bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The impact of formal education on literacy and numeracy skills in Chilean adults: a comparative analysis with Latin American counterparts
Authors: Moncada Nahuelquín Fernando , Ibáñez Orellana Romualdo , Kuperman Victor
Published: January 2025

Chile and other Latin American countries consistently demonstrate the lowest scores in the international surveys of foundational information-processing skills. This paper examines the effect of formal education on the literacy and numeracy performance of Chilean adults and compares this effect with that observed in Latin American countries with similar information-processing skills. Using data from the Programme for the International Assessment of Adult Competencies (PIAAC), we conducted a comparative analysis of literacy and numeracy skills in the Chilean population relative to Mexico, Peru, and Ecuador. Our analysis revealed that, regardless of the years of formal education, the populations of these countries do not achieve a level 3 in literacy and numeracy skills (on PIAAC’s five-level scale), which is considered the minimum requirement for effective participation in today’s technologically-driven economy and society. We also observed that Chileans at higher levels of formal education (with a bachelor’s or higher university degree) are on par with or exceed the literacy and numeracy skills of the best-performing Latin American country, Mexico. Less educated Chileans, however, lag behind education-matched groups of Mexicans and rank with the lowest-performing countries like Peru and Ecuador, in both skills. These findings highlight critical implications for educators and policy-makers in Latin America, particularly concerning educational system effectiveness in developing crucial competencies. The analysis shows the impact of past and ongoing reforms in the Chilean school system and underscores the importance of addressing skill development across all educational levels for personal and professional success in contemporary society.
The development of modern-day competences in education, in the context of an agile approach
Authors: Varga János , Csiszárik-Kocsir Ágnes , Garai-Fodor Mónika
Published: January 2025

Our daily lives are undergoing a major transformation before our eyes. Digitalisation and digital content, social media platforms, the unlimited amount of information available on the internet, require a whole new set of people and knowledge. We need new competences to thrive that our parents and grandparents of the previous generation did not even know about. A different dimension of awareness has emerged, raising many questions from the digital, financial, consumer and sustainability perspectives. The messages and lessons from various studies and articles suggest that many individuals are not adequately prepared for these challenges, for a variety of reasons. Inherited patterns, lack of awareness-raising, some aspects of exclusion are all factors working against the process, which is also influenced by the openness, receptiveness and willingness of individuals to embrace new things. The emergence of awareness as a competence is clearly an expectation of the 21st century, without which we become very vulnerable in our challenging lives and our ability to succeed is therefore questionable. Agility as an individual competence is also a child of the 21st century. A few years ago, agility was understood more at an organisational level, but for an organisation to become agile, it needs to have agile people. Many education, training and training courses are trying to develop this approach, but the education system can also do a lot to achieve this. In this study, we analysed the generational characteristics of identification with the agile approach by processing 5,067 evaluable questionnaires in a quantitative primary research. The research found that Generation X identifies most with the agile approach. Generations Y and Z, although they have a positive view of agility, are willing and able to identify with it, but in their case there is still a strong lack of concrete knowledge and understanding. The aim of our study is to present the state of competences in modern times, including the different dimensions of awareness through the ability to be agile, in order to highlight the differences and identities in different generational, educational and other aspects, based on the results of a primary research conducted in Hungary. The literature used for this study will help to evaluate the research findings and to understand the relationship between education, agility and competences. They also help to understand why the study links these three areas, illustrate the cause and effect relationship, and in all cases studies are closely linked to the interpretation of these three areas and their impact on each other.
Sex differences in presentation of pheochromocytoma and paraganglioma
Authors: Ali Nora Azin , Calissendorff Jan , Falhammar Henrik
Published: January 2025

Purpose

The aim of the study was to investigate sex differences in presentation of pheochromocytomas and paragangliomas (PPGLs).

Methods

This is a retrospective cohort study including 183 patients with confirmed PPGL (females n=100, pheochromocytoma n=156) between year 2005 and 2023, attending Department of Endocrinology, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm. The collected data included the mode of presentation, symptoms, biochemical, genetic and histopathological test results.

Results

The mean age at surgery/diagnosis was 54.9 ± 17.0 years. Sweating was more common in females compared to males (44% vs 23%, p=0.003), and also takotsubo syndrome (10% vs 0% p=0.002). Males, on the other hand, were more likely to experience pallor (16% vs 4%, p=0.009), and were more often diagnosed due to investigations of a suspected PPGL (31% vs 18%, p=0.039) although no difference was found in the classic triad (sweating, palpitations and headache). Left-sided pheochromocytoma was more common among males than females (48% vs 29%, p=0.009). No differences between sexes were found in biochemical, genetical or histopathological results, or presence of metastasis at diagnosis.

