bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Kontroversi Spirit Doll dan Spirit Ketauhidan: Analisis Pesan Para Daâ€™I terkait Fenomena Spirit Doll
Authors: Lukman Hakim
Published: July 2023

The phenomenon of spirit dolls has recently become a hot topic of discussion. Many people treat this doll as if it were a baby, lavishing it with love and attention. It is the positive feedback from its users that has increased its popularity, and the price is also rising. Researchers investigated this using a qualitative approach and library research methods, focusing on the responses of the da'I and Islamic organizations to this spirit doll. As a result, the da'i studied all agreed that playing with and caring for the doll was permissible as long as it did not become excessive and became a wasilah to gain the glory and happiness of living in the world. The preachers gave teachings that addressed three different aspects: cognitive, emotive, and psychomotor. The da'i have imparted a great deal of information regarding dolls, spirits, and their many dimensions in a clear and obvious manner. The da'i also cautioned Muslims against becoming entangled in trends that could lead to polytheism. Finally, the da'i recommended people to make the most of their resources, energy, and time so that they can be channeled to the clear and good, such as caring for orphans, paying recompense and donations to those who are entitled, and a variety of other qualities.
Penerapan Metode User Centered Design dalam Sebuah Aplikasi Penyewaan Ruang Studio Berbasis Website Pada Studio Intro Semarang
Authors: Ramadhan Dwiki Satria , Nurraharjo Eddy
Published: July 2023

Studio Intro Semarang merupakan salah satu studio musik yang ada di kota Semarang. Studio ini memliki kendala yaitu kurangnya promosi dikarenakan terhalang pandemic Covid-19 yang menyebabkan studio kurang dikenal masyarakat luas. Proses reservasi masih dilakukan secara manual yang menyebabkan pengguna studio harus datang langsung akan membuang banyak waktu. Pendataan yang dilakukan juga menggunakan cara manual dengan resiko kehilangan data. Oleh karena itu untuk mempermudah proses penyewaan dan pengelolaan di Studio Intro Semarang, dibuatlah sistem informasi penyewaan dan pengelolaan ruang studio berbasis website. Perancangan sistem informasi penyewaan ini dilakukan dengan menerapkan metode User Centered Design dengan menggunakan bahasa pemrograman PHP dan database MySQL. Hasil pengujian menggunakan black box testing dapat diambil kesimpulan bahwa sistem yang telah dibuat dapat berfungsi dan presentase keberhasilan dari setiap menu yaitu 100%.
Development of Image Series Media in Text Descriptive to Improve English Speaking Skills
Authors: Ernaeni Ernaeni , Herpratiwi Herpratiwi , Sukirlan Muhammad
Published: July 2023

Speaking skills are seen as a very important skill to be understood by learners of a language. This is related to the function of language as a means of communication which requires its users to be able to use the language in real communication. The implication of this is that teachers should be able to create a learning environment that is able to facilitate learners to practice functional expressions actively and communicatively. Meanwhile, speaking skill is considered as one of the language skills that is used as a benchmark in determining the quality of ability. This research uses the method of methods (SLR). regarding research methods: "Literature" which means it is a critical analysis of the research that is being done on a special topic or in the form of a question to a part of science. helps us in compiling a framework that is in accordance with the theory, findings, and results of previous research in solving the problem formulation in the research that we make. The SLR method is used to identify, review, evaluate and interpret all available research with the topic area of the phenomenon of interest, with specific relevant research questions. With the use of the SLR Method, a systematic review and identification of journals can be carried out. The results of the study are described basically the ability to speak can be influenced by the methods and media provided, the initial stimulus carried out by the teacher will be able to stimulate the child's ability, especially at the psychomotor level, interesting learning media will certainly have an influence on students during the teaching and learning process in the classroom. For this reason, the role of the teacher as a facilitator is expected in providing stimulus to students.
ETHICAL SENSITIVITY: A COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF PHARMACY STUDENTS TAKING AND NOT TAKING AN ETHICS COURSE IN TERMS OF VARIOUS VARIABLES
Authors: ULUTAŞ DENİZ Elif , EREN Rumeysa
Published: July 2023

Objective: The present study aimed to assess ethical sensitivity in second, third, fourth, and fifth-year pharmacy students who have already completed the ethics course in Erzurum province, Turkey, as well as first-year pharmacy students who have not yet taken the ethics course in terms of various variables.
Material and Method: This study adopts a cross-sectional design to compare the ethical sensitivity of two groups of pharmacy students: those who have completed an ethics course and those who have not. This study included 476 out of 840 undergraduate pharmacy students from Erzurum province. Differences in ethical sensitivity based on demographic characteristics were analyzed using t-tests and ANOVA. The level of statistical significance was set at 0.05.
Result and Discussion: In the comparison between students who have taken the ethics course and those who have not, a statistically significant difference was found between female and male students who have taken the ethics course (p=0.00), indicating that gender plays a role in ethical sensitivity among students who have received ethics education. However, among students who have not taken the ethics course, no statistically significant difference was found between genders (p=0.13). No statistically significant difference was observed among students in different university classes. In the study assessing professional ethical sensitivity among pharmacy students, it was found that their level of ethical sensitivity was above average. To cultivate a heightened level of professional ethical sensitivity, it is widely believed that pharmacy education should integrate more comprehensive training focused on emphasizing the significance of professional behavior and ethical values.
Utilizing Dip-Coating to Fabricate Gate Dielectric and Semiconductor for Thin-Film Transistors
Authors: Kim Yongwan , Ha Young-Geun
Published: July 2023

