bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The impact of blastocyst level on singleton birthweight in fresh IVF-ET cycles in ART: a retrospective study
Authors: Shi Senlin , Zhao Boya , Shi Qiongyao , Shi Hao
Published: February 2024

Background:
The positive correlation between embryo quality and pregnancy outcomes has been well confirmed in many studies, but few studies have investigated the impact of embryo quality on neonatal weight, especially among neonates from freshly transplanted blastocysts.So the objective of the article was to compare the birth weights of infants from different blastocyst grades in fresh transplantation cycles and to explore related factors affecting birth weight.
Methods:
A retrospectively cohort study was performed to compare the birth weight of different blastocyst levels in fresh transplantation cycle and explore the related factors affecting the birth weight. The 1301 fresh cycles of single blastocyst transplantation and single live birth profile were retrospectively analyzed,four groups were divided according to the grade of transplanted blastocyst. There were 170 cycles in group A with AA blastocyst level, 312 cycles in group B with AB/BA blastocyst level, 559 cycles in group C with BB/CA/AC blastocyst level and 260 cycles in group D with BC/CB blastocyst level. Comparison among four groups of patients by birth weight and general conditions, fertilization rate, embryo rate, cleavage rate and D5、D6 blastocyst formation rate and other laboratory indicators were made. And then compare the birth weight of different groups which were divided by the degree of blastocyst expansion, and the classification of intracellular mass(ICM) and extracellular trophoblastic(TE).
Results:
The study shows that birth weight of group A was significantly higher than that of the other three groups (P < 0.05). And the high quality embryo rate and blastocyst rate of group A were significantly higher than those of the other three groups (P < 0.05). What’s more, the clinical pregnancy rate, implantation rate and live birth rate of high grade blastocyst were higher, but there was no significant difference in abortion rate. The birth weight of blastocyst of grade 3 and below was significantly lower than that of those with grade 3 and above (P < 0.05).The birth weight of grade A intracellular mass was significantly higher than that of B intracellular mass of blastocyst(P < 0.05). Babies born with grade B ectotrophoblast cells were significantly heavier than those born with grade C ectotrophoblast cells(P < 0.05).
Conclusion:
The authors conclude that high grade blastocyst transplantation can achieve better pregnancy outcome. Different blastocyst levels affect birth weight, and low grade blastocyst transplantation is associated with a single birth weight loss.
Ochrobactrum anthropi infection following corneal transplantation -A Case Report and Review of Literature
Authors: liu lei , Wang Chunmei , Xu Hui , hou lulu , huang rong , shi xiaoru , jia hui
Published: February 2024

Background
Ochrobactrum anthropi is widely distributed and primarily infects patients with compromised immune functions .Although historically considered to possess low toxicity and pathogenicity, Ochrobactrum anthropi can lead to severe purulent infection. Here, we present a case of Ochrobactrum anthropi infection following corneal transplantation surgery,examining the occurrence and outcome of such infections post-transplantation.
Case presentation:
A retrospective analysis of cases involved examinations, genetic testing for diagnosis, and subsequent treatment. Patients with fungal corneal ulcer perforation, undergoing partial penetrating keratoplasty, exhibited anterior chamber exudation and purulence post-surgery. Despite unsuccessful antifungal treatment, genetic testing of anterior chamber fluid and purulent material confirmed Ochrobactrum anthropi infection. Antimicrobial treatment specifically targeting Ochrobactrum anthropi proved efficacious.
Conclusion
Inflammatory reactions following corneal transplantation should be vigilant for multiple infections. Genetic testing of aqueous humor holds significant guiding implications for clinical diagnosis and treatment.
Enhanced NK cell proliferation by stress-induced feeder cells
Authors: Lee Donghyun , Song Myeongkwan , Kwon Soonjo
Published: February 2024

Natural Killer (NK) cells, integral to the innate immune system, are notable in cell therapies because for their applicability in allogeneic treatments, distinguishing them from T cells typically employed in conventional cell therapies. However, their limited half-life poses a challenge for therapy. Although attempts to leverage feeder cells are common, safer methods are needed to mitigate the associated risks.
In our study, an upregulation in the expression of 4-1BBL in Colo-205 cells under extracellular stresses such as hypoxia and cytochalasin D was observed. This enhanced binding to the 4-1BB receptors on NK cells promotes proliferation in NK cells. Elevated CD56 expression of a marker strongly linked to NK cell proliferation in co-culture further supports this process.
Applying extracellular stressors, specifically hypoxia and cytochalasin D, to Colo-205 cells successfully tailored feeder cells, significantly enhancing NK cell proliferation.
CAPZB mRNA is a novel biomarker in cervical high-grade squamous lesions or higher
Authors: Cai Xia , Huang Wanqiu , Huang Jian , Zhu Xiuxiang , Wang Lifeng , Xia Ziyin , Xu Ling
Published: February 2024

