bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Clinical study of the early use of ivabradine in patients with acute myocardial infarction after percutaneous coronary intervention
Authors: He Ruiqing , Li Lingyan , Han Chao , An Wen , Liu Zongjun , Gao Junqing
Published: May 2023

Objective To investigate the efficacy of early use of ivabradine in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Methods Eighty patients with AMI were randomly divided into the ivabradine group and the control group. The ivabradine group was treated with ivabradine combined with metoprolol after PCI, while the control group was treated with metoprolol only. Both groups were treated continuously for 1 year. Echocardiography-derived parameters, heart rate, cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) data, major adverse cardiac events (MACE) and myocardial markers were analyzed. Results The echocardiography-derived left ventricular ejection fraction was significantly higher in the ivabradine group than in the control group at 1 week, 3 months and 1 year after PCI. The heart rate of the ivabradine group was significantly lower than that of the control group at 1 week after PCI. The VO2max, metabolic equivalents, anaerobic threshold heart rate, peak heart rate, and heart rate recovery at 8 minutes of the ivabradine group were significantly higher than those of the control group at 1 year after PCI. The one-year total incidence of major adverse cardiac events was 10% in the ivabradine group, which was significantly lower than the 37.5% in the control group. The B-type natriuretic peptide of the ivabradine group was significantly lower than that of the control group on Day 2 and Day 3 after PCI. The troponin I level of the ivabradine group was significantly lower than that of the control group on Day 5 after PCI. Conclusion Early use of ivabradine in patients with AMI after PCI can achieve effective heart rate control, reduce myocardial injury, improve cardiac function and exercise tolerance, and reduce the incidence of major adverse cardiac events.
Discrimination of Camellia cultivars using iD-NA analysis
Authors: Kikkawa Hitomi S. , Sato Mitsuhiko P. , Matsuo Ayumi , Sasaki Takanori , Suyama Yoshihisa , Tsuge Kouichiro
Published: May 2023

Recently, many new cultivars are taken abroad illegally, which is now considered an international issue. Botanical evidence found at a crime scene provides valuable information about the origin of the sample. However, botanical resources for forensic evidence remain underutilized because molecular markers, such as microsatellites, are not available without a limited set of species. Multiplexed ISSR genotyping by sequencing (MIG-seq) has been used to determine a number of genome-wide genetic markers and can be applied for every plant, including species that lack genetic information. Camellia cultivars are popular worldwide and are often planted in many gardens and bred to make new cultivars. In this study, we aimed to analyze Camellia cultivars/species through MIG-seq. Through this, MIG-seq could discriminate similar samples, such as bud mutations and closely related samples which could not be distinguished based on morphological features. This discrimination was consistent with that of a previous study which classified cultivars by short tandem repeat (STR) markers, indicating that MIG-seq has the same or higher discrimination ability as STR markers. Furthermore, based on our results, unknown phylogenetic relationships were observed. Since MIG-seq can be applied to unlimited species and low-quality DNA, it may be useful for various scientific fields.
Tree communities and functional traits determine herbivore compositional turnover
Authors: Wang Ming-Qiang , Wen Zhixin , Ke Jinzhao , Chesters Douglas , Li Yi , Chen Jing-Ting , Luo Arong , Shi Xiaoyu , Zhou Qing-Song , Liu Xiao-Juan , Ma Keping , Bruelheide Helge , Schuldt Andreas , Zhu Chao-Dong
Published: May 2023

There are many factors known to drive species turnover although the mechanisms by which these operate are less clear. Based on comprehensive datasets we used zeta diversity and multi-site generalized dissimilarity modelling to investigate the pattern and determinants of species turnover for Lepidoptera herbivores. We found that the average number of shared herbivore species declined sharply with an increasing number of plots, with complete changes in caterpillar species composition observed even at fine spatial scales. Plant community characteristics rather than abiotic factors were found to play key roles in driving caterpillar compositional turnover, although these effects varied with increasing plots due to the varying contributions of rare and common species to compositional turnover. Our study reveals details of the impact of phylogeny- and trait- mediated processes of trees on herbivore compositional turnover, which has implications for forest management and conservation and potential avenues for maintenance of heterogeneity in herbivore communities.
Abnormal grey matter structural changes in patients with end-stage kidney disease and mild cognitive impairment: correlations with clinical features
Authors: Yuan Huijie , Luo Zhaoyao , Gu Wen , Ma Shaohui , Li Guangyu , Ding Dun , Ma Xueying , Li Peng , Yang Jing , Xu Xiaoling , Mu Junya , Zhang Ming
Published: May 2023

