Bober Grażyna , Hus Iwona , Grzybowska-Izydorczyk Olga , Wasilewska Ewa , Paczkowska Edyta , Niesiobędzka-Krężel Joanna , Giannopoulos Krzysztof , Mahon Francois-Xavier , Sacha Tomasz , Saussele Susanne , Pfirrmann Markus
Published: July 2023

Membrane transporters are important determinants of drug bioavailability. Their expression and activity affect the intracellular drug concentration in leukemic cells impacting response to therapy. Pharmacogenomics represents genetic markers that reflect allele arrangement of genes encoding drug transporters associated with treatment response. In previous work, we identified SNP rs460089 located in the promotor of SLC22A4 gene encoding imatinib transporter OCTN1 as influential on response of patients with chronic myeloid leukemia treated with imatinib. Patients with rs460089-GC pharmacogenotype had significantly superior response to first-line imatinib treatment compared to patients with rs460089-GG.
This study investigated whether pharmacogenotypes of rs460089 are associated with sustainability of treatment-free remission (TFR) in patients from the EUROpean Stop Kinase Inhibitor (EURO-SKI) trial. In the learning sample, 176 patients showed a significantly higher 6-month probability of molecular relapse free survival (MRFS) in patients with GC genotype (73%, 95% CI: 60-82%) compared to patients with GG (51%, 95% CI: 41-61%). Also over time, patients with GC genotype had significantly higher MRFS probabilities compared with patients with GG (HR: 0.474, 95% CI: 0.280-0.802, p=0.0054). Both results were validated with data on 93 patients from the Polish STOP imatinib study. The SNP rs460089 was found as an independent predictor of TFR.
Single-cell-based sequencing reveals that CD8+ T cells regulate SGK1 expression in psoriasis
Authors: Dong Canbin , Lin Lanmei , Du Juan
Published: July 2023

Background Psoriasis is an autoimmune disease mediated by T cells. Downregulation of SGK1 is known to exacerbate psoriasis. However, the specific significance of SGK1 expression in psoriasis and the associated regulation of SGK1 remain unknown.
Methods Here, we performed a comprehensive analysis of the significance and impact of SGK1 expression.We obtained transcriptome expression profiles of skin lesions in 13 psoriasis patients from the original psoriasis-related dataset (GSE151177).Subpopulations of T cells and keratinocytes (KC) were first analyzed. The expression of SGK1 was utilized to identify the different functions of keratin-forming cells.Finally, the association between CD8 + T cells and cells expressing SGK1 was revealed by cellular interactions and validated by FISH.
Results Single-cell transcriptome analysis was performed using psoriasis lesion tissues from 13 cases in the database. Subpopulation analysis of T cells and keratinocytes (KC) was performed.We found that CD8 + T cells have characteristics of tissue-resident memory T cells and are involved in the proliferative differentiation of KC.Different SGK1 expression levels were found to have different physiological functions in KC analysis.Analysis of intercellular reciprocal communication indicated that CD8 + T cells may intervene in keratinocyte and monocyte-macrophage SGK1 expression through CCL/TIGIT signaling.FISH showed that SGK1 was widely distributed in the infiltration sites of CD8 + T cells, suggesting a potential relationship between CD8 + T cells and SGK1 expression.
Conclusion The above results show that CD8 + T cells upregulate SGK1 expression in keratinocytes and monocyte macrophages mainly through TIGIT signaling, a process that is inhibited in psoriasis.
Supratentorial hemangioblastomas: differences in phenotypes are correlated with the anterior vs. the posterior cerebral circulations
Authors: Laviv Yosef , Saraf David , Oxman Liat , Zvi Ido Ben
Published: July 2023

