bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Kwestia językowa w dziejach. Zarys problematyki
Authors: Szul Roman
Published: July 2023

Kwestia językowa polega na sporach na temat sytuacji językowej, to jest miejsca poszczególnych języków na danym terytorium (status języków), na temat ich korpusu lub ich zaklasyfikowania do szerszej kategorii językowej (grupy lub rodziny językowej). W Europie po raz pierwszy wyłoniła się we wczesnym średniowieczu w Kościele chrześcijańskim i dotyczyła roli miejscowych języków w liturgii, co było jednym z powodów podziału na chrześcijaństwo zachodnie i wschodnie. Ponownie zdarzyło to się podczas reformacji, będąc jedną z przyczyn podziału na katolicyzm i protestantyzm. Kwestia językowa była najbardziej intensywna od połowy XVIII do połowy XX w., towarzysząc idei państwa narodowego i imperializmowi. Model ten był naśladowany przez państwa pozaeuropejskie. W drugiej połowie XX w. w Europie zachodniej dominował bardziej liberalny stosunek do regionalnych, mniejszościowych i imigranckich języków. W ostatnich latach w niektórych europejskich krajach ma miejsce powrót do polityki językowej mającej na celu asymilację mniejszości narodowych i imigrantów, a polityka językowa bywa używana też jako bariera przeciwko napływowi niepożądanych imigrantów. W tym samym czasie instytucjonalizacja integracji europejskiej podniosła kwestię językową na poziomie UE.
Finding Joy and Purpose through Singing: Giving Voice to People Living with Dementia
Authors: Greene Barbara , Ostroushko Marge , Melius Jodi
Published: July 2023

For every individual living with dementia, the experience is unique. When you meet one person living with dementia, you have simply met one person. Dementia will change many things about life—but not all at once and often over many years. For many people, social isolation and loneliness may emerge as mental health challenges occur. This is when creating supportive interconnections are particularly critical to build meaning and purpose. Giving Voice Chorus was created in 2014 to address social isolation for people living with dementia. Our choruses, and other like-minded ones throughout the United States and the world, support new networks for people living with dementia, as well as their family members and friends. This is a behind-the-scenes story of how Giving Voice Chorus and a strong collection of similar choruses help meet cultural, social, geographic, and community needs for people who are determined to continue vibrant, creative lives with memory loss. We explore how these choruses developed and the creative lifeline they provide for individuals and families. For health-care professionals and others seeking resources and referrals, Giving Voice Chorus is a beacon of light—establishing new supportive networks with hope and affirmation.
How is microbial biomass carbon affected by oil-pollution in soils? An alternative approach to its measure
Authors: Moradi Shokufeh , Sarikhani Mohammad Reza , Ale-Agha Ali Beheshti , Hasanpur Karim , Shiri Jalal
Published: July 2023

Oil pollution is one of the most critical environmental pollutions affecting soil's biological, physical, and chemical properties. There are several methods to measure MBC, the most important of which are chloroform fumigation extraction (CFE), chloroform fumigation incubation (CFI), and experimental methods based on substrate-induced respiration (SIR). Due to the presence of high oil content in the oil-polluted soil samples and high content of organic carbon (OC), the application of the CFE method has some limitations because tracking minor changes of MBC in a huge background of OC is not possible. The effect of three levels of oil pollution (L: low, M: moderate, and H: high) on MBC measured by CFI (MBC-CFI) and SIR (MBC-SIR) was investigated through an incubation experiment. Hence, 120 oil-contaminated soil samples were gathered from four selected locations of polluted sites in Naft-Shahr, Kermanshah, Iran. Four experimental formulas including MBC = 16.18×SIR + 5.11 (Eq. 1), MBC = SIR×30 (Eq. 2), MBC = SIR×25.3 (Eq. 3), and MBC = 40.04×SIR + 0.37 (Eq. 4) to estimate the amount of MBC-SIR were used. The results showed that there is a positive and significant correlation between two methods used in this study (r = 0.91, P < 0.01). In both methods, the MBC obtained in H soils was higher than in L and M soils. The values of MBC-CFI data ranged from 264.685 in L soils to 419.459 mgC 100g− 1 in H soils. Among the four used formulas in this study, the lowest amount of RMSE and SI was obtained for Eq. 4. The MBC-SIR measured by Eq. 4 ranged from 290.224 mgC 100g− 1 in L soils to 478.107 mgC 100g− 1 in H soils. According to this study's results, experimental methods based on SIR, especially Eq. 4 can also be used to estimate the amount of MBC in oil-contaminated soils. Moreover, in this study, multiple linear regression analysis and principal components analysis (PCA) was performed on data to get insight into the relation of bio-physical-chemical properties of soil, especially with MBC.
Effect of opioid-free anaesthesia with lidocaine on post-induction haemodynamic stability
Authors: Hu Yang , Cha Ning , Zhu Guo , Long Xiang , Jiang Jing , Zhang Qing , Qin Guan , GONG Yuan
Published: July 2023

