bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Radiomics for preoperative prediction of early recurrence in hepatocellular carcinoma: a meta-analysis
Authors: Tian Huan , Xie Yong , Wang Zhiqun
Published: June 2023

Background/Objective

Early recurrence (ER) affects the long-term survival prognosis of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Many previous studies have utilized CT/MRI-based radiomics to predict ER after radical treatment, achieving high predictive value. However, the diagnostic performance of radiomics for the preoperative identification of ER remains uncertain. Therefore, we aimed to perform a meta-analysis to investigate the predictive performance of radiomics for ER in HCC.

Methods

A systematic literature search was conducted in PubMed, Web of Science (including MEDLINE), EMBASE and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials to identify studies that utilized radiomics methods to assess ER in HCC. Data were extracted and quality assessed for retrieved studies. Statistical analyses included pooled data, tests for heterogeneity, and publication bias. Meta-regression and subgroup analyses were performed to investigate potential sources of heterogeneity.

Results

The analysis included fifteen studies involving 3,281 patients focusing on preoperative CT/MRI-based radiomics for the prediction of ER in HCC. The combined sensitivity, specificity, and area under the curve (AUC) of the receiver operating characteristic were 75% (95% CI: 65-82), 78% (95% CI: 68-85), and 83% (95% CI: 79-86), respectively. The combined positive likelihood ratio, negative likelihood ratio, diagnostic score, and diagnostic odds ratio were 3.35 (95% CI: 2.41-4.65), 0.33 (95% CI: 0.25-0.43), 2.33 (95% CI: 1.91-2.75), and 10.29 (95% CI: 6.79-15.61), respectively. Substantial heterogeneity was observed among the studies (I²=99%; 95% CI: 99-100). Meta-regression showed imaging equipment contributed to the heterogeneity of specificity in subgroup analysis (P= 0.03).

Conclusion

Preoperative CT/MRI-based radiomics appears to be a promising and non-invasive predictive approach with moderate ER recognition performance.
Inflammation-related research within the field of bladder cancer: a bibliometric analysis
Authors: Deng Zhixuan , Tang Ning , Xiong Wanyan , Lei Xu , Zhang Tengfei , Yang Ning
Published: June 2023

Background

In recent years, the link between inflammation and bladder cancer(BC) has received much attention. However, there were no relevant bibliometric studies to analyze the inflammation-related research within this field of BC.

Methods

We selected Web of Science Core Collection (WOSCC) as the data source to obtain articles and reviews on inflammation-related research within te field of BC from WOSCC’s inception to October 10, 2022. The collected data were meticulously and manually screened, after which we used VOSviewer, CiteSpace, Biblioshiny and an online analysis platform (https://bibliometric.com/) to perform bibliometric analysis on the data and visualize the results.

Results

A total of 4301 papers related to inflammation-related research within this field of BC were included in this study.The number of publications has steadily increased over the last decades (R²=0.9021). The top contributing country was the United States, O’Donnell, Michael A was the most published authors, the leading contributing institution was the University of Texas, and the leading contributing journal was JOURNAL OF UROLOGY. The keywords co-occurrence analysis indicated that “immunotherapy,” “inflammation-related biomarkers,” and “tumor microenvironment” were the hot spots and frontiers of research in this field.

Conclusion

This study clarifies the contribution of countries, institutions, authors, and journals in inflammation-related research within this field of BC through a bibliometric approach and identifies research hotspots and frontiers in the field. Notably, these findings can help researchers to understand more clearly the relationship between inflammation and BC.
Tropheryma whipplei-induced plastic bronchitis in children: a case report
Authors: Jin Xuefeng , Zhang Caiyun , Chen Chao , Wang Xiaoning , Dong Jing , He Yuanyuan , Zhang Peng
Published: June 2023

This article reports a case of a 7-year-old child with severe pneumonia whose chest CT showed pulmonary consolidation, and bronchoscopy revealed plastic bronchitis. The metagenomic Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS) of the pulmonary lavage fluid suggested the infection of Tropheryma whipplei (T whipplei). The patient was treated with bronchial lavage to remove sputum plugs, intravenous azithromycin, and piperacillin-tazobactam and was discharged after eight days of hospitalization without any recurrence during follow-up. This article aims to raise clinical awareness of T whipplei infection and suggests that NGS for rare pathogens should be performed early for unexplained plastic bronchitis.
Systematic analysis of the necroptosis index in pan-cancer and classification in discriminating the prognosis and immunotherapy responses of 1716 glioma patients
Authors: Ma Shuai , Wang Fang , Liu Qingzhen , Geng Xiaoteng , Wang Zaibin , Yi Menglei , Jiang Fan , Zhang Dongtao , Cao Junzheng , Yan Xiuwei , Zhang Jiheng , Wang Nan , Zhang Heng , Peng Lulu , Liu Zhan , Hu Shaoshan , Tao Shengzhong
Published: June 2023

