bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Resilience and Well-Being Over the Course of an National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I Gymnastics Season
Authors: Williams Sarah-Margaret , Baez Shelby E. , Derrico Demitria , Robinson Hunter , Coyne Killian , Settle Hailee , Jochimsen Kate N.
Published: December 2024

Context: Awareness regarding the importance of mental health in athletes has been increasing in recent years. Mental health has been investigated in relation to injury recovery and performance; however, less evidence has examined changes in mental health throughout a competitive season. Objectives: This study aimed to: (1) evaluate the psychological factors of resilience and well-being over a National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I gymnastics season and examine changes over 4 time points: preseason, start of the competitive season, midseason, and postseason and (2) examine the relationships between these psychological measures at these 4 time points. We hypothesized that resilience and well-being would remain stable, and higher resilience would be related to a greater sense of well-being at all time points. Design: This study utilized a retrospective chart review. Setting: This study is conducted in a college setting. Patients or Other Participants: Study participants were 17 Division I female gymnasts. Methods: A retrospective chart review was conducted to evaluate the Brief Resilience Scale and 5-item World Health Organization Well-Being Index, which gymnasts had completed biweekly from preseason to postseason. Descriptive statistics were reported, a 1-way repeated measures analysis of variance was used to examine changes across 4 time points, and Pearson product–moment correlations were used to examine the relationships between Brief Resilience Scale and 5-item World Health Organization Well-Being Index scores. Results: Brief Resilience Scale and 5-item World Health Organization Well-Being Index scores did not change throughout the season (P = .62, .52). No relationship between the variables was identified at the start of preseason or midseason (P > .17). However, at the start of the competitive season and postseason, resilience was positively correlated with well-being (r = .65, P = .006; r = .82, P = .006). Conclusions: Higher resilience and well-being are related in Division I female gymnasts but do not fluctuate throughout the season. Sports medicine staff and coaches should be aware that there is room to improve resilience and well-being, making additional supports warranted, including coping skills and resilience training interventions.
Effects of Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation Waveforms and Occlusion Pressures on Elicited Force and Microvascular Oxygenation
Authors: Cayot Trent E. , Bellew James W. , Zapata-Rodriguez Estefania , Rutherford Justin , Simpson Sofia , Somesan Sam , Edgerton Trevor , Labaw Dawson , Northam Joe , Bowling Caleb
Published: December 2024

Context: Interest in the effects of concurrently using neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) and blood flow restriction (BFR) to improve muscle strength has risen, but limited studies and inconsistent findings have led to more questions. The 2 current projects aimed to systematically investigate how NMES waveform shape and BFR occlusion pressure acutely influence electrically elicited force (EEF) and tissue oxygen saturation (StO2) of the knee extensors. Design: A single-session repeated-measures design was followed. Methods: EEF and StO2 were measured in 2 different groups of 15 participants during 3 sets of NMES contractions. Ten NMES contractions per set were performed with 5 minutes of passive interset recovery. In the first project, different NMES waveforms (RUS, Russian burst-modulated alternating current; VMS, biphasic pulsed current; and VMS-Burst, burst-modulated biphasic pulsed current) were administered for each set, while BFR was applied at 60% limb occlusion pressure (LOP). During the second projet, VMS was administered, while a different BFR occlusion pressure (0% LOP, 40% LOP, and 80% LOP) was used during each set. Two-way repeated-measures analysis of variance examined if repetition and/or NMES waveform (first project) or BFR occlusion pressure (second project) significantly affected (P < .05) EEF or StO2. Results: VMS (12% [7%] MVIF) and VMS-Burst (13% [10%] MVIF) led to higher EFF compared with RUS (6% [5%] MVIF) with 60% LOP; 80% LOP (20% [14%] MVIF) led to lower EEF compared with 0% LOP (29% [17%] MVIF) with VMS. No significant differences in StO2 were observed between NMES waveforms or BFR occlusion pressures. Conclusions: If a clinician wanted to concurrently use NMES and BFR, the acute findings of the current projects would suggest the use of VMS or VMS-Burst with lower BFR occlusion pressure (40% LOP). However, further investigation into how these parameters would influence muscle strength subsequent to a training/rehabilitation intervention should be performed.
It’s a MuSt Win: The Effects of Self-Talk to Enhance Passing Performance Under Pressure in Elite Football Players
Authors: Viscosi Jonathan , Robazza Claudio , Jansson Billy , Davis Paul , Ruiz Montse C.
Published: December 2024

Strategic self-talk is a powerful mental skill that athletes can use to self-regulate the effects of pressure and enhance task performance. Multistates (MuSt) theory considers the combination of emotion- and action-centered self-regulation to be the most effective strategy to optimize athletes’ performance and subjective experience. The aim of this study was to test the tenets of MuSt theory on a pressurized performance task, involving male junior football players (N = 20, Mage = 18.6) competing at the elite level in Finland. The task tested the players’ passing abilities over six trials while they applied different self-talk strategies in attempts to improve passing performance. The findings demonstrate the effectiveness of strategic self-talk as a form of self-regulation. Specifically, the combination of emotion- and action-centered cue words proved to be the optimal strategy for coping with the demands of the task. The study findings have relevant practical implications for players, coaches, and practitioners.
The polarizing nature of fructose
Authors: Wong Wei
Published: December 2024

