bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Progress towards sustainable energy storage: A concise review
Authors: Folorunso Oladipo , Olukanmi Peter O. , Shongwe Thokozani
Published: July 2023

In this study, the benefits and challenges of existing energy storage systems are presented. The environmental threats and the apparent unreliability of fossil fuel energy sources necessitate the need for alternative sources of electrical power. Energy storage has been sourced from mechanical, electrical, thermal, chemical, and electrochemical systems. Perhaps, an electrochemical energy storage system, is a better option toward achieving a net zero carbon‐dioxide emission by 2050. Energy storage sources, such as: batteries and supercapacitors, can be reliably fabricated from the hybrid of polymers and two‐dimensional materials for electric vehicles, aviation, and grid load balancing applications. The performances of lithium‐ion batteries are yet to meet the requirements for high‐duty machines and devices. Graphite, the anode of lithium‐ion batteries, suffers from low capacity and high volume‐expansion, resulting in cracking and fracture of the electrodes. Herein, based on evidence from literature, this study suggests substituting graphite with polymer nanocomposite or metal‐oxide nanocomposites such as: conducting polymers, copper oxide, and graphene. This approach, giving attention to these materials' excellent electrochemical, thermal, electrical, mechanical, and redox properties, offers possible ways to overcome the limited limitations confronting lithium‐ion battery technology.
An international survey of SEEG cortical stimulation practices
Authors: Cockle Emily , Rayner Genevieve , Malpas Charles , Alpitsis Rubina , Rheims Sylvain , O'Brien Terence J , Neal Andrew
Published: July 2023

Objective

Cortical stimulation is an important component of stereoelectroencephalography (SEEG). Despite this, there is currently no standardized approach and significant heterogeneity in the literature regarding cortical stimulation practices. Via an international survey of SEEG clinicians, we sought to examine the spectrum of cortical stimulation practices to reveal areas of consensus and variability.

Methods

A 68‐item questionnaire was developed to understand cortical stimulation practices including neurostimulation parameters, interpretation of epileptogenicity, functional and cognitive assessment and subsequent surgical decisions. Multiple recruitment pathways were pursued, with the questionnaire distributed directly to 183 clinicians.

Results

Responses were received from 56 clinicians across 17 countries with experience ranging from 2 to 60 years (M = 10.73, SD = 9.44). Neurostimulation parameters varied considerably, with maximum current ranging from 3 to 10 mA (M = 5.33, SD = 2.29) for 1 Hz and from 2 to 15 mA (M = 6.54, SD = 3.68) for 50 Hz stimulation. Charge density ranged from 8 to 200 μC/cm2, with up to 43% of responders utilizing charge densities higher than recommended upper safety limits, i.e. 55 μC/cm2. North American responders reported statistically significant higher maximum current (P < 0.001) for 1 Hz stimulation and lower pulse width for 1 and 50 Hz stimulation (P = 0.008, P < 0.001, respectively) compared to European responders. All clinicians evaluated language, speech, and motor function during cortical stimulation; in contrast, 42% assessed visuospatial or visual function, 29% memory, and 13% executive function. Striking differences were reported in approaches to assessment, classification of positive sites, and surgical decisions guided by cortical stimulation. Patterns of consistency were observed for interpretation of the localizing capacity of stimulated electroclinical seizures and auras, with habitual electroclinical seizures induced by 1 Hz stimulation considered the most localizing.

Significance

SEEG cortical stimulation practices differed vastly across clinicians internationally, highlighting the need for consensus‐based clinical guidelines. In particular, an internationally standardized approach to assessment, classification, and functional prognostication will provide a common clinical and research framework for optimizing outcomes for people with drug‐resistant epilepsy.
Uncertainty in overturning of precariously balanced rocks due to basal contact
Authors: Saifullah M. Khalid , Wittich Christine E.
Published: July 2023

Precariously balanced rocks (PBRs) are a type of naturally occurring freestanding structure that provides valuable information to constrain seismic hazard at return periods which are important for critical facilities such as nuclear power plants and nuclear repositories. Exposure ages have been established to be in excess of 10,000–30,000 years, which is why precarious rocks are one of the only available means to validate seismic hazard associated with long return periods. One critical component for constraining seismic hazard in this way is the overturning estimate of a given precarious rock as a function of earthquake intensity. However, current state‐of‐the‐art methods for modeling the seismic response of precarious rocks involve significant sources of uncertainty. One of the main sources of uncertainty stems from the interface of the rock, which is usually occluded during surveying and assumed during modeling. Through extensive shake table testing, this study analyzes the uncertainty in the overturning response of a granite precarious rock specimen incorporating various degrees of interface contact. The results indicate that a small variation in the contact geometry could result in a substantial increase in the stability of the specimen, which is significant given the difficulty of surveying the interface of PBRs in the field. Repeatability tests indicate that the overturning demand can vary up to nearly ±50%. The probabilistic overturning responses are compared across the interface changes to bound uncertainty; and, the effect of modeling parameters, namely the contact normal stiffness, is evaluated through a parametric study and comparison with experimental results.
Affective profiles of exercise episodes are associated with maladaptive and adaptive motivations for exercise
Authors: Lampe Elizabeth W. , Presseller Emily K. , Abber Sophie R. , Sonnenblick Ross M. , Juarascio Adrienne S. , Manasse Stephanie M.
Published: July 2023

Objective

Maladaptive exercise (i.e., driven and/or compensatory exercise) is common in binge‐spectrum eating disorders (EDs; e.g., bulimia nervosa, binge ED) and associated with adverse treatment outcomes. Alternatively, individuals with EDs are often also engaging in adaptive exercise (e.g., for enjoyment or health improvement), and increasing adaptive exercise may decrease ED symptoms. The current study aimed to understand which exercise episodes are likely to be maladaptive/adaptive so that interventions can appropriately decrease/increase maladaptive and adaptive exercise.

