bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The effects of TMS coil orientation on corticospinal and cortico-cortical excitability of lower limb in healthy adults
Authors: Hall MacGregor , Zoghi M , Perraton L , Kidgell Dawson , Jaberzadeh Shapour
Published: February 2023

Background:
Previous studies with transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) showed that coil orientation can modulate corticospinal and corticocortical excitability of upper limb muscles; however, there is little knowledge about the influence of TMS coil orientation on corticospinal and corticocortical excitability of lower limb muscles.
Aim: To determine the effect of coil orientation on the excitability of corticospinal pathway and intracortical circuits that control tibialis anterior (TA) muscle using paired-pulse TMS.
Methods:
Twelve healthy adults (5 male, 7 female, mean age of 41±20 years) participated in this study. Single or paired-pulse TMS was applied with a figure of eight coil oriented to produce anteroposterior (AP) or posteroanterior (PA) current flow in the left motor cortex to record motor evoked potentials (MEPs) from the right TA in one session. The level of short and long-interval intracortical inhibition (SICI and LICI) and also intracortical facilitation (ICF) of corticospinal pathway controlling right TA muscle were measured using AP and PA current flow in the brain.
Results:
The threshold for inducing MEPs in right TA muscle was similar with both AP and PA coil orientation (p>0.05). The level of SICI, LICI and ICF measured by AP or PA coil orientation were similar (p>0.05).
Conclusions:
Using AP or PA current flow by paired-pulse TMS does not change the excitability of corticospinal pathway or intracortical circuits that control the TA muscle.
Cholesterol promoted the proliferation and metastasis of lung adenocarcinoma by regulating MYADM/c-Myc/MCT1 axis
Authors: Lin Yanliang , Zhang Lizhen , Li Xingkai , Cheng Guangdong , He Mengting , Gao Yushun
Published: February 2023

Cholesterol disorder has been implicated in the progression of lung cancer, the mechanism of which remains largely unknown. In this study, we evidenced that cholesterol promoted the proliferation, migration and invasion of lung adenocarcinoma cells (LAC) in vitro, and enhanced LAC metastasis in vivo. Further investigation demonstrated that cholesterol treatment induced the expression of MYADM. Cholesterol-induced interaction between MYADM and Rac1 triggered AKT phosphorylation and c-Myc expression. c-Myc positively regulated the transcriptions of MCT1 and MYADM. MYADM knockdown notably inhibited the expression of Rac1, phosphorylated AKT, c-Myc and MCT1 despite in the presence of cholesterol. Blocking AKT phosphorylation restrained cholesterol-induced the expression of MYADM, Rac1 and c-Myc while AKT activation elevated the levels of MYADM, Rac1 and c-Myc. In addition, MYADM knockdown promoted E-Cadherin expression, and inhibited the expression of β-Catenin, MMP2, MMP9 and vimentin. As expected, inhibiting MYADM significantly attenuated cholesterol-induced proliferation, migration and invasion of LAC in vitro, and reduced high cholesterol diet-induced LAC metastasis in vivo. Intriguingly, MYADM knockdown remarkably decreased the levels of lactate in serum and tumors, confirming the positive regulator of MYADM in MCT1 expression. These results suggested that cholesterol should induce the proliferation and metastasis of LAC by regulating MYADM/Rac1/AKT/c-Myc/MCT1 axis.
Risk prediction of gestational diabetes mellitus with four machine learning models
Authors: Lin Yue , pan congcong , zhang bingsong , rao jiawei , chen wendan , guo junhao , PAN haiyan
Published: February 2023

PurposeTo construct and compare machine learning models for predicting the risk of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM).MethodThe clinical data of 2048 pregnant women who gave birth at Shunde Women’s and Children’s Hospital of Guangdong Medical University between June 2019 and June 2021 were retrospectively collected. Logistic regression, backpropagation neural networks, random forests, and support vector machines were constructed with the R studio and Python software programs. The logistic regression and random forest models were used to identify significant influencing factors. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) was used to evaluate the predictive performance and discriminative ability of the models, and the Hosmer-Lemeshow test was used to determine goodness of fit.ResultsAge, glycated hemoglobin, fasting blood glucose, white blood cell count, hemoglobin, and activated partial prothrombin time were identified as significant factors associated with GDM. The random forest model had the best prediction effect (accuracy, 78.07%; Youden index, 1.56). In all four models, AUC was greater than 78%. The Hosmer–Lemeshow fit test showed that all four models were a good fit.ConclusionIt was concluded that age, GHB, FBG, WBC, HB, and APTT are the more important related influencing factors or early predictors of gestational diabetes. Among the tested models, random forest was the best one for predicting the risk of GDM in early pregnancy.
The Sarvabad Fault, a new segment along the Main Recent Fault (MRF), Zagros, western Iran
Authors: Eshterabeh Salah , Alipoor Reza
Published: February 2023

