bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Removal of Endothelial Surface-associated Von Villebrand Factor Suppresses Accelerate Datherosclerosis After Myocardial Infarction
Authors: Ozawa Koya , Packwood William , Qi Yue , Muller Matthew , Xie Aris , Varlamov Oleg , McCarty Owen , Chung Dominic , Lopez Jose , Lindner Jonathan
Published: February 2024

Background Thromboinflammation involving platelet adhesion to endothelial surface-associated von Willebrand factor (VWF) has been implicated in the accelerated progression of non-culprit plaques after MI. The aim of this study was to use arterial endothelial molecular imaging to mechanistically evaluate endothelial-associated VWF as a therapeutic target for reducing remote plaque activation after myocardial infarction (MI).Methods Hyperlipidemic mice deficient for the low-density lipoprotein receptor and Apobec-1 underwent closed-chest MI and were treated chronically with either: (i) recombinant ADAMTS13 which is responsible for proteolytic removal of VWF from the endothelial surface, (ii) N-acetylcysteine (NAC) which removes VWF by disulfide bond reduction, (iii) function-blocking anti-factor XI (FXI) antibody, or (iv) no therapy. Non-ischemic controls were also studied. At day 3 and 21, ultrasound molecular imaging was performed with probes targeted to endothelial-associated VWF A1-domain, platelet GPIbα, P-selectin and vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) at lesion-prone sites of the aorta. Histology was performed at day 21.Results Aortic signal for P-selectin, VCAM-1, VWF, and platelet-GPIbα were all increased several-fold (p < 0.01) in post-MI mice versus sham-treated animals at day 3 and 21. Treatment with NAC and ADAMTS13 significantly attenuated the post-MI increase for all four molecular targets by > 50% (p < 0.05 vs non-treated at day 3 and 21). On aortic root histology, mice undergoing MI versus controls had 2–4 fold greater plaque size and macrophage content (p < 0.05), approximately 20-fold greater platelet adhesion (p < 0.05), and increased staining for markers of platelet transforming growth factor-β1 signaling. Accelerated plaque growth and inflammatory activation was almost entirely prevented by ADAMTS13 and NAC. Inhibition of FXI had no significant effect on molecular imaging signal or plaque morphology.Conclusions Plaque inflammatory activation in remote arteries after MI is strongly influenced by VWF-mediated platelet adhesion to the endothelium. These findings support investigation into new secondary preventive therapies for reducing non-culprit artery events after MI.
Construction of a prediction model for Non-tuberculous mycobacterial lung disease based on clinical characteristics and analysis of its application value
Authors: Liu Haiqing , Han Mingfeng , Cheng Guoling , Yan Hao , Hou Jing , Cao Xiaoyu , Zhang Wei
Published: February 2024

Objective
The objective of this study was to explore the differential clinical features between Nontuberculous mycobacterial pulmonary disease (NTM-PD) and pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB), and to develop a predictive model for the differential diagNosis of these two conditions. The study aimed to provide clinical guidance for the diagNosis and treatment of NTM-PD.
Methods
The study included 145 patients with NTM-PD and 206 patients with PTB, whose clinical characteristics,imaging findings,and inflammatory markers were compared.A binary logistic regression model was used to analyze the influencing factors and evaluate the predictive performance and calibration accuracy of the model.
Results
A comparative analysis of clinical, imaging, and inflammatory markers between NTM-PD and PTB groups revealed significant differences in demographics (age, gender, occupation, BMI), symptoms (dyspnea, loss of appetite, fever), risk factors (smoking, alcohol consumption history, diabetes), and comorbidities (bronchiectasis, emphysema, COPD, cystic-columnar, honeycomb, lung cavitation, MONo%; P < 0.05). Multivariate binary logistic regression identified gender and diabetes as protective, while bronchiectasis, COPD, and lung cavitation as risk factors. The model's predictive performance was strong with an AUC of 0.874 (95% CI 0.837 ~ 0.910; P < 0.001) and a Youden index of 0.611, yielding sensitivity of 83.4% and specificity of 77.7%. Model calibration was assessed by the Hosmer-Lemeshow test, showing no significant difference between predicted and observed values (χ²=7.895, P = 0.444 > 0.05).
Conclusion
In female patients without diabetes or underlying conditions such as bronchiectasis or COPD, when high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) of the chest reveals predominantly cavitated lesions, it is imperative to give high priority to the differential diagnosis for possible NTM-PD, given its clinical resemblance to PTB. A meticulous distinction between these diagnoses is essential during the diagnostic process to prevent misdiagnosis.
Exploring the effect of hepatitis B e antigen on neutrophil activation and natural killer cell dysfunction in patients with chronic hepatitis B
Authors: Feng Zhiqian , Fu Junliang , Tang Lili , Bao Chunmei , Liu Honghong , Liu Kai , Yang Tao , Yuan Jin-Hong , Zhou Chun-Bao , Zhang Chao , Xu Ruo-nan , Wang Fu-Sheng
Published: February 2024

