bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Student Accounts of the Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test: A Case for Validation
Authors: Cheng Liying , Fox Janna , Zheng Ying
Published: February 2008

Abstract:

The Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test (OSSLT) is a cross-curricular literacy test issued to all secondary school students in the province of Ontario. The test consists of a reading and a writing component, both of which must be successfully completed for secondary school graduation in Ontario. This study elicited 16 first language and second language student accounts of their OSSLT test-taking processes immediately after the March 2006 test administration. The analysis of these students’ accounts provided valuable information about the validity of the inferences drawn from the Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test. These accounts suggest the complexity of the processes that the students engaged as they attempted to demonstrate their reading and writing skills on the test. The study has implications for test developers and test users regarding the interpretation of student test performance on the Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test.
Participants, Texts, and Processes in ESL/EFL Essay Tests: A Narrative Review of the Literature
Authors: Barkaoui Khaled
Published: February 2008

Abstract:

Essay tests are widely used to assess ESL/EFL learners’ writing abilities for instructional, administrative, and research purposes. Relevant literature was searched to identify 70 empirical studies on ESL/EFL essay tests. The majority of these studies examined task, essay, and rater effects on essay rating and scores. Less attention has been given to the effects of examinee factors, scoring methods, and assessment contexts. This absence seems mainly to be the result of a traditional concern with controlling for task and rater variability as ‘sources of measurement error.’ This article argues for viewing these factors as ‘sources of variability’ that contribute to the richness and uniqueness of the contexts within which writing performance and assessment occur and for taking them into account when interpreting and using essay test scores. The paper concludes with several implications for research and practice.
Partial Lexical Knowledge in Tests of Incidental Vocabulary Learning from L2 Reading
Authors: Bruton Anthony
Published: February 2008

Abstract:

This analysis evaluates the receptive tests of targeted lexical knowledge in the written medium, which are typically used in empirical research into lexical acquisition from reading foreign/second language texts. Apart from the types of second language cues or prompts, and the language of the responses, the main issues revolve around: (a) the recognition of partial knowledge, (b) the categorization of different subject responses, in closed and open formats, and (c) their quantification. Variations in response categorizations are questioned in particular on partial lexical knowledge, the capacity for multiple choice formats to cope with partial and correct knowledge, and the conversions of nominal scales to equal interval numerical scales.
Reported Political Participation by Physicians vs Nonphysicians
Authors: Zhong Anthony , Jain Bhav , Martin Alister F. , Zhang Cancan , Phillips Russell S. , Amat Maelys J.
Published: April 2024

This study uses survey data to compare rates of political participation between US physicians and nonphysicians from 2017 to 2021.
Interfacility Transfer Guidelines for Patients With Isolated Facial Trauma—From Problem to Solution
Authors: Lear George , Strong Edward Bradley , Pontell Matthew Evan
Published: April 2024

This Viewpoint discusses the need to implement proposed guidelines for facial trauma assessment to prevent unnecessary interfacility transfer of patients with facial trauma despite most such patients having injuries that do not require surgical intervention.
Fluorophor Embedded MOFs Steering Gas Ultra‐Recognition
Authors: Shen Zhengqi , Li Weina , Tang Wenying , Jiang Xiuyun , Qi Kai , Liu Huan , Xu Wei , Xu Wenxing , Zang Simeng , Zhen Kangbo , Li Huizi , He Qingguo , Tu Min , Cheng Jiangong , Fan Zhiyong , Fu Yanyan
Published: April 2024

Thin‐film fluorescent sensors play critical roles in the gas sensing field. However, fluorescent sensing materials for practical applications are limited, because of the aggregation‐caused quenching (ACQ) effect and photobleaching. This study investigates a host–guest thin‐film fluorescence sensor by incorporating a fluorescent probe into a metal–organic framework (MOF). The fluorescent molecule Me4BOPHY‐1 acts as a recognition probe for the neurotoxin analog diethylchlorophosphite (DCP). The MOF (ZIF‐8) provides nanocavities for the confinement of guest molecules, which reduces the self‐aggregation of fluorescent molecules and pre‐enriches the target gas. By applying ZIF‐8 framework to disperse the fluorescent molecules, the ACQ effect of Me4BOPHY‐1 can be effectively overcome. The fluorescence quantum efficiency of the molecules is increased from 0.76% to 19.72%, which enables its ability for gas sensing with a fast response time of 3 s and a detection limit as low as 1.13 ppb. Besides, the MOF facilitates selectivity enhancement through the confinement effect, weakening the sensing response to the interference of HCl. Moreover, the confinement effect also ensures high photo‐stability as well as thermal stability. It can maintain fluorescence intensity under 4800 s’ laser irradiation. Thus, the host–guest design strategy offers a thin‐film fluorescence gas sensor with high 3S (sensitivity, selectivity, and stability) toward neurotoxin analytes.
Eliminating the Burn‐in Loss of Efficiency in Organic Solar Cells by Applying Dimer Acceptors as Supramolecular Stabilizers
Authors: Li Yanxun , Qi Feng , Fan Baobing , Liu Kai‐Kai , Yu Jifa , Fu Yuang , Liu Xianzhao , Wang Zhen , Zhang Sen , Lu Guanghao , Lu Xinhui , Fan Qunping , Chow Philip C. Y. , Ma Wei , Lin Francis R. , Jen Alex K.‐Y.
Published: April 2024

