bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Foundation model for efficient biological discovery in single-molecule data
Authors: Walter Nils
Published: October 2024

Modern data-intensive techniques offer ever deeper insights into biology, but render the process of discovery increasingly complex. For example, exploiting the unique ability of single-molecule fluorescence microscopy (SMFM)1–5. to uncover rare but critical intermediates often demands manual inspection of time traces and iterative ad hoc approaches that are difficult to systematize. To facilitate systematic and efficient discovery from SMFM data, we introduce META-SiM, a transformer-based foundation model pre-trained on diverse SMFM analysis tasks. META-SiM achieves high performance—rivaling best-in-class algorithms—on a broad range of analysis tasks including trace selection, classification, segmentation, idealization, and stepwise photobleaching analysis. Additionally, the model produces high-dimensional embedding vectors that encapsulate detailed information about each trace, which the web-based META-SiM Projector (https://www.simol-projector.org) casts into lower-dimensional space for efficient whole-dataset visualization, labeling, comparison, and sharing. Combining this Projector with the objective metric of Local Shannon Entropy enables rapid identification of condition-specific behaviors, even if rare or subtle. As a result, by applying META-SiM to an existing single-molecule Förster resonance energy transfer (smFRET) dataset6, we discover a previously unobserved intermediate state in pre-mRNA splicing. META-SiM thus removes bottlenecks, improves objectivity, and both systematizes and accelerates biological discovery in complex single-molecule data.
Development and Validation of the Individual Potentials Questionnaire (IP-Q)
Authors: Sabo Abdulwali , Kuan Garry , Abdullah Sarimah , Kuay Hue San , Kueh Yee Cheng
Published: October 2024

Individual potential has recently been acknowledged by the holistic health model as being essential to successfully addressing life's demands, both now and in the future. The study employed a cross-sectional survey among Nigerian university undergraduate students, using a convenience sampling method, to assess their subjective individual potential. The study investigated the psychometric properties of the newly developed Individual Potentials Questionnaire (IP-Q). The study involved a total of 730 participants (EFA = 300 and CFA = 430). The I-CVIs and S-CVIs fall within the range of 0.83 to 1, and the I-FVIs and S-FVIs are 1. Two factors (biologically given potential and personally acquired potential) emerged in the EFA analysis, with all 14 items retained due to satisfactory factor loadings (above 0.50) and KMO = 0.905 (p-value < 0.001). The final CFA model fit indices were: CFI = 0.984, TLI = 0.980, SRMR = 0.034, RMSEA = 0.041, and RMSEA p-value = 0.880. Furthermore, the ICCs for the test-retest are 0.976 (biologically given potential) and 0.953 (personally acquired potential). The results show that the newly developed IP-Q has adequate construct validity and able to assess subjective individual potential.
Keywords: Demands, Life, Holistic, Health, Reliability, Construct.
Successful Repair of Adult Type II Aortopulmonary Window using Dual Patch Technique
Authors: Kynta Reuben Lamiaki , Nyitan Tabang , Sun Neelamjingbha , Mandal Mrinal
Published: October 2024

Background
Aortopulmonary window (APW) is one of the rarest congenital cardiac defects with an incidence of 0.2–0.3% of all cardiac malformations. Patients who present in adulthood with this condition are usually in Eisenmenger syndrome and are inoperable. We present the rare case of an adult with APW with severe pulmonary hypertension who was operable on investigation and successfully treated.
Case Presentation
A 24 year old female diagnosed with an aortopulmonary window in childhood presented with progressive shortness of breath over the past 6 years. Her clinical examination and investigation revealed a large aortopulmonary window. Cardiac catheterization was done to evaluate the operability of this case and revealed a reversible shunt. The patient underwent successful repair using a double autologous pericardial patch technique.
Conclusions
Operable aortopulmonary window in an adult is a rare presentation. This report presents the successful repair of aortopulmonary window in an adult.
Exploration and validation of biomarkers related to bile acid metabolism in obese patients
Authors: WEI CHENCHEN , DU QUANYU , FU HONGYING , ZHANG Yuwei , FU XIAOXU
Published: October 2024

Background
Studies have shown that bile acids can effectively improve metabolism and play an anti-obesity role. However, the mechanism of bile acid-related genes in obesity has not been fully elucidated.
Methods
Differential analysis was implemented to acquire differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between obesity (Obese) and Nonobese samples. The critical module genes were identified by the weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA). Overlapping genes derived from intersecting DEGs, bile acid metabolism genes, and critical module genes. Biomarkers identified using three ML algorithms and intersection process. Nomogram constructed for predicting disease probabilities. Biomarker functions and pathways determined by enrichment analysis. miRNA-mRNA and mRNA-TF networks created.
Results
59 DEGs identified between Obese and Nonobese samples; yellow module deemed critical. 13 overlapping genes found via intersection analysis. PEMT, CP, and SLC27A2 identified as biomarkers via three three machine learning algorithms, used to construct a nomogram for predicting obesity disease probabilities. These biomarkers primarily involved in ER lumen, protein-lipid complex, and FA transmembrane transport activities. mRNA-miRNA network showed CP regulated by hsa-miR-592; TF-mRNA network indicated CP, PEMT, and SLC27A2 regulated by HNF4A, MLXIPL, and TCF2. RT-qPCR results showed PEMT and CP up-regulated in obese mouse tissues, while SLC27A2 expression was lower than in non-obese samples.
Conclusion
Three biomarkers (CP, PEMT, SLC27A2) linked to obesity, involved in bile acid synthesis/accumulation, impacting energy metabolism, glucose/lipid metabolism, etc. Study offers clinical significance for obesity diagnosis.
Prediction of Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia by molecular detection of S. aureus in urine: a proof of concept study
Authors: Schuler Franziska , Kaasch Achim Jens , Schaumburg Frieder
Published: October 2024