Background
The role of neutrophils in hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection has been a subject of debate due to their involvement in antiviral responses and immune regulation. This study aimed to elucidate the neutrophil characteristics in patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB).
Methods
Through flow cytometry and ribonucleic acid-sequencing analysis, the phenotypes and counts of neutrophils were analyzed in patients with CHB. Moreover, the effects of HBeAg on neutrophils and the corresponding pattern recognition receptors were identified. Simultaneously, the cross-talk between neutrophils and natural killer (NK) cells was investigated.
Results
Neutrophils were activated in patients with CHB, characterized by higher expression levels of programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1), cluster of differentiation 86, and interleukin-8, and lower levels of CXC motif chemokine receptor (CXCR) 1 and CXCR2. Hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) partially induces neutrophil activation through the Toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2). A coordinated upregulation of the TLR2 and HBeAg expression was observed in patients with CHB. Notably, the genes encoding molecules pivotal for NK-cell function upon NK receptor engagement enriched in neutrophils after HBeAg activation. The HBeAg-activated neutrophils demonstrated the ability to decrease the production of interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) in NK cells, while the PD-1 and PD-L1 pathways partially mediated the immunosuppression.
Conclusions
The immunosuppression of neutrophils induced by HBeAg suggests a novel pathogenic mechanism contributing to immune tolerance in patients with CHB.
Evaluating Vonoprazan and Tegoprazan for Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease Treatment in Chinese Healthcare: An EVIDEM Framework Analysis
Authors: Xue Chaojun , Du Yuhan , Yang Haotian , Jin Huixin , Zhao Yue , Ren Bingnan , Dong Zhanjun
Published: February 2024

Background
In Chinese healthcare settings, decisions regarding drug selection are predominantly guided by the Pharmacy & Therapeutics Committee (PTC). This study focuses on two recently introduced potassium-competitive acid blockers in China, vonoprazan (VPZ) and tegoprazan (TPZ). The objective was to assess these drugs using the Evidence and Value: Impact on DEcisionMaking (EVIDEM) framework.
Methods
This study utilized the 10th edition of EVIDEM, comprising a core model with five domains and 13 criteria. It involved two independent expert panels. The PTC expert panel was tasked with five responsibilities: assigning weights using a 5-point scale, defining scoring indicators, examining the evidence matrix, scoring, and decision-making. The evidence matrix expert panel had three duties: conducting a systematic literature review, creating the evidence matrix, and evaluating the value contributions of VPZ and TPZ.
Results
The analysis estimated the value contributions of VPZ and TPZ at 0.59 and 0.54, respectively. The 'economic consequences of intervention' domain exhibited the most significant variation in value contribution between the two drugs, followed by 'comparative outcomes of intervention' and 'type of benefit of intervention'.
Conclusion
Utilizing the EVIDEM framework, VPZ's value contribution appears marginally superior to that of TPZ. The EVIDEM framework shows promise for application in Chinese medical institutions.
Direct Medical Costs and Medication Use Trends in Patients Having Type 2 Diabetes with Chronic Kidney Disease in Beijing, China in 2016–2018
Authors: Zhang Jie , Wang Weihao , Man Fuli , Zhang Xianbo , Wang Xiaoxia , Pan Qi , Guo Li Xin
Published: February 2024

Background
Types of medications used and costs of drugs for patients having type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) with chronic kidney disease (CKD) have not been evaluated in outpatients in Beijing, China.
Objectives
In this study, we aimed to assess the medical costs and use of anti-diabetic therapy in patients having T2DM with CKD in Beijing.
Methods
This observational, retrospective study included diabetic patients with outpatient records in the Beijing Medical Insurance database from 2016 to 2018 and analyzed the enrolled patients’ oral hypoglycemic drug use, insulin use, non-hypoglycemic drug use, comorbidities, T2DM-related complications, treatment strategies, and annual medical costs.
Results
This study recruited 2,853,036 patients with T2DM from the Beijing Medical Insurance database. Notably, 6.87–8.18% of diabetic patients were diagnosed as having CKD. Compared with diabetic patients without CKD, those with CKD showed significantly more diabetic complications (3.32 ± 1.6 vs. 2.09 ± 1.5), more types of medications used (4.8 ± 2.63 vs. 3.75 ± 2.33), and a higher total annual drug cost ($2,017 ± $1,627 vs. $1,350 ± $1260). CKD patients used significantly more types of medications and had significantly lower drug costs in 2018 (4.8 ± 2.62 and $2,017 ± $1,627 respectively) than in 2016 (4.78 ± 2.61 and $2,323 ± $1,885, respectively).
Conclusion
As routine CKD screening is currently not protocolized in Beijing’s outpatient process, CKD prevalence in T2DM patients with medical insurance is erroneously projected to be much lower in Beijing than in other areas of China. Early screening, diagnosis, and treatment of T2DM patients may delay the progress of CKD and reduce the future economic burden on the society.
Elevated red blood cell count levels are associated with increased vascular calcifcation in hemodialysis patients
Authors: zhang fan , li guoli , yu jie , fu shuangshuang , Yang Yiya , Liang Yumei , chen yinyin , Luo Xun
Published: February 2024

