bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Short-Term UVB Irradiation Leads to Persistent DNA Damage in Limbal Epithelial Stem Cells, Partially Reversed by DNA Repairing Enzymes
Authors: Volatier Thomas , Schumacher Björn , Meshko Berbang , Hadrian Karina , Cursiefen Claus , Notara Maria
Published: February 2023

The cornea is frequently exposed to ultraviolet (UV) radiation and absorbs a portion of this radiation. UVB in particular is absorbed by the cornea and will principally damage the topmost layer of the cornea, the epithelium. Epidemiological research shows that the UV damage of DNA is a contributing factor to corneal diseases such as pterygium. There are two main DNA photolesions of UV: cyclobutane pyrimidine dimers (CPDs) and pyrimidine-pyrimidone (6–4) photoproducts (6-4PPs). Both involve the abnormal linking of adjacent pyrimide bases. In particular, CPD lesions, which account for the vast majority of UV-induced lesions, are inefficiently repaired by nucleotide excision repair (NER) and are thus mutagenic and linked to cancer development in humans. Here, we apply two exogenous enzymes: CPD photolyase (CPDPL) and T4 endonuclease V (T4N5). The efficacy of these enzymes was assayed by the proteomic and immunofluorescence measurements of UVB-induced CPDs before and after treatment. The results showed that CPDs can be rapidly repaired by T4N5 in cell cultures. The usage of CPDPL and T4N5 in ex vivo eyes revealed that CPD lesions persist in the corneal limbus. The proteomic analysis of the T4N5-treated cells shows increases in the components of the angiogenic and inflammatory systems. We conclude that T4N5 and CPDPL show great promise in the treatment of CPD lesions, but the complete clearance of CPDs from the limbus remains a challenge.
Medulloblastoma: From TP53 Mutations to Molecular Classification and Liquid Biopsy
Authors: Eibl Robert H. , Schneemann Markus
Published: February 2023

A recent paradigm shift in the diagnostics of medulloblastoma allowed the distinction of four major groups defined by genetic data rather than histology. This new molecular classification correlates better with prognosis and will allow for the better clinical management of therapies targeting druggable mutations, but also offer a new combination of monitoring tumor development in real-time and treatment response by sequential liquid biopsy. This review highlights recent developments after a century of milestones in neurosurgery and radio- and chemotherapy, but also controversial theories on the cell of origin, animal models, and the use of liquid biopsy.
Loss of Tumor Suppressor C9orf9 Promotes Metastasis in Colorectal Cancer
Authors: Chen Erfei , Yang Fangfang , Li Qiqi , Li Tong , Yao Danni , Cao Lichao , Yang Jin
Published: February 2023

The whole genome sequencing of tumor samples identifies thousands of somatic mutations. However, the function of these genes or mutations in regulating cancer progression remains unclear. We previously performed exome sequencing in patients with colorectal cancer, and identified one splicing mutation in C9orf9. The subsequent target sequencing of C9orf9 gene based on a validation cohort of 50 samples also found two function mutations, indicating that the loss of wild-type C9orf9 may participate in the tumorigenesis of colorectal cancer. In this research, we aimed to further confirm the function of C9orf9 in the CRC phenotype. Our Q-PCR analysis of the tumor and matched normal samples found that C9orf9 was downregulated in the CRC samples. Function assays revealed that C9orf9 exerts its tumor suppressor role mainly on cancer cell migration and invasion, and its loss was essential for certain tumor-microenvironment signals to induce EMT and metastasis in vivo. RNA-sequencing showed that stable-expressing C9orf9 can inhibit the expression of several metastasis-related genes and pathways, including vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGFA), one of the essential endothelial cell mitogens which plays a critical role in normal physiological and tumor angiogenesis. Overall, our results showed that the loss of C9orf9 contributes to the malignant phenotype of CRC. C9orf9 may serve as a novel metastasis repressor for CRC.
Cholesterol and Sphingomyelin Polarize at the Leading Edge of Migrating Myoblasts and Involve Their Clustering in Submicrometric Domains
Authors: Vanderroost Juliette , Avalosse Noémie , Mohammed Danahe , Hoffmann Delia , Henriet Patrick , Pierreux Christophe E. , Alsteens David , Tyteca Donatienne
Published: February 2023

Myoblast migration is crucial for myogenesis and muscular tissue homeostasis. However, its spatiotemporal control remains elusive. Here, we explored the involvement of plasma membrane cholesterol and sphingolipids in this process. In resting C2C12 mouse myoblasts, those lipids clustered in sphingomyelin/cholesterol/GM1 ganglioside (SM/chol/GM1)- and cholesterol (chol)-enriched domains, which presented a lower stiffness than the bulk membrane. Upon migration, cholesterol and sphingomyelin polarized at the front, forming cholesterol (chol)- and sphingomyelin/cholesterol (SM/chol)-enriched domains, while GM1-enriched domains polarized at the rear. A comparison of domain proportion suggested that SM/chol- and GM1-enriched domains originated from the SM/chol/GM1-coenriched domains found at resting state. Modulation of domain proportion (through cholesterol depletion, combined or not with actin polymerization inhibition, or sphingolipid synthesis inhibition) revealed that the higher the chol- and SM/chol-enriched domains, the higher the myoblast migration. At the front, chol- and SM/chol-enriched domains were found in proximity with F-actin fibers and the lateral mobility of sphingomyelin in domains was specifically restricted in a cholesterol- and cytoskeleton-dependent manner while domain abrogation impaired F-actin and focal adhesion polarization. Altogether, we showed the polarization of cholesterol and sphingomyelin and their clustering in chol- and SM/chol-enriched domains with differential properties and roles, providing a mechanism for the spatial and functional control of myoblast migration.
Cardiovascular Disease as a Consequence or a Cause of Cancer: Potential Role of Extracellular Vesicles
Authors: Badila Elisabeta , Japie Cristina , Vrabie Ana-Maria , Badila Adrian , Georgescu Adriana
Published: February 2023

