bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Nomogram for predicting postoperative pulmonary infection in elderly patients undergoing major orthopedic surgery
Authors: Liu Yuhan , Yang Tingjun , Fan Yunping , Gan Haibin , Li Xiaohua , Luo Yanrong , Pang Qianyun , Yang Xuping
Published: April 2024

The incidence of postoperative pulmonary infection (PPI) in major orthopedic surgery in the elderly is high, and have a significant impact on perioperative morbidity and mortality. This study aims to develop and validate a nomogram for predicting PPI in elderly patients undergoing major orthopedic surgery. Data included preoperative variables, surgical and anesthesia factors from total of 814 elderly patients undergoing major orthopedic surgery from January 2018 to October 2021 were retrospectively collected. The primary outcome was PPI. The incidence of PPI in this study was 4.2%. Multivariate logistic regression showed that preoperative pulmonary disease (OR:6.018), cognitive impairment (OR:5.285), intraoperative infusion volume ≥ 1200ml (OR:2.693) were independent risk factors for PPI in elderly orthopedic patients. A nomogram was built with 6 risk factors included gender, preoperative pulmonary disease, cognitive impairment and cerebrovascular disease, intraoperative infusion volume, and postoperative analgesia. The area under the curve (AUC) of the nomogram model was 0.800, the slope was 1.000, and the net benefit of the decision curve analysis (DCA) curve was 0.01–0.60. A nomogram for predicting PPI in elderly patients undergoing major orthopedic surgery with 6 variables, can be used to predict PPI of elderly patients undergoing major orthopedic surgery and identify high risk groups.
Genome-wide identifcation of transcripts and miRNAs during somatic embryogenesis in Pinellia ternata
Authors: Xu Rong , Wang Mingxing , Wei Lu , Luo Ming , Miao Yuhuan , Dahui Liu
Published: April 2024

Pinellia ternata(Thunb.) Breit, a well-known Chinese medicinal plants, is mainly produced by clonal propagation. Somatic embryogenesis (SEG) is a major process for plant regeneration, however, the molecular mechanism of SEG in P. ternata is still unclear. In this study, genome-wide mRNAs and small RNAs analysis were performed on the samples from three key stages of P. ternata SEG, including explant, calli and protocorm‐like bodies. The results showed that the increase in the content of auxins, especially I3CA and ICA1, contributed to the regeneration of P. ternata; PtAUX/IAA2, PtSAUR4, PtAEC1, PtAEC2, PtAUT1and PtAUT2 were important regulatory genes for auxins systhesis and signal transduction in P. ternata SEG. For the first time, we employed small RNA sequencing to investigate P. ternata SEG, and we discovered that miR396 were the key miRNAs involved in regulating P. ternata SEG by targeting GRF genes.
Ejaculatory function after radiotherapy for prostate cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Ghaffar Umar , Abbasi Behzad , Li Kevin , Venishetty Nikit , Hakam Nizar , Fernandez Adrian , Pearce Robert , Patel Hiren , Carlisle Marvin , Breyer Benjamin
Published: April 2024

Background Scant data exists on the impacts of prostate radiation on ejaculatory function. We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis to assess ejaculatory outcomes in men after prostate radiation.Methods We queried PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science to identify 17 articles assessing ejaculatory function post-radiation. The primary outcome was anejaculation rate and secondary outcomes included ejaculatory volume (EV), ejaculatory discomfort, and mean decline in ejaculatory function scores (EFS). We assessed study quality with the Newcastle-Ottawa scale. We calculated pooled proportions using inverse variance and random effects models.Results We identified 17 observational studies with 2,115 patients reporting ejaculatory profiles post-radiation. Seven studies utilized external beam radiation therapy, 7 brachytherapy, 1 stereotactic RT and 2 utilized either external or brachytherapy. Ten studies reported an anejaculation rate. Pooled proportion of patients having anejaculation, decreased EV and EjD were 18% (95% CI, 11–36%), 85% (95% CI, 81–89%) and 24% (95% CI, 16–35%), respectively. Five studies reported decline in EFS post-radiation.Conclusions Patients receiving radiation treatment may experience significant changes in their ejaculation, such as the absence of ejaculation, reduced EV, and EjD. It is important to counsel them about these potential side effects.
Influences of Pulsed Electric Field Parameters on Cell Electroporation and Electrofusion Events: Comprehensive Understanding by Experiments and Molecular Dynamics Simulations
Authors: Qu sujun , Ke Qiang , Li Xinhao , Yu Lin , Huang Shuheng
Published: April 2024

Electroporation and electrofusion are efficient methods, which have been widely used in different areas of biotechnology and medicine. Pulse strength and width, as an external condition, play an important role in the process of these methods. However, comparatively little work has been done to explore the effects of pulsed electric field parameters on electroporation and electrofusion. Herein, influences of pulse strength and width on the electroporation and electrofusion of phospholipid bilayers were systematically investigated by using experiments combined with molecular dynamics simulations. Experimental results and machine learning-based regression analysis showed that the number of pores is mainly determined by pulse strength, while the sizes of pores were enlarged by increasing the pulse widths. In addition, the formation of large-size pores is the most crucial factor that affects the fusion rate of myeloma cells. The same trend has taken place on coarse-grained and all-atom MD simulations. The result suggested that electroporation events occur only in an electric field exceeding the strength of threshold, and the unbalanced degree of electric potential between two membranes leads to pores formation during the process of electroporation. Generally, this work provides a comprehensive understanding of how pulse strength and width govern the poration event of bilayer lipid membranes, as well as guidance on the experimental design of electrofusion.
Experimental and theoretical study on the ceasing motion of a droplet manipulated by air-blowing nozzle
Authors: Xu Ning , Fu Xin , Su Rui , Xu Wenping , Shen Yingnan , Luo Jin , Chen Wenyu
Published: April 2024