The Main Recent Fault (MRF) is an active right-lateral strike-slip fault system along the Zagros collision in SW Iran. The geometric and kinematic characteristics of this fault are known along most of its segments. However, a part of this fault exposed between the Morvarid and Marivan segments is ambiguous. This paper introduces the Sarvabad fault segment with a length of about 50 km along the NW parts of the MRF. For this purpose, digital elevation model (DEM), detailed structural field data, and the geological mapping were used. These were complemented by morphometric analyses and the analytical hierarchy process (AHP). The results revealed that the attitude of the Sarvabad Fault is N52°W/80°NE (22°S slip rake angle) in the central and SE parts. In the NW parts of the study area, the strike of this fault changes to N70°W and dips 80°E (25°S slip rake angle). Measuring the morphometric indices and the analysis of their results with the AHP model indicated that the NW parts of the study area have a higher relative tectonic activity than the SE parts. In addition, the parts of the study area along the Sarvabad Fault show a high relative tectonic activity. The most notable reasons for active tectonics along the Sarvabad Fault are V-shaped valleys, fault-line valleys, and asymmetric basins.
Adherence to Antiretroviral Therapy (ART) among People Living With HIV (PLHIV): a cross-sectional survey to measure in selected Public Hospital of Addis Ababa.
Authors: Tezera Tefera , Wolde Batiru , Endeshaw Mulualem , Hailu Endalew
Published: February 2023

INTRODUCTION: In Ethiopia, Antiretroviral Therapy is given free of charge. Lifelong adherence to ART is crucial to upgrade the patient’s health condition and to safeguard the growth of mutated strains of the human immune deficiency viruses that are ART resistant. A person with ART-resistant strains of HIV can spread these to other people, who need more expensive ART with more serious side effects. This study aims to assess the proportion of adherence to ART and identify possible factors related to non-adherence to ART among people living with HIV (PLHIV) in Selected Public Hospital of Addis Ababa.
Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted with adults living with HIV receiving free ART at the Selected Public Hospital of Addis Ababa from March to May 2020. Three hundred and eighty-two PLHIV were interviewed using an anonymous questionnaire. The estimation of the adherence rate was based on the information provided by the PLHIV about the intake of medicine during the previous four days. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 22 statistical software. Frequencies, proportion, mean, and standard deviation, were calculated and used to describe the study. Data was presented by tables and graphs. In order to assess the relationship of independent variables with ART adherence, bivariate, and data analysis were conducted using chi-square tests, and univariate logistic regression for categorical independent variables was used for data analysis. Frequencies and distribution of each variable were calculated by conventional statistical methods. A p-value < 0.05 was considered to indicate statistical significance.
Conclusion: In conclusion, the result was that 86.9% of the participants had optimal adherence and 13.1% had sub-optimal adherence. Our result showed that age, marital status of respondents, and average monthly income are associated with suboptimal adherence to ART. Other factors such as sex, duration of ART, and the use of adherence reminders were not related to ART non-adherence. In order to increase the degree of adherence to ART, strategies should develop on the basis of the findings.
Effect of Air Pollution on Plant Secondary Metabolites in Selected Trees of Delhi
Authors: Lahiri Milinda , Krishna Kalyani
Published: February 2023

Air pollution is emerging as one of the most important stresses, particularly in urban areas, of both developed and developing countries. It severely affects plant growth and development besides being a health hazard to humans and animals. Delhi has the dubious distinction of being one of the most polluted cities in the world. Incidentally, it is also one of the green cities with ongoing programs to increase the already considerable forest cover and biodiversity parks. Plants often act as sinks for airborne pollutants, including particulate matter. Hence it is important to evaluate their efficacy in absorbing pollutants and use the promising species for urban plantation. In the present study, the stress tolerance of four common trees of Delhi, growing in three areas with varying pollution levels, was estimated by measuring Plant Secondary Metabolites (PSMs) and the total chlorophyll content of the leaves. Psidium guajava showed a significant increase in the contents of phenols, tannins, and alkaloids with increasing Air Quality Index (AQI). Increased amounts of phenols and flavonoids were observed in Alstonia scholaris, those of phenols and alkaloids in Murraya koenigii, and only of alkaloids in Moringa oleifera. There was a decrease in the total chlorophyll content of the leaves of all four species investigated. P. guajava and A. scholaris can be recommended for plantation along the sides of roads with heavy traffic movement. Since PSMs are seen to accumulate as a defense mechanism against air pollution too, as in various abiotic and biotic stresses, they can be used as biomarkers for stress tolerance in plants. Besides, higher commercial benefits can be accrued from the increased amounts of PSMs from the tree species investigated.
Urine metabolites are correlated with elevated urine inflammatory factors in rheumatoid arthritis at early stage
Authors: Yang Haining , Wang Ziwei , Zou Liang , Yin Luxu Yin , Zhao Yan , Cui Yazhou , Han Jinxiang
Published: February 2023

Aim: The levels of urine metabolites, rheumatoid factor (RF) and inflammatory factors are altered in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and osteoarthritis (OA) patients. However, the level of them has not been quantitatively evaluated yet, as well as the correlation between the urine metabolites, RF and inflammatory factors. This research aims to investigate the urine metabolites and inflammatory factors from patients with OA and early rheumatoid arthritis (e-RA) to explore the relationship between the urine metabolites and RF or inflammatory factors.
Methods: A total of 455 individuals were included in this study. Urine specimen was collected from 190 healthy volunteers, 26 osteoarthritis patients and 239 RA patients in which 37 subjects were diagnosed as early stage RA (e-RA). Metabolites in urine were extracted and analyzed with liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) technique. Urine RF and inflammatory factors were measured with MSD V-Plex Proinflammatory Panel 1 Human Kit.
Results: RF and nine of the inflammatory factors were significantly elevated in e-RA compared with OA and controls. Nine kinds of metabolites levels were found to positively correlated with urine RF level, two of which including 2-Methylnaphthalene (r= 0.636, p= 0.00195) and 3,4-Dihydroxy-L-phenylalanine (r= 0.524, p= 0.0149) were significantly elevated in e-RA group.
Conclusion: Urine from e-RA patients exhibited different levels of metabolites, rheumatoid factor (RF) and inflammatory factors from patients without RA and OA. Nine metabolites showed significant positive correlation with RF level. Among these nine metabolites, 2-Methylnaphthalene (r= 0.636, p= 0.00195) and 3,4-Dihydroxy-L-phenylalanine (r= 0.524, p= 0.0149) elevated at early stage of RA, which could serve as a marker for arthritis screening and early diagnostic.
The Mechanism of Food Fraud and Governance: Theory and Evidence
Authors: Chen You-hua , Li Bing , Mishra Ashok Kumar
Published: February 2023