Background
Supratentorial hemangioblastomas (ST HB) are rare, vascular lesions. The presence of peri-tumoral cysts and edema has meaningful clinical, diagnostic and therapeutic implications. Nevertheless, the pathogenesis of both cyst and edema formation is not fully understood.
Aim
to investigate whether the radiologic phenotype of ST HB is affected by the different cerebral arterial circulations.
Material and methods
We have reviewed the published English literature over the last 5 decades (January 1973 to January 2023). 73 cases of parenchymal ST HB were eligible for analysis. The cohort was divided into two groups based on the vascular territory distribution of the lesions: anterior circulation (group 1, n = 52) vs. posterior circulation (group 2, n = 21). The two subgroups were compared for demographic, clinical, radiological and molecular variables.
Results
On univariate analysis, male gender and cystic changes were associated with HB of the posterior circulation (OR = 3.61, p = 0.024 and OR = 4.85, p = 0.01; respectively). On the other hand, significant peritumoral edema and parasagittal/paramedian location were associated with the anterior circulation (OR = 0.18, p = 0.05 and OR = 0.30, p = 0.036; respectively). On multivariate analysis, cystic changes have remained significantly associated with the posterior circulation, while the association of significant peritumoral edema with the anterior circulation has nearly reached statistical significance (OR = 5.47, p = 0.008 and OR = 0.25, p = 0.054). The incidence of von-Hippel Lindau (vHL) disease was nearly two-fold higher in group 1. In group 2, all (100%, n = 7) female patients had cystic tumors, compared to only 30.7% (n = 8) of female patients in the anterior circulation group (OR = 32.647, 95% CI 1.665 to 640.016; p = 0.0217).
Conclusion
based on historical cases of ST HB, we were able to show that different tumor phenotypes are associated with the different cerebral circulations. In addition, gender was also associated with differences in tumor’s distribution as well as radiologic phenotype. Together, this novel data may influence our understanding on other unique vascular diseases of the central nervous system.
The singular complex integro differential equation via the boundary value problems of elastic plate weakened by curvilinear hole
Authors: Ibrahim E. , Abdou M. A.
Published: July 2023

In this paper, we presented an integro differential equation (IDE), in compelx plane, with singular kernel. The IDE is investigated from the first and second boundary value problem (BVP) of a weakened infinite plate by a curvilinear hole (C,) in the presence of heat. The hole is conformally mapped inside a unit circle by a special transformation with complex constants coefficients\(z=\omega (\zeta ),\,\zeta =\xi +i\eta ,\,i=\sqrt { - 1} .\) This mapping will conform the curvilinear hole in the infinite elastic plate into a unit circle \(\gamma ,\left| \zeta \right|\;<\,\,1,\) such that inside the circle. The stress and strain compounds were calculated, in the presence of heat effect, and this was clarified by numerical results. Many applications for the problem are discussed. Maple 2019 is used for computations results.
MSC (2010): 74B10, 30C20.
An archaeal lid-containing feruloyl-esterase degrades polyethylene terephthalate (PET)
Authors: Streit Wolfgang , Perez-Garcia Pablo , Chow Jennifer , Costanzi Elisa , Gurschke Marno , Dittrich Jonas , Dierkes Robert , Applegate Violetta , Feuerriegel Golo , Tete Prince , Danso Dominik , Schumacher Julia , Pfleger Christopher , Gohlke Holger , Smits Sander , Schmitz Ruth , Molitor Rebecka , Thies Stephan , Jaeger Karl-Erich
Published: July 2023

Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) is a commodity polymer known to globally contaminate marine and terrestrial environments. Today, around 80 bacterial and fungal PET-active enzymes (PETases) are known, originating from four bacterial and two fungal phyla. In contrast, no archaeal enzyme has been identified to degrade PET. Here we report on the structural and biochemical characterization of PET46, an archaeal promiscuous feruloyl esterase exhibiting degradation activity on semi-crystalline PET powder comparable to IsPETase and LCC (wildtypes), and higher activity on bis-, and mono-(2-hydroxyethyl) terephthalate (BHET and MHET). The enzyme, found by a sequence-based metagenome search, was derived from a non-cultivated, deep-sea Candidatus Bathyarchaeota archaeon. Biochemical characterization demonstrated that PET46 is a promiscuous, heat-adapted hydrolase. Its crystal structure was solved at a resolution of 1.71 Å. It shares the core alpha/beta-hydrolase fold with bacterial PETases, but contains a unique lid common in feruloyl esterases, which is involved in substrate binding. Thus, our study widens the currently known diversity of PET-hydrolyzing enzymes, by demonstrating PET depolymerization by a plant cell wall-degrading esterase.
The Prediction of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma by a Novel Glycolysis-Related Gene Signature
Authors: Qi Yujiao , Da Dezhuan , Yang Bingbing , He Yang , Li Hongling , Liu Congcong
Published: July 2023

