bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
THE CLINICAL FEATURES OF RECOVERY IN PATIENTS WHO HAD CORONAVIRUS INFECTION COVID-19 BASED ON THE DURATION OF POST-COVID PERIOD AND SEVERITY OF LUNG PARENCHYMAL ABNORMALITIES
Authors:   Federal Medical Biophysical Center named after A.I. Burnazyan, PRASKURNICHY EVGENII A. , ZENKOVA SVETLANA I. ,   Central Clinical Health Resort for Children with Parents «Malakhovka», Moscow region, TRIGOLOSOVA IRINA V. ,   Federal Medical Biophysical Center named after A.I. Burnazyan, ORLOVA OLGA S. ,   Federal Medical Biophysical Center named after A.I. Burnazyan, ELEZOVA LYUBOV I. ,   Central Clinical Health Resort for Children with Parents «Malakhovka», Moscow region, SHMAKOV NIKOLAI A. ,   Central Clinical Health Resort for Children with Parents «Malakhovka», Moscow region
Published: June 2024

Abstract. Introduction. Post-COVID syndrome is a complex of symptoms that develops in almost half of the patients who have had a new coronavirus infection (COVID-19). The frequency of symptom development based on the duration of the post-COVID period, age, gender, and severity of the course of the disease are highly relevant subjects, as they will allow to form approaches to the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of post-COVID syndrome. Material and methods. 43 patients were included (men – 10, women – 33), age 65 [60–71]. The questionnaire was designed after a comprehensive review of literature from the past studies based on similar objectives. We divided patients in two groups in depending on recovery: up to 3 months (n=23), after to 3 months (n=20). In depend on degree of lung parenchymal abnormalities two groups were formed: less than 25%, more than 25%. Vital signs (respiratory rate, SpO2 , hearth rate) were collected. The tolerance in physical activity we investigate by modified Medical Research Council breathlessness scale – mMRC, six-minute test. Borgscale, hurt rate and oxygen saturation were measured immediately before and after test. Data were analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences version 22.0. Results and discussion. The majority of the patients complained on persistent fatigue (75%), dyspnea (59%), joint pain (45%), anxiety (38%) and chest pain (37%). We didn’t find difference in frequencies of majority of complaints in depend on duration of post- COVID period. In patients with LA>25% mMRC, respiratory rate, Borg scale in six-minute test higher than in patients with LA<25%. Conclusion. In elderly patients, symptoms persisted for more than 3 months after a new coronavirus infection, which is associated with a higher risk of chronic pathological processes in elderly patients. With lung lesion volume of more than 25%, respiratory functional test values are higher than in the group of patients with smaller lesion volume, which is most likely caused by preserved structural damage of lung tissue.
Change in Risk Factors for Depression among The Elderly Due to the COVID-19 Outbreak
Authors: Choi Yongyeon , Park Sangshin
Published: June 2024

Objectives: This study aimed to investigate changes in risk factors for depression among the elderly due to the Coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) outbreak. Methods: We analyzed data from individuals aged ≥ 65 years who participated in both the 7th (2018) and 8th (2020) waves of the Korean Longitudinal Study of Aging (KLoSA). Depression is defined as a Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D10) score ≥ 4. We conducted multivariable logistic regression analyses to assess risk factors for depression across periods before and after the outbreak of COVID-19. For the multivariable analysis, we included variables that showed a p-value < 0.2 in the univariable analysis and applied a stepwise selection method. Results: A total of 3,857 elderly individuals were included in the analysis. Regardless of the COVID-19 outbreak, factors such as economically inactive status, a lower frequency of social interactions, worsening subjective health status, and difficulties in performing instrumental activities of daily living were identified as risk factors for depression. Before the COVID-19 outbreak, residing in urban areas was not a significant risk factor for depression, but it emerged as a significant risk factor after the outbreak (p = 0.009). In contrast, living alone was a significant risk factor for depression before the COVID-19 outbreak (p < 0.001), but this association was not significant after the outbreak. Conclusions: After the COVID-19 outbreak, residing in urban areas emerged as a new risk factor for depression, while living alone, previously a significant risk factor, was no longer associated with depression in the elderly.
An Association between Changes in Daily Life Caused by COVID-19 and Quality of Life among The Korean Elderly
Authors: Go Hyo-Bin , Bin Sung-Oh , Jeong Seong-Hwa
Published: June 2024