BACKGROUNDː Most studies on opioid-free anaesthesia have focused on postoperative pain control and opioid consumption, with less attention paid to haemodynamic stability. We aimed to determine whether opioid-free anaesthesia with lidocaine would provide better haemodynamic stability than general anaesthesia.
METHODSː This single-centre, parallel-group, randomised, double-blind, controlled trial included patients aged 18–50 years (American Society of Anesthesiologists Physical Status classes I–II) who underwent elective hysteroscopy. Patients were randomised into group S (general anaesthesia with sufentanil) or group L (opioid-free anaesthesia with lidocaine). All patients underwent the same anaesthetic induction and maintenance protocols. The primary outcome was the incidence of hypotension. Secondary outcomes included changes in the mean arterial pressure at different timepoints after anaesthesia induction, the incidence of bradycardia, and the average dose of rescue metaraminol. Intraoperative cardiac and respiratory events were recorded as safety events.
RESULTSː Opioid-free anaesthesia with lidocaine provided better post-induction haemodynamic stability than general anaesthesia. The incidence of hypotension in groups L and S was 15.56% (7/45) and 55.56% (25/45), respectively, and significant differences were observed in the changes in mean arterial pressure at T1, T2, T3, T4, and T5. The average dose of rescue metaraminol significantly differed between groups [mean (SD), 1.02 (2.96) mg vs. 4.21 (5.64) mg, P = 0.001]. The incidence of bradycardia significantly differed between groups [0% (0/45) vs. 44.44% (20/45), P < 0.001). No severe adverse effects were observed in any group.
CONCLUSIONː Opioid-free anaesthesia with lidocaine provides better post-induction haemodynamic stability than general anaesthesia, without any major adverse events.
TRIAL REGISTRATION: The trial was registered on January 15, 2022 in the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (http://www.chictr.org.cn/showprojen.aspx?proj=149386), registration number ChiCTR2200055623.(15/01/2022)
Gedong-Dalem” pickles: the ethnogastronomy of the peranakan Chinese, in Bogor, West Java, Indonesia
Authors: Nikmatullah Muhamad , Rahayu Mulyati , Kiem Ary Prihardhyanto , Peniwidiyanti Peniwidiyanti , Kalima Titi ,   Oryzanti1 Parwa, Sujarwo Wawan
Published: July 2023

Indonesia has a variety of traditional culinary delights from the results of mixing between tribes in Indonesia, as well as with immigrants such as the Chinese. Bogor is one of the cities in West Java Province, Indonesia which is famous for its various traditional culinary influences from Chinese immigrants. Traditional culinary is a variety of foods related to an area and passed through generations, one of which is the Bogor typical Gedong-Dalem pickles. However, nowadays the original Gedong-Dalem pickles are barely found, because it is hard to get the ingredients. This can influence its original taste. In addition, competition in the modern culinary business is highly competitive, so traditional culinary culture can be pushed aside until it is extinct. This study aims to show the ethnogastronomic data and uniqueness of the Gedong-Dalem pickles in Bogor area, Indonesia. Data collection was carried out through open-ended semi-structured and unstructured interviews with respondents and key informants using a questionnaire and observation. Based on the results of the interviews, the Gedong-Dalem pickle is a culinary made from a mixture of various species of fruits or vegetables which was originally sold in Gedong-Dalem by the Chinese in Bogor. The ethnogastronomy of Gedong-Dalem pickles is the key to harmony between Chinese and Indonesian mixed ancestry. Ethnogastronomically, it is a culinary origin from Indonesia, not entirely from China. In other words, it is an authentic Indonesian cuisine.
miR-214-3p promotes the pathogenesis of Parkinson's disease by inhibiting autophagy
Authors: Dong Hui , Yan Jiahui , Huang Ping , Wang Xinyu , Zhang Ru , Zhang Caiyun , Wang Wenhui , Qian Wenxian , Zhou Jin , Zhao Yunli , Gao Jinghan , Zhang Mengmeng , Ma Xiuchang , Wang Zhizhong , Yi Changhua , Chen Wei
Published: July 2023

Parkinson's disease (PD) is the second most common neurodegenerative disease in the world. To date, there is still no effective treatment regimen for PD, which has prodromal stage, de novo stage (early stage) and advanced stage. Early diagnosis and intervention are paramount to prevent progression of this disease. We previously found that miR-214-3p was significantly up-regulated in the serums of prodromal and early PD patients. In this study, we confirmed that miR-214-3p was up-regulated in both MPP+-induced PD cell model and MPTP-induced PD mouse. Overexpression of miR-214-3p inhibited the cell activity and autophagy, and promoted apoptosis of dopaminergic neurons in vitro and in vivo, and aggravated the disease symptoms of animal model. Knockdown of miR-214-3p was able to restore the inhibition of autophagy and cell viability in both cell and animal model. Overexpression of autophagy-related gene 3 (ATG3) partially reversed the inhibition of autophagy and cell viability caused by overexpression of miR-214-3p in PD cell model. ATG3 is a member of the autophagy-related gene family and autophagy is involved in the pathological process of PD. BiBiServ2 website prediction showed that miR-214-3p could directly target ATG3. The western blot results showed that the protein expression of ATG3 could be down-regulated by miR-214-3p. Therefore, miR-214-3p may inhibit autophagy and activity of dopaminergic neurons and promote apoptosis by regulating the expression of ATG3. Our study provides a putative biomarkers and potential drug targets for early PD, which has important theoretical significance and clinical value.
Prognostic value of metabolic parameters of baseline PET/CT in patients with double expression types of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma
Authors: Zhao Jincheng , Teng Yue , Jiang Chong , Chen Man , Xu Jingyan
Published: July 2023