The potential applications of advanced electronic materials in large-area, printable, and flexible electronics have generated significant interest. However, creating high-performance, low-voltage thin-film transistors (TFTs) for these applications remains difficult due to a lack of advanced gate dielectric and semiconductor materials that meet both ease-of-fabrication requirements and high electrical performance. In this study, we present high-performance gate dielectric thin-films, which were fabricated using a facile solution-based technique, and then employed to realize low operating voltage organic and metal oxide semiconductor-based thin-film transistors. The high-k oxide gate dielectrics were produced via a simple dip-coating method, resulting in the formation of thin-oxide layers. These novel oxide gate dielectrics demonstrated exceptional dielectric properties, with large capacitances (up to 430 nF/ cm2), low-level leakage current densities (< 3 × 10-8A/cm2 at 4 V), featureless morphology (rms roughness < 0.36 nm), and high transparency (> 85%). Consequently, these dip-coated gate dielectrics can be incorporated into thin-film transistors, utilizing pentacene as p-type organic semiconductors. Furthermore, by employing dip-coating, indium oxide and indium-gallium-zinc oxide can be utilized as n-type inorganic semiconductors, allowing for the fabrication of low-voltage operation and high-performance inorganic TFTs. The resulting TFTs functioned at ultralow voltages (< ± 2 V) and achieved high transistor performance (hole mobility: 0.28 cm2V-1·s-1, electron mobility: ~2.0 cm2V-1·s-1 and on/off current ratio >105).
Transition Metal Dichalcogenide WS2 Films Prepared with a Combination of Spin/Dip Coating and CVD
Authors: Choi Woon-Seop
Published: July 2023

Recently, transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDCs) with 2D structure have attracted interest due to their many unique optical and electrical properties. The primary preparation methods for 2D materials are chemical vapor deposition (CVD), exfoliation, and other vacuum technologies. Large-scale synthesis of WS2 via solution-process is rare due to the higher temperature needed for tungsten-based precursors. Combination of spin coating or dip coating with CVD have been studied recently to make large-area 2D TMDC with good electrical properties. Here, we report a new synthetic route for large WS2 crystal that combined solution coatings and CVD process. A solution of sodium tungstate and hydrazine hydrate with sodium thiosulphate was coated on a silicon wafer via dip and spin coating. The films were then treated with CVD at various positions and temperatures to facilitate crystallization. The double coating conditions and CVD parameters were modified to obtain WS2 crystals. Triangular shaped 44 ± 4 µm WS2 crystals could be obtained with simple annealing above 900oC without gas treatment. The synthesized WS2 was found to be bulk with a triangular shape, as confirmed by Raman and AFM analyses. A PL peak of WS2 at 643 nm was observed at an early crystallization stage.
Toplumsal Cinsiyet Tarihçiliği Nedir?
Authors: Tüvür Safiye
Published: July 2023

“Toplumsal cinsiyet farklı zaman ve mekânlarda değişen anlamlar barındırabilir mi?’ ya da “Her dönemde her toplum erkek ve kadını var olduğuna inandıkları bedensel farklılıkları temelinde ayırt etmiş midir?” Sonya Orleans Rose’un kaleme aldığı Toplumsal Cinsiyet Tarihçiliği Nedir? başlıklı kitabı bu sorulara cevap aramaktadır.
Emerging evidence-based innovative approaches to control catheter-associated urinary tract infection: a review
Authors: Rajaramon Shobana , Shanmugam Karthi , Dandela Rambabu , Solomon Adline Princy
Published: July 2023

Healthcare settings have dramatically advanced the latest medical devices, such as urinary catheters (UC) for infection, prevention, and control (IPC). The continuous or intermittent flow of a warm and conducive (urine) medium in the medical device, the urinary catheter, promotes the formation of biofilms and encrustations, thereby leading to the incidence of CAUTI. Additionally, the absence of an innate immune host response in and around the lumen of the catheter reduces microbial phagocytosis and drug action. Hence, the review comprehensively overviews the challenges posed by CAUTI and associated risks in patients’ morbidity and mortality. Also, detailed, up-to-date information on the various strategies that blended/tailored the surface properties of UC to have anti-fouling, biocidal, and anti-adhesive properties to provide an outlook on how they can be better managed with futuristic solutions.
Bayesian network meta-analysis comparing hot balloon, laser balloon and cryoballoon ablation as initial therapies for atrial fibrillation
Authors: Wu Chenxia , Hu Luoxia , Kong Youjin , Zhao Bowen , Mao Wei , Zhou Xinbin
Published: July 2023

Background

Balloon-based catheter ablation (CA) technologies, including hot balloon ablation (HBA), laser balloon ablation (LBA) and cryoballoon ablation (CBA) have been introduced in recent years as alternatives to conventional radiofrequency ablation therapy for atrial fibrillation (AF). However, the results remain controversial concerning the optimal approach. Thus, we conducted a network meta-analysis (NMA) to comprehensively evaluate the efficacy and safety of HBA, LBA and CBA.

