bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Peningkatan kualitas dan kapasitas produksi pakan ikan melalui penerapan teknologi tepat guna berbasis green economy
Authors: Mulia Dini Siswani , Muryanto Muhammad , Utami Restu Frida , Saputra Eqwar , Priyadi Sugeng
Published: December 2024

Pakan ikan merupakan komponen penting dalam kegiatan budidaya ikan air tawar. Harga pakan bermutu di pasaran relatif tinggi dan cenderung mengalami kenaikan. Pembuatan pakan ikan secara mandiri merupakan langkah tepat untuk mengurangi tingginya biaya produksi. Kegiatan ini bertujuan untuk meningkatkan kualitas dan kapasitas produksi pakan ikan melalui penerapan teknologi tepat guna berbasis green economy. Mitra adalah kelompok budidaya ikan (pokdakan) Mina Mandiri, Desa Panembangan, Cilongok, Banyumas. Metode kegiatan adalah metode pendekatan partisipatoris, dengan tahap kegiatan meliputi sosialisasi, pelaksanaan kegiatan (pelatihan dan penerapan teknologi tepat guna), pendampingan, dan evaluasi. Tingkat keberhasilan program diukur dengan metode one group pre-test and post-test. Hasil kegiatan PKM menunjukkan 83,33% anggota mitra memahami dan mampu mengimplementasikan formulasi bahan baku pakan ikan, 81,25% anggota mitra memahami dan mampu mengimplementasikan penggunaan binder alami, dan 80% anggota mitra menguasai penggunaan alat pembuat pakan ikan terpadu. Pakan ikan yang dihasilkan memiliki kadar protein 30%, berbentuk bulat atau agak memanjang sesuai pesanan, dan daya apung lebih dari 60 menit. Kapasitas produksi mencapai 300-400 kg/hari dibandingkan sebelumnya 50-70 kg/hari. Kegiatan ini berdampak positif bagi mitra dan meningkatkan gairah berbudidaya ikan. Hasil evaluasi menunjukkan perlunya keberlanjutan program untuk mendampingi mitra mengatasi berbagai persoalan produksi pakan maupun budidaya ikan.
Improving Pronunciation Skills through English Songs for Junior High School Students
Authors: Siki Veliana , Pale Erlinda Sonya , Abi Benyamin Kau
Published: December 2024

This study entitled “Improving Students’ Speaking Skills Through English Songs For The Eight Grade Students Of Smp Negeri Oenenu In The School Year 2023/2024.” The purpose of this study are: 1) To know how english songs improve speaking skills of SMP Negeri Oenenu. 2) To know the problems faced by the students in using english songs to improve their speaking skills by conducting Classroom Action Research (CAR). The subjects of this research is eighth grade students at SMP Negeri Oenenu which consisted of 25 students and was conducted in two cycles. The instrument of collecting data was oral test, observation, and interview. Based on data analysis, the score of students’ oral Test improved in every test. In the result of students’ tests were showed that the mean score of pre-tests was 64,2. The mean score of the test in cycle I was 72. The mean score of the tests in Cycle II was 79. Based on observation sheet, it was found that teaching learning process ran well. After giving the treatment by listening to English songs, the students’ English Pronunciation in pronouncing English words improved. It was concluded that listening to English songs can improve the students’ English Pronunciation.
Teaching Syntax in the Digital Age: Tools and Techniques for Educators
Authors: Fadilla Faris , Hsb Juanda Muktar , Putri Nadila Adelia , Ahwani Sahfitri , Nasution M. Habib Rifky , Ismahani Siti
Published: December 2024

This paper explores contemporary approaches to teaching syntax in the digital era, examining how technology integration and modern pedagogical methods can enhance students' understanding of linguistic structures. The research investigates various digital tools, interactive platforms, and innovative teaching strategies that effectively support syntax instruction in both traditional and virtual learning environments. Through a comprehensive analysis of recent studies and practical applications, this paper provides educators with evidence-based recommendations for incorporating digital resources into syntax instruction while maintaining pedagogical effectiveness.
The impact of Gender Diversity on Innovative Performance: Empirical Analysis in the Caribbean Region
Authors: Castillo Yury , Álvarez Isabel
Published: December 2024

This paper investigates the impact of gender diversity on the innovative performance of Caribbean firms, specifically analyzing women’s representation across three organizational areas: the overall workforce, management, and skilled production and non-production roles. The study used data from the Innovation, Firm Productivity, and Gender (IFPG) database, encompassing 1,979 firms across 13 Caribbean countries from 2017 to 2020. Probit models were employed for econometric analysis. The results confirm that diversity significantly enhances the likelihood of innovation, though the magnitude of its impact varies depending on women’s roles within firms. Gender diversity has stronger effects within the overall workforce and skilled production and non-production roles than within management teams. These findings suggest important managerial and policy implications for developing measures to reduce gender disparities in innovation.
Determinantes del teletrabajo y brecha de género
Authors: Duarte Gloria , Quirós Romero Cipriano
Published: December 2024