Objectives To explore the value of baseline PET/CT parameters for predicting prognosis in patients with double expression lymphoma (DEL). Methods We retrospectively analyzed the clinical and [18F]FDG PET/CT imaging data of 118 patients diagnosed with DLBCL by pathological examination at two independent medical centers from October 2015 to September 2022. We used receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis to determine the optimal threshold for the maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax), the total metabolic tumor volume (TMTV), and the total lesion glycolysis (TLG) in predicting overall survival (OS) rate. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis, univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to predict OS rate, construct a survival prediction model, plot a calibration curve for the model, a time-dependent area under the ROC curve (tdAUC), and a decision curve analysis (DCA) curve, and calculate the C-index of the model. Results The area under the curve (AUC) of the ROC curve for TMTV was 0.705, with corresponding cutoff values of 230.9 cm3. In multivariate analysis, Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status (ECOG PS) (HR=3.989, P=0.002) and TMTV (HR=4.042, P<0.008) were identified as independent predictors of OS. A combined model of ECOG PS and TMTV was found to be superior to IPI in predicting OS. Conclusions TMTV, a metabolic index, and ECOG PS, a clinical risk factor, are independent predictors of OS in patients with DEL, and their combination can provide more accurate prognostic predictions.
The metabolic functional feature of gut microbiota in Mongolian patients with type 2 diabetes
Authors: Liu Yanchao , Gao Yumin , Zhao Lingyan , Pang Hui , Jiao Yang , Wang Mingxiao
Published: July 2023

The accumulating evidence substantiates the indispensable role of gut microbiota in modulating the pathogenesis of type 2 diabetes. Uncovering the intricacies of the mechanism is imperative in aiding disease control efforts. Revealing key bacterial species, their metabolites and/or metabolic pathways from the vast array of gut microorganisms can significantly contribute to precise treatment of the disease. With a high prevalence of type 2 diabetes in Inner Mongolia, China, the Mongolian population was selected as subjects to investigate the relationship between gut microbiota and the disease. We recruited Volunteers of Mongolian with type 2 diabetes and control group and detected their fecal samples by metagenomic analysis and untargeted metabolomics analysis. The findings suggest that Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes phyla are the predominant gut microorganisms that exert significant influence on the pathogenesis of type 2 diabetes in Mongolian population. In the disease group, despite an increase in the quantity of most gut microbial metabolic enzymes, there was a concomitant weakening of gut metabolic function, suggesting that the gut microbiota may be in a compensatory state during the disease stage. The beta-Tocotrienol may serve as a pivotal gut metabolite produced by gut microorganisms and a potential biomarker for type 2 disease. The metabolic pathway of Ubiquinone and other terpenoid-quinone biosynthesis could be the crucial mechanism through which the gut microbiota regulates type 2 diabetes. Additionally, certain Clostridium gut species may play a pivotal role in the progression of the disease.
Nanobiopsy investigation of the subcellular mtDNA heteroplasmy in human tissues
Authors: Bury Alexander Gerard , Vincent Amy E. , Pyle Angela , Actis Paolo , Hudson Gavin
Published: July 2023

Mitochondrial function is critical to continued cellular vitality and is an important contributor to a growing number of human diseases. Mitochondrial dysfunction is typically heterogeneous, mediated through the clonal expansion of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) variants in a subset of cells in a given tissue. To date, our understanding of the dynamics of clonal expansion of mtDNA variants has been technically limited to the single cell-level. Here, we report the use of nanobiopsy for subcellular sampling from human tissue, combined with next-generation sequencing to assess subcellular mtDNA mutation load in human tissue from mitochondrial disease patients. The ability to map mitochondrial mutation loads within individual cells of diseased tissue samples will further our understanding of mitochondrial genetic diseases.
Comprehensive Analysis of Expression and prognostic values of Annexin family genes in breast cancer
Authors: Fathi Afshin , Valizadeh Mehdi , Mansoori Behzad , Soozangar Narges , Hosseini-Asl Saied
Published: July 2023

Background
Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer among women and remains the leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. Annexins are a family of calcium-binding proteins that have been linked to cancer progression and metastasis, but their role in breast cancer remains uncertain.
Methods
In this study, we investigated the mRNA expression, clinical parameters, genetic alterations, and prognostic value of all ANXA members in breast cancer using multiple online open-access databases including ONCOMINE, UALCAN, bc-GenExMiner, Kaplan-Meier plotter, THPA (The Human Protein Atlas), Metascape, GeneMANIA, TIMER, STRING, and Enrichr.
Results
Our findings revealed that the expression of ANXA1/2/3/5/6/8/11 was significantly lower, while ANXA9 was upregulated in breast cancer tissues compared to normal tissues. Furthermore, we found that elevated expression of ANXA6/7/9/11 was linked to favorable overall survival, while ANXA8/9/10/13 was associated with longer relapse-free survival. We also discovered that 48% of BC patients had genetic mutations of ANXA family members. Finally, we found significant correlations among the expression of different annexin family members and the infiltration of six types of immune cells in the tumor microenvironment.
Conclusions
Our results highlight the significant role of ANXAs in breast cancer progression and prognosis. ANXAs could serve as potential therapeutic targets and prognostic biomarkers in breast cancer. These findings may provide valuable insights into the development of more effective treatments for breast cancer patients.
Uterine Artery Doppler Ultrasound for Predicting Preeclampsia During Pregnancy: A Meta-analysis
Authors: Cao Li , He Biyuan , Zhou Yuqing , Chen Tiantian , Gao Yihui , Yao Bingyi
Published: July 2023