Conclusions

The reported symptoms by patients with PPGL were generally similar between the sexes, except for pallor and sweating. Takotsubo syndrome was more common among females. More males with PPGL were found based on suspicion than females. Further research into sex differences in various aspects of PPGL should be pursued.
Realizing collective action in agency-constrained contexts: the case of the Community Fish Refuges in Cambodia
Authors: Baldivieso Soruco Carla Rene , De Silva Sanjiv , Gleich Pia , Yan Yin , Dubois Mark , Sieber Stefan , Bonatti Michelle
Published: January 2025

In rural Cambodia, inland freshwater and rice field fisheries are key sources of income, animal protein, and important ecosystem services. As the flood pulse in the Tonlé Sap floodplain recedes post-monsoon, leaving rice fields and local water bodies dry, Community Fish Refuges (CFRs) offer a promising path to sustain dry season fish stocks, aquatic biodiversity, and secure water for agriculture and husbandry. Their sustained physical integrity and productivity as multiple-use systems hinge on communities’ ability to manage these systems collectively. To explore whether the studied communities have been able to respond to the challenge of collectively governing CFR, we investigate two CFR sites that were established in 2016 by local and international organizations alongside State authorities. Our aim is to investigate two key aspects: 1) the presence, extent, and efficacy of community-level collective action (CA) for managing CFRs; and 2) the factors that either facilitate or inhibit CA regarding CFRs. We conducted a qualitative case study between March and May 2023 at two sites in Kampong Thom Province. These were selected because while they have similar ecological features, they show different management results according to the implementing international organization WorldFish. This paper delves into a process guided by external agents seeking to reshape local behavior and existing institutional frameworks. Results show how centralized power structures and entrenched rural patronage politics in villages limit villagers’ participation and agency in CFRs management. Villagers encounter constraints hindering their capacity to instigate change, prompting a re-evaluation of the CFR Committee’s composition and operation to ensure broader legitimacy among actors. While emphasizing extended project funding and informed external intervention strategies, the study underscores doubts about short-term CA feasibility. It highlights the critical influence of contextual factors and policymakers’ assumptions in achieving effective collective governance. Structural factors and the deeply human process of pulling together a plurality of stakeholders pose challenges to establishing community-based projects prioritizing diverse voices.
Extrapolating empirical measurements of wastewater exfiltration from sanitary sewers to estimate watershed-scale fecal pollution loading in urban stormwater runoff
Authors: Steele Joshua A. , González-Fernández Adriana , Griffith John F. , Ebentier McCargar Darcy , Wallace Sierra , Schiff Kenneth C.
Published: January 2025

Inflow and infiltration are well-known issues for sanitary sewer collection systems, but exfiltration is understudied and rarely empirically quantified. The goal of this study is to estimate the potential human fecal contribution from wastewater exfiltration from sanitary sewers to stormwater in an urban watershed with separate sanitary sewer and storm sewer systems. This study uses newly developed techniques to empirically measure sanitary sewage exfiltration, then compares these exfiltration rates to human fecal pollutant loading in stormwater runoff from multiple urban catchments without other sources of human inputs (i.e., no septic systems, no homeless encampments, no reported sanitary sewer overflows) to estimate the amount of exfiltrated sewage that reaches stormwater. The human-specific genetic marker HF183, which is highly concentrated in raw sewage, was used as a surrogate for human fecal pollution and was measured in nearly every stormwater sample collected. We extrapolated measured exfiltration to the entire 419 km2 watershed and estimated up to 4.25 × 106 L exfiltrate each day. This is 0.6% of the average daily volume of sewage treated in this sewer collection system and is similar in scale to exfiltration allowed by design standards. Based on ratios of exfiltration loading predictions vs. stormwater loading measurements, the proportion of exfiltrated human fecal load that is estimated to be transported via subsurface pathways (i.e., the subsurface transfer coefficient, STC) to stormwater in the studied catchments is 8.27 × 10−5 (95% CI: 6.30 × 10−5 to 1.37 × 10−4). Human fecal pollution loads from exfiltration via subsurface transfer during a storm event were calculated to be 1.5 × 1013 (95% CI: 1.79 × 1012 to 3.59 × 1013) HF183 gene copies per storm. This estimate is similar in scale to the measured mass loading estimates in stormwater for the studied watershed and comparable to independently-measured tracers of sewage. Future work is needed to better understand subsurface transport mechanisms of exfiltrated sewage and to test this approach, and the assumptions used, in other watersheds and sewer systems.
Genetic ancestry and the colonial legacies of race in genomics: a cross-disciplinary dialogue
Authors: Schwartz-Marin Ernesto , Jiwani Tayyaba , Abel Sarah , Egorova Yulia , M’charek Amade , Meyer Diogo , Moreno Estrada Andrés , Schramm Katharina , Wade Peter , Naslavsky Michel
Published: January 2025

As genomics initiatives have spread around the world–often in the name of genetic diversity and inclusion–they have not only invoked promises of a medical revolution, but also revived categories of human difference that resemble erstwhile racial classifications. This is despite the fact that geneticists broadly dismissed racial categories as obsolete and unfounded after the Human Genome Project was completed in 2003. In fact, contemporary genomics initiatives have often ended up reinforcing ethnocentric and nativist conceptions of difference, drawing intense criticism from activists and critical social scientists. This roundtable brings leading population geneticists grappling with the question of genetic identity and ancestry, especially in the global South, together with some of the most prominent scholars of race in genomics. The result is an engaging and insightful dialogue on questions that have vexed the field for decades. How do we—indeed “can” we reconcile the boundaries of biological and social difference? How do notions of “genetic ancestry” and “biogeographical ancestry differ from erstwhile racial and ethnic categories? Can racial categories ever be shorn of their colonial and oppressive legacies? Here we scrutinise the methodological and epistemological frameworks in contemporary genomics that work to define populations and shape our understanding of biology, society, health, and disease. We seek to clarify perspectives across the disciplinary divide, and to advance constructive and grounded critiques that contend with the question of justice in genomics.
A new paradigm for cancer immunotherapy: targeting immunogenic cell death-related noncoding RNA
Authors: Sun Guojuan , He Ling
Published: January 2025