End-stage kidney disease and mild cognitive impairment (ESKD-MCI) affect the quality of life and long-term treatment outcomes of patients affected by these diseases. Clarifying the morphological changes from brain injuries in ESKD-MCI and their relationship with clinical features is helpful for the early identification and intervention of MCI, before it progresses irreversible dementia. This study gathered data from 23 patients with ESKD-MCI, 24 patients with ESKD and non-cognitive impairment (NCI), and 27 health controls (HCs). Structural magnetic resonance studies, cognitive assessments, and general clinical data were collected from all of the participants. Voxel-based morphometry analysis was performed to compare grey matter (GM) volume differences between the groups. The patients’ GM maps and clinical features were subjected to univariate regression, to check for possible correlations. Patients with ESKD-MCI displayed significantly more impairments in multiple cognitive domains including global cognition, visuospatial and executive function, and memory, as compared with patients with ESKD-NCI. Using a more liberal threshold (P < 0.001, uncorrected), we found that compared to patients with ESKD-NCI, patients with ESKD-MCI exhibited clusters of regions with lower GM volumes, including the right hippocampus (HIP), parahippocampal gyrus (PHG), Rolandic operculum, and supramarginal gyrus. The volumes of the right HIP and PHG were negatively correlated with serum calcium levels. ESKD-MCI was associated with a subtle volume reduction of GM in several brain areas known to be involved in memory, language, and auditory information processing. We speculate that these slight morphometric impairments may be associated with disturbed calcium metabolism.
A Case of Cerebral Cavernous Malformations Misdiagnosed as Multiple Myeloma
Authors: Zhao Yinan , Gu Yan
Published: May 2023

Cerebral cavernous malformations (CCMs) are angiographically occult cerebrovascular malformations (AOVM) of the central nervous system. They are composed of a sponge-like abnormal vascular mass with numerous thin-walled vessels. CCM incidence rate is approximately 7% of cerebrovascular malformations. The clinical manifestations mainly include seizures, bleeding, headache, etc., with seizures being the most common first symptom, and some patients may be without clinical manifestations. MRI has been the specific diagnostic method for CCMs. This article reports the case of a patient initially diagnosed with multiple myeloma in the left temporal lobe at our hospital in September 2020. Later, the patient was confirmed to have CCMs through surgery and pathology. The main symptom was a sudden onset of cognitive dysfunction, and the patient was discharged after receiving symptomatic and surgical interventions.
Design and fabrication of sculptured thin films for application in control of cancer and other cells
Authors: Shayegan Fahimeh Farid , Savaloni Hadi , Zali Hakimeh , Niknam Zahra
Published: May 2023

Given the importance of cell colonization for use in tissue engineering and for studying the inhibition of cancer cells, the use of bio material sculptured nano-structures mimicking the structure of the extracellular matrix offers a unique perspective. In this study, Mn and ZnS sculptured nano-structured fabricated using oblique (OAD) and glancing (GLAD) angle vapor deposition methods for investigation of cell behavior. Different characteristics of the produced sculptured thin films of Mn and ZnS materials in form of helical square and 3- and 5-fold helical star shapes were obtained from XRD, FESEM, and AFM analyses. Measurement of contact angle classified the produced samples in two groups of hydrophilic and hydrophobic samples, which provided the opportunity to investigate their function when cultured with normal and cancerous cells. Results showed that the hydrophilic surfaces increased the proliferation of both normal and cancer cells, albeit with different rates. On the contrary, the hydrophobic surfaces prevented the proliferation of cells and their expansion and cells undergo cell death or apoptosis. The specific morphology of the hydrophilic sculptured samples makes it possible to send proliferation signals for tissue engineering purposes, and in hydrophobic samples, to send apoptotic signals to inhibit cancer cells.
Lipids-related Domestication Accounts for the Extreme Cold-sensitivity of Semiwild and Tropic Xishuangbanna cucumber (Cucumis sativus L. var. xishuangbannanesis)
Authors: Zhang Rui-Jing , Liu Bin , Song Shan-Shan , Salah Radwa , Song Chang-Jiang , Zhen Xiao-Fang , Xia Shi-Wei , Hao Qian , Liu Yan-Jun , Li Yu , Li Huan-Xiu , Lai Yun-Song
Published: May 2023

Xishuangbanna (XIS) cucumber (Cucumis sativus L. var. xishuangbannanesis) is a semiwild variety originated from low latitude tropic area, and therefore show extreme cold sensitivity and heat tolerance. Here, we mapped the quantitative trait loci (QTLs) that control cold-sensitivity and heat-tolerance of XIS cucumber seedlings. By bulked-segregant analysis (BSA), we identified three QTLs (HTT1.1, HTT3.1 and HTT3.2, in a total length of 11.98 Mb) for heat tolerance and two QTLs (LTT6.1 and LTT6.2, in a total length of 8.74 Mb) for cold sensitivity. The QTL LTT6.1 was then narrowed down to a length of 641 kb. Based on structural variants (SVs) and single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP), we found the LTT6.1 is covered by a high divergent region including a 50-kb deletion in XIS49 genome, which affect the gene structure of lipase ABHD6 (Csa_6G032560). Accordingly, there is a very big difference in lipid composition but not other osmoprotectants like free amino acids and fatty acids between XIS49 and cultivated cucumber CL. Moreover, we calculated the composite likelihood ratio (CLR) and identified selective sweeps from 115 resequencing data, and found that lipid- and fatty acid-related processes is a major aspect of the domestication of XIS group cucumber. LTT6.1 is such a special region positioned nearby lipid-related selective sweeps. These studies above suggested that lipids-related domestication of XIS cucumbers should account for their extreme cold sensitivity.
Immunological and Biochemical Biomarker Alterations Among SARS-COV-2 Patients with Varying Disease Phenotypes in Uganda
Authors: Kato Charles Drago , Nsubuga Julius , Niyonzima Nixon , Kitibwa Annah , Matovu Enock , Othieno Emmanuel , Ssebugere Patrick , Tumwine Amanda Agnes , Namayanja Monica
Published: May 2023

