bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Leveraging technology-driven strategies to untangle omics big data: circumventing roadblocks in clinical facets of oral cancer
Authors: Satish Kshreeraja S. , Saravanan Kamatchi Sundara , Augustine Dominic , Saraswathy Ganesan Rajalekshmi , V Sowmya S. , Khan Samar Saeed , H Vanishri C. , Chakraborty Shreshtha , Dsouza Prizvan Lawrence , N Kavya H. , Halawani Ibrahim F. , Alzahrani Fuad M. , Alzahrani Khalid J. , Patil Shankargouda
Published: January 2024

Oral cancer is one of the 19most rapidly progressing cancers associated with significant mortality, owing to its extreme degree of invasiveness and aggressive inclination. The early occurrences of this cancer can be clinically deceiving leading to a poor overall survival rate. The primary concerns from a clinical perspective include delayed diagnosis, rapid disease progression, resistance to various chemotherapeutic regimens, and aggressive metastasis, which collectively pose a substantial threat to prognosis. Conventional clinical practices observed since antiquity no longer offer the best possible options to circumvent these roadblocks. The world of current cancer research has been revolutionized with the advent of state-of-the-art technology-driven strategies that offer a ray of hope in confronting said challenges by highlighting the crucial underlying molecular mechanisms and drivers. In recent years, bioinformatics and Machine Learning (ML) techniques have enhanced the possibility of early detection, evaluation of prognosis, and individualization of therapy. This review elaborates on the application of the aforesaid techniques in unraveling potential hints from omics big data to address the complexities existing in various clinical facets of oral cancer. The first section demonstrates the utilization of omics data and ML to disentangle the impediments related to diagnosis. This includes the application of technology-based strategies to optimize early detection, classification, and staging via uncovering biomarkers and molecular signatures. Furthermore, breakthrough concepts such as salivaomics-driven non-invasive biomarker discovery and omics-complemented surgical interventions are articulated in detail. In the following part, the identification of novel disease-specific targets alongside potential therapeutic agents to confront oral cancer via omics-based methodologies is presented. Additionally, a special emphasis is placed on drug resistance, precision medicine, and drug repurposing. In the final section, we discuss the research approaches oriented toward unveiling the prognostic biomarkers and constructing prediction models to capture the metastatic potential of the tumors. Overall, we intend to provide a bird’s eye view of the various omics, bioinformatics, and ML approaches currently being used in oral cancer research through relevant case studies.
Stevens’ Cure (Umckaloabo)—the vindication of a patent medicine
Authors: Brendler T. , Stander M. A. , van Wyk B.-E.
Published: January 2024

Stevens’ Cure (Umckaloabo) emerged as a patent medicine claiming to treat tuberculosis in the United Kingdom at the beginning of the 20th century. However, due to its identity being shrouded in secrecy, it was never truly accepted by the medical community. It was “rediscovered” in the 1970s and subsequently developed into a very popular and successful phytopharmaceutical for the treatment of upper respiratory tract infections. Whether Stevens’ Cure contained the same ingredient(s) as the modern Umckaloabo has not yet been demonstrated. We attempted to elucidate for the first time the identity of the original ingredient by comparative analysis of historical product samples. Three historical samples of Stevens’ Cure were compared with Pelargonium sidoides DC. and P. reniforme Curt. root per UPLC-MS analysis. We confirm that the ingredient–P. sidoides DC.—is indeed the same as used in modern phytotherapy. We also attribute the first ethnopharmacological record of P. sidoides DC. being used for the treatment of tuberculosis to C. H. Stevens, the “creator” of Umckaloabo.
Coefficient of variation method combined with XGboost ensemble model for wheat growth monitoring
Authors: Li Xinyan , Li Changchun , Guo Fuchen , Meng Xiaopeng , Liu Yanghua , Ren Fang
Published: January 2024

Introduction

Obtaining wheat growth information accurately and efficiently is the key to estimating yields and guiding agricultural development.

Methods

This paper takes the precision agriculture demonstration area of Jiaozuo Academy of Agriculture and Forestry in Henan Province as the research area to obtain data on wheat biomass, nitrogen content, chlorophyll content, and leaf area index. By using the coefficient of variation method, a Comprehensive Growth Monitoring Indicator (CGMI) was constructed to perform fractional derivative processing on drone spectral data, and correlation analysis was performed on the fractional derivative spectra with a single indicator and CGMI, respectively. Then, grey correlation analysis was carried out on differential spectral bands with high correlation, the grey correlation coefficients between differential spectral bands were calculated, and spectral bands with high correlation were screened and taken as input variables for the model. Next, ridge regression, random forest, and XGboost models were used to establish a wheat CGMI inversion model, and the coefficient of determination (R2) and root mean squared error (RMSE) were adopted for accuracy evaluation to optimize the wheat optimal growth inversion model.

