bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
CORROSION RATE OF WELDING ON MOTORCYCLE FRAME
Authors: Sotya Anggoro
Published: December 2023

Corrosion is one of the things that occurs due to damage or degradation of metals due to a redox reaction between metals and various substances in their environment so that they can produce unwanted compounds. This corrosion is also often referred to as rusting.
 
The process of this research was carried out by calculating the loss (weight loss) and analyzing the ratio of corrosion velocity, specimen changes, the ratio of fresh water and sea water and the ratio of specimens with coating and without coating. with a research time of 14 days.
 
From the results of immersion analysis, comparison and calculation of specimens in the corrosion process yielded a value (mm/y), specimen 1 without coating corrosion value per year 0.37 (mm/y), specimen 2 without coating corrosion value per year 0.52 (mm/y ), specimen 1 with coating corrosion value per year 0.26 (mm/y), and specimen 2 with coating corrosion value per year 0.3 (mm/y). Overall, the research conducted on the corrosion of one of the four specimens, namely the specimen without coating, experienced a decrease in mass due to corrosion, from 54.09 g to 54.04 g. Uncoated specimens in the absence of protection have a higher corrosion rate.
Supervivencia global y libre de enfermedad en mujeres con sobrepeso/obesidad al diagnóstico de cáncer de mama
Authors: Arturo Restrepo Natalia , Arango Jaramillo Catalina , Arévalo Gutierrez Ana María , Rada González Paulina , Ramírez Posada Mariana , Montoya María Elvira , Montoya Lezcano Katerine , Rivas Bedoya Yamile , Vásquez Trespalacios Elsa María
Published: December 2023

Introducción: El objetivo del presente estudio fue evaluar las características clínicas, patológicas e histológicas tumorales y su asociación con la recurrencia, metástasis y pronóstico en términos de supervivencia global y libre de enfermedad, de las pacientes que padecen sobrepeso u obesidad al momento del diagnóstico de cáncer de mama.

Materiales y métodos: Se condujo un estudio descriptivo, longitudinal, retrospectivo, en un centro oncológico de referencia de Medellín. Se recolectó información de pacientes mayores de 18 años, con cáncer de mama infiltrante temprano y avanzado, entre los años 2012 – 2017, quienes presentaran IMC > 25 kg/m 2 al momento del diagnóstico. Las medianas de supervivencia se calcularon a través de curvas de Kaplan Meier y las diferencias mediante Log Rank Test.

Resultados: Se analizó información de 1.349 pacientes. La mortalidad por todas las causas fue de 13.6% y aumentó proporcionalmente con el IMC (HR = 1.03, IC 1.0-1.05). Se identificaron 12.6% de recurrencias y el riesgo con el aumento de IMC no fue estadísticamente significativo (HR =1.02, IC 0.99 - 1.05). Características como mala diferenciación tumoral, invasión linfovascular y estadio tumoral se asociaron de forma univariada con mayor mortalidad.

Conclusión: Se demostró una asociación positiva e independiente entre el IMC elevado, la mortalidad y el riesgo de recurrencia en pacientes con cáncer de mama. Así como una asociación con fenotipos tumorales agresivos y características de peor pronóstico. Se sugiere considerar modificaciones en el estilo de vida y un manejo multidisciplinario, como estrategias que posiblemente impacten en estos desenlaces.
Production system and challenges of saline aquaculture in Punjab and Sindh provinces of Pakistan
Authors: Rossignoli Cristiano M. , Obi Chinedu , Ali Syed Aman , Ullah Najeeb , Khalid Sidra , Hafeez Mohsin , Shah Syed Mehtab Hassan
Published: December 2023

Introduction

Lack of data about saline aquaculture in Pakistan has curtailed informed policy and investment decision making resulting in undervaluation of and underinvestment in the sector. Therefore, saline aquaculture in Pakistan is today an underdeveloped sector despite its potential as an alternative livelihood for the country's rural farmers. This study represents one of the initial exploratory investigations into saline aquaculture systems in Pakistan, aiming to comprehend the existing sectoral landscape, production challenges, post-harvest constraints, and the associated capacity and investment needs.

Methods

The study employed purposive sampling to survey 121 low-income saline aquaculture farmers across five districts of Southern Punjab and Sindh provinces. The analysis was carried out using descriptive statistics.

Results

The results revealed that the saline aquaculture sector is predominantly male-centric, with agricultural land utilized for both agriculture and aquaculture purposes. Ponds, which usually serve multiple functions, focus primarily on carp production, but adherence to good management practices remains limited. Farmers face various challenges, including the high costs of feed and seeds, freshwater scarcity, inadequate technical knowledge, and marketing issues.