Every novel infection requires an assessment of the host response coupled with identification of unique biomarkers for predicting disease pathogenesis, treatment targets and diagnostic utility. Studies have exposed dysregulated inflammatory response induced by the novel severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) as significant predictor or cause of disease severity/prognosis and death. This study evaluated inflammatory biomarkers induced by SARS-CoV-2 in plasma of patients with varying disease phenotypes and healthy controls with prognostic or therapeutic potential. We stratified SARS-CoV-2 plasma samples based on disease status (asymptomatic, mild, severe, and healthy controls), as diagnosed by RT-PCR SARS-CoV-2. We used a solid phase sandwich and competitive Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) to measure levels of panels of immunological (IFN-γ, TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-10) and biochemical markers (Ferritin, Procalcitonin, C-Reactive Protein, Angiotensin II, Homocysteine, and D-dimer). Biomarker levels were compared across SARS-CoV-2 disease stratification. Plasma IFN-γ, TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-10 levels were significantly (P < 0.05) elevated in the severe SARS-CoV-2 patients as compared to mild, asymptomatic, and healthy controls. Ferritin, Homocysteine, and D-dimer plasma levels were significantly elevated in severe cases over asymptomatic and healthy controls. Plasma C-Reactive Protein and Angiotensin II levels were significantly (P < 0.05) higher in mild than severe cases and healthy controls. Plasma Procalcitonin levels were significantly higher in asymptomatic than in mild, severe cases and healthy controls. Our study demonstrates the role of host inflammatory biomarkers in modulating the pathogenesis of COVID-19. The study proposes a number of potential biomarkers that could be explored as SARS-CoV-2 treatment targets and possible prognostic predictors for a severe outcome. The comprehensive analysis of prognostic biomarkers may contribute to the evidence-based management of COVID-19 patients.
Fusion of Probabilistic Projections of Sea Level
Authors: Grandey Benjamin S. , Dauwels Justin , Horton Benjamin P. , Chew Lock Yue
Published: May 2023

To combine the complementary strengths of model-based and expert-based projections of sea level, we propose a fusion. The fusion follows the model-based probabilistic projection in the centre of the distribution and the expert-based probabilistic projection in the upper tail. The fusion can be interpreted intuitively as a single probabilistic projection and meets the needs of diverse stakeholders.
Data Encoding For Healthcare Data Democratisation and Information Leakage Prevention
Authors: Zhu Tingting , Armstrong Jacob , Abrol Vinayak , Wang Yujiang , Clifton David , Thakur Anshul
Published: May 2023

The lack of data democratization and information leakage from trained models hinder the development and acceptance of robust deep learning-based healthcare solutions. This paper argues that irreversible data encoding can provide an effective solution to achieve data democratization without violating the privacy constraints imposed on healthcare data and clinical models. An ideal encoding framework transforms the data into a new space where it is imperceptible to a manual or computational inspection. However, encoded data should preserve the semantics of the original data such that deep learning models can be trained effectively. This paper hypothesizes the characteristics of the desired encoding framework and then exploits random projections and random quantum encoding to realize this framework for dense and longitudinal or time-series data. Experimental evaluation highlights that models trained on encoded time-series data effectively uphold the information bottleneck principle and hence, exhibit lesser information leakage from trained models.
Urban form influences travel distances, car ownership, and mode choice: Evidence from 19 European cities
Authors: Javaid Aneeque , Milojevic-Dupont Nikola , Nachtigall Florian , Wagner Felix , Creutzig Felix , Berrill Peter
Published: May 2023

Steady growth in global greenhouse gas emissions from transport is driven by growing demand for car travel. Cities hold large potential to reduce energy demand and emissions from mobility through encouraging shorter travel distances and sustainable travel modes. In European cities however, personal cars still dominate travel, facilitating continued growth of transport emissions and having negative implications for numerous other dimensions of sustainability. A growing body of research investigates linkages between urban form and mobility, mostly using aggregate data in multiple cities, or disaggregated data for individual cities. Here, we compare urban travel patterns and influences of urban form at spatially disaggregated scale across nineteen cities in four European countries using statistically advanced methods. We enrich travel survey data with metrics describing local urban form. We compare car ownership and travel patterns across cities and use supervised machine learning to explore influences of urban form and other features on mode choice, car ownership, and trip distances. Residential proximity to the city center is the greatest enabler of sustainable urban mobility. Future residential development should be concentrated near to urban centers. Overall city size is important, as occupants of small and medium-sized cities have higher car ownership and use than large cities, motivating increased attention on sustainable mobility transitions outside of large cities. We highlight targeted solutions to increase access to sustainable mobility for certain population groups, and for longer urban trips. Our results confirm that urban planning is a key instrument for increasing sustainability of land transport.
Increasing atmospheric CO2 enhances the carbon uptake of the coastal ocean
Authors: Mathis Moritz , Lacroix Fabrice , Hagemann Stefan , Nielsen David , Ilyina Tatiana , Schrum Corinna
Published: May 2023