In this study, the dynamic process of droplet moving with the substrate until blocked by air flow is investigated experimentally and theoretically. A sequence of experiments has been conducted to investigate the impacts of wetting properties , droplet volumes, air flow velocities, and droplet velocities. The substrate is driven by a linear motion motor to ensure the droplet moving at a certain velocity alongside the substrate. The air flow which is vertically injected from the nozzles towards the substrate is known as impinging jet. After air flow impacts the sub-strate, it will blow horizontally. When the direction of air flow is opposite to that of the droplet movement, a force will be exerted on the surface of the droplet. This action incurs the deformation of the droplet and the cessation of the its movement , eventually resulting in an equilibrium state. The droplet shape and motion processes are recorded by the high-speed camera. A mathematical model considering the effect of droplet contact angle, droplet size, droplet moving velocity and air flow velocity is established in the state of equilibrium. Correlation factors are used in the model for the the drag coefficient and air average velocity acting on the droplet. It is found that the air flow rate required to stop the motion of the droplet increases with the droplet moving velocity and the droplet size, but reduces with the enlargement of contact angle. The mathematical model, when equipped with suitable correlation factors, exhibits good agreement with experimental data and could potentially be utilized as a predictor of critical velocity for the cessation of the droplet motion.
The therapeutic analysis of benign uretero-ileal anastomotic stricture after radical cystectomy and urinary diversion.
Authors: mou yixuan , Yao Cenchao , Liu Zhenghong , Zhang Pu , Qi Xiaolong , Zhang Dahong , Chen Yiyang , Yu Weiwen , Wang Shuai
Published: April 2024

Background: Benign uretero-ileal anastomotic stricture (UIAS) is a potentially serious complication following radical cystectomy (RC) and urinary diversion after RC. In order to preserve residual renal function and enhance prognosis, it is imperative to draw insights from experience and tailor individualized treatment strategies for different patients.
Patients and methods: Between October 2014 to June 2021, 47 patients with benign UIAS underwent endoscopic management (n=19) or reimplantation surgery (n=28). The basic data, perioperative conditions and postoperative conditions of the two groups were compared and analyzed to evaluating the efficacy.
Results: In the comparison of preoperative and postoperative clinical efficacy of the same group, the endoscopic group exhibited no significant differences in creatinine and blood urea nitrogen (BUN) levels before surgery or after extubation (P>0.05), but BUN and glomerular filtration rate (GFR) levels on the affected side showed significant differences before surgery and after extubation (P<0.05). While the laparoscopic reimplantation group didn't show significant differences in creatinine, BUN and GFR levels before surgery and after extubation (P>0.05). According to the data of postoperative clinical efficacy between the two groups, there was no significant difference in creatinine and BUN levels (P>0.05), but GFR values in the endoscopic treatment group decreased more than those in the laparoscopic reimplantation group (P<0.05). Additionally, the laparoscopic reimplantation group could remove the single J tube earlier than the endoscopic treatment group (P<0.05) with a lower recurrence rate of hydronephrosis after extubation (P<0.05), and hydronephrosis occurred earlier in the endoscopic treatment group (P<0.05).
Conclusions: In our experience for the treatment of UIAS after RC combined with urinary diversion, laparoscopic reimplantation can fundamentally solve the problem of UIAS, remove the ureteral stent in a relatively short time after surgery, maintain the patency of the ureter for a long time, truly preserve the residual renal function, reduce the occurrence of ureteral restenosis and hydronephrosis, and demonstrate relatively better therapeutic outcomes in this research.
The Relationship between Hormone Therapy and breast cancer among Syrian population
Authors: mubarak roushan , khateeb zeina
Published: April 2024

hormone therapy (HT) is widely used by women to alleviate the symptoms of menopause and as contraceptive. However, the use of HT has been associated with an increased risk of breast cancer. The aim of this study was to examine the potential relationship between hormone therapy (HT) and breast cancer incidence among Syrian population. to evaluate the relationship between HT and breast cancer incidence, we collect information of 500 women, taking into account various confounding factors. The results revealed a significant relationship between HT and an increased risk of breast cancer. Among participants, those with a history of HT had a higher incidence of breast cancer compared with those who did not use (HT).
Sex Reversal in a 47,XXY Patient due to a Novel Mutation of NR5A1 Gene: A Case Report
Authors: Lin Wanjun , Liang Cuili , Shao Yongxian , Zhou Zhizi , Lin Ruizhu , Du Rong , Niu Huilin , Fan Liping , Sheng Huiying , Liu Zongcai , Zhang Wen , Cheng Jing , Liu Guochang , Liu Li
Published: April 2024