Necroptosis is a programmed form of necrotic cell death that serves as a host gatekeeper for defense against invasion by certain pathogens. Previous studies have uncovered the essential role of necroptosis in tumor progression and implied the potential for novel therapies targeting necroptosis. However, no comprehensive analysis of multi-omics data has been conducted to better understand the relationship between necroptosis and tumor. We developed the necroptosis index (NI) to uncover the effect of necroptosis in most cancers. NI not only correlated with clinical characteristics of multiple tumors, but also could influence drug sensitivity in glioma. Based on necroptosis-related differentially expressed genes, the consensus clustering was used to classify glioma patients into two NI subgroups. Then, we revealed NI subgroup I were more sensitive to immunotherapy, particularly anti-PD1 therapy. This new NI-based classification may have prospective predictive factors for prognosis and guide physicians in prioritizing immunotherapy for potential responders.
Protective effect of Schizonepeta tenuifolia Briq. ethanolic extract against UVB-induced skin aging and photodamage in hairless mice
Authors: Gu Min Ji , Lee Hee-Weon , Yoo Guijae , Kim Donghwan , Choi In-Wook , Kim Yoonsook , Ha Sang Keun
Published: June 2023

The purpose of this study was to illuminate the mechanism by which Schizonepeta tenuifolia Briq. (ST) ethanolic extract prevents skin photoaging in HR-1 hairless mice (HR-1). The ST ethanolic extract alleviated wrinkle formation, epidermal skin thickness, and collagen degradation in skin tissues of ultraviolet B (UVB)-irradiated HR-1 mice. Expression of matrix metalloproteinases (a wrinkle-related marker) was reduced, and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase 1 expression was upregulated following application of ST ethanolic extract. Furthermore, skin dehydration and levels of hyaluronidase-1 and -2 (enzymes that break hyaluronic acid) were decreased. Moreover, protein expression of hyaluronan synthases (markers of skin hydration) and hyaluronic acid levels increased following ST ethanolic extract treatment in UVB-induced photoaging HR-1 mice. In addition, the phosphorylation of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs), including p38, extracellular signal-regulated kinase, and Jun N-terminal kinase was suppressed, and expression of nuclear factor-kappa was reduced. Treatment with ST ethanolic extract also reduced advanced glycation end product (AGE) accumulation and expression of the receptor for AGE (RAGE) in skin tissue. These results suggest that ST ethanolic extract moderates skin damage caused by UVB irradiation via regulating the expression of wrinkle- and hydration-related proteins, MAPKs, and RAGE.
High resolution mapping of QTLs for fruit color and firmness in Amrapali/Sensation mango hybrids
Authors: Srivastav Manish , Radadiya Nidhi , Ramachandra Sridhar , Jayaswal Pawan Kumar , Singh Nisha , Singh Sangeeta , Mahato Ajay Kumar , Tandon Gitanjali , Gupta Ankit , Devi Rajni , Subrayagowda Sreekanth Halli , Kumar Gulshan , Prakash Pragya , Singh Shivani , Sharma Nimisha , Nagaraja A. , Kar Abhijit , Rudra Shalini Gaur , Sethi Shruti , Jaiswal Sarika , Iquebal Mir Asif , Singh Rakesh , Singh Sanjay Kumar , Singh Nagendra Kumar
Published: June 2023

Introduction

Mango (Mangifera indica L.), acclaimed as the ‘king of fruits’ in the tropical world, has historical, religious, and economic values. It is grown commercially in more than 100 countries, and fresh mango world trade accounts for ~3,200 million US dollars for the year 2020. Mango is widely cultivated in sub-tropical and tropical regions of the world, with India, China, and Thailand being the top three producers. Mango fruit is adored for its taste, color, flavor, and aroma. Fruit color and firmness are important fruit quality traits for consumer acceptance, but their genetics is poorly understood.

Methods

For mapping of fruit color and firmness, mango varieties Amrapali and Sensation, having contrasting fruit quality traits, were crossed for the development of a mapping population. Ninety-two bi-parental progenies obtained from this cross were used for the construction of a high-density linkage map and identification of QTLs. Genotyping was carried out using an 80K SNP chip array.

Results and discussion

Initially, we constructed two high-density linkage maps based on the segregation of female and male parents. A female map with 3,213 SNPs and male map with 1,781 SNPs were distributed on 20 linkages groups covering map lengths of 2,844.39 and 2,684.22cM, respectively. Finally, the integrated map was constructed comprised of 4,361 SNP markers distributed on 20 linkage groups, which consisted of the chromosome haploid number in Mangifera indica (n =20). The integrated genetic map covered the entire genome of Mangifera indica cv. Dashehari, with a total genetic distance of 2,982.75 cM and an average distance between markers of 0.68 cM. The length of LGs varied from 85.78 to 218.28 cM, with a mean size of 149.14 cM. Phenotyping for fruit color and firmness traits was done for two consecutive seasons. We identified important consistent QTLs for 12 out of 20 traits, with integrated genetic linkages having significant LOD scores in at least one season. Important consistent QTLs for fruit peel color are located at Chr 3 and 18, and firmness on Chr 11 and 20. The QTLs mapped in this study would be useful in the marker-assisted breeding of mango for improved efficiency.
Real-time on-site detection of the three ‘Candidatus Liberibacter’ species associated with HLB disease: a rapid and validated method
Authors: Morán Félix , Herrero-Cervera Mario , Carvajal-Rojas Sofía , Marco-Noales Ester
Published: June 2023