Objectives: This study aims to examine the effect of changes in daily life caused by COVID-19 on quality of life among the Korean elderly. Methods: The subjects of this study are select from the 2021 Community Health Survey (CHS) taken from 74,492 respondents aged 65 or older. Results: Authors found changes in daily life caused by COVID-19 and quality of life, the happiness index and European quality of life 5 dimensions 3 level version (EQ-5D-3L) index were higher when it was possible to rest at home when coughing with fever, when living restriction score affected by COVID-19 was small, and when being vaccinated for COVID-19. Among the factors influencing quality of life, the happiness index was indicated by living restriction score affected by COVID-19, frequency of physical activities, and frequency of drinking status. The EQ-5D-3L index was indicated by COVID-19 vaccination experience. Conclusions: The results of this study show the importance of actively maintaining health behaviors despite the COVID-19 pandemic.
Analysis of Damage Handling in The PT Petrokimia Gresik Factory Conveyor Safety System Using The Naive Bayes Method
Authors: Alkhaqiqi Fashoma Yudha Anggana , Irawan Denny
Published: June 2024

In the industrial world, the speed of the production process plays a very important role in influencing industrial profits. One of the factors that determines production speed is the conveyor. PT. Petrokimia Gresik is one of the industries that uses conveyors, which pays great attention to accuracy and control of material speed. The function of the conveyor is to send raw materials from PT Petrokimia Gresik fertilizer to be processed. Three safety devices are installed on this tool, namely the low speed switch, outlying belt and cable pull switch. However, this complex security system makes it difficult for field technicians to handle conveyor problems. Problems that occur with conveyors, especially in the electrical and instrumentation parts, are sometimes difficult to find. Therefore, the author had the idea to conduct research related to conveyor problem solving analysis using the naive Bayes classification method. The results of the calculation between naive Bayes calculations and expert opinion show 100% agreement, which is an optimal result. It is hoped that these results can help field technicians in diagnosing and resolving problems when problems occur with conveyors.
CLEAN-Contact: Contrastive Learning-enabled Enzyme Functional Annotation Prediction with Structural Inference
Authors: Guan Qiang , Yang Yuxin , Jerger Abby , Feng Song , Wang Zixu , Cheung Margaret , Zucker Jeremy
Published: June 2024

Recent years have witnessed the remarkable progress of deep learning within the realm of scientific disciplines, yielding a wealth of promising outcomes. A prominent challenge within this domain has been the task of predicting enzyme function, a complex problem that has seen the development of numerous computational methods, particularly those rooted in deep learning techniques. However, the majority of these methods have primarily focused on either amino acid sequence data or protein structure data, neglecting the potential synergy of combining of both modalities. To address this gap, we propose a novel Contrastive Learning framework for Enzyme functional ANnotation prediction combined with protein amino acid sequences and Contact maps (CLEAN-Contact). We rigorously evaluated the performance of our CLEAN-Contact framework against the state-of-the-art enzyme function prediction model using multiple benchmark datasets. Our findings convincingly demonstrate the substantial superiority of our CLEAN-Contact framework, marking a significant step forward in enzyme function prediction accuracy.
Views of research ethics committee members on end-of-participation communications for trial participants who stop taking part: a cross-sectional survey study.
Authors: Cragg William , Bishop Liam , Gilberts Rachael , Gregg Michael , Mancini Mary , de Barros Clara Martins
Published: June 2024