Method

We used latent profile analysis (LPA) to identify pre‐exercise affective profiles of 661 exercise episodes among 84 individuals with binge‐spectrum EDs and examined associations between LPA‐identified profiles and subsequent exercise motivations using ecological momentary assessment.

Results

A two‐profile solution best fit our data: Profile 1 (n = 174), ‘positive affectivity,’ and Profile 2 (n = 487), ‘negative affectivity.’ Episodes in the ‘negative affectivity’ profile were more likely to be endorsed as both driven and intended to influence body shape/weight. Episodes in the ‘positive affectivity’ profile were more likely to be endorsed as exercising for enjoyment.

Conclusions

Results support two phenotypes of exercise episodes, and differential associations of these phenotypes with adaptive and maladaptive motivations for exercise.
Regular routine aware routing in opportunistic mobile social networks
Authors: Syed Rabiya Mohamed Ali , Ramalakshmi Ramar , Naskath Jahangeer
Published: July 2023

Due to intermittent connectivity, routing protocols in opportunistic mobile social networks (OMSN) forward messages through opportunistic contacts. Previous opportunistic routing protocols focus on the past contact history of nodes to make a forwarding decision. It was found that predicting temporally evolving contacts and communities according to different times of the day would improve the accuracy of the prediction. In this paper, a routing paradigm called RRoutine is proposed that allows message holders to exchange multiple copies of the message based on the predicted number of communities. This distribution continues until the remaining copies of the message become one. Each message holder applies either inter or intra‐community forwarding and selects a set of potential forwarders based on the prediction of future encounters in the community and an expected remaining duration between two nodes (ERIMD). The estimation of ERIMD takes into account the sequence of daily activities, the time scale of current activities, and the return time to regular meetings of the nodes. Also, unlike traditional routing, where a single forwarder is selected, a set of potential candidates is selected and prioritized according to their contact prediction, with the most likely candidate receiving the highest priority. Simulation results obtained from synthetic and real mobility data show that the proposed paper improves the performance of the system in terms of message delivery rate, throughput, and latency.
Energy‐efficient load balancing for divisible tasks on heterogeneous clusters
Authors: Zhang Yujian , Li Mingde , Tong Fei
Published: July 2023

With the growing power consumption of heterogeneous clusters, energy‐aware resource management has been a hot research topic recently. Among various candidate techniques, load balancing is one of the software schemes for energy optimization through mapping tasks to servers properly, especially for divisible tasks like web and database queries. However, most practical load balancing schemes are lack of energy awareness, while recent energy‐aware schemes usually have high time complexities. In this article, we present an energy‐efficient load balancing (EELB) scheme that consists of two‐phase heuristics, including server provisioning and load balancing. Based on prior knowledge of power models of servers in the cluster, the proposed scheme is able to make wise decisions on selecting power‐on servers as well as scheduling tasks to servers. To validate EELB, we conduct extensive experiments on both simulated and real‐world testbeds. Experimental results reveal that the proposed method outperforms competitors in terms of energy saving, and is more applicable to heterogeneous clusters.
Glucose oxidase‐instructed biomineralization of calcium‐based biomaterials for biomedical applications
Authors: Fu Lian‐Hua , Qi Chao , Sun Tuanwei , Huang Kai , Lin Jing , Huang Peng
Published: July 2023

In recent years, glucose oxidase (GOx) has aroused great research interest in the treatment of diseases related to abnormal glucose metabolisms like cancer and diabetes. However, as a kind of endogenous oxido‐reductase, GOx suffers from poor stability and system toxicity in vivo. In order to overcome this bottleneck, GOx is encapsulated in calcium‐based biomaterials (CaXs) such as calcium phosphate (CaP) and calcium carbonate (CaCO3) by using it as a biotemplate to simulate the natural biomineralization process. The biomineralized GOx holds improved stability and reduced side effects, due to the excellent bioactivity, biocompatibitliy, and biodegradability of CaXs. In this review, the state‐of‐the‐art studies on GOx‐mineralized CaXs are introduced with an emphasis on their application in various biomedical fields including disease diagnosis, cancer treatment, and diabetes management. The current challenges and future perspectives of GOx‐mineralized CaXs are discussed, which is expected to promote further studies on these smart GOx‐mineralized CaXs biomaterials for practical applications.
Small‐molecule nanoprodrug with high drug loading and EGFR, PI3K/AKT dual‐inhibiting properties for bladder cancer treatment
Authors: Li Guoyin , Song Zewen , Ru Yi , Zhang Jing , Luo Lianxiang , Yang Wei , Wu Hao , Jin Haibao , Bao Xuanwen , Wei Di , Yan Zhao , Qu Haijing , Zhu Zheng , Xue Xiangdong , Zhou Gang
Published: July 2023