Introduction:
Coronary artery calcification (CAC) is a predictor of poor survival and cardiovascular outcome in end-stage renal disease patients.We conducted this study to assess the risk factors for vascular calcification in maintenance hemodialysis patients.
Methods:
A total of 71 cases of HD patients who underwent hemodialysis in Hunan Provincial People's hospital from January 2022 to September 2022 were enrolled. The general clinical data and Laboratory results of the patients were collected.Chest CT examination was performed,and the CAC score was calculated.
Results:
CAC occurred in 41 ( 57.75%) of the 71 HD patients in the study.In the logistic regression analysis, CAC in these patients was significantly predicted by an diabetes (OR [95% CI]: 6.20 [1.37–28.11], P = 0.02) and red blood cell count (OR [95% CI]: 2.29 [1.05–5.02], P = 0.04).The ROC curve was applied to analyzing the red blood cell count; the area under the curve (AUC) was 0.66 (P = 0.02) and clinical diagnostic cutoff value = 2.99 (sensitivity = 75.6% and specificity = 56.7%) .
Conclusion:
The incidence rate of CAC in HD patients was high.Diabetes and red blood cell count were independent risk factors for CAC in HD patients.
Sleep disturbance and internalizing symptoms in adolescents: A moderated mediation model of self-control and mindfulness
Authors: Ye Haoxian , Jiang Nan , He Sisi , Fan Fang
Published: February 2024

Objectives
Despite accumulating evidence regarding the impact of sleep disturbance on internalizing symptoms among adolescents, the underlying psychological mechanisms remain inadequately explored. This study aimed to investigate a conceptual framework elucidating how sleep disturbance influences internalizing symptoms in adolescents through the mediating role of self-control, with mindfulness as a moderator.
Methods
A total of 1876 Chinese adolescents provided data on sleep-related variables, internalizing symptoms (anxiety and depression), mindfulness, and self-control. Utilizing the Process macro for SPSS, a moderated mediation model was analyzed, positing that sleep disturbance would positively relate to internalizing symptoms, with self-control acting as a mediator and mindfulness as a moderator.
Results
Sleep disturbance demonstrated a significant positive correlation with internalizing symptoms in adolescents, and self-control emerged as a mediating factor in this relationship. Furthermore, mindfulness moderated the pathways from self-control to internalizing symptoms, while the mediating relationships were weaker for adolescents exhibiting higher levels of mindfulness.
Conclusions
This study highlights the crucial role of self-control as a mediator in the relationship between sleep disturbance and internalizing symptoms in adolescents. Moreover, it underscores the moderating influence of mindfulness on the pathway from self-control to internalizing symptoms. These findings enhance our understanding of the impact, pathways, and influencing factors of sleep disturbance on internalizing symptoms in adolescents, which also suggest the importance of enhancing mindfulness levels in addressing self-control deficits and subsequently reducing internalizing symptoms among adolescents.
FairAC: Long-term Balancing between Accuracy and Fairness in Recommender Systems Using a Multi-Objective Deep Reinforcement Learning Framework
Authors: Gazik Mohammad Amir Rezaei , Roayaei Mehdy
Published: February 2024

Recommender systems suggest the users with the most appropriate and accurate recommendations by reviewing and exploring user-related information (user's preferences and interests) from the user's previous experiences. Although recommender systems have been studied by many researchers in recent years, a few of them have considered the problem of balancing fairness and accuracy in dynamic recommender systems, where the interests of users change, and new items are added over time to the list of existing items. To resolve this problem, we propose a multi-objective deep reinforcement learning framework based on the actor-critic method, called \textit{FairAC}, which considers fairness in recommender systems in a dynamic environment. We conducted extensive experiments on real-world datasets. The results show that the proposed approach provides accurate and fair recommendations and surpassing the performance of prior studies by approximately 10\% in terms of both accuracy and fairness.
Incorporating therapeutic education and exercise in migraine management: a biobehavioral approach
Authors: Touche Roy La , de Oliveira Arão Belitardo , Paris-Alemany Alba , Reina-Varona Álvaro
Published: February 2024

We aimed to describe the potential bio-behavioral factors influencing disability in patients with migraine and present a multimodal physiotherapy treatment proposal incorporating therapeutic education and exercise prescription employing a bio-behavioral approach. This manuscript highlights the complex interplay between migraine and physical activity, with many migraine sufferers performing reduced physical activity, even during headache-free intervals. The presence of kinesiophobia in a significant portion of patients with migraine exacerbates functional disability and compromises quality of life. Psychological elements, including pain catastrophizing, depression, and self-efficacy, further compound migraine-related disability. Addressing these issues necessitates a multidisciplinary approach that integrates physical activity and behavioral interventions. We propose a therapeutic education model of motor behavior, emphasizing the enhancement of therapeutic exercise outcomes. This model consists of 4 phases: 1) education about exercise benefits; 2) biobehavioral analysis of movement; 3) movement education; and 4) goal setting. A notable feature is the incorporation of motivational interviewing, a communication strategy that amplifies intrinsic motivation for change. Recent clinical guidelines have advocated for specific exercise modalities to ameliorate migraine symptoms. However, we emphasize the importance of an individualized exercise prescription, given that not all exercises are universally beneficial. The integration of exercise with other lifestyle recommendations, such as maintaining consistent sleep patterns and employing stress management techniques, is pivotal for improving outcomes in patients with migraine. Although evidence supports the benefits of these interventions in various painful conditions, further research is needed to establish their efficacy specifically for migraine management.
3D Convolutional Deep Learning for Nonlinear Estimation of Body Composition from Whole-Body Morphology
Authors: Tian Isaac , Liu Jason , Wong Michael , Kelly Nisa , Liu Yong , Garber Andrea , Heymsfield Steven , Curless Brian , Shepherd John
Published: February 2024

