bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Finite horizon optimal control and invariant measure for a stochastic partial differential equation SIV epidemic model
Authors: Wang Zong
Published: October 2023

This paper mainly focuses on the finite horizon optimal control problems of a susceptible- infected-vaccinated(SIV) epidemic system governed by reaction-diffusion equations and Markov switching. Stochastic dynamic programming is employed to find the optimal vaccination effort and economic return for a stochastic reaction diffusion SIV epidemic model. To achieve this, a key step is to show the existence and uniqueness of invariant measure for the model. Then, we obtained the necessary and sufficient conditions for the near-optimal control. Furthermore, we give an algorithm to approximate the Hamilton-Jacobi-Bellman (HJB) equation. Finally, some numerical simulations are presented to confirm our analytic results.
Cryo-EM and AFM visualize linear polyorganophosphazene: individual chains and single-chain assemblies with proteins
Authors: Andrianov Alexander , Hlushko Raman , Pozharski Edvin , Prabhu Vivek
Published: October 2023

Polyorganophosphazenes are biodegradable macromolecules with potent immunoadjuvant activity that self-assemble with protein antigens to provide biological activity. Direct imaging by cryogenic electron microscopy reveals the coil structure of the highly-charged high molecular mass synthetic polyorganophosphazenes within the vitrified state without any additives for contrast enhancement for the first time. Upon mixing with protein antigens under a controlled stoichiometric ratio, multiple proteins bind at the single chain level revealing a structural change reminiscent of compact spherical complexes or stiffened coils depending on the bound protein antigen. The structural outcome depends on the protein charge density that cannot be deduced by methods, such as dynamic light scattering, thus revealing direct morphological insight necessary to understand in vivo biological activity. Complementary atomic force microscopy supports the binding morphology outcomes as well as additional analytical techniques that indicate binding. These observations open opportunities to understand supramolecular assembly of proteins and other biomacromolecules at the single chain level with highly charged polyelectrolytes for vaccines as well as important to developing fields such as polyelectrolyte complex coacervation.
Grazing or Confining — Decoding Beef's Environmental Footprint
Authors: Teixeira Ricardo , Morais Tiago , Santos Manuel dos , Barão Lúcia , Domingos Tiago
Published: October 2023

Greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions of beef production are extremely variable depending on the livestock production system (LPS) used, with lack of clarity on the influencing factors. Here, we assess those factors using a mass balance model with regional case study data, providing globally relevant insights. We show that the whole-system GHG emissions range for beef production is 15-124 kg CO2e 100 g protein-1 depending on LPS (confined, pasture-based or mixed), breed, age at slaughter, and adequacy and upstream impact of supplemental feed. If steers are adequately supplemented, then LPS that involve at least a stage of grazing for steers have the lowest emissions, regardless of supplemental feed impact. In case of suboptimal supplementation during grazing, confinement is optimal at intermediate to low feed impact. For high feed impact, slaughtering at weaning is optimal. Choosing the best LPS and slaughtering age reduces the range of emissions to 15-35 kg CO2e 100 g protein-1.
Vitrification-cryopreservation of dormant buds of Fritillaria przewalskii Maxim. and evaluation of its histology injuries and genetic fidelity of cryo-derived plants
Authors: he yuming , sun huan , fan hui , He Chunyu , Guo Qingyi , zhang yanhong
Published: October 2023

Germplasm protection of an endangered plant Fritillaria przewalskii Maxim. is important to preserve genetic diversity, to store material for breeding. In the current study, A vitrifcation method was developed for cryopreserving dormant buds of F. przewalskii. Bulblets collected at July were stored at 4℃ for 3-4 months cold acclimation, 2-5 mm dormant buds dissected from the bulblets were pre-cultured on 0.5M sucrose 1/2 MS medium for 3 days. Then the dormant buds were treated with loading solution for 20 min at room temperature, dehydrated with vitrification solution 2 (PVS2) for 60 min, and finally directly plunged into liquid nitrogen. After rapid warming in water at 38°C, the dormant buds were directly plated on recovery medium without unloading. The recovery rate reached up to 93%. Successfully vitrified dormant buds developed bulblets within 5 weeks without intermediary callus formation. Freezing-thawing steps caused severe damage to the buds axis whereas cells in shoot apical meristem and leaf primordium were still intact and normal. Loading and appropriate PVS2 treatment resulted in hyperosmotic pressure leading to progressively cell plasmolysis which is beneficial to cell alive suffered ultra-low temperature. According to the morphology and the RAPD profiles of regenerated plants, no variation was found. As an superior cryopreserved material, dormant buds can assist in a faster and efficient development of new protocols or even in the creation of easy-to-use procedures.
Intrinsic prospective motives in non-human primate food consumption behaviour
Authors: Inkeller Judit , Knakker Balázs , Kovács Péter , Lendvai Balázs , Hernádi István
Published: October 2023