Cancer immunotherapy has shown significant potential in treating several malignancies by stimulating the host immune system to recognize and attack cancer cells. Immunogenic cell death (ICD) can amplify the antitumor immune responses and reverse the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment, thus increasing the sensitivity of cancer immunotherapy. In recent years, noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs) have emerged as key regulatory factors in ICD and oncologic immunity. Accordingly, ICD-related ncRNAs hold promise as novel therapeutic targets for optimizing the efficacy of cancer immunotherapy. However, the immunomodulatory properties of ICD-related ncRNAs have not yet been comprehensively summarized. Hence, we summarize the current knowledge on ncRNAs involved in ICD and their potential roles in cancer immunotherapy in this review. It deepens our understanding of ncRNAs associated with ICD and provides a new strategy to enhance cancer immunotherapy by specifically targeting the ICD-related ncRNAs.
Associations between neutrophil percentage to albumin ratio and rheumatoid arthritis versus osteoarthritis: a comprehensive analysis utilizing the NHANES database
Authors: Ding Wenquan , La Rui , Wang Shenghao , He Zhiyuan , Jiang Dinghua , Zhang Zhigang , Ni Hao , Xu Wu , Huang Lixin , Wu Qian
Published: January 2025

Objectives

The association between the neutrophil percentage to albumin ratio (NPAR) and the risk of osteoarthritis (OA) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA) remains unclear. This study aims to investigate the association between NPAR and the risk of OA and RA.

Methods

This cross-sectional study analyzed data from 92,062 American adults in the NHANES database between 1999 and 2016. Various statistical analyses were conducted to investigate the associations between NPAR and the risks of OA and RA, including multivariable logistic regression, subgroup analysis, smooth curve fitting, and threshold effect analysis.

Results

After screening, the final study population included 36,147 participants, with 3,881 individuals diagnosed with OA and 2,178 with RA. After adjusting for confounding factors, higher NPAR levels were associated with an increased risk of RA (OR=1.05; 95% CI: 1.03-1.07; P <0.0001), but not with OA (OR=1.01; 95% CI: 0.99-1.02; P =0.755). This association was remarkably consistent across subgroups by age, sex, body mass index (BMI), alcohol consumption, hypertension, diabetes, and smoking status. Further analyses using curve fitting and threshold effect models revealed a nonlinear association between NPAR and RA, with an inflection point identified at 15.56.

Conclusion

High levels of NPAR is positively associated with the prevalence of RA. This provides us with new insights for the management and treatment of RA patients.
The XIAP inhibitor AZD5582 improves the treatment effect of microwave ablation on hepatocellular carcinoma
Authors: Wang Wenhui , Wu Fuyuan , Wu Zhe , Zhang Mengfan , Lu Qiang
Published: January 2025

Background and purpose

Microwave ablation (MWA) is one of the first-line therapy recommended for early-stage hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, the residual tumor, resulting from insufficient ablation, led to recurrence and metastasis of liver cancer. Novel combination strategies are urgently needed to enhance efficiency of MWA.

Methods

We detected the expression of XIAP protein after ablation in primary liver cancer patients using immunohistochemistry. Then, we established in vitro and in vivo IMWA models to further detect XIAP expression. We established an in vitro IMWA model by heating HCC cell lines and, at the same time, applied the XIAP inhibitor AZD5582 and verified the proliferation, migration, and pro-apoptotic ability of the XIAP inhibitor on tumor cells using CCK8, colony formation assay, cell scratch assay, and flow cytometry flow. The IMWA model of C57BL/6 and NTG mice were established, and AZD5582 was used in combination to evaluate the inhibitory and pro-apoptotic effects of different treatment regimens on tumor growth and to detect the local immune infiltration of C57BL/6 tumors. Finally, AZD5582 drug toxicity was detected to confirm its feasibility.

Results

XIAP protein expression is significantly increased in recurrent hepatocellular carcinoma tissues of patients who previously received microwave ablation therapy. In vitro experiments showed that the migration and proliferation ability of HCC cells was significantly reduced, and the level of apoptosis was increased after application of the XIAP inhibitor AZD5582. In vivo experiments further confirmed that ablation combined with the application of AZD5582 significantly reduced the proliferation ability of residual hepatocellular carcinoma. Concurrently, in C57 BL/6 mice with AZD5582 application, the level of local CD8+ T-cell infiltration in the tumor was increased, while the level of Foxp3+ regulatory T-cell infiltration was significantly reduced. The low toxicity of AZD5582 was further confirmed through hematological and pathological examinations of vital organs. These results provide new clues for hepatocellular carcinoma treatment, suggesting the potential role of XIAP inhibitors in hepatocellular carcinoma treatment and their impact in immunomodulation.

