bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Absolute increase in tumour size can improve the metric evaluating disease progression in metastatic colorectal cancer
Authors: Robinson Ari , Agur Zvia , Kogan Yuri
Published: February 2024

Background
The assessment of response to therapy in advanced solid cancer diseases is predicated on the Response Evaluation Criteria In Solid Tumours for the evaluation of disease state by the relative changes in lesion size. The underlying assumption is that a larger relative increase in lesion size implicates less efficacious therapy, worse prognosis and shorter survival.
Methods
We analyzed retrospective data of metastatic colorectal cancer patients from three clinical datasets, stratified into three cohorts by the treatment protocol. We evaluated the first relative and absolute increase in target lesion size for their association with overall survival.
Results
About fifty four percent of the patient population increased in target lesion size during the first-line treatment. A multivariate analysis showed that patients with larger relative increase in lesion size had slightly longer survival in all three cohorts (\(HR = 0.85, HR=0.95 ,HR = 0.75\) for Cohorts 1–3, respectively); p-values showed no significance. In contrast, patients with larger absolute increase in total lesion size had significantly shorter survival (\(HR = 1.1 \left(p=0.05\right), HR=1.2 \left(p=0.04\right), HR = 1.25(p=0.02)\) for Cohorts 1–3, respectively). We also found a negative correlation between the SLD at nadir and relative increase.
Conclusions
The different impact of the absolute and the relative increase in SLD at relapse reflects the different growth patterns of small and big tumours. Further validation of our results is required. We believe that the first absolute increase in total lesion size may become a useful metric, upon which a more precise categorization of survival-related disease progression can be based.
Catalytic [4+n]-cycloaddition using furan-fused cyclobutanone as a privileged C4 synthon
Authors: Xu Xinfang , Hong Kemiao , Liu Mengting , Qian Lixin , Bao Ming , Chen Gang , Jiang Xinyu , Huang jingjing
Published: February 2024

Cycloaddition reactions play a pivotal role in synthetic chemistry for the direct assembly of cyclic architectures. However, substantial hurdles remain for extending the C4 synthon, which is mainly limited to dienes and 1,4-dipoles so far, to construct diverse heterocycles via programmable [4 + n]-cycloaddition. Here we report an atom-economic and modular intermolecular cycloaddition using furan-fused cyclobutanones (FCBs) as a novel and versatile C4 synthon. In contrast to the well-documented intramolecular cycloaddition of benzocyclobutenones (BCBs), this is a complementary version using a heteroarene-fused reagent as a C4 building block. It involves a catalytic C-C bond activation and stepwise annulation sequence, including a Rh-catalyzed highly enantioselective [4 + 2]-cycloaddition with imines and an Au-catalyzed diastereoselective [4 + 4]-cycloaddition with anthranils. The furan-fused polycyclic lactam products and their synthetic derivatives, which are pivotal motifs that present in many natural products, bioactive molecules, and materials, are inaccessible or difficult to prepare by other methods with multi-steps. Preliminary antitumor activity study of these compounds indicates that 6e and 6f exhibit high anticancer potency against colon cancer cells (HCT-116 cells, IC50 = 0.50 ± 0.05 µM) and esophageal squamous cell carcinoma cells (KYSE-520 cells, IC50 = 0.89 ± 0.13 µM), respectively.
RETRACTED: Community-based palliative care needs and barriers to access among cancer patients in rural north India: A Participatory action research
Authors: Mayank Gupta , Ankita Kankaria , Joshy Liya E , Singh Sandeep , Lal Bhajan , Choudhary Subhash , Marcus Sapna , Grewal Anju , Gupta Mayank , Goyal Lajya Devi , Kakkar Rakesh
Published: February 2024

The authors have requested that this preprint be removed from Research Square.
Endorsement of metaphysical idealism mediates a link between past use of psychedelics and wellbeing
Authors: Jylkkä Jussi , Krabbe Andreas , Jern Patrick
Published: February 2024

It has been proposed that psychedelics promote wellbeing through spiritual-type transformations, involving changes in metaphysical beliefs. Past empirical research shows a link between the use of psychedelics and the endorsement of non-physicalist metaphysical beliefs. However, non-physicalist beliefs encompass a wide range of metaphysical ideas, and their links to wellbeing and psychedelics use remain unclear. We utilized a cross-sectional Internet survey to probe the metaphysical beliefs of participants (N = 701) with past experience of classical psychedelics, using a novel 42-item questionnaire (Core Metaphysical Beliefs, CMB), encompassing a wide range of metaphysical beliefs. Factor analysis of CMB revealed two factors, Idealism and Materialism. In network analyses, Idealism was linked to psychological insight in a past psychedelic experience (E = .24) and average use of psychedelics (E = .17), and predicted wellbeing (Es = .12 and .17). Mediation analyses showed an indirect link from past psychedelics use through Idealism to wellbeing (ps ≤ .006). Non-Physicalist Beliefs or Materialism were not significant mediators. The results indicate that Idealism specifically, not non-physicalist beliefs generally, mediate a link between the use of psychedelics and wellbeing. Future research is required to establish whether the link is causal, and to understand what the Idealism factor means.
The "tonifying the kidneys, resolving blood stasis and clearing collaterals" method in polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) research: study protocol for a multicentre cohort study nested randomised controlled trials
Authors: Song Rui , liu yonghui , Yang Dongyan , Li Na , Xu Hua , Jiao Kailin , Xiao Yang , Zhu Haihui , Sun Lianqing , Wang Rui
Published: February 2024