Background
Accurate prediction of preeclampsia can improve maternal outcomes. However, the utility of uterine artery Doppler imaging in the prediction of preeclampsia remains unclear. To investigate the accuracy of uterine artery Doppler ultrasound parameters in predicting preeclampsia during pregnancy.
Methods
We searched databases for studies using uterine artery Doppler imaging to predict preeclampsia from inception to March 23, 2023. The main outcome was preeclampsia. We assessed study bias using QUADAS-2.
Results
Of 40 studies, 19 used the pulsatility index (PI) to predict preeclampsia, with sensitivity 0.05 (95% CI 0.02–0.08) and specificity 0.44 (95% CI 0.28–0.61). Nine studies used the resistance index (RI), with sensitivity 0.13 (95% CI 0.05–0.27) and specificity 0.31 (95% CI 0.07–0.63). Three studies used the systolic/diastolic (S/D) ratio, with sensitivity 0.50 (95% CI 0.30–0.67) and specificity 0.86 (95% CI 0.68–0.95). Nine studies used notching, with sensitivity 0.20 (95% CI 0.09–0.35) and specificity 0.60 (95% CI 0.23–0.90).
Conclusions
Uterine artery Doppler parameters predicted preeclampsia differently. PI and RI had low sensitivity and specificity. S/D ratio had high sensitivity and specificity, useful for predicting preeclampsia. Notching had low sensitivity and high specificity. Uterine artery Doppler alone has limited use in predicting preeclampsia.
Distinctive Molecular and Metabolic Profiles of
Chemically Synthesized Psilocybin and Psychedelic Mushroom Extract
Authors: Shahar Orr , Botvinnik Alexander , Shwartz Amit , Lerer Elad , Buko Alex , Hamid Ethan , Kahn Dani , Guralnick Miles , Blakolmer Karin , Wolf Gilly , Lerer Leonard , Lerer Bernard , Lifschytz Tzuri
Published: July 2023

Psilocybin, a naturally occurring, tryptamine alkaloid prodrug, is currently being investigated for the treatment of a range of psychiatric disorders. Preclinical reports suggest that the biological effects of psilocybin-containing mushroom extract or “full spectrum” (psychedelic) mushroom extract (PME), may differ from those of chemically synthesized psilocybin (PSIL). We compared the effects of PME to those of PSIL on the head twitch response (HTR), neuroplasticity-related synaptic proteins and frontal cortex metabolomic profiles in male C57Bl/6j mice. HTR measurement showed similar effects of PSIL and PME over 20 minutes. Brain specimens (frontal cortex, hippocampus, amygdala, striatum) were assayed for the synaptic proteins, GAP43, PSD95, synaptophysin and SV2A, using western blots. These proteins are indicators of synaptic plasticity. Three days after treatment, there was minimal increase in synaptic proteins. After 11 days, nested analysis of variance (ANOVA) showed a significant increase in each of the 4 proteins over all brain areas studied for PME versus vehicle control, while significant PSIL effects were observed only in the hippocampus and amygdala and were limited to PSD95 and SV2A. Metabolomic analyses of the pre-frontal cortex were performed by untargeted polar metabolomics utilizing capillary electrophoresis – Fourier transform mass spectrometry (CE-FTMS) and showed a differential metabolic separation between PME and vehicle groups. The purines guanosine, hypoxanthine and inosine, associated with oxidative stress and energy production pathways, showed a progressive decline from VEH to PSIL to PME. In conclusion, our synaptic protein findings suggest that PME has a more potent and prolonged effect on synaptic plasticity than PSIL. Our metabolomics data support a gradient of effects from inert vehicle via chemical psilocybin to PME further supporting differential effects. Further studies are needed to confirm and extend these findings and to identify the molecules that may be responsible for the enhanced effects of PME as compared to psilocybin alone.
Advancements in Deep Learning for Accurate Classification of Grape Leaves and Diagnosis of Grape Diseases
Authors: Kunduracıoğlu İsmail , Pacal Ishak
Published: July 2023

Plant diseases are a major factor contributing to agricultural production losses, necessitating effective disease detection and classification methods. Traditional manual approaches heavily rely on expert knowledge, which can introduce biases. However, advancements in computing and image processing have opened up possibilities for leveraging these technologies to assist non-experts in managing plant diseases. Particularly, deep learning techniques have shown remarkable success in assessing and classifying plant health based on digital images. This paper focuses on fine-tuning state-of-the-art pre-trained convolutional neural network (CNN) models and vision transformer models for the detection and diagnosis of grape leaves and diseases using digital images.The experiments were conducted using two datasets: PlantVillage, which encompasses four classes of grape diseases (Black Rot, Leaf Blight, Healthy, and Esca leaves), and Grapevine, which includes five classes for leaf recognition (Ak, Alaidris, Buzgulu, Dimnit, and Nazli). The results of the experiments, involving a total of 14 models based on six well-known CNN architectures and 17 models based on five widely recognized vision transformer architectures, demonstrated the capability of deep learning techniques in accurately distinguishing between grape diseases and recognizing grape leaves. Notably, four CNN models and four vision transformer models achieved 100% accuracy on the test data from the PlantVillage dataset, while one CNN model and one vision transformer model achieved 100% accuracy on the Grapevine dataset. Among the models tested, the Swinv2-Base model stood out by achieving 100% accuracy on both the PlantVillage and Grapevine datasets. The proposed deep learning-based approach is believed to have the potential to enhance crop productivity through early detection of grape diseases. Additionally, it is expected to offer a fresh perspective to the agricultural sector by providing insights into the characterization of various grape varieties.
Discrimination of tomato plants infected by fungal pathogens at different disease severity using E-nose and GC-MS
Authors: Sun Yubing , Zheng Yutong
Published: July 2023