Objective To evaluate Capping protein (actin filament) muscle Z-line subunit β(CAPZB) messenger ribonucleic acid(mRNA) as a biomarker for distinguishing low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion of the cervix (LSIL) and below from high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion of the cervix (HSIL) and above. Methods We collected a total of 166 cervical exfoliated cells, which were divided into normal group, Human papillomavirus (HPV) group, LSIL group, HSIL group, and Cervical cancer (CC) group based on histopathological results. Each sample was divided into two portions, one for fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) detection and the other for bisulfite sequencing polymerase chain reaction (BSP) detection. Clinical information of patients was also collected. The ability of these two methods to distinguish LSIL and below from HSIL and above was compared and analyzed. ResultsCAPZBmRNA levels decreased with the increasing severity of cervical lesions, whileCAPZBdeoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) methylation levels increased with the increasing severity of cervical lesions. FISH detection ofCAPZBmRNA and BSP detection ofCAPZBDNA methylation performed best as biomarkers for distinguishing HSIL and above from LSIL and below, with area under the roc curve (AUC), sensitivity, and specificity of 0.893, 81.25%, and 80.39%, 0.794, 64.06%, and 81.37%, respectively.CAPZBmRNA performed better thanCAPZBDNA methylation as a biomarker for assessing cervical lesions. Conclusion FISH detection ofCAPZBmRNA shows potential as a novel biomarker for distinguishing HSIL and above from LSIL and below in cervical lesions.
Towards Unsupervised Animal Activity Recognition: a Deep Learning Based Clustering Algorithm for Equine Gait Classification
Authors: Waele Timo , Shahid Adnan , Peralta Daniel , Tuyttens Frank , Poorter Eli
Published: February 2024

Knowing the activity type is important for many types of animal research. One example is to know how often a horse is standing still, walking, trotting or cantering. To automate this process, most scientific investigations rely on supervised neural networks, necessitating a resource-intensive and time-consuming manual labeling phase. This paper investigates the potential of unsupervised deep learning for automatic equine gait classification, employing the Deep Embedded Clustering (DEC) approach. Our evaluation compares it with alternative supervised and unsupervised algorithms, along with various pre-processing techniques. Findings indicate that probabilistic-based clustering algorithms, like Gaussian Mixture Models, are more effective for scenarios with significant variance in cluster densities, as frequently encountered in the domain of animal activity recognition. The paper establishes that transforming data from the time domain to the frequency domain using the Discrete Fourier Transform (DFT) contributes to improved performance. The integration of the DEC-based clustering algorithm with DFT achieves an overall accuracy approaching 83%. The research shows that while supervised methods still outperform unsupervised ones, with proper algorithm selection and data processing, unsupervised methods yield satisfactory results without the requisite for labeled data.
Factors Influencing Germination and Seedling Emergence of Corncockle ( Agrostemma githago ) : Insights for Weed Management in Agricultural Systems
Authors: Zare Ahmad , Keshtkar Eshagh
Published: February 2024

Agrostemma githago, a poisonous, noxious, and competitive weed species, can threaten crop yields in various agricultural regions worldwide. Experiments were performed twice to ascertain the effect of temperature, salt stress, osmotic potential, and burial depth on the germination and seedling emergence of A. githago. Seeds germinated across various temperatures ranging between 5 and 35°C, while germination was completely inhibited at 40°C. The optimum temperature for maximum germination percentage (GP), maximum germination rate (GR), and minimum mean germination time (MGT) ranged from 17.47°C to 19.37°C. The 50% reduction in GP occurred at 27 ○C. The seeds of A. githago germinated over a wide range of osmotic potentials, from 0 to − 1.2 MPa, however, the GP decreased with increasing osmotic potential, where at − 1.2 MPa, germinability was 19%. Similarly, seeds germinated across a broad range of salinities, with a GP of 21% at 300 mM, however, no germination was observed at 350 mM. The osmotic potential and salinity concentration required to inhibit 50% of maximum GP were estimated to be -0.99 MPa and 272 mM, respectively. Thus, it is expected that A. githago can germinate in saline and arid environments. The maximum seedling emergence (99%) was observed when seeds were placed on the soil surface. In contrast, no seedling emergence was recorded when seeds were buried at depths greater than 4 cm. Accordingly, deep conventional tillage might be helpful for managing A. githago. This knowledge can be implemented for both future research and the development of effective management for A. githago.
Validation of the ND-PAE Diagnosis in Children with Heavy Prenatal Alcohol Exposure
Authors: Veziris Christina R. , Hyland Matthew T. , Kable Julie A. , Wozniak Jeffrey R. , Coles Claire D. , May Philip A. , Kalberg Wendy O. , Sowell Elizabeth R. , Jones Kenneth L. , Riley Edward P. , Mattson Sarah N.
Published: February 2024

This study evaluated criteria for Neurobehavioral Disorder Associated with Prenatal Alcohol Exposure (ND-PAE). Kable et al. (2022) assessed the validity of this diagnosis in a sample with low exposure to alcohol. The current study expanded this assessment to a sample with a wider age range and heavier alcohol exposure. Data were collected from participants (5-17y) with prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE) and typically developing controls at six Collaborative Initiative on Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders sites using neuropsychological assessment and caregiver reports. Impairment was tested at 1SD, 1.5SD, and 2SD below the normative average and a modification of the adaptive functioning requirement was tested. Testing impairment at 1SD resulted in the highest endorsement rates in both groups. Our findings replicated the study by Kable et al. and show that current criteria captured a high rate of those with PAE and that requiring fewer adaptive functioning criteria resulted in higher sensitivity to PAE.
Evaluation of the Ovsynch and Co-synch protocols on estrus intensity and pregnancy rate in Anatolian buffalo heifers
Authors: Baştan ilktan , Korkmaz Fırat , Şahin Derya , Şimşek Seher , Yılmaz Mehmet Ali
Published: February 2024