Total and regional body composition are strongly correlated with metabolic syndrome and have been estimated non-invasively from 3D optical scans using linear parameterizations of body shape and linear regression models. Prior works produced accurate and precise predictions on many, but not all, body composition targets relative to the reference dual X-Ray absorptiometry (DXA) measurement. Here, we report the effects of replacing linear models with nonlinear parameterization and regression models on the precision and accuracy of body composition estimation in a novel application of deep 3D convolutional graph networks to human body composition modeling.
We assembled an ensemble dataset of 4286 topologically standardized 3D optical scans from four different human body shape databases, DFAUST, CAESAR, Shape Up! Adults, and Shape Up! Kids and trained a parameterized shape model using a graph convolutional 3D autoencoder (3DAE) in lieu of linear PCA. We trained a nonlinear Gaussian process regression (GPR) on the 3DAE parameter space to predict body composition via correlations to paired DXA reference measurements from the Shape Up! scan subset. We tested our model on a set of 424 randomly withheld test meshes and compared the effects of nonlinear computation against prior linear models.
Nonlinear GPR produced up to 20% reduction in prediction error and up to 30% increase in precision over linear regression for both sexes in 10 tested body composition variables. Deep shape features produced 6-8% reduction in prediction error over linear PCA features for males only and a 4-14% reduction in precision error for both sexes. Our best performing nonlinear model predicting body composition from deep features outperformed prior work using linear methods on all tested body composition prediction metrics in both precision and accuracy. All coefficients of determination (R2) for all predicted variables were above 0.86.
We show that GPR is a more precise and accurate method for modeling body composition mappings from body shape features than linear regression. Deep 3D features learned by a graph convolutional autoencoder only improved male body composition accuracy but improved precision in both sexes. Our work achieved lower estimation RMSEs than all previous work on 10 metrics of body composition.
Isolation, identification, and pathogenicity analysis of Staphylococcus devriesei associated with subclinical bovine mastitis
Authors: Li Zhijie , He Yonggang , Wang Meng , Wang Jinglei , Li Tianhao , Yang Xiaoqing , Wang Libin , Yu Sijiu , Cui Yan , Pan Yangyang
Published: February 2024

Background Bovine mastitis is a disease that is highly detrimental to the global dairy industry and poses risks to both consumer health and aquaculture economics. Microbial infections, particularly those caused by Staphylococcus aureus and coagulase-negative Staphylococcus, are the primary causes of bovine mastitis. This study aimed to isolate and identify the coagulase-negative Staphylococcus strain causing subclinical bovine mastitis and to investigate its pathogenicity and potential effects on the host using a mouse model. S. devriesei was isolated from the milk samples of mice with recessive mastitis using routine bacteriological methods. We observed the morphological structure, physicochemical properties, related pathological changes and translocation of the bacterium. Bacterial endotoxins and related inflammatory factors were detected to evaluate systemic lesions.
Results Based on 16s rRNA sequencing results, the isolated S. devriesei strain, S. devriesei CL, is a gram-positive and γ hemolytic staphylococcus, with a genome length of 2,385,004 bp and 2,189 predicted genes, and it was most closely related to S. taiwanensis and S. haemolyticus. S. devriesei CL（S. devriesei China Lanzhou） has an incubation period of 4 h, reaching the logarithmic phase after 4–10 h and plateauing after 10 h at the optimal growth temperature and pH of 30 ℃ and 7, respectively. S. devrieseiCL was not resistant to the most commonly used antibiotics, and its growth was significantly influenced by conventional disinfectants. S. devriesei CL was associated with chronic bovine mastitis and systemic inflammation. The disease was associated with a high expression of lipoteichoic acid and seven other inflammatory factors.
Conclusion In conclusion, this study is the first comprehensive investigation of the physical and chemical properties and pathogenic mechanism of S. devriesei in China. It provides valuable insights into the pathological changes caused by this bacterium, serving as a theoretical basis for understanding the disease, estimating economic losses, and developing prevention and treatment strategies.
Microwave Treatment for Dictyophora rubrovolvata in Regulating Postharvest Autolysis and Energy Metabolism
Authors: Zhang Xu , Wang Rui , Zhang Wencong , Chen Cunkun , Ma Chao , Ji Ning , Zhang Nanxin , Lei Jiqing , Tian Yiming
Published: February 2024

The shelf life of Dictyophora rubrovolvata (D. rubrovolvata) has been strongly limited by autolysis, a natural process of self-degradation. Conventional heat treatment methods (hot water or hot air) are not suitable for D. rubrovolvata fruiting bodies because of their fragile and porous structure. Therefore, in this work, we attempted to use microwave treatment (MT/100 W, 75 W, 50 W) to delay autolysis and extend the shelf life of D. rubrovolvata fruiting bodies. The results showed that MT could delay the decrease in cellulose, chitosan, and β-1,3 glucan contents by inhibiting the corresponding enzyme activity and maintain a high level of energy chargeby delaying the decrease in ATP and ADP. Meanwhile, compared with control group (CK), D. rubrovolvata fruiting bodies after MT had improvements in many qualities during storage (4 ℃, 95 % RH), including delayed deterioration of water migration, sensory evaluation, browning, shear force, ethanol, malondialdehyde (MDA), relative conductivity and respiratory rate. Furthermore, D. rubrovolvata fruiting bodies after MT maintained contents of umami compounds compared to CK, which included free amino acids, 5′- Nucleotides and equivalent umami concentration (EUC). The electronic nose (E-nose) results showed that MT maintained a better flavour. Notably, the effect of low power (50 W) was better than that of high power (100 W, 75 W). Thus, microwaves could effectively regulate autolysis and energy metabolism of D. rubrovolvata fruiting bodies during the postharvest period. Therefore, microwaves can be applied as a pretreatment method, providing valuable insights regarding postharvest mushrooms.
Trends of standardized mortality ratio and its correlation with admission patient volume in different intensive care units: A retrospective study from a 12-year multi-center quality improvement project in a metropolitan area
Authors: Qiu Yu , Liu Zhuang , Bai Jing , Zhao Mengya , Zhuang Haizhou , Ji Xiaojun , Liu Jingfeng , Xi Xiuming , Lin Jin , Duan Meili
Published: February 2024