Background
Giving information to trial participants who stop taking part could support them through what can be a difficult process. We previously developed guidance around the ethical acceptability of such information provision, and about how trialists can develop suitable communication materials. There is limited evidence about what research ethics committees think of this issue, and limited guidance about what level of oversight they should have over the proposed communications, or post-consent participant communications generally. We conducted a survey of UK ethics committee members to address these points.
Methods
The survey was co-developed by public contributors and trialists who had previously worked together on the communications guidance. We asked respondents if they agreed with the general idea of informing participants who stop taking part, if they had ever been requested to review similar communications, and what level of ethics committee review they might recommend. The survey was primarily conducted online. It was reviewed by three ethics committee members before finalisation and shared directly with all UK ethics committee members. We analysed quantitative questions descriptively and used inductive analysis for open questions to identify common themes.
Results
Ninety-one ethics committee members participated (nearly 10% of all UK members). The sample was similar to reported data about all members in terms of several personal characteristics. Most respondents (83%) agreed with our project's rationale. Only 23% of respondents reported having been asked to review an end-of-participation information sheet before. Respondents gave various answers about the level of ethics committee review required, but most supported a relatively proportionate review process. Common concerns were about the risk of coercion or making participants feel pressured.
Conclusions
Our survey suggests that ethics committee members generally support providing information to trial participants who stop taking part, if risks to participants are mitigated. We believe our guidance already addresses the main concerns raised. Our respondents’ lack of prior experience with end-of-participation information sheets suggests that participants are not getting information they want or need when they stop participating. Our results help clarify how ethics committee should oversee post-consent participant communications, but further guidance from research regulators could be helpful.
Antimalarial Potential of a Marine Sponge Tedania Ignis Against Plasmodium Falciparum
Authors: Moura Caio S. , Annunciato Yasmin , Dantas Thais B. V. , Júnior Wéldion G. M. , Silva Larissa R. G. , Peres Erica P. M. L. , Bafoni Larissa A. , Granito Renata N. , Renno Ana C. M. , Gazarini Marcos L. , Cass Quezia B. , Sousa Lorena R. Freitas , Aguiar Anna C. C.
Published: June 2024

Across the decades, malaria disease has been a public health problem. The use of natural products to treat malaria saved many lives over the centuries, but the parasite resistance against all the medicines available on the market has made it difficult. In this context, exploring new natural treatments from biodiverse ecosystems, such as oceans, holds promise. Marine sponges have been used in different ways to treat diseases, their secondary metabolites and endoperoxides showed antiplasmodial activity in different assays. With that in mind, the species of marine sponge Tedania ignis, was evaluated against sensitive and resistant laboratory P. falciparum strains and presented potential antimalarial activity. Moreover, the speed of action of the extract of T. ignis was assessed demonstrating a fast-active profile. Regarding cellular cytotoxicity assays, the compound under investigation did not exhibit cytotoxic effects on two cell lines: HepG2, derived from human hepatoma, and HEK 293 (Human Embryonic Kidney). The active extract of T. ignis was investigated using UHPLC-HRMS and for data analyses was used Global Natural Products Social Molecular Networking (GNPS). Eight metabolites were dereplicated belonging to classes of alkamides, terpenes, nucleobases, alkaloid, and benzoic acid ester. Among the compounds assigned, dibutyl phthalate is highlighted for its known antimalarial potential, which may contribute to the bioactivity of T. ignis extract revealed in this work.
A top-down tractable inference method for Sum-Product Networks by pruning ineffective Subnetworks
Authors: Jooybari Mohsen Ghanbarpour , Rahmani Adel Torkaman
Published: June 2024

Sum-product networks (SPNs) are a class of probabilistic models that were introduced for the first time in the early 2010s. SPNs belong to the intersection of deep models and probabilistic graphical models with the ability to guarantee tractable inference. SPNs can encode any probabilistic distribution in a directed acyclic graph, in which each non-leaf node is either a sum or a product node. This paper, introduces a new inference method in SPNs that can prune ineffective subnetworks for a query during inference. By keeping some additional information in sum nodes, we can prune a few nodes that have no effect on the output of the network for an input sample. Experimental results demonstrated that even 99% of the nodes could be pruned from some datasets without affecting output accuracy.
Novel Macrophage Subtype Genes for Predicting Prognosis and Immunotherapy Response in Melanoma Based on Single-Cell and Bulk RNA Sequencing Analysis
Authors: Zhu Chunmei , Luo Qiong , Zhang Yuncong , Hu Jiali , Zhang Yi , Pan Ying , Shuai Yu , Duan Xiaobing , Wu Qiuji , Zhang Guihai
Published: June 2024