This study constructs and expands the food fraud governance framework, including the risk formation mechanism and fraud regulation system. The risk formation mechanism issues that quantity-quality substitutability is a fundamental condition for food fraud and separates the effects of resource input constraints from information asymmetry. Furthermore, this study considers the roles of penalties and rewards for the quality risk regulation institution. The results show that penalty-based quality regulation design is doomed to be inefficient because it can only mitigate the effects of information asymmetry. Simultaneously, a reward can further alleviate the impact of resource input constraints. Higher food quality is not always better, especially when the resource input is constrained. Further, we conclude that the food-safety risk governance system designed by policymakers should consider the quantity and quality of food simultaneously.
JEL Classification Q18; L15
A simple method for preserving pollen viability and longevity in wheat
Authors: Khan Irum , Sajjad Muhammad
Published: February 2023

Wheat pollen grains have very short longevity and are non-viable after ~30 minute at room temperature and ~60 minutes at 4°C. Pollen grain viability can be prolonged to ~24 hrs with existing anther preservation methods. Herein, we developed a new and very simple method of spike preservation to prolong pollen viability up to 1 week. The present study was evaluated to determine the effect of storage temperature and duration on the viability and in vitro germination of pollen grains of 50 spring wheat genotypes from two preservation methods of pollens viz, Anther preservation method and Spike preservation method. Pollens collected from both methods were stored at room temperature (22°C), fridge (4°C) for 0 and 1 week. Pollen viability were assessed using Alexander staining techniques with both methods at storage conditions 22°C and 4°C. In vitro germination was determined using liquid germination medium with both methods at 4°C. The results revealed that the pollen viability and in vitro germination as determined by Spike preservation method was highest when pollens were stored at 4°C up to 1 week. In addition, in vitro pollen germination and pollen viability significantly reduced as storage duration increased. It was recorded, that no pollen germination was observed under anther preservation method at storage conditions 4°C after 1 week while 2 to 14% pollen germination was obtained by spike preservation method only at 4°C up to 1 week. Based on these results, it is suggested that a storage temperature of 4°C by Spike preservation method for wheat pollen storage is good. The present study would be useful to develop a protocol for the storage of pollen for further use in the conservation and breeding of wheat.
Effect of acute and long-term exercise on leptin levels in depressed outpatients
Authors: Heinen Darlene , Heissel Andreas , Heinzel Stephan , Fydrich Thomas , Ströhle Andreas , Rapp Michael , Vogel Heike
Published: February 2023

Background: Depression is a leading cause of disability worldwide and a significant contributor to the global burden of disease. Altered leptin levels are known to be associated with depressive symptoms, however discrepancies in the results of increased or decreased levels exist. Due to various limitations associated with commonly used antidepressant drugs, alternatives such as exercise therapy are gaining more importance. Therefore, the current study investigates whether depressed patients have higher leptin levels compared to healthy controls and if exercise is efficient to reduce these levels.
Methods: Leptin levels of 105 participants with major depressive disorder (MDD; 45.7% female, age mean ± SEM: 39.1 ± 1.0) and 34 healthy controls (HC; 61.8% female, age mean ± SEM: 36.0 ± 2.0) were measured before and after a bicycle ergometer test. Additionally, the MDD group was separated into three groups: two endurance exercise intervention groups (EX) differing in their intensities, and a waiting list control group (WL). Leptin levels were measured pre and post a 12-week exercise intervention or the waiting period.
Results: Baseline data showed no significant differences in leptin levels between the MDD and HC groups. As expected, correlation analyses displayed significant relations between leptin levels and body weight (HC: r = 0.474, p = 0.005; MDD: r = 0.198, p = 0.043) and even more with body fat content (HC: r = 0.755, p < 0.001; MDD: r = 0.675, p < 0.001). The acute effect of the bicycle ergometer test and the 12-week training intervention showed no significant changes in circulating leptin levels.
Conclusion: Leptin levels were not altered in patients with major depression compared to healthy controls and exercise, both the acute response and after 12 weeks of endurance training, had no effect on the change in leptin levels.
Crosstalk between KDEL receptor and EGF receptor mediates cell proliferation and migration via STAT3 signaling
Authors: Jia Jie , Yue Xihua , Jing Shuaiyang , Zhu Lianhui , Tan Chuanting , Du Yulei , Gao Jingkai , Tang Shuocheng , Lee Intaek , Qian Yi
Published: February 2023

Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) is a receptor tyrosine kinase that hosts complex signaling events and plays diverse roles in a variety of cellular processes. Secreted ER chaperones are capable of activating EGFR and its downstream transcription factor, STAT3. However, the molecular mechanism of these ER proteins triggering EGFR signaling is largely unknown. In this study, we identify KDEL receptor (KDELR) as a cell surface receptor for secreted ER chaperones and a co-receptor for EGFR. Prior to ligand addition, KDELR spontaneously oligomerizes and constantly undergoes recycling near the plasma membrane. Upon ligand binding, the interactions of KDELR with itself and with EGFR increase rapidly, leading to augmented internalization of KDELR and tyrosine phosphorylation in the C-terminus of EGFR. STAT3, which binds the phosphorylated tyrosine motif on EGFR, is subsequently activated by EGFR and induces transcription of genes relevant to cell proliferation and migration. Taken together, our results suggest that secreted ER chaperones bind surface-expressed KDELR and transactivates EGFR-STAT3 signaling pathway.
Prevalence and Determinants of Cognitive Dysfunction among Patients with Diabetes in Eastern Saudi Arabia
Authors: Lone Ayoob , Pathath Abdul Wahab
Published: February 2023

Background: Cognitive dysfunction is recognized as a major diabetes comorbidity and complication that affects an individual's well-being. Recent studies demonstrated that diabetic patients have a higher incidence of cognitive dysfunction. As a result, new diabetes management guidelines recommend screening for cognitive impairments in older diabetics.
Objectives: This study aims to explore the prevalence and potential risk of cognitive dysfunction in diabetic patients.
Method: This cross-sectional study was conducted from June to November, 2022 where 257 patients with diabetes were selected byconvenient sample technique. Cognitive dysfunction was measured by using Mini-mental state examination (MMSE). Sociodemographic, diabetes related and clinical factors were analyzed as cofactors of cognitive dysfunction.
Result: The findings of the study revealed that 38.9% of participants had cognitive dysfunction while 12.1% had severe cognitive dysfunction. The domain of delayed recall was the most affected, while language/praxis was least affected domain of MMSE. Duration of diabetes was inversely associated with cognitive dysfunction. Results of logistic regression analysis revealed low level of education (OR = 4.95; p =.043) and more duration of diabetes (OR = 6.08; p =.010) were independently associated with severe cognitive impairment.
Conclusion: Diabetes patients in their middle and advanced years are particularly vulnerable to cognitive decline. Therefore, healthcare professionals and family physicians should focus more on detecting cognitive decline in the early stages of diabetes mellitus.
STE20-Type Kinases MST3 and MST4 Act Non-Redundantly to Promote the Progression of Hepatocellular Carcinoma
Authors: Caputo Mara , Xia Ying , Anand Sumit Kumar , Cansby Emmelie , Andersson Emma , Marschall Hanns-Ulrich , Königsrainer Alfred , Peter Andreas , Mahlapuu Margit
Published: February 2023

Aims
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most fatal and fastest-growing malignancies. Recently, non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), characterized by liver steatosis, inflammation, cell injury (hepatocyte ballooning), and different stages of fibrosis, has emerged as a major catalyst for HCC. Because the STE20-type kinases MST3 and MST4 have been described as critical molecular regulators of NASH pathophysiology, we here focused on determining the relevance of these proteins in human HCC.
Methods
The clinical importance of MST3 and MST4 in HCC was assessed in publicly available datasets and by qRT-PCR analysis of a validation cohort recruited at the University Hospital of Tübingen (n = 48 for HCC patients and n = 214 for control subjects). The functional significance of MST3 and MST4 was examined in HepG2 and Hep3B cells transfected with MST3, MST4, or MST3/4 small interfering RNA. Potential downstream pathways were investigated by co-immunoprecipitation and Western blotting.
Results
By analyzing public datasets and in-house cohorts, we found that hepatic MST3 and MST4 expression was positively correlated with the incidence and severity of HCC. We also found that the silencing of both MST3 and MST4, but also either of them individually, markedly suppressed the tumorigenesis of human HCC cells including attenuated proliferation, migration, invasion, and epithelial-mesenchymal transition. Mechanistic investigations revealed lower activation of STAT3 signaling in MST3/MST4-deficient hepatocytes, and identified GOLGA2 and STRIPAK complex as the binding partners of both MST3 and MST4 in HCC cells.
Conclusions
These findings reveal that MST3 and MST4 play a critical role in promoting the progression of HCC and suggest that targeting these kinases may provide a novel strategy for the treatment of liver cancer.
Multiple epithelioid angiosarcoma of stomach and small intestine with multiple lymph node metastases: A case report
Authors: Yu Junhua , Cao Lulu , Qian Jun
Published: February 2023

Background
Angiosarcoma is a mesenchymal soft tissue sarcoma with a tendency for vascular endothelial differentiation. It is highly malignant with a poor prognosis but has a low incidence. Epithelioid angiosarcoma of the gastrointestinal tract is rare, and simultaneous multiple lesions of the stomach and small intestine are even rarer. It is easy to be misdiagnosed clinically. We report on a case of preoperative misdiagnosis of gastric cancer and postoperative diagnosis of epithelioid angiosarcoma with multiple lymph node metastases.
Case presentation
A 75-year-old patient who was admitted to the hospital because of fatigue, melena and dysuria for > 1 mo. Gastroscopy revealed gastric fundus ulcer and the biopsy revealed poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma of the fundus. We performed a radical gastrectomy for gastric cancer during which multiple ulcers were found in the jejunum and resected. Postoperative pathology showed multiple epithelioid angiosarcoma in the stomach and small intestine with lymph node metastases. The patient did not receive further treatment and died 2 mo after the surgery.
Conclusions
Gastrointestinal epithelioid angiosarcoma is one of the differential diagnoses of gastrointestinal adenocarcinoma and surgery is the main treatment. The lymph nodes are one of the main sites of metastasis.
Low protein expression of LZTR1 in hepatocellular carcinoma triggers tumorigenesis via activating the RAS/RAF/MEK/ERK signaling
Authors: Ye Ganghui , Xia Jingyi , Zhu Chenlu , Gu Chaoyu , Li Xinming , Ye Meng , Jin Xiaofeng
Published: February 2023