Methods

Clinical trials comparing the efficacy and safety of HBA, LBA and CBA were identified through a systematic search up to October 2022. The primary outcomes of interest were the recurrence of AF and procedure-related complications.

Results

Twenty clinical trials with a total of 1,995 patients were included in the meta-analysis. The NMA results demonstrated that HBA, LBA and CBA had comparable AF recurrence rates (HBA vs. CBA: odds ratio OR = 0.88, 95% credible interval CrI: 0.56–1.4; LBA vs. CBA: OR = 1.1, 95% CrI: 0.75–1.5; LBA vs. HBA: OR = 1.2, 95% CrI: 0.70–2.0) and procedure-related complications (HBA vs. CBA: OR = 0.93, 95% CrI: 0.46–2.3; LBA vs. CBA: OR = 1.1, 95% CrI: 0.63–2.1; LBA vs. HBA: OR = 1.2, 95% CrI: 0.44–2.8). The surface under the cumulative ranking curve (SUCRA) suggested that HBA may be the optimal approach concerning the primary outcomes (SUCRA = 74.4%; 61.1%, respectively). However, HBA (40.1%) had a significantly higher incidence of touch-up ablation (TUA) than LBA (8.5%, OR = 2.8, 95% CrI: 1.1–7.1) and CBA (11.9%, OR = 3.7, 95% CrI: 1.9–7.5). LBA required more procedure time than CBA [mean difference (MD = 32.0 min, 95% CrI: 19.0–45.0 min)] and HBA (MD = 26.0 min, 95% CrI: 5.6–45.0 min), but less fluoroscopy time than HBA (MD = −9.4 min, 95% CrI: −17.0–−2.4 min).

Conclusions

HBA, LBA and CBA had comparable efficacy and safety as initial treatments for AF. HBA ranked highest in the primary outcomes, but at the cost of a higher incidence of TUA and longer fluoroscopy time.

Systematic Review Registration

www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?ID=CRD42022381954, identifier: CRD42022381954.
Designing a video consultation area for hybrid care delivery: the Garden Room with a view
Authors: Smits Merlijn , van Dalen Demi , Popping Danny , Bleeker René , Stommel Martijn W. J. , van Goor Harry
Published: July 2023

Introduction

Accelerated by the coronavirus pandemic, the healthcare landscape is rapidly evolving, with a shift towards hybrid care models combining in-person and online care. To support this shift, the Radboudumc, an academic hospital in the Netherlands, decided to redesign an existing space facilitating the conduction of video consultations.

Method

The design process involved participation of end-users to ensure that the physical space met their needs. The look and feel of the area was based on evidence-based design guidelines. Two prototype setups were built and tested, and the feedback informed the final design of the Garden Room.

Results

Identified end-user needs were divided into 3 major categories entailing consultation room setup, optimal use of technology and practical issues involving room availability. Combined with the look and feel of the hospital, final design requirements were developed. The Garden Room consists of 18 video consultation rooms, 4 shared workspaces, relaxation area with kitchen, and meeting rooms. Specific attention is given to the ergonomics, technology and privacy in the rooms to facilitate optimal video conversations between patients and healthcare providers. In the Garden Room, natural elements and an open design supports working in a healing environment.

Discussion

Next challenge will be optimizing the use of the Garden Room, which may be hindered by various barriers like resistance to change, existing work processes, and lack of skills training. To address these barriers and support use of the Garden Room, the hospital should focus on the implementation of education, changes in work processes, and the presence of advocates for telehealth.
Geological hazards in the Oujiang estuary in the Zhejiang Province, China: type, distribution, and origin
Authors: Jiang Shenghui , Dong Chao , Feng Jing , Cheng Haiyan , Yang Jiaojiao , Li Meina , Wang Jianqiang , Chen Xuanbo , Zhou Yubo
Published: July 2023

Introduction: As our understanding of the ocean and its uses continues to advance, countries worldwide with ocean access are implementing new marine strategies. For example, understanding marine geological disasters can help develop the use of ocean resources and oceanic engineering.

Methods: Therefore, this study used recent data from the Oujiang Estuary, a nearshore area in China, to determine its geological hazards.

Results: The geological hazards were classified as active or restricted based on topography, geomorphology, shallow seismic profile, single-channel seismic profile, and geological drilling data. Active geological hazards primarily include shallow gas and active sand waves, whereas restrictive geological hazards include irregularly buried bedrock, erosion channels, steep submarine slopes, and buried paleochannels. We also evaluated the distribution characteristics and scope, such as the vertical distribution of shallow gas based on the seismic profiles, drilling rock facies, methane, and carbon dioxide contents in the top air, and the isotope values. We found that shallow gas was vertically distributed among multiple layers. The main gas-bearing layers were the clayey silt and sandy (silt) clay layers of the early Holocene and late Pleistocene strata. The shallow gas content was relatively low in the coarse sediment layer at the bottom of the late Pleistocene succession. Generally, the Holocene and late Pleistocene deposits do not contain gas, and the gas content in the middle and late Pleistocene strata (at greater depths) is relatively low.