Purpose
Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia (SAB) is associated with a 90-day mortality of 15–30%. Many SAB-patients (7.8–39%) have a secondary S. aureus bacteriuria (SABU) mainly without symptoms of a urinary tract infection. As early-targeted therapy of SAB can reduce mortality, there is an interest in rapid detection of S. aureus in blood or urine. Here, we compared a rapid nucleic acid amplification test (NAAT) with conventional culture to detect S. aureus in urine and to identify cases with SAB.
Methods
In a cross-sectional study, we assessed urine samples (mid-stream, clean catch and catheter urine) of patients with SAB and bacteremia other than SAB (non-SAB). Urine samples were collected ± 3 days to the collection of the positive blood culture and were cultured on a set of selective and non-selective agar plates. NAAT was performed using a commercial test (Xpert® SA Nasal Complete G3, Cepheid) from a sterile swab soaked in urine.
Results
We included samples from 100 patients (68% male, median age: 67.4 years) with SAB and 20 patients (75% male, median age: 65.84 years) with non-SAB. The sensitivity of detecting SAB from urine samples was 47% (specificity: 90%) for NAAT, when applying a Ct-value of ≤ 37.4 for positive results. Urine culture had a sensitivity of 25% and a specificity of 95%. Molecular and cultural methods showed a moderate agreement (80%, Cohens kappa: 0.55).
Conclusion
NAAT from urine has a higher sensitivity than culture for predicting SAB. Future studies should investigate whether this could translate to a clinical benefit through rapid detection.
Echocardiographic changes in infants with severe congenital diaphragmatic hernia after fetoscopic endoluminal tracheal occlusion (FETO)
Authors: Avitabile Catherine M. , MPH Sabrina Flohr , Mathew Leny , Wang Yan , Ash Devon , Gebb Juliana S. , Rintoul Natalie E. , Hedrick Holly L.
Published: October 2024

Background: Fetoscopic endoluminal tracheal occlusion (FETO) induces lung growth and may improve survival in congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) but the effect on post-natal right (RV) and left (LV) ventricular size and cardiac function is unknown.
Methods: Quantitative measures of heart size and function including tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion Z-score (TAPSEZ), RV fractional area change (RVFAC), RV global longitudinal and free wall strain (RVGLS, RVFWS), RV/LV ratio, LV eccentricity index (LVEI), and LV M-mode diastolic and systolic Z-scores (LVIDDZ, LVIDSZ) were compared between FETO and control patients on first post-natal echocardiogram, prior to and post CDH repair, and on last available echocardiogram using non-parametric Wilcoxon rank-sum test in a single-center, retrospective cohort study. Linear regression models evaluated change over time, adjusting for clustering and interaction of echocardiogram parameters with time.
Results: Thirty-two patients (10 FETO, 22 control) met inclusion criteria. At first echocardiogram, FETO patients demonstrated lower RV/LV ratio and LVEI (p=0.01 for both) indicating less RV dilation and less ventricular septal displacement, respectively. LV hypoplasia was less severe in FETO patients (p=0.01 for both LVIDDZ and LVIDSZ) initially. After repair, FETO patients demonstrated better RV systolic function compared to control patients by FAC (p<0.01), RVGLS (p=0.02), and RVFWS (p=0.05). Over time, FETO patients demonstrated greater improvements in RV/LV ratio and LVEI but smaller increases in LV dimensions compared to control patients. Improvements in RV function were similar between the groups.
Conclusion:FETO patients demonstrate differences in cardiac size and function compared to control patients.
Displaced Cortical Vein Sign on CT: A Reliable Predictor to Distinguish Low Attenuation Subdural Collections from Benign Enlargement of Subarachnoid Spaces
Authors: Baskar Danika , Siala Selima , III William Pryor , Benefield Thad , Guimaraes Carolina
Published: October 2024