Background: Healthcare quality impacts patient prognosis in the intensive care unit (ICU). The healthcare quality can be indicated by the standardized mortality ratio (SMR) and is influenced by the volume of admitted patients. However, the correlation between the admission patient volume and SMR in ICUs remains unclear.
Objective: This study examined SMR trends and their influencing factors and assessed the correlation between SMR and the admission patient volume across various ICU types.
Methods: We analyzed data retrospectively gathered from 75 ICUs from a Quality Improvement Project from January 2011 to December 2022. It examined the correlations between SMR, admission patient volume, and other quality control indicators. We further compared SMR trends between two groups of ICUs with high or low admission volumes. The study also evaluated inter- and intra-group SMR disparities across hospital levels (secondary versus tertiary) and ICU types (general versus specialty).
Results: The study encompassed 425,534 patients. A significant decline in SMR (P<0.001) was observed over the 12 years, alongside a notable negative correlation between admission patient volume and SMR (P<0.001). The low-admission group had a higher SMR than the high-admission group (P=0.010). Both the low (P=0.004) and high admission groups (P=0.001) showed a significant decreasing trend in SMR, with no significant inter-group difference (P=0.267). Moreover, the study identified distinct SMR trends between general ICUs (P=0.018) and secondary hospital ICUs (P=0.048) but not between specialtyICUs (P=0.511) and tertiary hospital ICUs (P=0.276).
Conclusion: Over the past 12 years, SMR has significantly decreased. An inverse association was identified between ICU admission patient volume and SMR, with SMR exhibiting considerable variation across different ICU types. These findings underscore the importance of targeted management and healthcare quality enhancement strategies tailored to specific ICU settings.
Predicting Place of Death of Patients with Advanced Cancer Receiving Home-Based Palliative Care Services in Iran
Authors: Zare Mohammad-Sajad , Feizi Awat
Published: February 2024

Background
While home is frequently expressed as the favorite place of death (PoD) among terminally ill cancer patients, various factors affect the fulfillment of this wish. The determinants of the PoD of cancer patients in countries without healthcare system-integrated palliative and supportive care have not been studied before. Here, we developed a model to predict the PoD of the cancer patients who received home-based palliative care in Iran as a representative of the countries with isolated provision of palliative care services.
Methods
In a cross-sectional study, electronic records of 4083 advanced cancer patients enrolled in the Iranian Cancer Control Center (MACSA) palliative homecare program, who died between February 2018 and February 2020 were retrieved. Multivariable binary logistic regression analysis as well as subgroup analyses (location, sex, marital status, and tumor topography) was performed to identify the predictors of PoD.
Results
Of the 2398 cases included (mean age (SD) = 64.17 (14.45) year, 1269 (%52.9) male), 1216 (50.7%) patients died at home. Older age, presence and intensity of medical homecare in the last two weeks and registration in the Tehran site of the program were associated with dying at home (P < 0.05). Gynecological or hematological cancers, presence and intensity of the calls received from the remote palliative care unit in the last two weeks were predictors of death at the hospital (p < 0.05). The model was internally and externally validated (AUC = 0.723 (95% CI = 0.702–0.745; P < 0.001) and AUC = 0.697 (95% CI = 0.631–0.763; P < 0.001) respectively).
Conclusion
Our model highlights the demographic, illness-related and environmental determinants of the PoD in communities with patchy provision of palliative care. It also urges policymakers and service providers to identify and take the local determinant of the place of death into account to match the goals of palliative and supportive services with the patient preferences.
Retention of CO2 gas in gas hydrates with promoters and its dissociation in temperature-controlled atmosphere
Authors: Kollemparembil Ann Mary , Srivast Shubhangi , Mobarak Mohammad , Zettel Viktoria , Gatternig Bernhard , Delgado Antonio , Jekle Mario , Hitzmann Bernd
Published: February 2024

This investigation aims to elucidate the dissociation of CO2 gas from gas hydrates (GH) over a 60-minute duration at varying temperatures, with the objective of understanding the entrapment of CO2 gas within GH with the use of GH promoters. The study examines four food-grade amino acids possessing surfactant capabilities—cysteine, leucine, methionine, and valine—as well as lecithin, to discern their potential as food-grade GH promoters. Dissociation of GH from its promoters is investigated at temperatures of -18°C, 10°C, 20°C, and 23°C. 0.1% and 1% of the weight of the water utilized in the GH reactor is comprised of amino acids and lecithin respectively. The study explores the individual and combined effect of promoters, with a specific attention on leucine and methionine, identified as the most effective amino acid promoters. These two promoters exhibit synergistic effects when combined with lecithin. The CO2 content within normal GH is found to be 9.7% and 15.6% when employing methionine, leucine, and lecithin. Analysis of the GH dissociation graph at different temperatures, considering various promoters, indicates that the use of efficient promoters in combination enhances gas containment. Notably, enhanced stability is observed at higher temperatures, such as 20°C, extending over a prolonged duration of 20 minutes. This increased stability may prove advantageous for CO2 GH applications in the food industry.
A simple model to predict early recurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma after liver resection
Authors: Yen Yi-Hao , Liu Yueh-Wei , Li Wei-Feng , Yong Chee-Chien , Wang Chih-Chi , Lin Chih-Yun
Published: February 2024