Conclusions

In this study, we found that the XIAP inhibitor AZD5582 modulates the immune microenvironment and inhibits the progression of post-ablation residual hepatocellular carcinoma.
Dual-release hydrocortisone treatment improves serum and peripheral blood mononuclear cell inflammatory and immune profiles in patients with autoimmune primary adrenal insufficiency
Authors: Tomasello Laura , Coppola Antonina , Pizzolanti Giuseppe , Giordano Carla , Arnaldi Giorgio , Guarnotta Valentina
Published: January 2025

Objective

The primary outcome was the evaluation of the T-cell phenotype in autoimmune primary adrenal insufficiency (PAI). Secondary outcomes included the evaluation of the CD4+CD25+Foxp3+ Treg population and the gene expression levels of IL-6, IL-17A, cyclooxygenase (COX)-2, heat shock proteins (HSP)-70, indoleamine-2,3-dioxygenase (IDO), programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1), inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), and thioredoxin (TXN)-1.

Methods

We prospectively included 15 patients with PAI on conventional glucocorticoid (GC) replacement therapy, 15 switched to dual-release hydrocortisone (DR-HC), and 20 healthy controls. Serum inflammatory parameters and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were evaluated at baseline and after 12 months of treatment.

Result

At baseline, significantly higher CD4+ and CD8+ (both p < 0.001) T-cell percentages, a lower CD4+/CD8+ ratio (p < 0.05), and higher CD25+ and CD4+/CD25+ T cells (both p < 0.001) were observed in PAI compared to controls. After 12 months of DR-HC treatment, we found significantly lower IL-6 (p = 0.019), IL-17A (p = 0.046), COX-2 (p < 0.001), HSP-70 (p = 0.006), and TXN-1 (p = 0.008) and higher PD-L1 (p < 0.001) and IDO (p < 0.001) mRNA values compared to baseline. After 12 months of DR-HC treatment, a significant increase in CD4+ T cells (p = 0.012), PD-L1 (p = 0.003), and IDO (p < 0.001) and a decrease in CD8+ T cells (p < 0.001), IL-6 (p = 0.003), IL-17A (p = 0.0014), COX-2 (p < 0.001), HSP-70 (p = 0.005), and TXN-1 (p = 0.0008), as well as a significantly higher conversion in the CD4+/CD8+ ratio (p = 0.033), were observed compared to conventional GCs.

Conclusions

The switch from conventional GCs to DR-HC treatment altered the T lymphocyte phenotype and CD4+/CD8+ ratio in a Treg-independent manner, inducing significant improvements in the immune and inflammatory profile in PAI.
The real-world safety of Ofatumumab: a pharmacovigilance analysis based on the FDA adverse event reporting system
Authors: Zhou Yue , Wu Yutong , Zhao Xiao , Xu Lingxu , Sun Mingguang , Meng Zhaoyou
Published: January 2025

Background

Ofatumumab is a humanized monoclonal antibody that targets CD20-positive B cells. It was approved by the FDA in 2020 for the treatment of relapsing multiple sclerosis (RMS) in adult patients, and in 2009 for the treatment of Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL). With the escalating clinical application of Ofatumumab, comprehending its safety profile within actual healthcare environments is of considerable importance.

Methods

This study compiled a dataset derived from the FAERS database, which included real-world safety data on Ofatumumab from Q4 2009 to Q2 2024. We applied four distinct methodologies, including ROR, PRR, MGPS, and BCPNN, to perform a disproportionality analysis of adverse events (AEs) associated with Ofatumumab. Furthermore, we utilized the Weibull distribution model to estimate the temporal risk pattern of AEs.

Results

The investigation incorporated a total of 24,468 case reports pertaining to AEs associated with Ofatumumab. The commonly observed AEs encompass Fatigue, Headache, Chills, Pyrexia, Pain, Nausea, Nasopharyngitis, Vomiting, Urinary tract infection, and Pneumonia. Additionally, we identified potential AEs not specified on the drug label, such as Asthenia, Hypoesthesia, Dizziness, Malaise, Injection site pain, Paresthesia, and Diarrhea.

Conclusions

This investigation has identified several AEs associated with Ofatumumab and revealed previously unacknowledged potential adverse reaction signals. Healthcare providers can refer to these adverse reaction signals to more comprehensively consider the possible conditions that patients may present with during actual clinical practice.
Broadening horizons: research on ferroptosis in lung cancer and its potential therapeutic targets
Authors: Gao Guangpeng , Zhang Xindi
Published: January 2025