Observational reconstructions indicate a contemporary increase in coastal ocean CO2 uptake. However, the mechanisms and their relative importance in driving this globally intensifying absorption remain unclear. Here we integrate coastal carbon dynamics in a global model via regional grid refinement and enhanced process representation. We find that the increasing coastal ocean CO2 uptake is primarily driven by the upper ocean-atmosphere equilibration lag (41%), followed by climate-induced changes in the circulation (36%) and increasing riverine nutrient loads (23%). The comparatively weak riverine impact is mediated by enhanced advective export of organic carbon across the shelf break, thereby further adding to the carbon enrichment of the open ocean. The contribution of biological carbon fixation increases as the coastal ocean capacity to hold CO2 decreases under continuous climate change and ocean acidification. Our seamless coastal ocean integration advances carbon cycle model realism, which is relevant for addressing impacts of climate change mitigation efforts.
Improving Lungs Cancer Detection Based on Hybrid Features and Employing Machine Learning Techniques
Authors: Yang Jing , Yee Por Lip , Khan Abdullah Ayub , Khan Mohammad Shahbaz , Karamti Hanen , Aldweesh Amjad , Hussain Lal , Omar Abdulfattah
Published: May 2023

Lung cancer detection using machine learning involves training a model on a dataset of medical images, such as CT scans, to identify patterns and features associated with lung cancer. Past researchers developed different computer aided diagnostic (CAD) systems for early prediction of lung cancer. The researchers extracted single features such as texture, morphology etc.; however, by combining the features, accuracy can be improved. In this study, we extracted Gray-level co-occurrence (GLCM), autoencoder and Haralick texture features. We combined these features and computed the performance using robust machine algorithms including Decision tree (DT), Naïve Bayes (NB) and support vector machine (SVM) with different kernel functions. The performance was evaluated using standard performance measures. The hybrid methods such as GLCM + Autoencoder, and Haralick + Autoencoder yielded highest detection performance using SVM Gaussian and radial base function (RBF) with sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), negative predictive value (NPV) with accuracy of 100% and AUC 1.00 followed by SVM polynomial yielded an accuracy of 99.89% and AUC of 1.00; GLCM + Haralick using SVM Gaussian yielded accuracy (99.56%), SVM RBF yielded accuracy (99.35%). The results reveal that the proposed feature extraction methodology can be usefully used to predict the lung cancer for further diagnosis at early stage.
MSC: Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, Lung Cancer, cross validation
A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Outcomes between Dusting and Fragmentation in Retrograde Intrarenal Surgery
Authors: Wen Zhi , Wang Li , Liu Yang , Huang jing , Chen Cai-xia , Wang Chong-jian , Chen Lin-lin , Yang Xue-song
Published: May 2023

Objectives comparing stone-free rates and associated outcome measures between two surgical modalities of lithotripsy fragmentation and removal or spontaneous passage of dust during retrograde flexible ureteroscopy (RIRS)Methods In March 2023, we conducted a literature search in several widely used databases worldwide, including PubMed, Embase, and Google Scholar. We only considered English articles and excluded pediatric patients. Reviews and protocols without any published data were excluded. We also excluded articles with conference abstracts and irrelevant content. We used the Cochran-Mantel-Haenszel method and random-effects models to assess inverse variances and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for mean differences in categorical variables. The results were reported as odds ratios (ORs) and 95% CIs. Statistical significance was set at p < 0.05.Results Our final meta-analysis included nine articles, comprising two randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and seven cohort studies. The total number of patients included in these studies was 1326, and all studies used holmium laser lithotripsy. The pooled analysis of the dust and basket groups showed that the basket group had a higher stone-free rate (OR 0.6; 95% CI 0.41–0.89; p = 0.01); the dust group had a shorter operative time (WMD – 11.6 min; 95% CI – 19.56 – − 3.63; p = 0.004); and the dust group had a higher retreatment rate (OR 2.03; 95% CI 1.31–3.13; p = 0.001). There was no statistically significant difference between the two groups in terms of length of hospital stay, overall complications, or postoperative fever.Conclusions Our results showed that both procedures could be safely and effectively used for upper ureteral and renal calculi lithotripsy, the dust group had potential advantages over the basket group in terms of operation time, and the basket group had certain advantages in terms of stone-free rate and retreatment rate.
Fast Context Awareness Encoder for LiDAR Point Semantic Segmentation
Authors: Du Tingyu , Wang Dongxing
Published: May 2023

LiDAR sensor is a valuable tool for environmental perception as it can generate 3D point cloud data with reflectivity and position information by reflecting laser beams. However, it cannot provide the meaning of each point cloud cluster, which has led to many studies focusing on identifying semantic information about point clouds. This paper explores point cloud segmentation and presents a network that encodes point cloud data at different levels to obtain semantic information about the point cloud cluster. The local context awareness network uses the points and their surrounding points to contribute local features, which are then combined with global features to obtain a better understanding of the position, density, and other information of the point cloud. The feature extraction network provides highly abstracted information, allowing for more accurate semantic segmentation of the discrete points in space. The proposed algorithm is compared and verified against other Semantic KITTI data algorithms, and has achieved state-of-the-art performance. Due to its ability to note fine-grained features on the z-axis in space, the algorithm shows higher prediction accuracy for certain types of objects. Moreover, the training and validation time is short, and the algorithm can meet high real-time requirements for 3D perception tasks.
Blockage of NLRP3 inflammasome by MCC950 can reverse the effect of pyroptosis in HUVECs and thrombosis of pregnancy rats
Authors: Xu Yanhua , Wang Qinghua , Lu Yue , Shi Qin , Xu Linjie , Chen Siyi , Zhang You , Han Mengru , Zhang Yuquan
Published: May 2023

Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is a common disease, the morbidity and mortality during pregnancy and the puerperium are significantly increased. However, the current understanding of its pathogenesis and pathophysiology is not fully adequate, which limits the choice of therapeutic approaches to some extent. In this study, we speculate that the massive accumulation of ROS in vascular endothelial cells after ischemia and hypoxia activates the NLRP3 inflammasome, which in turn releases a large amount of inflammatory factors that contribute to venous thrombosis. To verify the hypothesis, we established a DVT model in pregnant rats by the stenosis method and an H2O2-induced HUVECs model. The study hypothesis was fully confirmed by HE, IHC, Masson, Western blot, qRT-PCR, IF, ELISA, CCK8, LDH, invasion, migration, scratching, tube formation, TUNEL, JC-1 and flow cytometry experiments. We have reached the following results: 1.NLRP3 inflammasome was activated during the development of DVT (P < 0.0001). 2.MCC950 promoted the lysis, mechanization and recanalization of DVT in pregnant rats by inhibiting the activation of NLRP3 inflammasome (P< 0.05). 3.MCC950 reduced embryo loss and improved pregnancy outcome. 4.MCC950 inhibited NLRP3 inflammasome activation after H2O2-induced injury in HUVECs by enhancing ROS sensitivity (P < 0.05). To sum up, the study provides a new basic theoretical basis and potential therapeutic reference for the prevention and treatment of pregnancy-associated venous thromboembolism (PA-VTE).
Mandibular Shape Variation in Different Sheep Breeds
Authors: Boz İlayda , Manuta Nicoleta , Jashari Tefik , Kahvecioğlu Oya , Pazvant Gülsün , Ince Nazan Gezer , Duro Sokol , Spataru Mihaela-Claudia
Published: May 2023

In countries that have animal husbandry tradition and are developing this, it is impossible not to underline the different local breeds. There is anatomically significant morphological and morphometric variability among these breeds, which differ from one region to another. In this study, geometric morphometry was performed in order to examine the shape variation of the mandible and to reveal the shape variations due to breed diversity in the Bardhoka (Kosova), Țurcana (Romania) and İvesi (Turkey) breed sheep. A total of 40 (10 Bardhoka, 10 Țurcana, 20 İvesi) mandibles were used and were examined shape differences for these three breeds. 2D images of the mandibles were analyzed from the lateral view 9 landmarks were used. Average shape and shape variations of the mandible were obtained for all samples. Mandible showed significant shape variation among sheep breeds and the results were statistically significant. According to the results, among the three sheep breeds in the study, the İvesi breed has the widest mandible shape distribution. While İvesi and Țurcana show a wider distribution in shape variation; The Bardhoka breed expressed a more limited variation. It can be noticed that all three breeds are morphologically and morphometrically different from each other. Bardhoka and İvesi breeds were the most different from each other in this study (p < 0.0001). It is thought that the obtained findings will contribute to future geometric morphometry studies with ruminant mandible samples.
Contact-free modulation of stony coral productivity by sessile reef organisms
Authors: Engelhardt Kara , Vetter Jana , Wöhrmann-Zipf Franziska , Dietzmann André , Proll Franziska , Reifert Hannah , Schüll Ilona , Stahlmann Max , Ziegler Maren
Published: May 2023

Coral reefs are biodiversity and productivity hotspots1 where space limitation makes interactions between organisms inevitable. Biodiversity loss and shifts in community composition alter the interactions between coral reef organisms, however downstream effects on the productivity of individual species remain unexplored. Here, we quantified changes in stony coral productivity as immediate (photosynthesis, respiration) and long-term (photosynthesis, respiration, calcification, and symbiont density) response to contact-free interactions with various benthic organisms (stony corals, soft corals, macroalgae, sponges). By systematically excluding confounding biological and physical factors, we provide experimental proof that corals sense the presence of other organisms and modulate their productivity as a response. Each stony coral species had a characteristic response to contact-free stimuli, while the identity of the interaction partner was of subordinate importance. Our data highlight so-far unaccounted downstream effects that biodiversity loss and shifting coral reef communities may have through indirect modulation of productivity, resulting in disproportionate benefits for some species. The productivity response is probably mediated by secondary metabolites released into the water, which are distinguished as self- and non-self attributes as part of a historecognition system in corals. The communication pathways between sessile reef organisms that mediate these interactions remain to be investigated.
Establishment of a Prognostic Nomogram for Elderly Patients with Limited-Stage Small Cell Lung Cancer Receving Radiotherapy
Authors: Zhang Lixia , Zhang Qingfen , Wu Qian , Zhao Lujun , Gao Yunbin , Li Xue , Guan Song , Yan Meng
Published: May 2023

