bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Treatment of textile industry effluents with up‐flow anaerobic sulfidogenic reactor
Authors: Özkaymak Gülayşe , Şahan Aybüke Nur , Yakamercan Elif , Çakmak Yakup , Uçar Deniz
Published: June 2024

BACKGROUND

Dyes present in textile wastewater can pose various environmental problems, including toxicity, carcinogenicity and mutagenicity, when released into receiving environments. Sulfidogenic bacteria play a crucial role in wastewater treatment by reducing sulfate and producing sulfide through the utilization of organic compounds in water. The resulting sulfide often transfers its electrons to another electron acceptor. This study focused on the treatment of real textile wastewater using an up‐flow sulfidogenic column bioreactor.

RESULTS

The reactor was acclimated to sulfate‐reducing conditions when influent chemical oxygen demand and sulfate concentrations were 1742 and 2000 mg L−1, respectively. Subsequently, a gradual transition was made from sulfate‐reducing conditions to dye‐reducing conditions. Throughout the study, the hydraulic retention time was maintained at 1 day.

CONCLUSION

The influent dye concentration was 2722 Pt‐Co, and an impressive dye removal efficiency of approximately 90 ± 2% was achieved. This corresponds to a removal rate of 2450 Pt‐Co L−1 day−1. Although the sulfide concentration in the reactor decreased in the last period, investigating the extent to which this sulfide participates in the dye removal may expand the use of sulfidogenic reactors in the treatment of real textile industry wastewater. © 2024 The Author(s). Journal of Chemical Technology and Biotechnology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry (SCI).
Four distinct peer interaction variables as moderators of the fearful temperament‐anxiety association, using data from the Generation R Study
Authors: Harrewijn Anita , Mulder Rosa H. , van IJzendoorn Marinus H. , Wieser Matthias J. , Jansen Pauline W.
Published: June 2024

Background

Pediatric anxiety disorders are common and have severe long‐term consequences. Early‐life fearful temperament is a predictor of later anxiety, but not all children with highly fearful temperament will eventually develop an anxiety disorder. Therefore, it is important to identify factors that moderate the fearful temperament‐anxiety association. The goal of this study it to replicate the fearful temperament‐anxiety association in a large cohort study, explore sex as a moderator of this association, and to investigate four distinct peer interaction variables as moderators of this association.

Methods

2730 children (51.0% girls) with parent‐reported fearful temperament at 6 months and parent‐reported anxiety symptoms at 13 years were included from a prospective cohort study (Generation R Study). Fearful temperament was also observed in a subset (n = 643, 49.3% girls) of these children. Peer interactions were measured in four different ways: mother‐reported victimization (at age 7), self‐reported friendship quality (at age 9), and self‐reported feelings and facial expressions during social exclusion in a lab‐based task (at age 9).

Results

Children with higher parent‐reported, but not observed, fearful temperament showed more anxiety symptoms as adolescents, β = 0.07, p < 0.001. This association was not moderated by sex, β = −0.07, p = 0.07, but was stronger in adolescents who reported more negative feelings after social exclusion, β = 0.05, p = 0.04. Victimization, friendship quality, and sad facial expressions were related to increased anxiety symptoms but did not moderate the fearful temperament‐anxiety association.

Conclusions

We showed that parent‐reported fearful temperament and anxiety were associated in this large community sample and that this association was not moderated by sex. Additionally, we showed that negative feelings after social exclusion moderated this association. Potentially, children with a highly fearful temperament might benefit from learning how to cope with social exclusion. Future studies are needed to confirm our findings and could focus on the potential role of coping with social rejection in interventions.
Predicting PM2.5 concentration with enhanced state–trend awareness and uncertainty analysis using bagging and LSTM neural networks
Authors: Bian Chao , Huang Guangqiu
Published: June 2024

Monitoring air pollutants, particularly PM2.5, which refers to fine particulate matter with a diameter of 2.5 µm or smaller, has become a focal point of environmental protection efforts worldwide. This study introduces the concept of state–trend awareness, which is widely employed in big data analytics to enhance global threat identification, understanding, and response capabilities. We applied this approach to the prediction of PM2.5, utilizing its capacity to provide holistic insights and support decisions in dynamic environments. We conducted in‐depth analyses of extensive historical data to forecast the future concentration trends. By combining a long short‐term memory (LSTM) neural network with a bagging ensemble learning algorithm, our developed model demonstrated superior accuracy and generalization compared to those of traditional LSTM and support vector machine (SVM) methods, reducing errors relative to SVM‐LSTM by 12%. We further introduced interval prediction to address forecasting uncertainties, not only providing a specific PM2.5 but also forecasting the probability ranges of its variations. The simulation results illustrate the effectiveness of our approach in improving the prediction accuracy, enhancing model generalization, and reducing overfitting, thereby offering a robust analytical tool for environmental monitoring and public health decision‐making.
The clinical management of hepatic sarcoidosis: A systematic review
Authors: Sinnanaidu Ram Prasad , Kumar Vikneshwaran Chandra , Shunmugam Ranita Hisham , Mahadeva Sanjiv
Published: June 2024

Background

Hepatic sarcoidosis is an uncommon clinical condition in which clear recommendations are lacking in its treatment. We aimed to review systematically the literature on hepatic sarcoidosis treatment to guide clinicians.

Methods

Using MEDLINE, PubMed, CINAHL, Cochrane Library, and Google Scholar databases, we searched original articles on clinical studies reporting the outcome of adult hepatic sarcoidosis patients following treatment with various pharmacological agents. The primary end point was focused on assessing symptomatic relief and biochemical improvement posttreatment.