Discussion and conclusion

This study serves as a foundational assessment, addressing data and information gaps crucial for supporting the sustainable development of saline aquaculture in Pakistan. To facilitate such development, the study recommends initiating programs to strengthen technical skills in saline aquaculture, together with the establishment of hatcheries and breeding stations for saline-tolerant species, aiming to reduce dependence on freshwater species in saline pond environments.
Ventilation and disease monitoring of indoor spaces and public transportation using an NDIR sensor network
Authors: Agar Joshua C. , Lustro Julius Rhoan T. , Magpantay Percival , Hizon John Richard E. , Reyes Joseph Gerard T.
Published: December 2023

With the COVID-19 pandemic still ongoing, there is a need to ensure that people are not subjected to the risk of getting infected with the disease. Since COVID-19 is airborne, engineering controls must be provided to monitor and mitigate the spread of the disease in the air. One of the measures is to ensure proper ventilation within indoor spaces where superspreader events were previously documented in poorly ventilated spaces. CO2 levels reflect the rate at which the used air within is replaced and, therefore, can be used as a proxy for COVID-19 risk. This study developed economical CO2 monitors which are deployed across indoor spaces and public transportation, such as air-conditioned jeepneys, to communicate the risk. Using the least squares method on the first-order ODE of mass balance, a multivariate method is devised for deriving the occupancy and the ventilation rate from the recorded CO2 levels. Using the multivariate method, the ventilation rates of different indoor spaces are determined and used for the subsequent computations using the Wells–Riley model to derive the respective infection risk, particularly of COVID-19.
Consistency of drug-resistant mutations in plasma and peripheral blood mononuclear cells of patients with treatment-naïve and treatment-experienced HIV-1 infection
Authors: Ma Jie , Chen Zhaoyun , Fu Chaohong , Wei Shuguang , Liu Jinjin , Yang Xuan , Chen Xuhui , Zhao Qingxia , Sun Yan , Huo Yuqi
Published: December 2023

Introduction

Genotypic drug resistance testing is cursrently recommended by the World Health Organization for all patients infected with human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) undergoing care or switching regimes due to failure with previous antiretroviral therapy (ART). Patients with human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS) who meet the criteria for free testing for genotypic drug resistance due to poor adherence in Henan Province may resume their previous regimens before resampling. Therefore, resistance testing based on plasma RNA can fail in a proportion of patients. Resistance testing based on peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) is an alternative option. In this study, we investigated the differences in drug-resistant mutations (DRMs) between plasma HIV RNA and proviral DNA in treatment-experienced and treatment-naïve patients.

Methods

Matched plasma RNA and proviral DNA samples of 66 HIV-1 infected treatment-naïve and 78 treatment-experienced patients were selected for DRM analysis and comparison.

Results

DRMs were detected in 27.3% (18/66) of treatment-naïve and 80.8% (63/78) of treatment-experienced samples. Resistance to at least one drug was detected based on analysis of plasma RNA and proviral DNA in 7.6% (5/66) and 9.1% (6/66) of treatment-naïve patients and in 79.5% (62/78) and 78.2% (61/78) of treatment-experienced patients, respectively. Furthermore, 61/66 (92.4%) of treatment-naïve patients showed concordant RNA and DNA drug resistance. When drug resistance was defined as intermediate and high, the concordance of drug resistance profiles of paired RNA and proviral DNA samples derived from treatment-naïve patients were up to 97.0% compared with only 80.8% (63/78) in treatment-experienced patients.

Discussion

Our data indicate that drug resistance testing based on plasma RNA or proviral DNA might be interchangeable in treatment-naïve patients, whereas plasma RNA-based testing remains the best choice for drug resistance analysis in patients with ART failure in clinical practice.
Serological surveillance of GI norovirus reveals persistence of blockade antibody in a Jidong community-based prospective cohort, 2014–2018
Authors: Yu Jing-Rong , Xie Dong-Jie , Li Jia-Heng , Koroma Mark Momoh , Wang Lu , Wang Yu , Jing Duo-Na , Xu Jia-Yi , Yu Jun-Xuan , Du Hui-Sha , Zhou Fei-Yuan , Liang Zhi-Yan , Zhang Xu-Fu , Dai Ying-Chun
Published: December 2023

Introduction

Herd immunity against norovirus (NoV) is poorly understood in terms of its serological properties and vaccine designs. The precise neutralizing serological features of genotype I (GI) NoV have not been studied.

Methods

To expand insights on vaccine design and herd immunity of NoVs, seroprevalence and seroincidence of NoV genotypes GI.2, GI.3, and GI.9 were determined using blockade antibodies based on a 5-year longitudinal serosurveillance among 449 residents in Jidong community.

Results

Correlation between human histo-blood group antigens (HBGAs) and GI NoV, and dynamic and persistency of antibodies were also analyzed. Seroprevalence of GI.2, GI.3, and GI.9 NoV were 15.1%–18.0%, 35.0%–38.8%, and 17.6%–22.0%; seroincidences were 10.0, 21.0, and 11.0 per 100.0 person-year from 2014 to 2018, respectively. Blockade antibodies positive to GI.2 and GI.3 NoV were significantly associated with HBGA phenotypes, including blood types A, B (excluding GI.3), and O+; Lewis phenotypes Leb+/Ley+ and Lea+b+/Lex+y+; and secretors. The overall decay rate of anti-GI.2 antibody was -5.9%/year (95% CI: -7.1% to -4.8%/year), which was significantly faster than that of GI.3 [-3.6%/year (95% CI: -4.6% to -2.6%/year)] and GI.9 strains [-4.0%/year (95% CI: -4.7% to -3.3%/year)]. The duration of anti-GI.2, GI.3, and GI.9 NoV antibodies estimated by generalized linear model (GLM) was approximately 2.3, 4.2, and 4.8 years, respectively.