Results and discussion

The results of the study show that: using the data of wheat biomass, nitrogen content, chlorophyll content and leaf area index to construct the comprehensive growth monitoring indicators, the correlation between the wheat growth monitoring indicators and the spectra was calculated, and the results showed that the correlation between the comprehensive growth monitoring indicators and the single indicator correlation had different degrees of increase, and the growth rate could reach 82.22%. The correlation coefficient between the comprehensive growth monitoring indexes and the differential spectra reached 0.92 at the flowering stage, and compared with the correlation coefficient with the original spectra at the same period, the correlation coefficients increased to different degrees, which indicated that the differential processing of spectral data could effectively enhance the spectral correlation. The three models of Random Forest, Ridge Regression and XGBoost were used to construct the wheat growth inversion model with the best effect at the flowering stage, and the XGBoost model had the highest inversion accuracy when comparing in the same period, with the training and test sets reaching 0.904 and 0.870, and the RMSEs were 0.050 and 0.079, so that the XGBoost model can be used as an effective method of monitoring the growth of wheat. To sum up, this study demonstrates that the combination of constructing comprehensive growth monitoring indicators and differential processing spectra can effectively improve the accuracy of wheat growth monitoring, bringing new methods for precision agriculture management.
Research on a UAV spray system combined with grid atomized droplets
Authors: Xue Xiuyun , Tian Yu , Yang Zhenyu , Li Zhen , Lyu Shilei , Song Shuran , Sun Daozong
Published: January 2024

Backgrounds

UAVs for crop protection hold significant potential for application in mountainous orchard areas in China. However, certain issues pertaining to UAV spraying need to be addressed for further technological advancement, aimed at enhancing crop protection efficiency and reducing pesticide usage. These challenges include the potential for droplet drift, limited capacity for pesticide solution. Consequently, efforts are required to overcome these limitations and optimize UAV spraying technology.

Methods

In order to balance high deposition and low drift in plant protection UAV spraying, this study proposes a plant protection UAV spraying method. In order to study the operational effects of this spraying method, this study conducted a UAV spray and grid impact test to investigate the effects of different operational parameters on droplet deposition and drift. Meanwhile, a spray model was constructed using machine learning techniques to predict the spraying effect of this method.

Results and discussion

This study investigated the droplet deposition rate and downwind drift rate on three types of citrus trees: traditional densely planted trees, dwarf trees, and hedged trees, considering different particle sizes and UAV flight altitudes. Analyzing the effect of increasing the grid on droplet coverage and deposition density for different tree forms. The findings demonstrated a significantly improved droplet deposition rate on dwarf and hedged citrus trees compared to traditional densely planted trees and adopting a fixed-height grid increased droplet coverage and deposition density for both the densely planted and trellised citrus trees, but had the opposite effect on dwarfed citrus trees. When using the grid system. Among the factors examined, the height of the sampling point exhibited the greatest influence on the droplet deposition rate, whereas UAV flight height and droplet particle size had no significant impact. The distance in relation to wind direction had the most substantial effect on droplet drift rate. In terms of predicting droplet drift rate, the BP neural network performed inadequately with a coefficient of determination of 0.88. Conversely, REGRESS, ELM, and RBFNN yielded similar and notably superior results with a coefficient of determination greater than 0.95. Notably, ELM demonstrated the smallest root mean square error.
Physiological response and phytoremediation potential of dioecious Hippophae rhamnoides inoculated with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi to Pb and Zn pollution
Authors: Fang Ling , Zeng Zhenxiong , Jia Qi , Lin Yuhu , Chen Hao , He Yunxiao , Chen Juan
Published: January 2024

Plant-microorganism combined remediation of heavy metal pollution has been reported, but little attention has been paid to the effect of arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi on phytoremediation of dioecious plants under heavy metal pollution. In this study, the growth, physiological responses and phytoremediation traits of Hippophae rhamnoides were determined to evaluate whether sex-specific ecophysiological responses and phytoremediation capacities of females and males are affected by additional AM fungi (Glomus mosseae) under heavy metal treatments. The results showed that excess Pb and Zn stresses inhibited photosynthetic capacities of both sexes. However, inoculated AM fungi treatment increased the activity of photosynthesis, content of photosynthetic pigment, activity of superoxide dismutase, the content of proline and root Pb content and enrichment coefficient of males while decreased root Pb content of females under Pb stress. On the other hand, inoculated AM fungi treatment increased the photosynthetic activities and Pro accumulation of females, and activity of superoxide dismutase and transport coefficient of males under Zn stress. These results demonstrate that H. rhamnoides inoculated AM fungi showed significant sex-specific responses on the growth, physiological traits and phytoremediation potential to Pb and Zn stress. AM fungi significantly improved the tolerance of males to Pb stress and both sexes to Zn stress, which indicates H. rhamnoides and AM fungi can be used as a plant-microbial combined remediation method for Pb and Zn contaminated soil. More attention should be paid on sexual-specific responses and phytoremediation of dioecious plants to heavy metals in the future.
Efficacy and safety of repeated transcranial magnetic stimulation combined with escitalopram in the treatment of major depressive disorder: a meta-analysis
Authors: Liu Zhang , Yu Sijia , Hu Youfan , Wang Ding , Wang Shuyu , Tang Zhaohui , Li Weihong
Published: January 2024

Objective

This study was designed to systematically review the efficacy and safety of repeated transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) combined with escitalopram in treating major depressive disorder (MDD).