Results

Out of 614 retrieved references, 34 published studies were eligible, providing data for a total of 268 patients with hepatic sarcoidosis. First‐line therapy with corticosteroids alone was reported in 187 patients, whilst ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) was used in 40 patients. Symptomatic and biochemical responses were reported among 113(60.4%) and 80(42.8%) cases of corticosteroids respectively, whereas UDCA showed a complete response in 23(57.5%) patients. Second‐line therapy was used in steroid‐refractory cases, with most cases being reported for azathioprine (n = 32) and methotrexate (n = 28). Notably, 15(46.9%) and 11(39.2%) patients showed both clinical and biochemical responses respectively. Biological therapy including anti‐tumor necrosis factor (anti‐TNF) was used as third line therapy in twelve cases with a 72.7% symptomatic and biochemical response rate each.

Conclusion

The quality of evidence for the treatment of hepatic sarcoidosis was poor. Nevertheless, it appears that corticosteroid or UDCA may be utilized as first‐line therapy. For cases that are refractory to corticosteroids, steroid‐sparing immunosuppressive agents and anti‐TNF have shown some promising results, but further high‐quality studies are required.
Comparison of the effects of abdominal massage and osteopathic manipulative treatment home program on constipation in children with cerebral palsy
Authors: Chatip Aisel T , Acar Gönül , Akçay Ayfer A
Published: June 2024

Background and Aim

The aim of this study is to compare the effects of osteopathic manipulative therapy home program (OMT‐H) versus abdominal massage home program (AMHP) in treating constipation in children with cerebral palsy (CP).

Methods

Twenty‐nine children with CP with a mean age of 12.2 ± 3.76 years, who were constipated and were not on medication, were divided into three randomized groups: (i) control group (n = 10), (ii) AMHP (n = 10), and (iii) OMT‐H (n = 9). In AMHP and OMT‐H groups, treatment was applied as 20‐min sessions every other day for 10 sessions for 3 weeks. Modified Constipation Assessment Scale (MCAS), Rome III criteria, and the Bristol Stool Form Scale (BSFS) were used for evaluation before treatment and once a week during treatment.

Results

While there was no change in constipation symptoms in the control group, there was an improvement in constipation symptoms after treatment in the AMHP and OMT‐H groups (AMHP, P = 0.003; OMT‐H, P = 0.000014). While the treatment showed to be effective from the first week in the OMT‐H group, the change in BSFS (P = 0.026) and MCAS sub‐parameters was found to be superior.

Conclusion

AMHP and OMT‐H are effective and beneficial in treating constipation. In children with CP, OMT‐H was found to be quicker and more successful compared with AMHP. The OMT‐H can be effectively used in clinical practice in relieving constipation in CP.
Hybrid immunity by two COVID‐19 mRNA vaccinations and one breakthrough infection provides a robust and balanced cellular immune response as basic immunity against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2
Authors: Almanzar Giovanni , Koosha Kimia , Vogt Tim , Stein Astrid , Ziegler Lars , Asam Claudia , Weps Manuela , Schwägerl Valeria , Richter Lorena , Hepp Nicola , Fuchs Andre , Wagenhäuser Isabell , Reusch Julia , Krone Manuel , Geldmacher Christof , Protzer Ulrike , Steininger Philipp , Überla Klaus , Wagner Ralf , Liese Johannes , Prelog Martina
Published: June 2024

This longitudinal prospective controlled multicenter study aimed to monitor immunity generated by three exposures caused by breakthrough infections (BTI) after COVID‐19‐vaccination considering pre‐existing cell‐mediated immunity to common‐corona‐viruses (CoV) which may impact cellular reactivity against SARS‐CoV‐2. Anti‐SARS‐CoV‐2‐spike‐IgG antibodies (anti‐S‐IgG) and cellular reactivity against Spike‐(S)‐ and nucleocapsid‐(N)‐proteins were determined in fully‐vaccinated (F) individuals who either experienced BTI (F+BTI) or had booster vaccination (F+Booster) compared to partially vaccinated (P+BTI) and unvaccinated (U) from 1 to 24 weeks post PCR‐confirmed infection. High avidity anti‐S‐IgG were found in F+BTI compared to U, the latter exhibiting increased long‐lasting pro‐inflammatory cytokines to S‐stimulation. CoV was associated with higher cellular reactivity in U, whereas no association was seen in F. The study illustrates the induction of significant S‐specific cellular responses in F+BTI building‐up basic immunity by three exposures. Only U seem to benefit from pre‐existing CoV immunity but demonstrated inflammatory immune responses compared to F+BTI who immunologically benefit from enhanced humoral and cellular immunity after BTI. This study demonstrates that individuals with hybrid immunity from COVID‐19‐vaccination and BTI acquire a stable humoral and cellular immune response that is maintained for at least 6 months. Our findings corroborate recommendations by health authorities to build on basic immunity by three S‐protein exposures.
Enhancing functionality and bioactivity of walnut protein through limited enzyme digestion
Authors: Wang Jinping , Bi Huimin , Zhou Xuesong , Yang Bao , Wen Lingrong
Published: June 2024

BACKGROUND

Walnut protein (WP) is recognized as a valuable plant protein. However, the poor solubility and functional properties limit its application in the food industry. It is a great requirement to improve the physicochemical properties of WP.