Ferroptosis is a novel form of cell death distinct from traditional mechanisms, characterized by the accumulation of iron ions and the production of lipid peroxides. It not only affects the survival of tumor cells but is also closely linked to changes in the tumor microenvironment. Lung cancer is one of the leading malignancies worldwide in terms of incidence and mortality, and its complex biological mechanisms and resistance make treatment challenging. Recent studies have shown that ferroptosis plays a key role in the onset and progression of lung cancer, with its intricate regulatory mechanisms influencing tumor development and response to therapy. As research into ferroptosis deepens, related molecular pathways, such as glutamate metabolism, iron metabolism, and antioxidant defense, have been gradually revealed. However, in clinical practice, ferroptosis-based therapeutic strategies for lung cancer are still in their early stages. Challenges remain, including the incomplete understanding of the specific mechanisms of ferroptosis, insufficient research on related regulatory factors, and limited insight into the interactions within the tumor microenvironment. Therefore, effective modulation of ferroptosis to enhance lung cancer treatment remains an urgent issue. This review summarizes the biological mechanisms of ferroptosis, analyzes the regulatory factors of ferroptosis in lung cancer cells and their interaction with the tumor microenvironment, and further explores potential therapeutic strategies targeting ferroptosis. By synthesizing the latest research, this paper aims to provide new perspectives and directions for lung cancer treatment, with the goal of advancing clinical applications.
Navigating the current landscape of ocean observations: an overview from platform infrastructures to networks related to ocean time series
Authors: von Jackowski Anabel
Published: January 2025

Increasing global temperatures, biodiversity loss, and pollution are among the major transformative changes affecting terrestrial and marine ecosystems. The marine biome can be observed and monitored using ocean observations with satellite-based platforms, tagging of animals, autonomous platforms and vehicles, and ship-based measurements. Sustaining ocean observations at a given location over time are known as ocean time series. For example, stationary platforms like moorings record data autonomously at one location over time, while ship-based time series stations are sampled using discrete measurements at varying sampling frequencies throughout a given year. Ocean observations feed into networks that either focus on obtaining data, e.g., similar instruments, or a social focus that aims to connect participants, e.g., early career or science-policy interface. These platforms and associated networks feed into the Framework for Ocean Observing (FOO) with a set of Essential Ocean Variables (EOVs) and the Ocean Best Practices System (OBPS) developed by the global ocean observing community. The range of ocean observing activities around the world creates a complex landscape, which can be particularly difficult to navigate for early career ocean professionals (ECOPs). ECOPs face higher barriers to entering the United Nations Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development (“UN Ocean Decade”) than others despite actively contributing to ocean observations and playing the most significant role in the success of sustainability transformations. The review aims to provide an overview of the organizations and networks associated with ocean observations, motivate ECOPs to actively get involved in the ongoing UN Ocean Decade (2021-2030), and join or create new initiatives within the existing landscape. Ocean observations harbor an extraordinary benefit for a large diversity of end-users far beyond the scientific community, and there is a need to engage the next generation of ocean leaders as we transition to live and manage this blue planet sustainably.
A whole process resilience management practice in coastal engineering
Authors: Zhou Yingtao , Jiang Chenhui , Jiang Yuanshu , Zhu Yu , Jin Yan , Wang Xian , Feng Xi , Feng Weibing
Published: January 2025

Coastal zones are crucial for protecting land from marine disasters, but they are increasingly threatened by erosion caused by storms and rising sea levels. Urban coastal resilience engineering is a multidisciplinary practice that seeks to enhance disaster prevention capabilities and resilience along urban coastlines. This process requires a comprehensive assessment based on the current conditions and regional characteristics, followed by tailored planning and design strategies. Previous research has mainly focused on individual coastline types, utilizing observations or numerical models for analysis. However, it often lacks a comprehensive approach that integrates planning, design, and assessment. This paper proposes a project life cycle management method for resilient coastal zone engineering, including design and construction within a layout planning framework. The proposed scheme incorporates small-scale numerical simulations for the evaluation and employs high-precision remote sensing data collected over different construction periods to assess the coastline’s transformations during the process of construction. Additionally, a hierarchical evaluation index system was established using the analytic hierarchy process to assess project outcomes after completion. The Haidian River-Haikou Bay Coastal Resilience Project serves as a case study and this study thoroughly evaluates the project’s impact on the vitality and resilience of the coastal zones. This research provides valuable insights and practical guidance for future coastal resilience restoration efforts in diverse urban contexts.
Elucidating deep-sea thermometric deviations and their consequences for oceanic heat content assessment via high-pressure calibration
Authors: Zhang Muzi , Sun Qingquan , Bai Xiaoxue , Wu Chi
Published: January 2025

This paper extensively investigates the performance of the representative SBE 3 deep-sea thermometer (Sea-Bird Scientific) under various stepwise pressure conditions. A high-precision pressure-temperature vessel was employed to simulate deep sea environments, conducting systematic pressure experiments with precise temperature control (0.5 mK) across a temperature range of -2 to 35°C and from atmospheric pressure to full ocean depth (0–12700 m). A Standard platinum resistance thermometer (SPRT), isolated from the pressure environment and placed adjacent to the SBE 3, served as a calibration reference throughout the experiments. The drift of the SBE 3, reaching up to 10 mK in this study, was meticulously quantified at varying pressures and temperatures. Subsequently, a linear calibration method was developed, ensuring that the thermometer maintained an accuracy of ±0.0005°C (± 0.5 mK) across all tested high-pressure conditions, including a maximum pressure of 1050 bar. Crucially, this study discusses the negative impact of pressure-induced temperature errors on the estimation of ocean heat content in the Pacific, emphasizing the importance of conducting high-pressure calibration tests before and after oceanographic deployments. These measures are vital for ensuring the accuracy of deep-sea temperature measurements, which are critical for understanding global climate dynamics and improving the calibration of deep-sea sensors.
Seasonal variations and comparative nutritional composition of hatchery-reared, hatchery-released, and wild black rockfish (Sebastes schlegelii)
Authors: Wang Liu , He Yunhai , Wei Xu , Liang Xinyan , Zhang Ruonan , Liu Qi , Wang Chenqi , Chen Jinfeng , Li Meiyuan , Ma Zhi , Qu Shaodong
Published: January 2025