The meta‐stable active layer morphology of organic solar cells (OSCs) is identified as the main cause of the rapid burn‐in loss of power conversion efficiency (PCE) during long‐term device operation. However, effective strategies to eliminate the associated loss mechanisms from the initial stage of device operation are still lacking, especially for high‐efficiency material systems. Herein, the introduction of molecularly engineered dimer acceptors with adjustable thermal transition properties into the active layer of OSCs to serve as supramolecular stabilizers for regulating the thermal transitions and optimizing the crystallization of the absorber composites is reported. By establishing intimate π‐π interactions with small‐molecule acceptors, these stabilizers can effectively reduce the trap‐state density (Nt) in the devices to achieve excellent PCEs over 19%. More importantly, the low Nt associated with an initially optimized morphology can be maintained under external stresses to significantly reduce the PCE burn‐in loss in devices. This research reveals a judicious approach to improving OPV stability by establishing a comprehensive correlation between material properties, active‐layer morphology, and device performance, for developing burn‐in‐free OSCs.
Room‐Temperature Phosphorescence Hydrogel with Multiple Color Based on Salt‐Induced Aggregation
Authors: Yu Shunfeng , Zhang Jie , Chen Xiaoxiao , Wu Xinjun , Zhao Xin , Zhu Zhengdao , Zhang Jiawei , Zuo Yongkang , Zhao Chuanzhuang
Published: April 2024

Organic photoluminescent materials with room‐temperature phosphorescence (RTP) are of great interest, yet achieving RTP in hydrogels faces challenges due to water‐quenching effects. In this study, a straightforward method is presented to achieve RTP hydrogel using a self‐healing and salt‐hardening hydrogel. The hydrogel is synthesized by polymerizing acrylic acid (AA) with diethylenetriamine (DETA) as the dynamic crosslinker. The poly(acrylic acid)/DETA hydrogel could achieve an afterglow lasting 1.6 s after soaking with NaBr solution. The salt‐enhanced hydrophobic aggregation of the hydrogel network promotes the clustering of carboxyl groups and oxygen atoms, resulting in a rigid environment that suppresses nonradioactive transitions and leads to the manifestation of RTP. Additionally, the dynamic association of AA‐DETA allows the freeze‐dried hydrogel powder to be blended with various hydrophobic dyes, leading to a remodelable hydrogel with delayed emission of multiple colors. In general, by combining salt‐hardening property with self‐healing property together, a RTP hydrogel platform that can be facilely loaded with various organic dyes is proposed.
Low‐Cost, Large‐Area, and Highly Transparent Organic Glassy Scintillators for High Resolution X‐Ray Imaging
Authors: Quan Xin , Zhang Guo‐Zhen , Zhang Yang , Liao Qing , Chen Hong‐Ming , Lin Mei‐Jin
Published: April 2024

The architectural design and fabrication of low‐cost, high‐performance organic scintillators are critical for medical imaging and material/device analysis. However, achieving large‐area and high‐transparency organic scintillators in a low‐cost and easy‐to‐implement method remains a challenge. Herein, a new design strategy for regulating the side chain length of maleimide derivatives is demonstrated to develop organic scintillators for achieving low‐cost, large‐area, and high spatial resolution in X‐ray imaging. The effective intermolecular interactions and relatively twisted molecular structure endow PAM‐M4 molecule with outstanding scintillator properties. More importantly, as demonstrated for the first time, pure organic glassy films with a diameter over 10 cm and high optical transparency can be prepared by the developed melt‐quenched method using PAM‐M4 crystal powder as a raw material. This glassy film exhibits excellent X‐ray imaging ability with a spatial resolution as high as 27.0 lp mm−1 at MTF = 0.20, which is one of the best results among reported organic scintillators. The results of this work not only develop a new design strategy for high‐performance organic scintillators but also demonstrate a reliable approach to fabricating large area screens with superior spatial resolution for medical or industrial X‐ray imaging applications.
Hardware in Loop Learning with Spin Stochastic Neurons
Authors: Islam A N M Nafiul , Yang Kezhou , Shukla Amit Kumar , Khanal Pravin , Zhou Bowei , Wang Wei‐Gang , Sengupta Abhronil
Published: April 2024

Despite the promise of superior efficiency and scalability, real‐world deployment of emerging nanoelectronic platforms for brain‐inspired computing have been limited thus far, primarily because of inter‐device variations and intrinsic non‐idealities. In this work, mitigation of these issues is demonstrated by performing learning directly on practical devices through a hardware‐in‐loop approach, utilizing stochastic neurons based on heavy metal/ferromagnetic spin–orbit torque heterostructures. The probabilistic switching and device‐to‐device variability of the fabricated devices of various sizes is characterized to showcase the effect of device dimension on the neuronal dynamics and its consequent impact on network‐level performance. The efficacy of the hardware‐in‐loop scheme is illustrated in a deep learning scenario achieving equivalent software performance. This work paves the way for future large‐scale implementations of neuromorphic hardware and realization of truly autonomous edge‐intelligent devices.
Data‐driven classification of cognitively normal and mild cognitive impairment subtypes predicts progression in the NACC dataset
Authors: Edmonds Emily C. , Thomas Kelsey R. , Rapcsak Steven Z. , Lindemer Shannon L. , Delano‐Wood Lisa , Salmon David P. , Bondi Mark W.
Published: April 2024

INTRODUCTION

Data‐driven neuropsychological methods can identify mild cognitive impairment (MCI) subtypes with stronger associations to dementia risk factors than conventional diagnostic methods.