Discussion

In conclusion, enhanced community surveillance of GI NoV is needed, and even one-shot vaccine may provide coast-efficient health benefits against GI NoV infection.
A growing battlefield in the war against biofilm-induced antimicrobial resistance: insights from reviews on antibiotic resistance
Authors: Pai Liu , Patil Sandip , Liu Sixi , Wen Feiqiu
Published: December 2023

Biofilms are a common survival strategy employed by bacteria in healthcare settings, which enhances their resistance to antimicrobial and biocidal agents making infections difficult to treat. Mechanisms of biofilm-induced antimicrobial resistance involve reduced penetration of antimicrobial agents, increased expression of efflux pumps, altered microbial physiology, and genetic changes in the bacterial population. Factors contributing to the formation of biofilms include nutrient availability, temperature, pH, surface properties, and microbial interactions. Biofilm-associated infections can have serious consequences for patient outcomes, and standard antimicrobial therapies are often ineffective against biofilm-associated bacteria, making diagnosis and treatment challenging. Novel strategies, including antibiotics combination therapies (such as daptomycin and vancomycin, colistin and azithromycin), biofilm-targeted agents (such as small molecules (LP3134, LP3145, LP4010, LP1062) target c-di-GMP), and immunomodulatory therapies (such as the anti-PcrV IgY antibodies which target Type IIIsecretion system), are being developed to combat biofilm-induced antimicrobial resistance. A multifaceted approach to diagnosis, treatment, and prevention is necessary to address this emerging problem in healthcare settings.
AI in healthcare: navigating opportunities and challenges in digital communication
Authors: Sun George , Zhou Yi-Hui
Published: December 2023

The landscape of healthcare communication is undergoing a profound transformation in the digital age, and at the heart of this evolution are AI-powered chatbots. This mini-review delves into the role of AI chatbots in digital health, providing a detailed exploration of their applications, benefits, challenges, and future prospects. Our focus is on their versatile applications within healthcare, encompassing health information dissemination, appointment scheduling, medication management, remote patient monitoring, and emotional support services. The review underscores the compelling advantages of AI chatbots. However, it also addresses the significant challenges posed by the integration of AI tools into healthcare communication.
Catching up after COVID-19: do school programs for remediating pandemic-related learning loss work?
Authors: de Bruijn Anne G. M. , Meeter Martijn
Published: December 2023

Introduction

COVID-19 had a major impact on education, resulting in learning losses among students. The Dutch ministry set-up a subsidy for schools to implement catch-up programs in tackling learning losses. In this study, we examine (a) which students participated in the programs, and (b) effectiveness of these programs in remediating learning losses in secondary school students.

Methods

Sixteen program in eight secondary schools were analyzed using data of 16,675 students (9,784 individual students; 1,336 participating in a catch-up program). Schools implemented three program types: tutoring, homework support, and general skills. Per school, a difference-in-difference design was used, computing two effect sizes: comparing grades of participating and non-participating students; and grades in tutoring-specific subjects to non-tutored subject (specifically for tutoring programs). Effect sizes were combined using meta-analytic regressions in JASP.

Results

At program onset, students selected for participation had significantly lower overall grades than non-participants, or – for subject-specific tutoring – lower grades specifically in the tutored subject. Tutoring programs significantly increased students’ grades: with higher grades for participants than non-participants, and – for students receiving subject-specific tutoring - higher grades in tutored subjects compared to those in non-tutored subjects. No significant effects were found for homework support and general study skill programs.

Conclusion

Schools selected students most in need for catch-up programs. Tutoring interventions seemed to remediate part of secondary school students’ learning losses, whereas general skills programs and homework support programs did not. Large between-school heterogeneity was found, implying that program implementation was at least as important as program type and content.
Exploring the intersections of TAM and TRI models in middle school VR technology acceptance
Authors: Lin Xiao Ping , Li Bin Bin , Zhang Mingshu , Yang Zhi
Published: December 2023

Background

In recent years, the attitudes of middle school principals toward virtual reality (VR) have received much attention from the educational technology community. As VR continues to gain popularity in education, researchers have begun to explore middle school principals’ perceptions of VR using the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) (perceived usefulness, and perceived ease of use) and Technology Readiness Index (TRI) (optimism, innovativeness, discomfort, and insecurity) models to explore middle school principals’ perceptions of VR. This helps to reveal the influencing factors of middle school principals’ acceptance of VR, which in turn provides theoretical support and guidance for promoting the application of VR in education.

Methods

To explore the factors influencing the acceptance of VR by middle school principals. We searched several databases such as Google, Scopus, and Elsevier. We focused on peer-reviewed English-language publications on VR, TAM, TRI, and middle school education from 2013 to 2023.

Results

Through the literature review, we found that middle school principals’ intention to use VR was significantly influenced by the TAM (perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use) and TRI (optimism, innovation, discomfort, and insecurity) models. In addition, there was some degree of intersection between the dimensions of the TRI and TAM models.

Conclusion

VR has been widely recognized by middle school principals as an educational tool. By providing an immersive and interactive experience, VR can be effective in improving the efficiency of school operations to a great extent.
Association of serum uric acid Levels with metabolic syndromes in Korean adolescents
Authors: Seo Young-Jun , Shim Young Suk , Lee Hae Sang , Hwang Jin Soon
Published: December 2023

Introduction

The study findings investigated uric acid reference values and their association with a cluster of cardiometabolic risk factors among adolescents using the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES).

