bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Electromagnetic Nanocoils Based on InGaN Nanorings
Authors: Yan Ziwen , Chen Peng , Zhang Xianfei , Xie Zili , Xiu Xiangqian , Chen Dunjun , Zhao Hong , Shi Yi , Zhang Rong , Zheng Youdou
Published: January 2025

Energy issues, including energy generation, conversion, transmission and detection, are fundamental factors in all systems. In micro- and nanosystems, dealing with these energy issues requires novel nanostructures and precise technology. However, both concept and setup are not well established yet in the microsystems, especially for those in nanometer scale. Here we demonstrate electromagnetic nanocoils with 100 nanometers in diameter based on uniform and periodic InGaN nanoring arrays grown on patterned GaN surfaces by Nanoscale Selective Area Epitaxy (NSAE). We observed stronger photoluminescence from the periodic InGaN nanoring arrays compared to nonuniform InGaN nanorings, which indicates a good crystal quality of the InGaN nanostructure by the NSAE. Based on this kind of nanostructure, electromagnetic induction from the nanorings is detected from the movement of refractive high-energy electron diffraction patterns in a modulated external magnetic field. Our results clearly show the generation of inductive current and internal magnetic field in the nanorings. We anticipate this kind of nanostructure to be a potential key element for energy conversion, transfer and detection in nanosystems. For example, it could be used to fabricate microtransformers and micro- & nanosensors for electromagnetic signals.
Sustainable Recovery of Phlorotannins from Durvillaea incurvata: : Integrated Extraction and Purification with Advanced Characterization
Authors: Rivera-Tovar Pamela , Contreras-Contreras Gabriela , Rivas-Reyes Paulina Isabel , Pérez-Jiménez Jara , Martínez-Cifuentes Maximiliano , Pérez-Correa José Ricardo , Mariotti-Celis María Salomé
Published: January 2025

The rising demand for bioactive compounds from marine resources highlights the need for sustainable separation technologies. This study introduces an integrated process combining ultrasound-assisted extraction (USAE) and resin purification (RP) to isolate phlorotannins from Durvillaea incurvata, a brown seaweed with significant biomedical potential.
Using a 32.5% ethanol-water solvent system for USAE followed by RP on Diaion HP-20 resin, phlorotannins were enriched 2.4-fold, with a simultaneous removal of interfering compounds like mannitol (~100%), wich was demonstrated by FTIR and HPLC-IR analysis. Advanced characterization through UHPLC-QToF-MS/MS identified five novel phlorotannins with polymerization degrees of 3 to 8 phloroglucinol units in both USAE extracts and post-RP.
Mass balance based on spectrophotometric measurements indicated a purification factor of ~2, confirming process effectiveness. RP streams showed distinct phlorotannin profiles, with one phlorotannin exceeding 70% relative abundance. However, MS/MS results showed significantly lower recoveries than spectrophotometric data, revealing a novel insight into RP purification.
These findings highlight the critical role of comprehensive chemical characterization in optimizing sustainable phlorotannin extraction from seaweed. They propose a framework for scalable, eco-efficient technologies to achieve high-purity phlorotannin recovery. This approach facilitates the development of phlorotannin-based applications in the nutraceutical and pharmaceutical industries.
Dysbiosis of Oral Microbiome; A Key Player in Oral Carcinogenesis? A Critical Review
Authors: Devaraja K. , Aggarwal Sadhna
Published: January 2025

The oral cavity is known to harbor hundreds of microorganisms from various genera, constituting a peculiar flora called the oral microbiome. The change in the relative dis-tribution of the constituents of this microbial flora, due to any reason, leads to oral dysbiosis. Oral dysbiosis has been linked to the aetiopathogenesis of several medical illnesses, both locally and systemically, for centuries. Recently, aided by the advent of biotechnological capabilities, several reports have emerged on the role of oral dysbiosis in oral carcinogenesis, and numerous studies are currently exploring their association and plausible mechanisms. Some of the proposed mechanisms of oral dysbiosis-induced carcinogenesis (ODIC) include—bacteria induced chronic inflammatory state leading to direct cellular damage and inflammatory cytokines mediated promotion of cellular pro-liferation and invasion,—release of bacterial products that are carcinogenic, and—sup-pression of local immunity by altering the tumor microenvironment. However, the actual interactions between these cellular mechanisms are not yet fully understood. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the various hypotheses and mechanisms impli-cated in the ODIC, along with the corresponding molecular aberrations. Apart from discussing the usual constituents of the oral microbiome profile, the review also sum-marizes the various dysbiosis profiles implicated in ODIC. The review sheds light on the potential clinical implications of oral microbiome in the prevention, management, therapeutic responsiveness, and survival outcomes of oral cancer.
HIV Trends in Metropolitan US Cities From 2014 to 2021: Baseline Data for the Ending the HIV Epidemic Initiative
Authors: Gupta Ribhav , Vermund Sten H.
Published: January 2025

Objective. To examine baseline trends for the 2019 Ending the HIV Epidemic in the United States (EHE), which aims to reduce HIV incidence by 90% by 2030 in the 57 counties and states responsible for half of incident infections, and to provide a counterfactual comparator for future evaluation of the initiative’s midpoint.