LZTR1 is a substrate specific adaptor for E3 ligase involved in ubiquitination and degradation of RAS GTPases, which inhibits the RAS/RAF/MEK/ERK signaling to suppress tumor progression. However, it’s still unknown whether LZTR1 destabilizes RAS GTPases to suppress HCC progression by inhibiting such signaling pathway. Lenvatinib is the first-line drug for the treatment of advanced HCC, which has faced serious problem of drug resistance. To explore the roles of LZTR1 in HCC progression and the potential mechanisms of lenvatinib resistance, techniques such as bioinformatics analysis, immunohistochemical staining, RT-qPCR, western blot, cell functional experiments, small interfering RNA transfection and cycloheximide chase assay were applied in our study. Among these, bioinformatics analysis and immunohistochemical staining results indicated that LZTR1 protein was aberrantly low expressed in HCC tissues and low protein expression of LZTR1 was associated with poor prognosis of HCC patients. In vitro experiments confirmed that LZTR1 knockdown promoted HCC cell proliferation and migration, and western blot and cycloheximide chase assay further demonstrated that LZTR1 induced KRAS ubiquitination and degradation, thereby inhibiting the RAS/RAF/MEK/ERK signaling. In lenvatinib resistance inducible experiment, upregulation of LZTR1 protein as well as downregulation of KRAS protein were detected in HCC cells exposed to gradient concentrations of lenvatinib for 48 h. Transwell assay found that both LZTR1 knockdown and KRAS knockdown can induce lenvatinib resistance in HCC cells. In conclusion, our study revealed that LZTR1 knockdown promoted HCC cell proliferation/migration and induced lenvatinib resistance via activating the RAS/RAF/MEK/ERK signaling, which may provide new ideas and hope for the precision therapy of HCC.
A preoperative prediction model for sentinel lymph node status using artificial intelligence on mammographic images and clinicopathological variables in patients with clinically node-negative breast cancer
Authors: Rejmer Cornelia , Dihge Looket , Bendahl Pär-Ola , Förnvik Daniel , Dustler Magnus , Rydén Lisa
Published: February 2023

Background:
Cancer detection systems using artificial intelligence (AI) are a rapidly growing research area, in breast cancer. Sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) is the recommended surgical axillary staging method in patients with clinically node-negative breast cancer, although approximately 75–80% have a negative sentinel lymph node (N0) status in the final pathology report. Previous prediction models for N0 status included variables only available postoperatively, thus defeating their purpose. Therefore, we aimed to investigate whether two AI systems, Transpara (Screenpoint Medical) and Laboratory for Individualized Breast Radiodensity Assessment (LIBRA), on mammographic images can be used to improve a previous prediction model for N0 status using only preoperatively available variables. To our knowledge, this is the first preoperative prediction model for N0 status combining AI detection on mammographic images with clinicopathological variables.
Methods:
This retrospective cohort study included 755 women with primary breast cancer treated at Lund University Hospital between 2009 and 2012. Mammographic images were analyzed using Transpara and LIBRA. Preoperative clinicopathological and radiological variables were used in a multivariable logistic regression analysis to predict N0 status with multiple imputation. The area under the receiver operating curve (AUC) was used to assess model performance and a nomogram was developed. The agreement between preoperative radiological and postoperative pathological tumor size was assessed using correlation.
Results:
We proposed a preoperative prediction model for N0 status using AI detection on mammographic images and clinicopathological variables, with an AUC of 0.695 (confidence interval: 0.653–0.736). Applying the model, SLNB could be putatively omitted in 23.8% of patients if a false-negative rate of 10% was accepted. The mean difference between radiologic and pathologic tumor size was 0.4 mm and the corresponding Pearson correlation coefficient 0.62.
Conclusion:
To our knowledge, the prediction model proposed in this manuscript is the first preoperative prediction model for N0 status using AI on mammographic images and routine preoperative patients and tumor characteristics. The correlation between tumor size measurements suggests that radiologic tumor size can replace pathologic size as a predictor of N0 status. Applying this model may enable safe omission of SLNB in 23.8% of patients.
The burden of critical illness among adults in a Swedish region – a population-based point-prevalence study
Authors: Schell Carl Otto , Wellhagen Andreas , Lipcsey Miklós , Kurland Lisa , Bjurling-Sjöberg Petronella , Lundborg Cecilia Stålsby , Castegren Markus , Baker Tim
Published: February 2023