The black rockfish (Sebastes schlegelii) is a commercially important marine species in the Northwest Pacific Ocean. Its population has significantly declined due to overfishing and environmental changes. Stock enhancement has been launched in response to wild populations decline. However, limited evidence is available to confirm the ecological effects after release. Empirically, if the hatchery-released individuals are well-adapted to the wild environment, they should show good or similar nutritional conditions as well as their wild counterparts. Therefore, nutritional analysis was essential and conducted in the present study, by using 146 S. schlegelii individuals in order to compare the differences among hatchery-reared (before-release), hatchery-released, and wild conspecifics (post-release) groups in consideration of different environments during a whole stock enhancement practice. Our results exhibited that hatchery-reared S. schlegelii exhibited significantly lower levels of crude protein and amino acid content than that of hatchery-released and wild ones (P < 0.05). Specifically, both the hatchery-released and wild S. schlegelii generally showed similar trends of nutrition profiling compared with their hatchery-reared counterparts, such as moisture, crude ash, crude lipid, crude protein, and amino acid profiles (P > 0.05), indicating homogeneity in their nutritional contents. Our research suggested that S. schlegelii exhibited extensive ecological plasticity, and the variations in nutrition of a population was mainly influenced by environmental factors rather than the origin. However, several differences in fatty acid composition between hatchery-released and wild S. schlegelii indicated that hatchery-released fish might not have fully adapt to the food supply in the wild. This study provided insights into promoting responsible stock enhancement of this species in the future.
Real-time prediction of port water levels based on EMD-PSO-RBFNN
Authors: Wang Lijun , Liao Shenghao , Wang Sisi , Yin Jianchuan , Li Ronghui , Guan Jingyu
Published: January 2025

Addressing the spatial variability, temporal dynamics, and non-linearity characteristics of port water levels, a hybrid prediction scheme was proposed, which integrates empirical mode decomposition (EMD) with a radial basis function neural network (RBFNN), optimized using the particle swarm optimization (PSO) algorithm. First, through the application of EMD, the port water level time series was decomposed into sub-series characterized by lower non-linearity. Subsequently, PSO was applied to fine-tune the center and spread parameters of the RBFNN, thereby enhancing the model’s predictive performance. The optimized PSO-RBFNN model was employed to make predictions on the decomposed sub-series. Finally, reconstruction of the predicted sub-series yielded the final water level predictions. The feasibility and effectiveness of the proposed model were validated using measured port water level data. Results from simulations highlighted the model’s ability to deliver accurate predictions across various lead times. Furthermore, comparative analysis revealed that the proposed model outperforms alternative methods in port water level prediction. Therefore, the proposed model serves as a reliable, efficient, and real-time prediction tool, providing robust support for port operational safety.
Emerging applications of NLP and large language models in gastroenterology and hepatology: a systematic review
Authors: Omar Mahmud , Nassar Salih , SharIf Kassem , Glicksberg Benjamin S. , Nadkarni Girish N. , Klang Eyal
Published: January 2025

Background and aim

In the last years, natural language processing (NLP) has transformed significantly with the introduction of large language models (LLM). This review updates on NLP and LLM applications and challenges in gastroenterology and hepatology.

Methods

Registered with PROSPERO (CRD42024542275) and adhering to PRISMA guidelines, we searched six databases for relevant studies published from 2003 to 2024, ultimately including 57 studies.

Results

Our review of 57 studies notes an increase in relevant publications in 2023–2024 compared to previous years, reflecting growing interest in newer models such as GPT-3 and GPT-4. The results demonstrate that NLP models have enhanced data extraction from electronic health records and other unstructured medical data sources. Key findings include high precision in identifying disease characteristics from unstructured reports and ongoing improvement in clinical decision-making. Risk of bias assessments using ROBINS-I, QUADAS-2, and PROBAST tools confirmed the methodological robustness of the included studies.