Methods

Databases including PubMed, Embase, Cochrane, Web of Science, CNKI, Wanfang, VIP Journal, and China Biomedical Literature databases were electronically searched for randomized controlled trials of rTMS combined with escitalopram intervention for MDD treatment from the inception of these databases to 27 May 2023. Two reviewers independently screened the studies, extracted the data, and assessed the quality of the included studies. R 4.2.2 was then used for a meta-analysis.

Results

In total, 19 articles involving 1,032 patients were included. The results of the meta-analysis showed that Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAMD) scores were significantly lower in the group receiving rTMS combined with escitalopram (experimental group) than that in the control group [weighted mean difference (WMD) = −5.30, 95% confidence interval (95% CI): −6.44 to −4.17, p < 0.01]. The response rate of the experimental group was significantly higher than that of the control group [odds ratio (OR): 5.48; 95% CI: 3.72 to 8.07; p < 0.01]. No significant difference in the adverse reaction rate was observed between the two groups (OR: 1.04, 95% CI: 0.71 to 1.52, p = 0.82).

Conclusion

Our findings suggest that rTMS combined with escitalopram can benefit patients with MDD in a safe manner, which may help in guiding clinical practice.

Systematic review registration

DOI number: 10.37766/inplasy2023.11.0114, INPLASY2023110114.
Ouch! What Is Pain and Why Do We Need It?
Authors: Del Sordo Giovanna C. , Papesh Megan H.
Published: January 2024

We experience pain almost every day. But what is pain exactly and how does it work? Physical pain is a sensation in the body that hurts or is unpleasant. The sensations of pain you feel work like an alarm, alerting you that something is wrong. Pain signals that a part of your body might have been harmed and that you should take action to prevent more aches. This alarm bell is located in the brain, and pain messages travel from the body to the brain. Some people are born without any sensations of pain. This is very dangerous, as there is no alarm bell telling them that something is not right. This article will explain what happens in the body and in the brain that causes us to feel pain and why it is important to feel pain.
Accelerometer-based and self-reported physical activity of children and adolescents from a seasonal perspective
Authors: Eckelt Melanie , Hutmacher Djenna , Steffgen Georges , Bund Andreas
Published: January 2024

Background

Many children and adolescents in Europe are insufficiently physically active, which makes the advancement of children’s physical activity a critical health promotion target. However, there are some environmental factors, such as the amount of daylight, weather conditions, temperature, and precipitation levels, which might influence physical activity behavior. The purpose of this study was to assess accelerometer-based and self-reported daily physical activity of children and adolescents in Luxembourg, during autumn/winter as well as during spring/summer, and to examine if there is a seasonal influence on the physical activity behavior.

Methods

At two measurements, one in autumn/winter and one in spring/summer, physical activity of N = 137 (59.12% females; M = 12.37 years) participating children and adolescents aged 10–18 years was objectively undertaken via an accelerometer (ActiGraph) and subjectively assessed using, among others, one item of the MoMo physical activity questionnaire.

Results

A repeated measures ANOVA revealed a significant seasonal effect on moderate to vigorous physical activity per day [F(1.000, 135.000) = 7.69, p < 0.05, partial η² = 0.054]. More minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity per day were accrued in spring/summer than in autumn/winter. The mean difference scores between the accelerometer-based and the self-reported physical activity at the two time periods, T1 and T2, correlated significantly (r = 0.31, p < 0.001).

Conclusions

According to these results, children and adolescents are less physically active in autumn/winter than in spring/summer. However, the discrepancy between the accelerometer-based and the self-reported physical activity remains stable over the two measurements. Therefore, schools, sports clubs, and communities should offer special physical activity programs for the colder season.
Robust Trajectory Prediction Using Random Forest Methodology Application to UAS-S4 Ehécatl
Authors: Hashemi Seyed Mohammad , Botez Ruxandra Mihaela , Ghazi Georges
Published: January 2024

Accurate aircraft trajectory prediction is fundamental for enhancing air traffic control systems, ensuring a safe and efficient aviation transportation environment. This research presents a detailed study on the efficacy of the Random Forest (RF) methodology for predicting aircraft trajectories. The study compares the RF approach with two established data-driven models, specifically Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) and Logistic Regression (LR). The investigation utilizes a significant dataset comprising aircraft trajectory time history data, obtained from a UAS-S4 simulator. Experimental results indicate that within a short-term prediction horizon, the RF methodology surpasses both LSTM and LR in trajectory prediction accuracy and also its robustness to overfitting. The research further fine-tunes the performance of the RF methodology by optimizing various hyperparameters, including the number of estimators, features, depth, split, and leaf. Consequently, these results underscore the viability of the RF methodology as a proven alternative to LSTM and LR models for short-term aircraft trajectory prediction.
An Optimal House Price Prediction Algorithm: XGBoost
Authors: Sharma Hemlata , Harsora Hitesh , Ogunleye Bayode
Published: January 2024