Both cardiovascular disease and cancer continue to be causes of morbidity and mortality all over the world. Preventing and treating heart disease in patients undergoing cancer treatment remain an important and ongoing challenge for improving the lives of cancer patients, but also for their survival. Despite ongoing efforts to improve patient survival, minimal advances have been made in the early detection of cardiovascular disease in patients suffering from cancer. Understanding the communication between cancer and cardiovascular disease can be based on a deeper knowledge of the molecular mechanisms that define the profile of the bilateral network and establish disease-specific biomarkers and therapeutic targets. The role of exosomes, microvesicles, and apoptotic bodies, together defined as extracellular vesicles (EVs), in cross talk between cardiovascular disease and cancer is in an incipient form of research. Here, we will discuss the preclinical evidence on the bilateral connection between cancer and cardiovascular disease (especially early cardiac changes) through some specific mediators such as EVs. Investigating EV-based biomarkers and therapies may uncover the responsible mechanisms, detect the early stages of cardiovascular damage and elucidate novel therapeutic approaches. The ultimate goal is to reduce the burden of cardiovascular diseases by improving the standard of care in oncological patients treated with anticancer drugs or radiotherapy.
Cysteine Cathepsins as Therapeutic Targets in Immune Regulation and Immune Disorders
Authors: Senjor Emanuela , Kos Janko , Nanut Milica Perišić
Published: February 2023

Cysteine cathepsins, as the most abundant proteases found in the lysosomes, play a vital role in several processes—such as protein degradation, changes in cell signaling, cell morphology, migration and proliferation, and energy metabolism. In addition to their lysosomal function, they are also secreted and may remain functional in the extracellular space. Upregulation of cathepsin expression is associated with several pathological conditions including cancer, neurodegeneration, and immune-system dysregulation. In this review, we present an overview of cysteine-cathepsin involvement and possible targeting options for mitigation of aberrant function in immune disorders such as inflammation, autoimmune diseases, and immune response in cancer.
Social Brain Network of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder: Characterization of Functional Connectivity and Potential Association with Stereotyped Behavior
Authors: Wang Yonglu , Xu Lingxi , Fang Hui , Wang Fei , Gao Tianshu , Zhu Qingyao , Jiao Gongkai , Ke Xiaoyan
Published: February 2023

Objective: To identify patterns of social dysfunction in adolescents with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), study the potential linkage between social brain networks and stereotyped behavior, and further explore potential targets of non-invasive nerve stimulation to improve social disorders. Methods: Voxel-wise and ROI-wise analysis methods were adopted to explore abnormalities in the functional activity of social-related regions of the brain. Then, we analyzed the relationships between clinical variables and the statistical indicators of social-related brain regions. Results: Compared with the typically developing group, the functional connectivity strength of social-related brain regions with the precentral gyrus, postcentral gyrus, supplementary motor area, paracentral lobule, median cingulum, and paracingulum gyri was significantly weakened in the ASD group (all p < 0. 01). The functional connectivity was negatively correlated with communication, social interaction, communication + social interaction, and the total score of the ADOS scale (r = −0.38, −0.39, −0.40, and −0.3, respectively; all p < 0.01), with social awareness, social cognition, social communication, social motivation, autistic mannerisms, and the total score of the SRS scale (r = −0.32, −0.32, −0.40, −0.30, −0.28, and −0.27, respectively; all p < 0.01), and with the total score of SCQ (r = −0.27, p < 0.01). In addition, significant intergroup differences in clustering coefficients and betweenness centrality were seen across multiple brain regions in the ASD group. Conclusions: The functional connectivity between social-related brain regions and many other brain regions was significantly weakened compared to the typically developing group, and it was negatively correlated with social disorders. Social network dysfunction seems to be related to stereotyped behavior. Therefore, these social-related brain regions may be taken as potential stimulation targets of non-invasive nerve stimulation to improve social dysfunction in children with ASD in the future.
High Performance Carbon Material Prepared from Phalsa Using Mild Pyrolytic Process towards Photodegradation of Methylene Blue under the Irradiation of UV Light
Authors: Al-Saeedi Sameerah I. , Bhatti Muhammad Ali , Tahira Aneela , Al-Senani Ghadah M. , Al-Kadhi Nada S. , Nafady Ayman , Ibupoto Zafar Hussain
Published: February 2023