Dietary fructose skews tumor-associated macrophages toward a pro-cancer phenotype in colorectal tumors.
Complete genome sequences of
Pantoea vagans
strains GM1 and GM2, isolated from the leaves of garlic mustard
Authors: Shin Gi Yoon , Kvitko Brian H.
Published: December 2024

We report the complete genomes of two
Pantoea vagans
strains, GM1 and GM2, isolated from garlic mustard plants.
P. vagans
strain GM1 was found to carry a HiVir pantaphos biosynthetic gene cluster, which causes onion necrosis.
Complete genome sequence of multidrug-resistant and NDM-producing
Klebsiella variicola
clinical isolates
Authors: Alvarado-Delgado Alejandro , Nava-Dominguez Neli , Rodriguez-Medina Nadia , Sánchez-Pérez Alejandro , Ortiz-Gutierrez Diana , Morfin-Otero Rayo , Rodriguez-Noriega Eduardo , Zumaya-Estrada Federico Alonso , Garza-Ramos Ulises
Published: December 2024

Recently, global dissemination of NDM-producing
Klebsiella variicola
in hospital settings and natural environments has been described. This study described the whole-genome sequencing of multidrug-resistant phenotype and NDM-producing
Klebsiella variicola
clinical isolates.
Draft genome sequence of a halophilic, putative hydrocarbon-degrading
Arhodomonas
sp. strain KWT2
Authors: Ajagbe Damilare , Marsh William , Murdoch Robert , Fathepure Babu
Published: December 2024

We report the draft genome sequence of a halophilic, putative hydrocarbon-degrading
Arhodomonas
sp. strain KWT2. The bacterium was isolated from a crude oil-contaminated saline pond in Kuwait. The genome is 3,923,868 bp in size and contains 3,534 predicted protein-coding genes, including genes for salt-tolerance and degradation of petroleum hydrocarbons.
Modelling the epidemiological and economic impact of digital adherence technologies with differentiated care for tuberculosis treatment in Ethiopia
Authors: Goscé Lara , Tadesse Amare Worku , Foster Nicola , van Kalmthout Kristian , Rest Job van , van der Wal Jense , Harker Martin J , Madden Norma , Abdurhman Tofik , Gadissa Demekech , Bedru Ahmed , Dube Tanyaradzwa N , Alacapa Jason , Mganga Andrew , Deyanova Natasha , Charalambous Salome , Letta Taye , Jerene Degu , White Richard , Fielding Katherine L , Houben Rein MGJ , McQuaid Christopher Finn
Published: December 2024

Background

Digital adherence technologies (DATs) with associated differentiated care are potential tools to improve tuberculosis (TB) treatment outcomes and reduce associated costs for both patients and healthcare providers. However, the balance between epidemiological and economic benefits remains unclear. Here, we used data from the ASCENT trial to estimate the potential long-term epidemiological and economic impact of DAT interventions in Ethiopia.

Methods

We developed a compartmental transmission model for TB, calibrated to Ethiopia and parameterised with patient and provider costs. We compared the epidemiological and economic impact of two DAT interventions, a digital pillbox and medication labels, to the current standard of care, assuming each was introduced at scale in 2023. We projected long-term TB incidence, mortality and costs to 2035 and conducted a threshold analysis to identify the maximum possible epidemiological impact of a DAT intervention by assuming 100% treatment completion for patients on DAT.

Findings

We estimated small and uncertain epidemiological benefits of the pillbox intervention compared with the standard of care in Ethiopia, with a difference of −0.4% (95% uncertainty interval (UI) −1.1%; +2.0%) incident TB episodes and −0.7% (95% UI −2.2%; +3.6%) TB deaths. However, our analysis also found large total provider and patient cost savings (US$163 (95% UI US$118; US$211) and US$3 (95%UI: US$1; US$5), respectively, over 2023–2035), translating to a 50.2% (95% UI 35.9%; 65.2%) reduction in total cost of treatment. Results were similar for the medication label intervention. The maximum possible epidemiological impact a theoretical DAT intervention could achieve over the same timescale would be a 3% (95% UI 1.4%; 5.5%) reduction in incident TB and an 8.2% (95% UI 4.4%; 12.8%) reduction in TB deaths.

Interpretation

DAT interventions, while showing limited epidemiological impact, could substantially reduce TB treatment costs for both patients and the healthcare provider.
Second phase Chiba study of mother and child health (C-MACH): Japanese birth cohort study with multiomics analyses
Authors: Koshizaka Masaya , Eguchi Akifumi , Takaguchi Kohki , Yamamoto Midori , Takatani Rieko , Hisada Aya , Kawanami Akiko , Konno Yuki , Watanabe Masahiro , Tsumura Kayo , Shimatani Keiichi , Suzuki Norimichi , Mori Chisato , Sakurai Kenichi
Published: December 2024

Purpose

Epidemiological studies have reported that environmental factors from fetal period to early childhood can influence the risk of non-communicable diseases in adulthood. This concept has been termed the developmental origins of health and disease (DOHaD). The Chiba study of Mother and Child Health (C-MACH) is a DOHaD concept-based birth cohort study which started in 2014. This study aims to investigate the effects of genetic and environmental factors, particularly fetal and postnatal living environment, on children’s health. We also aim to identify candidate biomarkers for their health status. Moreover, the second phase study of C-MACH which was initiated in 2021 aimed at expanding the sample size, especially for gut microbiota and epigenomic analysis; it also aimed at clarifying the impact of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic on children’s health.