Disease is a serious problem in tomato plant, causing huge economic loss. Disease detection is the premise of protection. This paper employed Electronic nose (E-nose) and Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometer (GC-MS), as an auxiliary technique, to identify disease type and its severity in the tomato plant. A total of twenty-five volatile constituents were identified using GC-MS, their concentrations were calculated and showed the difference in different groups. Furthermore, the results of E-nose and GC-MS were compared and showed a good correlation. Moreover, the possibility of E-nose in discriminating tomato plants infected with different types and severities of disease either respectively or together was proved based on both Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and Discriminant Functions Analysis (DFA). Then, Back-propagation neural network (BPNN) was introduced and showed that the correct classification rates were 98.3% for training set and 97.5% for testing set for predicting disease type and severity. This study demonstrates the feasibility of E-nose in detecting tomato plants with different disease types and severities. E-nose is an excellent technique for disease identification, which is very meaningful for prevention of disease spread and meets actual application needs.
Discovery of Intrinsic Magnetospheric Ion Behavior at Mars
Authors: Rong Zhaojin , Zhang Chi , Nilsson Hans , Ebihara Yusuke , Yamauchi Masatoshi , Persson Moa , Zhong Jun , Dong Chuanfei , Chen Yuxi , Zhou Xuzhi , Sun Yixin , Harada Yuki , Halekas Jasper , Xu Shaosui , Futaana Yoshifumi , Shi Zhen , Yuan Chongjing , Yun Xiaotong , Fu Song , Gao Jiawei , Holmstrom Mats , Wei Yong , Barabash Stanislav
Published: July 2023

Mars lacks a planetary-scale intrinsic magnetosphere, and instead possesses small-scale crustal magnetic fields, creating a distinct class of plasma environments from intrinsic magnetospheres such as that of Earth or Saturn. Here we report the discovery of intrinsic magnetospheric ion behavior at Mars based on the measurements provided by Mars Atmosphere and Volatile EvolutioN mission (MAVEN). We observed wedge-like dispersion structures of H+ exhibiting butterfly-shaped distributions within the Martian crustal fields, a feature previously observed only in intrinsic magnetospheres. These dispersed structures are a result of drift motions that fundamentally resemble those observed in intrinsic magnetospheres. Our findings indicate that the Martian crustal fields have the potential to behave similarly to intrinsic magnetospheres in modifying the ion motions despite their weak strength and large inhomogeneity. This study offers insights into the role of crustal fields in ion escape and the mass-energy transfer between solar wind and Mars.
Effect of surface oxide on decarburization reaction in the austenitic steel S304HCu
Authors: Zurek Joanna , Cosler Heiko , Quadakkers Willem Joseph , Naumenko Dmitry
Published: July 2023

In the present work, the high temperature decarburization of the austenitic stainless steel S304HCu in Ar-(4%H2)-x H2O at temperatures between 1000 and 1150°C was investigated. The focus was on determining parameters that influence the decarburization rate during heat treatment. Thermogravimetric experiments were performed with simultaneous measurements of CO release from the sample using a mass spectrometer. The variation of the experimental parameters included the composition of the atmosphere during pre-oxidation and decarburization, the temperature and the sample thickness. The results indicate that the loss of carbon from the specimen occurs faster through reaction of Cr2O3 with C from the steel compared to the reaction of C at the steel surface with H2O, provided that in the former case CO can easily evaporate. The overall decarburization process is governed by competing reactions; the destruction of chromium oxide by C and the formation of oxide scale by water vapour. The relative rates of these two reactions determines whether decarburization will occur or whether formation of a protective oxide stops the release of CO, the latter being promoted at lower temperatures and high water vapour contents. A dense, sufficiently thick chromia scale retards the onset of decarburization but does eventually not stop the carbon loss. Indications were found that the destruction of a pre-formed chromia scale by carbon involves a two-step process whereby presence of hydrogen is important.
Using 3D-printed models for pre-planning of high tibial osteotomy
Authors: Mosleh Hamidreza , Mehdizadeh Mehdi , Moradi Fatemeh , Mosleh Hoda , Moteshakereh Seyed MohammadMisagh , Kurdkandi Hooshmand Zarei , Sajjadi Mohammadreza Minator , Shabani Ronak
Published: July 2023