In this study, we have used a mild pyrolytic process for the synthesis of luminescent carbon material from phalsa (Grewia asiatica Linn) and utilized it for the photodegradation of methylene blue (MB) in aqueous solution under the irradiation of ultraviolet (UV) light. The carbon material was found to be graphitic in nature and with carbon dot-like properties as demonstrated by powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), dynamic light scattering (DLS), and UV-visible techniques. The prepared carbon material was further studied for the elucidation of functional groups through Fourier transform infra-red (FTIR) spectroscopy. The carbon material exhibits the nanostructured phase which makes it a high surface area material for useful surface reactions. Different photodegradation aspects were investigated, such as initial dye concentration, catalyst dose, effect of pH of dye solution, reusability, electrochemical active surface area (ECSA), and charge transfer and scavenger. Optimum conditions of 15 mg carbon material, initial dye concentration of 2.3 × 10−5 M solution, and pH 5 of dye solution gave the highest outperformance degradation efficiency. The degradation mechanism of MB in aqueous solution was dominated by the hydroxyl radicals as verified by the scavenger study. The reaction kinetics of MB degradation was followed by the pseudo first order kinetics and highest values of rate constants in the low initial dye concentration and the acidic pH of the MB solution. Significantly, the carbon material prepared from phalsa was found to be highly stable, as proven by the reusability experiments. Furthermore, the high ECSA and low charge transfer resistance of carbon material enabled it to have better performance. The use of mild pyrolytic process for the preparation of high performance luminescent carbon material from the biomass could be a great roadmap for the synthesis of a new generation of carbon materials for a wide range of applications including bio-imaging, catalysis, energy conversion and environmental applications.
Highly Efficient Biosynthesis of Nicotinic Acid by Immobilized Whole Cells of E. coli Expressing Nitrilase in Semi-Continuous Packed-Bed Bioreactor
Authors: Liu Xue-Jiao , Ma Bao-Di , Wu Xiao-Mei , Xu Yi
Published: February 2023

A recombinant E. coli, expressing nitrilase from Acidovorax facilis 72W with dual-site expression plasmid pRSFduet (E. coli pRSF-AfNit2), was constructed. It showed higher soluble expression of nitrilase than that in the pET21a plasmid. The recombinant nitrilase can efficiently catalyze the hydrolysis of 3-cyanopyridine to nicotinic acid. The whole cells of E. coli pRSF-AfNit2 were immobilized by using sodium alginate/glutaraldehyde/polyethylene imine as the best immobilized reagents. The immobilized cells showed 95% activity recovery and excellent mechanical strength, with improved thermal stability and pH stability. They also retained 82% of initial activity after nearly two months of storage at 4 °C. A semi-continuous packed-bed bioreactor (sPBR) filled with the immobilized cells was studied for efficient production of nicotinic acid. After optimization, the highest space–time yield of 1576 g/(L·d) was obtained on 0.8 M substrate concentration at 2 mL/min of flow rate. The sPBR was repeatedly operated for 41 batches, keeping 100% conversion in the presence of 30 mM CaCl2. Finally, 95 g of nicotinic acid were obtained at 90% yield after separation and purification. The developed technology has potential application value.
Mechanistic Studies of Improving Pt Catalyst Stability at High Potential via Designing Hydrophobic Micro-Environment with Ionic Liquid in PEMFC
Authors: Huang Lei , Zhou Fen , Zhang Hui , Tan Jinting , Pan Mu
Published: February 2023

Recently, the focus of fuel cell technologies has shifted from light-duty automotive to heavy-duty vehicle applications, which require improving the stability of membrane electrode assemblies (MEAs) at high constant potential. The hydrophilicity of Pt makes it easy to combine with water molecules and then oxidize at high potential, resulting in poor durability of the catalyst. In this work, an ionic liquid [BMIM][NTF2] was used to modify the Pt catalyst (Pt/C + IL) to create a hydrophobic, antioxidant micro-environment in the catalyst layer (CL). The effect of [BMIM][NTF2] on the decay of the CL performance at high constant potential (0.85 V) for a long time was investigated. It was found that the performance attenuation of Pt/C + IL in the high-potential range (OCV 0.75 V) was less than that of commercial Pt/C after 10 h. The Pt-oxide coverage test showed that the hydrophobic micro-environment of the CL enhanced the stability by inhibiting Pt oxidation. In addition, the electrochemical recovery of Pt oxides showed that the content of recoverable oxides in Pt/C + IL was higher than that in commercial Pt/C. Overall, modifying the Pt catalyst with hydrophobic ionic liquid is an effective strategy to improve the catalyst stability and reduce the irreversible voltage loss caused by the oxide at high constant potential.
ATP-Dependent Chromatin Remodellers in Inner Ear Development
Authors: Chohra Ilyas , Chung Keshi , Giri Subhajit , Malgrange Brigitte
Published: February 2023

During transcription, DNA replication and repair, chromatin structure is constantly modified to reveal specific genetic regions and allow access to DNA-interacting enzymes. ATP-dependent chromatin remodelling complexes use the energy of ATP hydrolysis to modify chromatin architecture by repositioning and rearranging nucleosomes. These complexes are defined by a conserved SNF2-like, catalytic ATPase subunit and are divided into four families: CHD, SWI/SNF, ISWI and INO80. ATP-dependent chromatin remodellers are crucial in regulating development and stem cell biology in numerous organs, including the inner ear. In addition, mutations in genes coding for proteins that are part of chromatin remodellers have been implicated in numerous cases of neurosensory deafness. In this review, we describe the composition, structure and functional activity of these complexes and discuss how they contribute to hearing and neurosensory deafness.
Effects of a High Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) Program on Anthropomorphic and Cardiometabolic Variables in School Children with Overweight and Obesity
Authors: Espinoza Silva José Miguel , Latorre Román Pedro Ángel , Cabrera Linares José Carlos , Párraga Montilla Juan A. , Martínez Salazar Cristian
Published: February 2023