RESULTS

Following a 90 min restricted enzymatic hydrolysis period, the solubility of WP significantly increased from 3.24% to 54.54%, with the majority of WP hydrolysates (WPHs) possessing a molecular weight exceeding 50 kDa. Circular dichroism spectra showed that post‐hydrolysis, the structure of the protein became more flexible, while the hydrolysis time did not significantly alter the protein's secondary structure. After hydrolysis, WP's surface hydrophobicity significantly increased from 2279 to 6100. Furthermore, WPHs exhibited a strong capacity for icariin loading and micelle formation with critical micelle concentration values of 0.71, 0.99 and 1.09 mg mL−1, respectively. Moreover, similar immuno‐enhancement activities were observed in WPHs. After exposure to WPHs, the pinocytosis of RAW264.7 macrophages was significantly improved. WPH treatment also increased the production of nitric oxide, interleukin‐6 (IL‐6) and tumor necrosis factor‐α (TNF‐α) in macrophages. Up‐regulation of mRNA expressions of IL‐6, inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and TNF‐α was observed in a dose‐dependent manner.

CONCLUSION

The enhancement of functionality and bioactivity in WP can be achieved through the application of limited enzyme digestion with trypsin. This process effectively augments the nutritional value and utility of the protein, making it a valuable component in various dietary applications. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.
Altering CO2 Laser Pulse Energy Settings Did Not Influence Differential Gene Transcription in Normal Skin in a Red Duroc Pig Model
Authors: Hussein Lou'ay K. , Travis Taryn E. , Moffatt Lauren T. , Shupp Jeffrey W. , Carney Bonnie C.
Published: June 2024

Objectives

Fractional ablative CO2 lasers are used clinically to treat cutaneous burn scars with reported varying degrees of effectiveness. It was hypothesized that different laser pulse energy settings may lead to differential gene transcription in a porcine model.

Methods

Uninjured skin from red Duroc pigs was treated with a fractional ablative CO2 laser set to 70, 100, or 120 mJ across the abdomen (n = 4 areas per treatment). Punch biopsies of both treated and untreated sites were taken before treatment (baseline), at 30 min, and at each hour for 6 h and stored in All‐Protect tissue reagent. The biopsies were then used to isolate RNA, which was subsequently used in qRT‐PCR for eight genes associated with wound healing and the extracellular matrix: CCL2, IL6, FGF2, TIMP1, TIMP3, COL1A2, MMP2, and DCN. RPL13a was used as a housekeeping gene to normalize the eight genes of interest. One‐way ANOVA tests were used to assess for differences among laser pulse energies and two‐way ANOVA tests were used to assess the differences between treated and untreated areas.

Results

While six of the eight genes were upregulated after treatment (p < 0.05), there were no significant differences in gene expression between the different laser pulse energies for any of the eight genes.

Conclusion

While laser treatment is correlated with a positive and significant upregulation for six of the eight genes 4 h after intervention, the pulse energy settings of the laser did not lead to a statistically significant difference in gene transcription among the treatment areas. Different laser pulse energies may not be required to induce similar cellular responses in a clinical setting.
Automatic vessel attenuation measurement for quality control of contrast‐enhanced CT: Validation on the portal vein
Authors: McCoy Kevin , Marisetty Sujay , Tan Dominique , Jensen Corey T. , Siewerdsen Jeffrey H. , Peterson Christine B. , Ahmad Moiz
Published: June 2024

Background

Adequate image enhancement of organs and blood vessels of interest is an important aspect of image quality in contrast‐enhanced computed tomography (CT). There is a need for an objective method for evaluation of vessel contrast that can be automatically and systematically applied to large sets of CT exams.

Purpose

The purpose of this work was to develop a method to automatically segment and measure attenuation Hounsfield Unit (HU) in the portal vein (PV) in contrast‐enhanced abdomen CT examinations.

Methods

Input CT images were processed by a vessel enhancing filter to determine candidate PV segmentations. Multiple machine learning (ML) classifiers were evaluated for classifying a segmentation as corresponding to the PV based on segmentation shape, location, and intensity features. A public data set of 82 contrast‐enhanced abdomen CT examinations was used to train the method. An optimal ML classifier was selected by training and tuning on 66 out of the 82 exams (80% training split) in the public data set. The method was evaluated in terms of segmentation classification accuracy and PV attenuation measurement accuracy, compared to manually determined ground truth, on a test set of the remaining 16 exams (20% test split) held out from public data set. The method was further evaluated on a separate, independently collected test set of 21 examinations.

Results

The best classifier was found to be a random forest, with a precision of 0.892 in the held‐out test set to correctly identify the PV from among the input candidate segmentations. The mean absolute error of the measured PV attenuation relative to ground truth manual measurement was 13.4 HU. On the independent test set, the overall precision decreased to 0.684. However, the PV attenuation measurement remained relatively accurate with a mean absolute error of 15.2 HU.