Behaviours that are regulated with future goals and drive states in mind are regarded as cornerstones of human cognition1–4. One key phenomenon through which future-orientation can be studied is the delay of gratification, quantified by the waiting time for which an individual withstands the consumption of an immediate reward to achieve a larger reward available after a certain delay. The delays used in animal delayed gratification paradigms5,6 are rather short to be considered relevant for studying human-like future-orientation. Here, for the first time, we show that rhesus macaques exhibit human-relevant future-orientation downregulating their operant food consumption in anticipation of a nutritionally equivalent but more palatable food with an unprecedentedly long delay of approx. 2.5 hours7,8. This behaviour was not learnt gradually through conditioning but was readily displayed after a single exposure to a two-session “worse-now & better-later” food schedule. Importantly, no food choice was directly imposed by the experiment itself, but the animals intrinsically adjusted their behaviour to their satiation dynamics across the sessions, demonstrating their superior ability to anticipate future drive states. Our results have a strong implication that the cognitive time horizon of primates, when faced with ecologically valid foraging-like experimental situations, extends much further into the future than previously considered. In agreement with past observations from the broader perspective of animal foresight and planning9–11, the present findings open new avenues that up till now have been opaque for translational biomedical research.
Using Artificial Intelligence Techniques for Diagnosis of Diabetes
Authors: G Yethiraj N , Professor D.V. Ashoka , S Kumaraswamy
Published: October 2023

Diabetes has become increasingly prevalent in people of all age groups, posing a significant health challenge. The rising number of individuals affected by diabetes can be attributed to various factors, including bacterial or viral infections, consumption of food contaminated with toxic substances, autoimmune reactions, obesity, poor dietary choices, changes in lifestyle, and environmental pollution. Consequently, early and accurate diagnosis of diabetes is crucial to safeguard lives. Data analytics plays a pivotal role in uncovering hidden patterns within vast datasets, enabling informed conclusions. Within the healthcare sector, machine learning algorithms are employed to analyze medical data and construct models that facilitate medical diagnoses. This paper introduces a diabetes prediction system designed to diagnose diabetes accurately and effectively. Moreover, this paper also explores the approaches to improve the accuracy in diabetes prediction using medical data with various machine learning algorithms and methods.
The Important Roles of RTNLBs on the Function Realization of Membranous Organelles in Plant
Authors: Cao Gaohui , Yang Yuejiao , Tao Zui , Tang lulu
Published: October 2023

Reticulons(RTNs), a class of endoplasmic reticulum binding proteins, are critical for membrane curvature change and formation. In plants, RTNLB proteins are diverse and multifunctional, but research on them is limited. RTNLBs contain a conserved RHD domain, which divide the protein to N-terminal and C-terminal domains. The APH domain, part of C-terminal, may play a key regulatory role in membrane curvature change. RTNLBs are present in various membranous organelles and contribute to the composition, change, and function of membrane structures. While some RTNLBs cannot regulate membrane curvature, most act as bridges between proteins and lipid bilayer membranes to exert a synergistic and regulatory effect. Specifically, we highlight the roles of RTNLBs in organelle membrane shaping, endoplasmic reticulum stress response, and autophagy. Interiestly, RTNLBs play a crucial role in plant intercellular connection formation and may participate in intercellular information transmission. This review systematically summarizes the functions and mechanisms of RTNLBs on various membranes, focuses on the similarities and differences between plant and animal/fungal RTNs, and analyzes their internal relationships and application prospects. It provides insights for future research.
The trends of major issues connecting climate change and the sustainable development goals
Authors: Hsieh Yi-Lin , Yeh Shin-Cheng
Published: October 2023

This study aims to explore the research trends and patterns of major issues connecting climate change and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by employing a bibliometric analysis. The study has found that there is an increasing number of research and policies in various countries committed to finding and implementing strategies to solve climate change issues. The countries with the most research in this field are China, India, the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia, with Environmental Sciences & Ecology being the most published domain. The study has identified 19 clusters intersecting with climate change and SDGs, with the top five clusters in terms of proportion related to agricultural and food systems, water and soil resources, energy, economy, ecosystem, and sustainable management. This study also presents the trend changes of research topics intersecting climate change and SDGs every 2–3 years. Especially in the recent two years, with the convening of COP26 and COP27 and the advocacy of Net Zero and CBAM (Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism) of the EU, important topics include renewable energy, protection of ecosystem services, life cycle assessment, food security, agriculture in Africa, sustainable management, synergies of various policies, remote sensing technology, and desertification among others. This shows an increasingly diversified range of important topics being discussed in relation to climate change and sustainable development goals.
Biosynthesis of silver nanoparticle using endophytic fungus (Simpicillium lanosoniveum) isolated from Sargassum wightii and its biological activity
Authors: M Manjunath Hulikere , Dinesh B , Joshi Chandrashekhar G
Published: October 2023

Physical and chemical methods of synthesizing metal nanoparticles are expensive, have negative impacts, and are hazardous. Simpicilliumlanosoniveum, an endophytic fungus found in the seaweed Sargassumwightii, was used in an attempt to synthesize silver nanoparticles (brown seaweed). Ultraviolet-Visible Spectroscopy, Field-Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy, Atomic Force Microscopy, X-ray Diffraction Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy, and Dynamic Light Scattering were used to characterize silver nanoparticles. Antioxidant, antimicrobial, Chick chorioallantoic membrane, and cytotoxic experiments were performed on the nanoparticles. The spherical nanoparticles had an average particle size of 20–25 nm, as determined by field-emission scanning electron microscopy. The nanoparticles' size and crystalline composition was also confirmedby X-ray Diffraction Spectroscopy.The nanoparticles demonstrated potent antioxidant, antibacterial, antiangiogenic, and cytotoxic activity. Hence, we believe that the green silver nanoparticles might be usefulin managing microbial infections and cancers.
Diagnostic model based on semi-quantitative metabolic ratios of 18F‑FDG PET in suspected autoimmune encephalitis children with seizures
Authors: Li Ziyuan , Wu Jing , Wu Shuqi , Cao Mingming , Chen Suyun , Li Ling , Wang Hui , Yin Yafu
Published: October 2023