Huanglongbing (HLB) is a devastating disease that affects all commercial citrus species worldwide. The disease is associated with bacteria of three species of the genus ‘Candidatus Liberibacter’ transmitted by psyllid vectors. To date, HLB has no cure, so preventing its introduction into HLB-free areas is the best strategy to control its spread. For that, the use of accurate, sensitive, specific, and reliable detection methods is critical for good integrated management of this serious disease. This study presents a new real-time recombinase polymerase amplification (RPA) protocol able to detect the three ‘Ca. Liberibacter’ species associated with HLB in both plant and insect samples, validated according to European and Mediterranean Plant Protection Organization (EPPO) guidelines and tested on 365 samples from nine different geographic origins. This new protocol does not require nucleic acid purification or specialized equipment, making it ideal to be used under field conditions. It is based on specific primers and probe targeting a region of fusA gene, which shows a specificity of 94%–100%, both in silico and in vitro, for the ‘Ca. Liberibacter’ species associated with HLB. The analytical sensitivity of the new protocol is excellent, with a reliable detection limit in the order of 101 copies per microliter in HLB-infected plant and insect material. The repeatability and reproducibility of the new methods showed consistent results. Diagnostic parameters of the new RPA protocol were calculated and compared with the gold standard technique, a quantitative real-time PCR, in both crude extracts of citrus plants and insect vectors. The agreement between the two techniques was almost perfect according to the estimated Cohen’s kappa index, with a diagnostic sensitivity and specificity of 83.89% and 100%, respectively, and a relative accuracy of 91.59%. Moreover, the results are obtained in less than 35 min. All these results indicate the potential of this new RPA protocol to be implemented as a reliable on-site detection kit for HLB due to its simplicity, speed, and portability.
The mediating roles of psychological resilience and frustration tolerance in the relationship between coping styles and mood states of high-level basketball referees
Authors: Wang Qiulin , Wang Wei , Huang Huanhuan , Wan Binghui
Published: June 2023

Objective

In order to promote the development of high-quality professional basketball referees in China, we explored the relationship between their coping styles and mood states during the game and assessed the contributions of psychological resilience and frustration tolerance to this relationship.

Methods

A total of 364 national and international male and female basketball referees were recruited and surveyed via the online questionnaire platform “Questionnaire Star”. All participants signed an informed consent form and completed the questionnaire. Common method bias test and Pearson correlation tests were used to analyze the study indicators, and the theoretical model for this study was validated using Process plug-in developed by Hayes.

Results

The results of the study showed that the coping style of the referees significantly predicted their psychological resilience, frustration tolerance, and mood state. Coping style enhanced psychological resilience (β = −0.30) and frustration tolerance (β = 0.38) and improved the mood states (β = 0.33) of the referees. In addition, coping style directly predicted mood state but also indirectly predict mood state through the intermediary variables of psychological resilience (β = 0.14) and frustration tolerance (β = 0.11), and the mediating effects accounted for 24.20 and 18.90% of the total effect, with psychological resilience playing a greater role than frustration tolerance. (β: standardized regression coefficient).

Conclusion

These findings suggest that when training high-level basketball referees, increasing the psychological indicators related to the coping styles and psychological resilience of high-level basketball referees can avoid their large emotional fluctuations and improve their accuracy in judging when facing unexpected events on the court.
Psychometric properties of the Sport Courage Scale for Chinese athletes
Authors: Gao Shenmao , Guo Zeyou , Zhang Renfang , Jin Junze , Dou Guangbo
Published: June 2023

Objective

To revise Sport Courage Scale (SCS) suitable for Chinese athletes.

Methods

Six hundred and eighty three athletes were selected for verification factor analysis, correlation analysis, reliability analysis, and independent sample t-test using the method of random sampling of the entire group.

Results

Confirmatory factor analysis model showed that model 1 (25 items) failed to fit the data; while model 2 (20 items) was finally accepted with its five-factor model. The factor structure consists of 5 dimensions (χ2/df = 2.262;CFI = 0.969;TLI = 0.963; RMSEA = 0.043; SRMR = 0.044). Cronbach’s α of the final version of SCS was 0.845, and the corrected correlation coefficient between the items and the total score of the scale was between 0.352 and 0.788.

Conclusion

Revised SCS has good reliability and validity and can be used as a measurement tool for the sports courage of athletes in China.
Increasing pro-environmental behavior in the home and work contexts through cognitive dissonance and autonomy
Authors: Bentler Dominik , Kadi Gizem , Maier Günter W.
Published: June 2023

The aim of this study was to develop a novel cognitive dissonance intervention founded on the action-based model for enhancing pro-environmental behavior. Based on intraindividual feedback on the expression of personal pro-environmental attitudes and behavior the study confirms the effect of cognitive dissonance intervention to foster pro-environmental behavior. The effect of this intervention could be demonstrated for the home as well as for the work context, although the effects for the work domain were lower. This can be explained by specific situational conditions of the work domain. Autonomy for pro-environmental behavior is significantly lower in the work context than in the home context and significantly moderates the effect of the cognitive dissonance intervention. The present work provides information on how pro-environmental behavior can be influenced in different contexts as well as the significance of situational framework conditions for the effect of behavior-changing interventions.
Predicting depressive symptom by cardiometabolic indicators in mid-aged and older adults in China: a population-based cross-sectional study
Authors: Wang Ying , Zhang Xiaoyun , Li Yuqing , Gui Jiaofeng , Mei Yujin , Yang Xue , Liu Haiyang , Guo Lei-lei , Li Jinlong , Lei Yunxiao , Li Xiaoping , Sun Lu , Yang Liu , Yuan Ting , Wang Congzhi , Zhang Dongmei , Li Jing , Liu Mingming , Hua Ying , Zhang Lin
Published: June 2023

Objective

Depressive symptom is a serious mental illness often accompanied by physical and emotional problems. The prevalence of depressive symptom in older adults has become an increasingly important public health priority. Our study used cardiometabolic indicators to predict depressive symptom in middle-aged and older adults in China.