Bladder cancer (BCa) is one of the most common malignancies worldwide. Although multiple efforts have been made, the 5‐year survival rate of patients with BCa remains unchanged in recent years. Overexpression of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) is found in ≈74% of BCa tissue specimens; however, current EGFR‐based targeted therapies show little benefit for BCa patients, as the EGFR downstream pathways appear to be circumvented by other receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs). In this study, two natural products are identified, namely triptolide (TPL) and hesperidin (HSP), that target and inhibit the EGFR and its downstream PI3K/AKT pathway in BCa. To synergistically combine triptolide and hesperidin, a succinic acid linker was employed to conjugate them and formed an amphiphilic TPL‐HSP EGFR‐targeting prodrug (THE), which further self‐assembled to generate nanoparticles (THE NPs). These NPs allowed the EGFR‐targeted delivery of the triptolide and hesperidin, and simultaneous inhibition of the EGFR and PI3K/AKT both in vitro and in vivo. This study provides a promising EGFR‐targeted delivery approach with the dual inhibition of the EGFR and PI3K/AKT, while also exhibiting a high drug loading and low toxicity. Our formulation may be a suitable option to deliver natural products for BCa treatment by EGFR‐targeted therapy.
Emergent hotspots of biotic disturbances and their consequences for forest resilience
Authors: Harvey Brian J , Hart Sarah J , Tobin Patrick C , Veblen Thomas T , Donato Daniel C , Buonanduci Michele S , Pane Alexander M , Stanke Hunter D , Rodman Kyle C
Published: July 2023

Over the past several decades, forests worldwide have experienced increases in biotic disturbances caused by insects and plant pathogens – a trend that is expected to continue with climate warming. Whereas the causes and effects of individual biotic disturbances are well studied, spatiotemporal interactions among multiple biotic disturbances are less so, despite their importance to ecosystem function and resilience. Here, we highlight an emerging phenomenon of “hotspots” of biotic disturbances (that is, two or more biotic disturbances that overlap in space and time), documenting trends in recent decades in temperate conifer forests of the western US. We also explore potential mechanisms behind and effects of biotic disturbance hotspots, with particular focus on how altered post‐disturbance recovery (successional pathways) can have profound consequences for ecosystem resilience and biodiversity conservation. Finally, we propose research directions that can elucidate drivers of biotic disturbance hotspots and their ecological effects at various spatial scales, and provide insight into this new knowledge frontier.
Effect of packaging materials on lycopene vitamin C and water activity of dried tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) powder during storage
Authors: Dufera Lelise Tilahun , Hofacker Werner , Esper Albert , Hensel Oliver
Published: July 2023

In this work, a storage study was conducted to find suitable packaging material for tomato powder storage. Experiments were laid out in a single factor completely randomized design (CRD) to study the effect of packaging materials on lycopene, vitamin C moisture content, and water activity of tomato powder; The factor (packaging materials) has three levels (low‐density polyethylene bag, polypropylene bottle, wrapped with aluminum foils, and packed in low‐density polyethylene bag) and is replicated three times. During the study, a twin layer solar tunnel dried tomato slices of var. Galilea was used. The dried tomato slices were then ground and packed (40 g each) in the packaging materials and stored at room temperature. Samples were drawn from the packages at 2‐month interval for quality analysis and SAS (version 9.2) software was used for statistical analysis. From the result, higher retention of lycopene (80.13%) and vitamin C (49.32%) and a nonsignificant increase in moisture content and water activity were observed for tomato powder packed in polypropylene bottles after 6 months of storage. For low‐density polyethylene packed samples and samples wrapped with aluminum foil and packed in a low‐density polyethylene bag, 57.06% and 60.45% lycopene retention and 42.9% and 49.23% Vitamin C retention were observed, respectively, after 6 months of storage. Considering the results found, it can be concluded that lycopene and vitamin C content of twin layer solar tunnel dried tomato powder can be preserved at ambient temperature storage by packing in a polypropylene bottle with a safe range of moisture content and water activity levels for 6 months.
Brain volumes in alcohol use disorder: Do females and males differ? A whole‐brain magnetic resonance imaging mega‐analysis
Authors: Maggioni Eleonora , Rossetti Maria G. , Allen Nicholas B. , Batalla Albert , Bellani Marcella , Chye Yann , Cousijn Janna , Goudriaan Anna E. , Hester Robert , Hutchison Kent , Li Chiang‐Shan R. , Martin‐Santos Rocio , Momenan Reza , Sinha Rajita , Schmaal Lianne , Solowij Nadia , Suo Chao , van Holst Ruth J. , Veltman Dick J. , Yücel Murat , Thompson Paul M. , Conrod Patricia , Mackey Scott , Garavan Hugh , Brambilla Paolo , Lorenzetti Valentina
Published: July 2023