Background
Differentiating benign enlargement of subarachnoid spaces (BESS) from low attenuation subdural collections (SDC) on CT imaging can be challenging. The distinction between SDC and BESS is crucial in children, as SDC may raise the concern for non-accidental trauma (NAT).
Objectives
To evaluate the utilization of the displaced cortical vein sign on CT as a predictor of a pathological subdural collection confirmed by MRI and assesses the reproducibility of this finding between radiologists with different levels of clinical experience.
Methods and Materials:
A total of 104 imaging exams were independently reviewed by a junior and senior level radiologist (52 head CTs and 52 corresponding brain MRI exams). These exams included 43 MRI confirmed cases of SDC and 9 MRI confirmed cases of BESS from patients aged 0–2 years. The presence of pathological collections, sulci flattening, the displaced cortical vein sign, and the presence of thrombosed bridging veins were recorded for both reviewers along with attenuation and signal characteristics of the collections. Confirmed diagnosis of NAT was determined by chart review. The sensitivity, specificity, and inter-observer reliability were analyzed between reviewers.
Results
The average patient age was 6.4 months with a median age of 4 months. The sensitivity of the displaced cortical vein sign on CT for the presence of SDC confirmed by MRI was 79.0% and 69.6% for the two reviewers respectively. The specificity of this finding was 100% for both reviewers, with no false negative cases. Interobserver reliability was the highest among all features analyzed for the depiction of the displaced cortical vein sign on CT (κ = 0.63, 95% CI 0.45–0.82) and MRI (κ = 0.96, 95% CI 0.87-1.00). All cases where at least 1 reviewer noted the displaced cortical vein sign on CT and were later confirmed to be traumatic SDC on MRI were concluded to have high concern for NAT upon further chart review.
Conclusions
The displaced cortical vein sign on head CT is a specific and reproducible finding associated with subdural collections. Our data suggests that this sign is a more reliable and readily identifiable finding of pathological subdural collections compared to other traditional imaging findings, such as flattening of the cerebral sulci or bridging vein thrombosis. The displaced cortical vein sign when present on head CT should raise suspicion for NAT.
Progression of low-grade neuroendocrine tumors (NET) to high-grade neuroendocrine neoplasms harboring the prototypical neuroendocrine carcinoma (NEC) co-alteration of RB1 and TP53.
Authors: Joseph Nancy M. , Umetsu Sarah E. , Kim Grace E. , Terry Merryl , Perry Arie , Bergsland Emily , Kakar Sanjay
Published: October 2024

High-grade or grade 3 epithelial neuroendocrine neoplasms (G3 NEN) are now divided into grade 3 well-differentiated neuroendocrine tumor (G3 NET) and neuroendocrine carcinoma (NEC), both defined by Ki-67 >20% and/or >20 mitoses per 2mm2. NET and NEC are thought to be distinct tumors with different genetic profiles: NEC classically harbor co-alteration of TP53 and RB1, while NET genetics are site-dependent with frequent alterations in MEN1, ATRX, DAXX, and TSC1/2 in pancreatic NETs. Progression from NET to NEC is considered rare and is not well described. While both TP53 and RB1 alterations were initially thought to be rare in NET, recent work has demonstrated the former in up to 35% of high-grade G3 NET and the latter in rare high-grade NEN that progressed from NET. Here, we describe 11 neoplasms (6 high-grade NEN, 5 low-grade NET) from 5 patients with low-grade NET that progressed to high-grade NEN with co-alteration of RB1 and TP53, similar to NEC. Morphology of the high-grade neoplasms remained well-differentiated in 3 cases despite RB1/TP53 co-alteration and was ambiguous in 3 cases. All 5 patients died of disease, with mean overall survivals of 41 months from first metastatic disease and 12 months from acquisition of RB1/TP53 co-alteration. This series highlights an important challenge in the classification of high-grade NEN: Do NET progress to NEC and, if so, how should this transformation be defined?
FBXL18 promotes cell proliferation by inducing K63-linked ubiquitination of PTEN in NSCLC cells
Authors: Liu Yu , Liu Xiaolong , Piao Hai-long , Liu Hong-Xu
Published: October 2024

Purpose: We aim to investigate the role of E3 ubiquitin ligase FBXL18 in promoting non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) progression through the K63-linked ubiquitination of PTEN, thereby activating the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway.
Methods: Forty-seven pairs of fresh NSCLC samples and adjacent para-cancerous tissues were collected from the patients at the time of surgical resection. The human NSCLC cell lines A549, H1299, H460, SPCA-1 were purchased from the cell bank of the Committee on Type Culture Collection of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CTCC, Shanghai, China).
Results: The study's results demonstrate that FBXL18 is upregulated in NSCLC and correlates with poor patient prognosis. Mechanistically, FBXL18 interacts with PTEN, inhibits its activity by inducing its K63-linked ubiquitination and promotes AKT phosphorylation and activation. In human NSCLC specimens, the expression of FBXL18 was upregulated and correlated with poor prognosis. Taken together, we uncover a new potential therapeutic targeting molecular mechanism by which FBXL18 activates PTEN/PI3K/AKT signaling pathway in NSCLC.
Conclusions: FBXL18, an E3 ubiquitin ligase, upregulates in NSCLC and promotes tumor growth by activating the PTEN/PI3K/AKT pathway through K63-linked ubiquitination of PTEN. Clinical relevance is further supported by the positive correlation between FBXL18 expression and activation of the PI3K-AKT pathway in NSCLC patients.
Extracellular vesicle-derived lncRNA-GC1 serves as a novel biomarker for predicting and monitoring the immunotherapeutic outcomes of patients with gastric cancer
Authors: Wei Jiangpeng , Wang Xinxin , Dong Danhong , Ru Yi , Chen Lubin , Cheng Xin , Ji Gang , Lv Xiaohui , Guo Xin
Published: October 2024