Conclusion

NLP and LLMs can enhance diagnosis and treatment in gastroenterology and hepatology. They enable extraction of data from unstructured medical records, such as endoscopy reports and patient notes, and for enhancing clinical decision-making. Despite these advancements, integrating these tools into routine practice is still challenging. Future work should prospectively demonstrate real-world value.
Investigation on the occupational situation of clinical research associates in China
Authors: Du Can , Han Qi , Lu Ziqian , Li Jia
Published: January 2025

Clinical research associates (CRAs) are the sponsor’s representatives, monitor the process and quality of clinical trials, their professional quality can affect the quality of clinical trials. But there is a conflict between the large number of CRAs personnel and unsatisfactory quality of clinical trial monitoring, and the reason is unknown. Therefore, our study investigated the occupational status of CRAs through a questionnaire survey. A total of 401 eligible questionnaires were included in the final analysis. Of whom, 71.32% were females, the average age is 27.86 years (range: 22–46 years), 95.01% had a bachelor’s degree or above, and 60% had a pharmaceutical major. 76.31% had month income of <20,000 Yuan RMB, and dissatisfied with their current salary level. Over 80% weekly working time more than 40 h. 79.3% CRAs traveling for less than 7 days per month under the impact of the COVID-19 epidemic. 80% of them are satisfied with promotion channels and company training. Furthermore, Through the analysis of satisfaction differences, we found that CRAs with different educational backgrounds have significant differences in career satisfaction. It was suggested by more than 80% CRAs that the application materials for clinical trials should be unified nationwide and an ethical mutual recognition system. In conclusion, our study is the first large-scale survey of CRAs in China, the current professional situation of CRAs is considerable, but overall it still needs further improvement and enhancement, the monitoring difficulties faced by CRAs mainly come from hospitals, companies, and themselves. With the robust growth of clinical trials in China, hospitals and companies need to improve the professional quality and status of CRAs through a series of measures, further driving the improvement of clinical trial quality.
Inflammatory lipid biomarkers and transplant-free mortality risk in hepatitis B-related cirrhosis and hepatic encephalopathy
Authors: Shi Ke , Wang Xiaojing , Yi Zhang , Li Yanqiu , Feng Ying , Wang Xianbo
Published: January 2025

Objective

Inflammatory reactions and dyslipidemia are associated with the pathogenesis and prognosis of hepatitis B virus-related cirrhosis. We aimed to assess the predictive ability of these parameters in patients with hepatitis B virus-related cirrhosis and overt hepatic encephalopathy (HBV-related OHE).

Design

We conducted an analysis of 1,404 participants diagnosed with HBV-related OHE between January 2008 and July 2023. The prognostic significance of the neutrophil-to-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) ratio (NHR), lymphocyte-to-HDL-C ratio (LHR), and monocyte-to-HDL-C ratio (MHR) was evaluated using the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC). Restrictive cubic splines (RCS) were employed to explore the relationship between NHR and 12-month transplant-free (TF) mortality. This study included a prospective test cohort of 328 patients.

Results

NHR was identified as an independent risk factor for 12-month TF mortality. The AUC for NHR (0.776) was similar to that of the model end-stage liver disease (MELD) score (AUC: 0.777). In the test cohort, NHR demonstrated AUC values comparable to MELD, with significantly higher AUCs than LHR and MHR (both p < 0.05). Based on cutoff values for NHR and MELD, patients were classified into four risk subgroups: very-low (NHR < 10 and MELD <18), low (NHR ≥ 10 and MELD <18), moderate (NHR < 10 and MELD ≥18), and high (NHR ≥ 10 and MELD ≥18). The 12-month TF mortality rates in the training cohort were 7.2, 23.5, 30.8, and 51.4%, respectively, for these subgroups, while in the test cohort, the rates were 8.7, 20.5, 30.7, and 46.0%.

Conclusion

NHR is a valuable and accessible prognostic indicator for 12-month TF mortality in patients with HBV-related OHE. Patients with both NHR ≥ 10 and MELD ≥18 are at the highest risk of mortality.
Poly-ADP ribose polymerase (PARP) inhibitor regimens for platinum-sensitive ovarian cancer in randomized, double-blind, phase III controlled trials: protocol for a systematic review and network meta-analysis
Authors: Peng Xiaolian , Liu Jie
Published: January 2025

Introduction

Clinical trials have shown that PARP inhibitors are effective in treating patients with platinum-sensitive ovarian cancer. They have been indicated to improve progression-free survival or overall survival in patients with patients with platinum-sensitive ovarian cancer. However, there is insufficient comprehensive evidence regarding the comparison of different agents. To evaluate and compare the efficacy and side effects of various PARP inhibitors.

Methods

We plan to conduct a network meta-analysis that includes randomized, double-blind, controlled phase III trials of Niraparib, Rucaparib, Olaparib, or Veliparib in patients with Platinum-sensitive ovarian cancer. The primary outcomes will be progression-free survival or overall survival. The secondary outcome will be grade ≥ 3 of treatment-emergent adverse events. Published and unpublished studies will be retrieved through PubMed, Embase, the Cochrane Library, ClinicalTrials.gov, and the World Health Organization (WHO) International Clinical Trials Registry Platform from 1990 to 2023. We will use STATA V.14.0 to perform all analyses, and the RevMan software to report the risk of bias in the included studies. We will determine the quality of evidence using the GRADEpro GDT software online version. This is a protocol description only. Results and conclusions are subject to completion. This study will be based on published studies, since no primary data collection will be carried out, no formal ethical assessment is required. The network graph and meta-analysis will be used to compare all PARP inhibitors. Their ranking will employ a rankogram, surface under the cumulative ranking curves, and mean ranks.