Background: The present study explored the risk factors associated with radiotherapy in seniors diagnosed with limited-stage small cell lung cancer (LS-SCLC) to construct and validate a prognostic nomogram.
Methods: The study retrospectively included 137 elderly patients with LS-SCLC who previously received radiation therapy. Univariate and multivariate COX analyses were conducted to identify independent risk factors and determine optimal cut-off values. Kaplan-Meier survival curves and nomograms were constructed to predict survival. Calibration and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were used to evaluate the accuracy and consistency of the nomogram.
Results: Illness Rating Scale-Geriatric (CIRS-G) score, treatment strategy, lymphocyte-to-monocyte ratio (LMR), white blood cell-to-monocyte ratio (WMR), and prognostic nutritional index (PNI) were discovered to be independent prognostic factors. Based on the findings of our multivariate analysis, a risk nomogram was developed to assess patient prognosis. Internal bootstrap resampling was utilized to validate the model, and while the accuracy of the AUC curve at 1 year was modest at 0.657 (95% CI: 0.458-0.856), good results were achieved in predicting 3- and 5-year survival with AUCs of 0.757 (95% CI: 0.670-0.843) and 0.768 (95% CI: 0.643-0.893), respectively. Calibration curves for 1-, 3-, and 5-year overall survival probabilities demonstrated good cocsistency between expected and actual outcomes.
Conclusion: Patients with concurrent chemoradiotherapy,CIRS-G score > 5 points and low PNI, WMR and LMR correlated with poor prognosis. The nomogram model developed based on these factors demonstrated good predictive performance and provides a simple, accessible, and practical tool for clinicians to guide clinical decision-making and study design.
Ecological and molecular associations between Neotropical wild felids and Taenia (Cestoda: Taeniidae) in the Atlantic Forest: a new report for Taenia omissa
Authors: Arrabal J. P. , Arce L. , Macchiaroli N. , Kamenetzky L.
Published: May 2023

Ecological associations between wild felids and parasites from the Taeniidae family are slightly related to predator-prey interactions, where felids act as definitive hosts and their prey, herbivores and/or omnivores, are intermediate hosts in the cycle. In the Atlantic Forest, six neotropical felid species coexist in sympatry, but the ecological parasite-host interactions remain poorly studied. Taenia omissa is a tapeworm associated with cougar (Puma concolor) as the only definitive host and its ungulate prey as intermediate host. The aim of this study was to perform an integrated analysis for the identification of tapeworms from road-killed fauna using both molecular and morphological characteristics. Tapeworms from a cougar, a jaguarundi (Herpailurus yagouaroundi) and two ocelots (Leopardus pardalis) and metacestodes from a red brocket deer (Mazama americana) and a wild guinea pig (Cavia aperea) were analyzed. Taenia omissa individuals were identified in the cougar and in the red brocket deer through morphological analysis of rostellar hooks and molecular analysis of the mitochondrial genetic marker COX1, demonstrating the presence of a complete host-parasite life cycle in the Atlantic Forest region. This new report expands the geographic distribution of T. omissa and shows the southernmost record. In addition, isolates of Taenia genus divergent from those described so far in molecular databases were reported and propose a wild cycle that involves the jaguarundi and agouti as definitive and intermediate hosts, respectively. These results show the complexity of the tapeworm population in the region and the need to study them with both morphological and molecular approaches.
Diagnostic values of delayed additional FDG PET/CT scan in the evaluation of cardiac sarcoidosis
Authors: Manabe Osamu , Takahashi Keiko , Kawakami Hiroki , Ohtsuka Akira , Aikawa Tadao , Maki Hisataka , Ibe Tatsuro , Fujita Hideo , Oyama-Manabe Noriko
Published: May 2023

Objective
This study aimed to compare the contribution of 18F-fluorodepxyglucose (FDG) positron (PET)/ computed tomography (CT) acquisition of early and delayed scan in patients with cardiac sarcoidosis (CS).
Methods
Twenty-three patients with CS (median age: 69 years; 11 women) were retrospectively evaluated using dual-phase FDG PET/CT. All patients were instructed to consume a low-carbohydrate diet followed by fasting for 18 h before FDG injection to reduce physiological myocardial uptake. PET/CT was acquired at 60 min (early) and 100 min (delayed) after FDG administration. Focal and focal on diffuse uptake on visual analysis was considered positive for CS. A semi-quantitative analysis was performed using the maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax) of the cardiac lesion and the mean SUV (SUV mean) of the blood pool.
Results
Significant myocardial FDG uptake was observed in 21 patients (91.3%) in the early acquisition group and in 23 patients in the delayed scan group (100%). Compared to the early scan, the delayed scan showed a significantly higher SUVmax of cardiac lesion (median, 4.0; IQR [interquartile range, 2.9 to 7.0] vs. 5.8 [IQR 3.7 to 10.1]; P = 0.0030) and a significantly lower SUVmean of blood pool (median, 1.3 [IQR, 1.2 to 1.4] vs. 1.1 [IQR, 0.9 to 1.2]; P < 0.0001).
Conclusion
Delayed FDG PET/CT acquisition improves detection accuracy in patients with CS compared to early scans with washout of the blood pool activity. Therefore, it can contribute to a more accurate assessment of CS.
Factors affecting total protein and lactoferrin concentrations in human milk during the first six months of lactation
Authors: Kulesza-Brończyk Bożena , Bień Agnieszka , Sobieraj Piotr , Orczyk-Pawiłowicz Magdalena , Lis-Kuberka Jolanta , Czosnykowska-Łukacka Matylda , Bzikowska-Jura Agnieszka
Published: May 2023