Background
The clinical manifestations of disorders of sex development (DSD) are heterogeneous and the etiology is complex. In addition to abnormal sex chromosome karyotypes, clinically, DSD are more often caused by mutations in genes related to sex determination and differentiation.
Case presentation
We report a patient with a 47,XXY DSD caused by a novel nuclear receptor subfamily 5 group A member 1 (NR5A1) mutation, who presented with a left labial mass and a right inguinal mass, a complete female external genital phenotype, blind vagina, and no uterus or ovaries. This patient had extremely low basal anti-müllerian hormone (AMH) and elevated follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH). Testosterone did not rise significantly after human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) stimulation. Bilateral gonadal pathology showed massive hyalinization. The gonads were dysplastic testes, and Sanger sequencing of the NR5A1 gene showed A deletion of A at base 329, which resulted in the change of amino acid 110 from lysine to arginine and the premature appearance of a stop codon, leading to significant changes in the structure and quality of this translated protein. Finally, the family selected for female rearing sex.
Conclusions
If the clinical phenotype of sex chromosome disorders of sex development cannot be explained from the sex chromosome karyotype, the genes related to disorders of sex development should be searched from the molecular genetic level. The gender recommendation of DSD patients should be made cautiously based on a comprehensive analysis of clinical conditions.
Determination of Nutritional Value, Antioxidant Activities, Microbiological and Sensory Properties of Almond, Soy and Oat Based Fermented Beverages
Authors: KILINÇ GÜL EDA , KESER Alev , ÖZER Hamdi Barbaros
Published: April 2024

Plant-based milks have become popular in recent years for vegan and vegetarian diets as well as sustainable nutrition choices. It was aimed to determine the survival rate of probiotic bacterial culture as a result of different storage periods of almond, soy and oat milk-based fermented beverages, to determine their nutritional values and total antioxidant activities, and to evaluate their sensory properties. Almond, soy and oat milk and one type of semi-skimmed cow's milk were used as the control group. Streptococcus thermophilus, Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus, Lactobacillus acidophilus (NCFM®), Bifidobacterium lactis (HN019™) were used as microorganisms. The incubated samples were stored at 4 ± 1°C for 21 days. High viability levels (> 6 log cfu/ml) were maintained in all strains except for B. lactis throughout the storage period (p < 0.05). Fermented oat milk (FOM) had the highest values in terms of carbohydrates, fermented cow milk (FCM) and fermented soy milk (FSM) had the highest values in terms of protein and fat, and FCM and FOM had the highest values in terms of energy (p < 0.05). FSM and fermented almond milk (FAM) had the highest total antioxidant levels during the storage period (p > 0.05). Our data show that the ideal period for the survival of probiotic microorganisms in fermented plant based beverages is first 14 days. It is thought that plant milks are mostly preferred by vegan and vegetarian individuals, and FSM and FAM will be a good choice for these individuals, especially considering the risk of protein intake deficiency and total antioxidant activity.
Stearate-rich diet and oleate restriction directly inhibit tumor growth via the unfolded protein response
Authors: Koji Yamanoi , Jumpei Ogura , Eijiro Nakamura , Shinji Ito , Yuki Nakanishi , Toshi Menju , Kosuke Kawaguchi , Yuko Hosoe , Mana Taki , Ryusuke Murakami , Ken Yamaguchi , Junzo Hamanishi , Masaki Mandai
Published: April 2024

Fatty acids are known to have a significant impact on the properties of cancer cells. Therefore, Incorporating them into therapeutic strategies has been reported. However, few studies have examined the effects of individual fatty acids and their interaction in depth. The study analyzed the effects of various fatty acids on cancer cells and found that stearic acid, an abundant saturated fatty acid, had a stronger inhibitory effect on cell growth compared to palmitic acid, which is also an abundant saturated fatty acid, by inducing DNA damage and apoptosis through the unfolded protein response (UPR) pathway. Intriguingly, the negative effects of stearate were reduced by the presence of oleate, a different type of abundant fatty acid. In exploring the dietary impact on tumor growth, we combined a stearate-rich diet with the inhibition of stearoyl-CoA desaturase-1. This approach significantly reduced tumor growth in both ovarian cancer models and patient-derived xenografts (PDXs), including those with chemotherapy-resistant cases, by notably elevating stearate levels while reducing oleate levels within the tumors. Conversely, the negative effects of a stearate-rich diet were mitigated by an oleate-rich diet. The study shows that the dietary stearate can directly inhibit tumor growth through mechanisms involving DNA damage and apoptosis mediated by the UPR pathway. The results suggest that dietary interventions, which increase stearic acid levels while decreasing oleic acid levels, may be a promising therapeutic strategy in cancer treatment. This could lead to the development of new cancer treatment strategies.
Impact of sex on clinical outcomes according to immunologic risk in spouse donor kidney transplantation
Authors: Choi Seunghyeok , Lee Hanbi , Eum Sang Hun , Min Ji-Won , Yoon Hye Eun , Yang Chul Woo , Chung Byung Ha
Published: April 2024

The aim of this study is to investigate the impact of sex on the clinical outcomes of spouse donor kidney transplantation (SDKT). We analyzed 456 SDKT recipients, and categorized them into standard or high immunological risk groups according to Panel reactive antibody ≥ 50 % or less. There were 366 recipients in the standard risk group, and 89 recipients in the high-risk group. When comparing biopsy-proven allograft rejection (BPAR) within one year from KT, H2W recipients showed significantly higher incidence than W2H recipients in the high-risk group. By contrast, there was no significant difference between W2H and H2W recipients in the standard risk group. Allograft function recovery was better in H2W recipients than in W2H recipients in each group, while H2W recipients in the high-risk group showed a more rapid decline than other recipients. The long-term patient and allograft survival rates showed no difference between H2W recipients and W2H recipients within the same groups. The H2W recipients with high immunological risk showed higher risk of BPAR compared to W2H recipients, so careful monitoring and management may be required.
The Sublingual microcirculation in critically ill children with septic shock undergoing hemoadsorption: a pilot study
Authors: Bottari Gabriella , Confalone Valerio , Creteur Jacques , Cecchetti Corrado , Taccone Fabio Silvio
Published: April 2024