Emerging evidence suggests distinct neurobiological correlates of alcohol use disorder (AUD) between sexes, which however remain largely unexplored. This work from ENIGMA Addiction Working Group aimed to characterize the sex differences in gray matter (GM) and white matter (WM) correlates of AUD using a whole‐brain, voxel‐based, multi‐tissue mega‐analytic approach, thereby extending our recent surface‐based region of interest findings on a nearly matching sample using a complementary methodological approach. T1‐weighted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) data from 653 people with AUD and 326 controls was analyzed using voxel‐based morphometry. The effects of group, sex, group‐by‐sex, and substance use severity in AUD on brain volumes were assessed using General Linear Models. Individuals with AUD relative to controls had lower GM volume in striatal, thalamic, cerebellar, and widespread cortical clusters. Group‐by‐sex effects were found in cerebellar GM and WM volumes, which were more affected by AUD in females than males. Smaller group‐by‐sex effects were also found in frontotemporal WM tracts, which were more affected in AUD females, and in temporo‐occipital and midcingulate GM volumes, which were more affected in AUD males. AUD females but not males showed a negative association between monthly drinks and precentral GM volume. Our results suggest that AUD is associated with both shared and distinct widespread effects on GM and WM volumes in females and males. This evidence advances our previous region of interest knowledge, supporting the usefulness of adopting an exploratory perspective and the need to include sex as a relevant moderator variable in AUD.
First‐line immunotherapy combinations for recurrent or metastatic nasopharyngeal carcinoma: An updated network meta‐analysis and cost‐effectiveness analysis
Authors: Han Jiaqi , Zeng Ni , Tian Kun , Liu Zijian , She Longjiang , Wang Zhu , He Jinlan , Chen Nianyong
Published: July 2023

Objectives

Recently updated results of randomized clinical trials (RCTs) have confirmed that toripalimab, camrelizumab, and tislelizumab plus chemotherapy (TOGP, CAGP, and TIGP) significantly prolonged survival compared to placebo plus chemotherapy (PLGP) in the first‐line treatment for recurrent or metastatic nasopharyngeal carcinoma (R/M‐NPC). However, the high cost of immunotherapies imposes a huge financial burden on patients and health care systems.

Materials and methods

RCTs estimating immunotherapies for R/M‐NPC were searched. A Bayesian network meta‐analysis (NMA) was carried out; the main outcomes were hazard ratios (HRs) of overall survival (OS) and progression‐free survival (PFS). The cost and efficacy of four first‐line therapies were evaluated using the Markov model. The main outcome in the cost‐effectiveness analysis (CEA) was incremental cost‐utility ratios (ICURs). The model robustness was assessed by one‐way, three‐way, and probabilistic sensitivity analyses.

Results

Three RCTs (JUPITER‐02, CAPTAIN‐1st, and RATIONALE‐309) involving 815 patients were included in the NMA. Compared with PLGP, chemo‐immunotherapies have significantly longer PFS and OS. Compared to the PLGP group, TOGP, CAGP, and TIGP groups resulted in additional costs of $48 339, $22 900, and $23 162, with additional 1.89, 0.73, and 0.960 QALYs, respectively, leading to the ICURs of $25 576/QALY, $31 370/QALY, and $31 729/QALY. Pairwise comparisons showed TOGP was the most cost‐effective option among chemo‐immunotherapy groups.

Conclusion

From the Chinese payers' perspective, first‐line immunotherapy combination therapies provided significant survival and cost‐effectiveness superiority over chemotherapy alone for patients with R/M‐NPC at the WTP of $38 029/QALY. Among the three chemo‐immunotherapy groups, TOGP was the most cost‐effective option.
The efficacy of biodiversity and ecosystem assessment approaches for informing a regenerative approach to built development
Authors: Cianchi Ben , Everard Mark , Gething Bill , Cooke Rob , Ginepro Martino
Published: July 2023

The built environment, even at its “greenest,” inevitably entails changing ecosystem structure and function. Multiple sustainable development tools and approaches are available to reduce environmental harm from built development. However, the reality that society exists within fully integrated socioecological systems, wholly interdependent on supporting ecosystems, is not yet adequately represented in regulation or supporting tools. Regenerative development seeks to address this interdependence in part by improving the health of supporting socioecological systems through the development process. We demonstrate the relevance of a series of approaches—Local Nature-Related Planning Policy (LNRPP), Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG), the Environmental Benefits from Nature Tool (EBN Tool), Nature Assessment Tool for Urban and Rural Environments (NATURE Tool), and Rapid Assessment of Wetland Ecosystem Services+ (RAWES+)—for their ability to meet their stated aims and objectives and how these relate to wider regenerative themes. A comparative analysis of the five approaches is done by applying them to a practical case study site, resulting in policy- and practice-relevant learning and recommendations. The research reveals current gaps in methodology, which can lead to adverse outcomes for sustainability. This is particularly clear for the spatial and temporal scales across which each approach operates. In addition, this research discusses the inherent limitations of taking a reductionist approach to examining complex systems. Integr Environ Assess Manag 2024;20:248–262. © 2023 The Authors. Integrated Environmental Assessment and Management published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of Society of Environmental Toxicology & Chemistry (SETAC).
Synoviolin alleviates GSDMD‐mediated periodontitis by suppressing its stability
Authors: Pang Ying , Liu Lili , Wu Shuainan , Wang Jianqi , Liu Lu
Published: July 2023

Introduction

Inflammasome and pyroptosis play important roles in periodontitis. Gasdermin D (GSDMD), a key factor in pyroptosis, is cleaved by caspase‐1 and regulated by ubiquitination. Synoviolin is a ubiquitin E3 ligase that interacts with GSDMD. In this study, the effects of Synoviolin on inflammasome activation and periodontitis were explored.

Methods

The expression of IL‐1β, GSDMD, and Synoviolin in peripheral blood mononuclear cells from patients with periodontitis was determined. The interaction between GSDMD and Synoviolin was studied. The cytokine level in gingival tissues and the distance from the cementoenamel junction to the alveolar bone crest were measured in mice with Synoviolin deficiency in myeloid cells.