Background
Efforts to predict the outcomes of patients with gastric cancer (GC) following immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) treatments remain limited, owing to a lack of reliable biomarkers. Studies have found that extracellular vesicle (EV)-derived lncRNA-GC1 may serve as a GC-specific biomarker. This study was designed to expand on these previous results by estimating the usefulness of EV-derived lncRNA-GC1 as a predictive indicator for patients with GC who undergo ICI treatments.
Methods
EV-derived lncRNA-GC1 levels were measured using quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) in patients with unresectable or metastatic GC who were receiving ICI treatments. Correlations between this biomarker and ICI treatment outcomes were analyzed in a training cohort (n = 136), three external validation cohorts (n = 188, n = 214, and n = 30), and one prospective cohort (n = 192).
Results
Circulating EVs exhibited a lncRNA-GC1 expression profile that was distinct from that of tissues or circulating cells. EV-derived lncRNA-GC1 levels were found to be independent of PD-L1 expression status or the density of CD8+ T cell infiltration. EV-derived lncRNA-GC1 could be used to effectively predict ICI-related patient outcomes, and could be used for dynamic monitoring throughout treatments. Lower levels of EV-derived lncRNA-GC1 were associated with tumor microenvironmental characteristics such as more robust antitumor immunity—including higher levels of activated CD8+ T/NK cells and an increased TH1/TH2 ratio. Such biomarkers can be stably detected in clinical practice. These results were consistent in both the two external validation cohorts and the one prospective cohort.
Conclusion
EV-derived lncRNA-GC1 can be used to reliably predict immunotherapeutic outcomes in patients with GC who undergo ICI treatments, suggesting that targeted analyses of this lncRNA may be useful for guiding treatment planning, monitoring, and associated decision-making processes.
Superior Vena Cava obstruction following pericardial effusion reduction in the presence of a pericardial teratoma: a case report
Authors: Guo Kai , Wang Hui
Published: October 2024

Intrapericardial teratoma is a rare tumor that usually presents in neonates or during infancy because of the associated high degree of pericardial effusion, cardiac compression and severe respiratory distress. In this paper, we report a rare case of intrapericardial teratoma that was incidentally discovered in an infant with superior vena cava obstruction following pericardial effusion reduction. Echocardiography and thoracic computed tomography angiography revealed that the intrapericardial mass obviously suppressed the superior vena cava. The tumor was resected surgically. Histopathological examination confirmed the diagnosis of mature teratoma.
Case report: Genotype analysis of a patient with bronchiectasis infected by a rare strain of Pseudomonas aeruginosa
Authors: Wang Xiaoqiong , Yan Xingya , Wang Xiaoxia , Xu Chuchu , Wang Xi , Yin Xiaona , Zhang Ting , Du Fangbing , Xie Yanghu , Wang Yongsheng
Published: October 2024

Background Pseudomonas aeruginosa
(PA) is the most common pathogen in patients with bronchiectasis. Its structural changes and recurrent infections pose significant challenges and difficulties for clinical treatment. Despite extensive study, the resistance mechanisms remain elusive.
Case presentation
We report a patient with bronchiectasis who suffered from dyspnea and was hospitalized for years, but the pathogen was never detected on routine sputum cultures and his symptoms could not be controlled. Our team collected bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) and identified the pathogen as PA through nanopore sequencing. The BALF was incubated on 5% CO2 blood agar for 48 hours, producing only sparse colonies with slow growth. Whole genome analysis of the bacterium identified the genotype as ST270, which is rarely reported both domestically and internationally. Non-functional mutations in the PilI and ChpA genes of this strain caused slow growth, making cultivation difficult. Additionally, the overexpression of the AmpD and LysR genes, along with mutations in the regulatory genes AmiD, DacC, and DacB, resulted in multi-drug resistance in the strain, complicating treatment.
Conclusion
This case report, through whole-genome sequencing, comprehensively elucidates the resistance mechanisms of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and discovers a rare genotype, providing a deep and innovative approach to the study.
Better than expected performance effect depends on the spatial location of visual stimulus
Authors: Majidpour Soodeh , Sanayei Mehdi , Zabbah Sajjad , Ebrahimpour Reza
Published: October 2024

The process of perceptual decision-making in the real world involves aggregation of pieces of evidence into a final choice. The visual evidence is usually presented in different pieces, distributed along time and space. We wondered whether by adding variation in the location of the receiving information, subjects showed differences in how they integrated visual information. Seven participants viewed two pulses of random dots motion stimulus, separated by time gaps and in different areas of the visual field. Our findings suggest that subjects accumulate discontinuous information (over space or time), not in the same way as when they are presented continuously, at the same location or with no gaps between them. These findings indicate that the discontinuity of evidence impacts the process of evidence integration in a manner more nuanced than presumed by the theory positing the perfect integration of evidence.
Implementation strategies to improve adoption of unmet social needs screening and referrals in care management using enabling technologies: study protocol for a cluster randomized trial
Authors: Cook Nicole , Gunn Rose , McGrath Brenda M. , Donovan Jenna , Pisciotta Maura , Owens-Jasey Constance , Fein Hannah L. , Templeton Anna , Larson Zoe , Gold Rachel
Published: October 2024