Introduction: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) presents as a multi-complicated syndrome and increases the risk of other diseases. Life management is clinically ineffective as a first-line basic treatment for polycystic ovary syndrome. Acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine (CHM) have excellent clinical efficacy for PCOS. however,there is currently a dearth of high-quality data demonstrating its efficacy.The purpose of this experiment is to assess the safety and efficacy, especially the long-term efficacy,of individualized life management、CHM, acupoint thread-embedding therapy for treating PCOS.
Methods and analysis: We present a multicentre, prospective, combined randomised clinical trial and observational cohort study design, with a target sample size of 316 patients with PCOS of the kidney deficiency and blood stasis type aged between 18-45years. Patients were divided into an observational cohort with a renal supplementation and blood-stasis-restoration cohort based on whether or not they were exposed to the tonifying-kidney, resolving-blood stasis-and-tongue method. Based on the examination results, the observation cohort received individualised life management and appropriate pharmacological interventions and was followed up for 6 months. The kidney tonifying and resolving stasis through the channels cohort was randomly divided into A) Kidney tonifying and resolving stasis traditional Chinese medicine group, B) Kidney tonifying and resolving stasis buried under ultrasound in the musculoskeletal bone group, and C) Kidney tonifying and resolving stasis traditional Chinese medicine combined with burying group by the method of randomised numerical table based on the above. The kidney tonifying and resolving stasis through the channels cohort treatment cycle was 3 months, and the follow-up period was 3 months. Main results: (1) the change of menstrual of PCOS patients before and after treatment ; (2) the efficacy of traditional Chinese medicine symptoms. Secondary results: Sex hormones, AMH, ultrasound;changes in scores such as polycystic cognition,PCOSQ-50 score,menstruation,hirsutism,Ffq168,IPAQ-SFHADS etc.All assessments were followed up with redcap questionnaires at baseline at weeks 4, 8, and 12 after the start of the intervention and at weeks 16, 20, and 24 after the end of the intervention.
Trial registration number: (2023) Lun Shen No.41; Pre-results.The trial was launched on July 2023 through https://www.chictr.org.cn/ Registrationnumber:ChiCTR2300073832.
Symptom Clusters and Symptom Network Analysis During Immunotherapy in Lung Cancer Patients
Authors: Yang Xuying , Bai Jincui , liu Ruili , Wang Xiaoping , Zhang Gongyu , Zhu Xuehua
Published: February 2024

Objective: This study aimed to analyze symptoms in lung cancer patients undergoing immunotherapy and to identify core symptom clusters through network analysis, thereby laying the groundwork for effective symptom management programs.
Methods: The study involved 240 lung cancer patients receiving immunotherapy. Participants were assessed using the memory symptom scale. Exploratory factor analysis extracted symptoms, and network analysis using JASP 0.17.3 explored centrality indices and density in these symptom networks.
Results: Five symptom clusters were identified: emotion-related, lung cancer-specific, perception, skin, and neurological symptom clusters, with a cumulative variance contribution rate of 55.819%. Network analysis revealed sadness as the most intense symptom (rs = 2.189), dizziness as the most central (rc = 1.388), and fatigue as the most significant bridging symptom (rB = 2.575).
Conclusion: This study identified five symptom clusters and networks during the immunotherapy in lung cancer patients. The centrality indices and network density from the network analysis can assist healthcare professionals in devising more precise symptom management strategies.
Comparison of locoregional recurrence risk among nipple-sparing mastectomy, skin-sparing mastectomy, and simple mastectomy in patients with ductal carcinoma in situ: A single-center study
Authors: Nashimoto Mika , Asano Yuko , Matsui Hiroki , Machida Youichi , Fukuma Eisuke
Published: February 2024

Background
In invasive breast cancer, there is no difference in mid- and long-term oncological safety results between nipple-sparing mastectomy (NSM), skin-sparing mastectomy (SSM) and simple mastectomy (SM). However, there are few reports on ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS). This study aimed to compare the local recurrence and survival rates of the three techniques (NSM, SSM, and SM) in Japanese patients undergoing mastectomy for DCIS.
Methods
Patients undergoing NSM, SSM, and SM at our institution between 2006 and 2015 were identified, and their outcomes were analyzed.
Results
The mean follow-up period was 80.4 months (standard deviation [SD]: 37.1 months). NSM was performed in 152 cases, SSM in 49, and SM in 44. Five of 245 patients developed local recurrences. Four of these patients had invasive cancer. The primary endpoints of 5-year cumulative local recurrence were 2.4% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.0–5.0) for NSM, 2.2% (95% CI: 0.0–6.3) for SSM, and 0% (95% CI: 0.0–0.0) for SM. There were no significant differences in the 5-year local recurrence rate.
Conclusions
In conclusion, in our single-center, retrospective study, SSM and NSM showed oncological safety for DCIS that was comparable to that of conventional simple mastectomy.
Organogenesis in a broad spectrum of grape genotypes and Agrobacterium-mediated transformation of the Podarok Magaracha grapevine cultivar
Authors: Maletich Galina , Khvatkov Pavel , Pushin Alexander , Dolgov Sergey
Published: February 2024