Participants

This study consists of four hospital-based cohorts. Women who were <13 weeks pregnant and their partners were enrolled in the study. All data and biological samples will be stored in the Chiba University Centre for Preventive Medical Sciences.

Findings to date

A total of 561 women and their partners provided their consent to participate in this study. Of these women, 505 completed the questionnaire during the early gestational period. The mean age of the 505 women at enrolment was 33.0 (SD, 4.5) years. The mean prepregnancy body mass index (BMI) was 21.7 (SD, 3.6) kg/m2, with 74.5% of the women having a BMI of 18.5–24.9 kg/m2. About 5.2% of the women smoked cigarettes during the early stages of pregnancy.

Future plans

The primary study outcomes are allergies, obesity, endocrine and metabolic disorders and developmental difficulties in children. Variables related to genome, metabolome, epigenome, gut microbiota and exposome will be evaluated as health-related factors. The relationships between these outcomes and the health-related factors will be analysed.
Development of a parent decision support tool for surgical necrotising enterocolitis: a study protocol
Authors: Verhoeven Rosa , Kooi Elisabeth M W , Obermann-Borst Sylvia A , Geurtzen Rosa , Labrie Nanon H M , Verhagen A A Eduard , Hulscher Jan B F
Published: December 2024

Introduction

Necrotising enterocolitis is a devastating gastrointestinal disease predominantly affecting preterm infants. In 40% of cases, its rapid progression renders conservative treatment insufficient, necessitating laparotomy as the sole viable option for survival. However, high perioperative and postoperative mortality rates, along with severe future potential disabilities and suffering, can complicate the decision of whether surgery is still in the infant’s best interest. In such cases, palliative care, aimed to minimise suffering, may be considered as an alternative to laparotomy, especially when the infant’s expected quality of life and overall prognosis are concerning. Depending on the sociocultural context, parents are increasingly involved in this decision. However, weighing the risks, benefits and uncertainties can be challenging for them. Therefore, we aim to develop a decision support tool using a novel combination of the Delphi technique and Q-methodology. Ultimately, we anticipate that this approach will contribute to improved family-centred care and optimised outcomes.

Methods and analysis

The first phase of the study aims to identify key factors guiding Dutch parents’ decisions between laparotomy and palliative care (decision factors). Using a Delphi process, parents with varying perspectives and experiences will evaluate decision factors found in the literature and those self-suggested. The pertinent set of decision factors is defined during a consensus meeting.

During the second phase, parents are asked to compare statements about these decision factors using Q-methodology. A by-person factor analysis of these comparisons will identify different parental decision-making profiles, which allows for formulating advice tailored to those profiles.

Ultimately, we will build an online decision support tool which facilitates the classification of parent perspectives. The tool will then provide the parents with the relevant advice. In the last phase of the study, the tool’s effectiveness will be evaluated through an online questionnaire, asking parents to imagine using the tool in a real-world scenario.

Ethics and dissemination

Ethical approval has been obtained from Central Ethics Review Committee of The University Medical Center Groningen (METc 2023/577, CTc UMCG 153660). Participants will be asked to provide their informed consent for the parts of the study that involve non-anonymous data gathering. Findings will be disseminated through academic journals and conferences. Options for long-term data preservation are under consideration.
Advancing a virtual home hospital: a blueprint for development and expansion
Authors: Mathura Pamela , Pascheto Isabella , Dytoc-Fong Haley , Hrynchyshyn Greg , McMurtry Natalie , Kassam Narmin
Published: December 2024

Background

The rising demand for hospitals has spurred increased interest in adopting virtual home hospital (VHH) care models. Development in this area often uses rigid research methods. This study describes a dynamic approach to constructing a VHH and outlines the progress over 5 years.

Methods

In 2018, a multicentre VHH was developed in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, using an innovation lab approach, fostering collaboration among healthcare stakeholders for design, prototyping and testing. Over a 5-year period (2018–2022), the VHH underwent trial and adaptation using the Model for Improvement and the Dynamic Sustainability Framework, refining integrated care for a broader patient population. Within the VHH, patients received acute, hospital-level care at home, using technology, existing services and hospital and community personnel. Outcome measures included number of patient cohorts, staffing numbers, patients served, capacity and hospitals/health centres supported.

Results

Over 5 years, the VHH expanded from 2 to 15 staff members, from 14 to 25 physicians, from 45 to 870 total patients served, from 10- to 75-patient capacity and from serving 1 hospital to 6 hospitals and 1 health centre. The VHH advanced by transitioning from telehealth to digital remote patient monitoring, involving additional community partners, extending operating hours, diversifying admission and referral pathways and improving patient monitoring.