METHODS

Cluster analysis used neuropsychological data from participants without dementia (mean age = 71.6 years) in the National Alzheimer's Coordinating Center (NACC) Uniform Data Set (n = 26,255) and the “normal cognition” subsample (n = 16,005). Survival analyses examined MCI or dementia progression.

RESULTS

Five clusters were identified: “Optimal” cognitively normal (oCN; 13.2%), “Typical” CN (tCN; 28.0%), Amnestic MCI (aMCI; 25.3%), Mixed MCI‐Mild (mMCI‐Mild; 20.4%), and Mixed MCI‐Severe (mMCI‐Severe; 13.0%). Progression to dementia differed across clusters (oCN < tCN < aMCI < mMCI‐Mild < mMCI‐Severe). Cluster analysis identified more MCI cases than consensus diagnosis. In the “normal cognition” subsample, five clusters emerged: High‐All Domains (High‐All; 16.7%), Low‐Attention/Working Memory (Low‐WM; 22.1%), Low‐Memory (36.3%), Amnestic MCI (16.7%), and Non‐amnestic MCI (naMCI; 8.3%), with differing progression rates (High‐All < Low‐WM = Low‐Memory < aMCI < naMCI).

DISCUSSION

Our data‐driven methods outperformed consensus diagnosis by providing more precise information about progression risk and revealing heterogeneity in cognition and progression risk within the NACC “normal cognition” group.
Sex‐specific associations between AD genotype and the microbiome of human amyloid beta knock‐in (hAβ‐KI) mice
Authors: Dunham Sage J. B. , Avelar‐Barragan Julio , Rothman Jason A. , Adams Eric D. , Faraci Gina , Forner Stefania , Kawauchi Shimako , Tenner Andrea J. , Green Kim N. , LaFerla Frank M. , MacGregor Grant R. , Mapstone Mark , Whiteson Katrine L.
Published: April 2024

INTRODUCTION

Emerging evidence links changes in the gut microbiome to late‐onset Alzheimer's disease (LOAD), necessitating examination of AD mouse models with consideration of the microbiome.

METHODS

We used shotgun metagenomics and untargeted metabolomics to study the human amyloid beta knock‐in (hAβ‐KI) murine model for LOAD compared to both wild‐type (WT) mice and a model for early‐onset AD (3xTg‐AD).

RESULTS

Eighteen‐month female (but not male) hAβ‐KI microbiomes were distinct from WT microbiomes, with AD genotype accounting for 18% of the variance by permutational multivariate analysis of variance (PERMANOVA). Metabolomic diversity differences were observed in females, however no individual metabolites were differentially abundant. hAβ‐KI mice microbiomes were distinguishable from 3xTg‐AD animals (81% accuracy by random forest modeling), with separation primarily driven by Romboutsia ilealis and Turicibacter species. Microbiomes were highly cage specific, with cage assignment accounting for more than 40% of the PERMANOVA variance between the groups.

DISCUSSION

These findings highlight a sex‐dependent variation in the microbiomes of hAβ‐KI mice and underscore the importance of considering the microbiome when designing studies that use murine models for AD.

Highlights

Microbial diversity and the abundance of several species differed in human amyloid beta knock‐in (hAβ‐KI) females but not males.

Correlations to Alzheimer's disease (AD) genotype were stronger for the microbiome than the metabolome.

Microbiomes from hAβ‐KI mice were distinct from 3xTg‐AD mice.

Cage effects accounted for most of the variance in the microbiome and metabolome.
Revealing the Mechanism of Combining Best Properties of Homogeneous and Heterogeneous Catalysis in Hybrid Pd/NHC Systems
Authors: Prima Darya O. , Kulikovskaya Natalia S. , Novikov Roman A. , Kostyukovich Alexander Yu. , Burykina Julia V. , Chernyshev Victor M. , Ananikov Valentine P.
Published: April 2024

The formation of transient hybrid nanoscale metal species from homogeneous molecular precatalysts has been demonstrated by in situ NMR studies of catalytic reactions involving transition metals with N‐heterocyclic carbene ligands (M/NHC). These hybrid structures provide benefits of both molecular complexes and nanoparticles, enhancing the activity, selectivity, flexibility, and regulation of active species. However, they are challenging to identify experimentally due to the unsuitability of standard methods used for homogeneous or heterogeneous catalysis. Utilizing a sophisticated solid‐state NMR technique, we provide evidence for the formation of NHC‐ligated catalytically active Pd nanoparticles (PdNPs) from Pd/NHC complexes during catalysis. The coordination of NHCs via C(NHC)−Pd bonding to the metal surface was first confirmed by observing the Knight shift in the 13C NMR spectrum of the frozen reaction mixture. Computational modeling revealed that as little as few NHC ligands are sufficient for complete ligation of the surface of the formed PdNPs. Catalytic experiments combined with in situ NMR studies confirmed the significant effect of surface covalently bound NHC ligands on the catalytic properties of the PdNPs formed by decomposition of the Pd/NHC complexes. This observation shows the crucial influence of NHC ligands on the activity and stability of nanoparticulate catalytic systems.
PyrAtes: Modular Organic Salts with Large Stokes Shifts for Fluo‐rescence Microscopy
Authors: Saridakis Iakovos , Riomet Margaux , Belleza Oliver J. V. , Coussanes Guilhem , Singer Nadja K. , Kastner Nina , Xiao Yi , Smith Elliot , Tona Veronica , de la Torre Aurélien , Lopes Eric F. , Sánchez‐Murcia Pedro A. , González Leticia , Sitte Harald H. , Maulide Nuno
Published: April 2024