Methods

The data came from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study 2011 (CHARLS2011), which was a cross-sectional study. The analytic sample included 8,942 participants aged 45 years or above. The study evaluated the relationship between cardiometabolic indicators and depression by measuring 13 indicators, including body mass index (BMI), waist circumference, waist-height ratio (WHtR), conicity index, visceral adiposity index (VAI), Chinese visceral adiposity index (CVAI), lipid accumulation product (LAP), a body shape index (ABSI), body roundness index (BRI), triglyceride glucose index (TyG-index) and its correlation index (TyG-BMI, TyG-waist circumference, TyG-WHtR). Binary logistic regression analysis was used to examine the association between thirteen cardiometabolic indicators and depressive symptom. In addition, the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis and area under curve (AUC) were used to evaluate the predictive anthropometric index and to determine the optimum cut-off value.

Results

The study included 8,942 participants, of whom 4,146 (46.37%) and 4,796 (53.63%) were male and female. The prevalence of depressive symptom in mid-aged and older adults in China was 41.12% in males and 55.05% in females. The results revealed that BMI [AUC = 0.440, 95%CI: 0.422–0.457], waist circumference [AUC = 0.443, 95%CI: 0.425–0.460], WHtR [AUC = 0.459, 95%CI: 0.441–0.476], LAP [AUC = 0.455, 95%CI: 0.437–0.472], BRI [AUC = 0.459, 95%CI: 0.441–0.476], CVAI [AUC = 0.449, 95%CI: 0.432–0.467], TyG-BMI [AUC = 0.447, 95%CI: 0.429–0.465], and TyG-waist circumference [AUC =0.452, 95%CI: 0.434–0.470] were weak predictors of depressive symptom (p < 0.05) in males. In females, BMI [AUC = 0.470, 95%CI: 0.453–0.486], LAP [AUC = 0.484, 95%CI: 0.467–0.500], TyG-BMI [AUC = 0.470, 95%CI: 0.454–0.487], and TyG-waist circumference [AUC =0.481, 95%CI: 0.465–0.498] were weak predictors of depressive symptom (p < 0.05). On the other side, VAI, ABSI, conicity index and TyG index could not predict depressive symptom in middle-aged and older adults.

Conclusion

Most cardiometabolic indicators have important value in predicting depressive symptom. Our results can provide measures for the early identification of depressive symptom in middle-aged and older adults in China to reduce the prevalence of depressive symptom and improve health.
Developing prediction models for symptom severity around the time of discharge from a tertiary-care program for treatment-resistant psychosis
Authors: Lee Lik Hang N. , Procyshyn Ric M. , White Randall F. , Gicas Kristina M. , Honer William G. , Barr Alasdair M.
Published: June 2023

Antipsychotics are the only therapeutic class indicated in the symptomatic management of psychotic disorders. However, individuals diagnosed with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder may not always benefit from these first-line agents. This refractoriness to conventional treatment can be difficult to address in most clinical settings. Therefore, a referral to a tertiary-care program that is better able to deliver specialized care in excess of the needs of most individuals may be necessary. The average outcome following a period of treatment at these programs tends to be one of improvement. Nonetheless, accurate prognostication of individual-level responses may be useful in identifying those who are unlikely to improve despite receiving specialized care. Thus, the main objective of this study was to predict symptom severity around the time of discharge from the Refractory Psychosis Program in British Columbia, Canada using only clinicodemographic information and prescription drug data available at the time of admission. To this end, a different boosted beta regression model was trained to predict the total score on each of the five factors of the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) using a data set composed of 320 hospital admissions. Internal validation of these prediction models was then accomplished by nested cross-validation. Insofar as it is possible to make comparisons of model performance across different outcomes, the correlation between predictions and observations tended to be higher for the negative and disorganized factors than the positive, excited, and depressed factors on internal validation. Past scores had the greatest effect on the prediction of future scores across all 5 factors. The results of this study serve as a proof of concept for the prediction of symptom severity using this specific approach.
Addressing stigma within the dissemination of research products to improve quality of care for pregnant and parenting people affected by substance use disorder
Authors: Lipsett Megan , Wyant-Stein Katie , Mendes Simone , Berger Estelle , Berkman Elliot T. , Terplan Mishka , Cioffi Camille C.
Published: June 2023

Substance use disorders are a common and treatable condition among pregnant and parenting people. Social, self, and structural stigma experienced by this group represent a barrier to harm reduction, treatment utilization, and quality of care. We examine features of research dissemination that may generate or uphold stigmatization at every level for pregnant and parenting individuals affected by substance use disorder and their children. We explore stigma reduction practices within the research community that can increase uptake of evidence-based treatment programs and prevent potential harm related to substance use in pregnant and parenting people. The strategies we propose include: (1) address researcher stereotypes, prejudice, and misconceptions about pregnant and parenting people with substance use disorder; (2) engage in interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary collaborations that engage with researchers who have lived experience in substance use; (3) use community-based approaches and engage community partners, (4) address stigmatizing language in science communication; (5) provide contextualizing information about the social and environmental factors that influence substance use among pregnant and parenting people; and (6) advocate for stigma-reducing policies in research articles and other scholarly products.
Distributed cooperative Kalman filter constrained by advection–diffusion equation for mobile sensor networks
Authors: Zhang Ziqiao , Mayberry Scott T. , Wu Wencen , Zhang Fumin
Published: June 2023