Conclusions

The method was shown to accurately measure PV attenuation over a large range of attenuation values, and was validated in an independently collected dataset. The method did not require time‐consuming manual contouring to supervise training. The method may be applied to systematic quality control of contrast‐enhanced CT examinations.
Weak signal extraction of micro‐motor rotor unbalance based on all‐phase fast Fourier transform
Authors: Liu Qinghua , Xu Xingxing , Lu Zhenrong , Yu Liwei , Jiang Dong
Published: June 2024

To improve the dynamic balancing accuracy of the micro‐motor rotor, an unbalanced vibration feature extraction based on an all‐phase fast Fourier transform (APFFT) method is proposed. The amplitude and phase of the signal are extracted by spectrum analysis after windowing the unbalanced signal. The mathematical model is derived to simulate the weak signal of rotor unbalance. The simulation results show that this method is accurate in extracting the weak signal of the rotor under different noise levels. The micro‐motor rotor unbalanced test system is developed for experimental validations. The accuracy and stability of the vibration amplitude and phase extracted by the APFFT are better than the accuracy and stability from the hardware filtering method. The rotor unbalance is reduced by more than 80%. Furthermore, secondary balance of the rotor after the first balance is carried out. The proposed method can still extract the residual unbalance of the rotor. The results demonstrated that the proposed method can achieve a reduction rate of 90% and the accuracy is within 5 mg, verifying the effectiveness of the proposed method for high‐precision rotor dynamic balance.
A real‐life study on the value of integrated optimization in order picking operations under dynamic order arrivals
Authors: D'Haen Ruben , Ramaekers Katrien , Moons Stef , Braekers Kris
Published: June 2024

Optimizing the order picking operations is indispensable for warehouses that promise a high customer service level. While many areas for improvement have been identified and studied in the literature, a large gap remains between academia and practice. To help with closing this gap, we perform a case‐study in collaboration with a spare‐parts warehouse in Belgium. In this study, we optimize the order picking operations of the company, using the actual warehouse layout and real order data. A state‐of‐the‐art online integrated order batching, picker routing and batch scheduling algorithm is adapted to consider multiple real‐life constraints. More specifically, the dynamic arrival of new orders is considered, and a capacity constraint on the sorting installation should be respected. Furthermore, a new waiting strategy is studied in which order pickers can temporarily postpone certain orders, as combining them with possible future order arrivals may allow for more efficient overall picking performance. Finally, the performance of the current operating policy is compared with that of both a seed batching heuristic and our metaheuristic algorithm by use of an ANOVA analysis. The results indicate that the number of order pickers can be reduced by 12.5% if the new optimization algorithm is used, accompanied by an improvement in the offered customer service level.
Prescription Patterns and Predisposing Factors of Benzodiazepine and Z‐Hypnotic Use During Pregnancy: A Nationwide Cohort Study
Authors: Meng Lin‐Chieh , Lin Chih‐Wan , Chuang Hui‐Min , Chen Yi‐Yung , Shang Chi‐Yung , Wu Chia‐Yi , Chen Liang‐Kung , Hsiao Fei‐Yuan
Published: June 2024

Purpose

The use of benzodiazepines and Z‐hypnotics during pregnancy has raised significant concerns in recent years. However, there are limited data that capture the prescription patterns and predisposing factors in use of these drugs, particularly among women who have been long‐term users of benzodiazepines and Z‐hypnotics before pregnancy.

Methods

This population‐based cohort study comprised 2 930 988 pregnancies between 2004 and 2018 in Taiwan. Women who were dispensed benzodiazepines or Z‐hypnotics during pregnancy were identified and further stratified into groups based on their status before pregnancy: long‐term users (with a supply of more than 180 days within a year), short‐term users (with a supply of less than 180 days within a year), and nonusers. Trends in the use of benzodiazepines or Z‐hypnotics and concomitant use with antidepressants or opioids were assessed. Logistic regression models were utilized to identify factors associated with use of these drugs during pregnancy, and interrupted time series analyses (ITSA) were employed to evaluate utilization patterns of these drugs across different pregnancy‐related periods.

Results

The overall prevalence of benzodiazepine and Z‐hypnotic use was 3.5% during pregnancy. Among prepregnancy long‐term users, an upward trend was observed. The concomitant use of antidepressants or opioids among exposed women increased threefold (from 8.6% to 23.1%) and sixfold (from 0.3% to 1.7%) from 2004 to 2018, respectively. Women with unhealthy lifestyle behaviors, such as alcohol abuse (OR 2.48; 95% CI, 2.02–3.03), drug abuse (OR 10.34; 95% CI, 8.46–12.64), and tobacco use (OR 2.19; 95% CI, 1.96–2.45), as well as those with psychiatric disorders like anxiety (OR 6.99; 95% CI, 6.77–7.22), insomnia (OR 15.99; 95% CI, 15.55–16.45), depression (OR 9.43; 95% CI, 9.07–9.80), and schizophrenia (OR 21.08; 95% CI, 18.76–23.69), and higher healthcare utilization, were more likely to use benzodiazepines or Z‐hypnotics during pregnancy. ITSA revealed a sudden decrease in use of benzodiazepines and Z‐hypnotics after recognition of pregnancy (level change −0.55 percentage point; 95% CI, −0.59 to −0.51). In contrast, exposures to benzodiazepines and Z‐hypnotics increased significantly after delivery (level change 0.12 percentage point; 95% CI, 0.09 to 0.16).

Conclusions

In this cohort study, an increased trend of benzodiazepine and Z‐hypnotic use during pregnancy among prepregnancy long‐term users, as well as concomitant use with antidepressants or opioids were found. The findings have highlighted the existence of various risk factors associated with the use of these drugs during pregnancy. Utilization patterns varied across different stages of pregnancy, highlighting the need for prescription guidelines and educational services for women using these drugs during pregnancy.
Integration of child life into adult oncology: A mixed‐methods feasibility study
Authors: Lysecki David L. , Bainbridge Daryl , Akitt Tracy , Georgiou Georgia , McKean Heather , Meyer Ralph M. , Sussman Jonathan
Published: June 2024

Background

Cancer in a loved one can have negative effects on child health and development. Child Life Specialists (CLSs) specialize in assisting children understand and cope with difficult medical scenarios but are generally not available in adult care facilities to support the needs of patient‐families with minor children. We conducted a mixed‐methods study of the implementation of a pilot CLS program at a tertiary oncology centre.