Methods. We used 2014‒2021 metropolitan statistical area (MSA) data to compare HIV diagnostic rate trends between MSAs subsuming EHE regions (n = 46) and other MSAs (n = 76). A difference-in-difference analysis illustrated potential early-stage programmatic effects.

Results. From 2014 to 2021 across 122 MSAs, 305 413 HIV cases were diagnosed with a mean annual MSA-level diagnostic rate change of ‒6.7% (range = ‒66.1‒466.7%). MSA-level diagnostic rate changed by ‒21.3% (range = ‒50.8%‒14.8%) amongst MSAs including EHE regions and by 2.1% (range = ‒66.1%‒466.7%) in other MSAs. In a difference-in-difference analysis, the HIV diagnostic rate change from 2020 to 2021 was 3.1 cases per 100 000 people-years ( P = .03) greater in EHE regions compared to the baseline HIV diagnostic rate change of ‒0.8 cases per 100 000 people-years ( P < .01) across all MSAs.

Conclusions. Although MSAs including EHE regions experienced greater reductions in HIV diagnoses from 2014 to 2021, high interregional variability requires exploration. These trends provide a baseline for subsequent EHE programmatic evaluations. ( Am J Public Health. 2025;115(2):217–220. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2024.307890 )
Astrocytes provide the temporal dynamic required for memory formation
Authors: Perrier Jean-Francois , Larsen Silas , Hansen Nikolaj , Khodosevich Konstantin , Vasistha Navneet
Published: January 2025

Theta oscillations (4-12 Hz) in the hippocampus, driven by synchronous neuronal bursts, are essential for grouping and selecting neuronal ensembles during spatial navigation, memory, and learning 1,2. Yet, the specific mechanisms enabling this frequency band to effectively modulate neuronal ensembles remain unclear. Here, we show that burst activity at the CA3-CA1 synapse in the mouse hippocampus initiates rapid activation of astrocytic leaflets. This activation is mediated by retrograde messengers, which in turn activate transient receptor potential channels in astrocytes, potentiating glutamate release from Schaffer collaterals via the activation of presynaptic glutamate receptors. We show that this mechanism is synapse-specific and necessary for the induction of long-term potentiation (LTP). Remarkably, this positive feedback loop peaks 50 to 200 ms after a burst, precisely aligning with the theta frequency range and optimizing reinforcement of neuronal activity. These findings indicate that astrocytes provide critical timing to potentiate synaptic transmission during the initial phases of learning and memory formation.
Mapping Symptom-General and Symptom-Specific Targets for Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation in Schizophrenia: An Electrical Modeling Meta-Analysis
Authors: Bègue Indrit , Sinanaj Lorina , Pallis Konstantinos , Dehkordi Anahita Fazel , Huguelet Philippe , Kaiser Stefan
Published: January 2025

Negative, positive, and cognitive symptoms of schizophrenia relate to disruptions in partially distinct brain circuits. Although promising, transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) strategies across and within symptom domains remain to be established due to TMS protocol heterogeneity. For this, we combined standard meta-analysis with electric field (E-field) modeling to identify stimulation sites where E-field strength associated most significantly with clinical improvement. Standard meta-analysis of randomized, sham-controlled studies in 3,806 patients demonstrated benefit of TMS across symptom domains, regardless of target or protocol. Particularly, TMS significantly improved negative and cognitive symptoms with high-frequency stimulation applied to left prefrontal cortex, whereas positive symptoms improved with low-frequency TMS applied to left temporoparietal cortex. In-depth examination of these results with E-field modeling identified stimulation to left dorsomedial prefrontal cortex (L-DMPFC), left orbitofrontal cortex (L-OFC), and left cerebellar crus II and right lobule IX to be significantly associated with improvement across all symptom domains. Especially, greater overlap of studies’ stimulation sites with L-DMPFC and L-OFC related to improved outcomes. For negative symptoms, E-field distribution in L-DMPFC and L-OFC related most significantly to clinical improvement. Specifically, greater proximity to L-DMPFC stimulation site indicated better outcomes, with at trend significance for L-OFC. In the cognitive domain, E-field distribution in frontopolar cortices and left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex related to clinical improvement. Finally, strongest E-field association with clinical improvement was found in the right cerebellar lobules VIIIA, VIIIB, and IX for positive symptoms. These results support symptom-general and symptom-specific TMS approaches for distinct therapeutic goals towards personalized neuromodulation in schizophrenia.
Asynchronous transfer of magmas and mineralizing fluids in a plutonic-subvolcanic-volcanic plumbing system
Authors: Paoli Gabriele , Dini Andrea , Vezzoni Simone , Ovtcharova Maria , Rocchi Sergio
Published: January 2025

