bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Cytotoxic properties, glycolytic effects and high-resolution respirometry mitochondrial activities of Eriocephalus racemosus against MDA-MB 231 triple-negative breast cancer
Authors: Adu-Amankwaah Francis , Februarie Candice , Nyambo Kudakwashe , Maarman Gerald , Tshililo Ndivhuwo , Mabasa Lawrence , Mavumengwana Vuyo , Baatjies Lucinda
Published: June 2024

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) represents a significant global health crisis due to its resistance to conventional therapies and lack of specific molecular targets. This study explored the potential of Eriocephalus racemosus (E. racemosus) as an alternative treatment for TNBC. The cytotoxic properties and high-resolution respirometry mitochondrial activities of E. racemosus against the MDA-MB 231 TNBC cell line were evaluated. Methods: Hexane solvent and bioactive fraction extractions of E. racemosus were performed, while mass spectrometry-based metabolite profiling was used to identify the phytochemical constituents of the extracts. The extracts were further tested against MDA-MB 231 cancer cells to determine their cytotoxicity. The mode of cell death was confirmed using flow cytometry. The activities of caspases 3, 8, and 9 were assessed using a multiplex activity assay kit. Glycolytic activity and High-resolution respirometry measurements of mitochondrial function in the MDA-MB 231 cell line were conducted using the Oroboros O2K. Results: Metabolite profiling of E. racemosus extracts identified the presence of coumarins, flavonoids, sesquiterpenoids, triterpenoids, and unknown compounds. The extracts demonstrated promising cytotoxic activities, with a half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) of 12.84 µg/mL for the crude hexane extract and 15.49 µg/mL for the bioactive fraction. Further, the crude hexane and bioactive fraction extracts induced apoptosis in the MDA-MB-231 cancer cell line, similar to the reference drug cisplatin (17.44%, 17.26% and 20.25%, respectively) when compared with untreated cells. Caspase 3 activities confirmed the induction of the apoptosis pathway in both cisplatin and the plant extracts. Additionally, caspase 8 and 9 activities confirmed the activation of both the intrinsic and extrinsic apoptosis pathways in the plant extracts. Increased levels of glycolytic activities were observed in the crude hexane extract. High-resolution respiratory measurements showed elevated mitochondrial activities in all components examined except for complex-IV activities. Conclusion: These findings support further exploration of E. racemosus as a potential therapeutic agent for TNBC, offering a promising avenue for the development of targeted treatments with minimal adverse effects.
Sensorless control in full speed domain of interior permanent magnet synchronous motor based on hybrid observer
Authors: Gao Yingjie , Yan Shujia , Tong Meisong , Chen Junyou , Chen Qiang
Published: June 2024

Aiming at the Interior Permanent Magnet Synchronous Motor (IPMSM) which cannot be started smoothly in the zero low speed range and transition smoothly to the medium high speed range in a single observer, this paper proposes a set of full speed range control algorithms based on the fusion of pulsating high frequency injection (HFI) and the position error information of the back electromotive force (EMF). When operating in the low speed range or start-up, a square wave excitation signal is injected, and the obtained high frequency current signal is processed to obtain the rotor position error information, which enhances the control bandwidth, reduces the noise, and reduces the phase shift due to the introduction of filters. The observer uses the dual second order generalized integrator (DSOGI) module to output the angular frequency in the low speed range to ensure smooth observer switching. When operating in the high speed range, higher order sliding mode observer (HSMO) based on the back EMF model can be used to obtain rotor position error information. During switching, the rotor position information is processed by the fusion strategy, and the obtained hybrid information is fed into the system to improve the stability of motor operation. The accuracy of the algorithm is verified in a 0.2kW IPMSM position sensorless vector control system.
Leaf anatomical structure determines key leaf economic traits across co-existing species
Authors: Zheng Zhi , Zhang Yurui , Dong Feifei , Chen Lijuan , Li Ziyue
Published: June 2024

Background and aims Leaf economic spectrum (LES) is better described by key leaf economic traits, such as leaf tissue density (LTD), specific leaf area (SLA) and leaf nitrogen concentration (LNC). These key economic traits have recommended to be associated with leaf anatomical structure. However, few studies focus on how leaf anatomical structure affects key leaf economic traits.
Methods Here, we examined three key leaf traits (LTD, SLA and LNC) and leaf anatomical traits of 102 species in the temperate forests.
Results We observed that species with high vein fraction per leaf volume/high vein length per leaf area had high LTD. In comparison with vein length per leaf area, vein fraction per leaf volume better explained the variations in LTD across co-existing species. Moreover, species with high fraction of palisade tissue across transverse section had high LNC. Additionally, a weak correlation between SLA and palisade tissue fraction across transverse section was detected, indicating that co-existing species can maximize light capture and C assimilation by both concurrently increasing SLA and remaining relatively stable fraction of palisade tissue.
Conclusion These results indicate that leaf anatomical structure may determine key leaf economic traits. The findings provide an important insight into the LES from the perspective of leaf anatomical structure.
Retrospective Study on the Incidence of Benign, Premalignant, and Malignant Gynecologic Disorders in Patients with Adenomyosis: Analysis of 5648 Specimens
Authors: Cao Yunlei , Li Cenyu , Ding Ding
Published: June 2024