Background The aim of this study was to investigate factors affecting total, true protein and lactoferrin (Lf) concentrations in human milk (HM) and to evaluate the changes in protein concentrations over the course of lactation (first to sixth month postpartum). Methods HM samples were collected from 33 exclusively breastfeeding mothers during six time periods (1–6 months postpartum). Sampling time was in the morning between 7.00 and 9.00. The concentrations of total and true protein in HM were determined using the MIRIS human milk analyzer (HMA). The assessment of HM protein content was also performed in skim HM samples and quantified by bicinchoninic methods with the Bicinchoninic Acid Protein Assay Kit. In turn, Lf content in skim HM samples was determined by the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in accordance with a slightly modified procedure. Results In the first and the sixth months postpartum total HM protein concentration was 1.35 ± 0.24 and 1.02 ± 0.16 g/100 mL, respectively, whereas Lf concentration was 4.9 ± 2.0 g/L and 4.4 ± 1.4 g/L, respectively. In the first month of lactation total protein concentration was negatively correlated with maternal pre-pregnancy BMI (r = -0.397;p = 0.022), whereas in the third month postpartum, positive correlation with maternal age was found (r = 0.399;p = 0.021). Considering Lf concentration, in the first month of lactation, it was positively correlated with baby’s birth weight (r = 0.514;p = 0.002). In the next months (from second to sixth) no relationships between Lf concentration and maternal and infants’ factors were observed. Conclusions The concentration of protein and Lf in HM changes dynamically throughout lactation. Maternal and infant characteristics may impact the HM protein and Lf content, especially in the first month postpartum.
Effect of Parenteral Trace Element Supplementation on the RNA-sequencing Profile of Peripheral Blood in Peripartum Dairy Cows
Authors: Calcaterra Francisco , Fernández María Elena , Olivera Leónidas Hernán , Loza Ana Guzmán , Giovambattista Guillermo , Picco Sebastián Julio
Published: May 2023

The transition period is the most critical stage in the lactation cycle of dairy cattle. During this period, cows are subjected to high levels of oxidative stress (OS). One way of managing OS is through mineral supplementation with antioxidant micronutrients. The aim of this study was to evaluate the gene expression of transition dairy cows supplemented with the antioxidant trace elements copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), manganese (Mn) and selenium (Se). The study was carried out in a commercial Holstein dairy farm located in General Belgrano, province of Buenos Aires, Argentina. Cows (n = 200) were randomly assigned to either a supplemented or a control group. Blood samples were obtained seven days after calving and used to determine superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase activity, antioxidant capacity (AC) and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances. Additionally, RNA-sequencing analysis was performed. The OS index, SOD activity and AC differed significantly between groups, despite only two differentially expressed genes codified for second messengers (adjusted p value < 0.05). This would suggest that trace mineral supplementation of transition dairy cows would not induce changes in gene expression profiles in pathways associated with OS and immune function, since their expression is already high in response to the high OS levels and the dietary changes associated with this period. Nevertheless, considering the role of these minerals as cofactors, a higher availability in the supplemented group would increase antioxidant enzyme activity.
Spectrum of congenital anomalies of the kidney and urinary tract (CAKUT) including renal parenchymal malformations during fetal life and the implementation of prenatal exome sequencing (WES)
Authors: Koenigbauer Josefine Theresia , Laura Fangmann , Charlotte Reinhardt , Wolfgang Henrich , Weichert Alexander , Saskia Biskup , Heinz-Dieter Gabriel
Published: May 2023

Objectives and Background: Congenital malformations of the kidney and urinary tract (CAKUT) have a prevalence of 4-60 in 10,000livebirths and constitute for 40-50% of all end stage pediatric kidney disease. CAKUT can have a genetic background due to monogenetic inherited disease such as PKD or ciliopathies. They can also be found in combination with extra-renal findings as part of a syndrome. Upon detection of genitourinary malformations during the fetal anomaly scan the question arises if further genetic testing is required. The purpose of this study was to determine the phenotypic presentation of CAKUT cases and the results of exome analysis (WES).
Methods: This is a retrospective analysis of 63 fetal cases with a diagnosis of CAKUT or DSD at a single center between August 2018 and December 2022.
Results: A total of 63 cases (5.6%) out of 1123 matched CAKUT phenotypes including renal parenchyma malformations. In 15out of 63WES analysis a pathogenic variant was detected (23.8%). In fetuses with isolated CAKUT the rate of detecting a pathogenic variant on exome sequencing was five out of 44 (11.4%). Ten out of 19 fetuses (52.6%) that displayed extra-renal findings in combination with CAKUT were diagnosed with a pathogenic variant.
Conclusion: WES provides an increase in diagnosing pathogenic variants in cases of prenatally detected CAKUT. Especially in fetuses with extra-renal malformations, WES facilitates a gain in information on the fetal genotype to enhance prenatal counselling and management.
A new traffic flow prediction based on multi-scale convolutional neural network combined with LSTM neural network
Authors: Zhao Zichen , Pan Xiangyan
Published: May 2023