Objectives
Globally, diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) accounts for approximately 30–40% of all cases of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. There is often rapid enlargement of a single or multiple external nodes or nodules in patients. glycolysis is the process by which glucose transporters on the cell membrane transport glucose into the cell to split into two molecules of pyruvate. The large amounts of lactic acid produced by glycolysis are secreted extracellular to create an acidic microenvironment. This change leads to the remodeling of the cell matrix, which is essential for tumor cell proliferation. To date, only a few studies have attempted to determine whether glycolysis plays a prognostic role in DLBCL.
Methods
On DLBCL patients, we gathered RNA-seq data and clinical details from the TCGA and GEO databases. Based on glycolysis genes, we divided them into two clusters by consensus clustering method. The two discovered clusters were compared for survival, function, and tumor microenvironments (TME) using the K-M survival analysis, ESTIMATE, TIMER, and ssGSEA analysis. A variety of methods were used to elucidate the mechanisms involved, including GO, KEGG, GSVA, and GSEA. Utilizing the LASSO tool and multivariate Cox regression analysis, a predictive risk model for genes associated to glycolysis was formed, and its value was verified by calibration and ROC curve.
Results
As shown by the K-M survival curve and Tumor microenvironment analysis both clusters had significantly difference. the survival rate, Immune Score, Stromal Score and ESTIMATE Score of the C1 cluster was substantially higher than the C2 cluster. GO and KEGG analysis indicated that DEGs between the two clusters tended to be enriched in extracellular matrix and immune pathways. It was suggested by GSVA and GSEA analyses that glycolysis-associated genes (GRGs) expression perhaps connected to immunosuppression and poor prognosis in DLBCL patients. With DLBCL, factors such as risk models and clinical features can be combined to accurately predict a patient's prognosis.
Conclusion
Patients with DLBCL exhibit glycolysis-related gene expression that predicts their prognosis, as well as the tumor microenvironment.
Haze Prediction Method Based On Stacking Learning
Authors: Liu Zuhan , Liu Xuehu , Zhao Kexin
Published: July 2023

In recent years, with the rapid economic development of our country, environmental problems have become increasingly prominent, especially air pollution has more and more affected People's daily life. Air pollution is mobile and can cause long-term effects over large areas, which are detrimental to the natural environment and human body. Haze is a form of air pollution, which comprises PM2.5 components that adversely impair human health. Multiple approaches for predicting PM2.5 in the past have had limited accuracy, meanwhile required vast quantities of data and computational resources. In order to tackle the difficulties of poor fitting effect, large data demand, and slow convergence speed of prior prediction techniques, a PM2.5 prediction model based on the stacking integration method is proposed. This model employs eXtreme Gradient Boosting (XGBoost), Light Gradient Boosting Machine (LightGBM) and Random Forest (RF) as the base model, while ridge regression is used as the meta-learner to stack. PM2.5 concentration is influenced by a variety of pollutant factors and meteorological factors, and the correlation between PM2.5 concentration and other factors was analyzed using Spearman's correlation coefficient method. Several significant factors that determine the haze concentration are selected out, and the stacking model is built on this data for training and prediction. The experimental results indicate that the fusion model constructed in this thesis can provide accurate PM2.5 concentration estimates with fewer data features. This approach performs better in terms of accuracy and time consumption.
Parameter orthogonality transformations in distributional regression models
Authors: Stadlmann Stanislaus , Heller Gillian , Kneib Thomas , Koens Lyndon
Published: July 2023