The geochronological-geochemical interplay between magma transfer and mineralizing fluid is studied at Campiglia igneous complex, Tuscany. Here, crustal and mantle-derived magmas were emplaced at plutonic, subvolcanic, and volcanic level (5.4 to 4.4 Ma), and were quickly exhumed, thus allowing U-Pb CA-ID-TIMS zircon dating with error of ka to tens of ka. The igneous activity is intertwined with the genesis of Cu-Pb-Zn(-Ag) ore deposits. A two-cycle scenario is reconstructed. In the first cycle, a bimodal deep reservoir remained in melt-present condition for ~ 500 ka. In this time interval, a peraluminous pluton is emplaced, followed by generation of skarn with related Zn-Pb(-Ag) sulfide ore. Fe-Cu ore is then generated in association with mantle-derived mafic dykes, and a peraluminous rhyolite eruption terminates the cycle. These crust- or mantle-derived igneous units show limited evidence for interaction. Early-crystallized, antecrystic zircons were recycled within portions of melts sequentially extracted from the reservoir. In the second cycle, during the following 500 ka, an independent reservoir freshly fed by interacting crustal and mantle melts gave eventually way to eruption of a hybrid rhyolite. Timescales of the Campiglia complex reveal significant asynchrony between magma feeding of the plutonic-subvolcanic-volcanic plumbing system and the mineralizing activity of igneous fluids.
The Role of Challenge and Hindrance Work Stressors on Work Well-being Among Chinese Policemen: Mechanism and Boundary Condition
Authors: Cai Lun , Xu Xizheng , Miao Qiaoling , Deng Jue
Published: January 2025

Background: The impact of work stressors on work well-being has been a focal point of research, however, the findings to date have exhibited a degree of inconsistency.
Methods: This study investigated the impact of two types of work stressors, namely, challenge work stressors and hindrance work stressors on the work well-being of Chinese police officers based on Cognitive-Transactional Theory. A total of 693 officers participated by completing assessments of work stressors, work well-being, coping strategies, and perceived social support.
Results: The results showed the following: (1) both types of work stressors significantly influence work well-being, with coping strategies mediating this relationship; (2) positive coping strategy mediates the positive relation between challenge work stressors and work well-being; (3) negative coping strategy mediates the negative relation between hindrance work stressors and work well-being; (4) on the one hand, perceived social support enhanced the positive relation between positive coping strategy and work well-being, on the other hand, perceived social support buffered the negative relation between negative coping strategy and work well-being.
Conclusion: These results highlight the complex mechanisms linking work stressors to work well-being in the policing profession and offer practical insights for designing targeted stress management interventions for law enforcement personnel.
Orbital Apex Syndrome in Noninvasive Fungal Rhinosinusitis: a case report
Authors: Yin Zhongju , Hu Xiaoyan , Liu Shuang , jiang liang
Published: January 2025

Background
Orbital apex syndrome (OAS) is characterized by multiple cranial nerve involvement leading to orbital pain or headache, vision loss, and ptosis. Typical clinical features are attributed to various tumors, vascular, infection, or sinus inflammatory diseases involving the orbital apex. Therefore, understanding the etiology of orbital tip syndrome and early identification and rapid treatment may help reduce related comorbidities.
Case presentation
We report the case of a 44-year-old Chinese female patient who presented with occipital headache, pain in the left eye, and sudden loss of vision in the left eye. Left orbital apex syndrome was diagnosed. The pain and ptosis worsened after glucocorticoid anti-inflammatory therapy and insulin control of blood glucose. CT scan was completed to consider the mass of the left sphenoid sinus, orbital apex, nasopharynx, and pterygopalatine fossa without excluding the possibility of tumor. In terms of treatment, functional endoscopic sinus surgery was performed. Headache, ptosis and pain disappeared at the latest follow-up 3 months after surgery, but left vision and ptosis did not improve significantly.
Conlusion
In showing the specific diagnosis and treatment process of this case, we should strengthen interdisciplinary knowledge and cooperation to prevent misdiagnosis. Early identification and prompt treatment of the cause of the orbital tip syndrome.
Methamphetamine exposure during the preweaning period alters hippocampal neurogenesis
Authors: Čechová Barbora , Patková Kristýna , Fišerová Ivana , Vaculín Šimon , Šlamberová Romana
Published: January 2025

Background: Methamphetamine (MA) is one of the most abused illicit drugs in the world. Abuse of this drug among adolescents, given the still-developing physiological functions of the body, including the central nervous system (CNS), is problematic. The hippocampus (HP) is part of the limbic system and is associated with cognition, as well as the reward system, which is mediated by dopamine (DA). Disruption of this system is the primary mechanism underlying addiction and results in cognition deficiencies.
Methods: In this work, we focused on the influence of MA on the development of the rat HP during postnatal days 11–20. Subsequently, after MA application, we studied learning and memory processes using the Morris Water Maze (MWM). After the MWM, we measured the expression of the protein doublecortin (DCX), neurotransmitter levels of DA, GLU, 5HT, NA, and GABA, and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP).
Results: MA significantly impairs HP neurogenesis when administered during the third postnatal week, as indicated by reduced expression of DCX, which correlates with increased levels of glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), but these changes were not significantly reflected in learning abilities and memory formation nor the levels of neurotransmitters.
Conclusion: We speculate that these mechanisms must be strongly expressed on multiple molecular levels to be able to cause cognitive changes. A significant role in this process is associated with the ability of young organisms to compensate and, to a certain extent, neurotoxic effects.
The association of PD-L1 expression status and PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors-related toxicities profile in non-small cell lung cancer
Authors: Zhu Qian , Hu Hao , OuYang Li-Ying , Yang Rong , Wei Wen-Xiao , Huang Pin , He Xin-Rong
Published: January 2025

