bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
EGF/APOC1/CPT1A Axis: A Novel Pathway in Gastric Cancer Metabolism and Therapeutic Targeting
Authors: Du Feng , Li Peng , Chen Guangyong , Ji Xu , Yang Shuyue , Su Jiayi , Liu Sifan , Zhao Zheng , Zhou Anni , Zhao Guiping , Zhang Zheng , ZHU SHENGTAO , ZHANG Shutian , Wu Jing
Published: September 2024

Gastric cancer (GC) relies heavily on the reprogramming of lipid metabolism for energy, growth, and survival. Apolipoprotein C-I (APOC1) is implicated in the reprogramming of lipid metabolic processes in GC, yet the precise molecular mechanisms underlying this association remain incompletely understood. In this study, we identified APOC1 as a key player in GC metabolism and progression. Our findings show that APOC1 is upregulated in GC tissues and cells compared with controls and is correlated with poor prognosis. Furthermore, the overexpression of APOC1 promoted proliferation and migration, whereas the silencing of APOC1 led to decreased tumor growth and metastasis. Moreover, APOC1 was found to augment fatty acid oxidation (FAO) through its interaction with and regulation of carnitine palmitoyltransferase 1A (CPT1A). Disruption of APOC1 resulted in metabolic dysregulation, leading to mitochondrial oxidative stress. Conversely, the upregulation of APOC1 in GC cells promoted the catabolism of long-chain fatty acids, thereby facilitating tumor growth and migration. Mechanistically, APOC1 was shown to be regulated by epidermal growth factor (EGF), and its expression was directly targeted at the transcriptional level by AP-2α binding to its promoter region. Our research reveals a novel association between APOC1 and lipid metabolism, highlighting the EGF/APOC1/CPT1A axis as crucial factors in the progression of GC and potential targets for therapeutic interventions.
A rare young case of Embryonic rhabdomyosarcoma of the prostate with multiple metastases throughout the body: A case report
Authors: Wang Kai , Ou Yong , Jia Ting-yu , Zheng Zhong , Wang Hua-kang , Chen Ming-xian , Yang Hua , Huang Hua-song , Chen Hou-chuan , Chen Zhi-gang
Published: September 2024

Prostate cancer is the second most commonly diagnosed cancer and the sixth leading cause of cancer death among men worldwide, with an estimated 1 276 000 new cancer cases and 359 000 deaths in 2018[1]. The median age at diagnosis is 66 year, and 69% of deaths occur in men aged 75 yr[2]. As the morbidity and mortality rates rise sharply with age, the burden of prostate cancer will increase with the exponential aging of the population. The pathological type of prostate cancer is mainly adenocarcinoma (98.1%), and other types are relatively rare. Other pathological types of prostate cancer include iprostate duct (endometrioid) ademocarcinoma, small cell carcinoma, smucinous adenocarcinoma, signet ring cell carcinoma, transitional cell carcinoma, Sarcomatoid carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, lymphoepithelioid carcinoma, adenoid cystic carcinoma, etc. Rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) is a soft tissue sarcoma that histologically resembles embryonic skeletal muscle. It can occur anywhere in the body, including tissues devoid of skeletal muscles. The cell of origin of RMS remains unknown, however, recent evidence suggests that RMS can originate from aberrant development of non-myogenic cells [3]. Rhabdomyosarcoma is a common malignant tumor in children. In fact, it accounts for more than 50% of all soft tissue sarcomas in children [4]. However, rhabdomyosarcoma is a rare adult malignant tumor, and it accounts for only 3% of all soft tissue sarcomas [5]. Rhabdomyosarcoma is very rare in prostate tumors.
Trends in levels of organochlorine pesticide residues in breast milk; a case study in Aragatsotn Province, Armenia
Authors: Tadevosyan Natalya S. , Mikulski Marek A. , Tadevosyan Artashes E.
Published: September 2024

The Stockholm Convention on persistent organic pollutants (2001). banned a number of organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) which are persistent and still detected in human milk. Levels of OCPs in breast milk were assessed to understand the trends over time in Armenia. Breast milk samples (N = 627) were collected from randomly selected mothers in Aragatsotn Province of Armenia between 1993 and 2012. OCPs: gamma-hexachlorocyclohexane (γ-HCH), dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT), dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene (DDE) and dichlorodiphenyldichloroethane (DDD) were determined by gas-liquid chromatography with electron capture detector and expressed as µg/L of whole milk. The results were compared for two periods: before the adoption of new legal framework on pesticides management (1993–2002) and after its establishment (2003–2012). Concentrations of individual OCPs and total sums of DDT and OCPs for 1993–2012 decreased over time. In the first period concentrations of DDE were up to 24 times higher than that of γ-HCH, but in the second γ-HCH reached equal or higher levels. In the second period the simultaneous presence of four OCPs increased sharply up to 89%. A significant decrease was observed for DDE, as well as for both total sum of DDT and OCPs in the second period, mainly due to decrease of DDE. At the same time, the mean levels γ-HCH did not differ between the two periods. The detection of OCPs residues indicates their continued circulation in the environment and suggests possible ongoing agricultural use of banned pesticides. Educational campaigns are needed to improve current practice of pesticide application in Armenia.
High expression of transcription factor EGR1 is associated with postoperative muscle atrophy in patients with knee osteoarthritis undergoing total knee arthroplasty
Authors: Liu Xiao-yang , Yu Qiu-ping , Guo Si-qin , Chen Xu-ming , Zeng Wei-Nan , Zhou Zong-ke
Published: September 2024