Conclusion

A VHH has the potential to bridge the gap between hospital and community care and to become a permanent healthcare delivery model that supports continuity of patient care.
Cell-to-cell and organ-to-organ crosstalk in the pathogenesis of alcohol-associated liver disease
Authors: Gao Hui , Jiang Yanchao , Zeng Ge , Huda Nazmul , Thoudam Themis , Yang Zhihong , Liangpunsakul Suthat , Ma Jing
Published: December 2024

Alcohol-associated liver disease (ALD) is a growing global health concern and its prevalence and severity are increasing steadily. While bacterial endotoxin translocation into the portal circulation is a well-established key factor, recent evidence highlights the critical role of sterile inflammation, triggered by diverse stimuli, in alcohol-induced liver injury. This review provides a comprehensive analysis of the complex interactions within the hepatic microenvironment in ALD. It examines the contributions of both parenchymal cells, like hepatocytes, and non-parenchymal cells, such as hepatic stellate cells, Kupffer cells, neutrophils, and liver sinusoidal endothelial cells, in driving the progression of the disease. Additionally, we explored the involvement of key mediators, including cytokines, chemokines and inflammasomes, which regulate inflammatory responses and promote liver injury and fibrosis. A particular focus has been placed on extracellular vesicles (EVs) as essential mediators of intercellular communication both within and beyond the liver. These vesicles facilitate the transfer of signalling molecules, such as microRNAs and proteins, which modulate immune responses, fibrogenesis and lipid metabolism, thereby influencing disease progression. Moreover, we underscore the importance of organ-to-organ crosstalk, particularly in the gut-liver axis, where dysbiosis and increased intestinal permeability lead to microbial translocation, exacerbating hepatic inflammation. The adipose-liver axis is also highlighted, particularly the impact of adipokines and free fatty acids from adipose tissue on hepatic steatosis and inflammation in the context of alcohol consumption.
Integration of lipidomics with targeted, single cell, and spatial transcriptomics defines an unresolved pro-inflammatory state in colon cancer
Authors: Soundararajan Ramani , Maurin Michelle M , Rodriguez-Silva Jetsen , Upadhyay Gunjan , Alden Ashley J , Gowda Siddabasave Gowda B , Schell Michael J , Yang Mingli , Levine Noah Jhad , Gowda Divyavani , Sundaraswamy Punith M , Hui Shu-Ping , Pflieger Lance , Wang Heiman , Marcet Jorge , Martinez Carolina , Bennett Robert David , Chudzinski Allen , Karachristos Andreas , Nywening Timothy M , Cavallaro Paul M , Anderson Matthew Linley , Coffey Robert J , Nebozhyn Michael V , Loboda Andrey , Coppola Domenico , Pledger Warren Jackson , Halade Ganesh , Yeatman Timothy J
Published: December 2024

Background

Over a century ago, Virchow proposed that cancer represents a chronically inflamed, poorly healing wound. Normal wound healing is represented by a transitory phase of inflammation, followed by a pro-resolution phase, with prostaglandin (PGE2/PGD2)-induced ‘lipid class switching’ producing inflammation-quenching lipoxins (LXA4, LXB4).

Objective

We explored if lipid dysregulation in colorectal cancers (CRCs) is driven by a failure to resolve inflammation.

Design

We performed liquid chromatography and tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS) untargeted analysis of 40 human CRC and normal paired samples and targeted, quantitative analysis of 81 human CRC and normal paired samples. We integrated analysis of lipidomics, quantitative reverse transcription-PCR, large scale gene expression, and spatial transcriptomics with public scRNASEQ data to characterize pattern, expression and cellular localisation of genes that produce and modify lipid mediators.

Results

Targeted, quantitative LC–MS/MS demonstrated a marked imbalance of pro-inflammatory mediators, with a dearth of resolving lipid mediators. In tumours, we observed prominent over-expression of arachidonic acid derivatives, the genes encoding their synthetic enzymes and receptors, but poor expression of genes producing pro-resolving synthetic enzymes and resultant lipoxins (LXA4, LXB4) and associated receptors. These results indicate that CRC is the product of defective lipid class switching likely related to inadequate or ineffective levels of PGE2/PGD2.

Conclusion

We show that the lipidomic profile of CRC tumours exhibits a distinct pro-inflammatory bias with a deficiency of endogenous resolving mediators secondary to defective lipid class switching. These observations pave the way for ‘resolution medicine’, a novel therapeutic approach for inducing or providing resolvins to mitigate the chronic inflammation driving cancer growth and progression.
DNA barcoded peptide-MHC multimers to measure and monitor minor histocompatibility antigen-specific T cells after allogeneic stem cell transplantation
Authors: Fuchs Kyra J , Göransson Marcus , Kester Michel G D , Ettienne Natasja W , van de Meent Marian , de Jong Rob C M , Koster Eva A S , Halkes Constantijn J M , Scheeren Ferenc , Heemskerk Mirjam H M , van Balen Peter , Falkenburg J H Frederik , Hadrup Sine R , Griffioen Marieke
Published: December 2024

Allogeneic stem cell transplantation (alloSCT) provides a curative treatment option for hematological malignancies. After HLA-matched alloSCT, donor-derived T cells recognize minor histocompatibility antigens (MiHAs), which are polymorphic peptides presented by HLA on patient cells. MiHAs are absent on donor cells due to genetic differences between patient and donor. T cells targeting broadly expressed MiHAs induce graft-versus-leukemia (GvL) reactivity as well as graft-versus-host disease (GvHD), while T cells for MiHAs with restricted or preferential expression on hematopoietic or non-hematopoietic cells may skew responses toward GvL or GvHD, respectively. Besides tissue expression, overall strength of GvL and GvHD is also determined by T-cell frequencies against MiHAs.