We present data on the ability to organogenesis in 22 genotypes of grapevine and developed a direct organogenesis protocol for the cultivar Podarok Magaracha and the rootstock Kober 5BB. Protocol does not require replacement of culture media and growth regulators, the duration is 11 weeks. Cultivation of explants occurs on modified MS medium with the addition of 2.0 mg l-1 benzyladenine and indole-3-butyric acid (0.15 mg l-1 for the rootstock Kober 5BB or 0.05 mg l-1 for the cultivar Podarok Magaracha). The direct organogenesis protocol consists of three time periods: (1) culturing explants for 2 weeks in dark conditions for callogenesis, (2) followed by 4 weeks of cultivation in light conditions for regeneration, (3) 5 weeks of cultivation in dark conditions for shoot elongation. Based on this protocol, conditions for the Agrobacterium-mediated transformation of the Podarok Magaracha cultivar were developed with an efficiency of 2.0% transgenic plants per 100 explants. Two stably transformed lines with integration into the genome of the pBin35SGFP plasmid construction, confirmed by Southern blotting, were obtained.
Incidence and Characteristics of Aspiration Pneumonia in the Nagasaki Prefecture from 2005 to 2019
Authors: Tomonaga Iku , Koseki Hironobu , Imai Chieko , Shida Takayuki , Nishiyama Yuta , Yoshida Daisuke , Yokoo Seiichi , Osaki Makoto
Published: February 2024

Background
Aspiration pneumoniae remains a major health concern, particularly in the older population and has poor prognosis; however, the concept itself remains vague worldwide. This study aimed to determine the actual situation and characteristics of aspiration pneumonia from 2005 to 2019 in Nagasaki Prefecture, Japan.
Methods
Cases of aspiration pneumonia that occurred in the Nagasaki Prefecture between 2005 and 2019 were analyzed using emergency transportation records. The number of occurrences and that of incidence were analyzed according to age, sex, month, day of the week, and recognition time to clarify the actual situation of aspiration pneumonia.
Results
The total number of new aspiration pneumonia cases was 8,321, and the mean age of the patients was 83.0 years. Annual incidence per 100,000 population increased from 12.4 in 2005 to 65.1 in 2019, with the most prominent increase in the ≥ 80-year-old stratum. Males (55.1%) were more commonly affected than females (44.9%), and 82.2% of the cases involved patients aged ≥ 70 years. No significant correlations were observed between the incidence of aspiration pneumonia and season, month, or day of the week. Aspiration pneumonia occurred frequently in houses (39.8%) and facilities for elderly individuals (40.8%). At 7 days after admission, 80.9% of patients were still hospitalized and 6.5% had died.
Conclusions
The incidence of aspiration pneumonia with risks of severity and mortality is increasing among elderly individuals. Valid preventive measures are urgently needed based on the findings that the disease occurs in both household and elderly care facility settings, regardless of the season.
Early Thrombus Detection in the Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation Circuit by Noninvasive Real-time Ultrasonic Sensors
Authors: Rim Gongmin , Lim Zhongsoo , Lee Byungdoo , Kim Keunho , Yoo Ga young , Hyun Kwanyong , Cho Deog Gon
Published: February 2024

Background
Thrombus formation in extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) remains a major concern as it can lead to fatal outcomes. To the best of our knowledge, there is no standard non-invasive method for quantitatively measuring thrombi. This study’s purpose was to verify thrombus detection in an ECMO circuit using novel, non-invasive ultrasonic sensors in real-time, utilizing the fact that the ultrasonic velocity in a thrombus is known to be higher than that in the blood.
Methods
Ultrasonic sensors with a customized chamber, an ultrasonic pulse-receiver, and a digital storage oscilloscope (DSO) were used to set up the measuring unit. The customized chamber was connected to an ECMO circuit primed with porcine blood. Thrombi formed from static porcine blood were placed in the circuit and ultrasonic signals were extracted from the oscilloscope at various ECMO flow rates of 1–4 L/min.
Results
The ultrasonic signal changes were successfully detected at each flow rate on the DSO. The ultrasonic pulse signal shifted leftward when a thrombus passed between the two ultrasonic sensors and was easily detected on the DSO screen.
Conclusion
This novel real-time non-invasive thrombus detection method may enable the early detection of floating thrombi in the ECMO system and early management of ECMO thrombi.
Hydrogen Bonding Template Enables Remote Meta-C–H Alkenylation of Nitroarenes
Authors: Maiti Debabrata , Dutta Bishal , Mahajan Mayank , Ghosh Animesh , Dajek Maciej , Kowalczyk Rafal , Mondal Bhaskar , Ge Haibo
Published: February 2024

Regioselective distal C-H functionalization of nitroarenes by overriding proximal C-H activation has remained an unsolved challenge. Herein, we present a palladium-catalyzed meta-C-H alkenylation of nitroarene substrate, achieved through leveraging the non-covalent hydrogen bonding interactions. Urea-based templates comprising an elongated biphenyl linker designed in such a way that it interacts with nitro group via strong hydrogen bonding interaction, while a cyano based directing group is attached along the template to coordinate with the palladium centre, thereby facilitating the activation of the remote meta-C-H bond of nitrobenzene. Computational mechanistic investigation and the analysis of non-covalent interaction deciphers the crucial role of H-bonding in regulating the regioselectivity.
Prevalence of Non-Consented Care During the Childbirth Process in Mexico by Geographical Regions: Comparing ENDIREH Survey Data from 2016 and 2021
Authors: Marian Marian , Barker Kathryn , Reed Elizabeth , McClain Amanda , Lundgren Rebecka , Hurst Samantha , Pérez Ramona L.
Published: February 2024