Purpose
PD-L1 expression has been explored to guide the treatment options for programmed cell death 1 and its ligand (PD-1/PD-L1) inhibitors-based therapy in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), but the association of its treatments-related toxicities profile with PD-L1 expression status is unclear. To make the optimized and personalized use of such agents, we performed current study.
Experimental Design
: Multiple databases (Cochrane Library, EMBASE, and PubMed databases) from inception to June 30, 2024 were retrieved to search PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors-related clinical trials of NSCLC that had described data regarding treatment-related adverse events (TRAEs) and PD-L1 expression.
Results
Twenty-six trials, involving 5,453 patients, were eligible for final analysis. PD-L1-positive patients suffered a higher frequency of AEs leading to discontinuation, and grade 3–4 treatment-related adverse events (TRAEs) compared with PD-L1-negative patients at most cut-off value. However, the frequency of all-grade TRAEs, SAEs, and FAEs showed numerically difference among PD-L1-positive and PD-L1-negative patients at most cut-off value. Different PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors type did not detect a consistent dose-dependent pattern between PD-L1-positive and toxicities profile. Subgroup analyses noted that patients using 22C3 immunohistochemistry assay have a higher frequency of all-grade TRAEs. Moreover, patients receiving first-line therapy and those enrolled in open-label trials experienced a higher frequency of grade 3–4 TRAEs.
Conclusions
We suggested that clinicians, and patients should be informed of the association of PD-L1 expression status and toxicities profile prior to PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors administration.
Optimized MPR Selection in OLSR routing protocol for UAV Communications in Public Safety applications
Authors: Hicham HAMEURLAINE , Mehallegue Noureddine , Benssalah Mustapha
Published: January 2025

Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Ad-hoc Networks (UANETs) are vital in disaster scenarios, providing reliable communication for life-saving operations despite challenges such as rapid changes in network topology and energy constraints that can lead to link instability. Although current enhancements to the Optimized Link State Routing (OLSR) protocol focus on real-time metrics, they often struggle to adapt to dynamic conditions, revealing a significant limitation. In response to this challenge, we present an optimized OLSR protocol that effectively integrates real-time metrics such as congestion, node position, and energy levels with predictive metrics, including estimated node lifetime and movement direction, within the Multi-Point Relay (MPR) selection process. This approach enhances network stability and extends operational lifespan by proactively avoiding unstable links before disruptions occur. Our analysis demonstrates that the proposed protocol outperforms existing OLSR-based solutions, achieving improved average throughput, higher Packet DeliveryRatios (PDR), and extended node lifespans across various conditions, including both sparse and dense networks, as well as low and high mobility scenarios.
Robust recognition of circular coded markers with relaxed constraints on multiple features
Authors: Zheng Maoteng , Lu Xingyue , Zhang Yingying
Published: January 2025

Coded marker recognition is a significant task in computer vision and photogrammetry communities. Existing methods are only available for high-quality images, and perform poorly on images with large viewing angles, low resolutions, and unevenly distributed intensities. To this end, we design a circular coded markers based on Schneider’s algorithm and propose a robust method for its recognition on degraded images. The global images are divided into sub-images in prior to image binarization to avoid contour disappearance, which usually occurs in the binarization of the global image with unevenly distributed intensities, and then the coded marker borders are extracted in the sub-images. After that, the images inside the borders are re-binarized for extracting high-quality contours; and the concept of relaxed constraints on multiple features is applied to filter out false contours. Finally, the geometric center is located and the encrypted information is decoded based on the identified contours. The proposed method is extensively evaluated and compared with the state-of-the-art methods (the original Schneider’s and ArUco algorithms). Preliminary results demonstrate the superiority of the proposed method over the baselines regarding the recognition rates on degraded images.
A Non-Uniform and Optimized Clustering Mechanism to Improve Network Lifetime in 5g-Based Indoor Localization
Authors: Nagamani Vadala , Annapurna K.
Published: January 2025

High-accuracy localizationis considered critical for resource management algorithms in modern applications such Internet of Things (IoT), smart factories, and autonomous vehicles. Indoor positioning presents a challenging process as the complexity of attaining higher accuracy is difficult within the indoor environments.This paper proposes a novel Non-Uniform and Optimised Clustering Mechanism (NUOCM) for indoor localization to manage complex datasets acquired from large-scale indoor radio systems. Using NUOCM-based communication, the research aims to improve the network lifetime and serves a reasonable number of User Equipments (UEs) or devices in Multiple Input Multiple Output (MIMO) systems. NUOCM generates clusters through a novel method that uses an ensemble of classifiers from non-uniform cluster layers in 5G-based indoor localization.The UEs or devices are divided into sub-datasets based on values of Reference Signal Received Power (RSRP). Base classifiers including Support Vector Machine (SVM), Artificial Neural Network (ANN), Decision Tree (DT), and Random Forest (RF)are trained on these non-uniform clusters across several layers to improve spatial diversity. Finally, the optimal number of layers and clusters are defined by a Firefly Algorithm (FA), which maximises for localization accuracy, spatial diversity. The experiments are evaluate the efficacy of the proposed NUOCM and the results show an increased localization accuracy and network lifetime than the traditional clustering techniques in MIMO systems.
Genome-wide identification of circular RNAs to elucidate the genetic basis of disease resistance to Salmonella infection in Chicken
Authors: Khan Mahak , Dar Mashooq Ahmad , Nazir Junaid , Bhat Sahar Saleem , Haq Zulfqarul , Shabir Nadeem , Bhat Hina Fayaz , Shah Riaz A. , Ahmad Sheikh F. , Al-Mazoura Haneen A. , Bhat Basharat , Ahmad Syed Mudasir
Published: January 2025