Here, we explored the use of DNA barcode-labeled peptide-MHC multimers to detect and monitor antigen-specific T cells for the recently expanded repertoire of HLA-I-restricted MiHAs. In 16 patients who experienced an immune response after donor lymphocyte infusion, variable T-cell frequencies up to 30.5% of CD8+T cells were measured for 49 MiHAs. High T-cell frequencies above 1% were measured in 12 patients for 19 MiHAs, with the majority directed against mismatched MiHAs, typically 6–8 weeks after donor lymphocyte infusion and at the onset of GvHD. The 12 patients included 9 of 10 patients with severe GvHD, 2 of 3 patients with limited GvHD and 1 of 3 patients without GvHD.

In conclusion, we demonstrated that barcoded peptide-MHC multimers reliably detect and allow monitoring for MiHA-specific T cells during treatment to investigate the kinetics of immune responses and their impact on development of GvL and GvHD after HLA-matched alloSCT.
Additional expression of T-cell engager in clinically tested oncolytic adeno-immunotherapy redirects tumor-infiltrated, irrelevant T cells against cancer cells to enhance antitumor immunity
Authors: Morita Daisuke , Rosewell Shaw Amanda , Biegert Greyson , Porter Caroline , Woods Mae , Vasileiou Spyridoula , Lim Bora , Suzuki Masataka
Published: December 2024

Background

Oncolytic adenoviruses (OAds) are the most clinically tested viral vectors for solid tumors. However, most clinically tested “Armed” OAds show limited antitumor effects in patients with various solid tumors even with increased dosages and multiple injections. We developed a binary oncolytic/helper-dependent adenovirus system (CAdVEC), in which tumors are coinfected with an OAd and a non-replicating helper-dependent Ad (HDAd). We recently demonstrated that a single low-dose CAdVEC expressing interleukin-12, programmed death-ligand 1 blocker, and HSV thymidine kinase safety switch (CAdTrio) induces significant antitumor effects in patients, including complete response. Similar to previous OAd studies, all patients primarily amplified Ad-specific T cells after treatment however, CAdVEC was still able to induce clinical responses even given at a 100-fold lower dose.

Methods

To address the mechanisms of CAdTrio-mediated antitumor effect in patients, we analyzed patients’ samples using Enzyme-linked immunosorbent spot (ELISpot) to measure T-cell specificity and quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) to measure CAdVEC viral genome copies at tumor sites. We then evaluated potential mechanisms of CAdVEC efficacy in vitro using live-cell imaging. Based on those results, we developed a new CAdVEC additionally expressing a T-cell engager molecule targeting CD44v6 to redirect tumor-infiltrating irrelevant T cells against cancer stem cell populations (CAdTetra) for further improvement of local CAdVEC treatment. We tested its efficacy against different cancer types both in vitro and in vivo including Ad pre-immunized humanized mice.

Results

We found that HDAd-infected cells escape Ad-specific T-cell recognition with enhanced tumor-specific T-cell activity through immunomodulatory transgenes. Since CAdVEC treatment initially amplified Ad-specific T cells in patients, we re-direct these virus-specific T cells to target tumor cells by additionally expressing CD44v6.BiTE from CAdTetra. CAdTetra significantly controlled tumor growth, repolarizing local and systemic responses against cancer cells in both immunologically “hot” and “cold” tumor models and also induced immunologic memory against rechallenged tumors.

Conclusions

Our results indicate that CAdTetra effectively induces adaptive T-cell responses against cancer cells by using tumor-infiltrating irrelevant T cells.
METTL3-VISTA axis-based combination immunotherapy for APC truncation colorectal cancer
Authors: Wu Ling , Bai Rui , Zhang Yujie , Chen Hao , Wu Jianghua , Chen Zetao , Wang Hui , Zhao Liang
Published: December 2024

Objective

Although immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) therapy represents a bright spot in antitumor immunotherapy, its clinical benefits in colorectal cancer (CRC) are limited. Therefore, a new target for mediating CRC immunosuppression is urgently needed. Adenomatous polyposis coli (APC) mutations have been reported as early-stage characteristic events in CRC, but the role of truncated APC in the CRC immune microenvironment remains unclear and its clinical significance has yet to be explored.

Design

Adenocarcinoma formation in the colon of the APCMin/+mouse model, which displays features associated with the translation of truncated APC proteins, was induced by azoxymethane/dextran sodium sulfate. Multiplexed immunohistochemical consecutive staining on single slides and flow cytometry were used to explore the activation of immune cells and the expression of the immune checkpoint V-domain immunoglobulin suppressor of T-cell activation (VISTA) in the CRC tissues of APCWTand APCMin/+mice. The construction of truncated APC vectors and an initial subserosal graft tumor mouse model was employed to mimic the tumor microenvironment (TME) during APC mutation. Methylated RNA immunoprecipitation-quantitative PCR assays were performed to investigate the N6-methyladenosine (m6A)-dependent transcriptional regulation of hypoxia-inducible factor-1 alpha (HIF1α) by methyltransferase-like protein 3 (METTL3). Mettl3fl/flvil1-cre+/−mice were used to demonstrate that targeting METTL3 is a mediator that mitigates the deleterious effects of the APC978∆-HIF1α axis on antitumor immunity. A chimeric VISTA humanized mouse model was used to evaluate the drug efficacy of the VISTA-targeted compound onvatilimab.