The aim of this study was to assess the effects of a high intensity interval training (HIIT) program on anthropomorphic and cardiometabolic variables in schoolchildren with overweight and obesity. A total of 443 schoolchildren (age: 6.37 ± 0.65 years) took part in this study. The experimental group (EG; n = 295; age = 6.40 ± 0.64 years) was compound with children with overweight and obesity, whereas children with normoweight were included in the control group (CG; n = 148; 6.31 ± 0.67 years). The EG performed a training program based on HIIT two times per week for 28 weeks (56 sessions), whilst the CG performed their habitual physical education classes based on the national curriculum. Body mass index (BMI), waist circumference, body fat, ∑ 4 skinfold fat, waist to height ratio, waist circumference, and cardiometabolic risk were measured. The dependent variables were analysed by two-way analysis of covariance (ANCOVA 2 × 2). To analyse the percentage differences between groups, the chi-square test was used. P-value was set at p < 0.05. Significant differences were found in the EG in BMI, waist circumference, body fat, ∑ 4 skinfold fat, and waist to height ratio. In conclusion, an HIIT training program can be an effective tool for improving anthropomorphic variables and reducing cardiometabolic risk in schoolchildren with overweight and obesity.
Nanostructure Modified Electrodes for Electrochemical Detection of Contaminants of Emerging Concern
Authors: Adeniji Taiwo Musa , Stine Keith J.
Published: February 2023

We discuss the development of electrode surfaces modified with nanostructures for the electrochemical detection of contaminants of environmental concern (CECs) in the environment. The CECs are found in substances we all use in our daily lives such as pharmaceuticals, pesticides, flame retardants, personal care products, and so on. These contaminants pose a threat to human and environmental wellbeing, hence the need for effective methods for the fast and sensitive detection of these contaminants in our ecosystems. We describe the different electrochemical techniques researchers have used in the past for the detection of these pollutants in different environmental matrices. We survey the nanomaterials used to modify the electrodes used such as nanoparticles, nanowires, graphene, nanotubes and others used by researchers to detect these pollutants. The sensitivity of each approach is covered for numerous examples and nanomaterial-modified electrodes typically offer superior performance over more standard electrodes. We review the properties of these modifiers that make them good for the job and we looked at directions that researchers can pursue to further improve the sensitivity and selectivity of these modified electrodes.
Features of the Composition and Photoluminescent Properties of Porous Silicon Depending on Its Porosity Index
Authors: Lenshin Aleksandr S. , Peshkov Yaroslav A. , Barkov Konstantin A. , Grechkina Margarita V. , Lukin Anatoliy N. , Kannykin Sergey V. , Minakov Dmitriy A. , Chernousova Olga V.
Published: February 2023

Porous silicon samples with a porosity index of 5% to 80% were obtained in this work by electrochemical etching, and their photoluminescence properties were also studied. The porosity index was calculated according to the data from X-ray reflectometry. The composition of the surface was controlled by ultra-soft X-ray spectroscopy and infrared (IR) spectroscopy. The degree of the sample surface oxidation increased with the porosity enhancement. Two known mechanisms of photoluminescence in porous silicon were detected that are related to the composition and morphology of its surface. The values of the porosity index specifying the dominations of these mechanisms were determined. Enhancement of photoluminescence was shown to be attributed to an increase in the porosity index.
Influence of f Electrons on the Electronic Band Structure of Rare-Earth Nickelates
Authors: Ptok Andrzej , Basak Surajit , Piekarz Przemysław , Oleś Andrzej M.
Published: February 2023

Recently, superconductivity was discovered in the infinite layer of hole-doped nickelates NdNiO2. Contrary to this, superconductivity in LaNiO2 is still under debate. This indicates the crucial role played by the f electrons on the electronic structure and the pairing mechanism of infinite-layer nickelates. Here, we discuss the role of the electron correlations in the f electron states and their influence on the electronic structure. We show that the lattice parameters are in good agreement with the experimental values, independent of the chosen parameters within the DFT+U approach. Increasing Coulomb interaction U tends to shift the f states away from the Fermi level. Surprisingly, independently of the position of f states with respect to the Fermi energy, these states play an important role in the electronic band structure, which can be reflected in the modification of the NdNiO2 effective models.
Successive Photocatalytic Degradation of Methylene Blue by ZnO, CuO and ZnO/CuO Synthesized from Coriandrum sativum Plant Extract via Green Synthesis Technique
Authors: Basit Raja Abdul , Abbasi Zeeshan , Hafeez Muhammad , Ahmad Pervaiz , Khan Jahanzeb , Khandaker Mayeen Uddin , Al-Mugren Kholoud Saad , Khalid Awais
Published: February 2023