Methods

A retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted using the KNHANES database from 2016 to 2018, involving a total of 2,462 participants aged between 10 and 18 years. Based on age- and sex-specific percentile curves for serum uric acid (SUA) levels from the KNHANES, we examined the correlation between cardiometabolic risk factors and serum uric acid levels.

Results

The percentile values of SUA varied with sex and age. In male subjects, SUA levels tended to increase from 10 to 14 years of age and plateaued after 14 years of age. Moreover, the overall uric acid level in females was found to be lower than that in males; the levels tended to increase at approximately 10 to 12 years old but were relatively consistent according to age. Mean uric acid levels increased according to obesity status in both males and females. However, correlation analysis revealed that SUA levels were associated with several metabolic risks even after adjusting for obesity. The detailed metabolic syndrome (MetS) components that were observed to be associated with an increase in uric acid levels were different between males and females, but overall, high uric acid levels increased MetS risk. Additionally, a significant increase in MetS-related odds ratio (OR) for components, including waist circumference (WC), triglyceride (TG) levels, and low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-c), was observed. However, differences between sexes were apparent, with a more pronounced increase in OR based on SUA levels in girls.

Discussion

SUA levels were closely associated with MetS and its components, even in nonobese subjects. Therefore, high SUA levels in children and young adolescents should be closely monitored to prevent MetS.
Combining bioinformatics and machine learning algorithms to identify and analyze shared biomarkers and pathways in COVID-19 convalescence and diabetes mellitus
Authors: Shen Jinru , Wang Yaolou , Deng Xijin , Sana Si Ri Gu Leng
Published: December 2023

Background

Most patients who had coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) fully recovered, but many others experienced acute sequelae or persistent symptoms. It is possible that acute COVID-19 recovery is just the beginning of a chronic condition. Even after COVID-19 recovery, it may lead to the exacerbation of hyperglycemia process or a new onset of diabetes mellitus (DM). In this study, we used a combination of bioinformatics and machine learning algorithms to investigate shared pathways and biomarkers in DM and COVID-19 convalescence.

Methods

Gene transcriptome datasets of COVID-19 convalescence and diabetes mellitus from Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) were integrated using bioinformatics methods and differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were found using the R programme. These genes were also subjected to Gene Ontology (GO) functional enrichment analysis and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway analysis to find potential pathways. The hub DEGs genes were then identified by combining protein-protein interaction (PPI) networks and machine learning algorithms. And transcription factors (TFs) and miRNAs were predicted for DM after COVID-19 convalescence. In addition, the inflammatory and immune status of diabetes after COVID-19 convalescence was assessed by single-sample gene set enrichment analysis (ssGSEA).

Results

In this study, we developed genetic diagnostic models for 6 core DEGs beteen type 1 DM (T1DM) and COVID-19 convalescence and 2 core DEGs between type 2 DM (T2DM) and COVID-19 convalescence and demonstrated statistically significant differences (p<0.05) and diagnostic validity in the validation set. Analysis of immune cell infiltration suggests that a variety of immune cells may be involved in the development of DM after COVID-19 convalescence.

Conclusion

We identified a genetic diagnostic model for COVID-19 convalescence and DM containing 8 core DEGs and constructed a nomogram for the diagnosis of COVID-19 convalescence DM.
Granular risk assessment of earthquake induced landslide via latent representations of stacked autoencoder
Authors: Feng Yuran , Yang Weiqi , Wan Jian , Li Huajin
Published: December 2023

Earthquake-induced landslides are ubiquitous on slopes in terrestrial environments, which can pose a serious threat to local communities and infrastructures. Data-driven landslide assessments play a crucial role in preventing future landslide occurrences and recurrences. We present a novel granular computing approach that assesses landslide risk by combining fuzzy information granulation and a stacked autoencoder algorithm. The stacked autoencoder is trained using an end-to-end learning strategy to obtain a central latent vector with reduced dimensionality. The multivariate landslide dataset was used as both the input and output to train the stacked autoencoder algorithm. Subsequently, in the central latent vector of the stacked autoencoder, the Fuzzy C-means clustering algorithm was applied to cluster the landslides into various groups with different risk levels, and the intervals for each group were computed using the granular computing approach. An empirical case study in Wenchuan County, Sichuan, China, was conducted. A comparative analysis with other state-of-the-art approaches including Density-based spatial clustering of applications with noise (DBSCAN), K-means clustering, and Principal Component Analysis (PCA), is provided and discussed. The experimental results demonstrate that the proposed approach using a stacked autoencoder integrated with fuzzy information granulation provides superior performance compared to those by other state-of-the-art approaches, and is capable of studying deep patterns in earthquake-induced landslide datasets and provides sufficient interpretation for field engineers.
Research on the evolutionary game of multi-agent collaborative supervision of enterprise green behavior driven by big data
Authors: Huo Hong , Wang Yue
Published: December 2023