Discussion

Our study will answer the most important question in platinum-sensitive ovarian cancer: which PARPi should be preferred regarding efficacy and side effects? Trials of platinum-resistant or refractory ovarian cancer will be excluded. The limitation is that the results of network meta-analyses do not yet have the same level of evidence as direct head-to-head trials. However, it is a useful complementary method when direct comparative studies cannot be performed. We plan to publish the results of this systematic review and network meta-analysis in peer-reviewed scientific journals, conferences, and the mass media.

Systematic review registration

PROSPERO, CRD42024511248, available from: https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?ID=CRD42024511248.
Predatory bacteria can intensify lung-injury in a multidrug-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii pneumonia model in rat
Authors: Mohsenipour Zeinab , Kianian Farzaneh , Jahanbin Behnaz , Abtahi Hamid Reza , Ghazanfari Tooba , Edalatifard Maryam , Amanpour Saeid , Skurnik Mikael , Arazi Parya , Feizabadi Mohammad Mehdi
Published: January 2025

Introduction

Respiratory tract infection caused by antibiotic-resistant bacteria are one of the most important causes of death worldwide. Therefore, in this study, we investigated the possibility of using predatory bacteria to improve the Acinetobacter baumannii pneumonia model in rat.

Methods

Multidrug-resistant (MDR) A. baumannii clinical strain was used to induce pneumonia. In addition to the sham and predator control group, three treatment groups (n = 5) were studied with colistin, Bdellovibrio bacteriovorus HD100, and combination of predator and antibiotics. Also, the colistin MIC value for B. bacteriovorus HD100 (8 μg/mL) was determined for the first time to our knowledge. Removal of excess endotoxin from the predator suspension was performed with the help of organic solvents before inoculation of rats.

Results

The most successful treatment was observed in the group treated with colistin followed by combined treatment. In the predator treatment group, the systemic spread of A. baumannii was lower than other treatment groups. However, treatment with predatory bacteria not only failed to reduce the pathogen load in the lungs to the same extent as the antibiotic treatment group, but also induced acute pulmonary and systemic inflammatory responses. Therefore, the rats showed the highest septic score (21.4 at 48 h) and did not survive more than 48 h.

Discussion

This is the first report of systemic complications of using B. bacteriovorus HD100 for infection control. According to our results, the effects of predatory bacteria in the in vivo environment are complex and many questions need to be answered before it can be introduced as a live antibiotic.
Whole genome sequencing of a novel carrageenan-degrading bacterium Photobacterium rosenbergii and oligosaccharide preparation
Authors: Chen Jing , Chen Runmin , Cheong Kit-Leong , Wang Zhuo , Li Rui , Jia Xuejing , Zhao Qiaoli , Liu Xiaofei , Song Bingbing , Zhong Saiyi
Published: January 2025

Introduction

Carrageenan oligosaccharides are of significant interest due to their diverse bioactivities, necessitating efficient methods for their production. To this day, the discovery and isolation of microorganisms capable of effectively degrading carrageenan is still crucial for the production of carrageenan oligosaccharides. In addition, there are no current reports of bacteria of the genus Photobacterium capable of secreting κ-carrageenanase or degrading carrageenan.

Methods

In the current study, strain GDSX-4 was obtained from Gracilaria coronopifolia after enrichment culture, primary screening and rescreening and was initially characterized by morphology and 16SrDNA. The pure culture of strain GDSX-4 was further subjected to bacterial genome sequencing assembly and bioinformatic analysis. Specifically, homology group cluster (COG) annotation, CAZy (carbohydrate-active enzyme) database annotation and CAZyme genome clusters (CGCs) annotation were utilized to identify potential polysaccharide degradation functions. Enzymatic activity was assessed under different conditions, including substrate, temperature, pH, and the presence of metal ions. Hydrolysis products were analyzed using thin-layer chromatography (TLC) and electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS).

Results

Photobacterium rosenbergii GDSX-4 is a Gram-negative bacterium isolated from the red algae, capable of degrading several polysaccharides. The draft genome was predicted to have 6,407,375 bp, 47.55% G+C content and 6,749 genes. Among them, 214 genes encoding carbohydrate enzymes were annotated, including carrageenase, agarose, alginate lyase, and chitinase. GDSX-4 exhibited remarkable carrageenan-degrading activity, with a specific enzyme activity of 46.94 U/mg. Optimal hydrolysis conditions were determined to be 40°C and pH 7.0, with the enzyme retaining 80% of its activity below 30°C and across a pH range of 4.0–10.0. Metal ions such as as K+, Na+, and Ba2+ enhanced enzymatic activity, while Ni2+, Mn2+, and Cu2+ had inhibitory effects. kappa-carrageenan was totally hydrolyzed into oligosaccharides with degrees of polymerization ranging from 2 to 6.

Discussion

These findings highlight the potential of GDSX-4 for the efficient production of carrageenan oligosaccharides, paving the way for applications in the food and agricultural industries. Future studies may focus on the efficient expression of κ-carrageenase and expand its industrial application in the preparation of oligosaccharides.