Melanoma is a malignancy of aggressive behaviour and related with poor prognosis. Immunotherapy for metastatic melanoma shows great promise. However, the development of rapid resistance remains a largely insurmountable challenge. In this study, we aim to identify macrophage marker genes and construct an immune risk model, hoping to provide clinical significance in prognosis and immunotherapy response prediction. A total of 16,291 cell samples from 48 melanoma tissues in GSE120575 were enrolled. Firstly, 1,662 macrophages were identified with marker gene annotation. Subsequently, we acquired 6 macrophage subtypes in TCGA-SKCM dataset based on the expression characteristics of 724 gene that differentially expressed between macrophages and other immune cells. Since macrophage subtypes A and B had most distinguishing differences of immune- and tumour-related pathway enrichment, prognosis and immune microenvironment features that 102 immunity- and prognosis-related genes were further identified from them. Ultimately, we developed a risk signature of 21 immune genes through multivariate Cox regression, dividing patients into high- and low-risk groups. Explicitly, low-risk patients had a longer survival than high-risk patients, and similar results were also found in GSE65904 and GSE59455. Moreover, low-risk patients were found to have more favourable anti-tumour immune environment including more immune, stromal components, less tumour components, and higher infiltration of immune effector cells like activated memory CD4 + T cells, CD8 + T cells, M1 macrophages, plasma cells. Also, low-risk groups with higher gene expression of PD-1, PD-L1, CTLA4 were associated with better responses to immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs). Additionally, the differential expression of gene and protein levers of the 21 genes in normal and melanoma tissues demonstrated their importance in cellular physiology and disease mechanisms. To conclude, we developed an immune risk signature which could distinguish patients with different clinical prognoses and contribute to predicting the response to immunotherapy in melanoma.
Brain perfusion SPECT in the presurgical evaluation of epilepsy: is additional ictal SPECT required in case of high-confidence lateralization of the seizure onset zone by interictal SPECT and vice versa?
Authors: Baradaran-Salimi Kian , Karimzadeh Amir , Voges Berthold , Apostolova Ivayla , Sauvigny Thomas , Simova Olga , Lanz Michael , Klutmann Susanne , Stodieck Stefan , Meyer Philipp T. , Buchert Ralph
Published: June 2024

Background
Ictal brain perfusion SPECT provides higher sensitivity for the identification of the epileptic seizure onset zone (SOZ) than interictal SPECT. However, ictal SPECT is demanding due to the unpredictable waiting period for the next seizure to allow for ictal tracer injection. Thus, starting with an interictal scan and skipping the ictal scan if the interictal scan provides a SOZ candidate with high confidence could be an efficient approach. The aim of the current study was to estimate the rate of high-confidence SOZ candidates and the rate of false lateralization among them, separately for interictal and ictal SPECT.
Methods
177 patients (48% females, median age 38y, interquartile range 27-48y) with both ictal and interictal SPECT acquired with 99mTc-HMPAO (n = 141) or -ECD (n = 36) were included retrospectively. Visual interpretation of the SPECT data was performed independently by 3 readers in 3 settings: “interictal only” (interictal SPECT and statistical hypoperfusion map), “ictal only” (ictal SPECT and hyperperfusion map), and “full” setting (side-by-side interpretation of ictal and interictal SPECT including statistical maps and SISCOM analysis). The readers lateralized the SOZ (right, left, none) and characterized their confidence using a 5-score. A case was considered "lateralizing with high confidence” if all readers lateralized to the same hemisphere with at least 4 of 5 confidence points. Lateralization of the SOZ in the “full” setting was used as reference standard.
Results
The proportion of “lateralizing with high confidence” cases was 4.5/31.6/38.4% in the “interictal only”/“ictal only”/“full” setting. One (12.5%) of the 8 cases that were “lateralizing with high confidence” in the “interictal only” setting lateralized to the wrong hemisphere. Among the 56 cases that were “lateralizing with high confidence” in the “ictal only” setting, 54 (96.4%) were also lateralizing in the “full” setting, all to the same hemisphere.
Conclusions
Starting brain perfusion SPECT in the presurgical evaluation of epilepsy with an interictal scan to skip the ictal scan in case of a high-confidence interictal SOZ candidate is not a useful approach. In contrast, starting with an ictal scan to skip the interictal scan in case of a high-confidence ictal SOZ candidate can be recommended.
SOX4-BMI1 Axis Promotes Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Progression and Facilitates Angiogenesis by Suppressing ZNF24
Authors: Tian Hong , Wen Ting , Zhang Xiao , Gao Yun , Fan Lufeng , Yang Ping
Published: June 2024

