bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Comparison of indocyanine green and blue-stained glue for preoperative localization for pulmonary nodules
Authors: Lin Jia , Zhang Jia , Wei Ning , Wu An-Le , Wang Long-Fei , Teng Fei , Xian Yu-Tao , Han Rui
Published: October 2023

Background
In patients with pulmonary nodules undergoing computed tomography (CT)-guided localization procedures, a range of liquid-based materials have been employed to date in an effort to guide video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) procedures to resect target nodules. However, the relative performance of these different liquid-based localization strategies has yet to be systematically evaluated. Accordingly, this study was developed with the aim of examining the relative safety and efficacy of CT-guided indocyanine green (IG) and blue-stained glue (BSG) PN localization.
Methods
Consecutive patients with PNs undergoing CT-guided localization prior to VATS from November 2021 - April 2022 were enrolled in this study. Safety and efficacy outcomes were compared between patients in which different localization materials were used.
Results
In total, localization procedures were performed with IG for 121 patients (140 PNs), while BSG was used for localization procedures for 113 patients (153 PNs). Both of these materials achieved 100% technical success rates for localization, with no significant differences between groups with respect to the duration of localization (P = 0.074) or visual analog scale scores (P = 0.787). Pneumothorax affected 8 (6.6%) and 8 (7.1%) patients in the respective IG and BSG groups (P = 0.887), while 12 (9.9%) and 10 (8.8%) patients of these patients experienced pulmonary hemorrhage. IG was less expensive than BST ($17.2 vs. $165). VATS sublobar resection procedure technical success rates were also 100% in both groups, with no instances of conversion to thoracotomy.
Conclusions
IG and BSG both offer similarly high levels of clinical safety and efficacy when applied for preoperative CT-guided PN localization, with IG being less expensive than BSG.
TC/(HDL-C+TBIL) and LDL-C/(HDL-C+TBIL) ratios predict early neurological deterioration in minor ischemic stroke：A retrospective study
Authors: Lu Dandan , Wang Meng , Li Mengmeng , Zu Sai , Wang Pei
Published: October 2023

Objective It is generally known that bilirubin and cholesterol can significantly affect the clinical outcome of minor ischemic stroke(MIS) .In other words,early neurological deterioration (END) is still difficult to be predicted which is usually occurs in MIS patients .Our aim was to study the correlation between END,total bilirubin and cholesterol( total cholesterol,TC, low density lipoprotein cholesterol,LDL-C,high density lipoprotein cholesterol,HDL-C) by TC/(HDL-C+TBIL) and LDL-C/(HDL-C+TBIL) ratios.
Methods This was a retrospective study.MIS Patients within 48 hours of onset were retrospective recruited from Baoding NO.1 Central Hospital. END was defined as an NIHSS score increased≥ 2 points or individual score of consciousness level and muscle strength increased ≥1 point or new neurological damage manifestations during the 72 hours.During the period,total cholesterol, low density lipoprotein cholesterol,high density lipoprotein cholesterol and total bilirubin , TC/(HDL-C+TBIL) and (LDL-C/(HDL-C+TBIL) ratios were calculated.
Results 149 patients were included, 39 cases(26.17%) had END(END group) and 110 cases(73.83%) did not had END(non-END group). In patients with non-END, smoking , TBIL were significantly higher than END(P＜0.05)，but systolic pressure, neutrophil ratio, fasting glucose,LDL-C/(HDL-C+TBIL), TC/(HDL-C+TBIL) were lower(P＜0.05). In tne logistic regression analysis LDL-C/( HDL-C+TBIL) (OR=1.061, 95%CI:1.013~1.111, P=0.012), TC/(HDL-C+TBIL) (OR=1.048, 95%CI:1.008~1.091, P=0.019) were independent risk factors for END. The receiver operated curve (ROC) showed that LDL-C/(HDL-C+TBIL) predicted END with sensitivity 53.8%, specificity 87.3% , TC/(HDL-C+TBIL) predicted END with sensitivity 64.1%, specificity 79.1% .
Conclusion END occurs 26.17% in minor ischemic stroke. TC/(HDL-C+TBIL) and (LDL-C/(HDL-C+TBIL) ratios were statistically significant predictor for END in MIS.
Configurational Effects of Intergenerational Support on older adults’ depression: An empirical study from CHARLS data
Authors: bai qin , Zhu Jinghui , fu duanduan , wang fang , gao baizhi , Liu Guilin
Published: October 2023

Background: Intergenerational support is a crucial factor influencing the psychological well-being of older adults. The interactions between various dimensions of intergenerational support and the diverse effects of different configuration of these factors on older adults’ depression still require further investigation.
Method: Utilizing the 2018 data from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS), this study employs the Qualitative Comparative Analysis (QCA) method to analyze the configurational effects of intergenerational support on older adults’ depression.
Result: Single-dimensional intergenerational support cannot be considered a necessary condition for influencing older adults’ depression. The configurational effects of intergenerational support across different dimensions serve as sufficient conditions for older adults’ depression. The consistency parameter for all solution configurations in this study is 0.83, with a coverage of 0.61. The research identifies four types of configurational patterns associated with older adults’ depression: "Unidirectional Care Deficiency Type" (consistency mean of 0.84, coverage of 0.49), "Bidirectional Care Deficiency Type" (consistency mean of 0.86, coverage of 0.33), "Bidirectional Economic Deficiency Type" (consistency mean of 0.85, coverage of 0.48), and "Mixed Type" (consistency mean of 0.83, coverage of 0.23).
Conclusion: The configurational effects of intergenerational support across different dimensions contribute to an increase in the levels of older adults’ depression. It is advocated to adopt a holistic perspective when examining the intricate connection between intergenerational support and older adults’ depression. Furthermore, it is important to pay attention to maintaining a dynamic equilibrium between receiving and providing intergenerational support.
The impact of parental consanguineous marriage on the incidence rate, incidence age, and severity of coronary artery disease
Authors: Khederlou Hamid , Sadeghian Saeed , Jalali Arash , Mohammadi Amirali , Shokoeizadeh Fatemeh , Hamidabadi Nasrin , Yadangi Somayeh , Tajdini Masih
Published: October 2023