The deployment of small‐molecule fluorescent agents plays an ever‐growing role in medicine and drug development. Herein, we complement the portfolio of powerful fluorophores, reporting the serendipitous discovery and development of a novel class with an imidazo[1,2‐a]pyridinium triflate core, which we term PyrAtes. These fluorophores are synthesized in a single step from readily available materials (>60 examples) and display Stokes shifts as large as 240 nm, while also reaching NIR−I emissions at λmax as long as 720 nm. Computational studies allow the development of a platform for the prediction of λmax and λEm. Furthermore, we demonstrate the compatibility of these novel fluorophores with live cell imaging in HEK293 cells, suggesting PyrAtes as potent intracellular markers.
Development of wound dressing materials based on silk fibroin and transgenic silk fibroin with Arg‐Gly‐Asp motifs
Authors: Asakura Tetsuo , Kitayama Kasumi , Naito Akira
Published: April 2024

In this paper, wound dressing materials made of silk fibroin (SF) and transgenic SF with Arg‐Gly‐Asp motifs (TG‐RGD SF) were developed. Initially, an animal evaluation experiment with mice to demonstrate the usefulness of SF film as a wound dressing was performed. The amorphous SF film was shown to promote the formation of granulation tissue and neovessels in the dermis, leading to skin regeneration. As a result, amorphous SF film is suitable for use as a wound dressing materials. Then, the SF‐ Human umbilical vein endothelial cells signaling pathway was determined by cell proliferation assay with pharmacological inhibitors. Subsequently, a mice evaluation experiment to assess the promotion of healing effects using TG‐RGD SF was conducted and the results were compared with those obtained using SF. In the wound area evaluation and the quantitative evaluation of granulation tissue formation, the TG‐RGD SF film promoted dermis regeneration more than the SF film.
Sorption‐based treatment of flexographic printing packaging materials ink waste by synthesis of tri‐copolymers via gamma irradiation
Authors: Ibrahim Saber , Fahmy Hager , Lotfy Salah
Published: April 2024

The treatment or recovery of waste ink constitutes a significant process for the printing and packaging industries, particularly in the flexographic printing of packaging materials. This poses a substantial challenge in the field of waste management science. The application of waste ink recovery, ensuring a safe environment and human health, along with the recovery and sustainability of Earth's resources, has garnered significant global attention. The present research is solely devoted to creating innovative trends without technological barriers for synthesizing a tri‐copolymer to be applied as an effective sorption system for waste ink. The Polyethyleneimine‐Poly Glycidyl methacrylate‐polyethylene glycol diacrylate tri‐polymer (PEI‐PGMA‐PEGDA tri‐polymer) was synthesized and thoroughly investigated using FTIR, TGA, and DSC to confirm its chemical structure, thermal stability, and the shift in melting point affected by radiation dose, respectively. SEM analysis showed significant morphological differences in PEI‐PGMA‐PEGDA tri‐polymer samples before and after treatment with flexographic printing ink waste, offering effective strategies for adsorbing waste printing inks from organic solvents. These findings contribute to a comprehensive understanding of the investigated materials and their potential applications. Additionally, the kinetic study of the sorption efficiency of flexographic ink by two sets of tri‐copolymers with doses of 20 and 40 kGy indicated that 40 kGy has a more efficient capacity. The highest sorption capacity, approximately 97.6%, was observed for a sample of GMA 15% irradiated by 40 kGy with a sorption amount of 2.5 g L−1. This suggests that the current new treatment strategy can be categorized as highly effective waste ink management and should be advocated for in such domains to ensure a safe environment and preserve Earth's resources. The treatment of printing ink for packaging materials is a crucial step towards achieving green printing technology, which must be supported and advanced through research and industrial application.
Pig and dog use in the pre‐contact Society Island Chiefdoms: integrated ethnohistoric, archaeological and use‐web analyses
Authors: Kahn Jennifer G.
Published: April 2024

Pig and dog were highly valued animals in pre‐contact Polynesia. In this paper, I focus on pig and dog use in the resource rich, and hierarchically complex, pre‐contact Society Island chiefdoms. Utilizing ethnohistoric data and human‐centred use‐webs data, I provide a preliminary study of the diverse ways that pigs and dogs were used in pre‐contact Mā‘ohi life across 13 use categories. Ethnohistoric analyses indicate that pigs, and to some extent dogs, were intimately associated with elite ceremonial use, yet pigs were commonly associated with war and fertility rituals, while dogs were commonly associated with peacekeeping events. Preliminary comparison of pig and dog frequencies at eight excavated archaeological sites suggests pig bones far outnumber dog bones. There is also differential recovery of pig and dog bone in terms of site function and site status, with high status temples dating to the Centralization Phase having the highest incidence of both species. It is highly likely that the advent of the ‘Oro war cult led to intensified pig husbandry, given this animal's robust associations with ritual use, moral notions of chiefly power and cosmology. Why dog husbandry was less intensified in the Society Islands, and why this animal was perhaps accessed largely through long‐distance trade relationships, is an ongoing question.
Teaching children with autism spectrum disorder to mand for answers to questions via telehealth: A caregiver implementation
Authors: Swensson Remington M. , Akers Jessica S. , Austin Monserrat , Liu Renming , Swafford Lindsey B. , Gerow Stephanie
Published: April 2024