BACKGROUND
The importance of perfusion guided resuscitation in septic shock has recently emerged. We explored whether the use of hemoadsorption led to a potential beneficial role in microvascular alterations in this clinical setting.
METHODS.
Pre-planned secondary analysis of a Phase-II interventional single-arm pilot study (NCT05658588) where 17 consecutive septic shock children admitted into PICU were treated with continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT) and CytoSorb. Thirteen patients were eligible to be investigated with sublingual microcirculation at baseline, 24, 48, 72 and 96 hours from the onset of blood purification. Patients achieving a microvascular flow index (MFI) ≥ 2.5 and/or proportion of perfused vessels (PPV) exceeding 90% by 96 hours were defined as responders.
RESULTS.
In 10/13 (77%) there was a significant improvement in MFIs (p = 0.01) and PPVs% (p = 0.04) between baseline and 24 hours from the end of treatment. Eight patients displayed a high heterogenicity index (HI > 0.5) during blood purification and among these, 5 showed an improvement by the end of treatment (HI < 0.5).
CONCLUSIONS.
Despite its limitations (absence of a control group), this pilot study suggests a potential beneficial effect of CytoSorb treatment on microcirculatory perfusion in septic shock patients, particularly when associated with hemodynamic improvement.
Development and validation of the integrative model and risk stratification based on deep learning and radiomics to predict survival of advanced cervical cancer patients
Authors: Guy Mutangala Muloye , Mao Zhonghao , Liu Qingqing , Li Ningfeng , Hao Yiping , Zhang Teng , Cui Baoxia , Li Dapeng , Dong Taotao
Published: April 2024

Purpose
Advanced cervical cancer (aCC) is aggressive and has a low 5-year survival rate. A novel integrative model needs to be developed to predict survival and guide clinical practice.
Procedures:
Patients were retrospectively studied from July 2014 to August 2016. The dataset was randomly split into training and validation cohorts. A deep learning model based on a Vision Transformer (ViT) and Recurrent Neural Network (RNN) was built to output a prognostic score (Rad-score) based on CT images. After combining Rad-score with clinical and pathological characteristics, Cox regression analysis was performed to establish the clinical model, radiomics model and integrative model, respectively, and the C-index was calculated. The time-dependent C-index curve, receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve, calibration curve and decision curve analysis (DCA) were drawn to evaluate the performance of the model. Finally, a Nomogram was drawn to visualize the integrative model and develop the risk stratification.
Results
396 patients were eventually enrolled in the study. The Cox regression analysis indicated that the Rad-score was an independent prognostic factor (HR = 4.06, 95% CI: 2.46–6.70, p < 0.001). Kaplan-Meier analysis showed that Rad-score allows significant risk stratification of patients. The integrative model achieved better performance in training (C-index: 0.784[0.733–0.835]) and validation cohorts (C-index: 0.726[0.677–0.785]) showed good survival prediction performance, which was superior to clinical model (training cohort: 0.686[0.625–0.747], validation cohort: 0.632[0.569–0.695]) and radiomics model (training cohort: 0.730[0.675–0.785], validation cohort: 0.723[0.658–0.788]). In addition, the ROC curve, time-dependent C-index curve, calibration curve and DCA curve of the integrative model all showed significant predictive performance advantages. Finally, the Nomogram visualized the survival prediction model. Kaplan-Meier curve showed the risk stratification had significant clinical value.
Conclusions
The integrative model and risk stratification based on Rad-score, clinical and pathological characteristics can be widely used in clinical practice to provide reliable clinical information for medical decisions.
Analyzing Injury Severity of School Bus Crashes considering Temporal and Spatial Heterogeneity Using Random Parameters Ordered Probit Model
Authors: Rao Xiaohua , Yuan Changwei , Ding Shengxuan , Fang Xinjie , Yuan Renteng
Published: April 2024

Ensuring the safety of students is a multifaceted task, extending beyond the mere design of vehicles. It involves analyzing crash data related to school buses, which plays a critical role in preventing injuries and fatalities of children both in and around these vehicles. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration 1 gathers comprehensive data on a wide range of school bus-related crashes, from minor incidents to serious and fatal crashes. The school bus crash data not only educates parents and caregivers but also supports various prevention campaigns. The objective of this study is to investigate the different risk factors that influence the severity of injuries in school bus crashes, considering variations in time and location. To achieve this, a Random thresholds random parameters ordered probit (RPOP) model is used, which is particularly effective in identifying and accounting for unobserved variables that might affect the outcomes. Moreover, the model results suggest that springtime and highway locations significantly impact crash outcomes, considering crash details, vehicle information, and driver-passenger characteristics. These findings enhance our comprehension of the diverse factors that contribute to school bus crashes. This improved understanding aids in the development of effective strategies to reduce the severity of injuries resulting from such crashes.
Comparison of laparoscopic liver resection for the ventral versus the dorsal areas of segment 8
Authors: Oji Kentaro , Urade Takeshi , Kido Masahiro , Komatsu Shohei , Gon Hidetoshi , Yamasaki Nobuaki , Fukushima Kenji , So Shinichi , Yoshida Toshihiko , Arai Keisuke , Akita Masayuki , Ishida Jun , Nanno Yoshihide , Tsugawa Daisuke , Asari Sadaki , Yanagimoto Hiroaki , Toyama Hirochika , Fukumoto Takumi
Published: April 2024