An accurate prediction of house prices is a fundamental requirement for various sectors, including real estate and mortgage lending. It is widely recognized that a property’s value is not solely determined by its physical attributes but is significantly influenced by its surrounding neighborhood. Meeting the diverse housing needs of individuals while balancing budget constraints is a primary concern for real estate developers. To this end, we addressed the house price prediction problem as a regression task and thus employed various machine learning (ML) techniques capable of expressing the significance of independent variables. We made use of the housing dataset of Ames City in Iowa, USA to compare XGBoost, support vector regressor, random forest regressor, multilayer perceptron, and multiple linear regression algorithms for house price prediction. Afterwards, we identified the key factors that influence housing costs. Our results show that XGBoost is the best performing model for house price prediction. Our findings present valuable insights and tools for stakeholders, facilitating more accurate property price estimates and, in turn, enabling more informed decision making to meet the housing needs of diverse populations while considering budget constraints.
The Impact of Metal and Heavy Metal Concentrations on Vancomycin Resistance in Staphylococcus aureus within Milk Produced by Cattle Farms and the Health Risk Assessment in Kurdistan Province, Iran
Authors: Sadeghian Yeganeh , Raeeszadeh Mahdieh , Karimi Darehabi Hiva
Published: January 2024

In today’s food landscape, the paramount focus is on ensuring food safety and hygiene. Recognizing the pivotal role of the environment and its management in safeguarding animal products, this study explores vancomycin resistance in raw milk from livestock farms in the Kurdistan province and its correlation with metal and heavy metal. One hundred and sixty raw milk samples were collected from various locations, with heavy metal concentrations analyzed using ICP-MS. Identification of Staphylococcus aureus and vancomycin resistance testing were conducted through culture and the Kirby–Bauer method. This study investigates the relationship between resistance and heavy metal levels, revealing that 8.75% of milk samples contained Staphylococcus aureus, with 28.58% exhibiting vancomycin resistance. Significant variations in arsenic, iron, zinc, sodium, and aluminum concentrations were observed between resistant and sensitive samples (p < 0.01). The increase in arsenic, iron, and aluminum, along with the decrease in zinc, demonstrated a significant association with vancomycin resistance (p < 0.001). Levels of lead, cadmium, mercury, zinc, and iron exceeded permissible limits (p < 0.05). The Target Hazard Quotient (THQ) for cadmium indicated a high non-carcinogenic risk, while the Target Risk (TR) for arsenic fell within the carcinogenic range. Accumulation of heavy metals has the potential to impact antibiotic resistance in milk, underscoring the imperative to control arsenic residues for national safety.
Habitat Suitability, Distribution Modelling and GAP Analysis of Przewalski’s Gazelle Conservation
Authors: Liang Dongni , Li Chunwang
Published: January 2024

Although the population of Przewalski’s gazelle (Procapra przewalskii) has increased, this species is still threatened by a variety of risk factors, such as habitat loss and fragmentation, grassland fencing, grazing conflict, the segmentation of different populations, and declines in population genetic diversity. In order to determine the potential suitable habitat of Przewalski’s gazelle and find a new suitable location for its conservation translocation, we used the MaxEnt model to predict the suitable habitats in Qinghai Province, Gansu Province, and the Ordos Plateau in Inner Mongolia and other regions with historical distribution records. On the basis of the MaxEnt model’s prediction of the potential suitable habitat of Przewalski’s gazelle, we used GAP analysis to determine the existing protection gaps and provide a new reference for the future protection of Przewalski’s gazelle. We found that altitude, temperature, vegetation type, and distance from roads were the main environmental factors affecting the geographical distribution of Przewalski’s gazelle. Most of the suitable habitat of Przewalski’s gazelle is confined around Qinghai Lake. GAP analysis revealed that most of the suitable habitats of Przewalski’s gazelle are not included in the established reserves, and Qinghai Lake National Nature Reserve only covers a small area around Qinghai Lake. The whole reserve only accounts for 7.11% of the area of the suitable habitat for Przewalski’s gazelle and 15.79% of the area of the highly suitable habitat for Przewalski’s gazelle. We suggest that conservation translocation for Przewalski’s gazelle should be put on the agenda. It is necessary to consider reintroducing these gazelles into their potential suitable habitats as a feasible way of establishing new populations and saving this species.
Mito-TEMPO Improves the Meiosis Resumption and Mitochondrial Function of Vitrified Sheep Oocytes via the Recovery of Respiratory Chain Activity
Authors: Zhao Xi , Dilixiati Airixiati , Zhang Luyao , Aihemaiti Aikebaier , Song Yukun , Zhao Guodong , Fu Xiangwei , Wang Xuguang , Wusiman Abulizi
Published: January 2024