Distributional regression has become an increasingly popular tool in regression analysis, providing the ability to link distributional parameters beyond the mean to additive predictors. For many response distributions, maximum likelihood estimates (MLEs) of the distributional parameters are correlated and, as a result, misspecifying the regression predictor for one distributional parameter induces a bias in the estimates for the predictors of other parameters, even if these are correctly specified. In this article we develop a framework for the reparametrization of any two-parameter distribution, such that its parameters have asymptotically uncorrelated MLEs i.e., are orthogonal. We propose to retain the location parameter and replace the second parameter of the chosen distribution with a function that provides a numeric solution to an ordinary differential equation (ODE) based on the covariance matrix of the MLEs, creating an orthogonal parametrization. Finally, our proposed method is demonstrated on an extreme rainfall dataset from Tasmania, Australia.
U.S. Official Visits and Foreign Aid
Authors: Kodila-Tedika Oasis , Khalifa Sherif
Published: July 2023

This paper examines the effect of the visits by U.S. officials to a country on foreign aid. To achieve our objective, we compile variables that indicate the official visits of U.S. Presidents and Secretaries of States from 1960-2019 from the historical archives of the U.S. State Department. We examine the effect of these variables on U.S. aid and total official development assistance flows to the country. To deal with potential endogeneity, we use the Endogenous Treatment Model. The estimation results show that the visits of U.S. officials have a statistically significant positive effect on U.S. aid only when the visit is part of a multilateral meeting, while the effect of the visits of U.S. Presidents have a statistically significant positive effect on total official development assistance only when the visit is in the form of a bilateral meeting. A potential interpretation is that U.S. aid is provided as part of a multilateral effort intended to induce other countries to provide assistance to the country as well. However, donors could take the flow of U.S. aid as a signal that the country will be able to secure aid from the U.S. and will be less in need of their assistance. On the other hand, a bilateral visit by an American President can signal to other donors the confidence the United States have in this country, the close ties it has with this country, or the stakes it has in preserving stable economic conditions in this country. This could induce the donors to aid the country by offering official development assistance.
JEL Code: D72, F54, F35, H11, O19
First questionnaire with measurement equivalence between physicians and nurses to assess individual determinants of compliance with surgical site infection prevention: cross-sectional survey results from the WACH-study
Authors: Krosta Karolin M.E. , Tomsic Ivonne , Maike Stolz , Krauth Christian , Chaberny Iris F. , von Lengerke Thomas
Published: July 2023

Background
Compliance to prevent healthcare-associated infections varies between physicians and nurses. Understanding these differences is the key to adapt, i.e., tailor interventions to promote compliance. To measure determinants to be taken into account in tailoring processes, reliable and valid instruments with measurement equivalence (ME) across professional groups are needed.
Aim
To determine the reliability, validity, and ME of questionnaire scales to assess determinants of compliance to prevent surgical site infections (SSI) based on the Capability|Opportunity| Motivation–Behaviour model (COM-B), and explore their associations with self-reported compliance.
Methods
Self-reported SSI-preventive compliance and COM-B-determinants were assessed in a questionnaire survey of 90 physicians and 193 nurses working in nine departments in six German hospitals outside the university sector. Single- and multi-group confirmatory factor analyses, t-tests, and multiple linear regression analyses were performed.
Findings:
Scales for individual determinants (capability, motivation, planning) but not environmental determinants (opportunities) showed reliability and validity among both physicians and nurses, and ME across these groups. No group differences were found in compliance and determinants. Capability (β = .301) and planning (β = .201) showed theory-conform associations with self-reported compliance among nurses, not physicians. Additionally, both tended to mediate the association of motivation.
Conclusion
The scales for motivation, capability, and planning regarding SSI-preventive compliance rendered reliable and valid scores for physicians and nurses in surgery. Due to ME, they provide true comparisons between both groups in German hospitals. Such scales for environmental determinants (opportunities) have yet to be developed. Associations of individual determinants with self-reported compliance were in line with theory among nurses.
Dual Band Circularly Polarized Reconfigurable Asymmetrical Dumbbell Shaped Graphene-Silicon Ceramic based Hybrid Antenna for THz Application
Authors: Kumar Voruganti Santhosh , Upadhyayula Ratna Kumari
Published: July 2023