El objetivo de este estudio es ampliar el conocimiento sobre los factores que condicionan el teletrabajo en España, para los años 2018 y 2021, identificando sus elementos determinantes, con especial atención a la posible existencia de una brecha de género. Los resultados muestran que, tras la generalización de esta herramienta en 2021 por el impacto de la pandemia, la probabilidad de las mujeres de teletrabajar superó a la de los hombres. Variables como la edad, el nivel educativo o las habilidades digitales, entre otras, muestran también su influencia en la adopción del teletrabajo. Además, las estimaciones separadas por género presentan diferencias significativas en algunos de sus determinantes.
Circulating microRNA as promising biomarkers in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy: can advanced cardiac magnetic resonance unlock new insights in research?
Authors: Chumakova Olga S. , Mershina Elena A.
Published: December 2024

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is a genetic cardiac disorder associated with an increased risk of arrhythmias, heart failure, and sudden cardiac death. Current imaging and clinical markers are not fully sufficient in accurate diagnosis and patient risk stratification. Although known cardiac biomarkers in blood are used, they lack specificity for HCM and primarily stratify for death due to heart failure in overt cases. Non-coding RNAs, particularly microRNAs, have emerged as promising biomarkers due to their role in regulating gene expression in both healthy and pathological hearts. Circulating microRNA signatures may dynamically reflect the progression of HCM, offering potential utility in diagnosis and disease monitoring as well as inform biologic pathways for innovative therapeutic strategies. However, studying microRNAs in cardiovascular diseases is still in its early stages and poses many challenges. This review focuses on emerging research perspectives using advanced cardiac magnetic resonance techniques. We presume, that the search for circulating miR signatures associated with specific adverse myocardial features observed on cardiac magnetic resonance imaging - such as fibrosis, disarray, and microvascular disease - represents a promising direction in HCM research.
Rapid and reproducible generation of glioblastoma spheroids for high-throughput drug screening
Authors: Bach Christian , Glasow Annegret , Baran-Schmidt Rainer , Oppermann Henry , Bach Christoph , Meixensberger Jürgen , Güresir Erdem , Gaunitz Frank
Published: December 2024

Identifying new substances that could potentially be used for tumor therapy and the precise analysis of their spectrum of action requires models that are as similar as possible to the tumor present in the patient. Traditionally, two-dimensional (2D) cell cultures are used. However, these only resemble solid tumors to a limited extent. More realistic in vivo models, such as tissue cultures, which are invaluable for the final analysis of the effect of new substances, are unsuitable for high-throughput screening (HTS), such as substance library screening. Therefore, we addressed which parameters need to be optimized to produce 3D cultures suitable for HTS using established tumor cell lines and ultra-low attachment plates, and we tested which experimental parameters need to be considered. In our studies, we have focused on cell lines from gliomas. Gliomas are incurable tumors of the central nervous system and are the subject of intensive research. Our studies used ten glioma cell lines from which we generated spheroids using ultra-low attachment plates. We then determined the spheroid size as a function of the initial cell number and the culture time. We analyzed cell viability using propidium iodide staining, evaluated the effects of temozolomide and radiation on spheroids, and compared the effect to that on 2D cultures. We found that spheroid size correlated linearly with the initial cell number. Fewer cells (250–500) generally resulted in better growth than a higher number. However, not all cell lines produced growing spheroids at all. The spheroids had an outer layer of living cells and an inner core of dead cells. The size of the inner core of dead cells was different in the various cell lines and developed differently during the incubation period. Radiation affected spheroids more than 2D cultures, especially at higher cell densities. Our results provide insight into using glioma cell lines to form spheroids as model systems. We have identified initial cell numbers as a critical parameter for their effective use in research, offering a hopeful outlook for tumor therapy research and drug development.
Salt-wedge estuary's response to rising sea level, reduced discharge, and Nature-Based Solution
Authors: Verri Giorgia , De Lorenzis Alessandro , Santos da Costa Vladimir , Sorolla Albert , Löchner Adrian , Ribot Miquel , Marti Eugenia , DelGado Sara Castelar , Coppini Giovanni , Pinardi Nadia
Published: December 2024

Vulnerable estuaries face resilience challenges against climate-induced salinization. This study examines the Po di Goro estuary in the Northern Adriatic Sea using an innovative modeling approach. It assesses the effectiveness of a Nature-Based Solution in reducing the threat of salt-wedge intrusion. An intermediate-complexity numerical model is considered, leveraging its low computational cost, which is suitable for climate projections, along with robust physics encompassing the main estuarine processes. Two centennial climate experiments covering 1991–2100 are proposed following a mechanistic modeling approach to understand the compound effects of sea level rise and river discharge changes. The first experiment is a full forcing experiment. The second experiment uses the same model but removes the sea level rise as an input forcing. A third experiment, referred to as the Digital Twin Experiment, assesses the effectiveness of a location-specific Nature-Based Solution. This experiment specifically examines the impact of reducing salt levels in the water by using a halophyte plant along the estuary. The results show that, in a future climate change scenario, the salt-wedge intrusion increases. This response is due to the non-linear combination of reduced river discharge and the local sea level rise. The discharge decrease acts as the main driver in the mid-term future (i.e., 2050–2080). In the long-term future (i.e., 2080–2100), the local sea level rise becomes more relevant as the discharge trend is expected to be null. The salt-wedge intrusion in the Po di Goro is projected to increase up to 63% annually (120% in summertime). Additionally, the river mouth salinity could rise by 27% annually (69% in summertime) in the long-term future (2081–2100). The halophyte plant, Atriplex portulaciodes, proposed as Nature-Based Solution, could reduce salt-wedge intrusion in the Po di Goro by up to 16% annually (22% in summer) in the long-term future. In the short-term future, this Nature-Based Solution may be effective enough to counteract the salt increase.
The expanding role of 16s ribosomal RNA PCR in the management of patients with infective endocarditis undergoing cardiac surgery
Authors: Pavone Natalia , Cammertoni Federico , Calabrese Maria , Bruno Piergiorgio , Scoppettuolo Giancarlo , Lombardo Antonella , Giovannenze Francesca , Taddei Eleonora , Fiori Barbara , D’Inzeo Tiziana , Cutrone Gessica , Iannaccone Giulia , Del Zanna Niccolò , Massetti Massimo
Published: December 2024