Background: Patients with critical illness have a high risk of mortality. Key decision-making in the health system affecting the outcomes of critically ill patients requires epidemiological evidence, but the burden of critical illness is largely unknown. This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of critical illness in a Swedish region. Secondary objectives were to estimate the proportion of hospital inpatients who are critically ill and to describe the in-hospital location of critically ill patients.
Methods: A prospective, multi-center, population-based, point-prevalence study on specific days in 2017-2018. All adult (>18 years) in-patients, regardless of admitting specially, in all acute hospitals in Sörmland, and the patients from Sörmland who had been referred to university hospitals, were included. Patients in the operating theatres, with a psychiatric cause of admission, women in active labor and moribund patients were excluded. All participants were examined by trained data collectors. Critical illness was defined as “a state of ill health with vital organ dysfunction, a high risk of imminent death if care is not provided and a potential for reversibility”. The presence of one or more severely deranged vital signs was used to classify critical illness. The prevalence of critical illness was calculated as the number of critically ill patients divided by the number of adults in the region.
Results: A total of 1269 patients were included in the study. Median age was 74 years and 50% of patients were female. Critical illness was present in 133 patients, resulting in an adult population prevalence of critical illness per 100,000 people of 19.4 (95% CI 16.4-23.0). The proportion of patients in hospital who were critically ill was 10.5% (95% CI 8.8%-12.3%). Among the critically ill, 125 (95% CI 94.0% (88.4%-97.0%)) were cared for in general wards.
Conclusions: The prevalence of critical illness was higher than previous, indirect estimates. One in ten hospitalized patients were critically ill, the large majority of which were cared for in general wards. This suggests a hidden burden of critical illness of potential public health, health system and hospital management significance.
Comprehensive Genome-Wide Identification and Transcript Profiling of GLK transcription factors in Castanea mollissima
Authors: Yang Yong , Wang Xuan , Liu Jing , Wang Meng , Li Jingshi , Wang Dongsheng , Zhang Jingzheng , Zhang Haie
Published: February 2023

Transcription factors Golden2-like (GLKs), belonging to GARP superfamily, are involved in chloroplast development in many plant species. However, it remains unclear whether GLKs contributes to chloroplast development in Chinese chestnut. In this study, 343 GLKs genes from other plant species were blasted in the Chinese chestnut genome, of which 37 genes were identified. An unrooted ML phylogenetic tree was constructed based on the CmGLKs amino acid sequences to evaluate the evolutional relationship of CmGLKs in the Chinese chestnut. The 37 CmGLKs were clustered into six clades and were widely distributed in 11 chromosomes of the Chinese chestnut genome. Three pairs of segmental duplications and one duplication occurred during the evolution of CmGLKs. CmGLK17 was involved in both tandem duplication and segmental duplication. Comparative syntenic analysis of the Chinese chestnut with Arabidopsis thaliana and maize indicated that GLKs share extensive sequence homology among the C3 plants but not between C3 and C4 plants. Motifs 1 and 2, encoding DNA-binding domain, are the most conserved domain in all the 37 CmGLKs. A total of 24 light-responsive elements were identified in CmGLKs, of which 53.85% were in CmGLK13. Box 4 was found in all CmGLKs. Results further showed that CmGLK33, CmGLK34, and CmGLK35 could play key roles in regulating chloroplast development. A total of 37 GLK genes were identified in the chestnut genome and were conducted to reveal the molecular characteristics and evolution of the GLKs family, which provides new insight into the biological functions of GLKs in chestnut photosynthesis.
The Evaluation of Anti-biofilm Agents Efficacy Against Plankton Microorganisms And Biofilm Formation
Authors: Ulyanov Vladimir Yu. , Pichkhidze Sergey Ya. , Shpinyak Sergey P. , Opredelentseva Svetlana V. , Puchinyan Daniil M.
Published: February 2023

We evaluated the impact of prototype agents effective against plankton and sessile cultures of 65 microorganism clinical strains with bacterioscopic and bacteriological research methods. It has been established that the developed prototypes of thin-film coatings containing the physical mixture of bound Ca10(PO4)6(OH)2+CuO; С6H9NO 5 wt%+СuO with CuO concentration of 9-10 wt% at an exposure time of 60 and 120 minutes have the greatest antimicrobial effect on plankton cultures. CuO concentration of 9-10 wt% within the physical mixture of bound Ca10(PO4)6(OH)2+CuO; С6H9NO 5 wt%+СuO causes a decrease in the mass of biofilms preformed by microorganism clinical strains at an exposure time of 24 hours, thereby exerting an antimicrobial effect on them.
Bilateral comparison VSL-NPL on primary gas standards for the siloxane content in biomethane
Authors: Veen Adriaan M H van der , de Krom Iris , Ziel Ruben , Nieuwenkamp Gerard , Culleton Lucy P , Worton David R , Allden John
Published: February 2023

Siloxanes are silicon-containing volatile organic compounds that occur in air, biogas and biomethane. Their presence in biogas and biomethane may give rise to silica deposits in gas transmission and distribution infrastructure, as well as in end-user appliances. The silicon concentration in biomethane is therefore regulated, and implementing these regulations requires reliable measurement methods and appropriate certified reference materials (CRMs) to calibrate analytical instruments. In this work, the primary measurement standards of two national metrology institutes are compared to assess their equivalence by means of gas chromatography analysis. The comparison addressed hexamethyldisiloxane (L2), octamethyltrisiloxane (L3), hexamethylcyclotrisiloxane (D3), octamethylcyclotetrasiloxane (D4) and decamethylcyclopentasiloxane (D5) in methane gas mixtures. Two mixtures were exchanged, one with siloxane amount fractions at the ppb-level as specified in the European specification EN 16723, and a second on ppm-level. The latter CRMs can be dynamically diluted or directly used to process concentrated biomethane samples.
The results at both levels demonstrate equivalence in the preparation and analysis of the addressed siloxanes in methane.
Nachhaltigkeit und Inklusion am Lernort Hochschule
Authors: Schreiber-Barsch Silke , Curdt Wiebke , Lowitzki Isabell
Published: February 2023