Background Consanguineous marriage (CM) 's impact on cardiovascular diseases, including structural congenital heart diseases, has been confirmed. Although CM can affect genetics with oligogenicity and homogeneity, the relationship between CM and coronary artery disease (CAD) has not been conclusively confirmed. Therefore, this study was conducted to determine the relationship between CAD and CM. Methods We conducted a cross-sectional-prospective study from June 2021 to August 2022. Patients undergoing coronary angiography at Tehran Heart Center were included. A questionnaire was designed, including demographic and anthropometric information, past medical history, cardiovascular risk factors, results of previous angiograms, and parental kinship. Finally, 11,986 patients were analyzed regarding the relationship between CAD and CM. Results 69.9% of the patients included in this study were male. The mean age of the patients was 58.9 ± 10.7 years. Out of 11986 patients, 9083 (75.8%) patients had CAD. One thousand five hundred fifteen (12.7%) patients were with parental CM. This study showed that the incidence of CAD in patients with parental CM is 3.2% higher than in patients with parental non-CM (P-value < 0.001). Also, CM reduces the mean age of CAD occurrence independently of other cardiovascular risk factors by 2.4 years [OR -2.4, 95% CI -3.5_-1.8, P-value < 0.001]. Conclusions The incidence of CAD in patients with parental CM is higher than in patients with parental non-CM. The parental CM reduces the age of onset of CAD in their children. Therefore, parental CM should be considered one of the risk factors for CAD.
Salvianolic Acid B (Sal B) ameliorates myocardial fibrosis in diabetic cardiomyopathy through deubiquitinating Smad7
Authors: Luo Hong , Fu Lingyun , Wang Xueting , Xu Yini , Tao Ling , Shen Xiangchun
Published: October 2023

Background Salvianolic acid B (Sal B), a water-soluble phenolic compound derived from Salvia Miltiorrhiza Bunge, is commonly used in Chinese Traditional Medicine for the treatment of cardiovascular diseases. Sal B has shown protecting effects against myocardial fibrosis induced by diabetic cardiomyopathy(DCM) in our previous experiment. This study aimed to investigate the ameliorative effects and potential mechanisms of Sal B in mitigating myocardial fibrosis induced by DCM.
Methods In this study, a variety of methods were utilized to investigate the effects of Sal B on improving myocardial fibrosis induced by DCM in vivo and in vitro. These methods included weight measurement, blood glucose analysis, echocardiography, HE staining, Masson's trichrome staining, Sirius red staining, cell proliferation assessment, determination of hydroxyproline levels, immunohistochemical staining, evaluation of fibrosis-associated protein expression (Collagen I, Collagen III, TGF-β1, p-Smad3, Smad3, Smad7, and α-smooth muscle actin), analysis of Smad7 gene expression, and analysis of Smad7 ubiquitin modification.
Results The animal test results indicated Sal B could significantly improve cardiac function, inhibit collagen deposition and phenotypic transformation, ameliorate myocardial fibrosis in DCM by up-regulating Smad7, thereby inhibiting TGF-β1 signaling pathway. Additionally, cell experiments demonstrated Sal B could significantly inhibit the proliferation, migration, phenotypic transformation and collagen secretion of cardiac fibroblasts (CFs) induced by high glucose(HG). Sal B could significantly decrease the ubiquitization modifications of Smad7, stabilize the protein expression of Smad7, therefore increase the protein expression of Smad7 in the CFs , inhibit TGF-β1 signaling pathway, that maybe a potential mechanism of Sal B in mitigating myocardial fibrosis induced by DCM.
Conclusion In summary, this study revealed that Salvianolic acid B can improve myocardial fibrosis in DCM by deubiquitinating Smad7, stabilizing the protein expression of Smad7, blocking the TGF-β1 signaling pathway.
Association between SMOFlipid and impaired brain development on term-equivalent age brain magnetic resonance imaging in very preterm infants
Authors: Al-Mouqdad Mountasser M. , Alshaikh Belal , Sumaily Haider H. , Alodhaidan Nabeel A. , AlMahmoud Latifah , Almotiri Ameen A. , Alkhourmi Mousa A. , Abounassif Mazen M. , Beh Ahmed F. , Alawad Mashael A , Alqarni Aziza A , Al-Anazi Maha R. , Asfour Suzan S.
Published: October 2023