Adenomyosis is an estrogen-dependent disease and ranks among the most common gynecological benign conditions in women of childbearing age. Adenomyosis has been reported to coincide with endometrial hyperplasia, polyps, and even endometrial cancer. This study aims to investigate the incidence of benign, premalignant, and malignant gynecological diseases in women undergoing gynecological surgery for adenomyosis. A retrospective review of medical records collected from January 2021 to May 2023 for surgeries performed at the Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital affiliated with Fudan University was conducted. Pathology reports of 5648 cases of adenomyosis were studied. The incidence of benign, premalignant, and malignant gynecological pathologies in women with adenomyosis who underwent gynecological surgery were analyzed. The mean age of women with adenomyosis was 49.0 ± 9.0 years. Adenomyosis without other gynecological pathologies was detected in 16.7% of specimens of 5648 patients, while coexistence with one or more gynecological pathologies was present in 82.3% of cases. Additionally, coexistence with two or more gynecological diseases (benign or malignant) was present in 1806 of 5648 patients (31.9%). The most common comorbidities were uterine leiomyoma (57.1%), followed by endometrial cancer (11.8%) and endometriosis (10.7%). Furthermore, we found that women with adenomyosis, leiomyoma, endometriosis, endometrial polyps, or atypical hyperplasia were younger (p < 0.05) compared with adenomyotic patients with malignant tumors. Adenomyosis is a common benign, progressive disease that has garnered increasing attention in recent years. Some studies have suggested a potential association of adenomyosis with several gynecological diseases. Our study shows a high prevalence of endometrial cancer in patients with adenomyosis compared to the general population.
Epidemiological factors associated with the spatial distribution of two Rickettsia hosts in a locality of Yucatán, Mexico
Authors: Arroyo-Ramírez Abigail , Lugo-Caballero César , Reyes-Novelo Enrique , Noh-Pech Henry , Suárez-Galaz Alejandro , Panti-May Jesús Alonso , Rodríguez-Vivas R. Iván , Osorio-Primo Tana , Ruiz-Piña Hugo , Torres-Castro Marco
Published: June 2024

Rickettsioses caused by the spotted fever group (SFG) and typhus group (TG) are endemic in southeastern Mexico. Dogs and rodents can host several species of these bacteria, but little is known about the epidemiological factors that influence the infection risk in these mammals. This study aims to identify the frequency of Rickettsia SFG and TG infection in the studied animals, to determine the spatial distribution of the hosts, and to identify the factors associated with the infection risk. Genomic DNA was obtained from 66 dog blood samples and 36 rodent spleens collected in 48 dwellings from the rural locality of Ucú, Yucatan, Mexico. Rickettsia SFG or TG infection was determined using a multiplex semi-nested PCR (snPCR). The predictor variables for the infection risk in dogs and rodents were selected using generalized linear models (GLM) (p < 0.05). snPCR revealed Rickettsia DNA in 28.1% (18/64, 95% CI 17.6%-40.8%) of dogs and 27.8% (10/36, 95% CI 14.2%-45.2%) rodents. Only Rickettsia SFG was detected in dogs, while rodents hosted both Rickettsia TG and SFG. According to the corresponding GLM, dogs living in the interior area of Ucú have a lower risk of infection by Rickettsia SFG (RR = 0.14) than those living in the other areas. The presence of opossums (Didelphis sp.) in the dwelling increases the risk of Rickettsia TG infection in rodents (RR = 14), and the presence of SFG-infected dogs in the dwelling increases the risk of Rickettsia SFG infection in rodents (RR = 21).
Mini-consolidations or intermediate-dose cytarabine (IDAC) for the post-remission therapy of AML patients over 60. A retrospective study from the DATAML and SAL registries.
Authors: Récher Christian , Dumas Pierre-Yves , Bérard Emilie , Tavitian Suzanne , Leguay Thibault , GALTIER Jean , Alric Camille , Bidet Audrey , Delabesse Eric , Jean-Baptiste Rieu , VIAL Jean-Philippe , Vergez Francois , Luquet Isabelle , Klein Emilie , De Grande Anne-Charlotte , Sarry Audrey , Zukunft Sven , Platzbecker Uwe , Müller-Tidow Carsten , Baldus Claudia , Bornhauser Martin , Serve Hubert , Bertoli Sarah , Pigneux Arnaud , Röllig Christoph
Published: June 2024

According to current recommendations, older AML patients in first complete remission (CR) after induction chemotherapy should receive consolidation with intermediate-dose cytarabine (IDAC). However, no study has demonstrated the superiority of IDAC over other regimen. In this retrospective study, we compared the efficacy of mini-consolidations (idarubicin 8 mg/m² day 1, cytarabine 50 mg/m²/12 hours, day 1–5) and IDAC. Inclusion criteria were newly diagnosed AML, age > 60 years, first CR after induction and at least 1 cycle of consolidation. Of the 796 included patients, 322 patients received mini-consolidations and 474 patients received IDAC. Mini-consolidation patients were older, more often had de novo AML and unfavorable risk. The rate of allogeneic transplantation was higher in the IDAC group. The median number of cycles was higher in the mini-consolidation group (4 vs 2; P < 0.0001). Median relapse-free survival was 18 months with mini-consolidations and 12 months with IDAC (P = 0.0064). In multivariate analysis, the risk of relapse or death was significantly higher in the IDAC group (P = 0.004). Median OS was 36 vs. 31 months with mini-consolidations or IDAC, respectively (P = 0.46). In multivariate analysis, the consolidation regimen had no significant influence on OS (P = 0.43). In older AML patients, post-remission therapy with mini-consolidations represents an alternative to IDAC.
Unravelling wheat genotypic responses: insights into salinity stress tolerance in relation to oxidative stress, antioxidant mechanisms, osmolyte accumulation and grain quality parameters
Authors: Patwa Neha , Pandey Vanita , Gupta Om Parkash , Yadav Anita , Meena Mintu Ram , Ram Sewa , Singh Gyanendra
Published: June 2024