Results

We showed that APC978∆, a truncated APC protein, mediated overexpression of METTL3, resulting in m6A methylation of HIF1α messenger RNA and high expression of HIF1α. Furthermore, HIF1α promotes the migration of myeloid-derived suppressor cells to the TME by binding to the promoters of MCP-1 and MIF. In addition, HIF1α enhances the expression of the immune checkpoint VISTA on CRC cells, weakening tumor immune monitoring.

Conclusions

We elucidate that an underappreciated function of truncated APC in CRC is its ability to drive an immunosuppressive program that boosts tumor progression. Our work could provide a new perspective for the clinical application of immunotherapy in patients with CRC resistant to ICB therapy.
Breakthrough cancer pain management: mixed-methods study of health care professionals
Authors: Crawford Gregory Brian , Lakhani Ali , Palmer L , Sebalj Menka , Rolan P
Published: December 2024

Objectives

Knowledge gaps in defining, diagnosing, educating health practitioners and treatment options hinder breakthrough cancer pain (BtCP) management. A systematic review revealed a lack of clarity on health professional derived definitions, management strategies and professional development for BtCP. The current study aimed to explore the perspectives of multidisciplinary health professionals by seeking to understand how they define, identify, treat and manage BtCP, barriers to management and professional development requirements.

Methods

A mixed-methods approach involving a two-phase data collection process was employed. Health professionals initially completed an online survey capturing perspectives on BtCP, management strategies, barriers and education/professional development requirements. Survey participants expressing interest were then invited to complete a semistructured interview for an in-depth exploration of their perspectives. Descriptive statistics and frequencies summarised online survey data. Open-ended responses were themed, and categories created. Semistructured interview transcripts were inductively analysed for recurring or divergent themes.

Results

Fifty-four participants completed the online survey and 11 of them participated in an interview. Findings confirmed the importance of patient communication and education in managing BtCP, emphasising the need for adequate resources and training. Interdisciplinary relationships were highlighted as important and contributing to effective BtCP management, supporting professional growth and confidence in prescribing pain management medication.

Conclusions

The study filled research gaps by involving diverse health professionals to explore BtCP identification, treatment, barriers and professional development need. Future research should emphasise interdisciplinary collaboration, invest in targeted resources, training and culturally appropriate communication to address barriers in patient interaction.
Research on the Classification and Recognition of Lacquer Painting Art Styles Based on Machine Learning Algorithms
Authors: Ye Jianhong
Published: December 2024

A lacquer painting is a transparent coating that, if dry, creates a firm, long-lasting finish. The design is intended to be chip-resistant, waterproof, and breathable. Lacquers can be painted on a variety of materials, like wood and metal, and can occur in a range of hues and clear finishes. Lacquer painting is a challenge that encompasses ethnic, social, and temporal concerns, as well as unique theoretical and practical difficulties. Using lacquer painting creation with realistic themes as an essay, people can investigate the main issues associated with lacquer painting creation with realistic themes in the context of contemporary time. The importance of emotional cognitive expression in lacquer painting is acquired, and the requirement of social computing in the disciplines of machine learning (ML) and decision control. Implementation of the lacquer painting-designed better style transfer algorithm (TA) has paved the way for the creation of artistic and cultural ceramic goods. Hence machine learning-transfer algorithm (ML-TA) has been designed to lacquer paint regardless of the exquisite sheen that produces. Finishes can be matte, satin, and glossy depending on the number of layers and method utilized, however, they can always have a smooth surface texture. Lacquer painting can either exhibit a clean translucent appearance or be tinted to seem colored. Lacquer painting is comparable to varnish and urethane finishes, however is applies uniquely. Lacquers are often sprinkled on the surface rather than brushed on and manually rubbed with a material.
Sublimation of Technology: The Impact of Artificial Intelligence on Esthetics and Artistic Expression
Authors: Liu Weinan , Hyung-Gi Kim
Published: December 2024

In the creative sector, artificial intelligence (AI) has proven to be a crucial instrument. AI encompasses a variety of artistic creations that were previously thought to be exclusive to human talent, such as paintings and music. The study improves on earlier research showing that artificial creativity processes may produce goods that are competitive with those generated by humans, satisfy customer expectations, and provide enjoyment. This study investigates the impact of AI on esthetics and artistic expression. Directing the machine to paint a landscape, create a pen and ink portrait of a person, or create a gouache before still life, etc. The synthesis of realistic paintings requires more effort than just accurately capturing target styles. It also requires maintaining original content aspects and visual structures, for which the existing techniques are insufficient to provide satisfying creation of art. In this study, a novel redefined generative adversarial network (RGAN) was proposed for automatic art creation and generation of paintings. In this study, a diverse set of art image data for artistic creation were collected. The data were preprocessed using a median filter to remove noise from the obtained data. Histogram of Oriented Gradients (HOG) approaches are used to extract features, which extract gradient orientation to capture texture patterns and edge information. The results demonstrate that the proposed technique achieved better performance than the other existing techniques. The innovative AI model improves the system’s ability to capture style and preserve content, resulting in better art creation outcomes.
Modeling and Analysis of College English from the Perspective of Connected Intelligent Algorithms
Authors: Zhang Xia , Zhang Chun , Chen Tao
Published: December 2024