The incidence of lung cancer has become the highest among all cancer types globally, also standing as a leading cause of cancer-related deaths. Lung cancer is broadly divided into small cell lung cancer (SCLC) and non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), with the latter accounting for 85% of total cases. SRY-box transcription factor 4 (SOX4), a crucial transcription factor, has been found to play a key role in the development of various cancers. However, the association between SOX4 and NSCLC is still unclear. This study investigated the clinical relevance of SOX4 and its potential mechanisms in the progression of NSCLC. Analysis of our NSCLC patient cohort revealed a significant increase in SOX4 levels in cancerous tissues, indicating its role as an independent prognostic indicator for NSCLC. In vitro experiments demonstrated that elevated SOX4 expression facilitated NSCLC cell migration, invasion, and EMT. Functionally, SOX4 drives NSCLC progression by enhancing the transcription and expression of B-cell-specific moloney leukemia virus insertion site 1 (BMI1). The oncogenic impact of SOX4-induced BMI1 expression on NSCLC advancement was validated through both in vivo and in vitro studies. Additionally, our findings showed that BMI1 promoted the ubiquitination of histone H2A (H2Aub), leading to decreased zinc finger protein 24 (ZNF24) expression, which subsequently triggered vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGF-A) secretion in NSCLC cells, thereby promoting NSCLC angiogenesis. Moreover, we evaluated the therapeutic potential of a BMI1 inhibitor in combination with Bevacizumab for NSCLC treatment using orthotopic models. The data presented in our study reveal a previously unrecognized role of the SOX4-BMI1 axis in promoting NSCLC progression and angiogenesis. This research significantly contributes to our knowledge of the interplay between SOX4 and BMI1 in NSCLC, potentially paving the way for the development of targeted therapies for this disease.
The Spatio-Temporal Variations of Urban Green Space: The Case of Nekemte Town, Ethiopia
Authors: Soruma Mulugeta , Becho Rabira , Nuriye Gebrechristos
Published: June 2024

More people live in cities and towns worldwide as a result of urbanization. The study was carried out in Nekemte town, where the effects of horizontal urban physical growth were evident. It aims to estimate the spatio-temporal fluctuations of urban green space in peri-urban areas and inner parts of the town by looking at the extent of built-up areas between 2003 and 2022. This study employed spatial analysis tools to estimate the area coverage of built-up and unbuilt space, utilizing Arc GIS 10.2 for image classification. The spatial analysis result showed that Nekemte town's urban built-up environment rapidly altered, negatively affecting the area coverage of green spaces. In this regard, the area covered by built-up was expanded by 42.4% while that of green spaces were decreased by 26.9%. Between 2003 and 2022, it drastically changes the current land use land cover, which includes grasslands, farmlands, shrubs land, and mildly urban forests. Therefore, future urban spatial expansion of Nekemte town must consider proper urban plan preparations and implementation that prohibit unwanted land speculation. Furthermore, plan-based residential construction and suitable compensation for people living on the periphery of cities are also strongly recommended to reduce the deterioration of urban green spaces.
Enhancement of ceramic tool behaviour with textured grooves during machining of Inconel® 718
Authors: De Lucio Pablo Fernández , Urbikain Gorka , Plaza Soraya , Ukar Eneko , Pereira Octavio
Published: June 2024

Inconel® 718, known for its excellent mechanical properties in extreme conditions, presents machining challenges due to its low machinability. The chip formation process, influenced by its high ductility and low thermal conductivity, leads to material adhesion and high cutting forces. Ceramic tools have been proposed to mitigate these inconveniences. Textured cutting tools have emerged as a promising solution, aiming to optimize tool-chip contact and, with it, the tribological conditions and the cutting forces. This study investigates the influence of textured grooves on ceramic tools when turning Inconel® 718. Two groove inclinations, 0° and − 25° relative to the cutting edge, were tested. Texturing was performed using a laser station. Experimental results showed improved tool wear characteristics with textured tools, indicating favourable chip extraction and reduced material adhesion. Cutting forces were notably lower with textured tools compared to the reference tool, attributed to reduced notch wear and altered chip flow. Chip morphology analysis revealed differences in chip shape and thermal stability between the reference and textured tools. In conclusion, textured tools, particularly those with − 25° inclined grooves, demonstrated enhanced performance in machining Inconel® 718.
Balancing Carbohydrate-biased Urban Nutritional landscapes: Can Prey Subsidies Alter Ant Behavior?
Authors: Kanach Emily , Savage Amy M
Published: June 2024