Background Salt stress is a prominent abiotic stressor that imposes constraints on grain yield and quality across various crops, including wheat (Triticum aestivum). This study focused on assessing the genetic diversity of 20 wheat genotypes categorized as tolerant, moderately tolerant, and sensitive with three genotypes of unknown tolerance. To address salinity stress-related problems, different morphophysiological, osmoprotectant, biochemical, yield, and grain quality-related parameters were analyzed under saline-sodic conditions.
Results The research findings revealed noteworthy variations among the genotypes in response to salinity stress. Greater accumulation of Na+ and lower K+ content were observed in response to salt stress in the sensitive varieties HD1941 and K9162. Proline, a stress indicator, exhibited significantly (p ≤ 0.05) greater accumulation in response to salinity stress, particularly in the tolerant cultivars KRL210 and KH65. Salt stress induced the most significant decrease (p ≤ 0.05) in spike length, thousand-grain weight, and hectolitre weight coupled with an increase in protein content in sensitive varieties such as K9162 and HD1941, resulting in diminished yield. Furthermore, salt-sensitive genotypes exhibited elevated protein content, reduced moisture, and increased sedimentation value.
Conclusion Correlation analysis of parameters under salinity stress showed that SOD, proline, and K+ contents can be used as the most efficient screening criteria for salinity stress during early developmental stages. Principal component analysis (PCA) revealed that DBW187, DBW303, and DBW222 varieties were tolerant to salinity stress and exhibited an effective antioxidant system against salinity. This study will facilitate salt-tolerant wheat breeding in terms of the identification of tolerant lines by screening for limited traits in a wide range of germplasms.
Strengthening the effectiveness of community health system: assessing the factors that enhance or constrain the delivery of health services within communities in Nigeria
Authors: Ozor Okechukwu , Etiaba Enyi , Onwujekwe Obinna
Published: June 2024

Introduction:
Sub-optimal community health service delivery (CHSD) has been a challenge constraining community health system (CHS) globally, especially in underdeveloped countries like Nigeria. This paper examined the key factors that either enhance or constrain CHSD in Nigeria at individual, community/facility and governmental levels while recommending evidence-based solutions for sustaining and improving CHSD within the framework of CHS.
Methods
Data was collected through a qualitative study undertaken in three states (Anambra, Akwa-Ibom and Kano) in Nigeria. Respondents were formal/informal health providers; community leaders and representatives of civil society organizations all purposively sampled. There were 90 in-depth interviews and 12 focus group discussions, which were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim, and analyzed thematically using codes to identify key themes.
Results
Factors constraining CHSD at the individual level were: poor health seeking behavior and male dominance. At the community/facility level: superstitious/cultural beliefs and poor attitude of facility workers; at the governmental level were: inadequate financial support, embezzlement of funds, inadequate social amenities... Conversely, the enabling factors at the individual level were: community members participation, compassionate attitude of informal providers… At the community/facility level were: synergy between formal and informal providers; and support from community-based organizations and structures. At the governmental level were: government’s support to community-based formal/informal providers and clear line of communication.
Conclusions
CHSD through functional CHS can improve overall health systems strengthening and lead to improved community health. Policymakers should integrate CHSD in all program implementation and ultimately work with CHS as a veritable platform for effective community health service delivery.
Cerrado Calliphorids (Diptera, Insecta) Phenology’s in a Changing World
Authors: Mugnai Riccardo , Portela Ana Mara Nascimento , Milesi Silvia Vendruscolo , Silva Claudio Gonçalves
Published: June 2024

Calliphoridae is one of the most abundant families of flies of the order Diptera. Its importance is linked to different areas of knowledge, such as sanitary medicine, veterinary medicine, forensic entomology and ecology. Because of this, it is important to determine the factors that influence its distribution and phenology, allowing mitigation measures to be established. Furthermore, the information must be evaluated in the context of climate change, which can cause variations in population age and changes in distribution area. The present work aims to study the seasonal fluctuations and environmental factors that determine the species distribution found in a protected area in the state of Maranhão in northeastern Brazil. The distribution of Lucilia eximia (Wiedemann, 1819), Chrysomya albiceps (Wiedmann, 1819), Chrysomya megacephala(Fabricius, 1794), Hemilucilia benoisti (Séguy, 1925) and Hemiluciliasp. was related to vegetation coverage and limited by two main factors, humidity (60% lower limit) and temperature (30°C lower limit). Regarding seasonality, the species presented different phenologies, generally linked to the rainy season, with similar patterns between the genera and a population increase in periods of rain with intermediate intensity. This study contributes with new information about the interaction between environmental factors and phenology of five carrion fly species, providing insights into the interaction between environmental changes induced by climate change.
Towards transforming malaria vector surveillance using VectorBrain: a novel convolutional neural network for mosquito species, sex, and abdomen status identifications
Authors: Li Deming , Hegde Shruti , Kumar Aravind , Zacharias Atul , Mehta Parthvi , Muktineni Venkat , Srim Satwik , Patel Sunny , Suin Maitreya , Chellappa Rama , Acharya Soumyadipta
Published: June 2024