Introduction
Non-consented care, a form of obstetric violence that involves the lack of informed consent for procedures, is a common but little-understood phenomenon in the global public health arena. The aim of this secondary analysis was to measure the prevalence and assess change over time of non-consented care during childbirth in Mexico in 2016 and 2021, as well as to identify sociodemographic and pregnancy- and childbirth-related determinants of non-consented care, as the social factors associated with this type of violence are not well identified.
Methods
We measured the prevalence of non-consented care and three of its variations, forced sterilization or contraception, forced cesarean section, and forced consent on paperwork, during childbirth in Mexico for 2016 (N = 24,036) and 2021 (N = 19,322) using women’s self-report data from Mexico’s cross-sectional National Survey on the Dynamics of Household Relationships (ENDIREH). Weighted data were stratified by geographical regions. We performed adjusted logistic regression analyses to explore associations.
Results
The prevalence of non-consented care and pressure to get a contraceptive method increased from 2016 to 2021. A decrease in the prevalence was observed for forced contraception or sterilization, forcing to sign paperwork, and non-consented cesarean sections from 2016 to 2021 nationally and in most regions. Women between the ages of 26 and 35 years, married, cohabiting with partner, living in urban settings, who do not identify with an Indigenous belonging, and who received prenatal services or gave birth at the Mexican Institute of Social Security (IMSS) facilities experienced a higher prevalence of non-consented care during childbirth. Being 26 years of age and older, living in a rural setting, experiencing stillbirths in the last five years, having a vaginal delivery, receiving prenatal services at IMSS, or delivering at a private facility were significantly associated with higher odds of reporting non-consented care.
Conclusion
The prevalence of non-consented care continues to increase, regardless of the changes in the law that have occurred since 2016 related to obstetric violence. Our findings suggest the need to enforce current laws and strengthen health systems, paying special attention to the geographical regions and populations that have experienced higher reported cases of this structural problem.
Hepato-Curative Effect of Cholecalciferol (Vitamin D) on Fipronil-Induced Liver Damage via Up-regulation of AMPK-α, and PPAR-γ Signaling Pathways in Male Rats
Authors: Mohamed Nema Abdelhameed , Hussein Hussein Khamis , Attia Maha Mohamed , Hammad Mohamed Mouner , Abdou Heba Mohamed
Published: February 2024

FIP, is an abroad-spectrum phenylpyrazole insecticide, and/or its metabolites trigger the toxicity in liver via the mitochondrial respiratory chain inhibition. This work aimed to investigate the effect of vitamin D3 against FIP-induced liver toxicity in male rats. Vit. D3 attenuated liver markers, hepatic necrosis and inflammation, and dyslipidemia in FIP-intoxicated rats. Vit. D3 also reduced FIP-induced oxidative stress by increasing the activities of antioxidant enzymes, such as SOD, CAT, GPx, and GSH, and inhibiting lipid peroxidation products and nitric oxide levels in rat liver. Further investigations revealed that Vit. D3 counteracted FIP-induced increased levels of IL-6, TNF-α. Moreover, Vit. D3 up-regulated the AMPK-α, and PPAR-γ mRNA gene expression. In addition, Vit D3 improved the histopathological changes caused by FIP. In conclusion, Vit. D3 prevented liver damage in FIP-treated rats via augmentation of antioxidant defense mechanisms and inhibition of inflammatory cytokines/mediators and up-regulation of AMPK-α, and PPAR-γ.
Irradiated Microparticles Suppress Prostate Cancer by Tumor Microenvironment Reprogramming and Ferroptosis
Authors: Deng Zihan , Li Binghui , Yang Muyang , Lu Lisen , Shi Xiujuan , Lovell Jonathan , Zeng Xiantao , Hu Weidong , Jin Honglin
Published: February 2024

Immunogenic cell death (ICD) plays a crucial role in triggering the antitumor immune response in the tumor microenvironment (TME) through the release of damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs). Recently, considerable attention has been dedicated to ferroptosis, a type of ICD that is induced by intracellular iron and has been demonstrated to change the immune desert status of the TME. However, there remains significant room for improvement among strategies for inducing high levels of ICD through ferroptosis to fight cancers that are characterized by an immune desert, such as prostate cancer. Radiated tumor cell-derived microparticles (RMPs) are radiotherapy mimetics that have been shown to activate the cGAS-STING pathway, induce tumor cell ferroptosis, and inhibit M2 macrophage polarization. RMPs can also act as carriers of agents with remarkable biocompatibility. In the present study, we designed a therapeutic system wherein the ferroptosis inducer RSL-3 was loaded into RMPs to treat prostate cancer, which is considered a cold tumor, using in vitro and in vivo models involving RM-1 prostate carcinoma cells. Apoptosis inducer CT20 peptide (CT20p) was also added into the RMPs to aggravate ICD. In vitro experiments demonstrated that RSL-3- and CT20p-loaded RMPs (RC@RMPs) led to ferroptosis and apoptosis of RM-1 cells, and CT20p had a synergistic effect on ferroptosis by promoting ROS production and mitochondrial instability. RC@RMPs elevated the dendritic cell (DC) expression of MHCⅡ, CD80, and CD86 and facilitated M1 macrophage polarization. In a syngeneic mouse model of prostate cancer induced by RM-1 cells, RC@RMPs significantly inhibited tumor growth and prolonged survival time via DC activation, macrophage reprogramming, enhancement of CD8+ T cell presence, and proinflammatory cytokine production, without diffusing outside the tumor tissue. Moreover, combination treatment with anti-PD-1 showed improved effectiveness to inhibit RM-1 progression. This method provides a novel strategy for the synergistic enhancement of ICD for prostate cancer immunotherapies.
Chatter Detection in Simulated Machining Data: A Simple Refined Approach to Vibration Data
Authors: Alberts Matthew , Coble Jamie , Jared Bradley , Karandikar Jaydeep , Khojandi Anahita , Schmitz Tony , John Sam St.
Published: February 2024