This study aimed to evaluate the Ovsynch and Co-synch synchronization protocols in terms of estrus intensity and pregnancy rate in Anatolian buffalo heifers. To this end, 27 Anatolian buffalo heifers were used. For the Ovsynch synchronization protocol, GnRH (buserelin acetate, 12 μg) was administered on day 0, PGF2α (cloprostenol, 500 μg) on day 7, and GnRH (buserelin acetate, 12 μg) on day 9, and artificial insemination was performed 16-20 hours after the second GnRH application. For the Co-synch protocol, GnRH (buserelin acetate, 12 μg) was administered on day 0, PGF2α (cloprostenol, 500 μg) on day 7, and GnRH (buserelin acetate, 12 μg) along with artificial insemination on day 10. At the time of artificial insemination, estrus intensity was classified as intense, moderate, weak, or negative. Pregnancies were within 40 to 70 days after artificial insemination using pregnancy-related glycoprotein or ultrasonography examinations. Intense, moderate, weak, and negative estrus intensities were determined at rates of 20%, 20%, 26.6%, and 33.3%, respectively, in the Ovsynch group and 41.6%, 58.3%, 0%, and 0%, respectively, in the Co-synch group (P<0.05). Pregnancy rates were 30% and 75% in the Ovsynch and Cosynch groups, respectively (P<0.05). In conclusion, the Co-synch protocol was found to be more successful than the Ovsynch protocol for synchronization in Anatolian buffalo heifers. In addition, to increase the success of artificial insemination, it is recommended to perform cervix uteri monitoring and perform artificial insemination only on animals showing estrous behavior.
Molecular characterization and expression analysis of DNA methyltransferase genes during kiwifruit ripening
Authors: Fu Changchun , Han Chao , Yu Zuolong , Liu Dan , Wei Yunxiao , Han Yanchao
Published: February 2024

DNA methylation plays an important role in plant growth and development, fruit ripening and stress response. DNA methylation is catalyzed by DNA methyltransferase (DNMT). DNMT genes have been isolated and identified from Arabidopsis, rice, tomato, peanut and other plants, but it has not been reported in kiwifruit. In this study, 16 DNMTs were screened and identified from kiwifruit, named AcDMT1-AcDMT16 and mainly distributed in 12 chromosomes. By predicting the subcellular localization of DNMT in kiwifruit, it was found that most of DNMT were enzyme proteins located in the nucleus. Phylogenetic tree analysis showed that among the 16 kiwifruit DNMTs, 4 members belonged to the MET subfamily, 7 belonged to the CMT, and 5 belonged to the DRM, in addition, kiwifruit was closely related to tomato. Protein structure analysis showed that there were great differences in the structure of kiwifruit DNMT, most of which did not have transmembrane structure, and the domains of each subfamily were relatively conservative. qRT-PCR and correlation analysis results showed that AcDMT3, AcDMT6 and AcDMT7 were increased with the continuous fruit ripening and softening, indicating they positively regulate kiwifruit ripening, but AcDMT1, AcDMT9, AcDMT10, AcDMT12 and AcDMT13 were reverse. The results provide basic information for functional analysis and further study of DNMTs in kiwifruit.
Bulk and single-cell RNA-sequencing analyses along with abundant machine learning methods identify a novel signature in Hidradenitis Suppurativa
Authors: Lai Xiaodong , Zhang Haini , Zhang Chong , Wang Meng , Yang Yan , Chen Wanxin , Wang Baoxi , Yan Yan
Published: February 2024

Objective:
Hidradenitis Suppurativa (HS) underlying molecular and immunological mechanisms remain poorly understood. This study aimed to unravel key gene expression patterns, identify hub genes, and analyze immune cell infiltration in HS lesions and peripheral blood.
Methods:
Peripheral blood and skin tissues of HS datasets were sourced from the GEO database. The dataset with the larger sample size served as the training set to identify differential genes (DEGs) between HS patients and healthy controls. Hub genes were identified using the random forest (RF), LASSO logistic regression, and support vector machine-recursive feature elimination (SVM-RFE) algorithms. Additionally, CIBERSORT was employed to determine the proportions of 22 immune cell types in HS patients and to assess their correlation with the identified hub genes. Finally, the application of single-cell RNA-seq analysis serves to enhance and refine our comprehension of the cellular heterogeneity present in HS lesions.
Results:
In HS skin lesion samples, we identified reliable 200 DEGs: 141 were upregulated, and 59 were downregulated by three methods (limma, DESeq2, and edgeR). Similarly, in blood samples associated with HS, we screened132 DEGs, with 67 upregulated and 65 downregulated genes. Through an integrative approach involving three machine learning methods and subsequent validation on an independent dataset, we successfully identified AKR1B10, IGFL2, WNK2, SLAMF7, and CCR7 as potential biomarkers and therapeutic targets for HS treatment. Furthermore, immune cell infiltration analysis showed that HS is marked by dysregulations in multiple immune cells, and correlations exist between diverse immune cells, hub genes, and immune cell subsets.
Conclusion:
AKR1B10, IGFL2, WNK2, SLAMF7, and CCR7 were successfully identified. Single-cell RNA-seq analysis further refines our understanding of the cellular heterogeneity in HS lesions. These findings contribute to advancing our knowledge of HS pathogenesis and hold promise for future therapeutic interventions.
Dynamic protein-protein interactions of the potato autophagy-related StATG8 family proteins, which are also associated with WRKY transcription factor and pathogen effector in the nucleus
Authors: Huh Sung Un
Published: February 2024