Manding for information is important because information is a valuable part of learning and interacting with our environment, allowing for more autonomy (i.e., access reinforcement). Despite the importance of this skill, individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) often do not engage in manding for information without explicit instruction. In the current study, we coached caregivers via telehealth to teach three children with ASD to mand for information using the phrase “I don't know, please tell me” (IDKPTM). All three participants independently engaged in the IDKPTM response for information during intervention and post intervention generalization probes. The results of this study extend the findings of previous research by demonstrating caregivers coached via telehealth can teach their children to mand for more information using the “IDKPTM” phrase. Additionally, the results of this study reflect the benefits of involving caregivers to implement evidence‐based interventions while being coached through telehealth.
Myokines: A central point in managing redox homeostasis and quality of life
Authors: Rathor Richa , Suryakumar Geetha
Published: April 2024

Redox homeostasis is a crucial phenomenon that is obligatory for maintaining the healthy status of cells. However, the loss of redox homeostasis may lead to numerous diseases that ultimately result in a compromised quality of life. Skeletal muscle is an endocrine organ that secretes hundreds of myokines. Myokines are peptides and cytokines produced and released by muscle fibers. Skeletal muscle secreted myokines act as a robust modulator for regulating cellular metabolism and redox homeostasis which play a prime role in managing and improving metabolic function in multiple organs. Further, the secretory myokines maintain redox homeostasis not only in muscles but also in other organs of the body via stabilizing oxidants and antioxidant levels. Myokines are also engaged in maintaining mitochondrial dynamics as mitochondria is a central point for the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Ergo, myokines also act as a central player in communicating signals to other organs, including the pancreas, gut, liver, bone, adipose tissue, brain, and skin via their autocrine, paracrine, or endocrine effects. The present review provides a comprehensive overview of skeletal muscle‐secreted myokines in managing redox homeostasis and quality of life. Additionally, probable strategies will be discussed that provide a solution for a better quality of life.
Identification of molecular characteristics of hepatocellular carcinoma with microvascular invasion based on deep targeted sequencing
Authors: Zheng Linlin , Wang Yaru , Liu Zhenrong , Wang Zhihao , Tao Changcheng , Wu Anke , Li Haiyang , Xiao Ting , Li Zhuo , Rong Weiqi
Published: April 2024

Background

As an indicator of tumor invasiveness, microvascular invasion (MVI) is a crucial risk factor for postoperative relapse, metastasis, and unfavorable prognosis in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Nevertheless, the genetic mechanisms underlying MVI, particularly for Chinese patients, remain mostly uncharted.

Methods

We applied deep targeted sequencing on 66 Chinese HCC samples. Focusing on the telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT) promoter (TERTp) and TP53 co‐mutation (TERTp+/TP53+) group, gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) was used to explore the potential molecular mechanisms of the TERTp+/TP53+ group on tumor progression and metastasis. Additionally, we evaluated the tumor immune microenvironment of the TERTp+/TP53+ group in HCC using multiplex immunofluorescence (mIF) staining.

Results

Among the 66 HCC samples, the mutated genes that mostly appeared were TERT, TP53, and CTNNB1. Of note, we found 10 cases with TERTp+/TP53+, of which nine were MVI‐positive and one was MVI‐negative, and there was a co‐occurrence of TERTp and TP53 (p < 0.05). Survival analysis demonstrated that patients with the TERTp+/TP53+ group had lower the disease‐free survival (DFS) (p = 0.028). GSEA results indicated that telomere organization, telomere maintenance, DNA replication, positive regulation of cell cycle, and negative regulation of immune response were significantly enriched in the TERTp+/TP53+ group (all adjusted p‐values (p.adj) < 0.05). mIF revealed that the TERTp+/TP53+ group decreased CD8+ T cells infiltration (p = 0.25) and enhanced PDL1 expression (p = 0.55).

Conclusions

TERTp+/TP53+ was significantly enriched in MVI‐positive patients, leading to poor prognosis for HCC patients by promoting proliferation of HCC cell and inhibiting infiltration of immune cell surrounding HCC. TERTp+/TP53+ can be utilized as a potential indicator for predicting MVI‐positive patients and poor prognosis, laying a preliminary foundation for further exploration of co‐mutation in HCC with MVI and clinical treatment.
Real‐world data of poly (ADP‐ribose) polymerase inhibitor response in Japanese patients with ovarian cancer
Authors: Uekusa Ryosuke , Yokoi Akira , Watanabe Eri , Yoshida Kosuke , Yoshihara Masato , Tamauchi Satoshi , Shimizu Yusuke , Ikeda Yoshiki , Yoshikawa Nobuhisa , Niimi Kaoru , Suzuki Shiro , Kajiyama Hiroaki
Published: April 2024

Background

Poly (ADP‐ribose) polymerase (PARP) inhibitors have been increasingly used in the treatment of ovarian cancer, with BRCA positivity and homologous recombination deficiency (HRD) being common biomarkers used for predicting their efficacy. However, given the limitations of these biomarkers, new ones need to be explored.