Discussion: The combined effects of the regional geological structure, sea level changes, modern hydrodynamics, and human activities have formed the geological environment of the Oujiang Estuary.
Text mining-based identification of promising miRNA biomarkers for diabetes mellitus
Authors: Li Xin , Dai Andrea , Tran Richard , Wang Jie
Published: July 2023

Introduction

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small, non-coding RNAs that play a critical role in diabetes development. While individual studies investigating the mechanisms of miRNA in diabetes provide valuable insights, their narrow focus limits their ability to provide a comprehensive understanding of miRNAs’ role in diabetes pathogenesis and complications.

Methods

To reduce potential bias from individual studies, we employed a text mining-based approach to identify the role of miRNAs in diabetes and their potential as biomarker candidates. Abstracts of publications were tokenized, and biomedical terms were extracted for topic modeling. Four machine learning algorithms, including Naïve Bayes, Decision Tree, Random Forest, and Support Vector Machines (SVM), were employed for diabetes classification. Feature importance was assessed to construct miRNA-diabetes networks.

Results

Our analysis identified 13 distinct topics of miRNA studies in the context of diabetes, and miRNAs exhibited a topic-specific pattern. SVM achieved a promising prediction for diabetes with an accuracy score greater than 60%. Notably, miR-146 emerged as one of the critical biomarkers for diabetes prediction, targeting multiple genes and signal pathways implicated in diabetic inflammation and neuropathy.

Conclusion

This comprehensive approach yields generalizable insights into the network miRNAs-diabetes network and supports miRNAs’ potential as a biomarker for diabetes.
A physical map of traits of agronomic importance based on potato and tomato genome sequences
Authors: Gebhardt Christiane
Published: July 2023

Potato, tomato, pepper, and eggplant are worldwide important crop and vegetable species of the Solanaceae family. Molecular linkage maps of these plants have been constructed and used to map qualitative and quantitative traits of agronomic importance. This research has been undertaken with the vision to identify the molecular basis of agronomic characters on the one hand, and on the other hand, to assist the selection of improved varieties in breeding programs by providing DNA-based markers that are diagnostic for specific agronomic characters. Since 2011, whole genome sequences of tomato and potato became available in public databases. They were used to combine the results of several hundred mapping and map-based cloning studies of phenotypic characters between 1988 and 2022 in physical maps of the twelve tomato and potato chromosomes. The traits evaluated were qualitative and quantitative resistance to pathogenic oomycetes, fungi, bacteria, viruses, nematodes, and insects. Furthermore, quantitative trait loci for yield and sugar content of tomato fruits and potato tubers and maturity or earliness were physically mapped. Cloned genes for pathogen resistance, a few genes underlying quantitative trait loci for yield, sugar content, and maturity, and several hundred candidate genes for these traits were included in the physical maps. The comparison between the physical chromosome maps revealed, in addition to known intrachromosomal inversions, several additional inversions and translocations between the otherwise highly collinear tomato and potato genomes. The integration of the positional information from independent mapping studies revealed the colocalization of qualitative and quantitative loci for resistance to different types of pathogens, called resistance hotspots, suggesting a similar molecular basis. Synteny between potato and tomato with respect to genomic positions of quantitative trait loci was frequently observed, indicating eventual similarity between the underlying genes.
The anti-PD-1 era of cervical cancer: achievement, opportunity, and challenge
Authors: Li Chen , Cang Wei , Gu Yu , Chen Lihua , Xiang Yang
Published: July 2023

Cervical cancer is one of the three major female gynecological malignancies, becoming a major global health challenge. Although about 90% of early-stage patients can be cured by surgery, advanced-stage patients still need new treatment methods to improve their efficacy, especially for those with recurrence and metastasis tumors. Anti-PD-1 is currently the most widely used immune checkpoint inhibitor, which has revolutionized cancer therapy for different types of cancer. Pembrolizumab has been approved for second-line treatment of R/M CC but has a modest overall response rate of about 15%. Therefore, multiple types of anti-PD-1 have entered clinical trials successively and evaluated the efficacy in combination with chemotherapy, targeted therapy, and immunotherapy. At the same time, the dual specific antibody of PD-1/CTLA-4 was also used in clinical trials of cervical cancer, and the results showed better than anti-PD-1 monotherapy. In addition, anti-PD-1 has also been shown to sensitize radiotherapy. Therefore, understanding the current research progress of anti-PD-1 will better guide clinical application. This review summarizes ongoing clinical trials and published studies of anti-PD-1 monotherapy and combination therapy in the treatment of cervical cancer, as well as discusses the potential molecular biological mechanisms of combination, aiming to provide the basic evidence for support anti-PD-1 in the treatment of cervical cancer and new insights in combination immunotherapy.
Subantarctic pCO2 estimated from a biogeochemical float: comparison with moored observations reinforces the importance of spatial and temporal variability
Authors: Wynn-Edwards Cathryn Ann , Shadwick Elizabeth H. , Jansen Peter , Schallenberg Christina , Maurer Tanya Lea , Sutton Adrienne J.
Published: July 2023