Vibration monitoring is a critical aspect of assessing the health and performance of machinery and industrial processes. This study explores the application of machine learning techniques, specifically the Random Forest (RF) classification model, to predict and classify chatter—a detrimental self-excited vibration phenomenon—during machining operations. While sophisticated methods have been employed to address chatter, this research investigates the efficacy of a novel approach to a RF model. The study leverages simulated vibration data, bypassing resource-intensive real-world data collection, to develop a versatile chatter detection model applicable across diverse machining configurations.The feature extraction process combines time-series features and Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) data features, streamlining the model while addressing challenges posed by feature selection. By focusing on the RF model's simplicity and efficiency, this research advances chatter detection techniques, offering a practical tool with improved generalizability, computational efficiency, and ease of interpretation. The study demonstrates that innovation can reside in simplicity, opening avenues for wider applicability and accelerated progress in the machining industry.
Pure rotation in the temporomandibular joint during jaw opening? A digital motion analysis.
Authors: Jász Bálint , Balogh Tamás , Ambrus Szilvia , Schmidt Péter , Bányai Gréta , Körmendi Szandra , Jász Máté
Published: February 2024

Objective: The mandibular joint is a complex joint despite its relatively small size. Two separate movements of rotation and translation occur in two articular spaces during mouth opening. Over the years, the approach has changed considerably, but it is still subject to controversy as to which movement is involved in the initial stage of mouth opening, and even whether translation is performed. In the present study, the extent of rotation and translation was investigated in the first 5 mm of mouth opening.
Materials and methods: The study was carried out on 46 volunteers. Anamnesis was taken and patients were examined. A digital motion analysis was made, with ultrasonic transducers (KaVo Arcus Digma 2). With this device, various mandibular movements can be analysed with an extremely high accuracy of 50 micrometres. Each participant performed 3 open-close movements in succession, starting from maximum intercuspal position.
Results: Data were statistically processed using cubic spline interpolation. Linear regression was then used. The resulting line is significantly (p<0.0001) different from the horizontal that represents only rotational movement.
Conclusion: The results show that during mouth opening from maximum intercuspal position, translation is all the time present in addition to rotation.
Evidence of electron interaction with an unidentified bosonic mode in superconductor CsCa2Fe4As4F2
Authors: Jiang Juan , Li Peng , Liao Sen , Wang Zhicheng , Li Huaxun , Zhang Jiakang , Chen Ziyuan , Jiang Zhicheng , Liu Zhengtai , Yang Lexian , Huai Linwei , He Junfeng , Cui Shengtao , Sun Zhe , Yan Ya-Jun , Cao Guanghan , Shen Dawei , Feng Donglai
Published: February 2024

Using angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy, we report the evidence of the observation of a kink structure in the band dispersion of Fe-based superconductor CsCa2Fe4As4F2. The kink shows an orbital selective and momentum dependent behavior, which is located at 15 meV below Fermi level along the Γ - M direction at the band with dxz orbital character and vanishes when approaching the Γ - X direction, correlated with a slight decrease of the superconducting gap. Most importantly, this kink structure disappears when the superconducting gap closes, indicating that the corresponding bosonic mode (~ 9 ± 1 meV) is closely related to superconductivity. However, the origin of this mode remains unidentified, since it cannot be related to phonons or the spin resonance mode (~ 15 meV) observed by inelastic neutron scattering. The behavior of this mode is rather unique and challenges our present understanding of the superconducting paring mechanism of the bilayer FeAs-based superconductors.
Evaluation of molecular inclusion of azole antifungals by β-cyclodextrin using computational molecular approach
Authors: Shikha Riya , Kar Sidhartha Sankar
Published: February 2024

Azole antifungals are frequently used to treat fungal infections in humans. The two biggest problems with these azoles are the development of antifungal drug resistance and their poor water solubility, which makes them challenging to administer. One method to get around the limitations of azole delivery is inclusion complex development. Using molecular docking and Density Functional Theory (DFT) with PM3 calculations, we evaluated the chemical stability and reactivity of azole antifungals, including fluconazole, ketoconazole, miconazole, clotrimazole, and propiconazole, with β-cyclodextrin. Molecular docking was used to describe many medicinal molecule binding positions in beta cyclodextrin. Our findings indicate that the most stable inclusion complex is the fluconazole-β-cyclodextrin complex.
Doubled haploidy methodology for three forage grasses [crested wheatgrass (Agropyron cristatum (L.) Gaertn.), hybrid bromegrass (Bromus riparius x B. inermis), and meadow bromegrass (Bromus riparius Rehm.)]
Authors: Ferrie Alison M.R. , Nelson Kim , Biligetu Bill
Published: February 2024