In this paper, a distributed cooperative filtering strategy for state estimation has been developed for mobile sensor networks in a spatial–temporal varying field modeled by the advection–diffusion equation. Sensors are organized into distributed cells that resemble a mesh grid covering a spatial area, and estimation of the field value and gradient information at each cell center is obtained by running a constrained cooperative Kalman filter while incorporating the sensor measurements and information from neighboring cells. Within each cell, the finite volume method is applied to discretize and approximate the advection–diffusion equation. These approximations build the weakly coupled relationships between neighboring cells and define the constraints that the cooperative Kalman filters are subjected to. With the estimated information, a gradient-based formation control law has been developed that enables the sensor network to adjust formation size by utilizing the estimated gradient information. Convergence analysis has been conducted for both the distributed constrained cooperative Kalman filter and the formation control. Simulation results with a 9-cell 12-sensor network validate the proposed distributed filtering method and control law.
Relationship between Some Myostatin Variants and Meat Production Related Calving, Weaning and Muscularity Traits in Charolais Cattle
Authors: Csürhés Tamás , Szabó Ferenc , Holló Gabriella , Mikó Edit , Török Márton , Bene Szabolcs
Published: June 2023

The slaughter value of live cattle can be assessed during visual conformation scoring, as well as by examining different molecular genetic information, e.g., the myostatin gene, which can be responsible for muscle development. In this study, the F94L, Q204X, nt267, nt324 and nt414 alleles of the myostatin gene (MSTN) were examined in relation to birth weight (BIW), calving ease (CAE), 205-day weaning weight (CWW), muscle score of shoulder (MSS), muscle score of back (MSB), muscle score of thigh (MST), roundness score of thigh (RST), loin thickness score (LTS), and overall muscle development percentage (OMP) of Charolais weaned calves in Hungary. Multi-trait analysis of variance (GLM) and weighted linear regression analysis were used to process the data. Calves carrying the Q204X allele in the heterozygous form achieved approximately 0.14 points higher MSB, MST and LTS, and 1.2% higher OMP, and gained 8.56 kg more CWW than their counterparts not carrying the allele (p < 0.05). As for the F94L allele, there was a difference of 4.08 kg in CWW of the heterozygous animals, but this difference could not be proved statistically. The other alleles had no significant effect on the evaluated traits.
Comparative Effectiveness and Persistence of Antimicrobial Durability in Dry and Wet States of a Novel Antimicrobial Surface Disinfectant
Authors: Gerges Bahgat , Rosenblatt Joel , Jiang Ying , Raad Issam
Published: June 2023

Aims: We evaluated a novel disinfectant (VR) and seven comparators (disinfectants A–G) against resistant pathogens common in healthcare settings. Methods and Results: VR at different dilutions, along with commercial disinfectants A–G, was tested against surrogate viruses, and resistant bacterial and fungal pathogens. Surrogate viruses had an initial concentration of ~1 × 108 mL−1, and bacterial and fungal isolates had an initial concentration of ~1 × 106 mL−1 on Siliconee surfaces. After the application of VR or a comparator disinfectant, surfaces were tested for the reduction in microbial loads after 30 s and 5 min wet exposures, and after a 24 h dry residue exposure. Sterile deionized water was used as a control. The VR at a concentration of 4.68% was superior to all comparator disinfectants against most pathogens in wet and dry testing. The VR at 7.8% concentration showed the highest pathogen-reduction rate among all comparator disinfectants when tested against all pathogens. Conclusions: Overall, the novel VR disinfectant was the most effective disinfectant in both wet and dry residue states against the range of tested pathogens. Significance and Impact of the Study: VR is a broadly effective disinfectant combination for use in high-risk settings, particularly those in which intervals between applications of disinfectant can be lengthy or inconsistent.
Response of Ammodendron bifolium Seedlings Inoculated with AMF to Drought Stress
Authors: Wu Limei , Zheng Yujuan , Liu Shulan , Jia Xiande , Lv Haiying
Published: June 2023

Drought has become a serious environmental problem affecting people all around the world as a result of rising atmospheric pollution and global warming. Through symbiosis with Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus (AMF), plants may mitigate the impacts of drought stress on growth and development as well as physiological metabolism. As a pioneer plant for windbreak and sand fixation, the symbiosis between AMF and Ammodendron bifolium can improve its drought resistance, which is of great significance for species protection and desertification control. In this study, A. bifolium seedlings were used as the test subject in a pot experiment with four drought stress gradients and two inoculation treatments to examine the effects of water treatment and AMF inoculation on the growth of the seedlings. The results showed that drought stress significantly inhibited the growth indexes of A. bifolium seedlings such as the height, basal diameter, blades number, and biomass, and that inoculation with AMF could promote the growth of A. bifolium seedlings and help mitigate the damage caused by drought stress. Drought stress increased the antioxidant enzyme activity and proline (Pro) accumulation in A. bifolium plants, and AMF inoculation induced higher antioxidant enzyme activity and lower malondialdehyde (MDA) and Pro contents in A. bifolium seedlings compared to non-AMF-inoculated plants. Drought stress harmed the chloroplast structure, reduced the chlorophyll concentration, and decreased the photosynthetic efficiency in A. bifolium seedlings. The ability of AMF-inoculated plants to withstand drought was enhanced by increased levels of photosynthetic pigments, higher photosynthetic activity, and increased photosynthetic product accumulation in the roots. These results suggest that AMF inoculation can alleviate drought-induced damage by promoting plant growth and improving plant antioxidant, osmoregulation, and photosynthetic capacity. In the context of increasing drought due to global warming, AMF inoculation can be an excellent way to enhance A. bifolium drought resistance.
Vertically-Ordered Mesoporous Silica Film Based Electrochemical Aptasensor for Highly Sensitive Detection of Alpha-Fetoprotein in Human Serum
Authors: Zhang Tongtong , Yang Luoxiang , Yan Fei , Wang Kai
Published: June 2023