Methods

We collected administrative and clinical data on referred families; encounter data; and patient‐reported questionnaire data before and 2 months after engagement with the program.

Results

Over the initial 10 months, 98 families were referred, 91 of whom engaged through a total of 257 clinical encounters. The cancer patient in the family was most commonly a woman with a mean age of 45 years and in the role of mother. Breast cancer was the most common diagnosis (24%) and 78% of patients had stage IV disease. Most families had >1 child at home, and children were most commonly school‐aged (5–14y). Phone and Hospital/Clinic visits accounted for the largest portion of CLS time. Interventions ranged from diagnosis education through to bereavement support. Most cancer patients indicated that the program was helpful to them and their families. There were trends of moderate improvements on patient reported outcomes.

Conclusion

Our study was able to provide an understanding of the initial CLS program operations to guide program development and future study. Such a program holds promise as an important aspect of adult oncology family‐centered care.
A comparison of genomic and phenomic selection methods for yield prediction in Coffea canephora
Authors: Adunola Paul , Tavares Flores Estefania , Riva‐Souza Elaine M. , Ferrão Maria Amélia G. , Senra João Felipe B. , Comério Marcone , Espindula Marcelo C. , Verdin Filho Abraão C. , Volpi Paulo S. , Fonseca Aymbiré F. A. , Ferrão Romario G. , Munoz Patricio R. , Ferrão Luis Felipe V.
Published: June 2024

Genomic prediction has been proposed as the standard method to predict the genetic merit of unphenotyped individuals. Despite the promising results reported in the plant breeding literature, its routine implementation remains difficult for some crops. This is the case with Coffea canephora, in which costs and availability of molecular tools are major challenges for most breeding programs. To circumvent this, the use of near‐infrared spectroscopy (NIR) has been recently proposed as an alternative to complement marker‐assisted selection. The so‐called phenomic selection relies on the reflectance spectrum to capture similarities between individuals and emerges as a valid approach for prediction. With promising results reported in multiple annual crops, we hypothesize that phenomic prediction could be a cost‐efficient approach to incorporate into a practical coffee breeding program. To test it, we relied on a diverse population of C. canephora, evaluated for yield production, in two geographical locations over four harvest seasons. Our contributions in this paper are twofold: (i) We compared phenomic and genomic selection results, and showed large predictive abilities when NIR is used as a predictor for within and across‐location predictions, and (ii) we presented a critical view of how both information sets could be combined into a contemporaneous coffee breeding program. Altogether, our results show how multi‐omic information could be integrated in the same framework to leverage genetic gains in the long term.
The Physical Characterization of Extracellular Vesicles for Function Elucidation and Biomedical Applications: A Review
Authors: Morris Emma J. , Kaur Harleen , Dobhal Garima , Malhotra Shiana , Ayed Zeineb , Carpenter Anna L. , Goreham Renee V.
Published: June 2024

Extracellular vesicles are promising candidates for novel biomedical applications due to their universal secretion by all organisms. Despite their discovery in 1971, understanding of extracellular vesicles remains in its infancy due to their complex nature and nanoscale dimensions, which make characterization challenging. Extracellular vesicles contain a diverse array of proteins, making them valuable for identifying disease‐specific biomarkers and driving research since 2007. However, identifying these biomarkers remains difficult and expensive. Advancements in extracellular vesicle techniques, including single extracellular vesicle characterization, hold promise for disease diagnosis and personalized medicine. Notably, the biomechanical properties of extracellular vesicles have emerged as a potential diagnosis tool. However, biomechanical characterization has rarely been investigated for disease diagnosis due to limited understanding and a lack of standardized protocols. Recently, significant advancements have been made using various techniques such as atomic force microscopy and micropipette aspiration. This review explores recent developments in biomechanical analysis, demonstrating novel disease diagnostic pathways facilitated by extracellular vesicles and outlining future research directions.
Consistent predictive ability of prostate‐specific antigen density prediction model for clinically significant prostate cancer across age strata
Authors: Malshy Kamil , Ochsner Anna , Homer Alexander , Allu Sai , Passarelli Natalie , Sojka Andrew , Glebocki Richard , Golijanin Borivoj , Ortiz Rebecca , Eaton Samuel , Pareek Gyan , Khaleel Sari , Golijanin Dragan , Hyams Elias
Published: June 2024

Background

Prebiopsy prostate‐specific antigen density (PSAD) is a well‐known predictor of clinically significant prostate cancer (csPCa). Since prostate‐specific antigen (PSA) and prostate volume (PV) increase normally with aging, PSAD thresholds may vary. The purpose of the study was to determine if PSAD was predictive of csPCa in different age strata.

Methods

We retrospectively reviewed our institutional database for patients who underwent multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) between January 2016 and December 2021. We included patients who had post‐MRI prostate biopsies. Based on age, we divided our cohort into four subgroups (groups 1–4): <55, 55–64, 65–74, and ≥75 years old. PSAD accuracy was estimated by the area under the curve (AUC) as a predictive model for differentiating csPCa between the groups. CsPCa was defined as a Gleason Grade Group 2 or higher. Three different PSAD thresholds (0.1, 0.15, and 0.2) were tested across the groups for sensitivity, specificity, and positive predictive value (PPV) and negative predictive value (NPV). Chi‐square and analysis of variance tests were used for bivariate analysis. All analys were completed using R 4.3 (R Core Team, 2023).