Background
Pediatric autoimmune encephalitis (AE) with seizures is prone to be misdiagnosed as epilepsy. However, epilepsy and AE are treated differently. We aimed to find a method that can identify AE in children with seizures through F-18-fluorodeoxyglucose(18F-FDG) positron emission tomography(PET) with good diagnostic specificity.
Results
We retrospectively collected data from suspected autoimmune encephalitis children with seizures from May 14, 2019, to April 30, 2021, who had brain 18F-FDG PET/CT. 59 pediatric patients were included, of which 35 were clinically diagnosed with AE. FDG uptake alterations were investigated by visual analysis and Statistical Parametric Mapping(SPM) 12 software. The proportion of cortical hypometabolism and hypermetabolism in the basal ganglia and thalamus was significantly higher in the AE group. The score of the cortical lesion was higher in the AE group. 100% of AE patients had multiple lesions on PET, while 60% were in the non-AE group. The lesion quantity feature, the score of cortical lesion range, and four metabolic ratios were selected for multivariate logistic regression analysis. The results showed that the score of cortical lesion range, the ratio of the maximum standard uptake value of the lesion to basal ganglia (L/BSUVRmax), the ratio of the maximum standard uptake value of the lesion to thalamus(L/TSUVRmax), were independent diagnostic factors of AE. A diagnostic model that combined the three PET diagnostic factors had good diagnostic performance, with the area under the curve(AUC), sensitivity, and specificity at 0.910, 91.2%, and 88%, respectively.
Conclusions
The established diagnostic model that combines three PET diagnostic factors could achieve better diagnostic performance than visual analysis or semi-quantitative ratios alone and shows potential for clinical applications in differentiating AE from epileptic children.
Nonlinear Deformation and Attitude Control for Spinning Electrodynamic Tether Systems during Spin-up Stage
Authors: LU Hongshi , YANG Hang , WANG Changqing , LI Aijun
Published: October 2023

This paper studies the non-linear control of a spinning electrodynamic tether system during its spin-up process. The main problem of the spin-up process is that the tether shape may become irregular due to distributed electrodynamic force, which can lead to risks such as entanglement of the deformed tether with end bodies (base spacecraft and sub-satellite). To deal with this problem, a nonlinear control strategy is proposed in this paper for reducing tether deformation and for stabilizing attitude motions of end bodies. Firstly, the tether system is modeled based on the assumption of a flexible tether, and the minimum current for spin-up is given as the basis for open-loop program design. Secondly, considering the underactuation problem of the tether system, a sliding mode controller with an adaptive law is proposed to track spinning motion and stabilize tether deformation by adjusting only electrical current. Thirdly, considering the limit of attitude control moment, a high-gain saturated controller is proposed to stabilize the attitude motions of end bodies. In the end, numerical results validate that under the regulation of the proposed control strategy, tether deformation is reduced to an insignificant level, and attitude motions of end bodies are stabilized around designated orientations.
Surgical Decision-making for the Treatment of Acute Diverticulitis: a Single-centre Retrospective Study
Authors: Inversini Davide , Adla Sara El , Vigezzi Andrea , Gianazza Simone , Palillo Andrea , Ietto Giuseppe , Carcano Giulio
Published: October 2023

BACKGROUND: Several studies suggest that laparoscopic peritoneal lavage might be associated with an increased event rate. The WSES guidelines recommend performing laparoscopic peritoneal lavage only in highly selected patients; however, selection criteria remain poorly described.
OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to assess the complication and long-term outcomes of the lavage group, and to report our experience of acute diverticulitis.
DESIGN: This was based on a retrospective cohort study.
SETTINGS: This was a study conducted in Fondazione Macchi, Italy.
PATIENTS: Patients presenting with acute diverticulitis and undergoing surgery in the hospital of Varese between 2018 and 2022 were included.
INTERVENTION: Operative management of acute sigmoid diverticulitis was involved, in particular laparoscopic peritoneal lavage, primary resection and the Hartmann procedure.
MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The main outcome measures were short-term and long-term outcomes.
RESULTS: Long-term follow-up showed the occurrence of complications Clavien-Dindo ≥ 2 in 21.9% (16/73) of patients in the sigmoidectomy group versus 61.1% (11/18) of patients in the lavage group. Among the 11 patients complicated after laparoscopic lavage, 9 required a second surgery. After a comparison between the complicated and uncomplicated patients who were managed with laparoscopic lavage, descriptive differences were found regarding the BMI (95% CI, 21.7-24.3 vs 95% CI, 24.7-31.3, p=0.0419). In analysis, BMI ≥ 27 Kg/m2 (OR, 16 p=0.049) was associated with short and long-term complications in the lavage group. There was no evidence for an association between complications and BMI ≥ 27 Kg/m2 in the primary resection (OR, 1.61 p=1) and the Hartmann procedure group (OR, 4.25 p=0.1438).
LIMITATIONS: The study was limited by its retrospective nature and small sample size.
CONCLUSIONS: Perforated colonic diverticulitis treated with laparoscopic peritoneal lavage was associated with a high morbidity rate; however, BMI could be a prognostic factor for long-term outcomes, including recurrent diverticulitis and the occurrence of abscesses.
Machine learning algorithms for the early prediction of sepsis in children with bone and joint infections
Authors: Liu Yuwen , Wu Yuhan , Zhang Tao , Fan Mingjie , Chen Jie , Guo Wang , Sun Guixin , Hu Wei , Zheng Pengfei
Published: October 2023