Background
Adverse social determinants of health contribute to health inequities. Practice guidelines now recommend incorporating patient unmet social needs into patient care, and payors increasingly reimburse for screening and providing related referrals to community organizations. Emergent electronic health record (EHR)-based tools can enable clinical-community linkages, but their adoption commonly faces workflow and infrastructure barriers. Targeted implementation support such as training, championship, practice facilitation, and audit and feedback, can enhance such tools’ adoption, but no prior research has assessed such strategies’ impact on the adoption of ‘enabling technologies’ supporting clinical-community linkages. This study will test whether providing targeted implementation support to safety-net primary care health center care management teams improves the sustained adoption of EHR-based enabling technologies used to 1) screen for social needs and 2) link patients to community organizations.
Methods
Formative evaluation of barriers and facilitators to adopting EHR-enabled social needs referrals and ascertainment of services received will include semi-structured interviews and a ‘guided tour’ of enabling technology used by care managers serving patients with complex health and/or social needs. A modified Delphi process conducted with care management staff and subject matter experts will then inform the development of an intervention targeting adoption of social risk EHR-enabled tools. The intervention will be piloted in three health centers, refined, then tested in a pragmatic stepped-wedge cluster-randomized trial in 20 health centers (five wedges of four health centers) that provide care management to high-risk patients with social needs.
Discussion
This study is among the first to evaluate an intervention designed to support care management teams’ adoption of enabling technologies to increase clinical-community linkages. It was funded in September 2023 by the National Institute of Nursing Research. Formative activities will take place from January to June 2024, the intervention will be developed in July-December 2024, the pilot study will be conducted from January-March 2025, and the cluster-randomized trial will occur from July 2025 -September 2026. Study data will be analyzed and results disseminated in 2027–2028. Study results have the potential to improve clinical-community linkages and in so doing to advance health equity.
Trial registration
Clinicaltrials.gov registration # NCT06489002. Registered July 5, 2024, https//clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT06489002?term=NCT06489002&rank=1
Mode of Social Contact, Verbal Communication of Emotion, and Well-Being in Late Life
Authors: Zhang Shiyang , Gao Sibo , Fingerman Karen
Published: October 2024

Older adults prioritize emotions in their relationships, but communication of emotion may differ by in-person and phone contact. Older adults (N = 266, aged 65–90) completed ecological momentary assessments (EMA; n = 4,627) reporting their modes of social contact and positive and negative mood every 3 hours. Participants wore a device with the Electronically Activated Recorder (EAR) app which recorded 30 seconds every 7 minutes (n = 104,746 sound files). Linguistic Inquiry and Word Count (LIWC) extracted linguistic features reflecting verbal communication of emotions from the sound file transcriptions. Multilevel models revealed that both in-person and phone contact were associated with communicating more positive emotions, yet only in-person contact was associated with communicating more negative emotions. Communicating positive emotions was associated with more positive mood and less negative mood, regardless of mode of contact. Participants who had less in-person contact on average experienced a greater increase in positive mood when they communicated positive emotions. This study emphasizes the emotional benefits of social contact, particularly in enhancing positive mood through communicating positive feelings. Findings highlight the unique role of in-person contact in older adults’ daily lives allowing verbal communication of negative emotions not evident via phone contact.
Enhancing Traffic Safety with Advanced Machine Learning Techniques and Intelligent Identification
Authors: MALLAHI Imad EL , RIFFI Jamal , TAIRI Hamid , MAHRAZ Mohamed Adnane
Published: October 2024

Urban traffic safety is a critical concern due to the frequent lane changes and merges that create complex traffic flow patterns. Traditional methods, such as overhead video recordings, are commonly used to study these zones, but they come with high costs and limitations due to environmental factors like lighting and weather conditions. This work addresses the critical challenges in diversion and merging zones for urban traffic safety, with the primary objective of comprehensively tracking and identifying vehicles from video or image data. The process begins with generating traffic data using the SUMO (Simulation of Urban MObility) platform, which creates a simulated environment for urban traffic within synthetic road networks, taking into account traffic rules, signals, and other relevant factors. The generated data includes vital information such as vehicle IDs, coordinates, speeds, and road segments, providing a detailed representation of traffic dynamics. The next step involves utilizing the yolov8-deepsort framework to analyze driving behavior by accurately tracking and identifying vehicles in the simulated environment. This is followed by real-time risk assessments and the enhancement of traffic safety management. For conflict identification, CatBoost is employed due to its robustness and efficiency. To optimize model performance, CatBoost is further refined using Bayesian Optimization (CatBoost-BO), which fine-tunes the model's hyperparameters. Additionally, SMOTE is applied to address sample imbalance, resulting in a more balanced and accurate model. The model's performance is rigorously evaluated using metrics such as the confusion matrix, accuracy, recall, F1 score, and AUC-ROC, ensuring a comprehensive assessment. Furthermore, SHAP values are used to interpret the model, offering valuable insights into the factors contributing to safety risks. This interpretability is crucial for understanding and mitigating traffic conflicts. The study presents a practical and effective approach to improving urban traffic safety through advanced data analysis and machine learning techniques.
WITHDRAWN: Identifying diagnostic markers and constructing a prognostic model for pancreatic cancer based on microarray and bioinformatic analysis
Authors: Zhang Liqun , Liu Chang , Qian Dan , Tian Ye , Yang Ying , Li MengLu , You YiQin
Published: October 2024