Background

Aetiological diagnosis and targeted antibiotic therapy are essential to improve the prognosis of patients with infective endocarditis. Molecular tests on blood have been reported to be effective in identifying the causative organism and are recommended when blood cultures are negative. The role of molecular tests on the surgically excised valve is still unclear and needs further investigation.

Materials and methods

In this prospective, observational, single center study, we enrolled 100 consecutive patients with native or prosthetic valve endocarditis who underwent cardiac surgery between April 2020 and June 2023. Results of preoperative blood cultures, valve culture, 16s ribosomal RNA and histopathologic analysis of surgical samples were collected in a dedicated database.

Results

The mean age of the study population was 60 ± 12.5 years, with a majority of men (73%). Previous cardiac surgery was reported in 31% of patients. Blood culture, valve culture, and 16srRNA were positive in 83%, 47%, and 76% of cases, respectively. The sensitivity of both valve culture and 16srRNA decreased significantly with prolonged preoperative antibiotic therapy. Of note, 16srRNA was the only positive result in 7% of cases, allowing aetiological diagnosis. In 33% of patients, the valve culture test was negative while the molecular test was positive. In these cases, histopathological analysis showed acute inflammation in most cases. In 10%, the molecular test helped in resolving discrepancies between the results of blood and valve cultures.

Conclusions

The molecular test showed significantly higher diagnostic sensitivity than valve culture and maintained this efficacy even after 28 days of preoperative antibiotic therapy. In addition to identifying the pathogen in 7% of cases with negative culture results, the molecular test demonstrated utility in other crucial situations. When valve cultures were negative, combining molecular testing and histopathological analysis they allowed the identification of patients who could benefit from prolonged antibiotic therapy. In addition, molecular testing guided the choice of antibiotic treatment when there was a discrepancy between blood culture and valve culture results. Based on these findings, molecular testing should be considered in all patients with infective endocarditis undergoing cardiac surgery.

Clinical Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov, identifier (NCT05791357).
Mid-term outcomes of atrioventricular valve repair in functional single ventricle patients
Authors: Jin Yong-Qiang , Wu Qing-Yu , Zhang Xiao-Ya , Fan Li-Xin , Zhang En-Rui , Xue Hui , Zhang Ming-Kui
Published: December 2024

Background

Surgical treatment of functional single ventricle combined with atrioventricular valve regurgitation remains a clinical challenge. The outcomes of atrioventricular valve repair in patients with single ventricle are limited.

Methods

A retrospective study was conducted of all 28 patients with functional single ventricle treated with single-ventricle palliation who underwent atrioventricular valve operation at the First Hospital of Tsinghua University between April 2007 and October 2022.

Results

In our cohort, the female/male ratio was 7:21, with an average age of 8.7 ± 6.0 (0.75–26) years. Half of patients (50%) were right-ventricle type for single-ventricle morphology. 18 patients (64.3%) were with a common atrioventricular valve. Twenty-three patients (82.1%) were combined with heterotaxy syndrome. Pre-operatively, twenty-four patients (85.7%) were diagnosed with severe atrioventricular valve regurgitation. AVV was repaired at the Glenn (n = 16, 57.1%), Glenn-Fontan (n = 2, 7.1%) and Fontan (n = 10, 35.7%) stage, respectively. Valve plastic techniques included valve annulus/commissure constriction (n = 24), clefts repair (9 cases), edge-to-edge suturing (13 cases) and common atrioventricular valve separation (4 cases). The early mortality was 3.6% (1/28). All survival patients were observed with improved regurgitation situations. Twenty-two patients (78.5%) were observed with no more than mild regurgitation postoperatively. The mean follow-up time was 5.4 ± 2.9 years (range, 3.08–11.83 years), with late mortality of 11.1% (3/27). All these three cases were observed with a severe regurgitation by echocardiogram in the last follow-up. Besides, reoperation rate of this cohort was 3.6% (1/28).