Objectives
Early detection of sepsis is crucial in pediatric patients. This study employed machine learning algorithms to develop an artificial intelligence model for the early identification of sepsis in children with bone and joint infections.
Materials and methods
This retrospective analysis utilized case data from pediatric patients with septic osteoarticular infections admitted to three hospitals in China between January 2012 and January 2023. All patients underwent blood bacterial cultures and puncture fluid bacterial cultures. Seventeen early-available independent variables were selected, and eight different machine learning algorithms were applied to construct the model by training on these data.
Results
The study included 183 patients in the sepsis group and 422 patients in the no-sepsis group. Among the machine learning algorithms, RandomForest exhibited the best performance with an AUC of 0.946 ± 0.025. The model demonstrated an accuracy of 0.919 ± 0.021, sensitivity of 0.825 ± 0.056, specificity of 0.957 ± 0.012, precision of 0.888 ± 0.044, and an F1 score of 0.855 ± 0.047. In terms of characteristic importance, the seventeen variables ranked in order were: maximum heating time, procalcitonin (PCT), duration of symptoms, platelet, weight, age, peak temperature, fever days, neutrophil, hemoglobin, recent diseases, symptoms of other systems, gender, bone damage, leukocyte, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), and C-reactive protein (CRP).
Conclusions
The model can effectively predict the risk of sepsis in children with septic osteoarthritic infections early and timely, which assists in clinical decision-making and reduces the risks and consequences of delayed test results.
Compound (E)-2-(3,4-dihydroxystyryl)-3-hydroxy-4H-pyran-4-one Downregulation of Galectin‐3 Alleviates Amyloid beta-induced Neuroinflammation and Cognitive Impairment in a mouse Alzheimer's disease model
Authors: Liu Xueyan , Chen Ping , Wu Wei , Li Xuejuan , Wang Chengyan , Chai Ke , Yuan Fanru , Zheng Huijuan , Yao Yuxing , Li Chenlu , Ye Zu-Cheng , Zha Daijun
Published: October 2023

Background: Amyloid β (Aβ) and neuroinflammation are recognized as crucial to the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Compound (E)-2-(3,4-dihydroxystyryl)-3-hydroxy-4H-pyran-4-one (D30), a pyromeconic acid derivative, inhibits Aβ aggregation and reverses scopolamine-induced cognitive impairment. However, the in vivo therapeutic potential of D30was not known for Aβ-induced neuropathology. Thus, we investigated the effects and mechanisms of D30 in a fibril Aβ(fAβ)-induced AD mouse model.
Methods: We established an AD model by intracerebroventricular injection of fAβ to determine whether D30 could alleviate fAβ-induced neuropathology. Behavior tests (Open Field, New Object Recognition, Morris Water Maze) were conducted to evaluate cognitive function. Aβ were assessed by immunohistochemistry, immunofluorescence staining, and immunoblotting of cortex and hippocampus. Glial cell morphology, neuroinflammation, and neuronal properties were assessed by immunofluorescence staining of hippocampal brain slices. Cortex and hippocampus were also subjected to ELISA and immunoblotting assays. The effects of D30 on primary microglia were measured by immunoblotting, immunofluorescence, and real-time quantitative PCR.
Results: Compound D30 alleviated fAβ-induced cognitive impairment. D30 promoted the removal of injected fAβ from the hippocampus and cortex and suppressed oxidative stress and activation of microglia and astrocytes. D30 reversed the fAβ-induced loss of dendritic spines and synaptic proteins. We demonstrated for the first time that exogenous intracerebroventricular injection of fAβ greatly increased Galectin-3 (Gal-3) level in the mouse brain, and the increase in Gal-3 was blocked by D30. In addition, D30 activated the p62/Nrf2/HO-1 signaling pathway in primary microglia and promoted the disposal of Aβ and relief of fAβ-induced neuroinflammation. Thus, by its comprehensive activities in Aβ disposal, antioxidation, and anti-neuroinflammation, D30 protected synapses and cognitive function, with a strong involvement in Gal-3 regulation, thereby exhibiting novel AD therapeutic potential.
Drought stress tolerance and growth promotion in chiltepin pepper (Capsicum annuum var. glabriusculum) by native Bacillus spp
Authors: Mendoza-Alatorre Maribel , Infante-Ramírez María Rocío , González-Rangel María Olga , Nevárez-Moorillón Guadalupe Virginia , González-Horta María del Carmen , Hernández-Huerta Jared , Delgado-Gardea María Carmen Elizabeth
Published: October 2023