Based on evolutionary game theory, this paper constructs a tripartite game model—involving the government, enterprises, and environmental protection social organizations—to explore an effective path for the collaborative supervision of corporate green behavior by multiple agents in the context of modern digital technology. The impacts of participating agent strategies are analyzed numerically, and the key factors affecting the ideal state are explored and simulated. The main conclusions and insights are as follows: 1) An increase in government information disclosure can effectively constrain enterprises’ behavior, by confronting them with the prospect of loss of reputation. However, if the enterprises’ loss of reputation is excessive, they will feel over-regulated, which is not conducive their carrying out green innovation. Information disclosure does, however, have a role to play in transmitting environmental information to the public and environmental protection social organizations in a timely manner to reduce the information gap and promote the formation of multi-dimensional common governance. 2) By using big data, the government can not only save on government costs, but also more accurately identify and monitor in real time enterprises that are causing pollution and that are not using green technology. This can notably promote the evolution of all parties to an ideal state and improve the effectiveness of regulation. 3) When environmental social organizations provide enterprises with the necessary resource supports, this can significantly promote improvements in the enterprises’ level of enterprises’ green technology innovation. 4) Increased willingness on the part of the public to supervise can enhance the interaction between the public and environmental social organizations, prompting those organizations to actively carry out environmental protection activities and increase their popularity among the public, which will have a positive effect on how the system involving government, enterprises, and environmental protection social organizations evolves.
A long and winding road of referrals: investigating the relationship between healthcare and integration for Nairobi's urban displaced
Authors: McAteer Boel , Alhaj Hasan Salam , Wanyonyi Jackline
Published: December 2023

This article discusses what integration means in the context of forced displacement, focusing in particular on healthcare access of urban displaced people in Nairobi, Kenya. To do so, it uses a mixed dataset of survey data investigating health and healthcare access for displaced and host respondents in Nairobi's informal settlements Mathare and Kiambiu or Eastleigh South; key informant interviews with healthcare service providers working with displaced people; and finally a case study of a medical pathway taken by a displaced man living in a suburb to Nairobi. His journey demonstrates that documentation, information and language remain challenges specific to the displaced populations, and the importance of utilizing personal support networks, which will not be available to all patients. Notably, this patient's path to treatment brought him to clinics within Nairobi's informal settlements, where healthcare access is often inadequate for its own residents, including both locals and displaced. As such, it shows that where an integrated healthcare system falls short, it can be more beneficial for patients to navigate between the national system and support systems provided for urban refugees.
Circulating miRNAs act as potential biomarkers for asthma
Authors: Hu Guang , Du Yujie , Xie Manying , Chen Rongchang , Shi Fei
Published: December 2023

Background

Identification of new clinical markers contributes to a better understanding of the pathogenesis of asthma. Considering the crucial role of LIGHT in asthma, it may become a potential target for asthma. The aim of current study was to determine if circulating microRNAs (miRNAs) targeting LIGHT may be used as diagnostic biomarkers to distinguish asthma.

Methods

Blood serum from a cohort of 60 subjects, including 20 cases with mild asthma, 20 cases with moderate-to-severe asthma, and 20 healthy controls were included. Serum was analyzed for circulating miRNAs profiles through miRNAs microarray. Real Time PCR was conducted to verify the results of miRNA microarray. Correlations between circulating miRNAs targeting LIGHT and clinical characteristics were investigated.

Results

A total of 365 miRNAs were differentially expressed in asthma patients. Among them, miR-107 and miR-140-5p were found to target LIGHT, and varied in asthmatics. Additionally, miR-107 and miR-140-5p expressions were positively correlated with the absolute value of peripheral eosinophils. Finally, miR-140-5p and miR-107 were demonstrated to have good diagnostic efficacy for asthma (AUC= 0.8667 and 0.9400) with good sensitivity (0.8000 and 0.8667,respectively) and specificity (0.8667 and 0.867). Thus, circulating miRNAs expressed differentially between healthy control and asthma patients.

Conclusion

Plasma miR-140-5p and miR-107 can be used as diagnostic biomarkers to distinguish patients with asthma from healthy control, and may take part in asthma pathogenesis by negatively regulating LIGHT. Further research was needed to evaluate their roles as potential biomarkers in the diagnosis of asthma.
An integrated analysis of bulk and single-cell sequencing data reveals that EMP1+/COL3A1+ fibroblasts contribute to the bone metastasis process in breast, prostate, and renal cancers
Authors: Du Haoyuan , Wang Hua , Luo Yuwei , Jiao Yang , Wu Jiajun , Dong Shaowei , Du Dong
Published: December 2023

Introduction

Bone metastasis (BoM) occurs when cancer cells spread from their primary sites to a bone. Currently, the mechanism underlying this metastasis process remains unclear.

Methods

In this project, through an integrated analysis of bulk-sequencing and single-cell RNA transcriptomic data, we explored the BoM-related features in tumor microenvironments of different tumors.

Results

We first identified 34 up-regulated genes during the BoM process in breast cancer, and further explored their expression status among different components in the tumor microenvironment (TME) of BoM samples. Enriched EMP1+ fibroblasts were found in BoM samples, and a COL3A1-ADGRG1 communication between these fibroblasts and cancer cells was identified which might facilitate the BoM process. Moreover, a significant correlation between EMP1 and COL3A1 was identified in these fibroblasts, confirming the potential connection of these genes during the BoM process. Furthermore, the existence of these EMP1+/COL3A1+ fibroblasts was also verified in prostate cancer and renal cancer BoM samples, suggesting the importance of these fibroblasts from a pan-cancer perspective.