Doubled haploidy (DH) methodology is used in many plant species to accelerate crop improvement and cultivar development; however not all species are amenable to the tissue culture technique. Experiments were undertaken to develop DH protocols for three perennial grasses [crested wheatgrass (Agropyron cristatum (L.) Gaertn.), hybrid bromegrass (Bromus riparius x B. inermis), and meadow bromegrass (Bromus riparius Rehm.)]. The initial experiment screened these forage grass species to established wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) microspore culture protocols. Following the initial screen, several factors influencing microspore embryogenesis were evaluated. These included genotype, donor plant conditions, developmental stage of the microspore, pretreatments, media composition, and culture conditions. For regeneration of the embryos to plants, media composition and culture conditions were assessed. Microspore-derived embryos/calli as well as green haploid/doubled haploid plants were regenerated from all three forage grasses. Differences were observed between species and genotypes within species in terms of embryogenic response. Modifications to the initial wheat DH protocol included the donor plant conditions, developmental stage of the microspore to late uninucleate to early binucleate and media composition. Regenerated plants were grown in the greenhouse.
Clinical course and peculiarities of Parechovirus and Enterovirus central nervous system infections in newborns
Authors: Brisca Giacomo , Bellini Tommaso , Pasquinucci Mattia , Mariani Marcello , Romanengo Marta , Buffoni Isabella , Tortora Domenico , Parodi Alessandro , Fueri Elena , Mesini Alessio , Tibaldi Jessica , Piccotti Emanuela , Ramenghi Luca Antonio , Moscatelli Andrea
Published: February 2024

Purpose
Parechoviruses (HpEV) and Enteroviruses (EV) infections in children mostly have a mild course but are particularly fearsome in newborns in whom they may cause aseptic meningitis, encephalitis, and myocarditis. Our study aimed to describe the clinical presentations and peculiarities of CNS infection by HpEV and EV in neonates.
Methods
Single-center retrospective study at Istituto Gaslini, Genoa, Italy. Infants aged ≤30 days with a CSF RTq-PCR positive for EV or HpEV from January 1, 2022, to December 1, 2023, were enrolled. Each patient's record included demographic data, blood and CSF tests, brain MRI, therapies, length of stay, ICU admission, complications, and mortality. The two groups were compared to identify any differences and similarities.
Results
Twenty-five patients (15 EV and 10 HpEV) with a median age of 15 days were included. EV patients had more comorbidities (p=0.021), more respiratory symptoms (p=0.012), and higher C-reactive protein (CRP) levels on admission (p=0.027), whereas ferritin values were significantly increased in HpEV patients (p=0.001). Eight patients had a pathological brain MRI, equally distributed between the two groups. Three EV patients developed myocarditis and one HpEV necrotizing enterocolitis with HLH-like. No deaths occurred.
Conclusions
EV and HpEV CNS infections are not easily distinguishable by clinical features. In both cases, brain MRI abnormalities are not uncommon and a severe course of the disease is possible. Hyper-ferritinemia may represent an additional diagnostic clue for HpEV infection and its monitoring is recommended to intercept HLH early and initiate immunomodulatory treatment. Larger studies are needed to confirm our findings.
S-RBD-modified and miR-486-5p-engineered exosomes derived from mesenchymal stem cells alleviate radiation-induced lung injury and long-term pulmonary fibrosis via suppression of ferroptosis
Authors: Zhang Weiyuan , Wen Li , Du Li , Liu Tingting , Sun Yang , Lu Yuxin , Cheng Xiaochen , Xiao Fengjun , Wang Lisheng
Published: February 2024