Der Beitrag diskutiert das Phänomen der Digitalität aus erwachsenenbildungswissenschaftlicher Perspektive am Lernort Hochschule und in besonderem Bezug auf eine nachhaltige und diversitätssensible Gestaltung von hochschulischen Lehr-Lernformaten. Aktuelle Studien betonen Erwerb und Entfaltung digitaler Kompetenzen als Voraussetzung und Schlüsselfähigkeit von Subjekten für die Teilnahme (an Lernen und Bildung) und Teilhabe an einer Kultur der Digitalität. Dies unterstreicht die Notwendigkeit einer Professionalisierung von Lehrenden wie Lernenden für das interdisziplinäre Handlungsfeld von Erwachsenenbildung, Medien- und Inklusionspädagogik sowie unter Leitmotiven von Gerechtigkeit, Diversität und Inklusion sowie Nachhaltigkeit. Entlang des Spannungsfeldes des digital divide, insbesondere des digital disability divide, nimmt der Beitrag eine Analyse und kritische Reflexion des empirischen Beispiels eines partizipativ ausgerichteten hochschulischen Lehr-Lernformats vor (der Partizipativen Forschungswerkstatt an der Universität Hamburg). Dieses hat Forschendes Lernen von Teilnehmenden mit und ohne Lernschwierigkeiten (auch als sog. geistige Behinderung bezeichnet) unter Nutzung sowohl analoger als auch digitaler Tools durchgeführt und evaluiert. Ziel ist, das Potenzial solcher Formate für gerechtere Zugänge zu Infrastrukturen des Lebenslangen Lernens über den Aspekt der reinen Zugänglichkeit hinaus herauszuarbeiten und entlang von Systematisierungsebenen einer Unterscheidung in Inhalte, Prozesse und Strukturen in den Transferbedingungen für pädagogische Handlungsfelder zu prüfen. Hieraus lassen sich Überlegungen zu einer interdisziplinären Verschränkung von Erwachsenenbildung, Inklusions- und Medienpädagogik ableiten.
IMPACT OF DIGITALIZATION ON ACCOUNTING IN THE TRANSITION TO INDUSTRY 4.0
Authors: Chulanov K. , Khymchenko Y. , Mykhailov O. , Piven V.
Published: February 2023

The article analyzes the transformation processes in accounting. The aim of the research is to investigate the influence of digital technologies on accounting in the context of Industry 4.0. It is emphasized that modern society is on the way to significant changes in the digital sphere. It was figured out that there are benefits and drawbacks of the digitalization of accounting. The article reveals a variety of digital technologies used in modern accounting (artificial intelligence, blockchain, and cloud technologies). SWOT-analysis of accounting digitalization was performed. It has been studied that in the accounting field, artificial intelligence has great opportunities. It was discussed that the key benefit is that it is capable of processing large quantities of data in the shortest possible period. In the field of accounting, the idea of «blockchain» has become increasingly common. The benefits and drawbacks of blockchain have been revealed. It was mentioned that blockchain has a number of properties that are important for accounting work. The benefits of using cloud technology were determined, they include immediate access, regardless of time and place, to cloud information; saving financial, labor, and capital resources. The drawbacks include the need for a permanent connection to the Internet and the vulnerability of viruses. Recommendations have been provided to businesses and governments about how to facilitate digitalized accounting and address future problems related to it. The key point in different recommendations is to encourage the organizations to use digital technologies by different incentives (both financial and non-financial ones). The article emphasizes that it is important for the enterprises to develop a strategy for the company’s digitalization (including the digitalization of accounting), re-teach accountants to use special tools to work for them, and to buy high-privacy security and virus protection. It is also stated that the government needs to reduce taxes or to set up a preferential tax regime for companies with digitalized accounting and to encourage the companies to use a digitalized accounting by subsidies and other incentives. Following the results, the prospects for future research were outlined.
Effect of financial access on cashless economy: The case of Ukraine
Authors: Bublyk Yevhen , Shapoval Yuliia , Shpanel-Yukhta Oleksii , Brus Svitlana
Published: February 2023

The pandemic and wartime in Ukraine confirmed the importance of cashless payments for financial stability. The purpose of the paper is to examine the effect of technological infrastructure and financial access factors on cashless economy development. The impact of the infrastructure factor is assessed in case of Ukraine, using NBU’s data on payment infrastructure during 2001–2022. The hypothesis of the boosting effect of financial access towards a cashless economy has been tested using the method of correlation between M0/M3 and different indicators of financial access (usage of essential technologies, financial services) based on data of World Bank, IMF, and Triple-A in 2021. The study’s results show that globally there is an almost linear relationship between the number of open financial accounts and the increase in the level of cashless (0.954). It is also revealed that the rise of the share of the population making electronic payments decreases the share of cash in the economy. It is determined that the spread of the crypto-assets has a significant impact on the reduction of cash in the economy (an increase in the share of the population operating with cryptocurrencies by 1% reduces the share of cash by 0.5%). Regarding regulatory policies, it is proposed to stimulate the coverage of the population with open financial accounts, making mandatory payments with electronic payment systems and developing their infrastructure.
Shaking table tests of large cross-sectional multi-crack tunnel linings
Authors: You Dongmei , Gao Feng
Published: February 2023