Methods

This retrospective study included 181 ovarian cancer patients who received olaparib or niraparib at two independent hospitals in Japan between May 2018 and December 2022. Clinical information and blood sampling data were collected. Patient characteristics, treatment history, and predictability of treatment duration based on blood data before treatment initiation were examined.

Results

High‐grade serous carcinoma, BRCA positivity, HRD, and maintenance therapy after recurrence treatment were observed more frequently in the olaparib group than in the niraparib group. The most common reasons for treatment interruption were anemia, fatigue, and nausea in the olaparib group and thrombocytopenia in the niraparib group. Regarding response to olaparib treatment, complete response to the most recent treatment, maintenance therapy after the first chemotherapy, high‐grade serous carcinoma, and germline BRCA positivity were observed significantly more frequently among responders than among non‐responders. Furthermore, neutrophil counts were significantly higher among responders than among non‐responders.

Conclusions

Inflammation‐related blood data, such as neutrophil count, obtained at the initial pre‐treatment visit might serve as potential predictors for prolonged olaparib treatment. While this study offers valuable insights into potential indicators for prolonged olaparib treatment, it underscores the need for more expansive research to strengthen our understanding of PARP inhibitors and optimize treatment strategies in ovarian cancer.
A population study comparing tracheal and lung adenoid cystic carcinoma
Authors: Gu Yu , Lai Songtao , Wang Yang , Yang Juan , Zhou Ping , Chen Tianxiang
Published: April 2024

Background

Thoracic adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC) is rare, and the differences between tracheal and lung lesions have not been fully understood.

Methods

Patients were identified from a Chinese cancer center (FUSCC) (2005–2022) and the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database (2000–2019). Incidence was calculated and trends were quantified. Clinicopathological features and overall survival (OS) were analyzed. Nomograms predicting OS were constructed.

Results

Totally, 55 tracheal adenoid cystic carcinoma (TACC) and 25 lung and bronchus adenoid cystic carcinoma (LACC) were included in a Chinese cohort, 121 TACC and 162 LACC included in the SEER cohort. There were larger tumor sizes, more lymph nodes and distant metastases for LACC than TACC patients. TACC patients are more likely to get local treatments. Patients with LACC had significantly worse median OS than patients with TACC (SEER cohort: 68.0 months vs. 109.0 months, p = 0.001, Chinese cohort: 62.9 months vs. 124.8 months, p = 0.061). Age, lymph node metastasis, distant metastasis and local treatment were identified as independent prognostic factors for OS of TACC. Distant metastasis and local treatment were identified for LACC. Specifically, surgery alone or in combination with radiotherapy is crucial for improving survival in both TACC and LACC. Only TACC benefits from radiotherapy alone, while chemotherapy does not improve survival for either. The nomograms constructed using these factors revealed good prognostic accuracy.

Conclusions

LACC is more aggressive and has a worse prognosis than TACC. TACC patients have more opportunities for local treatment, which is important for the prognosis of both TACC and LACC. Nomograms were created for TACC and LACC to aid in personalized survival predictions and clinical decisions.
The inverted U‐shaped relationship between epinephrine and pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma patients' survival with compensation of lymphocyte
Authors: Li Bing‐Xue , Zhu Xiao‐Cen , Deng Xia‐Xing
Published: April 2024

Background

The relationship between epinephrine and cancer can be dose‐dependent in in vivo study. Whether it is the same in human body still needs verification.

Method

We used frozen human pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) tissues to detect epinephrine content and analyzed its relationship with survival using the K‐M method and Cox regression. Disturbance of blood cell count and C‐reactive protein and identification of related potent intermediary factors were also analyzed.

Results

K‐M plot and Cox regression all showed the inverted U‐shaped relationship between epinephrine and PDAC survival. Lymphocyte adjustment can increase the HRs of epinephrine for PDAC death by >10%.

Conclusion

Epinephrine played an anti‐tumor or pro‐tumor effect depending on the specific concentration. Circulating lymphocyte count was elevated and might acted as a compensation pathway to reduce the pro‐tumor effect of epinephrine to PDAC.
Treatment outcome and germline predictive factors of ropeginterferon alpha‐2b in myeloproliferative neoplasm patients
Authors: Chen Chih‐Cheng , Kuo Ming‐Chung , Wang Ying‐Hsuan , Pei Sung‐Nan , Huang Ming‐Lih , Chen Chiu‐Chen , Huang Cih‐En , Chen Yi‐Yang , Shih Lee‐Yung
Published: April 2024

Background

Studies have shown that some single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) could serve as excellent markers in foretelling the treatment outcome of interferon (IFN) in myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPN). However, most work originated from western countries, and data from different ethnic populations have been lacking.

Methods

To gain insights, targeted sequencing was performed to detect myeloid‐associated mutations and SNPs in eight loci across three genes (IFNL4, IFN‐γ, and inosine triphosphate pyrophosphatase [ITPA]) to explore their predictive roles in our cohort of 21 ropeginterferon alpha‐2b (ROPEG)‐treated MPN patients, among whom real‐time quantitative PCR was also performed periodically to monitor the JAK2V617F allele burden in 19 JAK2V617F‐mutated cases.