Results

Among 1913 patients, 883 (46.1%) had prostate biopsies. In groups 1, 2, 3, and 4, there were 62 (7%), 321 (36.4%), 404 (45.8%), and 96 (10.9%) patients, respectively. Median PSA was 5.6 (interquartile range 3.4–8.1), 6.2 (4.8–9), 6.8 (5.1–9.7), and 9 (5.6–13), respectively (p < 0.01). Median PV was 42.3 (30–62), 51 (36–77), 55.5 (38–85.9), and 59.3 (42–110) mL, respectively (p < 0.01). No difference was observed in median PSAD between age groups 1–4 (0.1 [0.07–0.16], 0.11 [0.08–0.18], 0.1 [0.07–0.19], and 0.1 [0.07–0.2]), respectively (p = 0.393). CsPCa was diagnosed in 241 (27.3%) patients, of which 10 (16.1%), 65 (20.2%), 121 (30%), and 45 (46.7%) were in groups 1–4, respectively (p < 0.001). For groups 1–4, the PSAD AUC for predicting csPCa was 0.75, 0.68, 0.71, and 0.74. While testing PSAD threshold of 0.15 across the different age groups (1–4), the PPV vs. NPV was 39.1 vs. 93.2, 33.6 vs. 87, 50.9 vs. 80.8, and 66.1 vs. 64.7, respectively.

Conclusions

PSAD prediction model was found to be similar among different age groups. In young patients, PSAD had a high NPV but low PPV. With increasing age, the opposite trend was observed, likely due to higher disease prevalence. While PSAD thresholds may be less useful in older patients to rule out higher‐grade prostate cancer, the clinical consequences of these diagnoses require a case‐by‐case evaluation.
Drug disposition in cholestasis: An important concern
Authors: Shang Tianze , Zhang Chengliang , Liu Dong
Published: June 2024

Cholestasis, a chronic liver condition, disrupts bile acid homeostasis and complicates drug disposition, posing significant challenges in medicating cholestatic patients. Drug metabolism enzymes and transporters (DMETs) are pivotal in drug clearance. Research indicates that cholestasis leads to alterations in both hepatic and extrahepatic DMETs, with changes in expression and function documented in rodents and humans. This review synthesizes the modifications in key drug disposition components within cholestasis, focusing on cytochrome P450 (CYP450), drug transporters, and their substrates. Additionally, we briefly discuss certain drugs that have demonstrated efficacy in restoring DMET expression in cholestatic conditions. Ultimately, these insights necessitate a reevaluation of drug selection and dosing guidelines for patients with cholestasis.
UV‐Excited Gd1–xEuxAl3(BO3)4 Red Phosphors for White Lighting Emission Diodes and Plant Growth Light‐Emitting Diodes
Authors: Khan Pedinti Shahab , Jamalaiah Bungala Chinna , Shaik Nayab Rasool
Published: June 2024

A series of Gd1–xEuxAl3(BO3)4 red light‐emitting phosphors, where 0 ≤ x ≤ 15.0%, are prepared by high‐temperature solid‐phase method and characterized through X‐ray diffraction, Fourier‐transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, photoluminescence emission and excitation, luminescence decay, and thermoluminescence studies. Under 274 and 396 nm UV excitations, intense red luminescence is observed through 5D0 → 7F0,1,2,3,4 transitions. Based on concentration‐dependent luminescence spectra, the Eu3+ concentration is optimized to be 12.0% for efficient red luminescence. The Commission International de I’Eclairage coordinates and hence the color purity and correlated color temperature values are obtained from the emission spectra. The thermal stability is examined using the temperature‐dependent luminescence study. The high amount of color purity and thermal stability of Eu0.12Gd0.88Al3(BO3)4 phosphor shows its suitability as the best replacement for red component in phosphor‐converted white light‐emitting diodes (LEDs) as well as indoor plant growth LEDs.
Investigation of Tl‐Doped Silicon by Low‐Temperature Photoluminescence during Light‐Induced Degradation Treatments
Authors: Lauer Kevin , Müller Robin , Peh Katharina , Schulze Dirk , Krischok Stefan , Reiß Stephanie , Frank Andreas , Ortlepp Thomas
Published: June 2024

Scientific progress is made in understanding photoluminescence (PL) lines in thallium‐doped silicon. Two PL lines called A and P, which appear after quenching, are found to exhibit irreversible as well as reversible behavior under the application of light‐induced degradation (LID) treatments. The reversible behavior is similar to changes of a P line in indium‐doped silicon due to LID treatments, which have led to the identification of this P line to be caused by an InSi‐Sii‐defect. By exploiting the metastability of defects from the ASi‐Sii category, the experimental findings of this study indicate that the underlying defect for the A and P line in thallium‐doped silicon is the TlSi‐Sii‐defect.
Hepatoprotective effect of dietary pterostilbene against high‐fat‐diet‐induced lipid accumulation exacerbated by chronic jet lag via SIRT1 and SIRT3 activation
Authors: Koh Yen‐Chun , Yao Ching‐Hui , Lee Pei‐Sheng , Nagabhushanam Kalyanam , Ho Chi‐Tang , Pan Min‐Hsiung
Published: June 2024