In this study, successful synthesis of ZnO nanoparticles (NPs), CuO NPs, and ZnO/CuO nanocomposite through an eco-friendly method using Corriandrum sativum leaf extract as a capping agent is reported. Using XRD, FTIR, UV-Vis, and SEM techniques, the synthesized materials were characterized for structural analysis, functional groups identification, spectroscopic measurements, and morphological analysis. The percentage composition and purity of the samples were determined by using Energy Dispersive X-ray (EDX), which showed the synthesis of materials. Morphological analysis was done by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) which reflected that the CuO NPs, ZnO NPs and ZnO/CuO nanocomposite were spherical, and the average size calculated by using Image J software was around 25 nm, 55 nm, and 11 nm, respectively. FTIR and UV-Vis analyses were used for synthetic confirmation through characteristic peaks of materials. The synthesized (ZnO, CuO, and CuO/ZnO) nanomaterials were evaluated for photocatalytic activity using methylene blue (MB) dye. Among all three photocatalysts, the composite showed maximum photodegradation compared to the other two materials. The present work could lead to a pathway for the decontamination of harmful dyes of wastewater released from different industries.
Unprecedented Coordination Compounds with 4,4′-Diaminodiphenylethane as a Supramolecular Agent and Ditopic Ligand: Synthesis, Crystal Structures and Hirshfeld Surface Analysis
Authors: Craciun Nicoleta , Chisca Diana , Melnic Elena , Fonari Marina S.
Published: February 2023

In this pioneering research, mononuclear coordination complexes and coordination polymers were obtained using the conformationally flexible ditopic ligand 4,4′-diaminodiphenylethane and different metal salts (nitrates, sulfates, tetrafluoroborates and perchlorates). Seven new products, including the mononuclear complexes [Cd(2,2′-bpy)3](ClO4)2](dadpe)(4,4′-bpy) (1), [Ni(dadpe)2(H2O)4](SO4).H2O (2), one-dimensional coordination polymers {[Zn(NO3)(dadpe)(dmf)2](NO3)}n (3), {[Cd(2,2′-bpy)2(dadpe)](ClO4)2}n (4), and two-dimensional coordination polymers, {[Cd(4,4′-bpy)2(H2O)2](ClO4)2(dadpe)(EtOH)2}n (5), {[Co(4,4′-bpy)2(H2O)2](BF4)2(dadpe)(EtOH)2}n (6) and {[Cd(adi)(dadpe)](H2adi)}n (7), (dadpe=4,4′-diaminodiphenylethane, 2,2′-bpy=2,2′-bipyridine, 4,4′-bpy=4,4′-bipyridine, H2adi=adipic acid) were produced. The synthesized compounds were characterized by FTIR and single-crystal X-ray diffraction analyses. The dadpe was recorded as a neutral guest in the crystals of mononuclear complex 1 and in coordination polymers 5 and 6. In compound 2, two dadpe ligands coordinate in a monodentate mode and occupy two trans-positions in the [Ni(H2O)4(dadpe)2]2+ octahedral complex cation. Coordination polymers 3 and 4 represent single chains originating from dadpe as a bidentate linker in both. The H-donor’s possibilities of amino groups were utilized in the interconnection of coordination chains into H-bonded networks via NH(NH2)···O hydrogen bonds. The isostructural coordination polymers 5 and 6 comprise similar cationic square grids [M(4,4′-bpy)2(H2O)2]2+ [M=Cd (5), M=Co (6)], with sql topology balanced by the charge-compensated anions, while dadpe and EtOH as neutral guests are situated in the interlayer space. The neutral 2D coordination network in 7 with the sql topology originates from both adi and dadpe linkers as bidentate-bridging ligands, and the neutral H2adi is entrapped as a guest in crystal lattice. The impact of different types of intermolecular interactions was evaluated by Hirshfeld surface analysis.
Adherence to CONSORT Guidelines and Reporting of the Determinants of External Validity in Clinical Oncology Randomized Controlled Trials: A Review of Trials Published in Four Major Journals between 2013 and 2015
Authors: Audet Sophie , Doyle Catherine , Lemieux Christopher , Tardif Marc-Antoine , Gauvreau Andréa , Simonyan David , Nabi Hermann , Lemieux Julie
Published: February 2023

Our primary objective was to determine the proportion of trials that report the number of patients assessed for eligibility before randomization. We performed the systematic retrieval and analysis of all phase II, III, and IV RCTs published between 2013 and 2015 in four high-impact-factor journals in the field of clinical oncology. Among 456 RCTs reviewed, 236 trials (51.8%) reported the number of patients assessed for eligibility. Among the 236 trials that reported the entire enrollment process, the reasons for patient exclusion could be found in 184 trials (78%). A flow diagram was presented in 452 trials (99.1%), and 98 trials (21.5%) included a discussion on generalizability. Reporting the parameters of external validity in medical oncology RCTs is challenging. Improving adherence to the 2010 CONSORT guidelines concerning the enrollment process could help clinicians and health policymakers establish to whom trial results apply.
Breast Cancer Screening and Perceptions of Harm among Young Adults in Japan: Results of a Cross-Sectional Online Survey
Authors: Cui Zhengai , Kawasaki Hiromi , Tsunematsu Miwako , Cui Yingai , Rahman Md Moshiur , Yamasaki Satoko , Li Yuan , Kakehashi Masayuki
Published: February 2023

Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed female cancer and the leading cause of cancer death. Early detection and treatment are important to reduce the number of deaths. Japan recommends mammography every two years for women over 40 years of age. However, in recent years, an increasing number of younger women have been undergoing breast cancer screening (BCS). To reduce the harms of BCS among young adults, our study extracted data from an online survey conducted in 2018 and applied χ2 tests and logistic analysis to identify the influencing factors regarding interest in undergoing BCS. The results of our analysis support the need for a reduction in the BCS rate through awareness regarding the harms of health screening among young people. In particular, for those who receive BCS through occupational screening, we believe that improving education on breast awareness, the accuracy of occupational screening, and breast self-examination methods could reduce the harms from BCS in younger age groups.
Microwave Radiometry for the Diagnosis and Monitoring of Inflammatory Arthritis
Authors: Laskari Katerina , Siores Elias , Tektonidou Maria , Sfikakis Petros
Published: February 2023

The ability of microwave radiometry (MWR) to detect with high accuracy in-depth temperature changes in human tissues is under investigation in various medical fields. The need for non-invasive, easily accessible imaging biomarkers for the diagnosis and monitoring of inflammatory arthritis provides the background for this application in order to detect the local temperature increase due to the inflammatory process by placing the appropriate MWR sensor on the skin over the joint. Indeed, a number of studies reviewed herein have reported interesting results, suggesting that MWR is useful for the differential diagnosis of arthritis as well as for the assessment of clinical and subclinical inflammation at the individual large or small joint level and the patient level. MWR showed higher agreement with musculoskeletal ultrasound, used as a reference, than with clinical examination in rheumatoid arthritis (RA), while it also appeared useful for the assessment of back pain and sacroiliitis. Further studies with a larger number of patients are warranted to confirm these findings, taking into account the current limitations of the available MWR devices. This may lead to the production of easily accessible and inexpensive MWR devices that will provide a powerful impetus for personalized medicine.
Prevention Strategies and Early Diagnosis of Cervical Cancer: Current State and Prospects
Authors: Kakotkin Viktor V. , Semina Ekaterina V. , Zadorkina Tatiana G. , Agapov Mikhail A.
Published: February 2023

Cervical cancer ranks third among all new cancer cases and causes of cancer deaths in females. The paper provides an overview of cervical cancer prevention strategies employed in different regions, with incidence and mortality rates ranging from high to low. It assesses the effectiveness of approaches proposed by national healthcare systems by analysing data published in the National Library of Medicine (Pubmed) since 2018 featuring the following keywords: “cervical cancer prevention”, “cervical cancer screening”, “barriers to cervical cancer prevention”, “premalignant cervical lesions” and “current strategies”. WHO’s 90-70-90 global strategy for cervical cancer prevention and early screening has proven effective in different countries in both mathematical models and clinical practice. The data analysis carried out within this study identified promising approaches to cervical cancer screening and prevention, which can further enhance the effectiveness of the existing WHO strategy and national healthcare systems. One such approach is the application of AI technologies for detecting precancerous cervical lesions and choosing treatment strategies. As such studies show, the use of AI can not only increase detection accuracy but also ease the burden on primary care.
Mathematical Assessment of Machine Learning Models Used for Brain Tumor Diagnosis
Authors: Uzun Ozsahin Dilber , Onakpojeruo Efe Precious , Uzun Berna , Mustapha Mubarak Taiwo , Ozsahin Ilker
Published: February 2023

The brain is an intrinsic and complicated component of human anatomy. It is a collection of connective tissues and nerve cells that regulate the principal actions of the entire body. Brain tumor cancer is a serious mortality factor and a highly intractable disease. Even though brain tumors are not considered a fundamental cause of cancer deaths worldwide, about 40% of other cancer types are metastasized to the brain and transform into brain tumors. Computer-aided devices for diagnosis through magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) have remained the gold standard for the diagnosis of brain tumors, but this conventional method has been greatly challenged with inefficiencies and drawbacks related to the late detection of brain tumors, high risk in biopsy procedures, and low specificity. To circumvent these underlying hurdles, machine learning models have recently been developed to enhance computer-aided diagnosis tools for advanced, precise, and automatic early detection of brain tumors. This study takes a novel approach to evaluate machine learning models (support vector machine (SVM), random forest (RF), gradient-boosting model (GBM), convolutional neural network (CNN), K-nearest neighbor (KNN), AlexNet, GoogLeNet, CNN VGG19, and CapsNet) used for the early detection and classification of brain tumors by deploying the multicriteria decision-making method called fuzzy preference ranking organization method for enrichment evaluations (PROMETHEE), based on selected parameters, in this study: prediction accuracy, precision, specificity, recall, processing time, and sensitivity. To validate the results of our proposed approach, we performed a sensitivity analysis and cross-checking analysis with the PROMETHEE model. The CNN model, with an outranking net flow of 0.0251, is considered the most favorable model for the early detection of brain tumors. The KNN model, with a net flow of −0.0154, is the least appealing option. The findings of this study support the applicability of the proposed approach for making optimal choices regarding the selection of machine learning models. The decision maker is thus afforded the opportunity to expand the range of considerations which they must rely on in selecting the preferred models for early detection of brain tumors.
Rapid Identification of Benign Gallbladder Diseases Using Serum Surface-Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy Combined with Multivariate Statistical Analysis
Authors: Dawuti Wubulitalifu , Dou Jingrui , Li Jintian , Liu Hui , Zhao Hui , Sun Li , Chu Jin , Lin Renyong , Lü Guodong
Published: February 2023