Results

We reported that elevated mRNA and protein levels of IL‐1β and GSDMD, decreased levels of Synoviolin mRNA and protein, and decreased ubiquitination of GSDMD were associated with periodontitis. Synoviolin interacted with GSDMD. Synoviolin‐deficient bone marrow‐derived macrophages had increased IL‐1β and IL‐18 secretion after ATP stimulation. Mice with Synoviolin deficiency in myeloid cells had more severe periodontitis and upregulated IL‐1β and IL‐18.

Conclusions

Therefore, we conclude that Synoviolin suppresses inflammasome activation and periodontitis by regulating GSDMD stability.
PABPC1 promotes cell proliferation and metastasis in pancreatic adenocarcinoma by regulating COL12A1 expression
Authors: Yao Weijie , Yao Yanrong , He Wen , Zhao Chengsi , Liu Di , Wang Genwang , Wang Zuozheng
Published: July 2023

Background

The expression of cytoplasmic poly (A) binding protein‐1 (PABPC1) has been reported in multiple cancer types. This protein is known to modulate cancer progression. However, the effects of PABPC1 expression in pancreatic adenocarcinoma (PAAD) have not been investigated. Here, we investigate the regulatory targets and molecular mechanisms of PABPC1 in PAAD.

Methods

PABPC1 and collagen type XII α1 chain (COL12A1) expression in PAAD and their role in tumor prognosis and tumor stage were investigated using The Cancer Genome Atlas database analysis. After silencing PABPC1, messenger RNA sequencing and Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analyses were performed. The expression of differentially expressed genes (DEGs), cell viability, apoptosis, and cell migration and invasion were explored using reverse transcription‐quantitative polymerase chain reaction, Cell Counting Kit‐8 assay, flow cytometry assay, and transwell assay, respectively. The relationship between PABPC1 and COL12A1 expression was assessed by Pearson's correlation analysis. The regulatory function of COL12A1 in PABPC1‐affected BXPC3 cell behavior was studied after COL12A1 was overexpressed.

Results

PABPC1 and COL12A1 expression was upregulated in patients with PAAD and was linked to poor prognosis. Four hundred and seventy‐four DEGs were observed in BXPC3 cells after PABPC1 silencing. GO and KEGG analyses revealed that the top 10 DEGs were enriched in cell adhesion pathways. Additionally, PABPC1 silencing inhibited cell viability, migration, and invasion and accelerated apoptosis in BXPC3 cells. PABPC1 silencing increased AZGP1 and ARHGAP30 expression and decreased CAV1 and COL12A1 expression in BXPC3 cells. PABPC1 positively mediated COL12A1 expression, whereas PABPC1 knockdown induced the inhibition of BXPC3 cell proliferation, migration, and invasion.

Conclusion

The results of this study indicate that PABPC1 may function as a tumor promoter in PAAD, accelerating BXPC3 cell proliferation and metastasis by regulating COL12A1 expression.
Two cases of Kawasaki disease: Clinical characteristics and onset of fever and gastrointestinal symptoms
Authors: Liu Hui‐Qiong , Shi Xiao‐Ya , Jia Pei‐Sheng , Huo Yu‐Feng , Mu Man‐Man , Xie Lei , Wang Huai‐Li
Published: July 2023

Background

Kawasaki disease (KD) is a prevalent form of systemic vasculitis that can damage various organs and systems in children. Typical KD is not difficult to diagnose in clinical practice. In recent years, it has been shown that an increasing number of children do not satisfy the diagnostic criteria for typical KD. This condition is known as incomplete KD (IKD). It is challenging to promptly diagnose and treat such children in clinical practice.

Case Description

A 10‐year‐old girl was admitted to the hospital due to fever and abdominal pain. She presented with shock symptoms. An enhanced abdominal computed tomography scan revealed intestinal pneumatosis, effusion, and gallbladder enlargement, indicating intestinal obstruction. Due to the poor outcome following an emergency laparoscopic cholecystectomy, IKD was suspected. A 3‐month‐old male pediatric patient was admitted to the hospital due to a fever. Patchy, congestive rashes formed on the patient's body as KD progressed. IKD was suspected based on the clinical signs of fever, rash, and hyperemia of the lips. The two patients were then treated with human immunoglobulin and aspirin treatment. The prognosis for the two children was favorable following prompt treatment.

Conclusion

Due to the fact that IKD is frequently misdiagnosed, it is vital to (1) improve the patient prognosis for the early identification of children with KD with prolonged fever and anti‐infection failure as the initial manifestation and (2) perform timely diagnosis and comprehensive treatment.
An iASPP‐derived short peptide restores p53‐mediated cell death in cancers with wild‐type p53
Authors: Qiu Shi , Qi Wei , Wu Wen , Qiu Qian , Ma Jiali , Li Yingjun , Fan Wenhui , Li Junli , Xu Yang , Chen Hai , Liu Jie
Published: July 2023

Background

Inhibitor of apoptosis‐stimulating protein of p53 (iASPP) is an evolutionarily conserved p53 inhibitor. Mechanistically, iASPP can accelerate tumorigenesis by inhibiting the transactivation function of p53. Targeting the interaction between iASPP and p53 may be a potential therapy for restoring the activity of p53 in tumors.

Methods

We constructed an iASPP‐derived peptide, called A8, that was derived from the C‐terminus of iASPP. Here, we transfected A8 into two wild‐type (WT) p53 cell lines, U2OS and A549, and then determined the number of apoptotic cells. The mechanism by which A8 affected apoptosis was further examined by immunoprecipitation (IP), Dual‐Luciferase reporter assays, and chromatin IP assays. Real‐time polymerase chain reaction and western blots were also used to examine the expression levels of apoptosis‐related factors.