Background: Muscle atrophy is a typical affliction in patients affected by knee Osteoarthritis (KOA). This study aimed to examine the potential pathogenesis and biomarkers that coalesce to induce muscle atrophy, primarily through the utilization of bioinformatics analysis.
Methods: Two distinct public datasets of osteoarthritis and muscle atrophy (GSE82107 and GSE205431) were subjected to differential gene expression analysis and gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) to probe for common differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and conduct transcription factor (TF) enrichment analysis from such genes. Venn diagrams were used to identify the target TF, followed by the construction of a protein-protein interaction (PPI) network of the common DEGs governed by the target TF. Hub genes were determined through the CytoHubba plug-in whilst their biological functions were assessed using GSEA analysis in the GTEx database. To validate the study, reverse transcriptase real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR), enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and Flow Cytometry techniques were employed.
Results: A total of 138 common DEGs of osteoarthritis and muscle atrophy were identified, with 16 TFs exhibiting notable expression patterns in both datasets. Venn diagram analysis identified early growth response gene-1 (EGR1) as the target TF, enriched in critical pathways such as epithelial mesenchymal transition, tumor necrosis factor-alpha signaling NF-κB, and inflammatory response. PPI analysis revealed five hub genes, including EGR1, FOS, FOSB, KLF2, and JUNB. The reliability of EGR1 was confirmed by validation testing, corroborating bioinformatics analysis trends.
Conclusions: EGR1, FOS, FOSB, KLF2, and JUNB are intricately involved in muscle atrophy development. High EGR1 expression directly regulated these hub genes, significantly influencing postoperative muscle atrophy progression in KOA patients.
Visual Image Encryption Based on Logistic-Sine Chaotic Maps
Authors: Sun shiji , Yang Wenzhong , Yin Yabo , Tian Xiaodan , Li Guanghan , Deng Xiangxin
Published: September 2024

The development of 5G technology has produced a huge amount of visual image data, and the protection of visual image data is becoming more and more important. Many researchers use chaotic encryption to encrypt images, but the methods used are too simplistic, and some works only use one single layer of encryption, which may not be able to protect the privacy of the image well. In this paper, we propose a multi-layer encryption method for image encryption protection. Firstly, we extract the R, G, and B channels of the original image. The channels are then transformed in rows and columns. Finally, the chaotic model combining logistic and sine map in this paper is used. The chaotic encryption is performed with the XOR of the image and finally the image is encrypted by the method of cellular automata encryption. The results of several experiments show that the logistic-sine chaotic model has excellent chaotic characteristics. The algorithm shows high security and anti-attack ability.
A Study on the Relationship between Social Support Model and Depression in the Elderly
Authors: Li Ya Lin , Li Lu Yan , Yin Qin
Published: September 2024

Objective
To analyze the relationship between social support patterns and depression in the elderly, and to provide reference for improving the social support system and improving the mental health of the elderly.
Methods
Based on social support theory, the latent category model was used to explore the relationship between social support patterns and depression among Chinese older adults. Results: The social support patterns of the elderly can be categorized into Comprehensive support provided by the offspring, Comprehensive support provided by the spouse, multiple support, and intergenerational emotional detachment; the tendency of depression in the elderly is most closely related to offspring support, and the Chinese traditional concept of "raising children to prevent old age" is no longer sufficient to defend against the tendency of depression in the elderly;Compared with the multiple support model, the elderly who relied on their children’s support in the three aspects of economy, care, and emotion, and the elderly whose children only provided instrumental support but not emotional support had a more significant tendency to be depressed.
Conclusion
The construction of a multiple social support model for the elderly should be realized as soon as possible; the strength of formal support for the elderly should be enhanced in terms of economic support; the main body of life care support for the elderly should be enriched, and the mental harm to the elderly, especially the female elderly, should be guarded against when their children only provide instrumental support instead of emotional support.
Evaluating Surgical Options for Obese Rectal Cancer Patients: A Comparison of Open, Laparoscopic, and Robotic Surgery Short-Term Outcomes
Authors: Shi Youquan , Baral Shantanu , Jiang Yongjun , Tian Zhen , Zhao Shuai , Li Ruiqi , Zhang Youlei , Wang Jie , Huang Yong , Zhang Yue , Zhang Xianhu , Wang Wei , Tang Dong , Wang Liuhua , Wang Daorong
Published: September 2024