Conclusions

AVV repair could significantly improve AVV function in SV patients combined with severe AVVR, with satisfactory mid-term results. Part of the cohort showed poor prognosis due to repeated AVVR. Regular follow-up by echocardiogram is critically important for these patients.
Optimization design of stress relief coalbed methane surface well in a high-gas mine
Authors: Fu Junhui , Wen Guangcai , Zhang Bichuan , Sun Haitao , Li Rifu , Liu Jiaqi
Published: December 2024

Coalbed methane drainage through surface wells has become increasingly important in high-gas mines. Surface wells are prone to different types of deformations and failures owing to mining-induced effects. In this paper, a displacement and deformation model was established for the overlying strata. Three forms of deformation and failure of the surface well casing was proposed, namely shearing, stretching, and uneven extrusion. Moreover, the mathematical model functions for the S-type shear deformation, delamination tensile deformation, and non-uniform extrusion of the surface well were established. In the Shanxi Coal Group Yue Cheng Mine, coalbed methane drainage at the surface well was conducted on the mining-affected area to achieve good effects. The YCCD-04 well without a local protective device was deformed and damaged, and the dynamic deformation and failure of the surface well was detected using a well imager. The YCCD-02 surface well with a local protective device showed good mining and gas drainage, which verified the effectiveness of the local protective device; the coalbed methane drainage time of this surface well was 35 months, and the cumulative coalbed methane drainage volume extracted was 1.3 × 107 m3. Simultaneously, the problem of gas control in the working face was solved, thereby ensuring the safety of coal mining and achieving good social as well as economic benefits.
Impaired sensitivity to thyroid hormone is associated with developing non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in euthyroid diabetic subjects
Authors: Zhang Xiaowen , Liu Jie , Wang Qian , Han Chen , Yan Yu , Xiang Xinyue , Shen Shanmei , Feng Wenhuan
Published: December 2024

Background and aims

Acquired resistance to thyroid hormone appears to exist in the general population. We aimed to evaluate the association between indices of thyroid hormone sensitivity and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), and made stratified analyses by diabetic status.

Methods

We included 26,413 participants from a health screening program and 8,246 hospitalized patients with type 2 diabetes. Thyroid Feedback Quantile-based Index (TFQI), thyroid stimulating hormone index (TSHI) and thyrotroph thyroxine resistance index (TT4RI) were calculated. Advanced fibrosis risk was determined using the FIB-4 score. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed.

Results

TFQI was associated with an increased risk of NAFLD in patients with diabetes (fourth quartile vs. first quartile: odds ratio [OR]=1.39 and 1.82 in hospitalized and non-hospitalized patients, respectively, both P<0.001) but not non-diabetic participants (OR=0.94, P=0.40). Further adjustment for the homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance generated similar findings in diabetes (OR=1.27, P=0.025). The TFQI-associated NAFLD risk increase in diabetic patients was confined to NAFLD with low probability of advanced fibrosis (OR 1.42, P=0.001), but not those with intermediate-to-high probability (OR=0.86, P=0.23). Also, TFQI was associated with a significantly lower risk for advanced fibrosis in the diabetic at-risk patients (OR=0.62, P=0.005) but not those non-diabetic at-risk participants, independent of the presence of NAFLD. The association was less significant for TT4RI and TSHI.

Conclusions

Impaired sensitivity to thyroid hormone was associated with an increased risk of developing NAFLD but a reduced risk of advanced fibrosis limited to diabetic individuals. Our findings suggest stratified studies of NAFLD based on diabetic status are needed in the future.
Simulation research on the blister evolution behaviors of UMo/Zr monolithic fuel elements
Authors: Changbing Tang , Feng Yan , Yongjun Jiao , Yong Xin , Zengping Pu , Zhong Xiao
Published: December 2024

Blister behavior is one of the main failure modes of UMo/Zr monolithic fuel elements during irradiation. The temperature of fuel elements may increase greatly so that the fuel elements may be destroyed. Post-irradiation annealing tests are used to study the blister behaviors of fuel elements under high temperature. In this study, a simulation method is developed based on the finite element method to study the evolution of blister behaviors of UMo/Zr monolithic fuel elements in the blister tests, taken into considering that the evolution of bubble pressure should be coupled with the deformation of cladding. The influence of creep rate of the cladding on the evolution of blister height is analyzed. The study shows that the unrecoverable creep deformation of the cladding, which occurs under high temperature, is the major factor in the increment of bubble height. The increase of bubble height mainly occurs during the heat preservation process and the initial stage of cooling process. The creep rate of cladding is positively related to the evolution of bubble height.
Genome-wide identification and expression analysis of the PsKIN gene family in pea
Authors: Yuan Hao , Liu Baoxia , Zhang Guwen , Feng Zhijuan , Wang Bin , Bu Yuanpeng , Xu Yu , Gong Yaming , Sun Zhihong , Liu Na
Published: December 2024

Peas (Pisum sativum L.) serve as a vital model for plant development and stress research. The kinesin (KIN) gene family, encoding essential motor proteins, remains understudied in peas. Our research conducted a comprehensive genomic analysis of the KIN genes in peas, identifying 105 genes categorized into seven subfamilies based on evolutionary relationships, gene structures, conserved motifs, and interaction networks. A comparative analysis with Arabidopsis and soybean KIN gene families showed a non-uniform distribution of PsKIN genes across subfamilies. Homology analysis revealed that the PsKIN family has undergone segmental duplication and is under negative selection pressures, with conserved genes on chromosomes Ps5, Ps6, and Ps7 playing a significant role in pea evolution. Transcriptomics revealed 38 PsKIN genes with distinct tissue-specific expression, with PsKIN76, PsKIN96, PsKIN82, and PsKIN103 showing significant levels in roots, lateral roots, stems, petals, and seeds, respectively. Differential expression under drought and saline stress was observed, with PsKIN8, PsKIN11, PsKIN54 upregulated under drought, and PsKIN47 and PsKIN51 under saline stress. These genes are potential candidates for improving plant stress tolerance. This study offers insights into the pea KIN gene family, highlighting their potential in enhancing plant stress tolerance and setting a stage for future research.
Presentation Attack Detection using iris periocular visual spectrum images
Authors: Valenzuela Andrés , Tapia Juan E. , Chang Violeta , Busch Christoph
Published: December 2024