Results

ELN response criteria were adopted to designate patients as good responders if they achieved complete hematological responses (CHR) within 1 year (CHR1) or attained major molecular responses (MMR), which occurred in 70% and 45% of the patients, respectively. IFNL4 and IFN‐γ gene SNPs were infrequent in our population and were thus excluded from further analysis. Two ITPA SNPs rs6051702 A>C and rs1127354 C>A were associated with an inferior CHR1 rate and MMR rate, respectively. The former seemed to be linked to grade 2 or worse hepatotoxicity as well, although the comparison was of borderline significance only (50%, vs. 6.7% in those with common haplotype, p = 0.053). Twelve patients harbored 19 additional somatic mutations in 12 genes, but the trajectory of these mutations varied considerably and was not predictive of any response.

Conclusions

Overall, this study provided valuable information on the ethnics‐ and genetics‐based algorithm in the treatment of MPN.
Cobalamins Function as Allosteric Activators of an Angelman Syndrome‐Associated UBE3A/E6AP Variant
Authors: Müller Franziska , Jansen Jasmin , Offensperger Fabian , Eichbichler Daniela , Stengel Florian , Scheffner Martin
Published: April 2024

Genetic aberrations of the maternal UBE3A allele, which encodes the E3 ubiquitin ligase E6AP, are the cause of Angelman syndrome (AS), an imprinting disorder. In most cases, the maternal UBE3A allele is not expressed. Yet, approximately 10 percent of AS individuals harbor distinct point mutations in the maternal allele resulting in the expression of full‐length E6AP variants that frequently display compromised ligase activity. In a high‐throughput screen, we identified cyanocobalamin, a vitamin B12‐derivative, and several alloxazine derivatives as activators of the AS‐linked E6AP‐F583S variant. Furthermore, we show by cross‐linking coupled to mass spectrometry that cobalamins affect the structural dynamics of E6AP‐F583S and apply limited proteolysis coupled to mass spectrometry to obtain information about the regions of E6AP that are involved in, or are affected by binding cobalamins and alloxazine derivatives. Our data suggest that dietary supplementation with vitamin B12 can be beneficial for AS individuals.
Advancements in Modelling the Tribocorrosion Current
Authors: Feyzi Mohsen , Stack Margaret M , Hashemi Reza
Published: April 2024

Tribocorrosion in passive metals involves a complex and interactive mechanism between mechanical and electrochemical actions at a rubbing contact in a corrosive environment. The mechanical wear mechanism disrupts the passive film on the metal surface; and instantly, the metal repassivates and dissolves in the corrosive environment. This surface damage failure can occur in various components such as marine structures and medical implants which can force significant downtime and repair costs. In this article, historical advancement in the well‐known theories and models which have been developed for passivation and tribocorrosion current (as a measure for wear‐accelerated corrosion) is presented and discussed. The strengths and limitations associated with the models are reviewed to generate an overall picture of the progress in the field. The links between different models are also discussed and finally, some possible directions for future research are suggested.
Chiral Metal‐Organic Frameworks with Spectroscopic Methods: Towards Chemical Sensor Devices
Authors: Hubber Angus , Hua Carol
Published: April 2024

Chiral Metal‐Organic Frameworks (CMOFs) are a rapidly growing field reflecting their potential as selective and sensitive chemical sensors for chiral analytes. The highly tuneable nature of CMOFs enables the size, shape, and non‐covalent interactions to be optimised towards specific analytes to engender strong intermolecular interactions and sensing responses. While CMOFs as chiral chemical sensor devices have been explored with electrochemical methods including differential pulse voltammetry (DPV), bipolar and chemiresistive sensing techniques, the CMOFs as chiral chemical sensors using spectroscopic methods has received significantly less attention. This review examines the synthesis of CMOFs for chemical sensors with spectroscopic methods such as photoluminescence, circular dichroism, and solid‐state nuclear magnetic resonance with a view towards their incorporation into chemical sensor devices. Future directions of the field are highlighted for the generation of functional devices.
The Effect of Basic Ligands and Alkenes on the Regioselectivity of C−H Additions of Tertiary Amines to Alkenes
Authors: Li Da , Wang Yuji , Wang Shiyu , Dong Shunxi
Published: April 2024

Highly regioselective C−H alkylation reactions of tertiary anilines and tertiary alkyl amines with simple alkenes have been achieved by the use of imidazolin‐2‐iminato scandium alkyl complexes. This protocol provided an efficient and atom‐economical route to structurally diverse tertiary amine derivatives. The basic ligand, a coordinating THF in the catalyst and the substitution of alkene substrates were found to switch the regioselectivity of the C−H alkylation reactions of tertiary anilines presumably due to the generation of different types of catalytically active species or the formation of relatively stable intermediates. On the basis of the deuterium labeling experiments and KIE experiments, possible catalytical cycles were provided to understand the reaction mechanism as well as the regioselectivity.
Chemical and Chemoenzymatic Synthesis of Peptide and Protein Therapeutics Conjugated with Human N‐Glycans
Authors: Ochiai Hirofumi , Elouali Sofia , Yamamoto Takahiro , Asai Hiroaki , Noguchi Masato , Nishiuchi Yuji
Published: April 2024