The presence of obesity significantly complicates surgical procedures for patients suffering from rectal cancer, while also amplifying the risk of encountering severe postoperative complications. This research examines the short-term outcomes experienced by obese individuals with rectal cancer who underwent open, laparoscopic, and robotic surgical procedures, with the aim of providing insights into clinical decision-making. A retrospective analysis was performed on data gathered from 348 patients treated at Subei People's Hospital, spanning November 2019 to March 2024. The patients were categorized into three groups: those who underwent open surgery (OS, n = 107), laparoscopic surgery (LS, n = 185), and robotic surgery (RS, n = 56). The results show that although baseline characteristics and tumor efficacy were similar across groups, It is noteworthy that the RS group exhibited the longest operative time and incurred the highest inpatient costs, but it also manifested the minimal intraoperative blood loss and the shortest postoperative recovery period, encompassing first flatus time, first oral diet time, and hospital stay duration. This was followed by the LS group and subsequently the OS group, with statistically significant disparities evident among the three groups (P < 0.05). Compared to the OS group, both the LS and RS groups exhibited notably reduced rates of overall complication and wound infection (P < 0.05), while no substantial difference was observed between the LS and RS groups (P > 0.05). RS significantly outperformed both OS (P = 0.038) and LS (P = 0.046) in preventing urinary dysfunction. These findings suggest that RS, despite higher costs and longer operative times, offers significant advantages in recovery and complication rates, highlighting its potential as a preferred surgical option for obese rectal cancer patients. This study provides crucial evidence to guide surgical approach choices, underscoring the importance of weighing operative time and cost against patient recovery and complication outcomes.
Ultrastructural changes in the tegument and tissues of Fasciola hepatica adults and their eggs due to the effect of an ethyl acetate extract of Artemisia ludoviciana Nutt. spp mexicana
Authors: Ezeta-Miranda Alonso , Avila-Acevedo José Guillermo , Espinosa-González Adriana Montserrat , Flores José del Carmen Benítez , Marquez Gerardo Francisco , Montenegro Yolanda Vera
Published: September 2024

The objective of the present work was to evaluate the effect of an ethyl acetate extract of Artemisia ludoviciana on the viability of adult Fasciola hepatica parasites and eggs. Ovicidal assays were performed at concentrations of 100, 200, 300, 400 and 500 mg/L Artemisia ludoviciana extract. Bioassays of fasciolicidal efficacy in adult specimens of F. hepatica were performed at extract concentrations of 125, 250, 375 and 500 mg/L. The effects of triclabendazole, a reference drug, and artemisinin were also evaluated. The ovicidal effectiveness of the extracts obtained after 16 h of incubation at concentrations of 100, 200, 300, 400 and 500 mg/L was 48%, 52%, 87%, 89% and 92%, respectively (p < 0.05), and the fasciolicidal efficiencies during the first 24 h posttreatment ranged from 82–100% (p < 0.05). In both cases, scanning electron microscopy revealed damage to the shells of the eggs treated with the extract, compromising their stability. In adult fasciolae, alterations to the integument that resulted in its erosion and detachment were observed. Histopathological studies of the affected specimens revealed damage to the tegumentary and subtegumentary cells and alterations in the ovaries, testicles and intestine. This damage was more severe after treatment with the extract than after treatment with the other compounds.
YOLO-LE: A lightweight and efficient UAV aerial image target detection model
Authors: Chen Zhe , Zhang Yinyang , Xing Sihao
Published: September 2024

We designed a lightweight and efficient target detection algorithm YOLO-LE: 1) By designing the C2f-Dy and LDown modules, the small target feature sensitivity of the backbone is improved, while the number of backbone parameters is reduced and the model efficiency is improved. 2) By designing an adaptive feature fusion module, we can flexibly integrate feature maps of different sizes, optimize the neck architecture, lightweight the neck network, and improve model performance. 3) We replace the loss function of the original model with a distributed focal loss and combine it with a simple self-attention mechanism by design to improve small object recognition and anchor box regression performance.In comparative experiments on the VisDrone2019 dataset, our YOLO-LE model improves mAP(0.5) by 9.6% compared to YOLOv8n.The results show that our method can effectively improve the model performance.
RETRACTED: Polymorphisms rs2073618 and rs3102735 in TNFRSF11B with the Susceptibility to Gastric Cancer
Authors: Tang Xuan , Dai Zhe , Gong Dandan , Pan Huiwen , Man Changfeng , Zhang Shiqi , Gao Zhenjun , Wang Xiaoyan , Fan Yu
Published: September 2024

The authors have requested that this preprint be removed from Research Square.
Assessing the Impact of Institutional Quality and Financial Stability on Sustainable Development Goal One in Sub-Saharan Africa
Authors: Rahman Mohammed Muntaka Abdul , Khan Asad Ul Islam , Kaplan Muhittin
Published: September 2024

Institutional quality and financial stability are essential for achieving sustainable growth. It is safe to say that Sub-Saharan African countries have struggled to achieve sustainable development goals, despite cyclical institutional inconsistencies and financial instability. This study not only investigates the role of institutional quality and financial stability in achieving SDG 1 but also the impact of factors such as colonial footprint and the capability theory on the progress made in eradicating poverty. The study employed panel data from 23 SSA countries from 2002 to 2020 which was analyzed using the two-step system GMM estimator. The result of the study indicates that in comparison, institutional quality has a far greater impact on reducing poverty than institutional quality. Additionally, poverty levels are exacerbated by hunger levels and inflation, while levels of well-being lower it. Furthermore, the result indicates that colonial footprints play a key role. As a result, the impact of each regressor is either higher or lower in francophone nations than in anglophone ones. The result reveals also that hunger affects poverty through well-being, confirming the assertion of Sen (1999). In order to support the achievement of SDGs, the study suggests that governments should make efforts to strengthen their institutions as they form the bedrock on which other macroeconomics indicators can as well as implement policies to eradicate food insecurity and improve financial development, which can guarantee a stable financial system.
Distribution Characteristics of Denitrifying Bacteria in the Rhizosphere of Wetland Plants in Urban Rivers of the Karst Region in Southwest China
Authors: Yin Xingjia , Yao Liangzhu , LI YI
Published: September 2024