Purpose: The technical difficulties of laparoscopic liver resection (LLR) are greatly associated with the location of liver tumors. Since segment 8 (S8) contains a wide area, the difficulty of LLR for S8 tumors may vary depending on the location within the segment, such as the ventral (S8v) and dorsal (S8d) area, but the difference is unclear.
Methods: We retrospectively investigated 30 patients who underwent primary laparoscopic partial liver resection for liver tumors in S8 at Kobe University Hospital between January 2018 and June 2023.
Results: Thirteen and 17 patients underwent LLR for S8v and S8d, respectively. The operation time was significantly longer (S8v 203[135-259] vs. S8d 261[186-415] min, P = 0.002) and the amount of blood loss was significantly higher (10[10-150] vs. 10[10-200] mL, P = 0.034) in the S8d group than in the S8v group. No significant differences were observed in postoperative complications or the postoperative length of hospital stay.
Additionally, intraoperative findings revealed that the rate at which the case performed partial liver mobilization in the S8d group was higher (2[15.4%] vs. 8[47.1%], P = 0.060) and the median parenchymal transection time of the S8d group was longer (102[27-148] vs. 129[37-175] min, P = 0.097) than that of the S8v group, but there were no significant differences.
Conclusion: The safety of LLR for the S8d was comparable to that of LLR for the S8v, although LLR for the S8d resulted in longer operative time and more blood loss.
The trial registration number: B230165 (approved at December 26th 2023)
Research on dynamic and static obstacle avoidance strategy and path planning of medical AGV based on the bionic characteristics of antelope migration
Authors: Hu Jing , Niu Junchao , Gao Xiang , Zhang Xinming
Published: April 2024

Aiming at the problem that Automated guided vehicle (AGV) faces dynamic and static obstacles in the process of transporting patients in medical environment and needs to avoid in real time, inspired by the behavior of antelopes during migration, this paper proposes a bionic obstacle avoidance strategy based on adaptive behavior of antelopes. The artificial potential field and dynamic window algorithm are improved by using the decircling strategy and conical visual distance during antelope migration. The limitations of traditional artificial potential field algorithm are improved by adding new potential field force points into the global planning, and the real-time obstacle avoidance ability of medical AGV is enhanced. The evaluation index of the algorithm is improved in local path planning, and the prediction range of AGV navigation is enlarged. Simulation experiments were carried out through the numerical simulation platform, and the verification results showed that:The bionic obstacle avoidance strategy proposed in this paper can avoid dynamic and static obstacles at the same time. In the example, the success rate of path planning is increased by 34%, the running time is reduced by 33%, and the average path length is reduced by 1%. The proposed method can realize the integration of "dynamic and static" avoidance in the process of transporting patients, and effectively save the time of transporting patients by AGV.It provides a theoretical basis for realizing obstacle avoidance and rapid loading of AGV in medical environment.
Physical Layer Secure Transmission in the Coexistence of V2I and V2V with RIS Assistance
Authors: Tang Zerong , Song Tiecheng , Hu Jing
Published: April 2024

The security of vehicle communication becomes increasingly important due to the transmission requirement of large-scale security and privacy data in the Internet of Vehicles (IoV). This paper investigates the physical layer secure transmission with reconfigurable intelligent surface (RIS) assistance in the coexistence of vehicle-to-infrastructure (V2I) and vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V). It establishes a communication model for physical layer secure transmission where the eavesdropping user exists. Based on this model, we propose a V2I physical layer secure transmission rate (PLSTR) maximization problem and solve it by employing an alternating optimization algorithm based on generalized Rayleigh entropy and semi-definite relaxation programming so as to obtain optimal V2I base station precoding and RIS reflection coefficient matrix. Simulation results further validate the superiority of the proposed algorithm and analyze the impact of relevant parameters on system performance.
Hsa-circRNA-0015004 promotes hepatocellular carcinoma development via miRNA-330-3p/RCC2 axis
Authors: Zhao Jie , Zhang Tong , Wu Peng , Wu Kejia , Qiu Jiajing , Shi Longqing , Zhu Qiang , Zhou Jun
Published: April 2024

Background: Although circular RNAs (circRNA) have been demonstrated to modulate tumor initiation and progression, their roles in the proliferation of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) are still poorly understood.
Methods: Based on the analysis of GEO data (GSE12174), hsa-circRNA-0015004 (circ-0015004) was screened and validated in 80 sets of HCC specimens. Subcellular fractionation analysis was designed to determine the cellular location of circ-0015004. Colony formation and cell counting kit-8 were performed to investigate the role of circ-0015004 in HCC. Dual-luciferase reporter gene assays, RNA immunoprecipitation and chromatin immunoprecipitation were employed to verify the interaction among circ-0015004, miR-330-3p and regulator of chromatin condensation 2 (RCC2).
Results: The expression level of circ-0015004 was significantly upregulated in HCC cell lines and HCC tissues. HCC patients with higher circ-0015004 levels displayed shorter overall survival, and higher tumor size and TNM stage. Moreover, knockdown of circ-0015004 significantly reduced HCC cell proliferation in vitro and inhibited the growth of HCC in nude mice. Mechanistic studies revealed that circ-0015004 could upregulate the expression of RCC2 by sponging miR-330-3p, thereby promoting HCC cell proliferation. Furthermore, we identified that Ying Yang 1 (YY1) could function as an important regulator of circ-0015004 transcription.
Conclusions: This study systematically demonstrated the novel regulatory signaling of circ-0015004/miR-330-3p/RCC2 axis in promoting HCC progression, providing insight into HCC diagnosis and treatment from bench to clinic.
Development of a MEMS-Based Biosensor for Analyzing the Bio-Electrical Characteristics of Colon Cancer Cells
Authors: shameem Syed
Published: April 2024