Background: This study aimed to assess the use of 3D-printed models for preoperative planning of high tibial osteotomy (HTO) in patients with genu varum deformity.
Method: This study included Sixteen patients with genu varum divided into two groups: the model group and the control group. Before and after the operation, all patients in both groups underwent a lower limb standing alignment radiograph to measure mMPTA (mechanical Medial Proximal Tibial Angle), mLDFA (mechanical Lateral Distal Femur Angle), CA (Convergence Angle), and mFTA (mechanical FemuroTibial Angle). For the model group, a 3D-printed model was prepared before the surgery, and open wedge HTO was performed using this model. PTS (posterior tibial slope) and TTA (tibial torsion angle) were also measured in the model group, before and after operation. The control group underwent surgery without using a 3D printed model. Following the operation, the angles and the size of the bone opening in the medial axis on the model that underwent surgery were examined, and the measurements were recorded.
Results: There was no significant difference between the groups regarding age, sex, body mass index (BMI), and side of injury. This study found no significant differences in mMPTA, mLDFA, mFTA, and CA between the groups in the 2D image. However, all angles changed significantly in both groups postoperatively, except for mLDFA in the model group. The mean changes in mMPTA, mFTA, and mMLDFA did not significantly differ between the groups, except for CA (P = .012). In the 3D model, PTS increased significantly while TTA decreased. Comparing angles between the 2D image and 3D model showed statistically significant differences, except for mFTA. The size of bone opening along the medial axis did not differ significantly between real surgery and the 3D model. The cost of hospitalization, cost of anesthesia, operation time, and also number of fluoroscopies were significantly lower in the model group compared to the control group.
Conclusion: Using a 3D model for preoperative planning improved the correction of genu varum deformity in HTO. It also reduced the operation time, hospitalization and anesthesia costs, and fluoroscopy usage.
The Genetic Relationship between Systemic Lupus Erythematosus and Risk of Primary Ovarian Failure: a Two-sample Mendelian Randomization Study
Authors: Wang Xiangfei , Mao Ruolin , Wang Meng , Zhu Lixia , Jin Lei
Published: July 2023

Background
Previous studies investigating the relationship between systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and primary ovarian failure (POF) generated conflicting results, especially with the existence of potential environmental confounders. To data, no mendelian randomization study has been applied to examine this causal association between SLE and risk of POF.
Methods
Genetic instruments for exposure (SLE) were selected from a large GWAS study with 5,201 cases and 9,066 noncases. Outcome data for POF and three reproductive traits (age at menarche, age at menopause, and age at first live birth) were obtained from other eligible GWASs. To estimate causal association, the inverse-variance weighted (IVW) method, MR Egger test, weighted mendelian, simple mode, and weighted mode were applied, with the IVW method to be the primary one. Moreover, sensitivity analyses, including Cochran’s Q test, MR-Egger intercept test, and leave-one-out analysis, were conducted to ensure the robustness of the results.
Results
Estimated by the IVW method, SLE was suggested to be causally related to the risk of POF (OR = 1.166, 95% CI: 1.055–1.289, P = 0.003) and delayed age at first live birth (OR = 1.006, 95% CI: 1.002–1.010, P = 0.007), with no evidence of a causal association between SLE and age at menopause or menarche. The causal estimates were robust according to sensitivity analysis.
Conclusion
The two-sample MR study supported a casual association between SLE and POF from a genetic aspect.
IL-17RA promotes tumorigenesis in a murine model of ovarian cancer
Authors: Sánchez-Bello María Elena , Martínez-Vargas Irving Ulises , Osorio-Trujillo Juan Carlos , Flores-García Yevel , Talamás-Rohana Patricia
Published: July 2023

Background: IL-17A is a pleiotropic cytokine involved in inflammation, autoimmunity and cancer. This cytokine is produced by several immune populations in various types of cancers and has been associated with both anti-tumor and pro-tumor functions. This cytokine signals via IL-17RA and RC receptors, which are expressed in various cell lineages, including ovarian tumor cells. Although several works have demonstrated the role of IL-17A in vitro and in vivo cancer models, the function of the IL-17RA receptor remains poorly studied.
Results: In this work, we found that IL-17A/F homodimers or heterodimers did not produce a significant effect on proliferation but showed effects in chemoresistance and migration of ID8 cells, acting as anti-tumoral in vitro. However, in vivo, the absence of the IL-17RA receptor reduced tumor development and the production of ascites, due to a reduction in ERK1/2 activation, leading to an increase in overall survival.
Conclusion: Overall, we demonstrate that IL-17RA promotes tumor development in the ID8 murine model of ovarian cancer in vivo.
Dosimetry evaluation of a new 169Yb-LDR COMS plaque for treatment of intraocular tumors
Authors: Sardari Elham , Poorbaygi Hosein , Aghamiri Seyed Mahmoud Reza , Sheibani Shahab , Moradi Somayeh
Published: July 2023

Ocular melanoma is the most common and malignant intraocular tumor with an incidence of one percent per thousand per year, which can lead to vision loss or even death. The present study investigated the dose distribution around ocular plaque containing 169Yb seeds to treat ocular melanoma. Dosimetry evaluation and comparison of the resulting isodose curve for 169Yb COMS plaque with 125I COMS plaque were performed using MCNPX code. The results of this comparison showed that with this choice, the time for ocular plaque implantation can be reduced by about 3 times for eye plaque with 20mm in diameter, which can be an important achievement for the treatment of large intraocular tumors. It was shown that for the 169Yb LDR source, a dose of 63 Gy (1.6 Gyh− 1) is equivalent to BED of 103.5 Gy and it is biologically equivalent to an 125I LDR of 85 Gy over 5 d. For critical points such as sclera the dose was minimized about %24 and 32% for tumor of apex 5 mm and 10 mm, respectively. For opposite side, it maximized only about %20 and 7% for tumor of apex 5 mm and 10 mm, respectively. Therefore, it seems that the use of 169Yb COMS plaque is better for the larger tumor apex. The results indicate that the 169Yb-LDR plaque can be suitable for treatment intraocular tumors with small basal dimension and larger in height.
New dynamic approach models to estimate the effect of dietary fatty acids on lipid profiles and the incidence of cardiovascular disease in the MASHAD cohort study
Authors: Hafezi Somayeh Ghiasi , Mohammadi-Bajgiran Maryam , Khorasanchi Zahra , Soflaei Sara Saffar , Effati Sohrab , Rahimi Hamid Reza , Shakeri Behrouz , Latifi MohamadReza , Sarabi Mohammadreza Mohammadtaghizadeh , Zadeh Sara Ghazi , Ghamsari Mark , Ferns Gordon A. , Asaran-Darban Reza , Esmaily Habibollah , Ghayour-Mobarhan Majid
Published: July 2023