Malaria is a major public health concern, causing significant morbidity and mortality globally. Monitoring the local population density and diversity of the vectors transmitting malaria is critical to implementing targeted control strategies. However, the current manual identification of mosquitoes is a time-consuming and intensive task, posing challenges in low-resource areas like sub-Saharan Africa; in addition, existing automated identification methods lack scalability, mobile deployability, and field-test validity. To address these bottlenecks, a mosquito image database with fresh wild-caught specimens using basic smart phones is introduced, and we present a novel CNN-based architecture, VectorBrain, designed for identifying the species, sex, and abdomen status of a mosquito concurrently while being efficient and lightweight in computation and size. Overall, our proposed approach achieves 94.44±2% accuracy with a macro-averaged F1 score of 94.10±2% for the species classification,97.00±1% accuracy with a macro-averaged F1 score of 94.00±1% for the sex classification, and 83.20±3.1% accuracy with a macro-averaged F1 score of 80.54±3% for the abdominal status classification. VectorBrain running on local mobile devices, paired with a low-cost handheld imaging tool, is promising in transforming the mosquito vector surveillance programs by reducing the burden of expertise required and facilitating timely response based on accurate monitoring.
Urban expansion and the loss of agricultural lands and forest cover in Limbe, Cameroon
Authors: Enomah Lucy Deba , Acheampong Michael , Yu Qiuyan , Wilson Ismael , Tanyi Shirley , Muambo Kimberly Etombi
Published: June 2024

Using LULC change detection analysis, it is possible to identify changes due to urbanization, deforestation, or a natural disaster in an area. As the population growth and urbanization intensity increase, real time solutions for the effects of urbanization on land use are required to assess its implications on food security and livelihood. The study seeks to identify and quantify recent LULC changes in Limbe, Cameroon, and to measure rates of conversion between agricultural, forest, and urban lands between 1986 to 2020 using remote sensing and GIS. The classification result reveals that 2020 image has the highest overall accuracy of 94.6 while 2002 image have an overall accuracy of 89.2%. The overall gain for agriculture was approximately 4.6km2, urban has an overall gain of nearly 12.7 km2 while the overall loss for forest was − 16.9km2 during this period. Much of the land area previously occupied by forest is declining as pressures for urban area and new settlements increased. The study's findings have significant policy implications for sustainable land-use and cover practices. The results offer significant perspectives for researchers and decision makers who are interested in environmentally conscious development and sustainable land use.
A Novel ODMC Model for Malaria Blood Smear Classification using Deep Feature Fusion and Optimization
Authors: Iftikhar Saman , Imran Talha , ElAmir Malak , Fatima Kiran , Saeed Ammar , Alansari Noof Abdulaziz
Published: June 2024

Malaria poses an enormous threat to humanity with ever increasing cases annually. The research in the field of medical is contributing quite a lot in providing methods for premature diagnosis of malaria. Apart from medical research, information technology is also playing a vital role in proposing efficient methods for malaria diagnosis. To minimize the manual interference and boost the diagnosis accuracy, the automated systems are under study lately. An ensemble deep learning scheme is proposed in this paper with the fusion of features obtained by two state-of-the-art pre-trained deep Convolutional Neural Networks (CNN) models ResNet101 and SqueezeNet for the classification of malaria blood smears from red blood cells. A handcrafted feature extractor Local Binary Patterns (LBP) is also implemented along with the fused deep model features to deduce texture features of infected regions within image for better discrimination. Linear Discriminant Analysis (LDA) is employed for feature selection and optimization. At the end, the selected features are classified using a set of classifiers. The proposed Optimized Deep Malaria Classifier (ODMC) model achieved 99.73% accuracy with exceptional time efficiency.
Study of Influence of Preexisting Pain on the Body's Response to External Pain Stimuli
Authors: Ozek Burcu , Lu Zhenyuan , Radhakrishnan Srinivasan , Kamarthi Sagar
Published: June 2024

The assessment of pain severity is essential for effective pain treatment. In clinical settings, pain intensity assessment relies on self-reporting methods, which are subjective to individuals and impractical for non-communicative or critically ill patients. In literature, there have been numerous attempts to objectively measure pain. In these studies, participants experience only one source of pain, which is not always the case in patients' medical conditions. In this study, our objective is to investigate the hypothesis that an individual's physiological response to external pain differs depending on experiencing preexisting pain. The underlying premise is that the body may exhibit different physiological responses to an external pain stimulus, depending on the intensity of the preexisting pain. To assess this hypothesis, we recruited 39 healthy subjects aged 22-37; among them, 23 were female, and 16 were male. Physiological signals - Electrodermal Activity and Electromyography - were recorded while participants underwent a combination of heat pain and cold stimuli. Through statistical analysis, we confirmed the hypothesis that the body exhibits different physiological responses to an external pain stimulus when influenced by preexisting pain. We identified key features of physiological signals (e.g., statistics and distributions) that significantly differ in response to new pain stimuli.
RETRACTED: Enhanced Crop LAI Estimation via Random Forest Regression: Bayesian Optimization and Feature Selection Approach
Authors: Zhang Jun , Wu Qiang , Liu Cuiping , Xiong Shuping , Yang Hao , Chang Shenglong , Fu Yuanyuan , Yang Mohan , Yang Guijun , Ma Xinming , Cheng Jinpeng
Published: June 2024

The authors have requested that this preprint be removed from Research Square.
Comparative study of serum 6-hydroxy-5-methoxyindole-2-carboxylic acid, 5-S-cysteinyl-dopa, and lactate dehydrogenase levels as markers for malignant melanoma
Authors: Umemura Hiroshi , Takiwaki Masaki , Kikutani Yoshikuni , Fukuzawa Seketsu , Abe Kentaro , Fujino Kiyotaka , Sugihara Satoru , Tachibana Kota , Morizane Shin , Yamasaki Osamu
Published: June 2024