Salmonella infections have far-reaching implications for public health due to their potential to cause various human illnesses, ranging from gastroenteritis to more severe conditions like enteric fever. These infections are predominantly food-borne and are often linked to consuming contaminated meat products, with poultry being a common transmission source. Consequently, Salmonellosis ranks among the most prevalent food-borne illnesses, leading to substantial morbidity, hospitalizations, and even fatalities. In this study, we investigated the role of circular RNAs (circRNAs) in mediating the response to Salmonella Typhimurium infection in poultry, focusing on two chicken breeds: broiler (Cobb 430) (susceptible) and Kashmir Faverolla (resistant). Through high-throughput RNA sequencing, we identified and analyzed circRNA expression patterns in liver and spleen samples from both breeds. Results reveal a comprehensive catalog of circRNAs, with 26 differentially expressed (DE) circRNAs identified across various comparison groups. Our study revealed that the circRNAs associated with genes conferring resistance to Kashmir Faverolla are predominantly located on chromosome 1, with a notable presence also observed on chromosome 4. Moreover, genes FGB, FGG, and ALB could play pivotal roles in mediating the response to Salmonella infection in poultry. Network analyses and protein-protein interaction networks shed light on the interconnectedness of genes like FGB, FGG, and ALB, suggesting their collaborative roles in mediating the response to Salmonella infection. Moreover, functional analyses uncover significant biological processes associated with target mRNAs, emphasizing their involvement in immune responses, infectious diseases, and molecular pathways. Keywords: Circular RNA; Salmonella; Infection; Chicken; Disease resistance.
Performance Evaluation of FBMC with optimal subcarrier spacing for 5G & beyond Communications
Authors: Padmavathi T , Cheepurupalli Kusma Kumari , Madhu R
Published: January 2025

In 5G New Radio (NR) Release 15, the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) Physical Layer Modulation for downlink and uplink communications, the Cyclic Prefix OFDM (CP-OFDM) is used. A wide range of potential use cases will describe future wireless networks. In order to achieve this, time-frequency resources must be dynamically assigned, which is difficult for traditional Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM). Therefore, OFDM improvements like filtering or windowing are needed. On the other hand, a multicarrier method like Filter Bank Multi-Carrier (FBMC) can be employed. Several prototype filters, including Hermite, PHYDYAS, and Root Raise Cosine (RRC), are used in this work to develop the framework for FBMC. Time-frequency efficiency will be determined for each user in the same band by adjusting the subcarrier spacing. The performance of the Signal to Interference Noise Ratio (SIR) is calculated for FBMC using varying subcarrier spacing and compared with different multicarrier transmission methods such as f-OFDM (filtered OFDM), CP-OFDM, UFMC (Universal Filter Multi Carrier), Weighted Overlap and Add (WOLA). FBMC outperforms among all these multi carrier modulations and proven that it is suitable even for low latency transmissions.
Subsequent Cancers following Non-myeloablative Conditioning for Allogeneic Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation
Authors: Vo Phuong , Ng Kevin , Schoch H. Gary , Cooper Jason , Vupalanchi Abhishek , Flowers Mary , Sandmaier Brenda , Gooley Ted , Storb Rainer
Published: January 2025

We examined the risk of subsequent malignant neoplasms (SMNs) in 1720 patients with hematologic cancers given allogeneic hematopoietic grafts from 03/1998 to 08/2023 after nonmyeloablative conditioning regimens. With a median follow-up of 12 years, the cumulative incidence of SMNs was 17% (95% CI, [15%, 19%]). Most SMNs (n = 543) were non-melanoma skin cancers seen in 208 patients; unfortunately, information on these cancers was not available in the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database for comparison with such tumors in the general population. However, developing non-melanoma skin cancers was statistically significantly associated with chronic GVHD and, thus, unlikely to be conditioning regimen related. Eighty-six patients (5%) developed 93 other SMNs. This number (93 SNMs) significantly exceeded the expected 73.4 cases in the comparison group (p = 0.03). This increase was driven exclusively by increases in uterine adenocarcinoma (n = 2), squamous lip cancer (n = 5), and squamous penile cancer (n = 2); the latter two cancers were, again, associated with chronic GVHD. Apart from these three tumor types, there were no observed increases in the risk of other tumors compared to those in the general population.
Neurenteric Cyst of the Intradural Extramedullary Region of the Cervical Spine: A Case Report
Authors: Mehrizi Mohammad Ali Abouei , Hashemi Narges , Sedaghat Mehran , Najafi Neshat Najaf , Eshaghzade Azin
Published: January 2025