In this work, we analyse the comparison between using the periocular area instead of the full face area for Presentation Attack Detection (PAD) in the visual spectrum (RGB). The analysis was carried out by evaluating the performance of five Convolutional Neural Networks (CNN) using both facial and periocular iris images for PAD with two different attack instruments. Additionally, we improved the CNN results by integrating the ArcFace loss function instead of the traditional categorical cross-entropy loss, highlighting that the ArcFace function enhances the performance of the models for both regions of interest, facial and iris periocular areas. We conducted Binary and Multiclass comparisons, followed by cross-database validation to assess the generalization capabilities of the trained models. Our study also addresses some of the current challenges in PAD research, such as the limited availability of high-quality face datasets in the desired spectrum (RGB), which impacts the quality of Presentation Attack Instruments (PAI) examples used in training and evaluation. Our goal was to address the challenge of detecting Iris periocular presentation attacks by leveraging the ArcFace function. The results demonstrate the effectiveness of our approach and provide valuable insights for improving PAD systems using periocular areas in the visual spectrum.
The association between type 1 diabetes mellitus and the risk of immunoglobulin A nephropathy: a Mendelian randomization study
Authors: Zhang Chun-Hua , Shen Yang , Zhao Su-Mei
Published: December 2024

Objective

To investigate the potential causal relationship between type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) and IgA nephropathy (IgAN) to deepen understanding of the association between these two conditions and to provide a scientific basis for future preventive and therapeutic strategies.

Methods

This study employed Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis, using single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) derived from genome-wide association studies (GWAS) as genetic instrumental variables (IVs), to assess the association between T1DM and IgAN. The analytical approaches included univariable and multivariable MR, along with sensitivity analyses such as Mendelian randomization-Egger (MR-Egger) and Mendelian Randomization Pleiotropy RESidual Sum and Outlier (MR-PRESSO), to evaluate the impact of heterogeneity and pleiotropy.

Results

Univariable MR analysis using the IVW method revealed an odds ratio (OR) of 1.009 [95% confidence interval (CI): 1.032–1.206] for the association between T1DM and IgAN. Adjusted results from multivariable MR analysis indicated a significant relationship between T1DM and increased risk of IgAN; for example, after adjusting for triglycerides (TG), the OR was 1.534 (CI: 1.213–1.543). After adjustment for HOMA-IR, the OR was 1.303 (CI: 1.149–1.198). Sensitivity analyses, including MR-Egger regression intercept testing (p = 0.476), suggested no pleiotropy, and MR-PRESSO did not detect any influence from outlier SNPs.

Conclusion

The findings suggest that T1DM is a factor in increasing the risk of IgAN, enhancing our understanding of the potential relationship between T1DM and IgAN and providing possible biological pathways for future disease prevention and intervention.
Investigation of the anti-Huanglongbing effects using antimicrobial lipopeptide and phytohormone complex powder prepared from Bacillus amyloliquefaciens MG-2 fermentation
Authors: Ding Zhicheng , Liu Yang , Zhang Shaoran , Wang Fangkui , Zong Qi , Yang Yuehua , Du Anna , Zheng Yajie , Zhu Jian , Jiang Ling
Published: December 2024

Global citrus production has been severely affected by citrus Huanglongbing (HLB) disease, caused by Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus (Clas), and the development of effective control methods are crucial. This study employed antimicrobial lipopeptide and phytohormone complex powder (L1) prepared from the fermentation broth of the endophytic plant growth promoting bacterium (PGPB) of Bacillus amyloliquefaciens strain MG-2 to treat Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus (CLas)-infected ‘Citrus reticulata ‘Chun Jian’ plants. Real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) and PCR were employed for disease detection. The results revealed that after 15 spray-drench treatments with L1 solution, the HLB infection rate decreased from 100 to 50%, the bacterial titer decreased by 51.9% compared with a 27.9% decrease in the control group. L1 treatment triggered the production of reactive oxygen species, increased lignin content, and increased defense enzyme activities (p < 0.05). Defense-related gene expression significantly increased within 12 h of treatment. In addition, L1 application also promoted plant growth, as evidenced by higher transpiration rates and net photosynthetic rates as well as increased leave or root density. Root flora analysis revealed that the abundances of Burkholderia_thailandensis, unclassified_g_Burkholderia-Caballeronia-Paraburkholderia, unclassified_g__Allorhizobium-Neorhizobium-Pararhizobium-Rhizobium, and Pseudomonas_mosselii were 1.64, 1.46, 5.84, and 6.93 times greater, respectively, than those in the control group. The levels of phenylpropanoids, polyketides, lipids, lipid-like molecules, organic acids, and derivatives, significantly increased following L1 treatment (FC > 2, p < 0.05). Additionally, salicylic acid, dihydrojasmonic acid, and isopentenyl adenosine levels in leaves markedly increased. High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) confirmed that L1 contained surfactin, iturin and fengycin cyclic-lipopeptides (CLPs) as well as indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), 3-indolebutyric acid (IBA), indole-3-carboxylic acid and indole-3-carboxaldehyde auxins, N6-entopentenyladenine and t-zeatin-riboside cytokinins, abscisic acid, 1-aminocyclicpanecarboxylic acid, salicylic acid, and gibberellin A1, A3 and A4 phytohormones. These findings provide insight into multiple mechanisms by which endophytic Bacillus PGPB L1 is able to combat HLB disease, to promote citrus plant growth, and to optimize the root flora for soil health which offering an innovative strategy for sustainable management of this severe disease and improving citrus plant growth and productivity
Alleviating the medical strain: a triage method via cross-domain text classification
Authors: Xiao Xiao , Wang Shuqin , Jiang Feng , Qi Tingyue , Wang Wei
Published: December 2024