Understanding the size and future changes of natural ocean carbon sinks is critical for the projection of atmospheric CO2 levels. The magnitude of the Southern Ocean carbon flux has varied significantly over past decades but mechanisms behind this variability are still under debate. While high accuracy observations, e.g. from ships and moored platforms, are important to improve models they are limited through space and time. Observations from autonomous platforms with emerging biogeochemical capabilities, e.g. profiling floats, provide greater spatial and temporal coverage. However, the absolute accuracy of CO2 partial pressure (pCO2) derived from float pH sensors is not well constrained. Here we capitalize on data collected for over a year by a biogeochemical Argo float near the Southern Ocean Time Series observatory to evaluate the accuracy of pCO2 estimates from floats beyond the initial in water comparisons at deployment. A latitudinal gradient of increasing pCO2 southward and spatial variability contributed to observed discrepancies. Comparisons between float estimated pCO2 and mooring observations were therefore restricted by temperature and potential density criteria (~ 7 µatm difference) and distance (1° latitude and longitude, ~ 11 µatm difference). By utilizing high quality moored and shipboard underway pCO2 observations, and estimates from CTD casts, we therefore found that over a year, differences in pCO2 between platforms were within tolerable uncertainties. Continued validation efforts, using measurements with known and sufficient accuracy, are vital in the continued assessment of float-based pCO2 estimates, especially in a highly dynamic region such as the subantarctic zone of the Southern Ocean.
Gender and sex bias in prevention and clinical treatment of women’s chronic pain: hypotheses of a curriculum development
Authors: Moretti Chiara , De Luca Enrico , D’Apice Clelia , Artioli Giovanna , Sarli Leopoldo , Bonacaro Antonio
Published: July 2023

This discursive paper focuses on undergraduate medical education’s role in tackling gender bias in clinical practice, specifically preventing and managing from a non-biomedical perspective chronic pain in women. A preliminary web search of medical schools’ curricula was performed to identify programs content related to gender bias in pain management. The web search included 10 universities’ websites selected from the top 10 rankings QS Universities Rankings 2022 for medical schools. Additionally, a questionnaire was sent to all deans of the selected academic institutions to explore the curriculum content further. The web search, and the lack of response from the deans, highlighted that relevant curriculum components on gender bias and chronic pain needed to be implemented. Therefore, this paper introduces an innovative curriculum development approach designed by the multi-professional research team to be implemented in medical school programs. This novel educational strategy could also cross-contaminate other healthcare practitioners’ university programs and, thus, stimulate an interprofessional debate into fostering inclusiveness and equal opportunities in health.
Hepatic venous pressure gradient and rebleeding risk of patients with nonalcoholic steatohepatitis cirrhosis after variceal bleeding
Authors: Shi Yiqi , Shen Wenyong , Xu Gang , Wang Xunzheng , Ning Bo
Published: July 2023

Background and aims

Hepatic venous pressure gradient (HVPG) has a strong predictive value for variceal rebleeding in cirrhotic patients, but the accuracy of HVPG may be compromised in nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) cirrhosis. This study aimed to evaluate the accuracy of HVPG and portal pressure gradient (PPG) for predicting rebleeding in NASH cirrhosis after acute variceal bleeding.

Patients and methods

Thirty-eight NASH cirrhosis patients and 82 hepatitis B virus (HBV) cirrhosis patients with acute variceal bleeding were included in this study. All patients recived transjugular intrahepatic portalsystemic shunt (TIPS). The prognostic value of HVPG and PPG for variceal rebleeding was evaluated.

Results

Compared with HBV cirrhosis, NASH cirrhosis demonstrated a lower HVPG (15.3 ± 3.8 vs. 18.0 ± 4.8; p = 0.003) and lower PPG (18.0 ± 3.7 vs. 20.0 ± 3.4; p = 0.005). HVPG (AUC = 0.82; p = 0.002) and PPG (AUC = 0.72; p = 0.027) had promising prognostic value among NASH cirrhosis patients. The optimal threshold of HVPG and PPG for predicting rebleeding in NASH cirrhosis was 17 mmHg and 20 mmHg. At multivariate analysis, HVPG ≥17 mmHg was a significant predictor of variceal rebleeding (HR 9.40; 95% CI 1.85–47.70; p = 0.007).