Background
Due to the controversial effect of dietary fat intake on cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) risk, this study aimed to, adopt a new dynamic model that was tested and evaluated to estimate the effect of dietary fatty acids on the incidence of cardiovascular disease in the MASHAD cohort.
Methods
Total subjects of the Mashhad Stroke and Heart Atherosclerotic Disorder (MASHAD) study, 9704 subjects (of whom 233 developed CVD after 6 years with CVD) were recruited using a randomized clustering approach. Lipids profiles were taken after a 14 hours of overnight fast. 24-h recall questionnaire was used to measure the dietary intakes. A four-dimensional mathematical model based on the susceptible-exposed-infectious-recovered (SEIR) model in the dynamics of food intake was formulated for cardiovascular patients.
Results
Dietary saturated fatty acid (SFA), polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) and monounsaturated fatty acid (MUFA) had an effect on the HDL in women and dietary trans fatty acid (TFA) and cholesterol had an effect on serum LDL, had the greatest effect on the CVDs. In addition, among other dietary fatty acids, cholesterol and TFA had the most and least effect on the incidence of CVDs in dyslipidemia patients, respectively. Regardless of the effect of fatty acids intake on lipid profile, which is more evident in females, CVDs were more in males.
Conclusion
Our models showed that higher intake of MUFA, PUFA as well as lower intake of SFA had a significant effect on serum HDL in women and among other dietary factors, had the most effect on the occurrence of CVDs.
Presurgical computed tomography-directed identification of lung ground-glass nodules: comparing between hook-wire and indocyanine green
Authors: Han Rui , Wang Long-Fei , Teng Fei , Lin Jia , Xian Yu-Tao , Lu Yun , Wu An-Le
Published: July 2023

Background: Presurgical computed tomography (CT)-based identification is frequently employed for minimization of thoracotomy conversion rate, while enhancing video-based thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) sublobar resection rate for ground glass nodules (GGNs). Herein, we compared the clinical efficacies between presurgical CT-based hook-wire and indocyanine green (IG)-based identification of GGNs.
Methods: Between January 2018 and December 2021, we recruited 86 patients who undertook CT-based hook-wire or IG-based GGNs identification prior to VATS resection in our hospital, and compared the clinical efficiency and safety of both techniques.
Results: In all, we selected 38 patients with 39 GGNs who received hook-wire- and 48 patients with 50 GGNs who received IG-based GNN identification. We observed no marked differences in baseline information between the two patient cohorts. Based on our analysis, the technical success rates of CT-based hook-wire- and IG-based localization were 97.4% and 100%, respectively (P = 1.000). Moreover, the average localization duration (15.3 ± 6.3 min vs. 11.2 ± 5.3 min, P = 0.002) and VAS (4.5 ± 0.6 vs. 3.0 ± 0.5, P = 0.001) were considerably elevated among the hook-wire patients, relative to the IG patients. Pneumothorax occurred in 9 (23.7%) and 3 (6.3%) hook-wire and IG patients, respectively (P = 0.048). Lung hemorrhage occurred in 11 (28.9%) and 6 (12.5%) hook-wire and IG patients, respectively (P = 0.057). Lastly, VTAS sublobar resection was successful among all patients receiving CT-directed identification.
Conclusions: Both hook-wire- and IG-based identification successfully identified GGNs prior to VATS resection. However, the presurgical CT-directed IG identification performed far better than the hook-wire-based identification. Moreover, it was associated with reduced complication rates, pain score, and shorter identification duration.
Assembly, annotation and analysis of the chloroplast genome of the Algarrobo tree Neltuma pallida (Subfamily: Caesalpinioideae)
Authors: Caycho Esteban , Torre Renato La , Orjeda Gisella
Published: July 2023

Background Neltuma pallida is a tree that grows in arid soils in northwestern Peru. Being a predominant species of the Equatorial Dry Forest ecoregion, it has a high economic and ecological importance for people and environment. Despite this, the species is severely threatened and there are few genetic and genomic studies about it, making it difficult to propose evidence-based conservation strategies.Results In this work, the chloroplast genome of a N. pallida specimen was assembled, annotated, analyzed and compared with those of related species. The length of the assembled chloroplast genome was 162381 bp with a typical quadripartite structure (LSC-IRA-SSC-IRB). The calculated GC% for the genome was 35.97%, although this is variable between regions, with a higher GC% found in the IRs. A total of 132 genes were annotated, of which 19 were duplicates and 18 contained at least one intron in their sequence. A large number of repetitive sequences of different types were identified in the assembled genome, being the most frequent the tandem repeats (> 300), especially microsatellites (SSR). The phylogenetic reconstruction of Prosopis s.l. showed that this group is monophyletic. N. pallida was closely related to P. cineraria, N. juliflora and N. glandulosa, forming a subclade with these species. When comparing the chloroplast genome sequence of N. pallida with N. juliflora, P. farcta and Strombocarpa tamarugo, it was found that the sequences were highly similar.Conclusions The chloroplast genome of N. pallida is composed of 162381 bp with the classical quadripartite structure and GC% of 35.97%, a value similar to that of other closely related species. Also, the genetic structure of the genome was found to be similar to other members of Prosopis s.l. In the chloroplast genome of N. pallida, more than 800 repetitive sequences were identified, being the most common the tandem repeats. N. pallida showed closeness to the other Neltuma spp., forming a subclade within the Prosopis s.l. group. The divergence analysis indicated that there were little differences when comparing the Prosopis s.l. chloroplast genomes, evidencing high levels of conservation between these species.
GraphTar: applying word2vec and graph neural networks to miRNA target prediction
Authors: Przybyszewski Jan , Malawski Maciej , Lichołai Sabina
Published: July 2023