Background
Autophagy is a cellular recycling process responsible for eliminating damaged proteins and organelles. Autophagy-related proteins (ATGs) are primarily located in the cytoplasm, playing essential roles in various stages of autophagosome formation. Among these proteins, the ATG8/Atg8/LC3/GABARAP family proteins are evolutionarily conserved and crucial for autophagy. While ATG8 is predominantly found in the nucleus and cytoplasm of cells, its function within the nucleus remains largely unknown.
Results
This study reveals that the potato StATG8 family forms homo-/hetero-dimers and selectively interacts with the transcriptional regulator WRKY, exclusive to the nucleus, and the pathogenic protein PopP2.
Conclusions
These findings represent a fundamental step toward unraveling the role of ATG8 within the nucleus.
Autonomous Vehicles and Their Impacts on Discretionary Activities
Authors: Feng Lewen , Betts John M. , Kamruzzaman Liton , Vu Hai L.
Published: February 2024

The extensive development of autonomous vehicles (AVs) is set to revolutionise the way of travelling. Research suggests that the introduction of AVs may affect travel behaviour and choices, resulting in long-term changes in land use. Accessibility is an important concept that connects transportation and land use, providing a holistic performance measure for the transport-land use system. However, this concept has not been adequately capitalised in studies that attempt to understand the impact of AVs on location choice decisions. To explore this knowledge gap, we proposed an agent-based simulation framework that integrates with accessibility constraints to study how AVs influence behavioural and location choices. The framework consists of an activity-based travel demand model with accessibility constraints and a dynamic transport assignment model. The accessibility constraints are derived from individuals' travel time budgets based on activity-travel survey data. We applied the agent-based simulation framework to Clayton, Australia, and focused on discretionary activity location choices. Various values of travel time and vehicle running costs underpinned by the use of AVs were examined. While most studies have concluded that AVs can significantly increase trip lengths for daily activities, our results demonstrate that even when AVs are used, the movement of individuals is still limited by spatio-temporal constraints of accessibility. As a result, we predict that the increase in discretionary trip lengths and their impacts on traffic congestion is modest.
An automated in vitro wound healing microscopy image analysis approach utilizing U-net-based deep learning methodology
Authors: Dogru Dilan , Ozdemir Gizem D. , Ozdemir Mehmet A. , Ercan Utku K. , Avsar Nermin Topaloglu , Güren Onan
Published: February 2024

Background: The assessment of in vitro wound healing images is critical for determining the efficacy of the therapy-of-interest that may influence the wound healing process. Existing methods suffer significant limitations, such as their user dependency and time-consuming nature, and lack of sensitivity, and thus pave the way for automated analysis approaches.
Methods: Hereby, three structurally different variations of U-net architectures based on convolutional neural networks (CNN) were implemented for the segmentation of in vitro wound healing microscopy images. Developed models were fed using two independent datasets after applying a novel augmentation method based aim at the more sensitive analysis of edges after the preprocessing. Then, predicted masks were utilized for the accurate calculation of wound areas. Eventually, the therapy efficacy-indicator wound areas were thoroughly compared with current well-known tools such as ImageJ and TScratch.
Results: The average dice similarity coefficient (DSC) scores were obtained as 0.958∼0.968 for U-net-based deep learning models. The averaged absolute percentage errors of predicted wound areas to ground truth were 6.41%, 3.70%, and 3.73%, respectively for U-net, U-net++, and Attention U-net, while ImageJ and TScratch had huge averaged error rates of 22.59% and 33.88%, respectively.
Conclusions: Comparative analyses revealed that the developed models outperformed the conventional approaches in terms of analysis time and segmentation sensitivity. The developed models hold also great promise for the prediction of the in vitro wound area regardless of the therapy-of-interest, cell line, magnification of the microscope, or other application-dependent parameters.
Hypothesis: bacteria live on the edge of phase transitions with a cell cycle regulated by a water-clock
Authors: UR Vic Norris CBSA
Published: February 2024

A fundamental problem in biology is how cells obtain the reproducible, coherent phenotypes needed for natural selection to act or, put differently, how cells manage to limit their exploration of the vastness of phenotype space. A subset of this problem is how they regulate their cell cycle. Bacteria, like eukaryotic cells, are highly structured and contain scores of hyperstructures or assemblies of molecules and macromolecules. The existence and functioning of certain of these hyperstructures depend on phase transitions. Here, I propose a conceptual framework to facilitate the development of water-clock hypotheses in which cells use water to generate phenotypes by living ‘on the edge of phase transitions’. I give an example of such a hypothesis in the case of the bacterial cell cycle and show how it offers a relatively novel ‘view from here’ that brings together a range of different findings about hyperstructures, phase transitions and water and that can be integrated with other hypotheses about differentiation, metabolism and the origins of life.
Effects of different post warm-up strategies for non-starter players in futsal
Authors: Silva Nuno Filipe Dias , Travassos Bruno , Gonçalves Bruno , Nakamura Fábio , Abade Eduardo
Published: February 2024