Chiltepin is a semi-cultivated plant of high commercial value and represents a valuable genetic resource. However, several factors, such as drought, limit its production. Treatment with plant growth-promoting bacteria (PGPBs) is an alternative to mitigate drought stress. The present study aimed to evaluate the capacity of Bacillus spp, isolated from soils, to promote growth and induce tolerance to drought stress in chiltepin. A completely random design was established, and the Scott-Knott test was used (α = 0.05). The treated seeds improved germination parameters with increases of 46.42% in Germination Rate (GR), 22.56% in Mean Speed of Germination (MSG), 22.19% in Germination Speed Index (GSI), 65.16% in Vigor Index (VI), and 100.14% in Germination Index (GI). Furthermore, they reduced MGT (Mean Germination Time) by 5.63%. All isolates could solubilize phosphorus and zinc and produce ammonium, siderophores, and exopolysaccharides. Moreover, Bacillus spp. isolates showed resistance to drought at -1.75 MPa. Likewise, the treatments improved in vitro survival of stressed seedlings by 68%. Under greenhouse conditions, treated seedlings exhibited increases in root length (9.6%), stem diameter (13.68%), leaf fresh weight (69.87%), and chlorophyll a (38.15%). They also alleviated severe water stress symptoms and increased Relative Water Content (RWC) by 51%. Isolate Bc25-7 showed the highest potential for promoting growth, enduring water stress, and lessening the drought effect on chiltepin seedlings.
B-cyclocitral extracted from gallium mite (a medicinal herb) and the evaluation of its effect in MCF-7 cell lines.
Authors: Shabani Alireza , Zaefizadeh Mohammad , Farhadpour Mohsen , Soheili Zahra Soheila , Esfahani Kasra
Published: October 2023

Carotenoids play an important role as antioxidants, and induction of gene expression changes leads to plant acclimation to environmental stresses. Βetacyclocitral (BCC) derived from gallium mite in the process of β-carotene oxidation has recently been shown to have a new function in breast cancer treatment. In this project, we used a drug loaded delivery released system (DDRS) strategy coupled with superparamagnetite nanoparticles (SNPs) based on graphene quantum dots (GQDs) synthesis to deliver drugs to tumor sites. The validation of synthesized SNPs was implemented with several techniques such as Fourier-transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). MCF-7 cell lines were treated with GQD, β-cyclocitral and GQD@β-cyclocitral (each with concentration of 3.93, 7.87, 15.75, 31.25, 62.5, 125, 250, 500, and 1000 µg/ml) in the MTT assay at 24 and 48 h, respectively. IC50% was calculated at 24 h. Results indicated that β-cyclocitral had prominent effects in controlling breast cancer cell lines.
Spermidine for the treatment of Machado-Joseph disease: induction of autophagy but also apoptosis?
Authors: Watchon Maxinne , Wright Amanda L. , Ahel Holly I. , Robinson Katherine J. , Plenderleith Stuart K. , Kuriakose Andrea , Yuan Kristy C. , Laird Angela
Published: October 2023

Machado-Joseph disease (MJD), also known as spinocerebellar ataxia type 3, is a fatal neurodegenerative disease that causes loss of balance and motor co-ordination, eventually leading to paralysis. It is caused by the autosomal dominant inheritance of a long CAG trinucleotide repeat sequence within the ATXN3 gene, encoding for an expanded polyglutamine (polyQ) repeat sequence within the ataxin-3 protein. Ataxin-3 containing an expanded polyQ repeat is known to be highly prone to intraneuronal aggregation, and previous studies have demonstrated that protein quality control pathways, such as autophagy, are impaired in MJD patients and animal models of the disease. In this study, we tested the therapeutic potential of spermidine on zebrafish and rodent models of MJD to determine its capacity to induce autophagy and improve functional output. Spermidine treatment of transgenic MJD zebrafish induced autophagy and resulted in increased distances swum by the MJD zebrafish. Interestingly, treatment of the CMVMJD135 mouse model of MJD with spermidine added to drinking water did not produce any improvement in motor behaviour assays, neurological testing or neuropathology. In fact, wild type mice treated with spermidine were found to have decreased rotarod performance when compared to control animals. Immunoblot analysis of protein lysates extracted from mouse cerebellar tissue found little differences between the groups, except for an increased level of phospho-ULK1 in spermidine treated animals, suggesting that autophagy was indeed induced. As we detected decreased motor performance in wild type mice following treatment with spermidine, we conducted follow up studies into the effects of spermidine treatment in zebrafish. Interestingly, we found that in addition to inducing autophagy, spermidine treatment also induced apoptosis, particularly in wild type zebrafish. These findings suggest that spermidine treatment may not be therapeutically beneficial for the treatment of MJD, and in fact warrants caution due to the potential negative side effects caused by induction of apoptosis.
Offline and Online Task Allocation Algorithms for Multiple UAVs in Wireless Sensor Networks
Authors: Ye Liang , Yang Yu , Meng Weixiao , Wu Xuanli , Li Xiaoshuai , Zhu Rangang
Published: October 2023

In recent years, UAV techniques are developing very fast, and UAVs are becoming more and more popular in both civilian and military fields. An important application of UAVs is rescue and disaster relief. In post-earthquake evaluation scenes where it is difficult or dangerous for human to reach, UAVs and sensors can form a wireless sensor network and collect environmental information. In such application scenarios, task allocation algorithms are important for UAVs to collect data efficiently. This paper firstly proposes an improved immune multi-agent algorithm for the offline task allocation stage. The proposed algorithm provides higher accuracy and convergence performance by improving the optimization operation. Then, this paper proposes an improved adaptive discrete cuckoo algorithm for the online task reallocation stage. By introducing adaptive step size transformation and appropriate local optimization operator, the speed of convergence is accelerated, making it suitable for real-time online task reallocation. Simulation results have proved the effectiveness of the proposed task allocation algorithms.
Effects of postoperative oral elemental nutritional supplement on skeletal muscle loss after gastrectomy for gastric cancer
Authors: Nishikawa Kazuhiro , Kimura Yutaka , Kishi Kentaro , Inoue Kentaro , Matsuyama Jin , Akamaru Yusuke , Tamura Shigeyuki , Kawada Junji , Kawase Tomono , Kawabata Ryohei , Fujiwara Yoshiyuki , Kanno Hitoshi , Yamada Takeshi , Shimokawa Toshio , Imamura Hiroshi
Published: October 2023