Hepatic lipid metabolism is modulated by the circadian rhythm; therefore, circadian disruption may promote obesity and hepatic lipid accumulation. This study aims to investigate dietary pterostilbene (PSB) ‘s protective effect against high‐fat‐diet (HFD)‐induced lipid accumulation exacerbated by chronic jet lag and the potential role of gut microbiota therein. Mice were treated with a HFD and chronic jet lag for 14 weeks. The experimental group was supplemented with 0.25% (w/w) PSB in its diet to evaluate whether PSB had a beneficial effect. Our study found that chronic jet lag exacerbates HFD‐induced obesity and hepatic lipid accumulation, but these adverse effects were significantly mitigated by PSB supplementation. Specifically, PSB promoted hepatic lipolysis and β‐oxidation by upregulating SIRT1 expression, which indirectly reduced oxidative stress caused by lipid accumulation. Additionally, the PSB‐induced elevation of SIRT1 and SIRT3 expression helped prevent excessive autophagy and mitochondrial fission by activating Nrf2‐mediated antioxidant enzymes. The result was evidenced by the use of SIRT1 and SIRT3 inhibitors in in vitro studies, which demonstrated that activation of SIRT1 and SIRT3 by PSB is crucial for the translocation of PGC‐1α and Nrf2, respectively. Moreover, the analysis of gut microbiota suggested that PSB's beneficial effects were partly due to its positive modulation of gut microbial composition and functionality. The findings of this study suggest the potential of dietary PSB as a candidate to improve hepatic lipid metabolism via several mechanisms. It may be developed as a treatment adjuvant in the future.
Quantifying nocturnal thrush migration using sensor data fusion between acoustics and vertical‐looking radar
Authors: Giuntini Silvia , Saari Juha , Martinoli Adriano , Preatoni Damiano G. , Haest Birgen , Schmid Baptiste , Weisshaupt Nadja
Published: June 2024

Studying nocturnal bird migration is challenging because direct visual observations are difficult during darkness. Radar has been the means of choice to study nocturnal bird migration for several decades, but provides limited taxonomic information. Here, to ascertain the feasibility of enhancing the taxonomic resolution of radar data, we combined acoustic data with vertical‐looking radar measurements to quantify thrush (Family: Turdidae) migration. Acoustic recordings, collected in Helsinki between August and October of 2021–2022, were used to identify likely nights of high and low thrush migration. Then, we built a random forest classifier that used recorded radar signals from those nights to separate all migrating passerines across the autumn migration season into thrushes and non‐thrushes. The classifier had a high overall accuracy (≈0.82), with wingbeat frequency and bird size being key for separation. The overall estimated thrush autumn migration phenology was in line with known migratory patterns and strongly correlated (Pearson correlation coefficient ≈0.65) with the phenology of the acoustic data. These results confirm how the joint application of acoustic and vertical‐looking radar data can, under certain migratory conditions and locations, be used to quantify ‘family‐level’ bird migration.
Study on the motion characteristics of bedload sediment particles under different sediment transport intensities
Authors: Liu Chunjing , Zhang Lingfeng , Zhang Yu , Jiang Xiaopeng , Liu Fei , Gu Leilei , Lu Jing
Published: June 2024

Bedload studies at the particle scale may help grasp the essence of the problem. Existing studies suffer from short filming durations, limited data volume, and a narrow range of sediment transport intensity variations. This paper employs the high‐speed photography technology and conducts experimental studies on bedload particle motion under 8 different sediment transport intensities. Using the latest image processing technology, over 6 million sediment particle coordinate points and nearly 400,000 particle motion trajectory curves were automatically obtained and used to compare the motion characteristics of bedload particles under different sediment transport intensities. The results show that under low sediment transport intensity, both the number of moving particles and particle motion velocity contribute to the bedload sediment transport rate, while under high‐intensity conditions, the transport rate mainly depends on the number of moving particles. The probability density distribution of sediment transport rate is concentrated and varies within a small range under low‐intensity conditions, exhibiting a tailing phenomenon. In contrast, under high‐intensity conditions, the range of sediment transport rate values increases, and the probability density curve tends to be symmetric, more closely approximating a normal distribution. Additionally, the paper compares the longitudinal and transverse motion velocities of particles and the coefficient of variation of the bedload sediment transport rate.
Renewable risk assessment of heterogeneous streaming time‐to‐event cohorts
Authors: Ding Jie , Li Jialiang , Wang Xiaoguang
Published: June 2024

The analysis of streaming time‐to‐event cohorts has garnered significant research attention. Most existing methods require observed cohorts from a study sequence to be independent and identically sampled from a common model. This assumption may be easily violated in practice. Our methodology operates within the framework of online data updating, where risk estimates for each cohort of interest are continuously refreshed using the latest observations and historical summary statistics. At each streaming stage, we introduce parameters to quantify the potential discrepancy between batch‐specific effects from adjacent cohorts. We then employ penalized estimation techniques to identify nonzero discrepancy parameters, allowing us to adaptively adjust risk estimates based on current data and historical trends. We illustrate our proposed method through extensive empirical simulations and a lung cancer data analysis.
Fibrin Hydrogels Reinforced by Reactive Microgels for Stimulus‐Triggered Drug Administration
Authors: Al Enezy‐Ulbrich Miriam Aischa , Belthle Thomke , Malyaran Hanna , Kučikas Vytautas , Küttner Hannah , de Lange Robert Dirk , van Zandvoort Marc , Neuss Sabine , Pich Andrij
Published: June 2024