Background
With the development of novel therapies for advanced malignant melanoma (MM), biomarkers that can accurately reflect the progression of MM are needed. Recently, we have developed a method to measure the serum levels of 6-hydroxy-5-methoxyindole-2-carboxylic acid (6H5MI2C), a melanin-related metabolite, using mass spectrometry and reported that it may be a potential marker for MM.
Objective
In the present study, we compared the usefulness of serum levels of 6H5MI2C, 5-S-cysteinyl-dopa (5-S-CD), and lactate dehydrogenase (LD) as tumor markers for MM (n = 63).
Results
Among the three markers, only 6H5MI2C was significantly elevated in the metastatic group (stages III and IV) compared to the non-metastatic group (stages 0 to II). Additionally, 6H5MI2C with a cut-off level of 1.00 ng/mL showed higher sensitivity for metastatic MM than 5-S-CD and LD.
Conclusions
Thus, serum 6H5MI2C level has the potential to be a good marker for MM in comparison to 5-S-CD and LD.
Concordant and Discordant Breast Density Patterns by Different approaches for Assessing Breast Density and Breast Cancer Risk
Authors: Cho Yoosun , Park Eun Kyung , Chang Yoosoo , Kwon Mi-ri , Kim Eun Young , Kim Minjeong , Park Boyoung , Lee Sanghyup , Jeong Han Eol , Kim Ki Hwan , Kim Tae Soo , Lee Hyeonsoo , Kwon Ria , Lim Ga-Young , Choi JunHyeok , Kook Shin Ho , Ryu Seungho
Published: June 2024

Purpose
To examine the discrepancy in breast density assessments by radiologists, LIBRA software, and AI algorithm and their association with breast cancer risk.
Methods
Among 74,610 Korean women aged ≥ 34 years, who underwent screening mammography, density estimates obtained from both LIBRA and the AI algorithm were compared to radiologists using BI-RADS density categories (A–D, designating C and D as dense breasts). The breast cancer risks were compared according to concordant or discordant dense breasts identified by radiologists, LIBRA, and AI. Cox-proportional hazards models were used to determine adjusted hazard ratios (aHRs) [95% confidence intervals (CIs)].
Results
During a median follow-up of 9.9 years, 479 breast cancer cases developed. Compared to the reference non-dense breast group, the aHRs (95% CIs) for breast cancer were 2.37 (1.68–3.36) for radiologist-classified dense breasts, 1.30 (1.05–1.62) for LIBRA, and 2.55 (1.84–3.56) for AI. For different combinations of breast density assessment, aHRs (95% CI) for breast cancer were 2.40 (1.69–3.41) for radiologist-dense/LIBRA-non-dense, 11.99 (1.64–87.62) for radiologist-non-dense/LIBRA-dense, and 2.99 (1.99–4.50) for both dense breasts, compared to concordant non-dense breasts. Similar trends were observed with radiologists/AI classification: the aHRs (95% CI) were 1.79 (1.02–3.12) for radiologist-dense/AI-non-dense, 2.43 (1.24–4.78) for radiologist-non-dense/AI-dense, and 3.23 (2.15–4.86) for both dense breasts.
Conclusion
The risk of breast cancer was highest in concordant dense breasts. Discordant dense breast cases also had a significantly higher risk of breast cancer, especially when identified as dense by either AI or LIBRA, but not radiologists, compared to concordant non-dense breast cases.
Harnessing light-activated gallium porphyrins to combat intracellular Staphylococcus aureus in dermatitis: Insights from a simplified model.
Authors: Szymczak Klaudia , Rychłowski Michał , Zhang Lei , Nakonieczna Joanna
Published: June 2024

Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) can survive inside nonprofessional phagocytes such as keratinocytes, enabling it to evade antibiotics and cause recurrent infections once treatment stops. New antibacterial strategies to eliminate intracellular, multidrug-resistant bacteria are needed. This study used a keratinocyte model infected with methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) to test light-activated compounds, specifically heme-mimetic gallium (III) porphyrin (Ga3+CHP) and visible light, known as antimicrobial photodynamic inactivation (aPDI), for eliminating intracellular MRSA. Ga3+CHP was found to accumulate more in infected cells, particularly within lysosomal structures where MRSA resides. Flow cytometry and fluorescence microscopy revealed significant colocalization of MRSA and Ga3+CHP. Under aPDI, MRSA showed reduced adhesion to host cells and a 70% reduction in GFP signal from intracellular bacteria. Additionally, light-activated Ga3+CHP significantly decreased extracellular bacteria, reducing further infection potential. This study is the first to analyze aPDI toxicity in real time within an infection model, demonstrating that this method is neither cytotoxic nor phototoxic.
Evaluating the sensitivity of a chronic plant bioassay relative to an independently derived predicted no effect thresholds to support risk assessment of very hydrophobic organic chemicals
Authors: Redman Aaron , Paumen Miriam Leon , Letinski Daniel , Kelley Barbara , Sutherland Cary , Hedgpeth Bryan , Butler Josh , Prince Roger , Bragin Gail , Smith Abraham
Published: June 2024