Results

Our data demonstrate that A8 can increase apoptosis rates in WT p53 cell lines. Functional analysis suggested that A8 restored the transcriptional function and DNA binding activities of p53 toward the Bax and PUMA gene promoters. Moreover, A8 reduced cell proliferation and inhibited tumor growth in xenograft nude mice.

Conclusions

These data provide a new approach for restoring the tumor suppressor function of p53 in cancer cells that express WT p53 and therefore may serve as a novel cancer treatment strategy.
An efficient skin cancer detection and classification using Improved Adaboost Aphid–Ant Mutualism model
Authors: Renith G. , Senthilselvi A.
Published: July 2023

Skin cancer is the most common deadly disease caused due to abnormal and uncontrolled growth of cells in the human body. According to a report, annually nearly one million people are affected by skin cancer worldwide. To protect human lives from such life‐threatening diseases, early identification of skin cancer is the only precautionary measure. In recent times, there already exist numerous automated techniques to detect and classify skin lesion malignancies using dermoscopic images. However, analyzing the dermoscopic images becomes an arduous task due to the presence of troublesome features such as light reflections, illumination variations, and uneven shape and dimension. To address the challenges faced during skin cancer recognition process, in this paper, we proposed an efficient intelligent automated system to detect and discriminate the dermoscopic images into malignant or benign. The proposed skin cancer detection model utilizes the HAM10000 dataset for evaluation. The dermoscopic images acquired from the HAM10000 dataset are initially preprocessed to enhance the quality of image and thus making it fit to train the classifier. Afterward, the most significant image patterns are extracted by the AlexNet architecture without any loss of detailed information. Later on, the extracted features are inputted to the proposed Improved Adaboost‐based Aphid–Ant Mutualism (IAB‐AAM) classification model to discriminate the images into malignant and benign categories. The proposed IAB‐AAM approach witnessed extensive enhancement in classification accuracy. The enhanced performance is attributed by integrating the AAM optimization concept with the IAB model. By comparing the performance of the proposed IAB‐AAM with other modern methods in terms of different evaluation indicators namely accuracy, precision, specificity, sensitivity, and f‐measure, the efficiency of the proposed IAB‐AAM technique is analyzed. From the experimental results, it is known that the proposed IAB‐AAM technique attains a greater accuracy rate of 95.7% in detecting skin cancer classes than other compared approaches.
Loss of miR‐6844 alters stemness/self‐renewal and cancer hallmark(s) markers through CD44‐JAK2‐STAT3 signaling axis in breast cancer stem‐like cells
Authors: Prajapati Kumari Sunita , Kumar Shashank
Published: July 2023

MicroRNAs regulate breast stemness and self‐renewal properties in breast cancer cells at the molecular level. Recently we reported the clinical relevance and in vitro expression profile of novel miR‐6844 in breast cancer and ‐derived stem‐like cells (mammosphere). In the present study, we first time explore the functional role of loss of miR‐6844 in breast cancer cells derived mammosphere. Down expression of miR‐6844 significantly decreased cell proliferation in MCF‐7 and T47D cells derived mammosphere in a time‐dependent manner. MiR‐6844 down expression reduced the sphere formation in terms of size and number in test cells. Loss of miR‐6844 significantly altered stemness and self‐renewal markers (Bmi‐1, Nanog, c‐Myc, Sox2, and CD44) in mammosphere compared to negative control spheres. Moreover, loss of miR‐6844 inhibits the JAK2‐STAT3 signaling pathway by decreasing p‐JAK2 and p‐STAT3 levels in breast cancer cells derived mammosphere. Loss of miR‐6844 expression significantly decreased CCND1 and CDK4 mRNA/protein levels and arrested breast cancer stem‐like cells in G2/M phase. Reduced expression of miR‐6844 increased Bax/Bcl‐2 ratio, late apoptotic cell population, and Caspase 9 and 3/7 activity in the mammosphere. Low expression of miR‐6844 decreased migratory and invasive cells by altering the expression of Snail, E‐cad, and Vimentin at mRNA/protein levels. In conclusion, loss of miR‐6844 decreases stemness/self‐renewal and other cancer hallmark in breast cancer stem‐like cells through CD44‐JAK2‐STAT3 axis. Thus, downregulation of miR‐6844 by therapeutic agents might be a novel strategy to target breast cancer stemness and self‐renewal.
Perceived social support attenuates increased hostile reactions to traumatic threat
Authors: Napolitano S. C. , Balling C. E. , Peckinpaugh I. , Samuel D. B. , Lane S. P.
Published: July 2023

Objective

Extant literature has seldom examined the naturalistic role of reaction to threat on downstream emotional distress while also considering buffers, such as perceived social support, to acute negative mental health outcomes. The present study examined how trauma symptoms, in reaction to a global stressor, predicted increased psychological distress via elevated emotional hostility and whether perceived social support modified such effects. We predicted a priori that increased exposure to trauma would be associated with increased hostility and global psychological distress, but that this path would be attenuated by greater levels of perceived social support, as individuals who report greater support exhibit greater emotional coping.

Methods

We recruited 408 adults from a large university in the Midwestern United States to participate in a survey assessing past‐week trauma, hostility, distress, and perceived social support following the initial COVID‐19 lockdown. The survey was conducted in March 2020, directly after strict shelter‐in‐place orders were locally mandated. To test our hypotheses, we employed a moderated mediation analysis approach.