Futsal warm-up is an important pre-match routine that aims to enhance players’ readiness to competition. However, non-starter players will necessarily have a longer inactive period. This study aimed to investigate the effects of different post warm-up strategies on physical performance of non-starter players in futsal. Thirteen highly trained male futsal players participated in this study during the in-season period. All players performed three different post warm-up strategies on consecutive days: rest (REST), dynamic stretching (DYS) and combined plyometrics with changes of direction drill (PLY-COD). After performing a standard warm-up, players remained inactive for 10 minutes, representing the traditional time window to the beginning of the match. After that, post warm-up strategies were performed. Testing included countermovement jump, reactive strength index, 5 and 10 meters linear sprint and 505 COD test. Players were tested in two moments: 10 minutes after the end of the warm-up and immediately after post warm-up strategy. PLY-COD promoted positive effects in all variables. Running performance was improved with small to moderate effect sizes in linear and COD testing and jumping performance also increased, although with lower effect magnitude. Contrariwise, DYS and REST had a detrimental effect on running and jumping performances. These impairments were more pronounced in running performance after REST. These results show that remaining inactive or with limited effort after warm-up appear to be unfavorable to physical performance of futsal non-starter players. On the other hand, PLY-COD drills may be useful strategies to maintain or even improve physical performance after the standard warm-up.
A new biostimulant derived from soybean by-products enhances plant tolerance to abiotic stress triggered by ozone
Authors: Orts Angel , Navarro-Torre Salvadora , Macías-Benítez Sandra , Orts José M. , Castaño Angélica , Parrado Juan
Published: February 2024

Background
Tropospheric ozone is an air pollutant that causes negative effects on vegetation, leading to significant losses in crop productivity. It is generated by chemical reactions in the presence of sunlight between primary pollutants resulting from human activity, such as nitrogen oxides and volatile organic compounds. Due to the constantly increasing emission of ozone precursors, together with the influence of a warming climate on ozone levels, crop losses may be aggravated in the future. Therefore, the search for solutions to mitigate these losses becomes a priority.
Ozone-induced abiotic stress is mainly due to reactive oxygen species (ROS) generated by the spontaneous decomposition of ozone once it reaches the apoplast. In this regard, compounds with antioxidant activity offer a viable option to alleviate ozone-induced damage. Using enzymatic technology, we have developed a process that enables the production of an extract with biostimulant properties from okara, an industrial soybean byproduct. The biostimulant, named as OEE (Okara Enzymatic Extract), is water-soluble and is enriched in bioactive compounds present in okara, such as isoflavones. Additionally, it contains a significant fraction of protein hydrolysates contributing to its functional effect.
Given its antioxidant capacity, we aimed to investigate whether OEE could alleviate ozone-induced damage in plants. For that, pepper plants (Capsicum annuum) exposed to ozone were treated with a foliar application of OEE.
Results
OEE provided protection against ozone-induced damage, as evidenced by the net photosynthetic rate (AN), electron transport rate (ETR), effective quantum yield of PSII (PhiPS2), and delayed fluorescence (DF). The protective effect was mainly attributed to its antioxidant activity, as indicated the lipid peroxidation rate assayed by malondialdehyde (MDA) content. OEE also induced a mild oxidative response, as demonstrated by the increased activities of antioxidant enzymes in leaves (catalase, superoxide dismutase, and guaiacol peroxidase) and the oxidative stress index (OSI), which further protected against ozone-induced stress.
Conclusions
The present results support that OEE protects plants from ozone exposure. Taking into consideration that the promotion of plant resistance against abiotic damage is an important goal of biostimulants, we assume that its use as a new biostimulant could be considered.
An examination of tweets posted before and after enactment of Twitter’s Suicide and Self-Harm Policy: a content analysis study.
Authors: Moghimi Elnaz , Keller Kevin , Thampinathan Sanjeef , Cipolli William , Smith Hayden
Published: February 2024

The proliferation of suicide and self-harm content on social media platforms has emerged as a pressing concern in recent years, reflecting broader societal challenges surrounding mental health and online safety. In response to these concerns, platforms like Twitter (now “X”) have implemented policies aimed at curtailing the spread of such content and promoting user safety. The current study investigated the impact of Twitter's Suicide and Self-Harm Policy through a content analysis of tweets before and after its enactment, focusing on categorizing tweets according to slant, tweet category, and theme. A corpus of 3846 tweets was analyzed. Within this corpus, tweets spanning 32 weeks from October 18, 2018, to May 29, 2019, were selected. These dates were chosen to encompass approximately 16 weeks before and after the enactment of the policy on February 7, 2018. The analysis revealed notable shifts in the discourse surrounding self-harm, with discernible impacts attributed to the implementation of Twitter's policy. While the policy appeared to stimulate increased discussions aimed at fostering a better understanding of self-harm, it also underscored the necessity for social media platforms to delineate between factual information and personal opinions. However, the dissemination of personal accounts and experiences within these discussions served as a conduit for peer support, potentially offering invaluable assistance to individuals grappling with self-harm issues. Taken together, while policy interventions can stimulate constructive dialogue, careful consideration must be given to balancing factual accuracy with the provision of spaces for personal expression and support within online communities.
A new tropospheric delay combination prediction model based on time series decomposition and deep learning
Authors: Xu Xiao , Yue YingChun , ShangGuan Ming , Liang YiFan , Bian ShaoFeng , Zhai GuoJun
Published: February 2024