Environmental risk assessments require high quality toxicity data to establish protective thresholds. The chronic effects of very hydrophobic organic compounds (VHOCs) in soils are often difficult to determine because multiple processes (e.g. sorption, volatilization, biodegradation) can complicate the interpretation of results. We have developed a standardized soil dosing and aging procedure for assessing bioavailability of high logKow VHOCs in a synthetic soil surrogate, and then used it to evaluate the toxicity of high logKow VHOCs across a range of test substance concentrations and soil organic carbon content. The soil preparation protocol resulted in relatively stable freely dissolved concentrations of test substance compared to bulk soil concentrations with some losses likely due to volatility and biodegradation. This dosing method wasused in a chronic terrestrial plant toxicity bioassay to evaluate the potential toxicity of VHOCs on complex reproductive endpoints like inflorescence and seed bud formation. Testing included common hydrocarbons and three very hydrophobic lubricant substances (logKow > 10). The toxicity data were used to evaluate existing predicted no effect concentrations (PNEC) that had originally been derived without these higher order chronic plant endpoints. The initial exposure concentrations were set at the independently-derived PNECs to provide an independent validation of the PNEC framework. This evaluation was performed to expand the domain of applicability of the PNEC to VHOCs and for the chronic terrestrial plant endpoints. We saw no effects on plant biomass or inflorescence production at these low exposure concentrations, demonstrating that the established PNEC is protective of long term plant health. The results of the present study confirm that the new dosing method is fit for purpose, and that the existing PNEC framework can be extended to chronic plant endpoints for VHOCs.
Prevalence and associated factors of myopia among adolescents ag ed 12 ~ 15 in Shandong Province, China: a cross-sectional study
Authors: Huang Zhihao , Song Dingding , Tian Zhiqi , Wang Yongming , Tian Kunzong
Published: June 2024

Background Myopia is a growing concern worldwide, especially among adolescents. This study aims to investigate the prevalence and associated factors of myopia in adolescents aged 12 ~ 15 in Shandong Province, China.
Methods This cross-sectional study adhered to the Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology guidelines and involved stratified random cluster sampling of 128,678 students from 186 middle schools across 17 cities in Shandong Province. Data collection was conducted from November to December 2023. We excluded students with organic eye diseases, abnormal binocular vision functions, or a history of eye injuries or surgeries. Myopia was assessed using the standard logarithmic visual acuity chart and computerized optometry without inducing ciliary muscle paralysis. A comprehensive questionnaire survey was conducted to gather demographic characteristics and daily life behaviors. With the chi-squared test for univariable analysis and multivariable logistic regression for identifying significant factors.
Results This study included 126,375 participants, with a gender distribution of 51.02% male and 48.98% female. The overall prevalence of myopia was 71.34%. Higher prevalence was observed in girls (72.26%) compared to boys (70.45%), and the prevalence increased with age, peaking at 73.12% in 15-year-olds. Urban residents had a higher prevalence (71.86%) than rural (70.39%). Factors such as less frequent outdoor exercise, improper reading and writing posture, closer distance to screens, longer screen time, and shorter sleep duration were associated with higher odds of myopia. Conversely, more frequent outdoor exercise and longer sleep duration lowered the odds. Additionally, female gender, older age, urban residence, and parental history of myopia increased the risk.
ConclusionThe high prevalence of myopia among adolescents in Shandong Province was influenced by a combination of demographic, behavioral, and environmental factors. The study highlighted the importance of lifestyle modifications, such as increasing outdoor activities and maintaining proper visual habits, to mitigate the risk of developing myopia. These findings underscored the need for targeted public health interventions and educational campaigns to address this significant public health issue.
Predictors of hypercontractile heart phenotype in patients with chronic coronary syndromes or heart failure
Authors: Wang Yi , Ciampi Quirino , Cortigiani Lauro , Zagatina Angela , Kasprzak Jaroslaw D. , Wierzbowska-Drabik Karina , Haberka Maciej , Barral Patricia , Souto Germán , Djordjevic-Dikic Ana , Reisenhofer Barbara , Boshchenko Alla , Ryabova Tamara , Rodriguez-Zanella Hugo , Rigo Fausto , D'Andrea Antonello , Gaibazzi Nicola , Merli Elisa , Lisi Matteo , Simova Iana , Barbieri Andrea , Morrone Doralisa , Pitino Annalisa , De Nes Michele , Tripepi Giovanni L. , Yin Lixue , Citro Rodolfo , Carerj Scipione , Pepi Mauro , Pellikka Patricia A. , Picano Eugenio
Published: June 2024

Background
Hypercontractile phenotype (HP) of the left ventricle (LV) is an actionable therapeutic target in patients with chronic coronary syndromes (CCS) or heart failure (HF), but its clinical recognition remains difficult.
Objectives
To assess the clinical variables associated with the HP.
Methods
In a prospective, observational, multicenter study, we recruited 5,122 patients (age 65 ± 11 years, 2974 males, 58%) with CCS and/or HF with preserved ejection fraction (EF). Systolic blood pressure (SBP) was measured. We assessed wall motion score index (WMSI), LV end-diastolic volume (EDV), end-systolic volume (ESV), EF, force (SBP/ESV), stroke volume (SV), arterial elastance (SBP/SV), and ventricular-arterial coupling (VAC, as SV/ESV). Univariable and multivariable logistic regression analysis assessed independent factors associated with the highest force sextile.
Results
For all the studied patients, force was 4.51 ± 2.11 mmHg/ml, with the highest sextile (Group 6) > 6.36 mmHg/ml. By multivariable logistic regression model, the highest sextile of force was associated with age > 65 years (OR 1.62, 95% CI 1.36–1.93, p < 0.001), hypertension (OR 1.76, 95% CI 1.40–2.21, p < 0.001), female sex (OR 4.52, 95% CI 3.77–5.42, p < 0.001), absence of beta-blocker therapy (OR 1.41, 95% CI 1.16–1.68), rest SBP ≥ 160 mmHg (OR 2.81, 95% CI 2.21–3.56, p < 0.001), high heart rate (OR 2.08, 95% CI 1.61–2.67, p < 0.001), and absence of prior myocardial infarction (OR 1.34, 95% CI 1.07–1.68, p = 0.012). Patients in the highest sextile of force showed lower values of WMSI, SV, EDV, and ESV, and higher values of arterial elastance and VAC.
Conclusions
HP of the LV with high force was clinically associated with advanced age, female sex, high resting SBP, and the absence of 𝛽-blocker therapy. By transthoracic echocardiography, HP was associated with a small heart with reduced EDV, reduced SV despite high EF, and higher arterial elastance.
Predeterminate Role of Pterygopalatine Ganglion Neuron Density on Anterior Perforated Arteries Vasospasm During Subarachnoid Hemorrhage: A Preliminary Experimental Study.
Authors: Kara Caner Fahrettin , Elveren Muhammet , Demirci Elif
Published: June 2024