Background: MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are short, non-coding RNA molecules that regulate gene expression by binding to specific mRNAs, inhibiting their translation. They play a critical role in regulating various biological processes and are implicated in many diseases, including cardiovascular, oncological, gastrointestinal diseases, and viral infections. Computational methods that can identify potential miRNA-mRNA interactions from raw data use one-dimensional miRNA-mRNA duplex representations and simple sequence encoding techniques, which may limit their performance.
Results: We have developed GraphTar, a new target prediction method that uses a novel graph-based representation to reflect the spatial structure of the miRNA-mRNA duplex. Unlike existing approaches, we use the word2vec method to accurately encode RNA sequence information. In conjunction with a novel, word2vec-based encoding method, we use a graph neural network classifier that can accurately predict miRNA-mRNA interactions based on graph representation learning. As part of a comparative study, we evaluate three different node embedding approaches within the GraphTar framework and compare them with other state-of-the-art target prediction methods. The results show that the proposed method achieves similar performance to the best methods in the field and outperforms them on one of the datasets.
Conclusions: In this study, a novel miRNA target prediction approach called GraphTar is introduced. Results show that GraphTar is as effective as existing methods and even outperforms them in some cases, opening new avenues for further research. However, the expansion of available datasets is critical for advancing the field towards real-world applications.
Factors Affecting China’s Defense Expenditure Demand During 1978–2018
Authors: WANG shacheng , zhu xiaoxi
Published: July 2023

China’s defense spending has been hitherto perceived in two dimensions—international academic opinion on the transparency of China’s defense expenditure and the reasons for its growth, and domestic researchers’ analysis of the relationship between public expenditure and economic development in China. There is no consensus on the impact of the changes in the 20th century global military landscape on China’s defense expenditure requirements. This study combines Smith’s (1989, 1995) neoclassical defense expenditure demand and Schelling’s (1960, 1966) deterrence models for an econometric analysis of the factors influencing China’s defense expenditure demand between 1978 and 2018. The results show that China’s defense spending during this period is mainly affected by its military expenditure in the previous period, the relative changes in defense expenditure of the military superpowers, namely, the USA and the Soviet Union (Russia), as well as China’s economic development. At present, the dominance of the USA, which ranks first in the world in terms of military expenditure, and the lack of comparable military superpowers may be an important source of China’s external threat perception. This study sheds light on the reasons for the changes in China’s military expenditure over the past 40 years and empirically establishes the relevance of Schelling’s deterrence theory for modern strategic military analyses.
Synchronous Aggressive NK Cell Leukemia and EBV-positive T-cell lymphoma in a 30-year old Vietnamese Woman; Case Report and Literature Review
Authors: Dayton Vanessa J , Thien Dang Hoang , Xinh Phan Thi , Arries Cade , Sang Nguyen Ngoc , Lien Nguyen Phuong , Dung Phu Chi
Published: July 2023

Background: Aggressive NK cell leukemia (ANKL) and systemic EBV-positive T-cell lymphoma of childhood (SEBVTCL) with CD4-positive immunophenotype are both rare. Both entities are associated with prior systemic chronic active EBV disease (CAEBV) and presentation with Hemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis (HLH). Whereas ANKL is typically seen in young to middle-aged adults, SEBVTCL is most commonly seen in children and young adults.
We report the case of a 30-year-old Vietnamese woman who presented acutely with high fever, generalized lymphadenopathy, hepatosplenomegaly, and HLH, after a months-long history of fever and malaise, more than one year after an acute EBV infection.
Methods: Immunohistochemistry; flow cytometric immunophenotyping; polymerase chain reaction (PCR), Next Generation Sequencing (NGS)
Results:
At the time of hospital admission, automated complete blood count (CBC) with differential count showed slight anemia, slight lymphocytosis, and moderate thrombocytopenia. HIV serology was negative. Whole blood PCR for EBV was positive showing 98,000 copies/ml. A lymph node biopsy revealed histology and immunohistochemistry consistent with the WHO-HAEM5 classification of SEBVTCL arising in CAEBV. Blood and bone marrow studies performed for staging revealed no histologic or immunohistochemical evidence of T-cell lymphoma in the bone marrow core, however, atypical blood smear lymphocyte morphology and blood immunophenotyping by flow cytometry were consistent with WHO-HAEM5 classification of ANKL. NGS revealed no evidence of genetic variant(s) associated with HLH in Vietnam.
Conclusion: This unusual synchronous presentation of two distinct EBV-driven T/NK cell neoplasms in a Southeast Asian woman highlights the importance of keeping EBV-positive lymphoproliferative disorders in the differential diagnosis for both children and adults, particularly those of Asian and Southeast Asian descent.