Soybean oil, medium-chain triglycerides, olive oil, and fish oil (SMOFlipid) is used without evidence of benefits. We investigated the relationship between lipid emulsions and brain injury in term-equivalent age magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in 148 very preterm infants with a birth weight of < 1500 g at ≤ 32 gestational weeks in a neonatal intensive care unit. Infants who received soybean-based lipid emulsions between January 2015 and December 2018 were compared with those who received SMOFlipids between January 2019 and December 2022. A negative binomial generalized linear model was applied for univariate analysis. Modified log-Poisson regression with generalized linear models and a robust variance estimator (Huber–White) were applied to adjust for potential confounders. The Kidokoro score was used to determine if lipid emulsion type would affect brain morphology and growth at term-equivalent age. Eighy-six (58.9%) received SMOFlipid. SMOFlipid was associated with lower focal signal abnormality, myelination delay, increased extracerebral space, and cerebellar volume reduction (P = 0.02, P = 0.007, P = 0.01, P = 0.02, respectively). SMOFlipidis are associated with brain insult, especially in white matter, cortical gray matter, and the cerebellum. Well-designed studies are needed to investigate the effect of lipid emulsions on the central nervous system.
Sleep duration and cognitive function among rural older adults in China: a population- based study
Authors: Fang Yongxu , Yan Zhongrui , Wang Xinglu , She Rui , Wang Peng , Liang Yajun
Published: October 2023

Background The appropriate sleep duration is essential for maintaining normal cognitive function, but evidence is scarce in rural elderly population. This study investigates the associations between self-reported sleep duration and cognitive function among older adults in rural China. Methods This population-based cross-sectional study used data from the Confucius Hometown Aging Project in Shandong, China. Data on demographics, lifestyles, and chronic health conditions were collected through interviews, clinical examinations, and laboratory tests. Sleep duration was classified into four groups (≤ 5, 6, 7, and ≥ 8 h/day). The Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) was used to assess the global and domain-specific cognitive function. Linear and logistic regression were performed to determine the associations between sleep duration and cognitive function. Results There was a U-shaped relationship between sleep duration and cognitive impairment. Compared with 6 hours’ sleep per day, sleeping ≤ 5 hours and ≥ 8 hours per day was associated with cognitive impairment, with odds ratio (95% confident interval) being 1.66 (1.02, 2.70) and 1.77 (1.07, 2.92) respectively. Compared with those sleep 6 hours per day, those sleep 5 hours per day or less had lower score of attention and calculation (β = -0.21, 95% confidence interval= -0.38, -0.05), those sleep 8 hours or more had lower score of orientation, attention and calculation, delayed recall, and linguistic competence (β range from − 0.08 to -0.22). Conclusions There is a U-shape relationship between sleep duration and cognitive impairment in rural Chinese older adults.
PHF12 regulates HDAC1 to promote tumorigenesis via EGFR/AKT signaling pathway in non-small cell lung cancer
Authors: Kong Yiru , jiang rongrong , Zhou Hui , Ge Mengxi , Lin Hao , Wang Yu , Yao Rongrong , Wang Qing , Liang Xiaohua , Li Jing , Zhou Xinli
Published: October 2023

Background:
Lung cancer stands as the second most prevalent malignant neoplasm worldwide. Addressing the underlying mechanisms propelling the progression of non-small cell lung cancer is of paramount importance. In this study, we have elucidated the pivotal role of PHF12 in this context.
Materials and Methods:
We harnessed clinical lung cancer tissue samples and non-small cell lung cancer cell lines to discern the expression pattern of PHF12. In vitro assays probing cell proliferation were conducted to substantiate the functional impact of PHF12. Furthermore, an in vivo Xenograft model was employed to dissect the role of PHF12. Employing ChIP assays and qRT-PCR, we delved into the intricate binding dynamics between PHF12 and HDAC1. Mechanistic insights into the PHF12-HDAC1 axis in lung cancer progression were pursued via RNA-seq and GSEA analyses.
Results
Notably, PHF12 exhibited a substantial upregulation within tumor tissue, concomitant with its correlation to HDAC1. The trilogy of cell proliferation assays, transwell assays, and the Xenograft model collectively underscored the promoting influence of PHF12 on lung cancer proliferation, both in vitro and in vivo. The ChIP assay unveiled the transcriptional regulatory role of PHF12 in governing HDAC1 expression. This correlation extended to both mRNA and protein levels. Intriguingly, the rescue of function within NSCLC cell lines post PHF12 knockdown was achievable through HDAC1 overexpression. Additionally, our findings unveiled the capacity of the PHF12-HDAC1 axis to activate the EGFR/AKT signaling pathway, thereby further corroborating its significance in lung cancer progression.
Conclusion
Our study identified PHF12 as an oncogenic role in lung cancer proliferation for the first time. PHF12 transcriptionally regulate HDAC1 and activate EGFR/AKT signaling pathway in NSCLC progression. PHF12 may serve as an important target in lung cancer therapy.
Identification of genomic regions for deep-water resistance in rice for efficient weed control with reduced herbicide use
Authors: Iwasa Marina , Chigira Koki , Nomura Tomohiro , Adachi Shunsuke , Asami Hidenori , Nakamura Tetsuya , Motobayashi Takashi , Ookawa Taiichiro
Published: October 2023