Glycosylation is one of the most ubiquitous post‐translational modifications. It affects the structure and function of peptides/proteins and consequently has a significant impact on various biological events. However, the structural complexity and heterogeneity of glycopeptides/proteins caused by the diversity of glycan structures and glycosylation sites complicates the detailed elucidation of glycan function and hampers their clinical applications. To address these challenges, chemical and/or enzyme‐assisted synthesis methods have been developed to realize glycopeptides/proteins with well‐defined glycan morphologies. In particular, N‐glycans are expected to be useful for improving the solubility, in vivo half‐life and aggregation of bioactive peptides/proteins that have had limited clinical applications so far due to their short duration of action in the blood and unsuitable physicochemical properties. Chemical glycosylation performed in a post‐synthetic procedure can be used to facilitate the development of glycopeptide/protein analogues or mimetics that are superior to the original molecules in terms of physicochemical and pharmacokinetic properties. N‐glycans are used to modify targets because they are highly biodegradable and biocompatible and have structures that already exist in the human body. On the practical side, from a quality control perspective, close attention should be paid to their structural homogeneity when they are to be applied to pharmaceuticals.
Photoluminescent Carbon Quantum Dots from Dichrostachys glomerata Pods with Antioxidant and Cu2+ Chelating Properties
Authors: Djiazet Steve , Desmarets Christophe , Rinnert Hervé , Jasniewski Jordane , Medjahdi Ghouti , Balan Lavinia , Schneider Raphaël
Published: April 2024

This work presents the facile and single‐step hydrothermal synthesis of carbon quantum dots (CQDs) using the Dichrostachys glomerata extract as raw material. CQDs with the highest photoluminescence (PL) were obtained after heating the extract in 4 M NaOH at 200 °C for 7 h. The obtained CQDs exhibit an average size of ca. 4.7 nm, a green‐yellow PL emission independent on the excitation wavelength with contributions located at 478 and 562 nm, a monoexponential decay of their PL lifetime and a PL quantum yield of 18 %. These results indicate that the surface functionalization of sp2 clusters in CQDs is uniform. The antioxidant properties of CQDs were also investigated. CQDs can effectively reduce free radicals like superoxide or oxidants like KMnO4. Moreover, CQDs show a high Cu2+ chelating activity, which is attributed to the abundant carboxylate functions on their surface and may therefore be of high interest in therapeutic applications related to Cu2+ ions overload.
Pharmacokinetics of Nitazoxanide Dry Suspensions After Single Oral Doses in Healthy Subjects: Food Effects Evaluation and Bioequivalence Study
Authors: Zhang Chenning , Liang Rui , Liu Dejie , Wang Xianghua , Yang Shuhua , Hu Qingwen , Wen Qing , Zhao Hengli
Published: April 2024

Nitazoxanide (NTZ) is an effective antiparasitic drug with potent antiviral and antimicrobial activity. This randomized, open‐label, 2‐sequence, 2‐period crossover trial was designed to evaluate the bioequivalence (BE) of the NTZ dry suspension in healthy subjects and investigated the effect of food intake on the pharmacokinetic (PK) properties of tizoxanide (an active metabolite of NTZ, TIZ). Sixty healthy Chinese subjects were enrolled and received a single dose of 500 mg/25 mL of preparations on days 1 and 4 under overnight fasting or fed conditions, respectively. The plasma concentration of TIZ was determined using high‐performance liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry. PK parameters were calculated using WinNonlin 8.2 and BE was evaluated using SAS 9.4. The 90% confidence intervals for the geometric mean ratio (test/reference) of maximum concentration (Cmax), the area under the curve from time 0 to the time of the last quantifiable concentration (AUC0‐t), and the area under the curve from time 0 to extrapolation to infinity (AUC0‐∞) were all within the equivalent interval of 80%‐125%, compliant with BE requirements. In comparison with fasting, on taking the reference and test preparations of the NTZ dry suspension after a meal, the AUC0‐t increased by 48.9% and 47.3%, respectively, the AUC0‐∞ increased by 48.4% and 48.3%, respectively, and the post‐meal Tmax was prolonged by 1.8‐2 hours. Our results demonstrate that the test and reference preparations were bioequivalent. High‐fat meals significantly improve the degree of drug absorption and delay the rate of drug absorption.
EPIDL: Towards efficient and privacy‐preserving inference in deep learning
Authors: Nie Chenfei , Zhou Zhipeng , Dong Mianxiong , Ota Kaoru , Li Qiang
Published: April 2024

Deep learning has shown its great potential in real‐world applications. However, users(clients) who want to use deep learning applications need to send their data to the deep learning service provider (server), which can make the client's data leak to the server, resulting in serious privacy concerns. To address this issue, we propose a protocol named EPIDL to perform efficient and secure inference tasks on neural networks. This protocol enables the client and server to complete inference tasks by performing secure multi‐party computation (MPC) and the client's private data is kept secret from the server. The work in EPIDL can be summarized as follows: First, we optimized the convolution operation and matrix multiplication, such that the total communication can be reduced; Second, we proposed a new method for truncation following secure multiplication based on oblivious transfer and garbled circuits, which will not fail and can be executed together with the ReLU activation function; Finally, we replace complex activation function with MPC‐friendly approximation function. We implement our work in C++ and accelerate the local matrix computation with CUDA support. We evaluate the efficiency of EPIDL in privacy‐preserving deep learning inference tasks, such as the time to execute a secure inference on the MNIST dataset in the LeNet model is about 0.14 s. Compared with the state‐ofthe‐art work, our work is 1.8–98 faster over LAN and WAN, respectively. The experimental results show that our EPIDL is efficient and privacy‐preserving.