Background
We previously showed that daily nutritional intervention with an oral elemental diet (ED) at 300 kcal/day for 6–8 weeks postoperatively decreased the percentage of body weight loss (%BWL), and that the effect was maintained for 1 year. This post hoc analysis aimed to determine whether this intervention decreased skeletal muscle mass loss 1-year post-gastrectomy.
Methods
Data from consecutive, untreated patients with histopathologically confirmed stage I–III gastric adenocarcinoma who planned to undergo total gastrectomy (TG) or distal gastrectomy (DG) and were enrolled in a previously published randomized trial were used. The primary endpoint was the percentage of skeletal muscle mass index (%SMI) loss from baseline at 1 year postoperatively, based on abdominal computed tomography images obtained preoperatively and at 1 year postoperatively.
Results
The overall median %SMI loss was lower in the ED versus control group, but the difference was not significant. The difference in %SMI loss in the ED and control groups was greater in patients with TG (10.1 vs. 13.0; P = 0.12) than in those with DG (5.5 vs. 6.8; P = 0.69). A correlation was observed between %BWL and %SMI loss in both groups (ED group, coefficient 0.591; control group, coefficient 0.644; P < 0.001 for both). Type of gastrectomy (coefficient 7.38; P = 0.001) and disease stage (coefficient − 6.43; P = 0.04) were independent predictors of postoperative skeletal muscle mass loss.
Conclusion
ED administration for 6–8 weeks following gastrectomy had no inhibitory effect on skeletal muscle loss at 1 year postoperatively.
Expression landscape of RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) during adipogenesis and diet-induced obesity
Authors: Dairi Ghida , Alswaji Abdulrahman , Alzahrani Saleha Ahmed , Mahri Saeed Al , Rashid Mamoon , Ibrahim Maria Al , Malik Shuja Shafi , Bin-Jumah May Nasser , Al-Regaiey Khalid , Mohammad Sameer
Published: October 2023

RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) are key regulators of various cellular processes, including mRNA splicing, transport, stability, and translation. They play a crucial role in post-transcriptional gene regulation by interacting with specific RNA sequences or structures. RBPs can also influence the localization of mRNAs within the cell and participate in the formation of RNA-protein complexes that control gene expression. Dysregulation or mutations in RBPs have been associated with a wide range of diseases, including neurodegenerative disorders, cancer, and developmental abnormalities. Recent studies have highlighted the importance of RBPs in regulating adipocyte differentiation, lipid metabolism, and insulin sensitivity. However, the global expression patterns and functional contributions of RBPs during adipogenesis and in regulating adipocyte functioning remain poorly understood. Identifying and characterizing RBPs during adipogenesis could provide valuable insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying adipocyte differentiation and potentially lead to the development of novel therapeutic strategies for obesity-related disorders. Using a combination of bioinformatics tools and experimental validation, we identified a set of novel RBPs that may have important roles in adipogenesis and adipocyte functioning. We analyzed the expression of the entire repertoire of RBPs during the adipogenic differentiation of murine adipocyte cell line, 3T3-L1 and assessed the expression of RBPs in stromal vesicular fraction (SVF) and adipocyte fraction of mouse epididymal adipose tissue. We also evaluated the impact of high fat diet on the expression of RBPs in adipocytes isolated from mouse epididymal adipose tissue. We found a number of RBPS that were significantly up- or down-regulated in 3T3-L1 cells during adipogenic differentiation and were enriched in the stromal vascular fraction (SVF) or adipocyte fraction of mouse adipose tissue. In addition, they exhibited differential expression in adipocytes isolated from diet-induced obese mice compared to control mice. The majority of these RBPs have no known role in adipogenesis or adipose metabolism. These proteins could potentially play a novel role in adipogenic differentiation and adipose metabolism, suggesting the presence of previously unknown regulatory mechanisms. Further investigation is needed to understand the specific functions of these RBPs and their potential impact on adipose tissue development and metabolism. This discovery opens up new avenues for research in uncovering the intricate regulatory networks involved in adipogenesis and adipose tissue homeostasis.
Perioperative tislelizumab plus chemotherapy for locally advanced resectable thoracic oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma trail: A prospective single-arm, phase II study (PILOT trial)
Authors: Ding Chengzhi , Guo Yijun , zhou Yaning , He Yi , Chen Chunji , Zhang Ming , Guo Xufeng
Published: October 2023