To explore the realm of English education through contemporary advancements in artificial intelligence (AI), language education methods have developed significantly traditional approaches that usually have trouble with individualized learning needs and cannot handle diverse proficiency levels. This paper reveals the most prominent problem of inefficiency and non-personalized learning experiences in college English as a significant concern in the existing literature. In response, it suggests a novel method called Artificial Intelligence based English Teaching Method (AI-ETM). It has linked intelligent algorithms that can dynamically adapt teaching strategies and learning materials according to individual student’s needs, rate of comprehension and proficiency levels. The main aim of AI-ETM is to integrate AI technologies with hybrid particle swarm optimization (PSO) into English language teaching to improve effectiveness and efficiency and provide personalized learning experiences for students. This paper expects several outcomes from the implementation of AI-ETM. Among these is enhanced student engagement and motivation due to personalized learning experiences customized according to personal preferences and level of competence. Additionally, AI-ETM is expected to improve learning outcomes by offering targeted feedback and adaptive learning resources. This paper suggests that once AI-ETM is introduced, efficiency in delivering language instruction services will improve, thereby optimizing the allocation of educational resources.
Research on the Influence of Higher Vocational Education on Regional Economic Development Under the Internet Environment
Authors: Wei Xu
Published: December 2024

Higher vocational education, as one of the core forces to deliver high-quality technical and skilled talents, plays an important role in economic development. Therefore, this paper puts forward a study on the influence of higher vocational education on regional economic development under the Internet environment. Integrate Internet technology into higher vocational education, and change the mode of higher vocational education according to the concepts of deconstruction, reconstruction, fragmentation and simplicity. This paper analyzes the data of higher vocational education and regional economy by unit root test, and constructs a dynamic panel econometric model of growth regression through the tested data. Taking the scale, structure and quality of higher vocational education as explanatory variables, and capital formation, foreign trade turnover and nonagricultural industrial structure as control variables, it analyzes the influence of higher vocational education on regional economic growth under the Internet environment. The experimental results show that the proportion of the primary industry continues to decline, from 20.3 % in 2016 to 8.2% in 2022. The proportion of the secondary industry increased from 43.1% in 2016 to 51.0% in 2022. The proportion of tertiary industry in 2016–2022 showed a gradual upward trend, from 36.6% to 40.8%. There may be a co-integration relationship between the data used in the study. Expanding the scale of higher vocational education under the Internet environment will promote the development of regional economy, and according to the research results, some countermeasures and suggestions beneficial to the coordinated development of higher vocational education and regional economy are put forward.
The onset of Magneto–Darcy–Rayleigh–Bénard convection under local thermal non-equilibrium with two-layer system
Authors: Sumithra R. , Venkatraman Shyamala , Aldeeb Horiya , Patil Nagaraj , Singh Shivender , Manjunatha N. , Punith Gowda R. J.
Published: December 2024

The investigation focuses on the consequences of various thermal distributions examined in the context of Magneto–Darcy–Rayleigh–Bénard (MDRB) convection onset under local thermal non-equilibrium (LTNE). The system under consideration consists of a two-layer configuration, with an incompressible fluid and horizontally positioned adiabatic peripheries. An analytical solution to the resultant problem is accomplished using the regular perturbation method. Concerning the six thermal distributions, we examine variables such as the ratio of heat expansion in the solid phase, the ratio of heat diffusivities in the solid phase, and the inter-phase heat diffusivity ratio, which exhibits a propensity towards LTNE. Furthermore, we investigate the consequences of modifying the values of constraints, namely, the ratio of heat expansion in the fluid phase, the ratio of heat diffusivities in the fluid phase, the porous parameter, the heat ratio, and the Chandrasekhar number. The empirical observations indicate that the model (iii) exhibits a significantly higher degree of instability when compared to other distributions. Conversely, model (v) demonstrates a notable level of stability. Moreover, it is intriguing that the system governed by the model (vi) exhibits higher stability than the model (iv) thermal distribution within the context of a composite system.
Welcome to AI Matters 10(2)
Authors: Yao Ziyu
Published: December 2024

Welcome to the second issue of this year's AI Matters Newsletter. In this issue, Louise A. Dennis will present a summary of recent events sponsored or run in cooperation with ACM SIGAI. This issue also includes a article from Pavan Ghantasala, a lead data scientist from Wells Fargo/Purdue University, discussing their findings of using predictive models to retain customers in the mobile gaming market.
WiSleep: Smartphone-driven Sleep Population Monitoring with Unsupervised Learning
Authors: Mary Mammen Priyanka , Zakaria Camellia , Molom-Ochir Tergel , Trivedi Amee , Shenoy Prashant , Balan Rajesh
Published: December 2024