Pancreatic cancer (PC) is one of the leading causes of cancer-related death worldwide. The lack of effective diagnostic biomarkers and therapeutic targets makes PC difficult to screen and treat. The aim of this study was to develop a diagnostic and survival-related gene signature for PC to construct a prognostic model. An Arraystar RNA microarray was used to identify differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in clinical plasma samples between the PC group and the control group. We performed weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) to identify significant modules of DEGs in the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) cohort and to obtain potential diagnostic hub genes by intersecting the significant module genes with microarray-derived messenger RNA (mRNA). In addition, survival analysis and univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses were performed on the hub genes to construct a prognostic model. Our microarray data revealed 228 significantly upregulated mRNA in the PC group compared with the control group. Moreover, we identified 5 feature mRNA (FERMT1, S100A14, KCNN4, PKM, and ITGA3) with good diagnostic performance. According to survival analysis based on The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) dataset, higher expression of the hub genes was related to a poorer survival rate in patients with PC. Univariate and multivariate Cox proportional hazard analyses revealed that the expression of FERMT1, S100A14, and ITGA3 was anindependent risk factor for poor prognosis. Our results revealed the potential biomarkers for the prediction of PC prognosis in addition to clinicopathological factors. Moreover, this study provides new insights into the molecular mechanisms of PC.
Parallel Mediators between Resilience, Mindfulness and Social Connectedness: Entrapment and Intolerance of Uncertainty
Authors: Akyıl Yusuf , Akçıl Süleyman , Erdinç Beste
Published: October 2024

Background In response to challenging life circumstances, individuals may exhibit a range of reactions, from feeling trapped and intolerant of uncertainty to experiencing negative psychological outcomes or demonstrating resilience. Those who lack mindfulness and social connectedness often struggle more significantly with these challenges. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether intolerance of uncertainty and feelings of entrapment mediate the relationship between mindfulness, social connectedness, and psychological resilience. This is the first study to explore these specific relationships.Methods The study involved 351 participants, consisting of 54 males and 297 females, who voluntarily provided data. Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) was utilized to perform mediation analysis and examine the complex relationships between the variables.Results The findings revealed that both intolerance of uncertainty and feelings of entrapment serve as parallel mediators in the relationship between mindfulness, social connectedness, and psychological resilience. Specifically, mindfulness and social connectedness were found to negatively predict intolerance of uncertainty and feelings of entrapment. In turn, higher levels of intolerance of uncertainty and entrapment were associated with lower levels of psychological resilience. These results suggest that individuals who are more mindful and socially connected tend to exhibit greater resilience by being less susceptible to uncertainty and feelings of entrapment.Conclusions This study highlights the critical roles of mindfulness and social connectedness in fostering psychological resilience, particularly by reducing intolerance of uncertainty and feelings of entrapment. These findings have important implications for developing interventions aimed at enhancing resilience in individuals facing challenging life circumstances. By promoting mindfulness and strengthening social connections, it may be possible to mitigate the negative psychological effects of uncertainty and entrapment, thereby enhancing overall resilience.
Evaluation of Laser acupuncture versus Physical Therapy Intervention in Management of Bruxism in Children. A Randomized Controlled Trial
Authors: Rashed Mohamed Farouk , Mohamed Myasser Ayman , Mohamed Negm Eldin Ragab , Mansy Maryam El
Published: October 2024

Objective
Comparison between different treatment modalities of bruxism in children and evaluating if treatment has an impact on management of bruxism. Research question: Whether management of bruxism in children has a value on its progress or not and which modality is the best for its management
Bruxism is a predominant parafunctional behavior in children which involved in development of tempro-mandibular disease and myofacial pain. Bruxism is classified into; sleep and awake bruxism or: primary and secondary types. The habit is characterized by decrease in mouth opening, pain and increased activity of muscles of mastication and loud sound during sleep. Ways of management include sleep hygiene, low level laser and physical therapy. The aim of the this study is to evaluate changes in pain, mouth opening and muscle activity in children with bruxism after using laser acupuncture versus relaxation technique as a physical therapy intervention.
Materials and Methods: Twenty four children (6-12 years) with history of teeth-grinding were randomly allocated to 3 groups of 8 individuals each: Group 1: laser acupuncture, Group 2: Physical therapy and Group 3: Control. At baseline and after 2 months, maximum mouth opening, Visual analogue scale (VAS) of pain of the tempro-mandibular joint and maximum voluntary contraction (MVC) was recorded.
Results: laser and physical therapy groups showed significant statistical difference in pain (VAS) reduction maximum mouth opening and (MVC) compared to control group.
Conclusion: Laser and physical therapy are good options to treat SB in children than sleep hygiene. Clinical relevance: Evaluating both the clinical importance of treating bruxism in children and to determine which approach offers the greatest benefit
The legacy of the COVID-19 pandemic for the healthcare environment: The establishment of long COVID/ post-COVID-19 condition follow-up outpatient clinics in Germany
Authors: Adam Lucas Christoph , Boesl Fabian , Raeder Vanessa , Breuer Ameli , Bremer Benno , Audebert Heinrich , Franke Christiana
Published: October 2024