Background
Radiation-induced pulmonary fibrosis (RIPF) is a late-stage complication of therapeutic radiation, associated with poor prognosis and limited therapeutic options. Radiation-induced lung injury (RILI) is an early manifestation of RIPF, and intervention of RILI is an effective method for preventing long-term RIPF. Mesenchymal stem cell (MSC)-derived exosomes exhibit regenerative activity in injured lungs and are effective drug-delivery nanoparticles. SARS-CoV-2-S-RBD enables ACE2+ cell targeting of MSC extracellular vesicles. miR-486-5p is a multifunctional miRNA with angiogenic and anti-fibrotic activities and is enriched in MSC-derived exosomes. In this study, we investigated the therapeutic effects of miR-486-5p and SARS-COV-2-S-RBD-engineered MSC exosomes on RIPF in vitro and in vivo.
Results
Adenovirus-mediated gene modification led to the overexpression of miR-486-5p in umbilical cord MSCs (UC-MSCs), which further enriched miR-486-5p in UC-MSCs-derived exosomes. MiR-486-5p-engineered MSC exosomes (miR-486-MSC-Exo) promoted the proliferation and migration of irradiated MLE-12 cells in vitro and inhibited RILI in vivo. An in vitro assay revealed the occurrence of ferroptosis, a major form of cell death during radiation injury, indicated by the upregulated expression of fibrosis-related genes. miR-486-MSC-Exo effectively reversed these changes. MiR-486-MSC-Exo strongly reversed the upregulated expression of MLE-12 fibrosis-related genes induced by TGF in vitro and improved pathological fibrosis in the RIPF model in vivo. The distribution of RBD-VSVG-MSC exosomes labeled with DiR dye in hACE2CKI/CKI Sftpc-Cre+ mice demonstrated that the fluorescence of RBD-VSVG exosomes remained in the lungs for a long time. miR-486-RBD-MSC-exosomes significantly improved the survival rate and pathological changes in hACE2CKI/CKI Sftpc-Cre+ RIPF mice. Furthermore, miR-486-MSC-Exo exerted anti-fibrotic effects through targeted inhibition of SMAD2 and activation of Akt phosphorylation.
Conclusions
Here, miR-486-MSC-Exo inhibited lung injury and alleviated fibrosis in vivo and in vitro. Surface modification with COVID-S-RBD conferred engineered exosomes with the ability to target the lungs of animal models. The therapeutic effects of miR-486-5p and COVID-S-RBD-engineered MSC exosomes on RIPF were significantly enhanced. MSC-derived exosomes modified with recombinant COVID-S-RBD enabled targeted delivery of miR-486-5p, which is an effective approach for the treatment of RIPF.
Perspectives of University Educators Regarding ChatGPT: A Validation Study Based on the Technology Acceptance Model
Authors: Barakat Muna , Salim Nesreen A. , Sallam Malik
Published: February 2024

Background
ChatGPT is a generative artificial intelligence (AI) model that has a promising potential in higher education. Nevertheless, the integration of ChatGPT into higher education requires the assessment of university educators’ perspectives regarding this novel technology. This study aimed to develop and validate a survey instrument specifically tailored to assess ChatGPT usability and acceptability among university educators.
Methods
Development of the survey items was based on the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) followed by expert content validity assessment and pilot testing to improve phrasing of the items. The survey instrument involved assessment of the demographic variables in addition to a total of 40 TAM-based items. The survey was distributed among educators in Jordan in two phases: February 2023–April 2023 and October 2023. The self-administered survey was distributed via a convenience approach among the contacts of the authors. Assessment of the construct validity was done through exploratory factor analysis (EFA) based on principal component analysis (PCA), while the internal consistency of the inferred constructs was checked using the Cronbach’s α.
Results
The final sample comprised 236 university educators, with 72% who heard of ChatGPT before the study (n = 169), of whom 76 have already used ChatGPT (45%). The EFA showed a significant Bartlett’s test of sphericity (P < .001) and adequate Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin measure (KMO = .698). The six constructs inferred through EFA explained a cumulative 64% of the variance in the educators’ attitude to ChatGPT. These constructs comprised 31 items classified into: (1) “Effectiveness” (α = .845), (2) “Anxiety” (α = .862), (3) “Technology readiness (α = .885), (4) Perceived usefulness (α = .848), (5) Social influence (α = .803), and (6) Perceived risk (α = .796).
Conclusions
This study identified six key constructs that could be exploited for comprehensive understanding of the university educators' attitude toward ChatGPT. The novel survey instrument herein termed “Ed-TAME-ChatGPT” involved positive influencing factors such as perceived usefulness and effectiveness, positive attitude to technology, and social influence in addition to negative factors including anxiety and perceived risk. The developed survey instrument can provide a robust framework for further investigation into the usability and acceptability of ChatGPT among university educators, given the nearly inevitable integration of generative AI into higher education.
Livestock keeping, mosquitoes and community viewpoints: a mixed methods assessment of relationships between livestock management, malaria vector biting risk and community perspectives in rural Tanzania
Authors: Mwalugelo Yohana A. , Mponzi Winifrida P. , Muyaga Letus L. , Mahenge Herieth H. , Katusi Godfrey C. , Muhonja Faith , Omondi Dickens , Ochieng Alfred O. , Kaindoa Emmanuel W. , Amimo Fred A.
Published: February 2024

Background
Livestock keeping is one of the potential factors related to malaria transmission. To date, the impact of livestock keeping on malaria transmission remains inconclusive, as some studies suggest a zooprophylactic effect while others indicate a zoopotentiation effect. This study assessed the impact of livestock management on malaria transmission risks in rural Tanzania. Additionally, the study explored the knowledge and perceptions of residents about the relationships between livestock keeping and malaria transmission risks in a selected village.
Methods
In a longitudinal entomological study in Minepa village, South Eastern Tanzania, 40 households were randomly selected (20 with livestock, 20 without). Weekly mosquito collection was performed from January to April 2023. Indoor and outdoor collections used CDC-Light traps, Prokopack aspirators, human-baited double-net traps, and resting buckets. A subsample of mosquitoes was analysed using PCR and ELISA for mosquito species identification and blood meal detection. Livestock's impact on mosquito density was assessed using negative binomial GLMMs. Additionally, in-depth interviews explored community knowledge and perceptions of the relationship between livestock keeping and malaria transmission risks.
Results
A total of 48,677 female Anopheles mosquitoes were collected. Out of these, 89% were An. gambiae s.l. while other species were An. funestus, An. pharoensis, An. coustani, and An. squamosus. The findings revealed a statistically significant increase in the overall number of An. gambiae s.,l. outdoors (RR = 1.181, 95%CI: 1.050–1.862, p = 0.043). Also, there was an increase of the mean number of An. funestus mosquitoes collected in households with livestock indoors (RR = 2.866, 95%CI: 1.471–5.582, p = 0.002) and outdoors (RR = 1.579,95%CI: 1.080–2.865, p = 0.023). The human blood index in An. gambiae s.l. mosquitoes from houses with livestock was less than those without livestock (OR = 0.149, 95%CI: 0.110–0.178, p < 0.001). The majority of participants in the in-depth interviews reported a perceived high density of mosquitoes in houses with livestock compared to houses without livestock.
Conclusion
Despite the potential for zooprophylaxis, this study indicates a higher malaria transmission risk in livestock-keeping communities. It is crucial to prioritise and implement targeted interventions to control vector populations within these communities. Furthermore, it is important to enhance community education and awareness regarding covariates such as livestock that influence malaria transmission.
Learn from Restoration: Exploiting Oriented Knowledge Distillation in Self-Supervised Learning for Person Re-Identification
Authors: Yang Enze , Liu Yuxin , Zhao Shitao , Liu Yiran , Liu Shuoyan
Published: February 2024