Results

Results demonstrate that higher trauma predicted increased hostility, which in turn predicted increased distress, and trauma predicted distress via hostility (an indirect effect). As hypothesized, higher perceived social support attenuated the association between trauma and hostility.

Conclusion

Results support a hostile emotional pathway that may increase distress in the context of increased traumatic impact; however, social support likely buffers these effects, particularly in the face of new or novel threats and stressors. Findings suggest broad application for understanding the relation between the introduction of stressors, psychological distress, and social support.
The aminopeptidase LAP3 suppression accelerates myogenic differentiation via the AKT‐TFE3 pathway in C2C12 myoblasts
Authors: Osana Shion , Kitajima Yasuo , Naoki Suzuki , Murayama Kazutaka , Takada Hiroaki , Tabuchi Ayaka , Kano Yutaka , Nagatomi Ryoichi
Published: July 2023

Skeletal muscle maintenance depends largely on muscle stem cells (satellite cells) that supply myoblasts required for muscle regeneration and growth. The ubiquitin–proteasome system is the major intracellular protein degradation pathway. We previously reported that proteasome dysfunction in skeletal muscle significantly impairs muscle growth and development. Furthermore, the inhibition of aminopeptidase, a proteolytic enzyme that removes amino acids from the termini of peptides derived from proteasomal proteolysis, impairs the proliferation and differentiation ability of C2C12 myoblasts. However, no evidence has been reported on the role of aminopeptidases with different substrate specificities on myogenesis. In this study, therefore, we investigated whether the knockdown of aminopeptidases in differentiating C2C12 myoblasts affects myogenesis. The knockdown of the X‐prolyl aminopeptidase 1, aspartyl aminopeptidase, leucyl‐cystinyl aminopeptidase, methionyl aminopeptidase 1, methionyl aminopeptidase 2, puromycine‐sensitive aminopeptidase, and arginyl aminopeptidase like 1 gene in C2C12 myoblasts resulted in defective myogenic differentiation. Surprisingly, the knockdown of leucine aminopeptidase 3 (LAP3) in C2C12 myoblasts promoted myogenic differentiation. We also found that suppression of LAP3 expression in C2C12 myoblasts resulted in the inhibition of proteasomal proteolysis, decreased intracellular branched‐chain amino acid levels, and enhanced mTORC2‐mediated AKT phosphorylation (S473). Furthermore, phosphorylated AKT induced the translocation of TFE3 from the nucleus to the cytoplasm, promoting myogenic differentiation through increased expression of myogenin. Overall, our study highlights the association of aminopeptidases with myogenic differentiation.
Biochemical and cellular basis of oxidative stress: Implications for disease onset
Authors: Aramouni Karl , Assaf Roland , Shaito Abdullah , Fardoun Manal , Al‐Asmakh Maha , Sahebkar Amirhossein , Eid Ali H.
Published: July 2023

Cellular oxidation–reduction (redox) systems, which encompass pro‐ and antioxidant molecules, are integral components of a plethora of essential cellular processes. Any dysregulation of these systems can cause molecular imbalances between the pro‐ and antioxidant moieties, leading to a state of oxidative stress. Long‐lasting oxidative stress can manifest clinically as a variety of chronic illnesses including cancers, neurodegenerative disorders, cardiovascular disease, and metabolic diseases like diabetes. As such, this review investigates the impact of oxidative stress on the human body with emphasis on the underlying oxidants, mechanisms, and pathways. It also discusses the available antioxidant defense mechanisms. The cellular monitoring and regulatory systems that ensure a balanced oxidative cellular environment are detailed. We critically discuss the notion of oxidants as a double‐edged sword, being signaling messengers at low physiological concentrations but causative agents of oxidative stress when overproduced. In this regard, the review also presents strategies employed by oxidants including redox signaling and activation of transcriptional programs such as those mediated by the Nrf2/Keap1 and NFk signaling. Likewise, redox molecular switches of peroxiredoxin and DJ‐1 and the proteins they regulate are presented. The review concludes that a thorough comprehension of cellular redox systems is essential to develop the evolving field of redox medicine.
Glycogen‐binding protein STBD1: Molecule and role in pathophysiology
Authors: Tang Qiannan , Liu Meiqing , Zhao Hong , Chen Linxi
Published: July 2023

Starch‐binding domain‐containing protein 1 (STBD1) is a glycogen‐binding protein discovered in skeletal muscle gene differential expression that is pivotal to cellular energy metabolism. Recent studies have indicated that STBD1 is involved in many physiological processes, such as glycophagy, glycogen accumulation, and lipid droplet formation. Moreover, dysregulation of STBD1 causes multiple diseases, including cardiovascular disease, metabolic disease, and even cancer. Deletions and/or mutations in STBD1 promote tumorigenesis. Therefore, STBD1 has garnered considerable interest in the pathology community. In this review, we first summarized the current understanding of STBD1, including its structure, subcellular localization, tissue distribution, and biological functions. Next, we examined the roles and molecular mechanisms of STBD1 in related diseases. Based on available research, we discussed the novel function and future of STBD1, including its potential application as a therapeutic target in glycogen‐related diseases. Given the significance of STBD1 in energy metabolism, an in‐depth understanding of the protein is crucial for understanding physiological processes and developing therapeutic strategies for related diseases.
Explainable machine learning model for predicting skeletal muscle loss during surgery and adjuvant chemotherapy in ovarian cancer
Authors: Hsu Wen‐Han , Ko Ai‐Tung , Weng Chia‐Sui , Chang Chih‐Long , Jan Ya‐Ting , Lin Jhen‐Bin , Chien Hung‐Ju , Lin Wan‐Chun , Sun Fang‐Ju , Wu Kun‐Pin , Lee Jie
Published: July 2023