Discussion

This study is the first attempt to investigate the relationship between fibroblasts and BoM process across multi-tumor TMEs. Our findings contribute another perspective in the exploration of BoM mechanism while providing some potential targets for future treatments of tumor metastasis.
A bibliometric and visual analysis of cancer-associated fibroblasts
Authors: Yuan Wei-Chen , Zhang Jie-Xiang , Chen Hai-Bin , Yuan Ying , Zhuang Yu-Pei , Zhou Hong-Li , Li Mu-Han , Qiu Wen-Li , Zhou Hong-Guang
Published: December 2023

Background

Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) represent the predominant stromal component within the tumour microenvironment (TME), exhibiting considerable heterogeneity and plasticity that significantly impact immune response and metabolic reprogramming within the TME, thereby influencing tumour progression. Consequently, investigating CAFs is of utmost importance. The objective of this study is to employ bibliometric analysis in order to evaluate the current state of research on CAFs and predict future areas of research and emerging trends.

Methods

Conduct a comprehensive search for scholarly publications within the Web of Science Core Collection database, encompassing the time period from January 1, 2001, to December 31, 2022. Apply VOSviewer, CiteSpace, R software and Microsoft Excel for bibliometric analysis and visualisation.

Results

This study involved a comprehensive analysis of 5,925 publications authored by 33,628 individuals affiliated with 4,978 institutions across 79 countries/regions. These publications were published in 908 journals, covering 14,495 keywords and 203,947 references. Notably, there was a significant increase in articles published between 2019 and 2022. China had the highest count of articles, while the United States emerged as the most frequently cited country. The primary research institutions in this field were Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Harvard University, and the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. Sotgia, Federica and Lisanti, Michael P from the University of Manchester, and Martinet, Wim from the University of Antwerp were the most prolific and highly cited authors. The journal Cancers had the highest number of publications, while Cancer Research was the most frequently cited journal. Molecular, biology, immunology, medicine and genetics were the main research disciplines in the field of CAFs. Key directions in CAFs research encompassed the study of transforming growth factor-β, Fibroblast Activation Protein, breast cancer, as well as growth and metastasis. The findings from the analysis of keyword co-occurrence and literature co-citation have revealed several emerging hotspots and trends within the field of CAFs. These include STAT3, multidrug resistance, pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma, pan-cancer analysis, preclinical evaluation, ionizing radiation, and gold nanoparticles.

Conclusion

Targeting CAFs is anticipated to be a novel and effective strategy for cancer treatment. This study provides a comprehensive overview of the existing research on CAFs from 2001 to 2022, utilizing bibliometric analysis. The study identified the prominent areas of investigation and anticipated future research directions, with the aim of providing valuable insights and recommendations for future studies in the field of CAFs.
Collectins and ficolins in neonatal health and disease
Authors: Cedzyński Maciej , Świerzko Anna S.
Published: December 2023

The immune system starts to develop early in embryogenesis. However, at birth it is still immature and associated with high susceptibility to infection. Adaptation to extrauterine conditions requires a balance between colonization with normal flora and protection from pathogens. Infections, oxidative stress and invasive therapeutic procedures may lead to transient organ dysfunction or permanent damage and perhaps even death. Newborns are primarily protected by innate immune mechanisms. Collectins (mannose-binding lectin, collectin-10, collectin-11, collectin-12, surfactant protein A, surfactant protein D) and ficolins (ficolin-1, ficolin-2, ficolin-3) are oligomeric, collagen-related defence lectins, involved in innate immune response. In this review, we discuss the structure, specificity, genetics and role of collectins and ficolins in neonatal health and disease. Their clinical associations (protective or pathogenic influence) depend on a variety of variables, including genetic polymorphisms, gestational age, method of delivery, and maternal/environmental microflora.
LMP1 and EBNA2 constitute a minimal set of EBV genes for transformation of human B cells
Authors: Zhang Jingwei , Sommermann Thomas , Li Xun , Gieselmann Lutz , de la Rosa Kathrin , Stecklum Maria , Klein Florian , Kocks Christine , Rajewsky Klaus
Published: December 2023

Introduction

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection in humans is associated with a wide range of diseases including malignancies of different origins, most prominently B cells. Several EBV latent genes are thought to act together in B cell immortalization, but a minimal set of EBV genes sufficient for transformation remains to be identified.

Methods

Here, we addressed this question by transducing human peripheral B cells from EBV-negative donors with retrovirus expressing the latent EBV genes encoding Latent Membrane Protein (LMP) 1 and 2A and Epstein-Barr Nuclear Antigen (EBNA) 2.

Results

LMP1 together with EBNA2, but not LMP1 alone or in combination with LMP2A was able to transform human primary B cells. LMP1/EBNA2-immortalized cell lines shared surface markers with EBV-transformed lymphoblastoid cell lines (LCLs). They showed sustained growth for more than 60 days, albeit at a lower growth rate than EBV-transformed LCLs. LMP1/EBNA2-immortalized cell lines generated tumors when transplanted subcutaneously into severely immunodeficient NOG mice.