To study the dynamic response law of large-section cracked lining structures under seismic waves, comparative tests of large-scale shaker tunnel models of non-destructive lining structure (model 1), a crack in the vault of the lining structure (model 2), and two parallel cracks in the vault of the lining structure (model 3) were carried out by applying 0.1-1.0 g progressively increasing the peak acceleration of the input waves. This paper visually showed the distribution of cracks in three groups of the lining structures. In addition, the acceleration response of the lining and surrounding rock, dynamic soil pressure, the dynamic strain on the inner and outer surfaces of the lining, and dynamic internal force variation were obtained, and the seismic performance of three groups of lining structures was discussed. The results showed that the seismic weak positions of model 1 were the arch shoulder and the arch foot, the seismic weak positions of model 2 were the arch shoulder, the arch foot, the initial damage area, and the inverted arch, and the seismic weak positions of model 3 were the positions of the arch foot, the cracks of the vault, the inverted arch, and the arch wall. The soil pressure values at the vault of three groups of models were model 2 > model 1 > model 3 in turn. The surrounding rock amplified the input seismic waves. With the gradual increase of the peak acceleration, the seismic energy was gradually consumed due to plastic damage to the lining structure or the loosening and destruction of the overlying soil, resulting in the acceleration amplification coefficient value of the surrounding rock in the upper part of the lining structure showing a changing trend of first increasing and then decreasing. When the peak acceleration was 0.2 g, the crack propagation phenomenon occurs in the initial crack position of model 2 and model 3. When the peak acceleration was 0.4 g, the cracking phenomenon occurs at the right arch foot of model 1. The above phenomenon confirmed the conclusion that cracks can weaken the seismic performance of the structure. When the peak acceleration was 0.8 g, the peak values of the amplification coefficient of the lining at the inverted arch and near the filled soil surface were about 1.2 and 1.6 respectively. The research results can provide a reference for the seismic performance evaluation of cracked tunnels.
DA Motor Konum Kontrolü için LQR+I ve Bulanık Mantık Denetleyici Tasarımı
Authors: AKSOY Atakan , AKSOY İslam , YAREN Tuğçe , KİZİR Selçuk
Published: February 2023

Sabit mıknatıslı Doğru Akım (DA) motorları kontrol eğitimi uygulamalarında sıklıkla tercih edilmektedir. Kapalı çevrim DA motor kontrol uygulamaları için farklı birçok metot geliştirilmiştir. Geliştirilen metotların en önemli hedefi kontrolcü performansında yüksek başarım elde edebilmektir. Bu çalışmada, bir DA motorun açısal konum kontrolü, integratör ilave edilmiş doğrusal karesel regülatör (LQR+I) ve bulanık mantık kontrol (FLC) yöntemleri kullanılarak tasarlanmış ve öncelikle simülasyon ortamında daha sonra gerçek zamanda başarılı bir şekilde test edilmiştir. Model tabanlı LQR ve model tabanlı olmayan FLC kontrol yöntemleri deneysel bir sistem üzerinde uygulanmış ve elde edilen sonuçlar karşılaştırılmıştır. Kontrol algoritması hızlı kontrol prototipleme tekniği ile Waijung kütüphanesi kullanılarak hazırlanmış ve STM32F4 Discovery kiti aracılığıyla sistemde testler gerçekleştirilmiştir. Kontrolcü performanslarının daha net ortaya çıkması için gerçek zamanlı farklı referans sinyalleri sisteme uygulanmış, bu sinyaller sonucunda ise her iki kontrolcü de başarılı sonuçlar elde etmiştir.
Karışım Herbisitlerin (Halauxifen methyl+Pyroxsulam+Cloquintocet asit) In Vivo Toksisitesi: Zebra Balığı Embriyo ve Larva Modeli
Authors: SULUKAN Ekrem , KÖKTÜRK Mine
Published: February 2023

Herbisitler suda yaşayan organizmalar ve insan sağlığı için ciddi tehlike oluşturabilir. Karışım formülasyonu olarak hazırlanan herbisitler ise çok daha fazla toksik etkilere sahip olabilir ancak literatürde bu herbisitlerin toksisitelerini gösteren az sayıda çalışma vardır. Çalışmamızda, piyasada son yıllarda yoğun kullanılan karışım herbisitlerin (Halauxifen methyl+Pyroxsulam+Cloquintocet asit) farklı konsantrasyonlarının (0.25, 0.5 ve 1 ppm) zebra balığı embriyo ve larvalarındaki toksik etkileri gelişimsel parametreler ve davranış testleri ile değerlendirilmiştir. Karışım herbisitlere 96 saat maruz kalan embriyo ve larvalarda özellikle en yüksek uygulama konsantrasyonunda (1 ppm) hayatta kalma oranı azalmış ve larvaların koryondan çıkışı gecikmiştir. Embriyo ve larvalarda karışım herbisitlerin etkisi ile çeşitli malformasyonlar gözlemlenmiştir. Ayrıca karışım herbisit 1 ppm konsantrasyonda zebra balığı larvalarında 96. saatte kat ettikleri toplam mesafede artış olmuş ve hiperaktivite meydana geldiği belirlenmiştir. Çalışmamız karışım kimyasalların sucul organizmalardaki toksik etkilerinin anlaşılması açısından önemli veri sağlamaktadır. Sonuç olarak sucul ekosistemde karışım olarak bulunan kimyasalların (herbisit, insektisit, fungusit veya ağır metaller) sucul canlılar için bir tehdit olduğu düşüldüğünden daha fazla ve detaylı çalışmaların yapılması gerekmektedir.