Background

Skeletal muscle loss during treatment is associated with poor survival outcomes in patients with ovarian cancer. Although changes in muscle mass can be assessed on computed tomography (CT) scans, this labour‐intensive process can impair its utility in clinical practice. This study aimed to develop a machine learning (ML) model to predict muscle loss based on clinical data and to interpret the ML model by applying SHapley Additive exPlanations (SHAP) method.

Methods

This study included the data of 617 patients with ovarian cancer who underwent primary debulking surgery and platinum‐based chemotherapy at a tertiary centre between 2010 and 2019. The cohort data were split into training and test sets based on the treatment time. External validation was performed using 140 patients from a different tertiary centre. The skeletal muscle index (SMI) was measured from pre‐ and post‐treatment CT scans, and a decrease in SMI ≥ 5% was defined as muscle loss. We evaluated five ML models to predict muscle loss, and their performance was determined using the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) and F1 score. The features for analysis included demographic and disease‐specific characteristics and relative changes in body mass index (BMI), albumin, neutrophil‐to‐lymphocyte ratio (NLR), and platelet‐to‐lymphocyte ratio (PLR). The SHAP method was applied to determine the importance of the features and interpret the ML models.

Results

The median (inter‐quartile range) age of the cohort was 52 (46–59) years. After treatment, 204 patients (33.1%) experienced muscle loss in the training and test datasets, while 44 (31.4%) patients experienced muscle loss in the external validation dataset. Among the five evaluated ML models, the random forest model achieved the highest AUC (0.856, 95% confidence interval: 0.854–0.859) and F1 score (0.726, 95% confidence interval: 0.722–0.730). In the external validation, the random forest model outperformed all ML models with an AUC of 0.874 and an F1 score of 0.741. The results of the SHAP method showed that the albumin change, BMI change, malignant ascites, NLR change, and PLR change were the most important factors in muscle loss. At the patient level, SHAP force plots demonstrated insightful interpretation of our random forest model to predict muscle loss.

Conclusions

Explainable ML model was developed using clinical data to identify patients experiencing muscle loss after treatment and provide information of feature contribution. Using the SHAP method, clinicians may better understand the contributors to muscle loss and target interventions to counteract muscle loss.
Evaluating the use of intraoperative magnetic resonance imaging in paediatric brain tumour resection surgeries: a literature review
Authors: Wu Olivia , Clift Georgina Williamson , Hilliard Sonia , Ip Miranda
Published: July 2023

Brain tumours are the most common solid neoplasm in children, posing a significant challenge in oncology due to the limited range of treatment. Intraoperative magnetic resonance imaging (iMRI) has recently emerged to aid surgical intervention in neurosurgery resection with the potential to delineate tumour boundaries. This narrative literature review aimed to provide an updated evaluation of the clinical implementation of iMRI in paediatric neurosurgical resection, with an emphasis on the extent of brain tumour resection, patient outcomes and its drawbacks. Databases including MEDLINE, PubMed, Scopus and Web of Science were used to investigate this topic with key terms: paediatric, brain tumour, and iMRI. Exclusion criteria included literature comprised of adult populations and the use of iMRI in neurosurgery in the absence of brain tumours. The limited body of research evaluating the clinical implementation of iMRI in paediatric cohorts has been predominantly positive. Current evidence demonstrates the potential for iMRI use to increase rates of gross total resection (GTR), assess the extent of resection, and improve patient outcomes, such as progression‐free survival. Limitations regarding the use of iMRI include prolonged operation times and complications associated with head immobilisation devices. iMRI has the potential to aid in the achievement of maximal brain tumour resection in paediatric patients. Future prospective randomised controlled trials are necessary to determine the clinical significance and benefits of using iMRI during neurosurgical resection for clinical management of brain neoplasms in children.
New‐onset and relapsed thrombotic microangiopathy post‐COVID‐19 vaccination
Authors: Ma Qiqi , Xu Gaosi
Published: July 2023

Thrombotic microangiopathy (TMA) associated with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) vaccination has been reported, however, the clinical characteristics and pathogenesis remained mysterious. We reviewed 84 TMA cases post‐COVID‐19 vaccination, including 64 patients diagnosed with thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP), 17 cases presented as atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome (aHUS), and three cases manifested as unclassified TMA. TMA episodes were mostly associated with messenger RNA vaccines. For TTP, 67.6% of females developed symptoms after the first dose of the vaccine, and 63.0% of males were secondary to the second dose (p = 0.015). Compared with TTP, aHUS generally appeared within 7 days (p = 0.002) and showed higher levels of serum creatinine (p < 0.001). 87.5% of TTP received plasma exchange (PEX)‐based treatment, and 52.9% of aHUS adopted non‐PEX‐based therapies (p < 0.001). Mechanistically, complement dysfunction, neutrophil activation, and the generation of pathogenic autoantibodies resulting from molecular mimicry contribute to explaining the pathogenesis of TMA post‐COVID‐19 vaccination.