The discharge of nitrogen-rich wastewater into urban rivers often leads to water eutrophication, and the construction of river wetlands is a crucial measure to mitigate this issue. Microorganisms play a significant role in the nitrogen removal processes within river ecosystems, particularly in the rhizosphere of plants where microbial activity is intense. This study investigates the distribution characteristics of denitrifying microbial communities in the rhizosphere sediments of wetland plants in the Xiaoche River urban wetland in Guiyang. High-throughput sequencing was employed to analyze the bacterial diversity in the rhizosphere and non-rhizosphere sediments of three typical wetland plants (Acorus calamus, Cyperus alternifolius, and Echinochloa crus-galli). Additionally, the abundance of denitrifying and anaerobic ammonium-oxidizing (anammox) bacteria in the sediments was determined using real-time quantitative PCR. Sequencing results indicated that there are 16 bacterial phyla with a relative abundance greater than 1% in both rhizosphere and non-rhizosphere sediments, with Proteobacteria, Bacteroidetes, and Acidobacteria being the dominant phyla, collectively accounting for over 50% of the relative abundance. The relative abundance of Proteobacteria was higher in the rhizosphere than in the non-rhizosphere, while Bacteroidetes showed higher relative abundance in the non-rhizosphere compared to the rhizosphere. There were 24 bacterial genera with relative abundance greater than 1%, and the dominant genera varied significantly among different sampling sites. Cluster analysis revealed significant differences in genus-level populations between rhizosphere and non-rhizosphere samples, with high similarity between the populations of Acorus calamus and Cyperus alternifolius. Quantitative gene results indicated that the abundance of denitrification and anammox genes was lower in the non-rhizosphere sediments than in the rhizospheres of the three plants, with anammox 16S rRNA and nirS gene abundance levels reaching 1010 copies/g dry sediment, suggesting a high richness of anammox and denitrifying bacteria in the rhizospheres of wetland plants in the Xiaoche River. Redundancy analysis (RDA) showed that the environmental factors most influencing the abundance of these two genes were total phosphorus (TP), organic matter (OM), and ammonium nitrogen (NH4+-N).
Health Characteristics Associated With Persistence of SARS-CoV-2 Antibody Responses After Repeated Vaccinations in Older Persons Over Time: The Doetinchem Cohort Study
Authors: Kuijpers Yunus , Kaczorowska Joanna , Picavet H. Susan J. , de Zeeuw-Brouwer Mary-lène , Kuijer Marjan , Slits Irene , Gijsbers Esther , Rutkens Ryanne , de Rond Lia , Verschuren W. M. Monique , Buisman Anne-Marie
Published: September 2024

Background: Older persons elicit heterogeneous antibody responses to vaccinations that generally are lower than those in younger, healthier individuals. As older age and certain comorbidities can influence these responses we aimed to identify health-related variables associated with antibody responses after repeated SARS-CoV-2 vaccinations and its persistence thereafter in SARS-CoV-2 infection-naïve and previously infected older persons.
Method: In a large longitudinal study of older persons of the general population 50 years and over, a sub-cohort of the longitudinal Doetinchem cohort study (n=1374), we measured antibody concentrations in serum to SARS-CoV-2 Spike protein (S1) and Nucleoprotein (N). Samples were taken following primary vaccination with BNT162b2 or AZD1222, and pre- and post-vaccination with a third, fourth BNT162b2 or mRNA-1273 (Wuhan), and a fifth BNT162b2 bivalent (Wuhan/Omicron BA.1) vaccine. Associations between persistence of antibody concentrations over time and age, sex, health characteristics including cardiovascular and inflammatory diseases as well as a frailty index were tested using univariate and multivariate models .
Results: The booster doses substantially increased anti-SARS-CoV-2 Spike S1 (S1) antibody concentrations in older persons against both the Wuhan and Omicron strains. Older age was associated with decreased antibody persistence both after the primary vaccination series and up to 1 year after the fifth vaccine dose. In infection-naïve persons the presence of inflammatory diseases was associated with an increased antibody response to the third vaccine dose (Beta = 1.53) but was also associated with reduced persistence over the 12 months following the fifth (bivalent) vaccine dose (Beta = -1.7). The presence of cardiovascular disease was associated with reduced antibody persistence following the primary vaccination series (Beta = -1.11), but this was no longer observed after bivalent vaccination.
Conclusion: Although older persons with comorbidities such as inflammatory and cardiovascular diseases responded well to SARS-CoV-2 booster vaccinations, they showed a reduced persistence of these responses. This might indicate that especially these more vulnerable older persons could benefit from repeated booster vaccinations.
Analysis of Research Trends on the Textured Vegetable Protein(TVP) Technology using Topic Modeling
Authors: Kang Sang Jin , Choi Jong Woo , Lee Joon Young
Published: September 2024