Background: The anterior perforated arteries (APA) are crucial for cerebral circulation, yet the relationship between vasospasm in these arteries and neuron density in the pterygopalatine ganglion during subarachnoid hemorrhage remains unexplored.
Methods: This study was conducted on 21 rabbits previously utilized in other experiments. Five rabbits were selected from a baseline control group, five formed the sham group by receiving 1 cc of physiological serum, and sixteen were designated as the subarachnoid hemorrhage group. Subarachnoid hemorrhage was induced by injecting autologous blood into their cisterna magna. After seven days of observation, the animals were euthanized, and their APAs and pterygopalatine ganglia were examined stereologically. The ratio of the wall sectioning surface area (Wall ring) to the lumen surface values was calculated as the vasospasm index (VSI), with higher values indicating more severe vasospasm. Statistical comparisons of VSI values and neuron densities of the pterygopalatine ganglia were performed using the Kruskal-Wallis and Mann-Whitney U tests, with significance considered at p < 0.005.
Results: The average normal/degenerated neuronal density in the pterygopalatine ganglia and corresponding VSI values were 12.310±1.590/mm³/12±3/mm³ and VSI=0.234±0.031 in control animals (n=5). The sham group showed a neuronal density of 12.165±1.370/mm³/56±8/mm³ and a mean VSI of 0.995±0.121 (n=5); 10.110±1.170/mm³/782±112/mm³ and a VSI of 1.127±0.654/763±98/mm³ were observed with slight vasospasm (Study A: n=6). In animals with severe vasospasm (Study B: n=5), the mean neuronal density was 8960±990/mm³/1954±189/mm³ and the VSI was 2.126±0.986. Differences were significant at p<0.005 for Control/Sham; p<0.0005 for Sham/Study; and p<0.000001 for Control/Study.
Conclusions: Neuron density in the pterygopalatine ganglia may play a crucial role in the development of APA vasospasm induced by subarachnoid hemorrhage.
Mechanism of indolepropionic acid mediating allergic rhinitis by regulating AKT/T-bet/GZMB/TTP/IL-10 axis
Authors: Gao Lu , Song Yulan , Zhang Jing , Zhao Yan , Hu Huixuan , Feng Yan
Published: June 2024

Objective: Allergic rhinitis(AR) is one of the most common chronic diseases in the world, which often brings confusion to countless patients. The purpose of this study was to explore whether indolepropionic acid(IPA) intervened AR mice through regulation AKT/T-bet/GZMB/TTP/IL-10 axis alleviates the inflammatory reaction in AR mice and provides a new vision for the treatment of AR.
Methods: the AR model of mice was constructed with ovalbumin(OVA), then drug intervention with IPA was performed, and AR symptoms were evaluated on the last day of stimulation, and mouse serum and nasal mucosal tissues were collected for follow-up experiments; the expression levels of immunoglobulin E(IgE), Interleukin(IL)-4, IL-5, IL-10, IL-13 in the serum of mice were detected by Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA); The pathological changes of nasal mucosa were observed by Hematoxylin–eosin(H&E) staining method; The mRNA and protein levels of AKT, T-bet, GZMB, TTP and IL-10 in nasal mucosa were detected by Quantitative reverse transcription PCR (qRT-PCR) and Western Blot.
Results: On the last day of stimulation, the score for nasal symptom behavior in the OVA group was more than 5 points, indicating that the model was successfully established. Compared to the OVA group, the nasal symptom behavior score was significantly lower in the OVA + IPA group (P<0.05); The results of HE showed that the inflammatory pathological manifestations of the nasal mucosa in the OVA group were severe, and the inflammatory pathological manifestations of the nasal mucosa in the OVA + IPA group were obviously reduced after treatment; ELISA showed that the levels of IL-4, IL-5, IL-13 and IgE in the OVA group were significantly higher than those in the OVA + IPA group, while the levels of IL-10 were significantly lower than those in the OVA + IPA group (P<0.05); The results of qRT-PCR and Western Blot showed that compared with the OVA group, the mRNA and protein levels of GZMB, IL-10 increased significantly in the nasal mucosa of the OVA + IPA group, but the mRNA levels of AKT, T-bet, TTP decreased significantly (P<0.05).
Conclusion: IPA can alleviate the inflammatory response of AR mice by regulating the AKT/T-bet/GZMB/TTP/IL-10 axis.
Dynamic Boundary Conditions based Optimization Approach for Efficient Model Order Reduction of Complex Systems
Authors: Goel Anuj , Manocha Amit Kumar
Published: June 2024