Deep-water (DW) management in rice fields is a promising technique for efficient control of paddy weeds with reduced herbicide use. Maintaining a water depth of 10–20 cm for several weeks can largely suppress the weed growth, though it also inhibits rice growth because the DW management is usually initiated immediately after transplanting. Improving the DW resistance of rice during the initial growth stage is essential to avoid suppressing growth. In this study, we demonstrate a large genetic variation in the above-ground biomass (AGB) after the end of DW management among 165 temperate japonica varieties developed in Japan. Because the AGB closely correlated with plant length (PL) and tiller number (TN) at the early growth stage, we analyzed genomic regions associated with PL and TN by conducting a genome-wide association study. For PL, a major peak was detected on chromosome 3 (qPL3), which includes a gene encoding gibberellin biosynthesis, OsGA20ox1. The rice varieties with increased PL had a higher expression level of OsGA20ox1 as reported previously. For TN, a major peak was detected on chromosome 4 (qTN4), which includes NAL1 gene associated with leaf morphological development and panicle number. Although there was less difference in the expression level of NAL1 between genotypes, our findings suggest that an amino acid substitution in the exon region is responsible for the phenotypic changes. We also found that the rice varieties having alternative alleles of qPL3 and qTN4 showed significantly higher AGB than the varieties with the reference alleles. Our results suggest that OsGA20ox1 and NAL1 are promising genes for improving DW resistance in rice.
Evolution of Stakeholder Relationships in Green Ship Construction
Authors: Geng Can , Kuang Haibo
Published: October 2023

With the increasing severity of environmental issues, the relevant maritime organizations have gradually improved environmental requirements for the shipping industry to reduce pollution emissions. The environmental benefits brought by green vessels have been proven globally. However, due to the public nature of green vessel construction, shipowners do not proactively engage in green vessel development. To encourage voluntary participation and prevent shipowners from evading green supervision by seeking rent from inspection agencies, it is necessary to explore the cooperative relationship among shipowners, inspection agencies, and governments, as well as the roles of each participant in the construction process. This study uses dynamic simulation methods to analyze the game relationship among relevant stakeholders. The analysis follows the classic assumptions of game theory, assuming that players are rational and have common knowledge. The results show that reasonable reward and punishment mechanisms as well as strict supervision can promote the stable development of the tripartite game system. Additionally, this research proposes several incentive measures for the government to promote green vessel construction, including adjusting policy rewards, punishments and strengthening supervision mechanisms for different participants.
Persistently smaller tassels threaten maize yield under a warming climate
Authors: Huang Shoubing , Zhang Yingjun , Dong Xin , Wang Hongyu , Lin Yihsuan , Jin Lian , Lv Xuanlong , Yao Qian , Li Baole , Gao Jia , Wang Pu , Wang Baobao
Published: October 2023

Heat waves become more serious with the warming climate, increasing the demand for developing high temperature (HT) tolerant maize germplasm. Here we compared the responses of 323 elite inbred lines released in multiple eras from both China and the United States to HT during flowering under field conditions. The newly released lines exhibit higher grain yield than the early released lines as a result of improved ear characteristics and flowering synchrony. However, the newly released lines are more susceptible to HT stress partly due to the reduced tassel size and spikelet opening angle. We identify a key threshold for spikelet/tassel (~700), over which maize can produce a stably high seed set under HT stress. According to the daily temperature during flowering, it is estimated that small-tassel (<700 spikelet/tassel) genotypes are unsuitable in 23.7% of global maize-growing regions. This work provides important information for breeding and selecting HT-tolerant maize varieties.
Robot Learning from Demonstration for Assembly with Camera-Supplemented Optical Motion Capture Sensors
Authors: Hu Haopeng , Yan Hengyuan , Yang Xiansheng , Lou Yunjiang , Li Yanjie
Published: October 2023

Motion capture (MoCap) sensors hold considerable potential in various industrial fields. One of their applications is serving as demonstration data collectors in robot learning from demonstration (LfD) systems. Within these systems, human workers transfer their expertise to robots through demonstrating targeted tasks, thereby providing significant value within the realm of industrial manufacturing. By supplementing the optical MoCap sensors with an RGB camera, a novel assembly demonstration platform and the corresponding policy learning method is proposed here. The 6-dimensional (6D) pose of the parts and video of the human workers' assembly demonstration are simultaneously obtained and temporally aligned. By exploiting both the accuracy and abundance of the demonstration data, the action recognition and parameter estimation method are proposed to learn the policy. The robotic assembly experiments are conducted to validate the proposed demonstration platform and policy learning method. As the experiment results indicate, with the proposed demonstration platform and the policy learning method, the robot can efficiently accomplish precise assembly tasks with a high success rate.
Dysautonomia and small fiber neuropathy in post-COVID condition and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
Authors: Azcue Naiara , Pino Rocio Del , Acera Marian , Valle Tamara Fernandez , Mentxakatorre Naia Ayo , Concha Tomás Pérez , Murueta-Goyena Ane , Lafuente Jose Vicente , Prada-Iñurrategui Álvaro , de Munain Adolfo López , Ruiz-Irastorza Guillermo , Martín-Iglesias Daniel , Ribacoba Laureano , Gabilondo Iñigo , Gómez-Esteban Juan Carlos , Tijero-Merino Beatriz
Published: October 2023