Vitrification is a crucial method for preserving animal germ cells. Considering the increased oxidative stress and organelle damage incurred, it is still necessary to make the process more efficient for oocytes. As the energy source of oocytes, mitochondria are the most abundant organelle in oocytes and play a crucial role in their maturation. Here, we found that Mito-TEMPO, a mitochondria-targeted antioxidant, could efficaciously improve the oxidative stress injury of vitrified oocytes by recovering mitochondrial function via the mitochondrial respiratory chain. It was observed that Mito-TEMPO not only improves oocyte viability and meiosis but also maintains spindle structure. A subsequent study indicated that Mito-TEMPO effectively rescued mitochondrial dysfunction and attenuated vitrification-induced oxidative stress. Further investigation revealed that Mito-TEMPO regulates vitrified oocytes’ intracellular Ca2+ homeostasis and ATP content and provides strong antioxidant properties. Additionally, an analysis of the transcriptome at the single-cell level revealed that the respiratory chain mediates the beneficial effect of Mito-TEMPO on vitrified oocytes. Overall, our findings indicate that supplementing oocytes with Mito-TEMPO is an effective method to shield them from the damage caused by vitrification. In addition, the beneficial effects of Mito-TEMPO on vitrified sheep oocytes could inspire further investigations of the principles underlying oocyte cryobiology in other animals.
Heat Shock Proteins Mediate Intercellular Communications within the Tumor Microenvironment through Extracellular Vesicles
Authors: Saito Renata F. , Machado Camila Maria Longo , Lomba Ana Luiza Oliveira , Otake Andréia Hanada , Rangel Maria Cristina
Published: January 2024

From an evolutive perspective, tumor cells endure successive turnover upon stress conditions and pressure to adapt to new environments. These cells use exceptional communication skills to share biological information to “survive upon every metabolic cost”. The tumor microenvironment (TME) is a miscellaneous collection of cells, factors, and extracellular vesicles (EVs). EVs are small lipid bilayer-delimited particles derived from cells with sizes ranging from 100 to 1000 nm. Exosomes (<160 nm) are the minor subtype of EVs, originating from the endosomal pathways. The TME also contains “giant” vesicles, microvesicles (100–1000 nm, MV), originated from membrane blebbing. EVs can act as intercellular communication mediators, contributing to many biological processes, by carrying different biomolecules, such as proteins, lipids, nucleic acids, and metabolites. EV secretion can promote either tumor cell survival or manage their stress to death. Tumor-derived EVs transfer adaptative stress signaling to recipient cells, reprograming these cells. Heat shock proteins (HSP) are prominent stress response regulators, specifically carried by exosomes. HSP-loaded EVs reprogram tumor and TME cells to acquire mechanisms contributing to tumor progression and therapy resistance. The intercellular communication mediated by HSP-loaded EVs favors the escape of tumor cells from the endoplasmic reticulum stress, hypoxia, apoptosis, and anticancer therapies. Extracellular HSPs activate and deactivate the immune response, induce cell differentiation, change vascular homeostasis, and help to augment the pre-metastatic niche formation. Here we explore EVs’ mechanisms of HSP transmission among TME cells and the relevance of these intercellular communications in resistance to therapy.
Diffuse C-Cells Hyperplasia Is the Source of False Positive Calcitonin Measurement in FNA Washout Fluids of Thyroid Nodules: A Rational Clinical Approach to Avoiding Unnecessary Surgery
Authors: Mura Chiara , Rodia Rossella , Corrias Silvia , Cappai Antonello , Lai Maria Letizia , Canu Gian Luigi , Medas Fabio , Calò Pietro Giorgio , Mariotti Stefano , Boi Francesco
Published: January 2024

Purpose: The FNA-CT is useful for the diagnosis of MTC. The aim of this study was to evaluate the performance of FNA-CT in TNs coexisting with CCH. Methods: This study retrospectively reviewed the records of 11 patients with TNs submitted to thyroidectomy on the basis of elevated basal and/or stimulated serum CT values, which at histology were not confirmed to be MTC. The results obtained in this group were compared with those of a previously reported group of histologically proven MTC patients submitted to an identical presurgical evaluation. All patients, negative for known mutations in the RET proto-oncogene, were preoperatively submitted to neck ultrasound, FNA-cytology, and FNA-CT. Results: Approximately 6 of 11 patients showed increased (>36 ng/mL, as established in previous studies not involving patients with CCH) FNA-CT. All these patients showed diffuse CCH at histology in the thyroid lobe submitted to FNA; 5 of them were benign at histology, while only one was malignant (papillary thyroid carcinoma, PTC). The remaining 5 of 11 patients had low FNA-CT (<36 ng/mL), and all of them showed only focal CCH in the lobe submitted to FNA; three of them were malignant (2 PTC, 1 follicular carcinoma), while two were benign. Conclusions: Employing the currently proposed cut-off values, false-positive FNA-CT results may be observed in benign/malignant TNs with coexisting diffuse CCH. FNA-CT must therefore be cautiously used in the diagnostic approach for patients with TNs and a slightly increased basal or stimulated serum CT concentration in order to avoid unnecessary surgery.
Diagnostic Performance of [18F]F-FDG Positron Emission Tomography (PET) in Non-Ophthalmic Malignant Melanoma: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of More Than 10,000 Melanoma Patients
Authors: Zamani-Siahkali Nazanin , Mirshahvalad Seyed Ali , Pirich Christian , Beheshti Mohsen
Published: January 2024