Introduction:
Neurenteric cysts (NCs), also known as endodermal cysts, are rare congenital lesions of endodermal origin. They were thought to originate from a failure of dissolution of the neurenteric canal between the notochord and endoderm during the third week of embryogenesis. The primary clinical symptoms differ from focal pain to paresthesia and weakness based on the cyst's location. Here we present a case of intradural extramedullary NC of the spine at the cervical level.
Case presentation:
A 10-year-old boy presented with neck pain and weakness in his left hand. Imaging studies revealed fusion of cervical vertebrae at the levels of C3-C4 and C5-C6. On MRI, a cystic lesion in the intradural extramedullary region compressing the cord was evident. Surgical total resection, as the preferred treatment option, was done through the posterior approach, and the definitive diagnosis was made based on the histochemical analysis.
Conclusion
NC is a rare lesion and should be kept in mind as a differential diagnosis. Surgical intervention, particularly total resection, commonly improves the sensory and motor deficits associated with NC and is the treatment of choice.
Association of depressive symptoms with quality of life and treatment efficacy in patients with intermediate or advanced hepatocellular carcinoma receiving immunotherapy: A prospective cohort study
Authors: Lu Fei-Chen , Li Fan-Rong , Zhao Feng-Juan , Huo Rong-Rui , You Xue-Mei
Published: January 2025

Background
Depression is prevalent among individuals with cancer. This prospective cohort study aims to examine the relationships between depressive symptoms and both quality of life (QoL) and treatment efficacy in patients with intermediate or advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) who are receiving immunotherapy.
Methods
A cohort of 156 patients with intermediate or advanced HCC who were receiving immunotherapy was included in the analysis. Depressive symptoms were evaluated utilizing the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9). The primary outcome was progression-free survival (PFS), whereas the secondary outcomes were the objective response rate (ORR), disease control rate (DCR), overall survival (OS), and QoL.
Results
Nearly half (48.7%) of the patients exhibited depressive symptoms. Over a median follow-up period of 10 months, patients with depressive symptoms had significantly lower PFS (HR 4.31, 95% CI: 2.75–6.76) and significantly shorter OS (HR 5.39, 95% CI: 1.84–15.82). Furthermore, the ORR and DCR were notably lower in patients with depressive symptoms (ORR 10.5% compared with 37.5%; DCR 52.6% compared with 91.2%). QoL scores were significantly lower at all assessed time points for patients with depressive symptoms, indicating worse overall well-being.
Conclusions
Depression is significantly associated with the efficacy of immunotherapy in HCC patients and is negatively associated with both clinical outcomes and QoL. Addressing mental health is essential for optimizing treatment strategies and improving overall patient outcomes in this population.
RGS14 binding to GNAI3 regulates human SSC proliferation and apoptosis through PLPP2, and abnormalities in these genes are associated with azoospermia
Authors: Zhou Dai , Liu Bang , Liu Lvjun , peng Lin , Liu Xiaowen , Zhu Fang , Deng Aimin , Zhang Shusheng , Mao Zenghui
Published: January 2025

Background
Non-obstructive azoospermia (NOA) is a severe form of male infertility characterized by the absence of sperm in the ejaculate due to impaired spermatogenesis. Spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs) play a crucial role in maintaining male fertility by ensuring continuous sperm production. However, the molecular mechanisms regulating SSC fate and their involvement in NOA remain largely unknown.
Results
In this study, we utilized single-cell RNA sequencing to analyze gene expression profiles in normal and NOA testes, revealing a significant downregulation of RGS14 in SSCs of NOA patients. We found that RGS14 interacts with GNAI3 and modulates SSC proliferation and apoptosis by regulating the expression of PLPP2 and the MAPK signaling pathway. Knockdown of RGS14 significantly inhibited SSC proliferation and increased apoptosis, effects that were partially rescued by overexpression of PLPP2. Additionally, both PLPP2 and GNAI3 were found to be significantly downregulated in NOA patients, correlating with the expression pattern of RGS14.
Conclusions
Our findings provide novel insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying SSC dysfunction in NOA. The dysregulation of RGS14, GNAI3, and PLPP2 may contribute to the pathogenesis of NOA. These results not only elucidate the role of RGS14 in SSC fate determination but also identify potential therapeutic targets for male infertility.
Association of urinary cadmium with renal injury biomarkers and optimal cut-off value of urinary cadmium in preschool children from mining area of northwestern China
Authors: Balajiang Gulipiyan , Du Yue , Yuan Wenzheng , Xie Jingru , Zhao Wenting , Ai Shiwei , Dang Yuhui
Published: January 2025

Children demonstrate increased sensitivity and vulnerability to cadmium exposure compared to adults. Current research predominantly focuses on adults residing in cadmium-contaminated areas, while studies involving children remain relatively scarce. This study aimed to explore the relationship between urinary cadmium (U-Cd) and biomarkers of renal injury, identify sensitive biomarkers associated with cadmium-related renal injury, and evaluate the optimal cut-off value for U-Cd in preschool children. Morning urine samples were collected to detect urinalysis, U-Cd, and renal injury biomarkers, including urinary N-acetyl-β-D-glucosidase (UNAG), urinary β2-microglobulin (Uβ2-MG), and urinary retinol-binding protein (URBP). Pearson correlation, quantile regression, and logistic regression models were utilized to explore the relationships between U-Cd and the renal injury biomarkers. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were employed to determine the optimal cut-off value of U-Cd for inducing abnormalities in renal injury biomarkers. U-Cd demonstrated positive associations with UNAG, Uβ2-MG, and URBP. The optimal cut-off values of U-Cd for inducing abnormalities in UNAG, Uβ2-MG, URBP, and combined biomarker were 7.78, 14.74, 12.75, and 10.42 µg/g cr, respectively. When the sensitivity was set at 95%, the cut-off values were adjusted to 4.70, 10.42, 11.07, and 5.18 µg/g cr, respectively. U-Cd was significantly associated with renal injury biomarkers. Our findings suggest that the appropriate cut-off value for U-Cd should be established based on the sensitivity and specificity of various renal injury biomarkers.
Contribution of Intra-Abdominal Pressure to Trunk Rotation Torque Generation and an Examination of Its Role
Authors: Kimura Asuka , Hakozaki Taisei , Yasuda Yohei , Shimizu Takuya
Published: January 2025