Background
The promising therapeutic outcomes of neoadjuvant immunotherapy combined with chemotherapy in the treatment of locally advanced esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) have been confirmed by several phase Ⅱ clinical trials and have been widely used in clinical work. Theoretically, postoperative adjuvant immunotherapy may further improve the therapeutic effect, but there is still lack of evidence. The aim of this study was to analyze the safety and efficacy of perioperative immunotherapy (tislelizumab) for locally advanced resectable thoracic ESCC (PILOT trial).
Methods
Seventy-three eligible patients with pathologically confirmed thoracic ESCC at clinical T1b-3N1-3M0 or T3N0M0 staging will be allocated to receive neoadjuvant immunotherapy (tislelizumab 200mg d1, q3w × 2 cycles) plus chemotherapy (nad-paclitaxel 260 mg/m2 d1 + carboplatin AUC = 5 d1, q3w × 2 cycles) treatment. Patients with pathologic complete response (pCR) after esophagectomy received adjuvant tislelizumab (200 mg every 3 weeks up to one year), and patients with non-pCR were assigned adjuvant tislelizumab plus chemotherapy for two cycles and then maintenance tislelizumab (200 mg every 3 weeks up to 15 cycles). The primary endpoint of this study is 2-year disease-free survival (DFS) in non-pCR patients. The secondary endpoints include pCR rate, major pathological response rate, 2-year DFS in pCR patients, R0 resection rate, adverse events, and overall survival.
Discussion
This protocol has been reviewed and approved by the Ethics Committee of Shanghai Chest Hospital (IS23059). This is the first prospective clinical trial to investigate the safety and efficacy of perioperative immunotherapy for locally advanced resectable thoracic ESCC. We hypothesize that perioperative immunotherapy could be a promising therapeutic strategy which can provide better 2-year DFS in non-pCR patients.
Trial registration
ClinicalTrial.gov: NCT0605633
Polypharmacy and drug interactions in older patients with cancer receiving chemotherapy: associated factors
Authors: Oliveira Rita Ferraz , Oliveira Ana I. , Cruz Agostinho S. , Ribeiro Oscar , Afreixo Vera , Pimentel Francisco
Published: October 2023

Background Polypharmacy in older adults with cancer receiving chemotherapy leads to increased risks of drug interactions, translating in potential hazardous health outcomes. This study aims to assess the prevalence of polypharmacy, drug–drug interactions (DDIs), and severe-drug interactions (SDIs) in older patients with cancer. Antineoplastic agents (ANAs) involvement and possible risk contexts (comorbidities with cardiac risk, and high-risk medications) were also analysed. Methods Observational study with older adults (≥ 65 years) diagnosed with cancer, who were treated with antineoplastic agents (ANAs); it was conducted in three hospitals from the north of Portugal. Data collection was obtained using self-reports and medical records. DDIs were identified and classified using Micromedex® software. Descriptive and association analyze statistics were performed. Statistical hypothesis tests with p value less than 0.05 were considered significant. All statistical procedures and analysis were performed with R version 4.1.3. Results We enrolled 552 patients. Polypharmacy prevalence was 88.40%; 76.45% and 56.16% of the patients presented with DDIs and SDIs, respectively. SDIs with ANAs were identified in 21.20% of the patients. High-risk medications were associated with a higher risk of polypharmacy, DDIs, and SDIs. Polypharmacy and DDIs were higher in patients with hypertension or diabetes. SDIs were higher in patients with diabetes. Conclusion Polypharmacy, potential DDIs and SDIs were highly prevalent in older adults with cancer. A careful review of the medication administered is necessary to decrease it. These findings warrant further research to optimize medication in this population and decrease problems related to medication, that may lead to emergency room visits and hospitalisations, compromising patient safety and/or ongoing treatments.
Geometric error compensation method using the Laser R-test
Authors: Hsieh Tung Hsien , JYWE WEN-YUH , ZENG JHENG-JHONG , HSU CHIA-MING , CHANG YU-WEI
Published: October 2023

Regarding the precision of the five-axis machine tool, it is found that 70% of its error is derived from the rotational axis PIGEs and PDGEs. At present, the measurement of these errors is required to be conducted by instruments such as interferometers, DBB, IBS, etc., which are considered expensive and time-consuming. In this research, the development of a contactless calibration tool system, which is designed to measure all 43 items of PIGEs and PDGEs in the five-axis machine tool, is pursued. The calibration tool, named “Laser R-Test” and developed since 2000, is recognized as being capable of analyzing the eccentricity error (XOC,YOC,ZOA,YOA) and angular position error (ECC,EAA). Moreover, the five-axis simultaneous trajectory error can be measured. Through extensive research, it has been determined that the total error in a five-axis machine tool can be controlled to below 40 um after compensating for two error parameters. However, achieving a total error below \(\pm\)10 um remains elusive. This limitation is attributed to the presence of wobble error (such as AOC, BOC, AOB, COB) in the rotary axis orientation, and the analysis and compensation for the rotary axis have yet to be achieved. In this study, a methodology based on Laser R-test and Rodrigues' rotation formula was developed to establish a PIGEs error model. The path XYZ errors were obtained through a simplified path combined with the Laser R-Test. By having the XYZ errors from each point in the path inputted into the model, the current errors and compensation values of the machine tool were determined. The analysis and compensation of 8 PIGEs errors in the rotary axis were completed in 30 minutes using the inspection path. Ultimately, the system's compatibility with K1, K2, and K4 path tests, as prescribed by ISO-10791-6, was ensured, validating the compensation effects on various parameters. A precision below \(\pm\)10 um was achieved, and the inspection time was reduced by over 50%. Then, by integrating the results of previous related studies, this system and method can complete multiple error detections, including angular positioning errors [13], eccentricity errors [11], and wobble errors, by simply using different paths. This greatly reduces the setup time for future users, enhancing its commercial applicability.
Liver injury in non-severe COVID-19 with various pandemic phases: a real-world study
Authors: Winyupakorn Jirayuth , Sangketchon Chunlanee , Ayutthaya Watcharaporn Devakul Na , Sethasine Supatsri
Published: October 2023