Background
Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) and post-COVID condition can present similarities such as fatigue, brain fog, autonomic and neuropathic symptoms.
Methods
The study included 87 patients with post-COVID condition, 50 patients with ME/CFS, and 50 HC. The hemodynamic autonomic function was evaluated using the deep breathing technique, Valsalva maneuver, and Tilt test. The presence of autonomic and sensory small fiber neuropathy (SFN) was assessed with the Sudoscan and with heat and cold evoked potentials, respectively. Finally, a complete neuropsychological evaluation was performed. The objective of this study was to analyze and compare the autonomic and neuropathic symptoms in post-COVID condition with ME/CFS, and healthy controls (HC), as well as, analyze the relationship of these symptoms with cognition and fatigue.
Results
Statistically significant differences were found between groups in heart rate, with ME/CFS group presenting the highest (H = 18.3; p ≤ .001). The Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS), and pathological values in palms on the Sudoscan were found in 31% and 34% of ME/CFS, and 13.8% and 19.5% of post-COVID patients, respectively. Concerning evoked potentials, statistically significant differences were found in response latency to heat stimuli between groups (H = 23.6; p ≤ .01). Latency was highest in ME/CFS, and lowest in HC. Regarding cognition, lower parasympathetic activation was associated with worse cognitive performance.
Conclusions
Both syndromes were characterized by inappropriate tachycardia at rest, with a high percentage of patients with POTS. The prolonged latencies for heat stimuli suggested damage to unmyelinated fibers. The higher proportion of patients with pathological results for upper extremities on the Sudoscan suggested a non-length-dependent SFN.
Fatigue life evaluation of welded joints under multiaxial loading for different stress concepts using an extended Gough-Pollard criterion
Authors: Bauer Niklas Michael , Baumgartner Jörg , Fass Markus
Published: October 2023

Fatigue life evaluation of welded joints under multiaxial loading usually refers to stresses normal to the weld and shear stresses. Stresses parallel to the weld are not considered in most experiments, nor in the well-known Gough-Pollard criterion. Hence, the Gough-Pollard criterion has recently been extended in order to include all stress components at the weld surface. In this paper, both the original and, for the first time, the extended Gough-Pollard criterion are applied to different welded specimens under multiaxial stresses that include stresses parallel to the weld. As shown, the original Gough-Pollard equation is not sufficient to evaluate such stress states. The reason is that the calculated fatigue life becomes less conservative as the stresses parallel to the weld become more significant. The extended Gough-Pollard criterion, on the other hand, shows greatly improved accuracy while significantly reducing the likelihood of non-conservative results. In conclusion, the extended Gough-Pollard criterion is able to describe fatigue life under multiaxial stress better than the original version and provides reliable and conservative results for welded joints. The main findings are shown to be valid for the nominal, the hot spot, and the notch stress concept.
Targeted Co-Delivery of FOXM1 Aptamer and DOX By Nucleolin Aptamer-Functionalized pH-Responsive Biocompatible Nanodelivery System to Enhance Therapeutic Efficacy Against Breast Cancer: In Vitro and In Vivo
Authors: Masoudi Mina , Taghdisi Seyed Mohammad , Hashemitabar Gholamreza , Abnous Khalil
Published: October 2023

Targeted nanodelivery systems offer a promising approach to cancer treatment, including the most common cancer in women, breast cancer. In this study, a targeted, pH-responsive, and biocompatible nanodelivery system based on nucleolin aptamer-functionalized biogenic titanium dioxide nanoparticles (TNP) was developed for targeted co-delivery of FOXM1 aptamer and doxorubicin (DOX) to improve breast cancer therapy. The developed targeted nanodelivery system exhibited almost spherical morphology with 124.89 ± 12.97 nm in diameter and zeta potential value of -23.78 ± 3.66 mV. FOXM1 aptamer and DOX were loaded into the nanodelivery system with an efficiency of 100% and 97%, respectively. Moreover, the targeted nanodelivery system demonstrated excellent stability in serum and a pH-sensitive sustained drug release profile following Higuchi kinetic and Fickian diffusion mechanism. The in vitro cytotoxicity experiments exhibited the selective and effective internalization of the targeted nanodelivery system into nucleolin-positive 4T1 and MCF-7 breast cancer cell lines. It is noteworthy that this phenomenon was not observed in nucleolin-negative cells (CHO). Moreover, the preclinical studies revealed remarkable tumor growth inhibition with lower side effects for the targeted nanodelivery system in comparison with free drug and the non-targeted nanodelivery system. Our results suggested that the developed innovative targeted pH-responsive biocompatible nanodelivery system could serve as a prospectively potential platform to improve breast cancer treatment.
Deep learning-based prediction of in-hospital mortality of sepsis
Authors: Li Yong , Liu Zhenzhou
Published: October 2023

As a serious blood infection disease, sepsis is characterized by a high mortality risk and many complications. Accurate assessment of mortality risk of patients with sepsis can help physicians in Intensive Care Unit (ICU) make optimal clinical decisions, which in turn can effectively save patients' lives. However, most of the current clinical models used for assessing mortality risk in sepsis patients are based on conventional indicators. Unfortunately, some of the conventional indicators have been shown to be inapplicable in the accurate clinical diagnosis nowadays. Meanwhile, traditional evaluation models only focus on a small amount of personal data, causing misdiagnosis of sepsis patients. We refine the core indicators for mortality risk assessment of sepsis from massive clinical electronic medical records(EMRs) with machine learning, and propose a new mortality risk assessment model, DGFSD, for sepsis patients based on deep learning. The DGFSD model can not only learn individual clinical information about unassessed patients, but also obtain information about the structure of the similarity graph between diagnosed patients and patients to be assessed. Numerous experiments have shown that the accuracy of the DGFSD model is superior to state-of-the-art methods available, and can significantly improve the efficiency of clinical auxiliary diagnosis.
Application of Deep Learning on MRI for Discriminating Glioma Recurrence from Radiation Necrosis: Algorithm Development and Validation
Authors: Ying Yu-Zhe , Cai Xiao-Hong , Yang Han , Huang Hua-Wei , Zheng Dao , Li Hao-Yi , Wang Yong-Gang , Jiang Zhong-Li , An Zhu-Lin , Zhang Guo-Bin
Published: October 2023