Convenient and rapid detection of alpha fetoprotein (AFP) is vital for early diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma. In this work, low-cost (0.22 USD for single sensor) and stable (during 6 days) electrochemical aptasensor was developed for highly sensitive and direct detection of AFP in human serum with the assist of vertically-ordered mesoporous silica films (VMSF). VMSF has silanol groups on the surface and regularly ordered nanopores, which could provide binding sites for further functionalization of recognition aptamer and also confer the sensor with excellent anti-biofouling capacity. The sensing mechanism relies on the target AFP-controlled diffusion of Fe(CN)63−/4− redox electrochemical probe through the nanochannels of VMSF. The resulting reduced electrochemical responses are related to the AFP concentration, allowing the linear determination of AFP with a wide dynamic linear range and a low limit of detection. Accuracy and potential of the developed aptasensor were also demonstrated in human serum by standard addition method.
Engineering of a Bacterial Biosensor for the Detection of Chlorate in Food
Authors: Vergnes Alexandra , Becam Jérôme , Loiseau Laurent , Ezraty Benjamin
Published: June 2023

Chlorate can contaminate food due to the use of chlorinated water for processing or equipment disinfection. Chronic exposure to chlorate in food and drinking water is a potential health concern. The current methods for detecting chlorate in liquids and foods are expensive and not easily accessible to all laboratories, highlighting an urgent need for a simple and cost-effective method. The discovery of the adaptation mechanism of Escherichia coli to chlorate stress, which involves the production of the periplasmic Methionine Sulfoxide Reductase (MsrP), prompted us to use an E. coli strain with an msrP-lacZ fusion as a biosensor for detecting chlorate. Our study aimed to optimize the bacterial biosensor’s sensitivity and efficiency to detect chlorate in various food samples using synthetic biology and adapted growth conditions. Our results demonstrate successful biosensor enhancement and provide proof of concept for detecting chlorate in food samples.
BIM-Based Checking Method for the Mass Timber Industry
Authors: Paskoff Chloé , Boton Conrad , Blanchet Pierre
Published: June 2023

Since the 1990s, mass timber constructions have become more and more popular. This type of construction has characteristics that are ideal for incorporating building information modeling (BIM). A mass timber structure implies offsite prefabrication at the factory, which generates modeling specificities. Although digitalization and BIM are becoming more and more common, and some studies have focused on BIM for mass timber construction, none of them focus on model checking for mass timber construction. In construction projects, there is still no general method that synthesizes the possibilities offered by BIM-based model checking in general, and research on the conformity of mass timber models in particular is almost non-existent. Our research objective is to provide a general step-by-step method summarizing the process of model compliance study with dedicated tools. To conduct this work, we first solidified our understanding of the problem by interviewing professionals from the mass timber construction industry. Next, we developed our method iteratively, supported by tools, and then validated it with three model-checking case studies. This method consists of five steps: checking the specifications, digital environment implementation, requirement deciphering, calculation, and compliance results’ analysis. We then applied our method in three case studies. The results of the case studies are mixed: some audits were successful, while others were not, because barriers to auditing were encountered (missing information, impossible interpretation of data for the model properties, etc.). The obstacles encountered show that, to be efficient, BIM must be conducted on high-quality models, which is not often the case in real-life situations.
Development and Characteristic of 3D-Printable Mortar with Waste Glass Powder
Authors: Deng Qi , Zou Shuai , Xi Yonghui , Singh Amardeep
Published: June 2023

Three-dimensional concrete printing (3DCP) is emerging as an innovative technology and shows promise to revolutionize conventional construction modes. However, the current 3D-printed concrete (3DPC) generally requires higher cement content than conventional concrete to ensure its rheology for printing. From the perspective of cleaner production and reduce carbon emissions, this study explored the feasibility of replacing parts of cement with waste glass powder (WGP, 0%, 20%, 40%, and 60% by mass) and compared the properties of the developed 3DPC, including fluidity (flowable spread), rheology, heat of hydration, buildability, compressive strength, anisotropy, and drying shrinkage. The results showed that less than 40% WGP replacement had limited influence on the initial fluidity and static yield stress, as well as drying shrinkage, of 3DPC. Although the WGP inclusion decreased the compressive strength, it slowed down the fluidity loss and static yield stress increase, which could extend the workable time of the mixture for printing and improve buildability. The 40% WGP replacement was found increase to the buildability of the printing mixture from 150 mm to 155 mm. The printing mixture prepared with 60% WGP reduced the dying shrinkage by 50%. An exponential decay function between the fluidity and static yield stress was established so that the simple fluidity test could be used as an indicator of printability. The findings in this study provided a solution to reduce the consumption of cement in 3DPC, which could contribute to a greener production in the construction industry.
Pre- and Post-Neoadjuvant Clinicopathological Parameters Can Help in the Prognosis and the Prediction of Response in HER2+ and Triple Negative Breast Cancer
Authors: Pons Laura , Hernández Laura , Urbizu Aintzane , Osorio Paula , Rodríguez-Martínez Paula , Castella Eva , Muñoz Ana , Sanz Carolina , Arnaldo Laura , Felip Eudald , Quiroga Vanesa , Tapia Gustavo , Margelí Mireia , Fernandez Pedro Luis
Published: June 2023