The using of a variety of anti-COVID-19 medicines connected to the degree of liver impairment in the short term was intriguing. To evaluate the dynamic course of liver injury in patients with mild to moderate COVID-19 within 10 days of admission. This was a prospective cohort study of 300 patients who were newly proven mild to moderate COVID-19 between September 2021 and October 2022. There were 188 patients in hospitel/field hospital (n = 188) and cohort wards (n = 112). One hundred and fifteen patients (38.3%) suffered from liver injury (LI). The majority of Group LI participants (n = 104) received medication to treat the COVID-19 infection, including favipiravir (45%), remdesivir (17.4%), molnupiravir (11.3%), Andrographis paniculata (ADG) (8.7%), and favipiravir in combination with ivermectin (7.7%). When compared to no LI, molnupiravir medication was linked with the largest proportion of transaminase < 2 and 2–5 times the ULN [11.3% vs. 4.9%, p = 0.038; 15.2% vs. 4.9%, p = 0.013]. After 10 days, the majority of patients exhibited a transaminase decline. A less-than-critical level of liver damage was reported in mild to moderate COVID-19 that allows clinicians to administer a variety of standard medications during short periods of hospital stay.
Measuring the Effectiveness of E-mail Marketing on Youth Purchase Intention in Puducherry Toward Branded Apparel
Authors: A Datchayai , V.Vasikar
Published: October 2023

This article addresses the effectiveness of e-mail marketing on the youth purchase intention of consumers towards branded apparel in Puducherry and also reveals the satisfaction level of e-mail content should be valued by consumers. Data were collected from 300 youth consumers based on a convenient sampling method. This research conceptualizes the four variables of consumer intention of their email marketing journey on permission-based marketing, e-mail advertising, digital newsletter, and standalone campaigns from the apparel brand. The result reveals that e-mail marketing has positive effects on the consumer's purchase intention towards branded apparel. Digital newsletter influences consumers to buy the product online followed E-mail advertising. Consumers are revealed to e-mail marketing and suggest the branded apparel to their friends and family. This study encourages marketers to maintain relationships with customers frequently through electronic mail to enhance consumer purchase intention.
An empirical study on the influencing factors of patented technology transfer prices in Universities——Evidence from 10 key universities in China
Authors: Chen Qinqin , Wang Chaoyi , Hui Yuji , Zhang Sheng
Published: October 2023

The successful transformation of science and technology (S&T) achievements is relies on the evaluation of their value by the stakeholders in the S&T market. Both excessively high prices set by the patent holder and excessively low prices offered by potential buyers can hinder the successful transfer of S&T achievements. This study, based on the Triple Helix Innovation Theory and Technology Transfer Theory, empirically examines the factors that influence the price of patent technology transfer, using a sample of 10 key Chinese universities from 2018 to 2022. Research found that the inherent quality of patents and the external market environment both have a positive and significant impact on the price of patented technology transfer in universities. Furthermore, government support plays a significant role in moderating the effect of patent quality and market transaction factors on the price of patent technology transfer in universities. Additionally, there is industry heterogeneity in the pricing of patent technology transfer. Therefore, the policy focus for promoting patent technology transfer in Chinese universities should be placed on enhancing patent quality, standardizing the technology transfer process, improving patent information disclosure, and strengthening government support to effectively implement policy assistance.
Recovery Pattern after Decompression of Central Lumbar Spinal Stenosis – a Prospective Observational Cohort Study
Authors: Hareni Niyaz , Ebrahimnia Soheil , Rosengren Björn E. , Karlsson Magnus K.
Published: October 2023

Background
Detailed preoperative information is associated with superior outcomes. We aimed to describe the recovery pattern after decompression of central lumbar spinal stenosis (CLSS).
Methods
50 patients aged 51–85 years who underwent decompression without fusion due to CLSS were followed from before to after surgery (post op day 1,7, and 14). Back and leg pain were evaluated using the Numeric Rating Scale (NRS; 0 = no pain 0, 10 = worst pain) and quality of life using the EuroQol-5D index (0 = death, 1 = best), and EQ-5D-visual analogue scale (VAS; 0 = worst, 100 = best).
Results
NRS leg pain was reduced from preoperative to first postoperative day by 5.2 (6.1,4.3) (mean (95%CI)], and NRS back pain from postoperative day 1 to 7 by 0.6 (1.2,0.03) and from day 7 to 14 by 0.7 (1.3,0.2)]. In contrast, EQ-5D index increased from preoperative to first postoperative day by 0.09 (0.06,0.13) and from day 1 to 7 by 0.05 (0.02,0.08), and EQ-5D VAS from preoperative to first postoperative day by 13.7 (9.1,18.3) and from day 1 to 7 by 6.0 (2.0,10.0). After two weeks, 51% of the patients had improved above the minimal clinically important difference (MCID) in back pain and 71% in leg pain.
Conclusion
Patients scheduled for decompression due to CLSS should be informed that improvement in leg pain and quality of life in general can be expected within one day of surgery, that quality of life improves a little further in the first postoperative week, and that back pain improves in the first 2 postoperative weeks. In most patients, decompression without fusion due to CLSS seems to achieve clinically relevant improvement within 2 weeks.