Investigating the bioelectrical characteristics of individual cells can provide important information about many aspects of cellular processes and their roles in general health and disease conditions. Comprehending these attributes at the cellular level facilitates a more intricate comprehension of physiological mechanisms and creates novel opportunities for disease detection, management, and even averting. It's fascinating to observe how new methods and technological developments are allowing us to learn more about the intricacies of cellular biology and how they relate to human health. Since cancer cells have slightly lower capacitance and resistance values, the bioelectrical properties could be used as biomarkers for early cancer identification. Measurements were conducted on the capacitance and resistance of individual normal cell lines (IEC-6), and highly-invasive malignant (SW480) colon cancer cells using MEMS sensors during simulations. Normal cell resistance is 318kΩ, while normal cell capacitance is 8.12nF. These values differ from those of cancer cells, which have variable resistance and capacitance values (246kΩ and 3.91nF for SW480). At a frequency range of 200 Hz to 2 MHz significant difference is observed in impedance magnitude response values between normal cells (7.7 MΩ to 62kΩ) and cancer cells (7.1 MΩ to 54.9kΩ).
The Effects of Mindfulness on Shame: Exploring Mediation by Cognitive Flexibility and Self-Compassion in a Chinese Adult Population
Authors: Zhang Xiaoshuo , Wang Jinghong , Wang Yuzheng , Wang Jinyan , Luo Fei
Published: April 2024

Purpose: To examine the effects of mindfulness on shame and the mechanisms mediated by cognitive flexibility and self-compassion in a Chinese adult population.
Methods: We conducted two studies. Study 1 was a cross-sectional study using the Five-Factor Mindfulness Questionnaire, the Cognitive Flexibility Inventory, the Self-Compassion Scale, and the Self-Conscious Affect-3, which were administered to 481 adults in Beijing and Chengdu. Study 2: An 8-month follow-up study was conducted on 128 of the adults.
Results: The results of Study 1 showed that (1) the Awareness of Action, Nonjudgment dimensions, and the total score of mindfulness was significantly correlated with shame; (2) cognitive flexibility and self-compassion could fully mediate the prediction of mindfulness on shame. The Study 2 showed that (1) mindfulness and shame were significantly negatively correlated in both phases of measurement; (2) controlling for T1 shame, T1 mindfulness was able to negatively predict T2 shame; controlling for T1 mindfulness, T1 shame was not able to predict T2 mindfulness.
Conclusions: (1) There is a longitudinal causal relationship between mindfulness and shame; (2) both cognitive flexibility and self-compassion can provide explanations for the prediction of shame by mindfulness. Enhancing levels of mindfulness can help alleviate individuals' shame levels.
Multilingual Text Preprocessing and Classification For The Detection Of Extremism And Radicalization In Social Networks
Authors: Zerrouki Khadidja , Benblidia Nadjia
Published: April 2024

Due to the lack of strict controls on social networks, extremist groups like ISIS, Al-Qaeda, and white supremacists have taken advantage of these platforms to spread their ideas, distribute harmful content, and recruit new members. The information distributed through these channels is comprehensive, diverse, and conveyed in multiple languages. The study of online extremism and radicalization is a multifaceted and intricate area of research. The efficacy of machine learning, deep learning, and natural language processing (NLP) algorithms has been demonstrated. Although the majority of research in this field focuses on the analysis of data in a single language, there needs to be more studies on the analysis of multilingual data, specifically about detecting extremism in multilingual material. This research paper introduces the fabrication of an artificial intelligence system that leverages multilingual text posts from social networks to identify instances of extremism and radicalization. We utilize natural language processing (NLP) linguistic methods and text classification to identify extremism and radicalization in text data. Our study results are outstanding. The Bi-LSTM (Bidirectional et al.) model demonstrates a binary classification accuracy of 97.33%, and the multiclass classification accuracy of the Transformer-based model, which employs the DistilBERT-multi (Distilled version of the Multilingual Bidirectional Encoder Representations from Transformers) pre-trained model, is 91.07%. The findings above show significant progress in multiclass multilingual text classification and the detection of extremism and radicalization within social networks.
Transcriptome Analysis of Rheumatoid Arthritis Uncovers Genes Linked to Inflammation-Induced Pain
Authors: Hall Bradford E. , Mazhar Khadijah , Macdonald Emma , Cassidy Margaret , Doty Megan , Judkins Christian , Terse Anita , Shiers Stephanie , Tadros Saber , Yun Sijung , Burton Michael D. , Price Theodore J. , Kulkarni Ashok
Published: April 2024

Autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA) can promote states of chronic inflammation with accompanying tissue destruction and pain. RA can cause inflammatory synovitis in peripheral joints, particularly within the hands and feet, but can also sometimes trigger temporomandibular joint (TMJ) arthralgia. To better understand the effects of ongoing inflammation-induced pain signaling, dorsal root ganglia (DRGs) were acquired from individuals with RA for transcriptomic study. We conducted RNA sequencing from the L5 DRGs because it contains the soma of the sensory neurons that innervate the affected joints in the foot. DRGs from 5 RA patients were compared with 9 non-arthritic controls. RNA-seq of L5 DRGs identified 128 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) that were dysregulated in the RA subjects as compared to the non-arthritic controls. The DRG resides outside the blood brain barrier and, as such, our initial transcriptome analysis detected signs of an autoimmune disorder including the upregulated expression of immunoglobulins and other immunologically related genes within the DRGs of the RA donors. Additionally, we saw the upregulation in genes implicated in neurogenesis that could promote pain hypersensitivity. Overall, our DRG analysis suggests that there are upregulated inflammatory and pain signaling pathways that can contribute to chronic pain in RA.
RETRACTED: Exploring causative gene and pathway of sevoflurane-induced anesthetic effects and implication on nervous system diseases based on high-throughput scRNA-seq data
Authors: Liu Hui , Yu Hao , Cao Yu , Gao Yang , Wei Shaoting , Shi Jinghui , Liu Desheng
Published: April 2024

The authors have requested that this preprint be removed from Research Square.
Synergistic effect of phage-antibiotic combination against Stenotrophomonas maltophilia
Authors: Koshy Calmly M , Leela K V , Neela Vasantha Kumari , Sugumar Shobana
Published: April 2024

Phage therapy has been used for more than a century to treat bacterial infections that are caused by multidrug-resistant organisms. To combat S. maltophilia (multidrug-resistant bacteria), we isolated, recognized, and described the Stenotrophomonas phage CM2 in this study. The diameter of the head and tail length of the Stenotrophomonas phage CM2 were measured to be around 109 nm and 146 nm, respectively. It was found that the phage is a member of the Myoviridae family of viruses and is categorized under the order Caudovirales. 2 out of the 6 different strains of S.maltophilia tested were lysed by Stenotrophomonas phage CM2 according to host range determination, and a one-step growth curve indicated a short latent time and a moderate burst size. Phage CM2 has 61670 base pairs and 24 phage genes. A phylogenetic tree was reconstructed which revealed the close evolutionary relationship between CM2 and other Stenotrophomonas phages. We have also studied the Phage-Antibiotic synergy of Phage CM2 against different antibiotics such as Nitrofurantoin, amoxicillin, and ciprofloxacin. Evidence suggests that lytic phage can work in class-dependent synergy with antibiotics to rejuvenate a medication that was no longer effective against previously resistant bacteria.
Prone Positioning Ventilation treatment rescuing a patient with Chlamydia Abortus-induced ARDS diagnosed by next generation sequencing: a case report.
Authors: chen yi , liu lixue , zhou kechun
Published: April 2024

Background: Chlamydia abortus is a pathogen capable of infecting both humans and animals. In most known cases, this pathogen primarily infects pregnant women, leading to miscarriage and preterm birth. However, it is exceedingly rare for this pathogen to cause pneumonia that progresses to severe Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS).
case introduction: We present a case of a 76-year-old male patient who was clinically diagnosed with Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS) caused by Chlamydia abortus and successfully treated. The patient's condition rapidly deteriorated over six days, evolving from a lung infection to severe pneumonia, ultimately leading to ARDS and sepsis. Initially, he was admitted to a local hospital for a lung infection where routine etiological examinations failed to identify any significant pathogens, and he received only empirical antimicrobial therapy. However, the lung infection was not controlled, and the patient's condition rapidly worsened, resulting in severe respiratory distress. This necessitated tracheal intubation and assisted ventilation, after which he was transferred to our hospital for treatment. Due to the patient's family's inability to afford the cost of ECMO treatment, we adopted a prone positioning ventilation strategy to improve the patient's ventilation-perfusion matching. Additionally, we performed metagenomic next-generation sequencing on the patient's bronchoalveolar lavage fluid, which confirmed the infection with Chlamydia abortus. These measures ultimately led to the successful treatment of the patient.
Conclusion：Chlamydia abortus infection can lead to severe ARDS, necessitating timely diagnosis and active intervention by clinicians. This case highlights the crucial role of metagenomic next-generation sequencing in diagnosing rare pathogens. Timely adoption of prone positioning ventilation can significantly improve ventilation-perfusion matching, effectively treating ARDS caused by Chlamydia abortus. Additionally, the combination of moxifloxacin and piperacillin-tazobactam can treat ARDS caused by Chlamydia abortus.
Orofacial Cleft in Rwanda: a Scoping Review of Empirical Evidence
Authors: Amzat Jimoh , Murererehe Julienne , Uwambaye Peace , Yusuf Lauriyah , Olaopa Olusegun , Salami Afeez , Harerimana Ingabire Eliane , Ineza Marie Claire , Ntigura Eustache , Ober-Oluoch Jenipher , Dusenge Marie Aimee , Nishimwe Dorcas Doree , Abimana Vestine , Tuyishime Gabriel , Milanes Danilo Zambrano , Adisa Akinyele , Jayasinghe Ruwan Duminda , Kanmodi Kehinde Kazeem
Published: April 2024