Purpose While the dynamics of intra-abdominal pressure (IAP) during high-intensity resistance exercises are well-documented, its dynamics and role in trunk rotation remain unclear. This study aimed to clarify the actual situation of torque and IAP during trunk rotation torque exertion and to examine the role of IAP in trunk rotation.Methods Eighteen male participants aged 22.2 ± 1.2 years, with a height of 170.9 ± 4.8 cm and weight of 67.3 ± 7.0 kg, demonstrated trunk rotation torque while IAP was measured, and the temporal variation and maximum values of both were measured. Maximum IAP values were also measured during the Valsalva maneuvers (VM); IAPRMAX indicates IAP when maximum trunk rotation torque was recorded, and IAPVM indicates maximum IAP recorded during VM.Results In all participants, significant positive correlations with large effect sizes were found between trunk rotation torque and IAP variation over time (P < 0.01, rs = 0.924), between maximum trunk rotation torque and IAPRMAX (P < 0.01, r = 0.594), and between maximum trunk rotation torque and IAPVM (P < 0.05, r = 0.542).Conclusion The temporal variability of trunk rotation torque and IAP was nearly synchronized. Furthermore, greater torque exertion tended to be associated with higher IAPRMAX and IAPVM values. IAP during trunk rotation during torque exertion is believed to enhance the mechanical efficiency of abdominal wall muscle contraction through the “muscle length–tension relationship,” thereby supporting optimal torque generation.
Ecological and phenological study of native flora in dynamic habitats of semi-arid subtropical region, district Mandi Baha Uddin of Punjab, Pakistan
Authors: Jamil Muhammad Danish , Ali Muhammad Azhar
Published: January 2025

Documentation of ecological traits of vegetation and its distribution among various geographical locations is a fundamental criterion for conservation and management of ecosystem. For this, present research was conducted during 2021 to 2023 to explore native vegetation and record their eco-functional traits in district Mandi Baha Uddin (MB Din) of Punjab, Pakistan. Plant species were collected from various microhabitats by applying random stratified sampling method from 90 sampling points having 270 quadrates. Canoco and R packages were practiced to link vegetation and environmental factors. A total of 133 native species linked to 32 families were recorded. Distribution of native species among the dissimilar families was very uneven with the prominent families recorded were Poaceae (38 species) and Leguminosae (16 species). The dominant habit form was herbaceous, which contributed 68 herbs (51%) and 38 (29%) grasses. A total of 77 (58%) annual and 56 (42%) perennial native plants were identified in relation to life form. In relation to biological spectrum of native plants, leading life form spectra was of therophytes with 73 (54%) species followed by chamaeophytes with 29 (21%) species and leading leaf size spectra was of nanophylls with 53 (40%) and microphyll 38 (29%). Phenological pattern uncovered that maximum flowering response was exposed during the months of Aug-Sep (70 species) and Mar-Apr (39 species). Temporal analysis depicted that monsoon (70 species) and spring (41 species) seasons favored the flowering of flora compared to summer (18) and winter (4 species) seasons in the research area and that was greatly influenced by change in temperature among various climatic variables. Vegetation link with different habitats designed 5 vegetation groups in various microhabitats among which grassland, forest land and road side habitats favored maximum native flora whereas barrage land and dry land show minimum diversity.
A translational protocol optimizes the isolation of plasma-derived extracellular vesicle proteomics
Authors: Reséndiz Jussara Ríos de los Ríos , Herrmann-Sim Freya , Wilkesmann Liliana , Helm Dominic , Schneider Martin , Campione Giorgia , Plügge Klara , Greiner Giovanni , García Leonie Lazaro , Berker Julia , Zielske Lin , Richter Karsten , Hofmann Wolf-Karsten , von Hohenberg Katharina Clemm
Published: January 2025

In translational research and clinical routine, liquid biopsy is a promising tool to direct individually targeted treatments. Among the components of liquid biopsy, extracellular vesicles (EVs) carry manyfold molecular cargo and are increasingly being studied for biomarker identification. In order to identify potential confounding factors and determine optimal conditions when studying blood-derived EV proteins, the impact of pre-analytical variables needs to be assessed. Here we establish an EV enrichment for proteomic analysis workflow in a real world clinical setting in which we evaluate variables from blood collection through protein preparation and storage for mass spectrometry (MS). We assess hemolysis, particle concentration and size, protein quantity, protein markers and comprehensive proteomic analysis using mass spectrometry to assess the influence of different pre-analytical variables like blood collection tubes, transportation of blood samples and delayed processing. Under these conditions, density gradient and size exclusion chromatography using Sepharose CL-4B show good EV enrichment. For MS, lysis with increased protease inhibitors shows high protein yields while TCA protein precipitation results in high numbers of identified proteins. In summary, we develop here an optimized protocol for the analysis of plasma EV-derived proteomics, evaluating pre-analytical variables relevant for implementation in a clinical setting.
MODERN APPROACHES TO THE PROBLEM OF IMMUNODEFICIENCIES IN CHILDREN
Authors: Nedelska Svitlana , Samokhin Ihor , Kriazhev Oleksandr , Yartseva Daria , Mazur Victoriia
Published: January 2025