With sleep deprivation being a public health concern, sleep monitoring technology, mainly through consumer-grade wearables, has shown value among users to better understand their most fundamental measure of health. Unfortunately, utilizing wearable technology is bound to the conditions of users owning these devices and using them at bedtime every night. While wearables can deliver highly personalized sleep insights to users, they inadvertently affect the ability of sleep monitoring solutions to reach unprivileged sections of society due to added costs and device accessibility. With our primary motivation to promote sleep monitoring for public health use cases at the population scale, we developed
WiSleep
, a sleep monitoring system that infers sleep duration from solely relying on a user’s smartphone without requiring a wearable device. Unlike prior efforts that use supervised learning methods and require labeled training data to train sleep models, our method is based on unsupervised learning, which enables easy deployment to new population groups or new regions without a need for labeled data collection and training. Specifically, we employ the smartphone activity of the user, represented by time series of WiFi network event rates, as input data to infer the user’s sleep duration (i.e., sleep time and wake time) through an unsupervised Bayesian change point detection ensemble model. Our evaluation shows
WiSleep
’s efficacy in being a low-cost accessible sleep monitoring approach. We present results that yield comparable performance to prior techniques, particularly those requiring new users’ labeled data to achieve model personalization. System evaluation from a user study achieved an average of 93.68% accuracy within 59 minutes of sleep time error, 31 minutes of wake time error, and 57 minutes of sleep duration error by utilizing coarse-grained time series data. We demonstrate the application of our technique to predict sleep for 1,000 anonymous users and enable population-scale analytics with low computational overhead.
Impact of Nitro Substituents on Dopamine Sensing and Nanostructure Morphology: A Machine Learning Approach for PANI:2- and 3-Nitro-1H-Pyrrole Nanocomposite Sensors
Authors: Gürsu Gamze , Yıldız Dilber Esra , Taşaltın Nevin , Baytemir Gülsen , Karakuş Selcan , Karaca Bahriye , Akarsu Canan Hazal , Başçeken Sinan
Published: December 2024

In this study, we explore the effects of nitro substituents on the morphology and dopamine (DOP) sensing performance of polyaniline (PANI) nanocomposites (NCs). The novelty of the study is the unique integration of 2-nitro-1H-pyrrole (D9A) and 3-nitro-1H-pyrrole (D9B) into PANI to develop advanced non-enzymatic voltammetric sensors, combined with machine learning for DOP sensitivity and morphology analysis. Structural and morphological insights were obtained through comprehensive characterization techniques including ¹H NMR, 13C NMR, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and artificial intelligence-enhanced SEM analysis. The PANI: D9B NCs sensor demonstrated superior DOP detection in the range of 0.625–5 μM, with exceptional sensitivity (329.72 μAμM−1 cm−2) and an ultra-low limit of detection of 0.078 μM. Its rapid sensing capability within 1 min indicates potential for use in biomedical diagnostics. In contrast, the PANI NCs sensor exhibited lower sensitivity, which was linked to higher Zreel values and space charge effects. To further enhance DOP prediction accuracy, we employed machine learning (ML) models—ANN, SVM, XGBoost, and Linear Regression—to analyze sensor outputs, with a focus on feature extraction and multivariate data analysis. Our combined approach provides a robust framework for optimizing nitro-substituted PANI NCs for high-performance sensing applications.
Reagent-free Hyperspectral Diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 Infection in Saliva Samples
Authors: Saint-John Brandon , Wolf-Yadlin Alejandro , Jacobsen Daniel E. , Inman Jamie L. , Gart Serge , Keener Matt , McMurray Cynthia , Snijders Antoine M. , Mukundan Harshini , Kubicek-Sutherland Jessica Z. , Brown James B.
Published: December 2024

Rapid, reagent-free pathogen-agnostic diagnostics that can be performed at the point of need are vital for preparedness against future outbreaks. Yet, many current strategies are pathogen-specific and require several reagents. We present hyperspectral sensing, using light to non-invasively measure the composition of several molecules to form a spectral signature, to overcome these barriers. To generate these spectral signatures, we present the ProSpectralTM V1, a novel, miniaturized hyperspectral platform with high spectral resolution with two mini-spectrometers. Furthermore, we developed state-of-the-art ML pipelines for near real-time analysis of spectral signatures in saliva samples. We found that we could accurately identify SARS-CoV-2 infection status in double-blinded saliva samples and demonstrate 100% accuracy on a hold out test dataset. To our knowledge, this establishes the fastest hyperspectral diagnostic platform and in a small form factor, and executable with liquid samples, without ligands or reagents, all while maintaining PCR level specificity and sensitivity.
Mild hypohydration in healthy older adults increases pain-related brain activity without affecting pain perception: a single-blind study
Authors: Deshayes Thomas A. , Savoie Félix-Antoine , Pancrate Timothée , Jolicoeur Desroches Antoine , Morais José A. , Bernier Pierre-Michel , Léonard Guillaume , Simoneau Ivan L. , Goulet Eric D. B.
Published: December 2024

This study reveals, for the first time, that mild hypohydration equivalent to ∼1% of body mass does not alter pain perception in healthy older adults when they are blinded to their hydration status, despite electroencephalography signals showing modulation of pain-related brain responses.
Novel Θ‐Fuzzy‐Contraction Mappings and Existence of Solution of Nonlinear Differential Equations
Authors: Shehzad Usman , Batul Samina , Sagheer Dur-e-Shehwar , Hussain Azhar
Published: December 2024

This study pioneers the introduction of two novel concepts in the realm of double‐controlled metric spaces: the Θ‐fuzzy double‐controlled contraction mapping and the Θ‐fuzzy almost generalized double‐controlled contraction mapping. These concepts represent a significant expansion of the existing framework of generalized contractions. This research establishes the existence and uniqueness of fixed points for each of these contraction mappings and provides exemplary illustrations to clarify the results. Moreover, we demonstrate the practical applicability of our findings by showing the existence of a solution to a nonlinear differential equation. The established theorems also yield various corollaries, which confirm that our results generalize and extend previously established findings in the field.