In this communication, dual band circularly polarized radiator is structured and investigated in THz regime. The unique properties of proposed radiator are: (i) dual band circularly polarized aerial is designed in THz regime; (ii) application of graphene layer over ceramic makes the radiator reconfigurable in terms of both frequency range and axial ratio; and (iii) asymmetrical dumbbell shape helps to create dual radiating mode i.e. HEM11δ and HEM12δ mode. For verification purpose, optimized outcome obtain from Ansys HFSS is compared with CST-MWS. There is good agreement between them. The designed radiator works good in between 2.4 THz-3.0 THz and 4.4 THz-5.15 THz. The value of axial ratio below 3-dB is achieved in between 2.6 THz- 2.8 THz and 4.6 THz-4.8 THz respectively. Broadsided radiation pattern and good gain characteristics create the designed aerial suitable for different wireless applications in optical domain.
Evaluation of natural fractures and geological sweet spot in the Shunbei ultra- deep carbonate fault-controlled reservoir, Tarim Basin
Authors: Zhang Gemeng , Ru Zhixing , Li Yingtao , Liu Shuang
Published: July 2023

The Shunbei ultra-deep carbonate strike-slip fault-controlled reservoir in Tarim Basin is rich in reserves. The strike-slip faults and natural structural fractures are the main storage space and flow channels of hydrocarbon resources. Therefore, studying the natural fracture development characteristics in this kind of reservoir is of great significance. The lithology of the Middle and Lower Ordovician strata in the Shunbei area is limestone and dolomite, including packstone, wackestone, grainstone, boundstone, lime mudstone, silicified limestone and silty-fine crystalline dolomite, medium-coarse crystalline dolomite. Based on the statistics of fracture density and brittleness index of core samples, it is found that in limestone, lime mudstone has the highest brittleness index, while boundstone has the lowest; in dolomite, the brittleness index of medium-coarse crystalline dolomite is higher than that of silty-fine crystalline dolomite. The natural structural fracture density has an obvious positive correlation with the rock brittleness index. The brittleness index of dolomite is generally higher than that of limestone. When the brittleness index is the same, dolomite has superior porosity and permeability whereas limestone has a stronger capacity to fracture. Those kinds of highly brittle layers in carbonate reservoirs are more likely to be geological sweet spots in the Shunbei area.
Observation of Hermitian and Non-Hermitian Diabolic Points and Exceptional Rings in Parity-Time symmetric ZRC and RLC Dimers
Authors: TABEU Stéphane Boris , Fotsa-Ngaffo Fernande , Kenfack-Jiotsa Aurélien
Published: July 2023

We present the observation of diabolic points in Hermitian and non-Hermitian electronics dimers. The condition of unbreakable Parity-time symmetry is established for both PT-symmetric ZRC and RLC dimers. We show how appears non-Hermitian degeneracy points in the spectrum and how they are protected against a Hermitian perturbation. When a non- Hermitian perturbation is added in the setup, the non-Hermitian diabolic point (NHDP) turns into a ring of exceptional points as in some Dirac and Weyl semimetals. Some experimental simulations of oscillations around these particular points in LTspice are in perfect accordance with the one predicted analytically and numerically. This work opens a gold road for investigations on topological electrical circuits for robust transport of information at room temperature.
Reducing Lighting Energy Use in Controlled Agricultural Environments
Authors: Rea Mark S. , Brons Jennifer , Jarboe Charles
Published: July 2023