Purpose: Multiple studies have reported models for predicting early recurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) after liver resection (LR). However, these models are too complex to use in daily practice. We aimed to develop a simple model.
Method: We enrolled 1133 patients with newly diagnosed HCC undergoing LR. The Kaplan−Meier method and log-rank test were used for survival analysis and Cox proportional hazards analysis to identify prognostic factors associated with early recurrence (i.e., recurrence within two years after LR).
Results: Early recurrence was identified in 403 (35.1%) patients. In multivariate analysis, alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) 20–399 vs <20 ng/ml (HR=1.282 [95% confidence interval=1.002–1.639]; p=0.048); AFP ≥ 400 vs <20 ng/ml (HR=1.755 [1.382–2.229]; p<0.001); 7th edition American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) stage 2 vs 1 (HR=1.958 [1.505–2.547]; p<0.001); AJCC stage 3 vs 1 (HR=4.099 [3.043–5.520]; p<0.001); and pathology-defined cirrhosis (HR=1.46 [1.200–1.775]; p<0.001) were associated with early recurrence. We constructed a predictive model with these variables, which provided three risk strata for recurrence-free survival (RFS): low risk, intermediate risk, and high risk, with two-year RFS of 79%, 57%, and 35%, respectively (p<0.001).
Conclusion: We developed a simple model to predict early recurrence risk for patients undergoing LR for HCC.
Endogenous retrovirus promotes the aberrant T cell differentiation in systemic lupus erythematosus via RIG-I pathway
Authors: Zhao Ming , Min Xiaoli , Yu Yaqin , Hu Zhi , Ouyang Lianlian , Qiu Yueqi , zhao Hongjun , Wu Jiali , Zou Chun , Zheng Meiling , Yang Shuang , Sujie Jia , Yu Di , Lu Qianjin
Published: February 2024

The dysregulated differentiation of T lymphocyte play an important role in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). However, the underlying mechanism remains unclear. Here, we showed that many transcripts derived from human endogenous retroviruses (HERVs) were highly expressed in CD4+ T cells from SLE patients due to DNA hypomethylation, some of which were characterized by double strand RNAs (dsRNAs). Excessive dsRNAs promoted Th1/Th17 differentiation and inhibited Treg cell differentiation via the activation of dsRNA sensor retinoic acid-inducible gene I (RIG-I). And T cell-specific ablation of RIG-I alleviated disease progression in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) mice model and lupus-like mice model. Importantly, we demonstrated that dsRNA-activated RIG-I protein bind lactate dehydrogenase A (LDHA) and regulate histone lysine 18 lactylation (H3K18Lac) and acetylation (H3K18Ac) modifications in T cell differentiation via changing lactate level. Collectively, our findings uncover a novel role and mechanism of HERVs and RIG-I in regulating the aberrant differentiation of T cells in SLE patients.
A novel push-pull strategy-based aphid control agent: repellency on Myzus persicae and attraction towards Eupeodes corollae from laboratory to field
Authors: Liu Yan , Zhang Yimeng , Pan Shixiang , Sun Ruihong , Shi Zhuo , Lu Xingxing , Yang Zhaokai , Wang Bing , Li Xuesheng , Zhang Ganyu , Qin Yaoguo , Zhou Zhengxin , Yang Xinling
Published: February 2024

Aphids are one of the most destructive agricultural pests worldwide. Traditional aphid control mainly relies on chemical pesticides, which have adversely affected non-target organisms and the environment. The push-pull strategy, an emerging alternative approach, shows promise for aphid management by repelling aphids and attracting their natural enemies. In our previous research, a salicylate-substituted carboxyl (E)-β-farnesene derivative 3e was found to have effective aphid-repellent and ladybug-attract activities in the laboratory. However, it remains unknown whether 3e possesses attraction towards other aphid enemies, such as hoverflies. Meanwhile, further investigation on the aphid-repellent activity characteristics of 3e is meaningful for green control of aphids. Herein, the comprehensive aphid-repellent properties of 3e and its potential to attract hoverflies were evaluated. Laboratory, greenhouse and field experiments demonstrated that 3e exhibited significant repellent activity against aphids (Myzus persicae) in an optimal concentration range. Electroantennogram (EAG) results showed that 3e elicited a strong response from antennae of adult hoverflies (Eupeodes corollae). Field experiments further confirmed its excellent attraction towards E. corollae for the first time. The molecular mechanism study revealed that hydrophobic interactions were pivotal in the binding affinity of 3e to the target EcorOBP15, with steric spatial effect significantly influencing its interaction with EcorOR3. Additionally, 3e exhibited low toxicity to bees (Apis mellifera). This study suggests that 3e is a potential promising push-pull agent for integrated aphid management in sustainable agriculture.
HyperMatch: Long-form Text Matching via Hypergraph Convolutional Networks
Authors: Duan Junwen , Jia Mingyi , Liao Jianbo , Wang Jianxin
Published: February 2024