Neoadjuvant treatment (NAT) is one of the most widely used options for HER2+ and triple negative (TN) early breast cancer (BC). Since around half of the patients treated with NAT do not achieve a pathologically complete response (pCR), biomarkers to predict resistance are urgently needed. The correlation of clinicopathological factors with pCR was studied in 150 patients (HER2 = 81; TN = 69) and pre- and post-NAT differences in tumour biomarkers were compared. Low estrogen receptor (ER) expression, high tumour-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) and low cT-stage were associated with pCR in HER2+ tumours (p = 0.022; p = 0.032 and p = 0.005, respectively). Furthermore, ER expression was also associated with residual cancer burden (RCB; p = 0.046) in the HER2+ subtype. Similarly, pre-NAT, low progesterone receptor expression (PR; 1–10%) was associated with higher RCB (p < 0.001) in TN tumours. Only clinical and pathological T-stage (cpT-stage) had prognostic capacity in HER2+ tumours, whereas pre-NAT cpT-stage and post-NAT TILs had this capacity for the prognosis of TN tumours. We conclude that ER and PR expression may help predict response to NAT in HER2 and TN BC and should be taken into account in residual tumours. Also, changes observed in the phenotype after NAT suggest the need to reevaluate biomarkers in surviving residual tumour cells.
KRAS and NRAS Translation Is Increased upon MEK Inhibitors-Induced Processing Bodies Dissolution
Authors: Vidal-Cruchez Olivia , Nicolini Victoria J. , Rete Tifenn , Jacquet Karine , Rezzonico Roger , Lacoux Caroline , Domdom Marie-Angela , Roméo Barnabé , Roux Jérémie , Hubstenberger Arnaud , Mari Bernard , Mograbi Baharia , Hofman Paul , Brest Patrick
Published: June 2023

Overactivation of the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway is a critical driver of many human cancers. However, therapies directly targeting this pathway lead to cancer drug resistance. Resistance has been linked to compensatory RAS overexpression, but the mechanisms underlying this response remain unclear. Here, we find that MEK inhibitors (MEKi) are associated with an increased translation of the KRAS and NRAS oncogenes through a mechanism involving dissolution of processing body (P-body) biocondensates. This effect is seen across different cell types and is extremely dynamic since removal of MEKi and ERK reactivation result in reappearance of P-bodies and reduced RAS-dependent signaling. Moreover, we find that P-body scaffold protein levels negatively impact RAS expression. Overall, we describe a new feedback loop mechanism involving biocondensates such as P-bodies in the translational regulation of RAS proteins and MAPK signaling.
Safety and Feasibility of Vulvar Cancer Treatment with Electrochemotherapy
Authors: Vivod Gregor , Bosnjak Masa , Kovacevic Nina , Sersa Gregor , Merlo Sebastjan , Cemazar Maja
Published: June 2023

Electrochemotherapy is a local ablative therapy used for the treatment of various superficial and deep-seated tumors. Electrochemotherapy involves the application of electric pulses locally to tumors to destabilize cell membranes and facilitate the entry of cytotoxic drugs, thereby enhancing their cytotoxicity locally. The aim of our study is to investigate the safety and feasibility of electrochemotherapy in patients with vulvar cancer recurrence used for nonpalliative purposes. Ten patients with single local vulvar cancer recurrence were treated with intravenous bleomycin, followed by a local application of electric pulses (electrochemotherapy) to the tumor. Adverse events were determined using the National Cancer Institute’s Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE) version 5.0. The feasibility of treating vulvar cancer with electrochemotherapy was determined by an appropriate selection of electrodes based on the size and location of the tumor with safety margins included. Electrochemotherapy was feasible in all patients. No electrochemotherapy-related or other serious adverse events occurred. Our data suggest that electrochemotherapy is a feasible and safe technique for the treatment of vulvar cancer recurrence for nonpalliative purposes. Based on our results, electrochemotherapy might be a viable therapeutic tool for patients who would otherwise undergo surgery involving a mutilation of the external genitalia.
Comparison of Medical Management versus Parathyroidectomy in Patients with Mild Primary Hyperparathyroidism: A Meta-Analysis
Authors: Cironi Katherine A. , Issa Peter P. , Albuck Aaron L. , McCarthy Christina , Rezvani Leely , Hussein Mohammad , Luo Xinyi , Shama Mohamed , Toraih Eman , Kandil Emad
Published: June 2023