We described the diagnostic performance of [18F]F-FDG-PET in malignant melanoma by conducting a comprehensive systematic review and meta-analysis of the existing literature. The study was designed following PRISMA-DTA. Original articles with adequate crude data for meta-analytic calculations that evaluated [18F]F-FDG-PET and compared it with a valid reference standard were considered eligible. The pooled measurements were calculated based on the data level (patient/lesion-based). Regarding sub-groups, diagnostic performances were calculated for local, regional and distant involvement. The bivariate model was employed to calculate sensitivity and specificity. The initial search resulted in 6678 studies. Finally, 100 entered the meta-analysis, containing 82 patient-based (10,403 patients) and 32 lesion-based (6188 lesions) datasets. At patient level, overall, [18F]F-FDG-PET had pooled sensitivity and specificity of 81% (95%CI: 73–87%) and 92% (95%CI: 90–94%), respectively. To detect regional lymph node metastasis, the pooled sensitivity and specificity were 56% (95%CI: 40–72%) and 97% (95%CI: 94–99%), respectively. To detect distant metastasis, they were 88% (95%CI: 81–93%) and 94% (95%CI: 91–96%), respectively. At lesion level, [18F]F-FDG-PET had a pooled sensitivity and specificity of 70% (95%CI: 57–80%) and 94% (95%CI: 88–97%), respectively. Thus, [18F]F-FDG-PET is a valuable diagnostic modality for melanoma assessment. It was accurate in various clinical scenarios. However, despite its high specificity, it showed low sensitivity in detecting regional lymph node metastasis and could not replace lymph node biopsy.
Diffuse Midline Gliomas: Challenges and New Strategies in a Changing Clinical Landscape
Authors: Tosi Umberto , Souweidane Mark
Published: January 2024

Diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma (DIPG) was first described by Harvey Cushing, the father of modern neurosurgery, a century ago. Since then, the classification of this tumor changed significantly, as it is now part of the broader family of diffuse midline gliomas (DMGs), a heterogeneous group of tumors of midline structures encompassing the entire rostro-caudal space, from the thalamus to the spinal cord. DMGs are characterized by various epigenetic events that lead to chromatin remodeling similarities, as two decades of studies made possible by increased tissue availability showed. This new understanding of tumor (epi)biology is now driving novel clinical trials that rely on targeted agents, with finally real hopes for a change in an otherwise unforgiving prognosis. This biological discovery is being paralleled with equally exciting work in therapeutic drug delivery. Invasive and noninvasive platforms have been central to early phase clinical trials with a promising safety track record and anecdotal benefits in outcome.
Single-Cell RNA Sequencing Reveals Alterations in Patient Immune Cells with Pulmonary Long COVID-19 Complications
Authors: Vaivode Kristīne , Saksis Rihards , Litvina Helēna Daiga , Niedra Helvijs , Spriņģe Marta Līva , Krūmiņa Una , Kloviņš Jānis , Rovite Vita
Published: January 2024

Since the emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic, the effects of SARS-CoV-2 have been extensively researched. While much is already known about the acute phase of the infection, increasing attention has turned to the prolonged symptoms experienced by a subset of individuals, commonly referred to as long COVID-19 patients. This study aims to delve deeper into the immune landscape of patients with prolonged symptoms by implementing single-cell mRNA analysis. A 71-year-old COVID-19 patient presenting with persistent viral pneumonia was recruited, and peripheral blood samples were taken at 3 and 2 years post-acute infection onset. Patients and control peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were isolated and single-cell sequenced. Immune cell population identification was carried out using the ScType script. Three months post-COVID-19 patients’ PBMCs contained a significantly larger immature neutrophil population compared to 2-year and control samples. However, the neutrophil balance shifted towards a more mature profile after 18 months. In addition, a notable increase in the CD8+ NKT-like cells could be observed in the 3-month patient sample as compared to the later one and control. The subsequent change in these cell populations over time may be an indicator of an ongoing failure to clear the SARS-CoV-2 infection and, thus, lead to chronic COVID-19 complications.
Risk Screening of Invasive Aquatic Species and a Survey of Fish Diversity Using Environmental DNA Metabarcoding Analysis in Shanghai
Authors: Yu Ruohan , Wu Qianqian , Li Fan , Zhan Aibin , Zhou Jinxin , Li Shan
Published: January 2024

As the largest coastal city in China, Shanghai’s rapid development in transportation, tourism, trade, and commerce has facilitated the spread and invasion of non-native aquatic organisms. Aquatic organisms are highly elusive, and once established, eradicating them becomes a challenging task. Currently, our understanding of the invasion risk posed by non-native aquatic species in Shanghai is limited. Therefore, it is imperative to investigate the pathways of introduction, distribution, and dispersion and the invasion risk and impacts of non-native aquatic organisms in Shanghai. This study investigated aquatic organisms in Shanghai’s primary water bodies, including Huangpu River, Suzhou River, and Dianshan Lake. The risk assessment was conducted using the Aquatic Species Invasiveness Screening Kit (AS-ISK), and field monitoring was performed with environmental DNA (eDNA) technology. Results of the risk assessment indicate that among the 21 evaluated species, 9 fall into the medium-to-high-risk category with scores ≥26, while 12 are classified as low-risk with scores <26. The top four species with the highest invasion risk are Gambusia affinis, Pomacea canaliculata, Lepomis macrochirus, and Coptodon zillii. This study identified 54 fish species belonging to seven orders, 16 families, and 42 genera at 16 sampling sites in Shanghai, among which Channa maculata, Micropterus salmoides, and Misgurnus bipartitus are non-native. The results suggest that Shanghai faces a high invasion risk of aquatic species, necessitating enhanced scientific prevention and control measures. Early monitoring is essential for species with medium-to-high invasion risk, and a further evaluation and analysis of the risks associated with introduced fish species already present in Shanghai are recommended for aquaculture practices.
Environmental Compatibility and Genome Flexibility of Klebsiella oxytoca Isolated from Eight Species of Aquatic Animals
Authors: Sun Shuo , Gu Tingting , Ou Yafei , Wang Yongjie , Xie Lu , Chen Lanming
Published: January 2024