Zenith tropospheric delay (ZTD) prediction is of great significance for high-precision navigation. However, ZTD modeling has proved to be challenging due to the presence of linear and nonlinear characteristics. In this paper, we propose a combination ZTD prediction model (SLA), which considers the trend-based and seasonal variations respectively. It decomposes ZTD time series via seasonal-trend decomposition procedure based on loess (STL), individually predicting nonlinear components with long short-term memory network (LSTM) and linear components with autoregressive integrated moving average model (ARIMA). Finally, the individual predictions are recombined. The SLA model is compared with LSTM, extreme learning machine model (ELM), ARIMA, and the empirical global pressure and temperature (GPT3) model. The SLA model shows the best result in all models by analyzing the evaluation indicators including root mean square error (RMSE, 1.32 cm), the average normalized root mean square error (NRMSE, 0.56%), mean absolute error (MAE, 0.98 cm) and the mean coefficient of determination (R2, 0.83). In addition, the data of different months was tested separately, and the result showed that the SLA model has the best performance of ZTD prediction. Moreover, the SLA model has good results up to 12h, with RMSE < 1.60 cm, NRMSE < 0.7%, MAE < 1.25 cm, and R2 > = 0.75. This study provides a new model to predict the ZTD, which is helpful for the precise positioning of GNSS and can be further applied in the study of meteorology.
RETRACTED: A genetic land-cover taxonomic framework to explore evolutionary landscape anthropization in the Canary Islands
Authors: FERRER NICOLAS , QUESADA LORENZO
Published: February 2024

The authors have requested that this preprint be removed from Research Square.
Availability and Utility of Medical Education in Child and Adolescent Firearm Safety Screening
Authors: Werner Kennedy Star , Shah Tanha , Smitherman Lynn , Waineo Eva
Published: February 2024

Data was collected on firearm safety screenings during the pediatrics clerkship. Optional, anonymous surveys were emailed to third-year medical students (n = 79) and their pediatric preceptors (n = 37) at one medical school. Questions pertained to firearm access, as well as adequacy of medical education on firearm safety screenings and confidence conducting them. 35.3% of pediatric preceptors did not ask patients about firearms. 32.5% of medical students left their pediatric clerkship naive to the leading cause of death in U.S. children and teens. 24.2% of pediatric preceptors agreed or strongly agreed that they had enough training in firearm safety screening, compared to 51.5% of medical students. 48.6% of medical students reported firearm safety screening training prior to clerkships through longitudinal clinical skills and professionalism courses, but 50.8% favored learning on clinical rotations. Education goals for firearm safety screening are not well-defined, revealing the need for standardized, widespread curriculum in medical school.
Urban parks as a refuge for the Wood-cricket, Nemobius sylvestris (Orthoptera: Trigonidiidae)
Authors: Iorgu Ionuț Ștefan , Popa Alexandra Florina , Iorgu Elena Iulia
Published: February 2024

The Wood-cricket Nemobius sylvestris was surprisingly found in a park in the northern part of Bucharest, an area under exponential residential development. The species was also confirmed molecularly through DNA-barcoding and a median joining network was constructed using available COI sequences from public databases, showing moderate genetic variability within European samples. Our results stress again the importance of peri-urban areas in the conservation of biodiversity, providing a refuge for local fauna. The urban and peri-urban green spaces of Bucharest dwindled in the last 50 years, due mostly to residential development and the protection of the remaining areas is very important for arthropod diversity. The maintenance of Nemobius sylvestris populations in this area is conditioned by the preservation of urban and peri-urban woodland habitat of Bucharest together with its semi-wild herb layer and leaf-litter. Implications for insect conservation. Numerous small vertebrates and invertebrates rely on peri-urban and urban parks to survive in cities, since green spaces are typically sparsely distributed and poorly connected. In addition to supporting a variety of habitats other than woodland, such as grasslands and marshes, these forests are vital animal refuges in places that are increasingly becoming urbanized. It has been demonstrated that both a complex vegetation structure and a high plant variety positively affect insect diversity. The finding of Nemobius sylvestris proves the importance of such habitats for preserving biodiversity.
Assessment of uranium and thorium co-contaminant exposure from incidental concrete dust ingestion
Authors: Rashid Nur Shahidah Abdul , UM WOOYONG , Luhasz Albert L. , Ijang Ibrahim Ijang Ibrahim , Siong Khoo Kok , Singh Bhupendra Kumar , Mahzan Nurul Syiffa , Maliki Siti Khadijah
Published: February 2024