It is a universal phenomenon for patients who do not know which clinical department to register in large general hospitals. Although triage nurses can help patients, due to the larger number of patients, they have to stand in a queue for minutes to consult. Recently, there have already been some efforts to devote deep-learning techniques or pre-trained language models (PLMs) to triage recommendations. However, these methods may suffer two main limitations: (1) These methods typically require a certain amount of labeled or unlabeled data for model training, which are not always accessible and costly to acquire. (2) These methods have not taken into account the distortion of semantic feature structure and the loss of category discriminability in the model training. To overcome these limitations, in this study, we propose a cross-domain text classification method based on prompt-tuning, which can classify patients' questions or texts about their symptoms into several given categories to give suggestions on which kind of consulting room patients could choose. Specifically, first, different prompt templates are manually crafted based on various data contents, embedding source domain information into the prompt templates to generate another text with similar semantic feature structures for performing classification tasks. Then, five different strategies are employed to expand the label word space for modifying prompts, and the integration of these strategies is used as the final verbalizer. The extensive experiments on Chinese Triage datasets demonstrate that our method achieved state-of-the-art performance.
Evaluating iron deposition in gray matter nuclei of patients with acute ischemic stroke using quantitative susceptibility mapping
Authors: Zhou Li , Yang Jie , Zhang Wei , Han Limei , Zhou Shenghai , Zheng Chunyan , Feng Hao , Zhong Jianquan
Published: December 2024

Objectives

Understanding the microscopic pathophysiological mechanisms underlying acute ischemic stroke (AIS) is vital for facilitating early clinical diagnosis and intervention. In this study, we aimed to quantitatively assess brain iron changes in gray matter (GM) nuclei in patients with AIS via quantitative susceptibility mapping (QSM).

Methods

Thirty-four patients with AIS and thirty age-and sex-matched healthy controls (HCs) were included. QSM and conventional magnetic resonance imaging were performed. Intergroup differences in regional susceptibility values were calculated for the bilateral caudate nucleus (CN), globus pallidus (GP), putamen (PUT), red nucleus (RN), substantia nigra (SN), thalamus (THA), and dentate nucleus (DN). A receiver operating characteristic curve was plotted to evaluate the classification and diagnostic performance of susceptibility values in distinguishing patients with AIS from HCs. Multiple linear regression analysis was used to investigate the impact of clinical variables on susceptibility values. Correlation analysis was used to assess the correlation between regional iron variations and clinical scores. A paired t test was used to calculate the differences in susceptibility values between the bilateral hemispheres in the participants.

Results

Compared with the HCs, the patients with AIS had significantly increased susceptibility values in the bilateral CN and PUT (p < 0.05, FDR correction). The highest diagnostic performance was observed in the combination of susceptibility values with differences between groups (AUC = 0.722). Multiple linear regression analysis revealed that increased susceptibility in the right CN was significantly associated with smoking (p < 0.05). The susceptibility values were not significantly correlated with the clinical scores (p > 0.05), but age was positively correlated with the modified Rankin Scale scores at admission (p < 0.05). The susceptibility values of the SN exhibited lateral asymmetry in patients with AIS.

Conclusion

This study revealed increased iron concentrations in the GM nuclei of patients with AIS. Iron deposition in GM nuclei may be a potential biomarker for further understanding the pathophysiological mechanism underlying AIS.
The effectiveness of dry needling for plantar fasciitis: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Yang Aiguo , Lin Rong , Xia Mingwei , Su Hao , He Ying
Published: December 2024

Objective

To evaluate the effectiveness of dry needling (DN) on pain and functional outcomes in patients with plantar fasciitis (PF).

Methods

PubMed, Embase, the Cochrane Library, EBSCO, web of science, physiotherapy Evidence Database (PEDro) were searched for randomized control trials (RCTs) evaluating the effectiveness of dry needling on plantar fasciitis. Article screening, data extraction and risk-of-bias evaluation were independently performed by two reviewers. Meta-analysis was conducted based on different control methods and assessment time using RevMan 5.3 software.