Klebsiella oxytoca is an emerging pathogen that can cause life-threatening infectious diseases in humans. Recently, we firstly reported for the first time the presence of K. oxytoca in edible aquatic animals. In this study, we further investigated its bacterial environmental fitness and genome evolution signatures. The results revealed that K. oxytoca isolates (n = 8), originating from eight species of aquatic animals, were capable of growing under a broad spectrum of environmental conditions (pH 4.5–8.5, 0.5–6.5% NaCl), with different biofilm formation and swimming mobility profiles. The genome sequences of the K. oxytoca isolates were determined (5.84–6.02 Mb, 55.07–56.06% GC content). Strikingly, numerous putative mobile genetic elements (MGEs), particularly genomic islands (GIs, n = 105) and prophages (n = 24), were found in the K. oxytoca genomes, which provided the bacterium with specific adaptation traits, such as resistance, virulence, and material metabolism. Interestingly, the identified prophage-related clusters were derived from Burkholderia spp., Enterobacter spp., Klebsiella spp., Pseudomonas spp., and Haemophilus spp., suggesting phage transmission across Klebsiella and the other four genera. Many strain-specific (n = 10–447) genes were present in the K. oxytoca genomes, whereas the CRISPR-Cas protein-encoding gene was absent, indicating likely active horizontal gene transfer (HGT) and considerable genome variation in K. oxytoca evolution. Overall, the results of this study are the first to demonstrate the environmental compatibility and genome flexibility of K. oxytoca of aquatic animal origins.
Dynamics of Fricke–Painlevé VI Surfaces
Authors: Planat Michel , Chester David , Irwin Klee
Published: January 2024

The symmetries of a Riemann surface Σ∖{ai} with n punctures ai are encoded in its fundamental group π1(Σ). Further structure may be described through representations (homomorphisms) of π1 over a Lie group G as globalized by the character variety C=Hom(π1,G)/G. Guided by our previous work in the context of topological quantum computing (TQC) and genetics, we specialize on the four-punctured Riemann sphere Σ=S2(4) and the ‘space-time-spin’ group G=SL2(C). In such a situation, C possesses remarkable properties: (i) a representation is described by a three-dimensional cubic surface Va,b,c,d(x,y,z) with three variables and four parameters; (ii) the automorphisms of the surface satisfy the dynamical (non-linear and transcendental) Painlevé VI equation (or PVI); and (iii) there exists a finite set of 1 (Cayley–Picard)+3 (continuous platonic)+45 (icosahedral) solutions of PVI. In this paper, we feature the parametric representation of some solutions of PVI: (a) solutions corresponding to algebraic surfaces such as the Klein quartic and (b) icosahedral solutions. Applications to the character variety of finitely generated groups fp encountered in TQC or DNA/RNA sequences are proposed.
High Permeability Streak Identification and Modelling Approach for Carbonate Reef Reservoir
Authors: Shirinkin Dmitriy , Kochnev Alexander , Krivoshchekov Sergey , Putilov Ivan , Botalov Andrey , Kozyrev Nikita , Ozhgibesov Evgeny
Published: January 2024

Reef reservoirs are characterised by a complex structure of void space, which is a combination of intergranular porosity, fractures, and vuggy voids distributed chaotically in the carbonate body in different proportions. This causes great uncertainty in the distribution of porosity and permeability properties in the reservoir volume, making field development a complex and unpredictable process associated with many risks. High densities of carbonate secondary alterations can lead to the formation of zones with abnormally high porosity and permeability—high permeability streaks or super-reservoirs. Taking into account super-reservoirs in the bulk of the deposit is necessary in the dynamic modelling of complex-structure reservoirs because it affects the redistribution of filtration flows and is crucial for reservoir management. This paper proposes a method for identifying superreservoirs by identifying enormously high values of porosity and permeability from different-scale study results, followed by the combination and construction of probabilistic curves of superreservoirs. Based on the obtained curves, three probabilistic models of the existence of a superreservoir were identified: P10, P50, and P90, which were further distributed in the volume of the reservoir and on the basis of which new permeability arrays were calculated. Permeability arrays were simulated in a dynamic model of the Alpha field. The P50 probabilistic model showed the best history matching after one iteration.
A New Double-Switch SEPIC-Buck Topology for Renewable Energy Applications
Authors: Emar Walid , Issa Haitham , Kanaker Hasan , Fares Osama , Attar Hani
Published: January 2024