Purpose
To analyze recent research trends on textured vegetable protein (TVP) and suggest future directions for research and policy implementation, focusing on its industrialization rather than nutritional aspects.
Design/Methodology:
The study conducted an integrated search on Google Scholar for academic papers with "TVP: Textured Vegetable Protein" as the main keyword. Text mining methodologies, including frequency analysis and topic modeling, were used to analyze the research trends.
Findings:
Since the 2020s, research has frequently mentioned keywords related to texture, manufacturing process technology, and commercialization of TVP, while keywords related to nutritional ingredients have decreased. Topic modeling revealed a shift from studying TVP as an experimental nutrition alternative before 2000 to its market potential after 2000, and to developing it as a commercial product similar to meat after 2020. Logit analysis indicated high interest and citation of studies related to functional differences, ingredients of TVP patties, and their functional values.
Originality/Value:
The study highlights the shift in research focus from nutritional aspects to the industrialization and commercialization of TVP, suggesting that future research and policies should prioritize reducing the textural differences from meat and improving mass production processes.
Changes on growth and secondary metabolite production in Cannabis sativa L. by simultaneous treatment of plasma activated water, melatonin and nano-zinc
Authors: Oloumi Hakimeh , Nasibi Fatemeh , Poorsheikhali Zakie , Malekpourzadeh Leila
Published: September 2024

In this study, we investigated the effects of plasma activated water (PAW), melatonin and nano-zinc on the secondary metabolites production in Cannabis sativa. We treated C. sativa plants cultivated in greenhouse with PAW, melatonin and zinc oxide nanoparticles (nZnO), either individually or in combination. After the simultaneous treatment of zinc oxide and melatonin, PAW was used as irrigation water on the plants under greenhouse conditions and the content and composition of secondary metabolites in the plant leaves were analyzed. After two weeks and harvesting the plants tissues, the secondary metabolites of the seedlings were measured in leaves. We found that the combined treatments of PAW, melatonin and nZnO resulted in the highest increase of secondary metabolites including flavonoids, total phenolic compounds, alkaloids and terpenoids (CBD and THC). The enhancement of secondary metabolites was associated with higher relative leaf water content, membrane stability index, total chlorophyll content and nitrogenous compounds. Moreover, the combined treatment increased the and growth parameters of Cannabis sativa such as shoots and roots length, shoots and roots fresh and dry weight, indicating a higher potential for pharmacological and agricultural applications. Our results suggest that PAW, melatonin and nZnO can act synergistically to enhance the production of secondary metabolites in Cannabis sativa, by modulating the plant's physiological and biochemical mechanisms. The results of this research provide a new understanding of the regulation and optimization of the secondary metabolism pathway of Cannabis sativa by these factors, it also has several implications for optimizing the cultivation and production of cannabis.
Ethical Considerations Related to Virtual Visiting for Families and Critically Ill Patients in Intensive Care: A Qualitative Descriptive Study
Authors: Clarke Kirsty , Borges Karen , Hatab Sultan , Richardson Lauren , Taylor Jessica , Evans Robyn , Chung Bethany , Cleverdon Harriet , Xyrichis Andreas , Cook Amelia , Meyer Joel , Rose Louise
Published: September 2024

Background During the COVID-19 pandemic, virtual visiting technologies were rapidly integrated into the care offered by intensive care units (ICUs) in the UK and across the globe. Today, these technologies offer a necessary adjunct to in-person visits for those with ICU access limited by geography, work/caregiving commitments, or frailty. However, few empirical studies explore the ethical issues associated with virtual visiting. This study aimed to explore the anticipated and unanticipated ethical implications of introducing ICU virtual visiting during the pandemic to better inform current virtual visiting practices.Methods We used a descriptive exploratory qualitative research approach recruiting a convenience sample of newly-graduated junior doctors facilitating ICU virtual visits in a tertiary academic centre. We conducted semi-structured interviews and analysed transcripts using an inductive coding approach.Results Eight newly graduated junior doctors, seven female and one male, aged 23–27, participated in semi-structured interviews. Five overarching themes emerged. Two of the themes namely, ‘fulfilling a moral instinct to connect families’ and ‘promoting autonomy’, arose from participants’ descriptions of how virtual visits aligned with healthcare standards and practices they considered ethical. Three further themes including ‘preserving dignity and privacy’, ‘managing emotional distress’, and ‘providing equitable access’ to virtual visiting technologies, highlight how virtual visits might exacerbate ethical issues related to family communications.Conclusion Virtual visiting may potentially both ameliorate and exacerbate aspects of ethical healthcare delivery for ICU patients and family members. ICU team members should consider unique ethical considerations related to using ICU virtual visiting. We recommend virtual communications skills training for staff and advocate for the use of easily accessible educational resources for families who wish to visit critically unwell patients remotely.
Determination of the visco-hypoplastic material parameters of rolled asphalt
Authors: Mahler András , Kisgyorgy Lajos , Gajari György
Published: September 2024

Describing the mechanical behaviour of asphalt is a difficult task, which is usually performed with the help of simple material models and empirical corrections. The purpose of this article is to verify the hypothesis that asphalt behaviour can be properly described using the visco-hypoplastic constitutive model. For this purpose, asphalt specimens were subjected to traditional geotechnical tests (triaxial and oedometer tests) at different temperatures and at varying strain rates. These test results were used to verify the applicability of the constitutive model and to determine the model parameters and their temperature dependency. The performed tests and numerical analyses demonstrated that the visco-hypoplastic material model can be used effectively in the numerical modelling of rolled asphalt behaviour.
Research on a novel ground pressure control mode of deep mining in a subsea metal mine by physical model test and numerical simulation analysis
Authors: liu weijun , liu zhixiang , Qiu Jiadong , Guo Tengfei
Published: September 2024