Potential health risks of contaminated media linked to bioavailability and hematotoxicity of uranium-238 (238U) and thorium-232 (232Th) remain uncertain. This study investigates the relative bioavailability (RBA), histopathological, and hematological effects of acute oral exposure to 238U and 232Th in co-contaminated concrete dust using 174 female Sprague Dawley (SD) rats. In order to create a range of 238U and 232Th concentrations, concrete was spiked with uranyl and thorium nitrates (~ 50, 100, and 200 mg kg−1). Spiked concretes were then crushed, ground, sieved (≤75 µm), and blended uniformly to create co-contaminated concrete dust. SD rats' diet pellet was amended with co-contaminated concrete dust and orally ingested over a 48-hour exposure period. The RBA values of 238U and 232Th in post-exposure rats' blood were determined as 22.0% ± 0.86% – 30.8% ± 1.01% and 11.8% ± 0.14% – 13.7% ± 0.29%, respectively. Compared to 232Th, 238U blood levels of SD rats fed with co-contaminated concrete dust-amended diets were ~ 100-fold higher due to solubility differences, and 238U-RBA values were approximately two-fold greater, revealing that their absorption rates in the gastrointestinal tract were affected by compound solubility. Post-acute 238U and 232Th ingestion from co-contaminated concrete dust demonstrate noticeable histopathological and hematological alterations, implying that intake of 238U and 232Th in co-contaminated concrete dust can lead to erythrocytes damage and elevated hematological attributes. Our study would be beneficial for an adequate understanding of the health implications caused by the acute oral exposures of 238U and 232Th in co-contaminated concrete dust, especially in the bioavailability and toxicity assessment.
Unraveling the Impact of Tobacco Use on Cardiovascular Disease Risk Gene Expression: A Comprehensive Transcriptomic Analysis Reveals Sexual Dimorphism Responses
Authors: Cheng Cheng , Sun Chao , Zhang Dawei
Published: February 2024

Background
Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a multifaceted health challenge with profound implications for individuals, communities, and healthcare systems. While smoking has long been recognized as a significant risk factor for CVD, the intricate details of its effects on cardiovascular health, particularly concerning sex dimorphism and age-dependent patterns, remain incompletely understood. This study delves into the complex relationship between smoking habits and CVD outcomes, shedding light on the nuanced interplay influenced by sex and age. The findings provide valuable insights into the multifactorial dynamics of CVD development and progression in the context of smoking behaviors.
Methods
We sought to elucidate the intricate landscape of gene expression variations linked to smoking habits, with a specific focus on understanding the divergent patterns between men and women. Through a comprehensive transcriptomic analysis, we aimed to unravel unique gene expression signatures influenced by different smoking behaviors. Moreover, we explored the association between smoking habits and the expression of genes implicated in CVD risk and metabolic pathways, considering the nuanced lens of sex dimorphism.
Results
Our results revealed a distinct sexual dimorphism pattern in cardiovascular disease (CVD)-related deaths associated with smoking habits across populations. Never smoking groups had a higher frequency of healthy populations than the current and former smoker, especially in male populations. Furthermore, specific cardiovascular risk factor genes were different between different smoking groups. Pathophysiological genes like PID1, CLDND1, INPP4B, and LRRN3 exhibited higher expression levels in current smokers compared to never-smokers. Notably, CD3D, PID1, CLDND1, C12orf57, OCIAD2, and LRRN3 showed significantly higher expression in male current smokers vs. former smokers. Additionally, CA5B, EIF1AY, KDM5D, KDM6A, RPS4Y1/2, TXLNGY, and ZFY genes were consistently downregulated in male populations across all three smoking groups.
Conclusions
Our study highlighted a significant gender disparity in smoking habits, with a notably higher prevalence of smoking among males. This sex bias was reflected in CVD prevalence patterns. CVD risk-associated pathophysiological genes demonstrated distinct expression patterns based on both smoking habits and gender. Interestingly, LRRN3 emerged as the sole Differentially Expressed Gene (DEG) in the comparison of never-smokers to current smokers in both male and female populations. Moreover, CA5B, EIF1AY, KDM5D, KDM6A, RPS4Y1/2, TXLNGY, and ZFY genes consistently exhibited downregulation in male populations across all three smoking groups.
Impact of concurrent medications on clinical outcomes of cancer patients treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors: Analysis of Health Insurance Review and Assessment data
Authors: Hong Soojung , Lee Ju Hyun , Heo Ja Yoon , Suh Koung Jin , Kim Se Hyun , Kim Yu Jung , Kim Jee Hyun
Published: February 2024

Purpose
Medications regulating immune homeostasis and gut microbiota could affect the efficacy of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs). This study aimed to investigate the impact of concurrent medications on the clinical outcomes of patients with cancer receiving ICI therapy in South Korea.
Methods
We identified patients newly treated with ICI for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), urothelial carcinoma (UC), and malignant melanoma (MM) between August 2017 and June 2020 from a nationwide database in Korea. The effect of concurrent antibiotics (ATBs), corticosteroids (CSs), proton-pump inhibitors (PPIs), and opioids prescribed within 30 days before ICI initiation on the treatment duration and survival was assessed.
Results
In all, 8,870 patients were included in the ICI cohort (NSCLC, 7,128; UC, 960; MM, 782). The patients were prescribed ATBs (33.8%), CSs (47.8%), PPIs (28.5), and opioids (53.1%) at the baseline. The median overall survival durations were 11.1, 12.2, and 22.1 m in NSCLC, UC, and MM subgroups, respectively, since starting the ICI mostly as second-line (NSCLC and UC) and first-line (MM) therapy. Early progression was observed in 34.2% of the patients. Opioids and CS were strongly associated with poor survival across all cancer types. A high number of concurrent medications was associated with early progression and short survival. Opioid and CS use was associated with poor prognosis in all patients treated with ICIs. However, ATBs and PPIs had a cancer-specific effect on survival.
Conclusion
A high number of concurrent medications was associated with poor clinical outcomes.
Improvement of red pigment production and citrinin reduction from Monascus purpureus using dairy sludge: potential health benefits and fermentation strategies
Authors: Moradi Samira , Mortazavi Seyed Ali
Published: February 2024