Conclusion

In the patients with cirrhosis and vairceal bleeding, the levels of HVPG and PPG were found to be low in NASH cirrhosis than HBV cirrhosis. However, the prevalence of rebleeding was similar between two groups. HVPG measurement is still an accurate way to assess the risk of variceal rebleeding in NASH cirrhosis.
Identification of host receptors for viral entry and beyond: a perspective from the spike of SARS-CoV-2
Authors: Xia Xuhua
Published: July 2023

Identification of the interaction between the host membrane receptor and viral receptor-binding domain (RBD) represents a crucial step for understanding viral pathophysiology and for developing drugs against pathogenic viruses. While all membrane receptors and carbohydrate chains could potentially be used as receptors for viruses, prioritized searches focus typically on membrane receptors that are known to have been used by the relatives of the pathogenic virus, e.g., ACE2 used as a receptor for SARS-CoV is a prioritized candidate receptor for SARS-CoV-2. An ideal receptor protein from a viral perspective is one that is highly expressed in epithelial cell surface of mammalian respiratory or digestive tracts, strongly conserved in evolution so many mammalian species can serve as potential hosts, and functionally important so that its expression cannot be readily downregulated by the host in response to the infection. Experimental confirmation of host receptors includes (1) infection studies with cell cultures/tissues/organs with or without candidate receptor expression, (2) experimental determination of protein structure of the complex between the putative viral RDB and the candidate host receptor, and (3) experiments with mutant candidate receptor or homologues of the candidate receptor in other species. Successful identification of the host receptor opens the door for mechanism-based development of candidate drugs and vaccines and facilitates the inference of what other animal species are vulnerable to the viral pathogen. I illustrate these approaches with research on identification of the receptor and co-factors for SARS-CoV-2.
The effects of amino acid substitution of spike protein and genomic recombination on the evolution of SARS-CoV-2
Authors: Fang Letian , Xu Jie , Zhao Yue , Fan Junyan , Shen Jiaying , Liu Wenbin , Cao Guangwen
Published: July 2023

Over three years’ pandemic of 2019 novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19), multiple variants and novel subvariants have emerged successively, outcompeted earlier variants and become predominant. The sequential emergence of variants reflects the evolutionary process of mutation-selection-adaption of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Amino acid substitution/insertion/deletion in the spike protein causes altered viral antigenicity, transmissibility, and pathogenicity of SARS-CoV-2. Early in the pandemic, D614G mutation conferred virus with advantages over previous variants and increased transmissibility, and it also laid a conservative background for subsequent substantial mutations. The role of genomic recombination in the evolution of SARS-CoV-2 raised increasing concern with the occurrence of novel recombinants such as Deltacron, XBB.1.5, XBB.1.9.1, and XBB.1.16 in the late phase of pandemic. Co-circulation of different variants and co-infection in immunocompromised patients accelerate the emergence of recombinants. Surveillance for SARS-CoV-2 genomic variations, particularly spike protein mutation and recombination, is essential to identify ongoing changes in the viral genome and antigenic epitopes and thus leads to the development of new vaccine strategies and interventions.
Cell anatomy and network input explain differences within but not between leech touch cells at two different locations
Authors: Meiser Sonja , Sleeboom Jana Marie , Arkhypchuk Ihor , Sandbote Kevin , Kretzberg Jutta
Published: July 2023

Mechanosensory cells in the leech share several common features with mechanoreceptors in the human glabrous skin. Previous studies showed that the six T (touch) cells in each body segment of the leech are highly variable in their responses to somatic current injection and change their excitability over time. Here, we investigate three potential reasons for this variability in excitability by comparing the responses of T cells at two soma locations (T2 and T3): (1) Differential effects of time-dependent changes in excitability, (2) divergent synaptic input from the network, and (3) different anatomical structures. These hypotheses were explored with a combination of electrophysiological double recordings, 3D reconstruction of neurobiotin-filled cells, and compartmental model simulations. Current injection triggered significantly more spikes with shorter latency and larger amplitudes in cells at soma location T2 than at T3. During longer recordings, cells at both locations increased their excitability over time in the same way. T2 and T3 cells received the same amount of synaptic input from the unstimulated network, and the polysynaptic connections between both T cells were mutually symmetric. However, we found a striking anatomical difference: While in our data set all T2 cells innervated two roots connecting the ganglion with the skin, 50% of the T3 cells had only one root process. The sub-sample of T3 cells with one root process was significantly less excitable than the T3 cells with two root processes and the T2 cells. To test if the additional root process causes higher excitability, we simulated the responses of 3D reconstructed cells of both anatomies with detailed multi-compartment models. The anatomical subtypes do not differ in excitability when identical biophysical parameters and a homogeneous channel distribution are assumed. Hence, all three hypotheses may contribute to the highly variable T cell responses, but none of them is the only factor accounting for the observed systematic difference in excitability between cells at T2 vs. T3 soma location. Therefore, future patch clamp and modeling studies are needed to analyze how biophysical properties and spatial distribution of ion channels on the cell surface contribute to the variability and systematic differences of electrophysiological phenotypes.
Deep learning for EEG-based prognostication after cardiac arrest: from current research to future clinical applications
Authors: Zubler Frederic , Tzovara Athina
Published: July 2023