To solve the problems of deep mining safety and ground pressure control in Sanshandao gold mine, a novel ground pressure control mode of deep mining in a subsea metal mine was studied by physical model test and numerical simulation analysis. First, the novel ground pressure control mode was studied by physical model test, the surface deformation characteristics of the physical model were observed by the DIC method, and the deformation and damage characteristics of the rock layer were obtained. Then, the numerical simulation analysis of the novel ground pressure control mode was carried out and verified with the results of the physical model test. Finally, the determined ground pressure control model was verified by engineering. The research results show that the physical model has an obvious disturbance to the surrounding area during the excavation process according to the analysis of the strain monitoring points, and the strain value at the monitoring point was maintained at approximately one ten-thousandth. Meanwhile, the stress change reflected by the strain was consistent with the numerical simulation results, confirming the authenticity of the physical model test results. Additionally, the field industrial test shows that the control mode has a good control effect on the high ground stress in the deep subsea metal mining.
Confinement and optimization of electromagnetic wave in photonic crystals based on SU-8 photoresist strip
Authors: Shao Hanbo , Hang XiaoChen , Jiang Dong
Published: September 2024

Confinement of electromagnetic wave is key to the realization of applicable filters in optics technologies. We present a flexible cavity fabrication process that writes SU-8 photoresist microstrip onto a photonic crystal waveguide deterministically, in which electromagnetic wave can be confined excellently. Corresponding simulation shows bandgap of the waveguide shifts from 0.269c/a to 0.266c/a by adding a 0.1µm-thick layer of SU-8 with a refractive index of 1.57 on top of PhC. This is equivalent to an increment in wavelength from 1.265 µm to 1.277 µm. We also study the relationship of the Q factor with the strip width of SU-8 strip cavity. Tesults show that as the strip width is increased beyond 2 µm, Qtotal increases by up to approximately an order of magnitude, while V0 increases by only a factor of 2. It provides a way to optimize Q factor and hence enables potential improvement on optical cavity mode.
Comparative Analysis of Social Health Policies for the Elderly: A Case Study of Iran and Developed Countries
Authors: koosha maryam
Published: September 2024

Given the rapid increase in the elderly population worldwide, designing and implementing effective policies to improve the quality of life for this group is of special importance. Developed countries have effectively responded to the needs of their elderly populations by offering policies based on institutional economics, comprehensive healthcare services, and social empowerment. In contrast, developing countries face challenges such as an imbalanced workforce, poor environmental conditions, and high healthcare costs. This research employs content analysis and utilizes the framework of health systems theories, social justice, demographic and epidemiological transitions, and community-oriented care to examine and compare social health policies for the elderly in Iran and developed countries. The findings indicate that developed countries possess more comprehensive and coordinated systems for providing services to the elderly. These countries, relying on preventive policies, universal health insurance, and the development of rehabilitation and care centers, have significantly improved the health status and quality of life of their elderly. In contrast, despite efforts made, Iran still faces serious challenges in providing services to the elderly. This study suggests that Iran should develop comprehensive and coordinated policies to improve the situation of the elderly by leveraging the successful experiences of developed countries. Expanding health insurance, developing care and rehabilitation centers, promoting social and cultural activities, and teaching life skills to the elderly are among the proposed solutions to enhance the situation of the elderly in Iran.
Linking copepod functional traits to diel vertical migration at the Patagonian shelf-break
Authors: Severo Ayelen , Acha Eduardo Marcelo , Cepeda Georgina Daniela
Published: September 2024

Copepod diel vertical migration (DVM) is a significant phenomenon in marine ecosystems that could have implications for the biological pump and pelagic food webs. DVM has been reported in many regions of the global ocean; nevertheless, their drivers and ecological meaning are not fully understood. This study focused on the daytime and nighttime vertical abundance of select species (and developmental stages) to investigate the role of functional traits such as spawning strategy, body size, trophic group, and feeding mode in DVM at the Patagonian shelf-break (44ºS–47ºS and 60ºW–61ºW). Only females and late copepodites exhibited a normal DVM, being more abundant near the surface during the nighttime and below the thermocline during the daytime. Those species that are sac-spawners, detritivores, carnivores, omnivores, herbivores-omnivores, and cruise-feeders, such as Clausocalanus brevipes, C. laticeps, Aetideus armatus, and Oithona atlantica, were more abundant near the surface during the nighttime and below the thermocline during the daytime. Conversely, those species that are broadcasters, large-sized, herbivores, and filter-feeders, such as Calanus simillimus, Rhincalanus gigas, and Subeucalanus longiceps, did not show consistent DVM patterns, and were more abundant above the thermocline and at the fluorescence maxima, during both daytime and nighttime. Copepod depth selection appears to be influenced by a combination of morphological, physiological, behavioral, and life history traits.
Menopausal hormone therapy and incidence, mortality, and survival of breast cancer subtypes: A prospective cohort study
Authors: Busund Marit Katinka , Ursin Giske , Lund Eiliv , Chen Sairah Lai Fa , Rylander Charlotta
Published: September 2024