This study aimed to explore the production of red pigment from Monascus purpureus and its potential health benefits. The research started with the cultivation of M. purpureus in an environment containing dairy sludge. Subsequently, the extracted pigment was purified and subjected to various analyses, including liquid chromatography mass spectrometry (LCMS) and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) to verify its purity, high-pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC) to measure the citrinin levels, microbial testing, and assessment of antioxidant activity. Finally, fermentation was conducted in a batch system using a fermenter. M. purpureus was grown in a medium composed of dairy sludge, monosodium glutamate, and glucose, resulting in a biomass yield of 26.15 g/l. After extraction and purification, the optimal sample yielded 4.85 g of dry color, while the control sample produced 2.5 g. Analysis using NMR revealed similarities between the samples, while HPLC indicated low citrinin levels of less than 0.05 ppm in the optimal sample and 2.5 ppm in the control sample. LCMS analysis demonstrated a purity of 91.9% for the optimal sample, which also exhibited antimicrobial and antioxidant activity. In the fermenter, the sample obtained from optimal culture conditions displayed the highest concentration of the pigment monascorubramine, maximum specific growth rate of 0.029/1/h (µmax), a cell yield (Yx/s) of 0.29 g/g, and a production efficiency of 65% for M. purpureus. Overall, the produced pigment sample exhibited potential for use in the food industry due to its low citrinin content and high concentration of red pigment.
Exploring the Noise Resilience of Successor Features and Predecessor Features Algorithms in One and Two-Dimensional Environments
Authors: Lee Hyunsu
Published: February 2024

Based on the predictive map theory of spatial learning in animals, this study delves into the dynamics of Successor Feature (SF) and Predecessor Feature (PF) algorithms within noisy environments. Utilizing Q-learning and Q($\lambda$) learning as benchmarks for comparative analysis, our investigation yielded unexpected outcomes. Contrary to prevailing expectations and previous literature where PF demonstrated superior performance, our findings reveal that in noisy environments, PF did not surpass SF. In a one-dimensional grid world, SF exhibited superior adaptability, maintaining robust performance across varying noise levels. This trend of diminishing performance with increasing noise was consistent across all examined algorithms, indicating a linear degradation pattern.The scenario shifted in a two-dimensional grid world, where the impact of noise on algorithm performance demonstrated a non-linear relationship, influenced by the $\lambda$ parameter of the eligibility trace. This complexity suggests that the interaction between noise and algorithm efficacy is tied to the environmental dimensionality and specific algorithmic parameters.Furthermore, this research contributes to the bridging discourse between computational neuroscience and reinforcement learning (RL), exploring the neurobiological parallels of SF and PF learning in spatial navigation. Despite the unforeseen performance trends, the findings enrich our comprehension of the strengths and weaknesses inherent in RL algorithms. This knowledge is pivotal for advancing applications in robotics, gaming AI, and autonomous vehicle navigation, underscoring the imperative for continued exploration into how RL algorithms process and learn from noisy inputs.
CCDC88C, an O-GalNAc glycosylation substrate of GALNT6, drives breast cancer metastasis by promoting c-JUN-mediated CEMIP transcription
Authors: Deng Boya , Zhang Siyang , Zhou Yingying , Sun Ting , Zhu Ying , Fei Jing , Li Ailin , Miao Yuan
Published: February 2024

Coiled-coil domain containing 88C (CCDC88C) is a component of non-canonical Wnt signaling, and its dysregulation causes colorectal cancer metastasis. Dysregulated expression of CCDC88C was observed in lymph node metastatic tumor tissues of breast cancer. However, the role of CCDC88C in breast cancer metastasis remains unclear. To address this, the stable BT549 and SKBR3 cell lines with CCDC88C overexpression or knockdown were developed. The loss/gain-of-function experiments suggested that CCDC88C was a driver of breast cancer cell motility. Similar potentials of CCDC88C were observed in the lung and liver metastasis of BT549 cells. We found that CCDC88C led to c-JUN transactivation. The overlapping genes were identified from the genes modulated by CCDC88C and c-JUN. CEMIP, one of these overlapping genes, has been confirmed to drive breast cancer metastasis. We found that CCDC88C regulated CEMIP mRNA levels via c-JUN and it exerted pro-metastatic capabilities in a CEMIP-dependent manner. Moreover, we identified the CCDC88C as a substrate of polypeptide N-acetylgalactosaminyltransferase 6 (GALNT6). GALNT6 was positively correlated with CCDC88C protein abundance in the normal breast and breast cancer tissues, indicating that GALNT6 might be associated with expression patterns of CCDC88C in breast cancer. Our data demonstrated that GALNT6 was critical for the maintenance of CCDC88C stability and CCDC88C could mediate the pro-metastatic potential of GALNT6 in breast cancer. Collectively, our findings uncover that CCDC88C may increase the risk of breast cancer metastasis and elucidate the underlying molecular mechanisms.