Background: Parathyroidectomy is the definitive cure for patients with primary hyperparathyroidism (pHPT) and has an annual prevalence of 0.2–1% in the United States. Some patients with mild disease are medically managed effectively using calcium-lowering medications and drugs against complications such as osteoporosis; however, many maintain a persistently high calcium level that negatively impacts their skeletal, renal, and psychogenic systems over the long term. This meta-analysis aims to compare the outcomes of medical management versus parathyroidectomy in patients with mild pHPT. Study Design: This meta-analysis was performed in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines using PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science by two teams of investigators. Analysis was run using R packages. Results: A total of 12 publications including seven randomized control, two prospective, and three retrospective trials with a total of 1346 patients were included for analysis. The average follow-up for all patients was 41 ± 23.8 months. Demographics, pre-treatment calcium, PTH, and bone mineral density (BMD) were similar between the medical (N = 632) and surgical (N = 714) cohorts. Post-treatment calcium and PTH levels were significantly higher in the medical cohort (10.46 vs. 9.39, p < 0.01), (106.14 vs. 43.25, p = 0.001), respectively. Interestingly, the post-treatment PTH in the medical cohort increased when compared to pre-treatment (83.84 to 106.14). Patients in the medical cohort had lower BMD in lumbar (0.48 g/cm2; OR = 0.42, 95% CI = 0.21, 0.83), femoral (0.48; OR = 0.42, 95% CI = 0.29, 0.61), and hip (0.61; OR = 0.33, 95% CI = 0.13, 0.85). Incidences of fracture, nephrolithiasis, cardiovascular death, or overall mortality were not significantly different between the cohorts. Conclusions: The present study is the most comprehensive meta-analysis on mild pHPT to date. Our findings reflect that parathyroidectomy is the superior option in the treatment of mild pHPT patients as opposed to medical management.
The Potent Anti-Tumor Effects of Rhodiola Drinking Are Associated with the Inhibition of the mTOR Pathway and Modification of Tumor Metabolism in the UPII-Mutant Ha-Ras Model
Authors: Liu Zhongbo , Yokoyama Noriko N , Song Liankun , Xie Jun , Sadeghi Zhina , Wu Yi Xi , Yee Sarah , Wu Xue-Ru , Wang Beverly , Uchio Edward , Zi Xiaolin
Published: June 2023

Background: SHR-5 has been used as an “adaptogen” for enhancing physical and mental performance and for fighting stress in the healthy population. The purpose of this study is to determine the chemopreventive efficacy of SHR-5 for superficial bladder cancer and to investigate the underlying mechanisms of action. Methods: UPII-mutant Ha-ras bladder-cancer-transgenic mice, that developed low-grade and noninvasive papillary transitional urothelial cell carcinoma, were fed with 1.25 and 6.25 mg/mL SHR-5 in drinking water for 6 months. The survival of the mice, obstructive uropathy, tumor burden and morphology, and proliferation were evaluated by pathological, molecular, metabolic, and statistical analyses. Results: Approximately 95% or more of the male UPII-mutant Ha-ras mice that drank SHR-5 daily survived over 6 months of age, while only 33.3% of those mice that drank normal water survived over 6 months of age (p < 0.0001); SHR-5 drinking exposure also reduced tumor-bearing bladder weight and urinary tract obstruction and inhibited mTOR signaling in neoplastic tissues. Global metabolic analysis revealed that SHR-5 resulted in increased phenolic metabolites and decreased CoA, a critical metabolic cofactor for lipid metabolism. Conclusions: Our findings highlight the potential of SHR-5 as an anti-aging agent for bladder cancer prevention through reshaping tumor metabolism via the inhibition of the mTOR signaling. Global metabolomics profiling provides a unique and efficient tool for studying the mechanisms of complex herb extracts’ action.
K-Ras Binds Calmodulin-Related Centrin1 with Potential Implications for K-Ras Driven Cancer Cell Stemness
Authors: Manoharan Ganesh babu , Laurini Christina , Bottone Sara , Ben Fredj Nesrine , Abankwa Daniel Kwaku
Published: June 2023

Recent data suggest that K-Ras4B (hereafter K-Ras) can drive cancer cell stemness via calmodulin (CaM)-dependent, non-canonical Wnt-signalling. Here we examined whether another Ca2+-binding protein, the CaM-related centrin1, binds to K-Ras and could mediate some K-Ras functions that were previously ascribed to CaM. While CaM and centrin1 appear to distinguish between peptides that were derived from their classical targets, they both bind to K-Ras in cells. Cellular BRET- and immunoprecipitation data suggest that CaM engages more with K-Ras than centrin1 and that the interaction with the C-terminal membrane anchor of K-Ras is sufficient for this. Surprisingly, binding of neither K-Ras nor its membrane anchor alone to CaM or centrin1 is sensitive to inhibition of prenylation. In support of an involvement of the G-domain of K-Ras in cellular complexes with these Ca2+-binding proteins, we find that oncogenic K-RasG12V displays increased engagement with both CaM and centrin1. This is abrogated by addition of the D38A effector-site mutation, suggesting that K-RasG12V is held together with CaM or centrin1 in complexes with effectors. When treated with CaM inhibitors, the BRET-interaction of K-RasG12V with centrin1 was also disrupted in the low micromolar range, comparable to that with CaM. While CaM predominates in regulating functional membrane anchorage of K-Ras, it has a very similar co-distribution with centrin1 on mitotic organelles. Given these results, a significant overlap of the CaM- and centrin1-dependent functions of K-Ras is suggested.