Background: Menopausal hormone therapy (MHT) is associated with an increased risk of postmenopausal breast cancer, predominantly the luminal A-like subtype. Little is known about the impact of MHT on deaths from breast cancer subtypes. This study aimed to explore associations between MHT use and the incidence, mortality, and survival of intrinsic-like breast cancer subtypes.
Methods: Data from 160,881 participants with self-reported MHT use from the prospective Norwegian Women and Cancer Study were analyzed. Among them, 7,844 were incident breast cancer cases, and 721 were breast cancer-specific deaths. Cox proportional hazard regression was performed to calculate hazard ratios (HRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for the association between MHT use and the incidence, mortality, and survival of breast cancer subtypes.
Results: MHT use was associated with increased incidence of overall, luminal A-like, and luminal B-like breast cancer, with respective HRs of 1.44 (95% CI: 1.36–1.52), 1.41 (95% CI: 1.31–1.52), and 1.23 (95% CI: 1.09–1.40) among current estrogen-progestin therapy (EPT) users compared with never users. The risk increased by 4%, 4%, and 2% per year of EPT use for overall, luminal A-like, and luminal B-like breast cancers, respectively. Increased risk of overall and luminal A-like breast cancer mortality was also associated with MHT use, with 61% (95% CI: 1.36–1.91) and 115% (95% CI: 1.51–3.05) increased risk among current EPT users compared with non-users. Among patients with breast cancer, pre-diagnostic MHT use was not associated with overall breast cancer survival but was inversely associated with survival from triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC; HR, 0.41; 95% CI: 0.24–0.73 among current users). Results varied significantly according to tumor subtype (pheterogeneity = 0.02).
Conclusions: Our study suggests that MHT use increases the risk of incident and fatal overall, luminal A-like, and incident luminal B-like breast cancer but does not decrease overall survival among patients with breast cancer. Further research is needed to elucidate the mechanisms underlying the differential associations between MHT use and breast cancer mortality and survival, and to explore whether MHT use among patients with TNBC is indeed free from harm.
T-cell diversity and exclusion of blood-derived T-cells in the tumor microenvironment of classical Hodgkin Lymphoma
Authors: Klapper Wolfram , Seifert Nicole , Reinke Sarah , Grund Johanna , Müller-Meinhard Berit , Richter Julia , Heilmann Thorsten , Schloesser Hans , Kotrova Michaela , Brüggemann Monika , Borchmann Peter , Bröckelmann Paul , Altenbuchinger Michael
Published: September 2024

The Tumor Microenvironment (TME) in classical Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) contains abundant immune cells and only few neoplastic Hodgkin and Reed-Sternberg cells (HRSC). We analyzed the T-cell receptor (TCR) repertoire to detect T-cell expansion in the TME and blood. In contrast to solid cancer tissue, T-cells in the TME of HL are highly polyclonal at first diagnosis and show only minor clonal expansion during anti-PD1 immune check-point blockade (ICB). At relapse and during ICB, pre-amplified T-cell populations increase in the TME of solid cancers but to a much lesser extent in HL. In contrast, T-cell populations in the peripheral blood of HL patients display higher clonality than healthy controls reaching clonality levels comparable to solid cancer or CMV-infection. However, pre-amplified blood T-cells in HL patients show only minor additional clonal expansion during ICB. Moreover, blood-derived T-cells do not repopulate the TME of HL at relapse or during ICB to the same extent as observed in solid cancers. Thus, the T-cell repertoire in the TME of HL appears unique in its polyclonality and the exclusion of clonally expanded T-cells from the peripheral blood. Exclusion of clonally expanded tumor-specific T-cells from the TME may present a novel mechanism of immune evasion in HL.
Conditional Similarity Triplets Enable Covariate-Informed Representations of Single-Cell Data
Authors: Chen Chi-Jane , Yi Haidong , Stanley Natalie
Published: September 2024

Single-cell technologies enable comprehensive profiling of diverse immune cell-types through the measurement of multiple genes or proteins per cell. In order to translate data from immune profiling assays into powerful diagnostics, machine learning approaches are used to compute per-sample immunological summaries, or featurizations that can be used as inputs to models for outcomes of interest. Current supervised learning approaches for computing per-sample representations are optimized based only on the outcome variable to be predicted and do not take into account clinically-relevant covariates that are likely to also be measured. Here we expand the optimization problem to also take into account such additional patient covariates to directly inform the learned per-sample representations. To do this, we introduce CytoCoSet, a set-based encoding method, which formulates a loss function with an additional triplet term penalizing samples with similar covariates from having disparate embedding results in per-sample representations. Overall, incorporating clinical covariates leads to improved prediction of clinical phenotypes.
Multiobjective Optimization and Kinetic Modelling of Anaerobic Baffled Reactor Integrated with Activated Sludge Reactor Treating Pulp and Paper Mill Wastewater
Authors: Mahmoudian-Boroujerd Laleh , Karimi-Jashni Ayoub , Azadi Sama
Published: September 2024