Purpose: Accurate differentiation between glioma recurrence and radiation necrosis is crucial for the management of patients suspected of glioma recurrence after radiation therapy. This study aims to develop a deep learning methodology for automated discrimination of glioma recurrence and radiation necrosis using routine magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans.
Method: We investigated 234 patients who underwent radiotherapy following glioma resection and presented with suspected recurrent lesions during follow-up MRI examinations retrospectively. Routine 3D-MRI scans, including T1, T2, and T1ce sequences, were obtained for each patient. Out of the analyzed cases, 192 (82.1%) were pathologically confirmed as glioma recurrence, while 46 (16.1%) were diagnosed as radiation necrosis. Different Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) models were utilized to learn radiological features indicative of gliomas and necrosis from the MRI scans. Performance evaluation metrics including sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, and area under the curve (AUC), were employed to assess the models’ performance.
Result: Among the evaluated CNN models, ResNet10 exhibited the highest sensitivity of 0.778, specificity of 0.939, accuracy of 0.914, and an AUC of 0.828. Additionally, the MresNet model achieved the highest specificity of 0.980 but had a lower sensitivity of 0.556. Another evaluated CNN model, Vgg16, displayed a sensitivity of 0.556, specificity of 0.939, accuracy of 0.879, and an AUC of 0.702.
Conclusion: The proposed ResNet10 CNN model shows promising performance on routine MRI scans, making it highly applicable in clinical settings. These findings contribute to improving the diagnostic accuracy in distinguishing between glioma recurrence and radiation necrosis based on routine MRI.
Some statistical problems involved in forecasting and estimating the spread of SARS-CoV-2 using Hawkes point processes and SEIR models
Authors: Schoenberg Frederic
Published: October 2023

This article reviews some of the statistical issues involved with modeling SARS-CoV02 (Covid-19) in Los Angeles County, California, using Hawkes point process models and SEIR models. The two types of models are compared, and their pros and cons are discussed. We also discuss particular statistical decisions, such as where to place the upper limits on y-axes, and whether to use a Bayesian or frequentist version of the model, how to estimate seroprevalence, and fitting the density of transmission times in the Hawkes model.
Post-COVID-19 patients suffer from chemosensory, trigeminal and salivary dysfunctions
Authors: Rogn Åsmund , Jensen Janicke Liaaen , Iversen Per Ole , Singh Preet Bano
Published: October 2023

Recent literature indicates that post-COVID-19 patients suffer from a plethora of complications, including chemosensory dysfunction. However, little is known about salivary dysfunction in these patients and little attention is given to understand the interactions between chemosensory, trigeminal and salivary dysfunctions in post-COVID-19 patients. The aims of this study were (i) to investigate the prevalence and combinations of chemosensory, trigeminal and salivary dysfunctions, (ii) to identify the odorants/tastants that are compromised, and (iii) to explore possible associations in post-COVID-19 patients. One hundred patients and 76 pre-COVID, healthy controls were included in this cross-sectional, case-controlled study. Participants’ smell, taste, trigeminal, and salivary functions were assessed. Significantly higher prevalence was found in patients for parosmia (80%), hyposmia (48%), anosmia (40%), dysgeusia (34%), complete ageusia (3%), specific ageusia (27%), dysesthesia (11%) and dry mouth (18%) compared to controls (0% in all above except 11.8% in hyposmia). Bitter taste was the most prevalent specific ageusia (66.7%) and coffee was the most common distorted smell (56.4%). Eight different combinations of dysfunctions were observed where combination of olfactory and gustatory dysfunction was the most common (45%). These findings indicate that post-COVID-19 patients experience a range of chemosensory, trigeminal and salivary disturbances, occurring in various combinations.
Initial Clinical Experience using 68Ga-FAPI-46 PET/CT for Detecting Various Cancer Types
Authors: Dadgar Habibollah , Norouzbeigi Nasim , Assadi Majid , Al-balooshi Batool , Al-Ibraheem Akram , Haidar Mohamad , Omar Yehia , Esmail Abdulredha A , Al-Alawi Haider Muhsin , Usmani Sharjeel , Cimini Andrea , Arabi Hossein , Zaidi Habib
Published: October 2023