This paper proposed a new methodology to address the key problem in model order reduction methods of setting random values of lower & upper bounds and initial values of the parameters in optimization-based approaches. The moth flame optimization (MFO) method is utilized for the model order reduction process wherein the search space boundaries are found using a novel strategy with the classical balanced truncation technique. Both the numerator and denominator coefficients of the desired reduced-order system are found using the proposed optimization approach. The integral square error (ISE) is employed as the objective function in the optimization of SISO systems while a novel objective function is framed using ISE for the MIMO systems. The key advantage of using balanced truncation-based search space boundaries ensures targeted search with potential solutions and stability of the reduced order model. Further, the disadvantage of steady-state error of the balanced truncation is overcome using a gain adjustment factor. The overall methodology takes very less simulation time while keeping all the necessary parameters of the reduced-system close to those of the original system. To test the efficacy of the proposed methodology, five real-world high-order systems with two SISO systems, two MIMO systems and one discrete-time system are considered and compared with existing methods through several error indices and time and frequency-domain specifications. It has been found that the proposed methodology results in significant reduction of ISE and improvement in matching of step responses, preserving stability of the reduced-order models.
Determinants of malaria infection among under five children in Gurusum district of Somali region, Eastern Ethiopia
Authors: Gobe Dejene Edessa , Mohammed Ahmed , Aden Abdirizak , Deribe Kebede , Chernet Afona , Yared Solomon
Published: June 2024

Background
Despite the significant investments to control malaria infections over the past years, new infection rates remain significant public health problem in sub-Saharan Africa including in Ethiopia. This study aims in investigating key determinant of malaria infection among under five years (U5) children in Gursum district of Somali region, East Ethiopia.
Method
An institutional based case-control study was conducted for two months between June to July 2020. The study comprised 247 participants, divided into 82 cases and 165 controls, maintaining a case-to-control ratio of 1:2. It focused on households with children under the age of five who received care at three health centers located in the district. The investigation included identifying plasmodium species using rapid diagnostic tests and microscopic blood film examination. Logistic regression model was used to identify the factors influencing the outcome, using a statistical software STATA-13/15. Odds ratios and the corresponding confidence intervals were used to identify potential predictors in logistic regression model.
Results
A multivariate analysis disclosed the following five exposures to be significantly associated with malaria positivity among children. Those are, being-living near to source of a stagnant water [AOR = 3.60 (1.73–7.48)], in rural area [AOR = 3.58 (1.56–8.21)], in a house with openings or holes on the wall for mosquito entry [AOR = 5.00 (2.22–11.28)], and not receiving malaria health information [AOR = 2.12 (1.06–4.21)]. In addition, household being near to malaria breeding habitat [AOR = 4.74 (2.27–9.90)] was significant with malaria positivity.. These are the top five key determinant of malaria positivity among U5 children the Gursum district.
Conclusion
The study revealed that the most pressing determinant for malaria positivity among U5 in the Gurum district seems to be related to unawareness, housing and spatial proximity to breading sites. Therefore, social mobilization, and spatially targeted malaria interventions are essential to reduce the transmission of the disease at the community level, especially among the most vulnerable children.
Scrolling Through Adolescence: Unveiling the Relationship of the Use of Social Networks and its Addictive Behavior with Psychosocial Health
Authors: Brand Caroline , Fochesatto Camila Felin , Gaya Anelise Reis , Schuch Felipe Barreto , López-Gil José Francisco
Published: June 2024

Background
Understanding the impact of social network use and addictive behaviors on adolescent psychosocial health is crucial in today's digital age.
Aim
To verify the associations between social network use, WhatsApp, and the addictive behaviors to social network with psychosocial health in Spanish adolescents.
Methods
a cross-sectional study was developed with 632 adolescents, aged 12 to 17 years from the region of Murcia, Spain. The assessment of social network use (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat, and TikTok) involved evaluating the frequency of use of each social network individually using a single-item scale with five response options. WhatsApp use was evaluated in the same manner. The Short Social Networks Addiction Scale-6 Symptoms was employed to assess potential addictive behaviors to social network use. The psychosocial health was assessed using the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ). Generalized linear regression models (adjusted for several covariates) were conducted, and predictive probabilities of having psychosocial health problems were calculated.
Results
The predicted probability of presenting psychological health problems in the medium users and high users of social networks was 19.3% (95% CI 13.0 to 27.7), and 16.2% (95% CI 10.2 to 24.6) higher compared to low users, respectively. High usage of Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat, and Facebook was associated with increased probabilities of psychosocial health problems, with Facebook showing the highest probabilities, at 31.3% (95% CI 14.8 to 54.2) for medium users and 51.9% (95% CI 26.5 to 76.3) for high users. Additionally, adolescents with addictive behaviors to social network use had 19.0–25.2% higher risk of experiencing psychosocial health problems. Finally, the highest probabilities of having psychological health problems were identified in adolescents with high addictive behaviors when using social networks (28.9%; 95% CI 19.3–40.8%) and the lowest in those with low addictive behaviors (6.8%; 95% CI 3.3–13.6%).
Conclusion
Adolescents who use social networks more frequently are more likely to experience psychological health problems compared to those who do not. Facebook showed the strongest association, followed by Snapchat, Instagram, and TikTok. Our data also revealed that adolescents exhibit various signs of addictive behaviors to social network use.