Outcome prognostication in comatose patients after cardiac arrest (CA) remains to date a challenge. The major determinant of clinical outcome is the post-hypoxic/ischemic encephalopathy. Electroencephalography (EEG) is routinely used to assess neural functions in comatose patients. Currently, EEG-based outcome prognosis relies on visual evaluation by medical experts, which is time consuming, prone to subjectivity, and oblivious to complex patterns. The field of deep learning has given rise to powerful algorithms for detecting patterns in large amounts of data. Analyzing EEG signals of coma patients with deep neural networks with the goal of assisting in outcome prognosis is therefore a natural application of these algorithms. Here, we provide the first narrative literature review on the use of deep learning for prognostication after CA. Existing studies show overall high performance in predicting outcome, relying either on spontaneous or on auditory evoked EEG signals. Moreover, the literature is concerned with algorithmic interpretability, and has shown that largely, deep neural networks base their decisions on clinically or neurophysiologically meaningful features. We conclude this review by discussing considerations that the fields of artificial intelligence and neurology will need to jointly address in the future, in order for deep learning algorithms to break the publication barrier, and to be integrated in clinical practice.
Multi-channel EEG emotion recognition through residual graph attention neural network
Authors: Chao Hao , Cao Yiming , Liu Yongli
Published: July 2023

In this paper, a novel EEG emotion recognition method based on residual graph attention neural network is proposed. The method constructs a three-dimensional sparse feature matrix according to the relative position of electrode channels, and inputs it into the residual network to extract high-level abstract features containing electrode spatial position information. At the same time, the adjacency matrix representing the connection relationship of electrode channels is constructed, and the time-domain features of multi-channel EEG are modeled using graph. Then, the graph attention neural network is utilized to learn the intrinsic connection relationship between EEG channels located in different brain regions from the adjacency matrix and the constructed graph structure data. Finally, the high-level abstract features extracted from the two networks are fused to judge the emotional state. The experiment is carried out on DEAP data set. The experimental results show that the spatial domain information of electrode channels and the intrinsic connection relationship between different channels contain salient information related to emotional state, and the proposed model can effectively fuse these information to improve the performance of multi-channel EEG emotion recognition.
The complexities of investigating mitochondria dynamics in multiple sclerosis and mouse models of MS
Authors: Atkinson Kelley C. , Osunde Marvellous , Tiwari-Woodruff Seema K.
Published: July 2023

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a demyelinating, degenerating disorder of the central nervous system (CNS) that is accompanied by mitochondria energy production failure. A loss of myelin paired with a deficit in energy production can contribute to further neurodegeneration and disability in patients in MS. Mitochondria are essential organelles that produce adenosine triphosphate (ATP) via oxidative phosphorylation in all cells in the CNS, including neurons, oligodendrocytes, astrocytes, and immune cells. In the context of demyelinating diseases, mitochondria have been shown to alter their morphology and undergo an initial increase in metabolic demand. This is followed by mitochondrial respiratory chain deficiency and abnormalities in mitochondrial transport that contribute to progressive neurodegeneration and irreversible disability. The current methodologies to study mitochondria are limiting and are capable of providing only a partial snapshot of the true mitochondria activity at a particular timepoint during disease. Mitochondrial functional studies are mostly performed in cell culture or whole brain tissue, which prevents understanding of mitochondrial pathology in distinct cell types in vivo. A true understanding of cell-specific mitochondrial pathophysiology of MS in mouse models is required. Cell-specific mitochondria morphology, mitochondria motility, and ATP production studies in animal models of MS will help us understand the role of mitochondria in the normal and diseased CNS. In this review, we present currently used methods to investigate mitochondria function in MS mouse models and discuss the current advantages and caveats with using each technique. In addition, we present recently developed mitochondria transgenic mouse lines expressing Cre under the control of CNS specific promoters to relate mitochondria to disease in vivo.
Learning parallel and hierarchical mechanisms for edge detection
Authors: Zhou Ling , Lin Chuan , Pang Xintao , Yang Hao , Pan Yongcai , Zhang Yuwei
Published: July 2023

Edge detection is one of the fundamental components of advanced computer vision tasks, and it is essential to preserve computational resources while ensuring a certain level of performance. In this paper, we propose a lightweight edge detection network called the Parallel and Hierarchical Network (PHNet), which draws inspiration from the parallel processing and hierarchical processing mechanisms of visual information in the visual cortex neurons and is implemented via a convolutional neural network (CNN). Specifically, we designed an encoding network with parallel and hierarchical processing based on the visual information transmission pathway of the “retina-LGN-V1” and meticulously modeled the receptive fields of the cells involved in the pathway. Empirical evaluation demonstrates that, despite a minimal parameter count of only 0.2 M, the proposed model achieves a remarkable ODS score of 0.781 on the BSDS500 dataset and ODS score of 0.863 on the MBDD dataset. These results underscore the efficacy of the proposed network in attaining superior edge detection performance at a low computational cost. Moreover, we believe that this study, which combines computational vision and biological vision, can provide new insights into edge detection model research.
An analysis of the nutritional effects of Schisandra chinensis components based on mass spectrometry technology
Authors: Jia Mengzhen , Zhou Li , Lou Yuanyuan , Yang Xiaoqing , Zhao Hangyu , Ouyang Xinshou , Huang Yanjie
Published: July 2023

Objective

Schisandra chinensis (Turcz.) Baill. (S. chinensis) is a Traditional Chinese medicinal herb that can be used both for medicinal purposes and as a food ingredient due to its beneficial properties, and it is enriched with a wide of natural plant nutrients, including flavonoids, phenolic acids, anthocyanins, lignans, triterpenes, organic acids, and sugars. At present, there is lack of comprehensive study or systemic characterization of nutritional and active ingredients of S. chinensis using innovative mass spectrometry techniques.