Background
Orofacial clefts (OFCs) are among the most common congenital anomalies accounting for over 4.6 million cases. OFCs are associated with significant morbidity and a heightened risk of infant mortality in many developing nations due to barriers to accessing multidisciplinary care. Rwanda has a considerable burden of OFCs. This scoping review aims to identify knowledge gaps, establish research agendas, and inform decision-making for policy redirection in Rwanda regarding OFCs.
Methods
The design and reportage of this scoping review was based on the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews. Following the search of eleven electronic databases, all retrieved articles were imported into the Rayyan web application where deduplication of the duplicate literature was done. One hundred and fourteen articles were obtained from the literature search. After screening and deduplication, only 8 articles were included in the scoping review for data charting, collation, and summarization.
Results
Rwanda faces a significant burden of OFCs according to the reported OFCs prevalence range (12.1–34.2%) reported across all Rwanda provinces. In addition, only 6 general medicine surgeons were supporting to repair OFCs as part of their internship short training in Rwanda. The prevalence and distribution of OFCs vary across different demographics and age groups, with males having a higher prevalence than females. This review also reported on the clinical care of OFCs in Rwanda, highlighting low retention of care among OFC patients.
Conclusion
Overall, the review findings highlight the need for targeted interventions, including early detection of associated anomalies, improved prenatal care, and access to specialized care facilities for infants born with cleft lip and/or palate, especially those with associated malformations. There is a need for policymakers and other stakeholders to ensure strategies to increase the number of specialists who can support people with OFCs and ensure high retention of care among OFCs in Rwanda. Further, OFCs-related studies with representative sample sizes and advanced research designs are needed in Rwanda to bridge the gap on OFCs' limited information and to better inform the Rwandan Health policy on OFCs.
Biliary metallic stent combined with radioactive 125I seeds strands for malignant hilar obstruction
Authors: Sigdel Milan , Zhang Chengzhi , Hou Rongna , Song Mengyao , Sun Zhanguo , Jiao Dechao
Published: April 2024

Background: To evaluate the efficacy of biliary metallic stent (BMS) combined with radioactive 125I seed strands (RISS) for malignant hilar obstruction (MHO).
Method: From January 2016 to January 2022, 317 patients with MHO underwent percutaneous trans-hepatic biliary drainage at our center. Among them, 40 patients underwent BMS combined with RISS treatment (experimental group), and 52 patients underwent BMS alone (control group). Primary endpoints were technical success, complications and stent patency time (SPT). Secondary endpoints were clinical success and overall survival (OS).
Results: The technical success (100% vs 100%) and clinical success rate (92.50 % vs 90.04%) showed no statistically significance between the experimental and control groups (P>0.05). The Grade 3-5 early and late complications showed no significance between both groups (P>0.05). The SPT [(8.2 ± 0.39) vs (5.8 ± 0.33) months] and OS [(13.6 ± 0.81) vs (11.7 ± 0.44) months)] of the experimental group showed significantly longer than that of the control group ((P<0.05).
Conclusion: BMS combined with RISS treatments can palliative prolong the SPT and OS for patients with MHO.
Application of targeted next-generation sequencing to identify pathogens in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid of adults with pulmonary infections
Authors: He Shiyi , Wu Xiaoning , Liang Zhengyi , Lin Denghang , Gao Jinwei , Qin Weijuan , Wei Huanhuan , Zhou Liyan , Xie Li
Published: April 2024

Background
Targeted next-generation sequencing (tNGS) has emerged as an efficient diagnostic method for pathogens identification. herein, we aimed to evaluate its performance in pathogen detection in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF).
Methods
BALF samples were obtained from 262 adult patients with pulmonary infection and were detected by tNGS, microbial culture, Xpert® MTB/RIF assay, and Aspergillus galactomannan (GM) test.
Results
In total, 47 potential pathogens were identified in the BALF samples by tNGS, including 21 bacteria, 13 viruses, 11 fungi, 1 parasite, and 1 mycoplasma. The bacterial detection rates of tNGS and ordinary bacterial culture were 74.0% (194/262) and 28.2% (74/262), respectively. The rates of negative, positive, and total consistent and the kappa value between tNGS and bacterial culture were 30.8%, 86.4%, 46.4%, and 0.116, respectively. The positive rate of fungal identification by tNGS was slightly higher than that of fungal culture (31.7% (83/262) and 22.9% (60/262), respectively). The rates of positive, negative, and total consistent and the kappa value between tNGS and fungal culture were 68.9%, 79.1%, 76.7%, and 0.424, respectively. Among the 42 patients with suspected tuberculosis infection, 23 patients showed positive results on both tNGS and Xpert® MTB/RIF assay. The rates of positive, negative, and total consistent and the kappa value between tNGS and pert® MTB/RIF assay were 100.0%, 68.4%, 85.7%, and 0.704, respectively. Finally, the sensitivity and specificity of tNGS versus the GM test were 57.1% and 90.6% versus 71.4% and 82.7%, respectively, when the fungal culture was used as the gold standard for detecting Aspergillus. Additionally, the sensitivity and specificity of tNGS increased to 86.2% and 98.7%, whereas the sensitivity of the GM test decreased to 69.0% when clinically diagnosed Aspergillus infection was used as a reference standard. The read counts of Aspergillus detected by tNGS and the optical density of the GM test were not significantly correlated.
Conclusions
tNGS is a promising method for detecting pathogens in BALF with a notably higher positive detection rate and a higher sensitivity and/or specificity compared with those of the conventional test.