Photometric simulations using both daylight and electric lighting were performed to compare the energy use of conventional high-pressure sodium (HPS) greenhouse lighting to that of light-emitting diode (LED) lighting. Photometric simulations of a hypothetical greenhouse were performed in three different geographic locations in the United States with widely different annual daylight availability: Albany, NY, Fairbanks, AK, and Phoenix, AZ. Simulation conditions included summer and winter, overcast and clear skies, and several lighting layouts and distributions. The analysis showed that, while maintaining the criteria levels of photosynthetic photon flux density, lighting energy savings were primarily attributable to increased LED source efficacy rather than HPS. Secondary energy savings were attributable to the ability to continuously dim LED lighting in response to daily and seasonal changes in daylight. Despite options for LED luminaires with a slim form factor, reduced crop shading compared with larger conventional HPS luminaires did not result in significant lighting energy savings.
Energy magnetization and transport in systems with a non-zero Berry curvature in a magnetic field
Authors: Panigrahi Archisman , Mukerjee Subroto
Published: July 2023

We demonstrate that the well-known expression for the charge magnetization of a sample with a non-zero Berry curvature can be obtained by demanding that the Einstein relation holds for the electric transport current. We extend this formalism to the transport energy current and show that the energy magnetization must satisfy a particular condition. We provide a physical interpretation of this condition, and relate the energy magnetization to circulating energy currents in Chern insulators due to chiral edge states. We further recover the expression for the energy magnetization with this alternative formalism. We also solve the Boltzmann Transport Equation for the non-equilibrium distribution function in 2D for systems with a non-zero Berry curvature in a magnetic field. This distribution function can be used to obtain the regular Hall response in time-reversal invariant samples with a non-zero Berry curvature, for which there is no anomalous Hall response.
Qualitative indicators of spring barley varieties (Hordeum vulgare L.) under different growing conditions
Authors: Kyrylchuk A. M. , Chukhleb C. L. , Shcherbynina N. P. , Bezprozvana I. V. , Liashenko S. O. , Shkliar V. D.
Published: July 2023

Purpose. To evaluate the quality indicators of spring barley seeds grown under different soil and climatic conditions.
Methods. Laboratory, calculation and statistical methods were used during the research, analysis and synthesis methods were used to draw conclusions.
Results. As a result of research, the dependence of spring barley quality indicators, namely: grain uniformity and protein content, on soil and climatic zones and growing conditions was revealed. Thus, grain uniformity ranged from 86.7% (high, Polissia) to 95.1% (very high, Forest Steppe) in the different test years. In 2021, thanks to favorable meteorological conditions during the growing season, its indicators increased by 4.3% in the Steppe, 4.6% in the Forest Steppe and almost 6.0% in Polissia compared to 2020. On average, the uniformity of grain grown in different bran­ches of UIPVE increased by 5.6%. The maximum values were obtained for the varieties ‘Avus’ – 93.9% (Steppe), ‘Novyi Svitanok’ – 94.5–96.6% (Polissia, Forest Steppe). Depending on the soil and climate zone and the year of the experiment, the protein content in the grain varied from 10.9 (low, Steppe) to 13.4% (medium, Forest Steppe). On ave­rage, this indicator decreased by 2.5% in 2021 compared to 2020, and only in the Polissia zone it increased by 2.6%. The highest protein content was found in the varieties ‘Istr’ – 13.5–13.9% (Steppe and Forest Steppe) and ‘Hercules’ – 13.4% (Polissia). The varieties ‘Amadei’, ‘Istr’ and ‘Novyi Svitanok’ combined both economic and valuable traits. Optimum air temperature and high grain uniformity cont­ribute to increasing the yield of spring barley. At the same time, during the formation of a high yield in the culture, the protein content in the grain decreases.
Conclusions. It was revealed that, on average, in 2020–2021, the uniformity of spring barley grain was 92.3% (Steppe), 95.4% (Forest Steppe) and 93.2% (Polissia); the protein content in the grains was 11.8% (Steppe), 12.4% (Forest Steppe) and 11.6% (Polissia). The formation of quality indicators of spring barley seeds was influenced by the growing conditions in the relevant soil and climatic zone.