Purpose
Numerous studies have demonstrated that 68Ga-FAPI PET/CT scans would yield high intra-tumoral tracer uptake and low uptake in normal tissues as background, thus allowing for excellent visualization of lesions in the cancer microenvironment. This study set out to compare the suitability of 68Ga-FAPI-46 PET versus routine 18F-FDG PET, 68Ga-DOTATATE and 68Ga-Pentixafor radiotracers for the assessment of different types of cancer.
Methods
A retrospective analysis of 11 patients (6 males, 5 females; mean age: 53 years, range: 10–58 years) with histopathologically confirmed, well-differentiated adenocarcinoma, medullar thyroid cancer (MTC), papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC), cervical, gastric, glioblastoma multiform (GBM), colon, Ewing's sarcoma, and breast cancer was performed. These patients underwent PET/CT scans using four different radiotracers (9 18F-FDG, 11 68Ga-FAPI, 3 68Ga-DOTATATE, and 1 68Ga-Pentixafor). The patients' PET/CT images were visually evaluated for cancer detection, and analyzed semi-quantitatively through image-derived metrics, such as target-to-background ratio (TBR) and maximum standard uptake value (SUVmax), for recurrence and metastasis.
Results
The study of 11 patients revealed that 68Ga-FAPI-46 was more effective than other tracers for detecting metastases, with 55 vs. 49 metastases in the lymph nodes, 4 vs. 3 in the liver, and 4 vs. 3 in the bones detected in comparison to 18F-FDG. No significant differences were observed in 68Ga-DOTATATE and 68Ga-Pentixafor PET images (P-value > 0.05). In addition, in five patients, the SUVmax and TBR values​​ in 68Ga-FAPI-46 PET images were significantly higher than 18F-FDG PET images for lymph nodes and bone metastases. Although the SUVmax in 68Ga-FAPI-46 and 18F-FDG PET images for liver metastases was comparable, 68Ga-FAPI-46 had a significantly higher TBR than 18F-FDG.
Conclusions
68Ga-FAPI-46 PET images led to improved detection rates for most metastases and better patient classification compared to 18F-FDG, 68Ga-Pentixafor, and 68Ga-DOTATATE. However, 18F-FDG PET/CT detected more lymph nodes than 68Ga-FAPI-46 PET/CT in various types of cancer.
Cellular dynamics following CAR T cell therapy are associated with response and toxicity in relapsed/refractory myeloma
Authors: Merz Maximilian , Fischer Luise , Grieb Nora , Born Patrick , Weiss Ronald , Seiffert Sabine , Boldt Andreas , Fricke Stephan , Franz Paul , Heyn Simone , Kubasch Anne Sophie , Baber Ronny , Wang Song-Yau , Bach Enrica , Hoffmann Sandra , Ussmann Jule , Kirchberg Janine , Hell Saskia , Schwind Sebastian , Metzeler Klaus , Herling Marco , Jentzsch Madlen , Franke Georg-Nikolaus , Sack Ulrich , Reiche Kristin , Koehl Ulrike , Platzbecker Uwe , Vucinic Vladan
Published: October 2023

B cell maturation antigen (BCMA)-targeting chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells revolutionized the treatment of relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma (RRMM). However, data on cellular (CAR) T cell dynamics and the association with response, resistance or the occurrence of cytokine release syndrome (CRS) are limited. Therefore, we performed a comprehensive flow cytometry analysis of 27 RRMM patients treated with Idecabtagene vicleucel (Ide-cel) to assess the expansion capacity, persistence and effects on bystander cells of BCMA-targeting CAR T cells. Additionally, we addressed side effects, like cytokine release syndrome (CRS) and cytopenia. Our results show that in vivo expansion of CD8+ CAR T cells is correlated to response, however persistence is not essential for durable remission in RRMM patients. In addition, our data provide evidence, that an increased fraction of CD8+ T cells at day of leukapheresis in combination with successful lymphodepletion positively influence the outcome. We show that patients at risk for higher-grade CRS can be identified already prior to lymphodepletion. Our extensive characterization contributes to a better understanding of the dynamics and effects of BCMA-targeting CAR T cells, in order to predict the response of individual patients as well as side effects, which can be counteracted at an early stage or even prevented.
Persistent trigeminal artery variant and presumed ophthalmic artery simultaneously arising from the inferolateral trunk incidentally diagnosed by magnetic resonance angiography
Authors: Uchino Akira , Masuda Hiroaki
Published: October 2023

Purpose
To describe a case of persistent trigeminal artery variant (PTAV) and presumed ophthalmic artery (OA) simultaneously arising from the inferolateral trunk (ILT).
Methods
A 53-year-old woman with an initial episode of convulsion underwent cranial magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and MR angiography (MRA) of the intracranial region for the evaluation of brain and vascular lesions. The MR machine was a 3-T scanner.
Results
MRI revealed no pathological brain lesions. On MRA, the left anterior inferior cerebellar artery (AICA) arose from the cavernous segment of the internal carotid artery (ICA), indicative of the PTAV. The arising point was more distal than the usual point, and the presumed OA also arose simultaneously from the short common trunk, which was considered the ILT.
Conclusion
There are two types of PTA: lateral (usual) and medial (intrasellar) PTA. The lateral-type PTA and PTAV arise from the ICA of the distal precavernous-proximal cavernous segment and take a course similar to that of the posterior fossa. The medial type arises slightly more in the distal cavernous segment than in the lateral type. The OA rarely arises from the cavernous segment of the ICA and enters the orbit via the superior orbital fissure. The origin of this type of OA is considered to be the ILT. We herein report a case of a PTAV and presumed OA arising simultaneously from an ILT. No similar case has been reported in the relevant English-language literature.
Performance of a paper-based microfluidic fuel cell using a ZnO/Ni-based composite as anode working with diabetic urine as fuel
Authors: Vera-Estrada Irma Lucía , Dector Andrés , Ovando-Medina Víctor Manuel , Martínez-Gutiérrez Hugo , Estrella-Chavero Zulma Flor , Olivares-Ramírez Juan Manuel , Calderón-Martínez Abraham Israel , Antonio-Carmona Iveth Dalila , Morales-Morales Jimmy Alexander
Published: October 2023

Urine has recently been considered a source of novel biomarkers for early disease detection; developing more autonomous medical devices would be possible if the urine is also used as fuel in microfluidic fuel cells. This work presents a paper-based microfluidic fuel cell that operates, for the first time, with diabetic urine. Diabetic urine has a different composition than normal urine, and some molecules could affect urea oxidation and decrease fuel cell power generation. This work shows a selective catalyst of ZnO and nickel-based particles used as anode in a paper-based microfluidic fuel cell. Catalysts with different concentrations of Ni+2 were evaluated. The best results were obtained with 3% nickel, using diabetic urine; the maximum voltage achieved was 0.89 V, with a maximum current density of 1.18 mA cm-2 and a maximum power density of 1.26 mW cm-2.
Principles of Digital Professionalism for the Metaverse in Healthcare
Authors: Mohammadzadeh Zahra , Shokri Mehdi , Saeidnia Hamid Reza , Kozak Marcin , Marengo Agostino , Lund Brady D , Ausloos Marcel , Ghiasi Nasrin
Published: October 2023