Person Re-IDentification (person ReID) aims to identify such individuals across diverse surveillance scenarios, which plays a pivotal role in centralized monitoring. However very recent studies pre-trained their models on ImageNet and fine-tuned on specific downstream ReID dataset, which leads to restricted generalization capability of person centered tasks. Addressing this limitation, this paper introduces a Self-Supervised Learning (SSL) model with Oriented Token Prior guided Knowledge Distillation. The proposed approach adopts the teacher-student network and attempts to not only restore the masked or low-quality samples, but also to align the semantics of the patches in feature domain. Within this framework, our model is pre-trained on a person-specific dataset LUPerson, which indicates a larger data scale with person-centered samples. Extensive experiments carried out on ReID datasets Market1501, MSMT17 and Occluded-Duke shows that the proposed method yield the state-of-the-art performance among the supervised and SSL ReID methods. Moreover, the proposed method could obtain the remarkable performance of partial supervised and unsupervised learning, which further indicates the strong generalizability and the robustness of our method. The code is publicly available at \href{https://github.com/ICT-CVlab/Oriented-KD-SSL}{https://github.com/ICT-CVlab/Oriented-KD-SSL}
Polycystic ovary syndrome and risk of breast cancer in premenopausal and postmenopausal women: a nationwide population-based cohort study
Authors: Frandsen C. L. B. , Nøhr B. , Gottschau M. , Viuff J. H. , Maltesen T. , Kjær S. K. , Svendsen P. F. , Jensen A.
Published: February 2024

Purpose: Although some reproductive and metabolic characteristics of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) are known risk factors for breast cancer, the evidence regarding a potential association between PCOS and breast cancer is scarce. In this population-based cohort study including all 1 719 452 women born in Denmark in between 1940 and 1993, we investigated the association between PCOS and breast cancer.
Methods: PCOS diagnoses, cancer diagnoses, covariates, migrations and vital status were all obtained from national population- and health registers. Hazard ratios (HR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) for breast cancer overall and for histological subtypes separately were calculated based on adjusted cox proportional hazards models.
Results: During a median follow-up of 26 years, 63 078 women were diagnosed with breast cancer. We found an increased risk of breast cancer overall among women with PCOS compared with women without PCOS (HR: 1.21, 95% CI: 1.02–1.44). In analyses stratified for menopausal status, the increased risk was restricted to postmenopausal women (HR: 1.63, 95% CI: 1.23–2.15). The results for ductal and lobular histological subtypes analyses separately resembled those observed for breast cancer overall.
Conclusion: This is the first study to report an increased risk of breast cancer among women with a history of PCOS. The increased risk was seemingly confined to postmenopausal women. Our results therefore contribute to an increased knowledge of the etiology of breast cancer, but our findings should be further confirmed in other large cohort studies with an appropriately long follow-up period.
CXCL10 could be a prognostic and immunological biomarker in bladder cancer
Authors: 殷 涛 , mou shuanzhu , Zhang Haiyu , Dong Ying , Yan Bing , Huang Weisheng , Liu Yuhan , mei hongbing
Published: February 2024

Introduction
As proteins that promote immune cell differentiation, chemokines have attracted great interest regarding their role in anti-tumor immune responses within the cancer environment. However, the exact role of CXCL10, a chemokine, in bladder cancer (BLCA) is still not fully elucidated.
Method
In the present study, we employed bioinformatics approaches to examine the expression pattern,prognostic value, and immune infiltration of CXCL10 in BLCA. Furthermore, we focused on examining the impact of CXCL10 on immune therapy in BLCA. Additionally, we validated the expression of CXCL10 in various BLCA cell lines using PCR techniques.
Results
We observed an upregulation of CXCL10 in BLCA tissues as well as in different cell lines. Additionally,
upregulation of CXCL10 indicates a better prognosis for BLCA patients. ESTIMATE and CIBERSORT algorithms
suggest that CXCL10 is closely associated with the immune microenvironment of BLCA. Through multiple
immune therapy cohorts, we also identified that CXCL10 has shown promising predictive value for assessing theefficacy of immune therapy in in BLCA.
Conclusion
Our study indicates that CXCL10 has the potential to serve as a favorable prognostic factor and is strongly associated with immune infiltration in BLCA.