Conclusion

Our results identify a minimal set of EBV proteins sufficient for B cell transformation.
Macroalgal features and their influence on associated biodiversity: implications for conservation and restoration
Authors: Gibbons Emily G. , Quijón Pedro A.
Published: December 2023

Studies examining the relationship between seaweeds and the diversity of associated organisms have been attempted far less than those focusing on the influence of terrestrial plants. That is troublesome considering the growing number of studies reporting the decline or local loss of macroalgae because of ocean warming and climate change. Since the fate of macroalgae will have an influence on associated organisms, this brief overview examined the different roles played by macroalgae, making the distinction between morphological features associated with individual seaweed species and those associated with populations or habitats. Most studies at both (individual and population) levels have identified positive relationships between morphological features such as structural complexity (including fractal dimensions) and invertebrate biodiversity, and the abundance of various faunistic groups. Some of these relationships are stronger than others, often with complex outcomes, suggesting that the current and future ecological benefits provided by macroalgae are strongly species- and habitat-dependent. While the displacement or local-scale loss of seaweeds may continue because of climate change, the features identified here may become useful in light of conservation and restoration efforts.
Gene cloning, expression, and characterization of two endo-xylanases from Bacillus velezensis and Streptomyces rochei, and their application in xylooligosaccharide production
Authors: Zhang Jing , Qin Yan , Wang Qingyan , Liu Sijia , Zhou Jin , He Baoxiang , Liang Xinquan , Xian Liang , Wu Junhua
Published: December 2023

Endo-xylanase hydrolyzing xylan in cellulosic residues releasing xylobiose as the major product at neutral pH are desirable in the substitute sweeteners industry. In this study, two endo-xylanases were obtained from Streptomyces rochei and Bacillus velezensis. SrocXyn10 showed the highest identity of 77.22%, with a reported endo-xylanase. The optimum reaction temperature and pH of rSrocXyn10-Ec were pH 7.0 and 60°C, with remarkable stability at 45°C or pHs ranging from 4.5 to 11.0. rBvelXyn11-Ec was most active at pH 6.0 and 50°C, and was stable at 35°C or pH 3.5 to 10.5. Both rSrocXyn10-Ec and rBvelXyn11-Ec showed specific enzyme activities on wheat arabinoxylan (685.83 ± 13.82 and 2809.89 ± 21.26 U/mg, respectively), with no enzyme activity on non-xylan substrates. The Vmax of rSrocXyn10-Ec and rBvelXyn11-Ec were 467.86 U mg−1 and 3067.68 U mg−1, respectively. The determined Km values of rSrocXyn10-Ec and rBvelXyn11-Ec were 3.08 g L−1 and 1.45 g L−1, respectively. The predominant product of the hydrolysis of alkaline extracts from bagasse, corncob, and bamboo by rSrocXyn10-Ec and rBvelXyn11-Ec were xylooligosaccharides. Interestingly, the xylobiose content in hydrolysates by rSrocXyn10-Ec was approximately 80%, which is higher than most reported endo-xylanases. rSrocXyn10-Ec and rBvelXyn11-Ec could be excellent candidates to produce xylooligosaccharides at neutral/near-neutral pHs. rSrocXyn10-Ec also has potential value in the production of xylobiose as a substitute sweetener.
Protocol of the HISTOTHERM study: assessing the response to hyperthermia and hypofractionated radiotherapy in recurrent breast cancer
Authors: Thomsen Andreas R. , Sahlmann Jörg , Bronsert Peter , Schilling Oliver , Poensgen Felicia , May Annette M. , Timme-Bronsert Sylvia , Grosu Anca-Ligia , Vaupel Peter , Gebbers Jan-Olaf , Multhoff Gabriele , Lüchtenborg Anne-Marie
Published: December 2023

Introduction

Breast cancer is globally the leading cancer in women, and despite the high 5-year survival rate the most frequent cause of cancer related deaths. Surgery, systemic therapy and radiotherapy are the three pillars of curative breast cancer treatment. However, locoregional recurrences frequently occur after initial treatment and are often challenging to treat, amongst others due to high doses of previous radiotherapy treatments. Radiotherapy can be combined with local hyperthermia to sensitize tumor cells to radiation and thereby significantly reduce the required radiation dose. Therefore, the combination treatment of mild local hyperthermia, i.e. locally heating of the tissue to 39-43°C, and re-irradiation with a reduced total dose is a relevant treatment option for previously irradiated patients. The mechanisms of this effect in the course of the therapy are to date not well understood and will be investigated in the HISTOTHERM study.

Methods and analyses

Patients with local or (loco)regional recurrent breast cancer with macroscopic tumors are included in the study. Local tumor control is evaluated clinically and histologically during the course of a combination treatment of 60 minutes mild superficial hyperthermia (39 - 43°C) using water-filtered infrared A (wIRA) irradiation, immediately followed by hypofractionated re-irradiation with a total dose of 20-24 Gy, administered in weekly doses of 4 Gy. Tumor and tumor stroma biopsies as well as blood samples will be collected prior to treatment, during therapy (at a dose of 12 Gy) and in the follow-up to monitor therapy response. The treatment represents the standard operating procedure for hyperthermia plus re-irradiation. Various tissue and blood-based markers are analyzed. We aim at pinpointing key mechanisms and markers for therapy response which may help guiding treatment decisions in future. In addition, quality of life in the course of treatment will be assessed and survival data will be evaluated.

Registration

The study is registered at the German Clinical Trials Register, Deutsches Register Klinischer Studien (DRKS00029221).
Efficacy of radiation plus transarterial chemoembolization and lenvatinib in hepatocellular carcinoma with portal vein tumor thrombus
Authors: Dong Aoran , Zhu Meiyan , Zhang Zeyu , Fan Wenzhe , Wu Zhiqiang , Chen Yong , Tu Jianfei , Zhang Yaojun , Zhuang Wenquan , He Xiaofang , Peng Zhenwei
Published: December 2023

Background

We aimed to investigate the efficacy of a novel regimen, external beam radiation (RT) combined with trans arterial chemoembolization (TACE) and lenvatinib (LEN), in the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) with portal vein tumor thrombus.