Results

A total of 12 RCTs involving 781 patients were included in the systemic review and meta-analysis. The comparison of DN + routine treatments vs. routine treatments alone demonstrated that PF patients receiving DN have significantly lower scores in Visual Analog Scale / Numerical Pain Rating Scale (VAS/NPRS) [95%CI (−2.12, −1.76), p < 0.0001], and the scores of Foot Function Index (FFI) [95%CI (−12.57, −3.58), p = 0.004]. In the comparison of DN vs. other treatments, results showed that DN significantly lowered the scores of FFI [95%CI (−6.55, −1.09), p = 0.006]. However, there was no significant difference in pain improvement between DN and other treatments [95%CI (−0.66, 0.06), p = 0.10]. In the meta-analysis based on different assessment time, results showed that there was significant difference in the scores of VAS/NPRS within 1 month, at 1 month and at over 1 month. But there was no significant difference in the scores of FFI within 1 month, while at 1 month and at over 1 month, the scores of FFI were lowered in patients receiving DN, and the difference were statistically significant.

Conclusion

Dry needling is effective in relieving pain and restoring function in patients with plantar fasciitis. Furthermore, dry needling may take at least 1 month to take effects in patients with plantar fasciitis. More multi-center RCTs with high-quality, large sample size are needed to further conform our conclusion.
Radiomic and dosimetric parameter-based nomogram predicts radiation esophagitis in patients with non-small cell lung cancer undergoing combined immunotherapy and radiotherapy
Authors: Wang Kang , Zhao Junfeng , Duan Jinghao , Feng Changxing , Li Ying , Li Li , Yuan Shuanghu
Published: December 2024

Background

The combination of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) and radiotherapy (RT) may increase the risk of radiation esophagitis (RE). This study aimed to establish and validate a new nomogram to predict RE in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) undergoing immunochemotherapy followed by RT (ICI-RT).

Methods

The 102 eligible patients with NSCLC treated with ICI-RT were divided into training (n = 71) and validation (n = 31) cohorts. Clinicopathologic features, dosimetric parameters, inflammatory markers, and radiomic score (Rad-score) were included in the univariate logistic regression analysis, and factors with p < 0.05 in the univariate analysis were included in the multivariate logistic regression analysis. Factors with significant predictive values were obtained and used for developing the nomogram. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC), calibration curve, and decision curve were used to validate the model.

Results

A total of 38 (37.3%) patients developed RE. Univariate and multivariate analyses identified the following independent predictors of RE: a maximum dose delivered to the esophagus >58.4 Gy, a mean esophagus dose >13.3 Gy, and the Rad-score. The AUCs of the nomogram in the training and validation cohorts were 0.918 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.824–1.000) and 0.833 (95% CI: 0.697–0.969), respectively, indicating good discrimination. The calibration curves showed good agreement between the predicted occurrence of RE and the actual observations. The decision curve showed a satisfactory positive net benefit at most threshold probabilities, suggesting a good clinical effect.

Conclusions

We developed and validated a nomogram based on imaging histological features and RT dosimetric parameters. This model can effectively predict the occurrence of RE in patients with NSCLC treated using ICI-RT.
LAG3 immune inhibitors: a novel strategy for melanoma treatment
Authors: Wu Renzheng , Zeng Mingtang , Zhang Yuchen , He Jianping
Published: December 2024

Melanoma, a highly aggressive skin cancer, poses significant challenges in treatment, particularly for advanced or metastatic cases. While immunotherapy, especially immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) targeting CTLA-4 and PD-1, has transformed melanoma management, many patients experience limited responses or develop resistance, highlighting the need for new therapeutic strategies. Lymphocyte activation gene 3 (LAG-3) has emerged as a promising target in cancer immunotherapy. LAG-3 inhibitors have shown potential in restoring T cell functions and enhancing anti-tumor immunity, particularly when used in combination with existing ICIs. This review discusses the latest advancements in LAG-3 inhibition for advanced melanoma, emphasizing its role in overcoming resistance and improving patient outcomes.
A single-center experience of central nervous system tumors in children under three years old
Authors: Wang Junhua , Wang Chuanwei , Huang Zhimin , Zhang Zhihua , Zhang Yuqi
Published: December 2024

Purpose

This study aims to summarize the characteristics of children under three years old (≤3 years) with central nervous system (CNS) tumors and to investigate the factors that influence their overall survival (OS) time.

Methods

We treated 171 pediatric patients (≤3 years) with CNS tumors at Yuquan Hospital of Tsinghua University from January 2016 to June 2023. Of these, 162 cases were successfully followed up. Kaplan–Meier survival analysis and Cox regression were utilized to evaluate factors potentially influencing OS of malignancies.

Results

There was a male predominance among the patients. The three most common tumors were embryonal tumors, gliomas, and craniopharyngiomas. Gross total resection (GTR) was achieved in select cases. Patients with high-grade malignancies were advised to undergo chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy after surgery. Optic gliomas and diffuse midline gliomas were partially resected and treated with adjuvant treatments. The median survival time of low-grade malignant tumors was 41.5 months, while that of high-grade malignant tumors was 15 months. Kaplan–Meier survival analysis identified the factors potentially influencing OS of malignancies: extent of resection, CNS WHO grade, grade of malignancies, and Ki-67 labeling index (Ki-67 LI). Subsequent multivariate analysis highlighted the interactive factor (extent of resection × CNS WHO grade) along with Ki-67 LI, as the most significant variables. Factors such as sex, age, tumor location, and onset-to-treatment time appeared not to affect OS.