The course and development of infectious and inflammatory processes is often accompanied by immune system malfunction. A considerable number of lymphotropic viral infections can suppress immune system cells and increase the frequency of immunodeficiencies. This occurs, in particular, due to immunoproliferative, allergic, autoimmune diseases, etc.
The paper aims to investigate the problem associated with childhood immunodeficiency diseases as of today.
Immunodeficiencies are divided into two large groups by their origin: 1) phenotypic (secondary), which do not have genetic disorders; 2) genotypic (primary), which have genetic disorders. At the same time, immune disorders that arise during life in an organism with a normally formed immune system and are not associated with genetic abnormalities are diagnosed more often than primary immunodeficiencies. These disorders cannot represent an independent diagnosis because they are not an independent nosology.
Acquired immunodeficiency can have the same clinical manifestations as primary immunodeficiency; in particular, it is manifested by frequent and prolonged infections. The so-called "opportunistic" infections may occur: these are diseases caused by microorganisms that are usually unable to cause a pathological process in a patient with a healthy immune system but can provoke diseases in people with suppressed immunity. Thus, paying special attention to the early diagnosis of congenital immunodeficiencies is necessary.
Even though manifestations of immunodeficiency are not an indication for immediate treatment, doctors should monitor the changes that have been detected in specific immune system parameters.
Conclusions. It is necessary to consider that any intervention in the immune system must have serious grounds. Usually, when eliminating the factors underlying acquired immunodeficiency, this condition resolves on its own.
Gibberellin Treatment Toward Off-crop Season as a Practical Tool to Increase Yield in ‘Orri’ Mandarin
Authors: Haim Dor , Kamara Itzhak , Morozov Michael , Sadka Avi
Published: January 2025

Multiannual fruit bearing in fruit trees varies from regular bearing, with an almost steady yield from season to season, to alternate bearing, during which a year with a high fruit load (on-crop) is followed by a year of a low fruit load (off-crop). ‘Orri’ mandarin [Temple (Citrus temple hort. ex Y. Tanaka) × Dancy (Citrus tangerine hort. ex Tanaka)] exhibits a nonregular bearing pattern: steady for a few years and alternate for others. In nonregular or alternate-bearing cultivars, fruit load is thought to regulate flowering induction and development negatively the following year. In citrus, the bud meristem develops into a leafless inflorescence (generative), leafy inflorescence (mixed type, containing leaves and flowers in various ratios), or vegetative shoot, or remains dormant. Mixed-type inflorescences contribute to most of the final yield. Gibberellins inhibit flowering when applied at relatively high concentrations during the flowering induction period in the winter, but they are suggested to induce yield when applied at relatively low concentrations. We determined the effect of mild gibberellin application in an off-crop year on the productivity of ‘Orri’ mandarin, and whether it occurs through the induction of mixed-type inflorescences. Low-concentration, low-frequency gibberellin treatments were applied to trees during the winter when fruit load was high, resulting in a greater number of mixed vs. generative inflorescences at anthesis. An average increase of 40% in fruit number and yield weight was recorded in off-crop seasons at harvest, whereas no change was recorded in on-crop seasons. We discuss treatment efficiency in on-crop and off-crop years as a practical tool for increasing yield in low-crop seasons of ‘Orri’ mandarin.
Entanglement flow in the Kane-Fisher quantum impurity problem
Authors: Tan Chunyu , Hang Yuxiao , Haas Stephan , Saleur Hubert
Published: January 2025

The problem of a local impurity in a Luttinger liquid, just like the anisotropic Kondo problem (of which it is technically a cousin), describes many different physical systems. As shown by Kane and Fisher, the presence of interactions profoundly modifies the physics familiar from Fermi liquid theory, and leads to non-intuitive features, best described in the Renormalization Group language (RG), such as flows towards healed or split fixed points. While this problem has been studied for many years using more traditional condensed matter approaches, it remains somewhat mysterious from the point of view of entanglement, both for technical and conceptual reasons. We propose and explore in this paper a new way to think of this important aspect. We use the realization of the Kane Fisher universality class provided by an XXZ spin chain with a modified bond strength between two sites, and explore the difference of (Von Neumann) entanglement entropies of a region of length \ellℓ with the rest of the system - to which it is connected with a modified bond - in the cases when \ellℓ is even and odd. Surprisingly, we find out that this difference \delta S\equiv S^e-S^oδS≡Se−So remains of O(1)O(1) in the thermodynamic limit, and gives rise now, depending on the sign of the interactions, to “resonance” curves, interpolating between -\ln 2−ln2 and 00, and depending on the product \ell T_BℓTB, where 1/T_B1/TB is a characteristic length scale akin to the Kondo length in Kondo problems. \delta SδS can be interpreted as a measure of the hybridization of the left-over spin in odd length subsystems with the “bath” constituted by the rest of the chain. The problem is studied both numerically using DMRG and analytically near the healed and split fixed points. Interestingly - and in contrast with what happens in other impurity problems - \delta SδS can, at least to lowest order, be tackled by conformal perturbation theory.