Background The metaverse, a novel concept that emerged in the second decade of the 21st century based on the integration of virtual reality and augment reality technologies, is being explored by experts for its potential use in healthcare. Alongside its implementation, the issue of digital professionalism in healthcare needs to be addressed. Digital professionalism refers to the knowledge and skills required by healthcare specialists to navigate digital technologies effectively and ethically. This study aims to identify the principles of digital professionalism for the use of metaverse in healthcare. Method This study utilized a qualitative design and collected data through semi-structured online interviews with 20 medical information and health informatics specialists from various countries (USA, UK, Sweden, Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Italy, Iran). Data analysis was conducted using the open coding method, wherein concepts (codes) related to the themes of digital professionalism for the metaverse in healthcare were assigned to the data. The analysis was performed using the MAXQDA software (VER BI GmbH, Berlin, Germany). Results The study's findings led to the identification of ten essential principles of digital professionalism for metaverse in healthcare. These principles include Privacy and Security, Informed Consent, Trust and Integrity, Accessibility and Inclusion, Professional Boundaries, Evidence-Based Practice, Continuous Education and Training, Collaboration and Interoperability, Feedback and Improvement, and Regulatory Compliance. Conclusion As the metaverse continues to expand and integrate into various industries, including healthcare, it becomes vital to establish principles of digital professionalism to ensure ethical and responsible practices. Healthcare professionals can uphold these principles to maintain ethical standards, safeguard patient privacy, and deliver effective care within the metaverse.
Coffee agroforestry system has effects on microclimate and soil chemical and microbial characteristics
Authors: Colombo Murillo Cazelato , Morais Heverly , Santoro Patricia Helena , Andrade Diva Souza
Published: October 2023

Understanding the effects of agroforestry systems of coffee plants on microclimate, microbial and chemical soil properties, on coffee bean yields and soil quality is important for decision making regarding tree species choice and crop management. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of shading of coffee plants (Coffea arabica) using tree species: Croton floribundus, Moringa oleifera and Senna macranthera compared to full sun cultivation, on the interaction of microclimate, soil microbial and chemical properties. The tree species provided a favorable microclimate for coffee crops, as they reduced the maximum temperatures in the hottest periods and provide high minimum temperatures in the cold dawns, with emphasis on the C. floribundus and S. macranthera species due to the higher shade density. The interaction between microclimate and soil microbial community demonstrates that higher soil moisture rates and lower soil and air thermal amplitudes found under shaded coffee tree agroforestry systems improve soil quality. Coffee agroforestry systems provided positive effects on the soil microbial community due to the effects of shading and the greater amount of phytomass generated by trees, which outcomes greater diversified substrate, improving biological and enzymatic activity and nutrient supply.
The global challenge of reducing mercury contamination from artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM): Evaluating solutions using generic theories of change
Authors: Aldous Allison R. , Tear Tim , Fernandez Luis E.
Published: October 2023

Mercury contamination from artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM) currently accounts for the largest source of global emissions, particularly affecting tropical regions where it is largely unregulated. Ingestion by people and other animals damages the nervous, reproductive, and cognitive systems. Despite the efforts of many organizations and governments to curb mercury releases from ASGM, it is increasing globally. There are many possible interventions, all with significant complexity and cost. Therefore, we recommend taking an established systematic approach to articulate the current situation and construct theories of change (ToC) for different possible interventions for any government or organization trying to solve this problem. Here we present a high-level situation analysis and generic ToC to support a more coordinated approach that explicitly builds upon previous experience to identify organization- and situation-appropriate engagement on this issue. We then illustrate the use of these generic models to construct a specific ToC with a policy-focused entry point. This includes interventions through 1) engagement with the global Minamata Convention on Mercury; 2) support for existing national laws and policies connected to ASGM and mercury contamination; and 3) engagement of indigenous people and local communities with governments to meet the governments’ legal obligations. By methodically articulating assumptions about interventions, connections among actions, and desired outcomes, it is possible to create a more effective approach that will encourage more coordination and cooperation among governments and other practitioners to maximize their investments and support broad environmental and socio-political outcomes necessary to address this pernicious problem.
Predicting renewable energy production outputs from climate factors: A machine learning approach
Authors: Sua Lutfu S. , Wang Haibo , Ortiz Jaime , Huang Jun , Alidaee Bahram
Published: October 2023

Predicting the energy output of renewable energy systems is a growing field of research that goes in parallel with advances in machine learning (ML) methods. However, the complexity of those ML methods along with the variety of renewable energy sources used in prediction models requires the development of highly robust approaches. The automated ML framework proposed in this study streamlines the steps involved in model development including data processing, model construction, hyper-parameter optimization and inference deployment. This paper also identifies the factors affecting the performance of ML methods such as sampling, encoding categorical values, feature selection, and hyper-parameter optimization for different algorithms. This paper presents an automated ML approach for a variety of applications in the renewable energy domain. The proposed automated ML framework is used to compare a variety of methods combined with alternative training/test ratios.