Conclusions

GTR remains the cornerstone of treatment for children (≤3 years) with CNS tumors, except for optic glioma, diffuse midline glioma, and germinoma. The interactive factor (extent of resection × CNS WHO grade) and Ki-67 LI are the most significant factors affecting OS. The implementation of preoperative neoadjuvant chemotherapy and early postoperative chemotherapy may enhance prognosis.
Slick potassium channels limit TRPM3-mediated activation of sensory neurons
Authors: Engel Patrick , Zhou Fangyuan , Tran Bang Tam Thi , Schmidtko Achim , Lu Ruirui
Published: December 2024

Heat sensation is mediated by specialized heat-sensitive neurons in the somatosensory system that innervates the skin. Previous studies revealed that noxious heat sensation is controlled by the sodium (Na+)-activated potassium (K+) channel Slick (Kcnt2), which is highly expressed in nociceptive Aδ-fibers. However, the mechanism by which Slick modulates heat sensation is poorly understood. Here, we generated mice lacking Slick conditionally in sensory neurons expressing Nav1.8 (SNS-Slick−/− mice). In SNS-Slick−/− mice, the latency to express any nocifensive behavior was reduced in the hot plate and tail immersion tests. In situ hybridization experiments revealed Slick was highly co-expressed with the essential heat sensor, transient receptor potential (TRP) melastatin (TRPM) 3, but not with TRP vanilloid 1, TRP ankyrin 1, or TRPM2 in sensory neurons. Notably, SNS-Slick−/− mice exhibited increased nocifensive behaviors following intraplantar injection of the TRPM3 activator pregnenolone sulfate. Patch-clamp recordings detected increased Na+-dependent outward K+ current (IK) after TRPM3 activation in sensory neurons, which showed no prominent IK after the replacement of NaCl with choline chloride. Thus, our study suggests that Slick limits TRPM3-mediated activation of sensory neurons, thereby inhibiting noxious heat sensing.
Transcription factor MEF2D regulates aberrant expression of ACSL3 and enhances sorafenib resistance by inhibiting ferroptosis in HCC
Authors: Li Xue , Chen Shimin , Shi Yuanyuan , Wang Yuanjing , Wang Xuanzhe , Lin Qian , Wu Chao , Fang Wenshuo , Sun Peng , Ma Leina
Published: December 2024

Background

Sorafenib is a first-line treatment for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC); however, acquired resistance often results in a poor prognosis, indicating a need for more effective therapies. Sorafenib induces cell death through an iron-dependent mechanism known as ferroptosis, which is closely associated with the onset and progression of HCC.

Methods

This study investigated the role of ACSL3 in sorafenib resistance and ferroptosis in HCC. The expression of ACSL3 was analyzed in HCC tissues and cell lines. Ferroptosis levels and cell viability were assessed in ACSL3-silenced HCC cells treated with sorafenib. The regulatory relationship between the transcription factor MEF2D and ACSL3 was evaluated using promoter binding assays and gene expression analysis.

Results

ACSL3 was aberrantly expressed in HCC and promoted the progression of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) to HCC. Elevated ACSL3 expression inhibited ferroptosis and enhanced resistance to sorafenib. The transcription factor MEF2D directly regulated the upregulation of ACSL3 expression. MEF2D bound to the promoter regions of ACSL3 to enhance its transcription and negatively regulate ferroptosis in HCC.

Conclusion

This study demonstrated for the first time that MEF2D regulated ACSL3 expression and mediated sorafenib resistance by inhibiting ferroptosis in HCC, providing a potential therapeutic target for improving HCC outcomes.
TCSRNet: a lightweight tobacco leaf curing stage recognition network model
Authors: Zhao Panzhen , Wang Songfeng , Duan Shijiang , Wang Aihua , Meng Lingfeng , Hu Yichong
Published: December 2024

Due to the constraints of the tobacco leaf curing environment and computational resources, current image classification models struggle to balance recognition accuracy and computational efficiency, making practical deployment challenging. To address this issue, this study proposes the development of a lightweight classification network model for recognizing tobacco leaf curing stages (TCSRNet). Firstly, the model utilizes an Inception structure with parallel convolutional branches to capture features at different receptive fields, thereby better adapting to the appearance variations of tobacco leaves at different curing stages. Secondly, the incorporation of Ghost modules significantly reduces the model’s computational complexity and parameter count through parameter sharing, enabling efficient recognition of tobacco leaf curing stages. Lastly, the design of the Multi-scale Adaptive Attention Module (MAAM) enhances the model’s perception of key visual information in images, emphasizing distinctive features such as leaf texture and color, which further improves the model’s accuracy and robustness. On the constructed tobacco leaf curing stage dataset (with color images sized 224×224 pixels), TCSRNet achieves a classification accuracy of 90.35% with 158.136 MFLOPs and 1.749M parameters. Compared to models such as ResNet34, GhostNet, ShuffleNetV2×1.5, EfficientNet-b0, MobileViT-xs, MobileNetV2, MobileNetV3-large, and MobileNetV3-small, TCSRNet demonstrates superior performance in terms of accuracy, FLOPs, and parameter count. Furthermore, when evaluated on the public V2 Plant Seedlings dataset, TCSRNet maintains an impressive accuracy of 97.15% compared to other advanced network models. This research advances the development of lightweight models for recognizing tobacco leaf curing stages, providing theoretical support for smart tobacco curing technologies and injecting new momentum into the digital transformation of the tobacco industry.