In addition to their conventional use in electric motor drives, DC-DC converters have a variety of other uses, such as energy storage, energy conversion, cyber security systems, uninterruptible power supplies, and renewable energy systems. An innovative DC-DC converter is suggested in this article. Designing a new, high-gain DC-DC converter scheme known as a double-switch SEPIC-buck converter (DSSB) is possible after making some adjustments to the SEPIC converter that is currently known in accordance with accepted techniques. The output voltage magnitude of the proposed converter is either larger than or less than the input voltage magnitude and is the same sign as the input voltage. According to the theoretical and analytical study that has been supported by the real-world application, high voltage gain, low switching stress, and low inductor current ripple are the main characteristics of the proposed DSSB converter. The related small-signal model was also used to build the closed-loop system. The frequency response and output voltage behavior were investigated when the input source voltage abruptly changed as a step function. Based on the comparison study with other DC-DC converters, the DSSB converter outperforms currently known DC-DC converters such as Buck, SEPIC, Boost, Buck-Boost, and other SEPIC converter topologies in terms of voltage gain, harmonic content, normalized current ripple, dynamic performance, and efficiency. Additionally, the frequency response and control of the proposed converter using an alternate current (AC), small-signal, analysis-based, current-mode control technique are both provided. Thus, the DSSB is regarded as safe in overcurrent situations because of the small-signal analysis with the current control strategy. As a result of the verification of the proposed control technique, the resistance to changes in the DSSB parameters, improved dynamic performance, and higher control accuracy are further advantages of current-mode control based on small-signal analysis over other control approaches (PI controllers). Finally, the experimental and simulation results from Simplorer 7 and MATLAB/Simulink are used to validate the findings of the analytical and comparative investigation.
Composted Sewage Sludge as a Substrate for Commercial Seedlings of Peltophorum dubium (Spreng.) Taub.
Authors: Silva Laura Oliveira Cleto da , Fonseca Aline Cássia da , Lozano Sivisaca Deicy Carolina , Boas Roberto Lyra Villas , Silva Magali Ribeiro da , Capra Gian Franco , Ganga Antonio , Guerrini Iraê Amaral
Published: January 2024

Sewage sludge in natura is rich in nutrients, water, and organic matter and is essential for plant development. However, sewage sludge is diluted with water when composted, which could hamper plant growth. Therefore, supplementation with chemical fertilization may be necessary. This study evaluated the performance of composted sewage sludge (CSS) in producing Peltophorum dubium (Spreng.) Taub. seedlings with and without chemical fertilization via fertigation. The experiment was completely randomized in a 3 × 4 factorial scheme, with four fertigation (Ca(NO3)2(H2O)x: 0.87; (NH4)(H2PO4): 0.21; KCl: 0.47; (NH4)2SO4: 0.11; CH₄N₂O: 0.54; MgSO4: 0.52; Fe (13%): 0.03; B(OH)3: 6.00; CuSO4: 0.60; ZnSO4: 1.40; MnSO4: 6.00; Na2MoO4: 0.16 g L−1) doses: zero, standard, duplicate, and quadruplicate. In addition, three substrates were used: commercial substrate as the control, sewage sludge composted with sugarcane bagasse (LBC), and sewage sludge composted with Eucalyptus bark (LCE). The development of the seedlings was measured through the following variables: height, stem diameter, shoot/root ratio, leaf dry mass, root dry mass, total dry mass, green color index, the Dickson Quality Index, and the accumulation of nutrients in plant tissue. The seedlings produced with LCE that were subjected to the standard dose (1×) and the quadruplicate dose (4×) had the statistically highest mean values for most variables. Nevertheless, supplementation with chemical fertilization was necessary. Composted sewage sludge with eucalyptus bark, at the standard dosage, can be used for the commercial production of P. dubium seedlings, thus preventing the dangerous disposal of waste and strongly decreasing associated environmental hazards.
Interdisciplinary Perspectives on Green Infrastructure: A Systematic Exploration of Definitions and Their Origins
Authors: Adesoji Tolulope , Pearce Annie
Published: January 2024

Green Infrastructure (GI) is rooted in ecology and cuts across multiple disciplines, including landscape architecture, environmental sciences, planning, policy, and engineering. Likewise, the definition of this concept also cuts across disciplines, which creates ambiguity around what GI is and what makes up GI in practice—for example, mistaking bioswales for regular tree planters or green space within communities in which they are installed. We undertook a systematic literature review of 38 peer-reviewed articles for this study using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) method to identify and synthesize the different disciplinary definitions of GI in the literature. This study also presents the types of GI systems mentioned in the peer-reviewed articles while identifying other benefits apart from the primary benefit of GI installation, which is stormwater management. The analysis revealed three clusters of GI definitions: (I) Interconnected natural areas and other open spaces, (II) Strategically planned natural and semi-natural areas, and (III) Decentralized systems and techniques. However, we got rid of the third cluster during the analysis because GI is known to be a decentralized system, and the definition region could not be tracked. These clusters represent a spectrum, one of which employs the structure of natural systems already in place to support human goals (bio-inclusivity). The other includes living systems as components within engineered solutions to achieve objectives (bio-integration). This review points to the need for an encompassing definition that cuts across disciplines with a consensus on the adoption and concise categorization of GI types and the multiple benefits they provide to humans and ecosystems. A consensus definition helps clear misconceptions and improve the understanding of GI, potentially improving receptivity towards these solutions within communities from a community member perspective.