Semantic text matching plays a vital role in diverse domains, such as information retrieval, question answering, and recommendation. However, longer texts present challenges, including noise, long-range dependency, and cross-sentence inference. Graph-based approaches have shown effectiveness in addressing these challenges, but traditional graph structures struggle to model complex higher-order relationships in long-form texts. To overcome this limitation, we propose \textbf{HyperMatch}, a hypergraph-based method for long text matching. HyperMatch leverages hypergraph modeling to capture high-order relationships and enhance matching performance. Our approach involves constructing a keyword graph using document keywords as nodes, connecting sentences to nodes based on inclusion relationships, creating a hypergraph based on sentence similarity across nodes, and utilizing hypergraph convolutional networks to aggregate matching signals. Extensive experiments on benchmark datasets demonstrate the superiority of our model over state-of-the-art long text matching approaches.
Impact of Different Drying Method on Phytosterols and Proximate Biochemical Contents in Leaf, Stem and Root of Jivanti [Leptadenia reticulata (Retz.) Wight and Arn.]
Authors: Patel Krishna S , Singh Amarjeet , Litoriya Nitesh S , Sharma Ashish K
Published: February 2024

Leptadenia reticulata (Retz.) Wight & Arn., is commonly known as jivanti is extensively used to treat various diseases from an ancient time. Effect of different drying method (sun, shade, vacuum, oven, tray, microwave continuous, microwave vacuum and fluidized bed dryer) on phytosterols and proximate biochemical parameters content in different plant parts of jivanti was assessed. LC-MS analyzed showed that significantly maximum campesterol, CAM in shade drying (5.10 µg/g) while stigmasterol, STIG (12.03 µg/g) and β-sitosterol, β-SIT (17.93 µg/g) were found maximum in vacuum drying. Among the plant parts, leaves exhibited relatively maximum content of β-SIT (37.47 µg/g), STIG (21.52 µg/g) and CAM (7.85 µg/g) compared to stem and root. All the drying methods resulted in drastic reduced in moisture content; reducing sugar (4.55 %), fibre (44.61 %), ash (16.23 %), flavonoid (5.92 %), antioxidant activity, AOA (0.71 %) and total phenol, TPHC (0.83 %) content was found significantly maximum retention in vacuum drying. However, shade drying was revealed maximum conservation of chlorophyll (23.26 mg/ g), carbohydrate (14.80 %), protein (13.47 %), non-reducing sugar (11.04 %) and TSS (14.14 %). A positive correlation of AOA with TPHC, CAM, STIG and β-SIT was recorded. Vacuum drying contributed maximum (56.18 %) variation followed by shade drying (12.26 %) in principal component analysis (PCA). Considering all these points, vacuum drying techniques could be used to dry the jivanti leaves to get maximum retention of phytochemical compounds.
Target Tracking Method Based on Kalman and Temporal Scale Adaptive Fusion CF
Authors: Zhang Yinhuan , Xiao Qinkun , Wei Yongquan , Chu Chaoqin , Du Yu , Xue Jingyun , Liu Xing
Published: February 2024

Aiming at the problem of tracking drift and even loss caused by background occlusion in the tracking process of dim-small targets, a new tracking method combining Kalman and temporal scale adaptive fusion KCF (AKF-CF) is proposed.Firstly, extract the multi-modal features of the target grayscale image and directional gradient histogram (HOG), detect the target position, and improve the recognition ability of the target. Then the bilinear interpolation method is used to obtain a temporal scale adaptive box, and the size of the tracking box is dynamically adjusted. Using Average Peak Correlation Energy (APCE) for target occlusion detection and improving on KCF algorithm: if occlusion occurs, the Kalman filter algorithm is used to predict the target position at the next moment and replace the target in the original KCF algorithm to prevent tracking drift; If no occlusion occurs, the KCF algorithm continues to track, thus achieving effective tracking of targets in occluded environments. Using the OTB100 dataset for tracking long duration and occlusion sequences in videos. Compared with the ACSRCF algorithm on the OTB50 dataset, the accuracy and success rates improved by 0.8% and 0.06%, respectively. The data on the OTB100 dataset were 92.50% and 68.10%, respectively, surpassing other related filtering algorithms. Therefore, the success rate and tracking accuracy of the algorithm proposed in this paper have been significantly improved.
A Comparison of Clinical Profile and Treatment Outcome of Hodgkin’s Lymphoma in Tanzania According to HIV Status during the HAART era
Authors: Mbai Mercy M , Md Emmanuel , Thuo Samuel , Rugengamanzi Eulad , Malichewe Christina V , Lugina Emmanuel L.
Published: February 2024