In this study, we looked at the viability of utilizing serum to differentiate between gallbladder (GB) stones and GB polyps using Surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS), which has the potential to be a quick and accurate means of diagnosing benign GB diseases. Rapid and label-free SERS was used to conduct the tests on 148 serum samples, which included those from 51 patients with GB stones, 25 patients with GB polyps and 72 healthy persons. We used an Ag colloid as a Raman spectrum enhancement substrate. In addition, we employed orthogonal partial least squares discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA) and principal component linear discriminant analysis (PCA-LDA) to compare and diagnose the serum SERS spectra of GB stones and GB polyps. The diagnostic results showed that the sensitivity, specificity, and area under curve (AUC) values of the GB stones and GB polyps based on OPLS-DA algorithm reached 90.2%, 97.2%, 0.995 and 92.0%, 100%, 0.995, respectively. This study demonstrated an accurate and rapid means of combining serum SERS spectra with OPLS-DA to identify GB stones and GB polyps.
Automated Detection of Seizure Types from the Higher-Order Moments of Maximal Overlap Wavelet Distribution
Authors: Mathew Joseph , Sivakumaran Natarajan , Karthick P. A.
Published: February 2023

In this work, an attempt has been made to develop an automated system for detecting electroclinical seizures such as tonic-clonic seizures, complex partial seizures, and electrographic seizures (EGSZ) using higher-order moments of scalp electroencephalography (EEG). The scalp EEGs of the publicly available Temple University database are utilized in this study. The higher-order moments, namely skewness and kurtosis, are extracted from the temporal, spectral, and maximal overlap wavelet distributions of EEG. The features are computed from overlapping and non-overlapping moving windowing functions. The results show that the wavelet and spectral skewness of EEG is higher in EGSZ than in other types. All the extracted features are found to have significant differences (p < 0.05), except for temporal kurtosis and skewness. A support vector machine with a radial basis kernel designed using maximal overlap wavelet skewness yields a maximum accuracy of 87%. In order to improve the performance, the Bayesian optimization technique is utilized to determine the suitable kernel parameters. The optimized model achieves the highest accuracy of 96% and an MCC of 91% in three-class classification. The study is found to be promising, and it could facilitate the rapid identification process of life-threatening seizures.
Using Mathematical and Statistical Analysis to Investigate the Correlation between Exacerbation of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease and Risk of Subclinical Atherosclerosis
Authors: Dai Xiaochun , Chen Jiahui , Shao Lili
Published: February 2023

Purpose: As the number of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease continues to increase, it is increasingly important to understand the impact of cardiovascular risk on the progression of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, which can provide guidance for clinical medication and recommendations for patient care and rehabilitation. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between cardiovascular risk and the progression of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Methods: Selected COPD patients admitted to hospital from June 2018 to July 2020 were included in the study for prospective analysis, and patients who showed more than two instances of moderate deterioration or severe deterioration within one year before the consultation were defined as COPD patients, and all participants underwent relevant tests and assessments. Results: Multivariate correction analysis showed that a worsening phenotype improved the risk of carotid artery intima-media thickness exceeding 75% by nearly three times, and it had no relation with the degree of COPD severity and global cardiovascular risk; in addition, the relationship between a worsening phenotype and high carotid intima-media thickness (c-IMT) was more pronounced in patients under 65 years of age. Conclusions: The existence of subclinical atherosclerosis is individually related to the worsening phenotype, and the difference is more obvious in young patients. Therefore, the control of vascular risk factors in these patients should be strengthened.
Impact of the Global Fear Index (COVID-19 Panic) on the S&P Global Indices Associated with Natural Resources, Agribusiness, Energy, Metals, and Mining: Granger Causality and Shannon and Rényi Transfer Entropy
Authors: Celso-Arellano Pedro , Gualajara Victor , Coronado Semei , Martinez Jose N. , Venegas-Martínez Francisco
Published: February 2023

The Global Fear Index (GFI) is a measure of fear/panic based on the number of people infected and deaths due to COVID-19. This paper aims to examine the interconnection or interdependencies between the GFI and a set of global indexes related to the financial and economic activities associated with natural resources, raw materials, agribusiness, energy, metals, and mining, such as: the S&P Global Resource Index, the S&P Global Agribusiness Equity Index, the S&P Global Metals and Mining Index, and the S&P Global 1200 Energy Index. To this end, we first apply several common tests: Wald exponential, Wald mean, Nyblom, and Quandt Likelihood Ratio. Subsequently, we apply Granger causality using a DCC-GARCH model. Data for the global indices are daily from 3 February 2020 to 29 October 2021. The empirical results obtained show that the volatility of the GFI Granger causes the volatility of the other global indices, except for the Global Resource Index. Moreover, by considering heteroskedasticity and idiosyncratic shocks, we show that the GFI can be used to predict the co-movement of the time series of all the global indices. Additionally, we quantify the causal interdependencies between the GFI and each of the S&P global indices using Shannon and Rényi transfer entropy flow, which is comparable to Granger causality, to confirm directionality more robustly The main conclusion of this research is that financial and economic activity related to natural resources, raw materials, agribusiness, energy, metals, and mining were affected by the fear/panic caused by COVID-19 cases and deaths.
Teachers’ Workplace Victimization, Job Burnout, and Somatic and Posttraumatic Symptoms: A Structural Equation Modeling Examination
Authors: Ghadban Mahira , Berkowitz Ruth , Enosh Guy
Published: February 2023