Background
Since 2020, several specialized follow-up outpatient clinics have been established across Germany to address the complex needs of patients with Long COVID/ Post-COVID-19 Condition (PCC). This article reviews the current landscape of these specialized clinics in Germany and critically evaluates their diagnostic and treatment algorithms.
Methods
This study employed a mixed-method approach, combining publicly available information on post-COVID-19 outpatient clinics with an observational cross-sectional online survey among lead doctors of PCC follow-up outpatient clinics in Germany. The survey was conducted from November 2023 to January 2024. Descriptive statistics and t-tests for group-comparison were employed, with statistical significance set at p < 0.05.
Results
At the time of the survey, 112 specialized PCC outpatient clinics were identified in Germany through publicly available information. Forty-five experts (40.2%) responded to our survey. Treatment of PCC patients is personalized and symptom-oriented rather than standardized. Patient characteristics of the two identified main treatment domains, focusing on respiratory and neurocognitive symptoms, differed only in sex distribution. A higher proportion of females (63.9%) presented with pulmonary symptoms compared to patients with neurocognitive impairments (50.2%, p < 0.05). The level of distress among patients is generally perceived as high and outpatient clinic lead doctors are convinced that their outpatient counseling services offer significant benefits.
Conclusions
As the demand for PCC follow-up outpatient clinics persists, the establishment of new services continues, particularly addressing the growing need for neurocognitive care services. PCC outpatient care is currently personalized and symptom-orientated, leading to high variability across clinics. Further standardization of treatment protocols and diagnostic algorithms could improve patient care and facilitate professional exchange.
TYMS and CENPF emerge as key oncogenes and prognostic markers in glioma
Authors: Yin Xiaofeng , Wu Quansheng , Liu Qi , Ding Rui , Chen Laizhao , Jin Mingliang , Wang Songquan
Published: October 2024

Background
Glioma is a prevalent malignant tumor of central neural system. The high mortality rate among glioma patients is largely attributed to tumor metastasis and unfavorable prognosis. Diverse analysis of genomic and transcriptomic alterations is found in glioma, posing an urgent need for identifying novel therapeutic and prognostic targets with underlying molecular mechanisms.
Methods
The functional status relevant to TYMS and CENPF in pan-cancer was analyzed using CancerSEA database. We assessed the expression levels and clinical characteristics of TYMS and CENPF in TCGA-glioma data. The prognostic potential of TYMS and CENPF was assessed through Kaplan-Meier survival curve analysis and Cox proportional hazards modeling. To identify co-expressed genes, we applied a correlation analysis with a high R-value threshold, followed by PPI network construction and GSEA. Additionally, a gene-chemical interaction network was built using data from the Comparative Toxicogenomics Database (CTD), providing a framework for exploring potential therapeutic relationships. Furthermore, we collected clinical glioma tissue samples and detected mRNA and protein expression levels using qPCR and HPA analysis.
Results
We showed that TYMS and CENPF overexpression were notably higher in glioma patients, and related to histological types and glioma WHO grades. TYMS and CENPF were clinically correlated with worse prognosis in glioma and could be potential independent prognostic factors. GSEA analysis indicated that TYMS/CENPF and ten co-expressed genes regulated glioma cell motility and other cell behaviors via PI3K/AKT and MET signaling pathways.
Conclusions
Our findings suggested that aberrant TYMS/CENPF expression was significantly linked to glioma WHO grades and poor survival rates, contributing to a more comprehensive understanding of glioma therapeutic targets.
The prevalence of Occupational-related low back pain among working populations in Sub- Saharan Africa: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Atalay Yibeltal Assefa , Gebeyehu Natnael Atnafu , Gelaw Kelemu Abebe
Published: October 2024

Introduction:
Industrial workers frequently encounter a range of musculoskeletal issues, particularly in activities associated with production processes. Low back pain constitutes the primary issue in the majority of musculoskeletal disorders. Therefore, our study aims to identify the overall prevalence of work-related low back pain among the working population in sub-Saharan Africa.
Methods
This systematic review and meta-analysis considered studies conducted in Sub-Saharan Africa, written in English, and published from 2010 to 2023. Articles were searched from electronic databases (Web of Science, PubMed, Google Scholar, African Journals Online database, and Science Direct) using a combination of Boolean logic operators, and main keywords. The quality assessment of the articles was performed using the Joanna Briggs Institute Critical Appraisal tools to determine the relevance of the articles to the study. A random effects model was used to estimate the pooled prevalence, the 95% confidence interval, and the degree of heterogeneity among the included studies. Sensitivity analyses were performed to identify the influence of outliers and to identify sources of heterogeneity.
Results
In this study, a total of 970 articles were retrieved, and 35 studies were included in the systematic review and meta-analysis. The overall estimated pooled prevalence of low back pain among the working population in sub-Saharan Africa was (55.05% [95% CI: 49.34, 60.76]). Based on a sub-group analysis by countries where the studies were conducted, the higher pooled prevalence of low back pain was found in Uganda at (61.48% [95% CI: 40.39, 82.57]), while the lower pooled prevalence of low back pain was in Ghana at (34.48% [95% CI: 17.96, 51.01]).
Conclusions
This systematic review and meta-analysis found that 55.05% of the included study participants experienced low back pain in the previous years. Therefore, it is recommended that policymakers incorporate and enhance strategies for the prevention and management of low back pain within the health system management guidelines of each country.
Axial-Shear-Flexure Interactive Behavior of Concrete Member with Low-Bond Reinforcements and Shear Failure
Authors: Wang J.H. , Sun Y.P.
Published: October 2024