In this study, we proposed a novel traffic flow prediction model aimed at providing more accurate and effective traffic information. The proposed model utilized a multi-scale convolutional neural network in conjunction with a long short-term memory (LSTM) neural network to efficiently extract spatial and temporal features from the data. The network model was trained using the L1 loss function to optimize its performance.To evaluate the performance of the proposed model, we conducted experiments on two public datasets, PeMSD4 and PeMSD8. The results demonstrated the model's strong competitiveness in the field of traffic flow prediction. Specifically, on the PeMSD4 dataset, our model achieved a mean absolute error (MAE) of 20.94, a mean absolute percentage error (MAPE) of 13.32%, and a root mean square error (RMSE) of 30.96. These findings suggested that the proposed model hold significant promise in the realm of traffic flow forecasting.
Cytoskeleton Related Protein KIF9：A Potential Biomarker of Prognosis, 5- Fluorouracil Chemoresistance and Response to Immunotherapy for Patients with Colorectal Cancer
Authors: Zhao Zongxian , Ma Hongyu , Fan Xijie , Hu Zongju , Zhu Shu , Xu Shun , Liu Qinlingfei , Yao Yuan , Wang Fusheng
Published: May 2023

One important clinical predicament and treatment challenge of colorectal cancer (CRC) is chemoresistance of 5-Fluorouracil (5-Fu), affecting the prognosis of patients seriously. The resistant of colorectal cancer to 5-Fu based therapy involves multiple intricate molecular mechanisms and unclear pivotal genes. Kinesin family member 9 (KIF9) is one member of KIFs, a kind of cytoskeleton related protein, which has not been studied in colorectal cancer. In this research, we aimed to explore and elucidate the expression level, the clinical characteristics (age, gender, TNM stage, MSI state, BRAF/P53 mutation) and functions (immune infiltration, prognosis) of KIF9 in colorectal cancer. Furthermore, we found that KIF9 high expression was associated with the response to treatment of 5-Fluorouracil and immunotherapy. The gene and protein expression level of KIF9 was detected by using qRT-PCR and IHC for verification. And we evaluated and predicted the biofunction and pathways of KIF9 in CRC by gene set enrichment analysis. Thus, this article provided a comprehensive and systematic understanding of the biofunctions of KIF9 in colorectal cancer, and we elucidated the role of KIF9 as a biomarker for predicting treatment response of 5-Fluorouracil and immunotherapy.
M1 macrophages deliver CASC19 via exosomes to inhibit the proliferation and migration of colon cancer cells
Authors: Teng Shuo , Ge Jiang , Cui Zilu , Yang Yi , Min Li , Li Wenkun , Yang Guodong , Liu Kuiliang , Wu Jing
Published: May 2023

Background
Here we aim to reveal the mechanism of how lncRNA CASC19 in exosomes from macrophages in the tumor microenvironment affects the proliferation and migration of colon cancer.
Methods
The expression levels of CASC19 and its putative target miR-410-3p were detected by reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR).Cell proliferation and migration were evaluated by MTS and transwell assays. The characterization of exosome was conducted by western-blot, nanoSight particle tracking analysis, and electron microscope imaging. The interaction between CASC19 and miR-410-3p was detected by the pull-down assay.
Results
The non-contact inhibition of M1 macrophages on the proliferation of colon cancer cells is largely dependent on the CASC19 released from their exosomes. M1 exosomes successfully delivered CASC19 to colon cancer cells, exerting an inhibitory effect on cell proliferation and migration. The exosomes secreted by M1 cells with CASC19 knock down showed less inhibition on cell proliferation and migration. CASC19 exerted an inhibitory effect on colon cancer cells by sponging miR-410-3p.
Conclusion
CASC19 in M1 macrophages is delivered into colon cancer cells via exosomes, exerting an inhibitory effect on their proliferation and migration by sponging miR-410-3p.
Leveraging Quantum Annealing for Ligand Modelling in Drug Discovery
Authors: Shetty Harshith , Joshi Aayush , Mehta Akshat , Kumbhar Rutuja , Sayyad Shahzia
Published: May 2023

Drug discovery is an intricate and multifaceted process that necessitates the identification and development of novel medications to combat various illnesses. This convoluted procedure typically encompasses various stages, including fundamental research, preclinical research, clinical research, and FDA approval. Notwithstanding the indispensability of the drug discovery process, it is time-consuming and exorbitant, with low success rates often being the norm. In this paper, we endeavour to provide a comprehensive appraisal of the divergent methodologies employed in drug discovery, inclusive of the wet lab approach and the classical computer-based approach. The wet lab approach requires extensive experimentation within laboratory settings to pinpoint potential drug candidates, whereas the classical computer-based approach employs computational techniques to simulate and prognosticate the properties of potential drug compounds. Despite the merits of both approaches, they are not without limitations, which we shall delve into in the course of this discourse. The multifariousness of the drug discovery process and the sheer volume of data generated during the course of experimentation necessitate the use of advanced technologies and algorithms in enhancing the process's performance. This paper aims to furnish an overview of the present state of drug discovery, while also underscoring the need for relentless research and innovation in this domain.