Methods

We prospectively observed 102 participants from three tertiary medical centers in China between October 2018 and October 2020, who chose either RT plus TACE and LEN (RT-TACE-LEN) or TACE and LEN (TACE-LEN). LEN (12 mg or 8 mg daily) was administrated orally and continued until progression or intolerable side effects were noted. TACE was given one day after administration of LEN, and RT began within 4 weeks after the first TACE. The median dose/fraction of RT was 50 Gy/25 fractions (range: 45-60 Gy/25 fractions). Overall survival and progression free survival were compared between two groups, and complications were assessed.

Results

Both 51 patients received RT-TACE-LEN and TACE-LEN, respectively. Most patients had tumor size> 5 cm (73.8%) and tumor number≥ 2 (69.9%). The overall incidence of toxicities was significantly higher in RT-TACE-LEN group than TACE-LEN group (100% vs. 64.7%, p< 0.001), but incidences of grade 3-4 toxicities were comparable (54.9% vs. 49.0%, p= 0.552). Both median overall survival (22.8 vs. 17.1 months, p= 0.031) and median progression-free survival (12.8 vs. 10.5 months, p= 0.035) were significantly longer after RT-TACE-LEN treatment than TACE-LEN.

Conclusions

The addition of RT to TACE and LEN was safe, and might improve clinical outcomes of patients with advanced HCC, which needs conformation from further studies.
Optimizing CFTR modulator therapy management for cystic fibrosis through the ReX platform
Authors: Yaacoby-Bianu Karin , Cohen-Cymberknoh Malena , Shoseyov David , Lavi Tal , Ostrovski Ana , Shteinberg Michal , Livnat Galit
Published: December 2023

Background

Cystic fibrosis (CF) is a chronic multi-systemic disease that requires a complex daily treatment regimen. Therefore, there is sub-optimal adherence to CF therapies, and it was shown to impact its clinical and economic burden. Cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator modulators (CFTRm) are high-cost medications that demonstrated significant benefit in clinical trials. The aim of this study was to evaluate the safety, usability, and efficacy of the ReX platform in medication management of CFTRm for the treatment of people with CF (pwCF).

Methods

ReX is a patient engagement platform consisting of a cloud-based management system and a cell-enabled handheld device intended to dispense oral medication into the patient's mouth, following a pre-programmed treatment protocol. It provides real-time adherence data to caregivers and timely, personalized reminders to patients. This is a prospective multi-center open study for pwCFs older than 12 years, who had been prescribed CFTRm [elexacaftor/tezacaftor/ivacaftor (ETI) or tezacaftor/ivacaftor (TI)], and provided consent to use ReX platform to receive CFTRm and record their health condition. Study duration was 12–24 months, with clinic visits where physical examination, body mass index (BMI), and pulmonary function tests were performed, and user experience questionnaires were filled in.

Results

Ten pwCFs from two CF centers in Israel were included. The mean age was 31.5 years (range 15–74 years); eight were taking ETI and two TI. Median adherence to CFTRm was 97.5% (range 70%–100%) in the first year and 94% (range 84%–99%) in the second year, which is higher than the previously reported CFTRm adherence of ∼80%. No adverse events related to the use of the platform were reported. Patients reported ReX to be valuable to their treatment management and user friendly. Estimated mean forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1%) increased from 74.4% to 80.8% (p = 0.004) over 2 years. Similarly, estimated BMI percentile increased from 53.5 to 59.0 (p < 0.001).

Conclusions

Using the ReX platform in medication management of pwCF treated by CFTRm is safe, easy to use, and effective in improving the adherence to treatment and the clinical outcomes. Consequently, this device may potentially reduce costs to healthcare providers. Further larger and long-term studies are required to examine the clinical benefits of the ReX platform.
High-frame rate and high-count rate hybrid pixel detector for 4D STEM applications
Authors: Zambon P. , Vávra J. , Montemurro G. , Bottinelli S. , Dudina A. , Schnyder R. , Hörmann C. , Meffert M. , Schulze-Briese C. , Stroppa D. , Lehmann N. , Piazza L.
Published: December 2023

This study presents the performance assessment of a novel hybrid pixel detector. The electron counting application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), named KITE, was optimized for 4D STEM applications and bump-bonded to a silicon sensor that is suitable for electron energies in the range 30–200 keV. The KITE ASIC was developed for high frame rates, currently up to 120 kfps, and high count rates, owing to fast signal shaping times and instant retrigger technology, which allows operation in a unique non-paralyzable counting mode. Investigated quantities include the spectral response, the identification of optimal threshold energies, an estimation of the threshold trimming accuracy, the analysis of the single-event multiplicity distributions, the count rate capabilities, and imaging performance metrics MTF and DQE. To highlight the capabilities of the detector, the best value of 10% of linearity loss was achieved at 84 Mcts/s/pix, the best value of count rate “cutoff” at nearly 150 Mcts/s/pix, and DQE (0) between 0.75 and 0.82 up to the electron energy of 160 keV.