Pulp and paper mill wastewater treatment poses a significant challenge due to the presence of numerous refractory pollutants, necessitating the need for effective treatment methods. This study aims at multiobjective optimization of an anaerobic baffled reactor (ABR) combined with an activated sludge reactor (ASR) for pulp and paper wastewater treatment. The optimization approach minimizes the hydraulic retention time (HRT) while maximizing the ABR system's organic loading rate (OLR) and COD and BOD removal efficiency. Optimization efforts identified the optimum conditions for the ABR as an OLR of 6.2 g/L/d and an HRT of 3.2 d. Under these conditions, the remarkable COD removal efficiency of 92% and BOD removal efficiency of 95% were achieved in the ABR, demonstrating the system's robust performance in reducing the pollutant load of the wastewater. The integrated ABR-ASR also exhibited outstanding removal efficiencies for various parameters in the optimum conditions. Specifically, COD, BOD, TSS, turbidity, and color displayed removal efficiencies of 95%, 97%, 92%, 98%, and 92%, respectively. These findings underscore the versatility of the integrated system in addressing a spectrum of pollutants present in pulp and paper wastewater. Furthermore, the rate of substrate consumption was investigated using the modified Stover-Kincannon model. The saturation value constant (KB) and the maximum utilization rate (Umax) values for ABR were found to be 7.95 g/L/d and 5.5 g/L/d, respectively, while for ASR, these values were 0.69 g/L/d and 0.15 g/L/d. This research advances our understanding of the synergistic potential of the ABR-ASR in treating high-strength industrial wastewater.
Optimizing Vehicular Edge Computing: Graph-Based Double-DQN Approaches for Intelligent Task Offloading
Authors: Ullah Ihsan , Youn-Hee Han
Published: September 2024

In vehicular edge computing, optimizing task offloading is crucial to balance computational needs, reduce delays, and cut costs amid the dynamic challenges of the vehicular environment, including vehicle mobility, network topology, and computing resource variability.
This study introduces a task offloading scheme enabling vehicles to dynamically choose local execution or offloading to nearby vehicles, edge servers, or the cloud.
The primary goal is to optimize task offloading by simultaneously minimizing cost and delay.
Achieving this involves integrating graph convolutional networks and deep reinforcement learning, enhancing decision-making efficiency and network representation for agents.
The fusion of Graph Convolutional Networks with Double-DQN strengthens overall network representation and decision-making.
The optimization challenge is formally structured as a Markov Decision Process.
Simulation results highlight the proposed scheme's superiority, showcasing its effectiveness in achieving cost-efficiency by maximizing resource utilization, minimizing costs, and optimizing task offloading while reducing task rejection.
Experimental study of vortex dynamics in eccentric collision of vortex rings
Authors: Wang YuZe , Chen Xin , Wang BoFu , Qiu Xiang , Liu Yulu , Zhou Quan
Published: September 2024

This study investigates eccentrically colliding vortex rings using Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV) measurements. Under a fixed Reynolds number, we explore how eccentricity influences flow characteristics and behavior. Diverse collision dynamics at various eccentricities are revealed by analyzing flow structures from Lagrangian and Eulerian frames. When the eccentricity H/Rring = 0, frontal collisions cause significant deformation and breakup due to induced radial flow between oppositely rotating vortices. Increasing eccentricity (H/Rring = 0.893) leads to similar dynamics with noticeable trajectory deviations. At H/Rring = 1.786, momentum exchange altered the trajectory of the vortex rings and led to material exchange between them. The opposing flow induced by the neighboring vortex ring increases the vortex strength, and the vortex ring is eventually stretched and broken apart gradually. Further increasing to H/Rring = 2.679, the vortex cores merged, underwent subsequent splitting, 1 and involved material exchange. They eventually returned to their initial state. The vortex strength experiences an initial increase, followed by a decrease, and then a recovery. At the highest eccentricity (H/Rring = 3.572) and beyond, there is no interaction between the vortex rings. This study provides insights into vortex dynamics during eccentric collisions, highlighting eccentricity’s role in shaping flow dynamics.
Environment-friendly lead-free Cs3Bi2Br9 perovskite quantum dots as fluorescent probes for rapid detection of oxytetracycline via inner filter effect
Authors: Liu Jiali , Li Chen , Zhang Shen , Liu Xinni , Wei Xiao , Gao Yue , Wang Fei , Yan Mengwei , Wang Jiaqi , Kamuti Diana
Published: September 2024

All-inorganic perovskite quantum dots have sparked a research boom due to their excellent optical properties, however, their own strong ionicity and lead toxicity have hindered further development in the field of sensing. In this study, we have solved the toxicity problem of lead-based perovskite quantum dots by replacing lead with green metal bismuth. Meanwhile, due to the ligand-passivation effect of oleylamine and oleic acid, we successfully synthesized highly stable bismuth-based perovskite quantum dots(Cs3Bi2Br9 PQDs)in ethanol, and constructed the environment-friendly fluorescence sensor for the quantitative detection of OTC for the first time. The results demonstrated that the fluorescence quenching degree of Cs3Bi2Br9 PQDs showed a good linear relationship with the concentration of OTC within the range of 2.0 ~ 18 µM, and the detection limit was 0.432 µM. By studying fluorescence lifetime, absorption spectroscopy, and evaluation of internal filtration parameters., it was proved that the sensing mechanism is caused by the inner filter effect owing to the overlapping of fluorescence emission spectrum of Cs3Bi2Br9 PQDs and UV absorption spectrum of OTC. Moreover, Cs3Bi2Br9 PQDs fluorescent sensor had good selectivity and anti-interference ability. It is believed that this work will open up a new way for lead-free perovskite quantum dot fluorescence sensor in the field of analytical detection.