Teachers’ workplace victimization is a serious and concerning problem known to have numerous negative occupational and health outcomes for teachers. Surprisingly, however, the scientific literature has broadly overlooked schools as settings in which serious workplace violence occurs, and it has failed to systematically explore the antecedents and consequences of workplace victimization for teachers. To fill this gap, this study examined the structures of associations of teachers’ victimization via threats, verbal violence, and property violence with somatic and posttraumatic symptoms using structural equation modeling. The sample included 366 Arabic and Jewish teachers in Israel. The findings indicate that the teachers who reported victimization and symptoms experienced burnout, whereas the teachers who reported victimization and had no symptoms did not experience burnout. A significant relationship of teachers’ personal and professional characteristics with victimization, symptoms, and burnout also emerged. These findings advance our theoretical understanding of the predictors and consequences of violence against teachers in schools. Useful practices to improve teachers’ occupational and health outcomes are discussed.
Teachers’ Innovative Work Behavior as a Function of Self-Efficacy, Burnout, and Irrational Beliefs: A Structural Equation Model
Authors: Gkontelos Angelos , Vaiopoulou Julie , Stamovlasis Dimitrios
Published: February 2023

Teachers’ innovative work behavior (TIWB) is crucial in the contemporary demanding educational environments for overcoming any commonplace issues and to ensure sustainability and development. It refers to a process in which the employee tries to create new ideas, adopt them, apply them in the school context, and then communicate them to other members of the organization in order to achieve a communal benefit. Among a plethora of factors that could influence such behavior, self-efficacy, burnout, and irrational beliefs have been proposed as potential covariates. In the present study, the associations of the above constructs with TIWB are concomitantly investigated by employing structural equation modeling (SEM). Data were taken from the participation of in-service teachers (N = 964) in primary education via self-reported questionnaires. The proposed SEM model exhibited a satisfactory goodness-of-fit to the empirical data, highlighting the direct effects of the independent variables on TIWB, while mediation analysis showed that irrational beliefs and burnout act also as mediators between self-efficacy and innovative work behavior. The findings are in line with previous reports and are interpretable in the context of modern theories, while a discussion on theoretical and practical implications along with emerging ideas and perspectives for further research is provided.
A Calibration-Free Digital-to-Time Converter for Phase Interpolation-Based Fractional-N PLLs
Authors: Liang Weishuang , Liu Qi , Gan Yebing
Published: February 2023

In this paper, a fractional frequency division phase-locked loop based on phase interpolation is proposed and implemented using the TSMC 0.11 μm CMOS process. Compared with the conventional phase-locked loop, a digital time converter (DTC) module is added to this phase-locked loop, and the DTC module can reduce the fractional spurious by phase interpolation. The circuit and analysis method of this DTC module are given in this paper. Unlike the existing approaches, the proposed DTC is calibration-free, and the error introduced by it is only related to the DAC adopted in the DTC. In addition, the accuracy of the DTC is 8 bits. Finally, this paper verifies the proposed quantization noise reduction technique using a 0.11 μm CMOS process. The proposed FNPLL achieves the overall power consumption of 20.3 mW, the noise of −117dBc/Hz@1 MHz and −138dBc/Hz@10 MHz, and the RMS jitter of 0.860ps. The area of the proposed FDIV is 60×245μm2, and the power consumption is 1.356mW. The phase noise of the proposed FNPLL in the fractional division mode is just 2dB higher than that in the integer division mode.
A Food Waste-Derived Organic Liquid Fertiliser for Sustainable Hydroponic Cultivation of Lettuce, Cucumber and Cherry Tomato
Authors: Siddiqui Zuhaib , Hagare Dharmappa , Liu Min-Hang , Panatta Orousa , Hussain Tanveer , Memon Sheeraz , Noorani Amber , Chen Zhong-Hua
Published: February 2023

We previously reported a sustainable food waste management approach to produce an acceptable organic liquid fertiliser for recycling food waste called “FoodLift.” This study follows our previous work to evaluate the macronutrients and cation concentrations in harvested structural parts of lettuce, cucumber, and cherry tomatoes produced using food waste-derived liquid fertiliser (FoodLift) and compare them against commercial liquid fertiliser (CLF) under hydroponic conditions. N and P concentrations in the structural parts of lettuce and the fruit and plant structural parts of cucumber appear to be similar between FoodLift and CLF (p > 0.05), with significantly different N concentrations in the various parts of cherry tomato plants (p < 0.05). For lettuce, N and P content varied from 50 to 260 g/kg and 11 to 88 g/kg, respectively. For cucumber and cherry tomato plants, N and P concentrations ranged from 1 to 36 g/kg and 4 to 33 g/kg, respectively. FoodLift was not effective as a nutrient source for growing cherry tomatoes. Moreover, the cation (K, Ca, and Mg) concentrations appear to significantly differ between FoodLift and CLF grown plants (p < 0.05). For example, for cucumber, Ca content varied from 2 to 18 g/kg for FoodLift grown plants while Ca in CLF-grown cucumber plants ranged from 2 to 28 g/kg. Overall, as suggested in our previous work, FoodLift has the potential to replace CLF in hydroponic systems for lettuce and cucumber. This will lead to sustainable food production, recycling of food waste to produce liquid fertiliser, and will promote a circular economy in nutrient management.