Background
The incidence of Hodgkin’s lymphoma (HL) in HIV-positive individuals is approximately 19X more than in HIV-negative persons. Most HIV-HL patients present at an advanced stage (Ann Arbor stage III-IV), have “B” symptoms and extranodal involvement. HAART's development has led to a significant change in the natural history and risk stratification of HIV-HL. Therefore, this study aimed to determine differences in clinicopathological and survival patterns of HL among individuals with and without HIV disease in Tanzania in the HAART era.
Methodology
This hospital-based retrospective cohort study was conducted at the ORCI, Dar-Es-Salaam, Tanzania. Chi-square and Fisher’s exact tests were used to compare proportions. Student t-test was used to compare means. The log-rank test was applied to the variables in univariate analysis to identify factors that predict survival. The factors that were significant in univariate analysis were then analyzed in multivariate fashion using a Cox regression model.
Results
83 patients with HL were recruited, and the prevalence of HIV-positive status was 27.7%. Most of the patients with HIV-HL had an age of more than 30 years (73.9%), while most of the non-HIV-HL patients had an age of less than 30 years (63.3%) (P = 0.02). The 2-year OS rate for HIV-HL was 34%, while that for non-HIV-HL was 67%. Among the HIV-HL patients, predictors of a poorer outcome were a CD4 count ≤ 200 cells/mm3 (P = 0.05), lack of HAART use (P = 0.00), and the use of HAART for ≤ 10 months (P = 0.00).
Conclusion
The prevalence of HIV-HL was 27.7% among HL patients. HIV positivity is still a poor prognostic factor in our setting, especially for patients not on HAART, on HAART for less than ten or ten months, or with a low CD4 count below 200 cells/mm3.Patients with HIV-HL were older and had higher LDH levels, whereas patients with non-HIV-HL were younger and had low LDH levels.
Microalgal biorefinery: effect of sugarcane vinasse cooling on the heterotrophic growth and biodiesel production by Phormidium autumnale
Authors: Réco Aline Sotta , Savoldi Gabriela dos Santos , Silva Mariana Altenhofen da , Bastos Reinaldo Gaspar
Published: February 2024

The use of microalgae in the wastewater treatment has been studied due to efficiency of nutrients removal and waste valuation for obtaining a biomass with economic interest. Filamentous Phormidium autumnale is recognized as a robust species normally found in extreme environments due to its tolerance to limiting conditions. Vinasse is the main wastewater in the sugarcane processing with a high polluting impact, originally obtained at high temperatures from output of alcoholic distillation, and requires the cooling for biological treatment. Microalgal biodiesel with adequate properties could be made possible from the use of agro-industrial by-products, according a “biorefinery” concept. It is important to evaluate the effect of this gradual cooling of the culture medium on the kinetic parameters of growth and removal of carbon and nitrogen from vinasse, as well as, fatty acid profile in microalgal biomass with estimate the properties of a potential biodiesel. Results indicated maximum specific growth rates around 0.05 h− 1 and maximum carbon and nitrogen removals of 30 and 38%, respectively, after 72 hours. Fatty acid profile indicated palmitic acid (C16:0) with the highest occurrence (28% mass/mass), followed by linoleic acid (C18:2), stearic acid (18:0) and eicosapentaenoic acid (C20:5). Results indicate that the cyanobacterium Phormidium autumnale is tolerant to temperature variations and presents potential use in this vinasse wastewater for biomass and biodiesel production.
Quantum classifier based on open quantum systems with amplitude information loading
Authors: Brito Eduardo Barreto , Neto Fernando M. De Paula , Bernardes Nadja K.
Published: February 2024

Although the studies on quantum algorithms have been progressing, it is still necessary to broaden the investigation of open quantum systems. In this study, we present the use of an open quantum system to implement a quantum classifier algorithm. Zhang et al. propose a one QuBit system interacting with the environment through a unitary operator that comes from the Hamiltonian. In our proposal, the input data is loaded into the amplitude of the environment instead of being in the unitary operator. This change positively impacts the performance of different databases tested and causes a difference in the system entanglement behavior. For evaluation, both the Zhang et. al model and the proposed model were tested in four real-world datasets and seven other toy problems. The results are evaluated according to accuracy and F1-Score. A deeper analysis of the Iris dataset is also done, checking the creation of entanglement and an extensive random search for better parameters on the proposed model. The results show that for most real-world datasets configurations, the proposed model, although having a simpler decision area, performed better than the one inspired by the Zhang et. al model, and that there is no pattern for the system entanglement in the Iris Dataset.
Human Economic Value (HEV) and Jobket: Pioneering Economic Vitality and Ownership in the Employment Market
Authors: Efatmanesh Puyan
Published: February 2024

This paper introduces and examines two pioneering concepts, Human Economic Value (HEV) and Jobket, which together propose a groundbreaking framework for economic transformation and social reorganization. HEV posits a model where individuals are allocated a lifetime economic value of $1 million, ensuring fundamental financial security through universal basic income, and covering essential needs such as housing, education, food, and healthcare. Jobket, a novel fusion of 'job' and 'market,' enables individuals to invest a portion of their HEV in employment, thereby transitioning from mere employees to active shareholders in their places of work. This integration not only promises a new level of commitment and engagement in the workforce but also allows individuals to build their net worth beyond the initial HEV, effectively transforming every citizen from a potential economic liability into a vital asset of the national economy. The paper aims to critically evaluate the synergistic potential of HEV and Jobket in revolutionizing employment, wealth distribution, and societal organization. It further explores the role of HEV in addressing poverty, fostering economic stability, and promoting societal progress, particularly through the mechanisms of universal basic income and incremental education incentives. Through this exploration, the paper seeks to offer a comprehensive analysis of how HEV and Jobket can collaboratively pave the way for a more equitable, prosperous, and resilient society.