To study the axial-shear-flexure-interactive (ASFI) behavior of reinforced concrete (RC) members with low-bond reinforcement, twenty-three high-strength fly ash concrete with low-bond high-strength SBPDN 1275/1420 rebars were fabricated to test. The experimental results indicate that the degradation of shear strength carried by concrete controlled the overall shear strength behavior of test beams. Shear failure typically occurred along a diagonal shear cracking plane. To develop a calculation method for predicting the ASFI behavior of RC member, a model was proposed to estimate the neutral axial depth of cross-section, which simplified the estimation of the lateral force behavior without numerous mathematical iterations. The calculation method took into account flexural deformation, deformation due to steel-bond slip, and shear deformation based on the modified compression-field theory. An analytical model was derived to calculate the nominal shear strength using the shear-friction mechanism and Mohr – Coulomb failure criterion. The degraded drift ratio and stiffness of the shear strength were determined through regression analysis of the test data. Finally, the proposed calculation program for the ASFI behavior and shear strength capacity model were used to predict the lateral behaviors of RC members with different structural parameters. The comparison results indicated that the ASFI calculation program successfully predicted the lateral behavior with good accuracy. Additionally, the proposed shear strength capacity model was able to determine the failure mode of RC members.
Addressing the Silent Epidemic of Hepatitis B Virus: Awareness, Screening and Vaccination Efforts in Abuja, Nigeria
Authors: Akabuike Ogechukwu MaryAnn , Aworh Mabel Kamweli , Uzoebo Nkiruka Lynda , Erwat John , Agukwe Onyinyechi , Ngong Kingsley , Dangana Amos , Enwerem Kenneth , Abdullahi Idris Nasir
Published: October 2024

Background: Hepatitis B virus (HBV) is a major global health threat, especially in Sub-Saharan Africa, where Nigeria has a prevalence exceeding 8%. Despite the availability of effective vaccines, inadequate coverage and lack of awareness have resulted in high rates of chronic infections and HBV-attributable liver disease. The study aimed to raise awareness of HBV across various communities and to enroll participants for HBV screening and vaccination.
Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in 16 districts of Abuja from April 2022 to March 2023. Participants aged 18 and over were screened for hepatitis B, and those testing negative were offered on-site vaccination. Blood samples were collected and tested using HBV immunochromatographic tests and real time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) for HBV DNA quantification. Data were collected through interviews and analyzed using R software, with descriptive statistics calculated for continuous and categorical variables. Associations between socio-demographic factors and hepatitis B/vaccine status were assessed using the Chi-square test of independence.
Results: Out of 3,245 individuals screened, 141 (4.3%) tested positive for HBV. The highest prevalence was observed in the 20–39 age group (5.9%), with males showing a higher infection rate (5.4%) compared to females (3.7%) [p = 0.02]. The mean age of HBV-positive individuals was significantly lower (30.8 years) than those negative for HBV (36.2 years) [p = <0.001]. Among 2,506 participants who consented to vaccination, 2,488 received the first dose, 1,834 the second dose (73.2%), and 1,100 the third dose (43.9%). Vaccination uptake declined with each subsequent dose, but higher proportions of older participants completed the third dose. A similar pattern of HBV prevalence was observed across gender and age groups.
Conclusion: The study reveals a 4.3% prevalence of hepatitis B, with the highest infection rate among individuals aged 20–39 years, and males showing a higher prevalence than females. Although vaccination uptake was high for the first dose, adherence declined for subsequent doses. These findings highlight the need for targeted public health interventions, particularly among younger adults and males, to improve awareness and vaccination completion. Enhanced community engagement and sustained vaccination efforts are crucial for reducing HBV transmission and achieving better coverage.
Brain-wide microstrokes affect the stability of memory circuits in the hippocampus
Authors: Wahl Anna-Sophia , Heiser Hendrik , Kiessler Filippo , Roggenbach Adrian , Ibanez Victor , Wieckhorst Martin , Helmchen Fritjof , Gjorgjieva Julijana
Published: October 2024

Cognitive deficits affect over 70% of stroke survivors, yet the mechanisms by which multiple small ischemic events contribute to cognitive decline remain poorly understood. In this study, we employed chronic two-photon calcium imaging to longitudinally track the fate of individual neurons in the hippocampus of mice navigating a virtual reality environment, both before and after inducing brain-wide microstrokes. Our findings reveal that, under normal conditions, hippocampal neurons exhibit varying degrees of stability in their spatial memory coding. However, microstrokes disrupted this functional network architecture, leading to cognitive impairments. Notably, the preservation of stable coding place cells, along with the stability, precision, and persistence of the hippocampal network, was strongly predictive of cognitive outcomes. Mice with more synchronously active place cells near important locations demonstrated recovery from cognitive impairment. This study uncovers critical cellular responses and network alterations following brain injury, providing a foundation for novel therapeutic strategies preventing cognitive decline.