Tissue engineering is a steadily growing field of research due to its wide‐ranging applicability in the field of regenerative medicine. Application‐dependent mechanical properties of a scaffold material as well as its biocompatibility and tailored functionality represent particular challenges. Here the properties of fibrin‐based hydrogels reinforced by functional cytocompatible poly(N‐vinylcaprolactam)‐based (PVCL) microgels are studied and evaluated. The employment of temperature‐responsive microgels decorated by epoxy groups for covalent binding to the fibrin is studied as a function of cross‐linking degree within the microgels, microgel concentration, as well as temperature. Rheology reveals a strong correlation between the mechanical properties of the reinforced fibrin‐based hydrogels and the microgel rigidity and concentration. The incorporated microgels serve as cross‐links, which enable temperature‐responsive behavior of the hydrogels, and slow down the hydrogel degradation. Microgels can be additionally used as carriers for active drugs, as demonstrated for dexamethasone. The microgels’ temperature‐responsiveness allows for triggered release of payload, which is monitored using a bioassay. The cytocompatibility of the microgel‐reinforced fibrin‐based hydrogels is demonstrated by LIVE/DEAD staining experiments using human mesenchymal stem cells. The microgel‐reinforced hydrogels are a promising material for tissue engineering, owing to their superior mechanical performance and stability, possibility of drug release, and retained biocompatibility.
Ultrasmall Metal TPZ Complexes with Deep Tumor Penetration for Enhancing Radiofrequency Ablation Therapy and Inducing Antitumor Immune Responses
Authors: Zhu Licheng , Ren Yanqiao , Dong Mengna , Sun Bo , Huang Jia , Chen Lei , Xia Xiangwen , Dong Xiangjun , Zheng Chuansheng
Published: June 2024

Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) is one of the most common minimally invasive techniques for the treatment of solid tumors, but residual malignant tissues or small satellite lesions after insufficient RFA (iRFA) are difficult to remove, often leading to metastasis and recurrence. Here, Fe‐TPZ nanoparticles are designed by metal ion and (TPZ) ligand complexation for synergistic enhancement of RFA residual tumor therapy. Fe‐TPZ nanoparticles are cleaved in the acidic microenvironment of the tumor to generate Fe2+ and TPZ. TPZ, an anoxia‐dependent drug, is activated in residual tumors and generates free radicals to cause tumor cell death. Elevated Fe2+ undergoes a redox reaction with glutathione (GSH), inducing a strong Fenton effect and promoting the production of the highly toxic hydroxyl radical (•OH). In addition, the ROS/GSH imbalance induced by this treatment promotes immunogenic cell death (ICD), which triggers the release of damage‐associated molecular patterns, macrophage polarization, and lymphocyte infiltration, thus triggering a systemic antitumor immune response and noteworthy prevention of tumor metastasis. Overall, this integrated treatment program driven by multiple microenvironment‐dependent pathways overcomes the limitations of the RFA monotherapy approach and thus improves tumor prognosis. Furthermore, these findings aim to provide new research ideas for regulating the tumor immune microenvironment.
Synthesis and Reactivity of Amino(Ylide)Stannylenes
Authors: Swamy Varre S. V. S. N. , Kumar Manoj , Krischer Felix , Feichtner Kai‐Stephan , Mallick Bert , Gessner Viktoria H.
Published: June 2024

The synthesis of two stable monoylide‐substituted stannylenes of type YCNSnR [R=Cl (1) or N(SiMe3)2 (2), and YCN=Ph3P(CN)C] starting from the cyanido‐substituted α‐metallated ylide YCN–K and SnCl2 or (SiMe3)2NSnCl is reported. Coordination of the cyano group to the tin center results in the dimerization of both stannylenes 1 and 2 in the solid state as well as in solution, where syn‐ and anti‐isomers are present. X‐ray diffraction analyses in combination with DFT calculations revealed that the π‐electron density of the ylide ligand is predominantly shifted into the cyano moiety rather than towards the tin center. This results in a strong preference of the dimers over the monomers, which is further emphasized by the reaction with 2,5‐di‐tert‐butylhydroquinone, which undergoes a [1+4] addition to the tin center to yield a spiro compound while preserving the cyclic core of the dimer. In contrast, phenyl isocyanate and dicyclohexylcarbodiimide insert into the Sn−Cylide bond, ultimately leading to the cleavage of the dimer and the formation of monomeric stannylenes with an ylide‐substituted thioamidato and amidinato ligand, respectively.
Development of a Standardized Data Acquisition Prototype for Heterogeneous Sensor Environments as a Basis for ML Applications in Pultrusion
Authors: Helfrich Timo , Wilhelm Michael , Kuppler Oliver , Rosenberg Philipp , Henning Frank
Published: June 2024

Pultrusion of continuous fiber reinforced profiles has been state of the art for several decades. However, pultrusion in the production environment so far has no or only few sensor data in a heterogeneous sensor environment, has shortcomings in data quality (time synchronization, different formats, different sampling rates, sporadic disconnections and resulting data losses), and insufficient data processing methods are used for process control and optimization. Significant efficiency improvements would therefore still be possible in this respect. The question therefore arises as to how a data acquisition system can be designed that provides heterogeneous data in a standardized and reliable manner for data-based process development and optimization. The aim is therefore to develop a digitized and standardized data acquisition prototype for the continuous production of sustainable profile structures so flexible that the various components of the production line can be adaptively combined in a central data acquisition system. We have therefore screened and selected possible standardized transmission formats in combination with suitable low-cost data acquisition systems for a highly reliable and secure application area. The paper shows a profound concept for a data acquisition prototype based on different low-cost control systems for the applicability and testability of the developed requirements regarding data acquisition, processing, and future storage.