Methods

The comprehensive review was conducted by searching the PubMed databases for relevant literature of various mass spectrometry techniques employed in the analysis of nutritional components in S. chinensis, as well as their main nutritional effects. The literature search covered the past 5 years until March 15, 2023.

Results

The potential nutritional effects of S. chinensis are discussed, including its ability to enhance immunity, function as an antioxidant, anti-allergen, antidepressant, and anti-anxiety agent, as well as its ability to act as a sedative-hypnotic and improve memory, cognitive function, and metabolic imbalances. Meanwhile, the use of advanced mass spectrometry detection technologies have the potential to enable the discovery of new nutritional components of S. chinensis, and to verify the effects of different extraction methods on these components. The contents of anthocyanins, lignans, organic acids, and polysaccharides, the main nutritional components in S. chinensis, are also closely associated to its quality.

Conclusion

This review will provide guidelines for an in-depth study on the nutritional value of S. chinensis and for the development of healthy food products with effective components.
Risk and prediction of multiple primary malignancies after early gastric cancer
Authors: Chen Na , Shi Lei , Ge Jian , Jia Ruzhen , Jiang Junmei
Published: July 2023

Background

Patients with early gastric cancer have increased risk of developing multiple primary malignancies (MPM) due to improved survival rates. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the clinicopathological features of MPM and to generate a useful tool for predicting the development of MPM after early gastric cancer.

Methods

We selected 1025 early gastric cancer patients with complete medical records for a retrospective analysis. The Cox proportional risk regression model was used to analyze the independent risk factors for the development of MPM in early gastric cancer. RStudio software was used to compare the OS of early gastric cancer patients with and without MPM, and a nomogram was established to predict the probability of MPM 1-, 2-, 3-year after early gastric cancer. The predictive effectiveness of the nomogram was evaluated by the C-index and calibration curve. Decision curve analysis (DCA) measured the applicability of the nomogram to clinical practice.

Results

Of the 1025 patients with early gastric cancer, 66 patients (6.4%) had 69 primary cancers other than early gastric cancer. They had a median follow-up of 41 months, and their cumulative incidence of MPM was 4.9%, 5.4% and 5.9% after 1-, 2-, and 3- year, respectively. Oesophageal cancer was the most frequently detected MPM, followed by lung and colorectal cancers. Male (p=0.038), age ≥65 years (p=0.003), smoking history (p=0.036), and lymph node metastasis (p=0.013) were independent risk factors for MPM in patients with early gastric cancer. Patients with early gastric cancer with MPM had a worse OS prognosis than patients with early gastric cancer without MPM (p<0.001). The internally validated nomogram predicted the probability of developing MPM after early gastric cancer (C index= 0.697). The calibration chart showed that the predicted probability of MPM in early gastric cancer was similar to the observed result, and the DCA showed strong clinical practicability.

Conclusion

After the diagnosis and treatment of early gastric cancer, we should be alert to the possibility of MPM and perform regular and careful monitoring.
A novel classifier combining G protein-coupled receptors and the tumor microenvironment is associated with survival status in glioblastoma
Authors: Guo Chunyu , Yu Cong , Gao Weizhen , Ren Dabin , Zhang Yisong , Zheng Ping
Published: July 2023

Background: Numerous studies have highlighted the crucial role of G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) in tumor microenvironment (TME) remodeling and their correlation with tumor progression. However, the association between GPCRs and the TME in glioblastoma (GBM) remains largely unexplored.

Methods: In this study, we investigated the expression profile of GPCRs in GBM using integrated data from single-cell RNA sequencing and bulk sequencing. Surgical samples obtained from meningioma and GBM patients underwent single-cell RNA sequencing to examine GPCR levels and cell-cell interactions. Tumor microenvironment (TME) score is calculated by the infiltrated immune cells with CIBERSORT.

Results: Our findings revealed a predominantly increased expression of GPCRs in GBM, and demonstrated that the classification of GPCRs and TME is an independent risk factor in GBM. Patients with high GPCR expression in the tumor tissue and low TME score exhibited the worst outcomes, suggesting a potentially aggressive tumor phenotype. On the other hand, patients with low GPCR expression in the tumor tissue and high TME score showed significantly better outcomes, indicating a potentially more favorable tumor microenvironment. Furthermore, the study found that T cells with high GPCR levels displayed extensive cell-cell connections with other tumor and immune cells in the single cell RNA analysis, indicating their potential involvement in immune escape.

Conclusion: In conclusion, GPCRs in combination with TME classification can serve as prognostic markers for GBM. GPCRs play an essential role in tumor progression and the TME in GBM.