As urbanization changes our environment, species that share our cities must adapt to changing abiotic conditions. Ant species found in the most urbanized spaces within the urban habitat mosaic must cope with altered nutritional landscapes, with highly reduced arthropod prey availability and an abundance of high carbohydrate human food-waste. Outside cities, ants who consume high-carbohydrate diets are often more voracious predators relative to conspecifics with more balanced diets. Therefore, we hypothesized ants in the most urbanized habitats are more voracious predators than those in lower stress urban habitats. To better understand this relationship, we assessed the predatory behaviors of Tetramorium immigrans colonies in city parks and street medians before and after supplementing their diets with insect prey (house crickets; Acheta domesticus). Prior to cricket supplements, T. immigrans ants discovered proxy prey at equal rates in street medians and city parks during predation trials. However, T. immigrans workers attacked and removed prey at significantly faster rates compared to those in parks. After 12 weeks of supplements, T. immigrans workers in parks displayed slower predatory behaviors compared to before supplementation, while workers in medians were faster to attack and remove prey than before cricket supplements. When predatory behaviors were observed the following summer, workers in parks returned to predatory levels similar to initial trials, and workers in medians were even faster than previous trials. This study provides a new perspective on how human food waste and urbanization can influence the predatory behaviors of an ecologically dominant ant species in cities, Tetramorium immigrans.
October 7th 2023 Mass Casualty Incident in Southern Israel: Lessons for Emergency Preparedness and Management.
Authors: Gozlan Aya , Abuhasira Ran , Dreiher Jacob , Peleg Shosh , Sebbag Gilbert , Schwarzfuchs Dan , Slutsky Tzachi , Dolfin Dror , Frenkel Amit , Codish Shlomi
Published: June 2024

Background: Mass Casualty Incidents (MCIs) pose significant challenges for healthcare systems. While policies are typically crafted based on past experiences, the lessons learned from each incident play a crucial role in enhancing emergency preparedness.
On October 7th, 2023, Israel came under the largest terror attack in its history. During an ongoing terror attack, more than 1,300 Israelis were killed, and more than 200 were abducted to Gaza. During the first day of the attack, 1,457 casualties were evacuated to a hospital, approximately half of them to Soroka University Medical Center (SUMC). This MCI surpassed conventional MCI challenges, necessitating a need to face the unexpected under fire.
Through a description of this extreme MCI, we delve into the challenges faced, the strategic interventions deployed to address them, and the invaluable lessons learned.
Methods: Injury characteristics, severity and outcomes of casualties are presented based on the medical records of all the casualties arriving to SUMC between October 7th 6:30 a.m. to October 8th 7:00 a.m. Data regarding Patient influx, capacity and hospital resource utilization, were collected from the Patient Registration System and other hospital information systems.
Results: During the incident, a total of 673 injured arrived at Soroka University Medical Centre (SUMC) within a mere 24-hour period, at a peak rate of 83 injured per hour. The mean casualty age was 29.6, with male predominance. Gunshot wounds and shrapnel injuries were the dominant types of injuries. Out of the casualties arrived, about half were hospitalized or transferred to receive definitive care at other hospitals after initial care at SUMC. Mortality rate was low, at 2.9% of those admitted alive.
Conclusions: In this article, we describe the injury characteristics and outcomes of casualties seen at SUMC on October 7th 2023, during one of the largest MCIs in history. We present a detailed overview of the challenges encountered, strategies implemented to address them and lessons learned. These insights hold global relevance, offering actionable guidance for the refinement of future emergency protocols and policies on a global scale.
Fluorescence studies on the binding affinity and determination of vitamin B12 in the presence of fibrinogen
Authors: Gökoğlu Elmas , Budun Seniye Şura , Doyuran Bensu , Taskin-Tok Tugba
Published: June 2024

The binding properties between vitamin B12 (vitB12, cyanocobalamin) and fibrinogen (Fib) were investigated by UV-vis absorption and steady-state/three-dimentional (3D) fluorescence spectra techniques as well as molecular docking. The experimental results showed that the intrinsic fluorescence of Fib quenched by vitB12 with static mechanism to form a non-fluorescent complex. The positive signs of thermodynamic parameters, DH and DS, indicated that the hydrophobic forces were dominant in the binding mode. The molecular docking data were found to be in agreement with these experimental results and were confirmed by three hydrophobic interactions between the Trp430, Try390 residues of Fib and the vitamin. Based on non-radiative energy transfer theory, binding distance was calculated to be 3.94 nm between donor (tryptophan residues of Fib) and acceptor (vitB12). The limit of detection (LOD) of vitB12 was calculated as 2.08 microM in the presence of fibrinogen. The relative standard deviation (RSD) of method was 4.28% for determinations (n = 7)of a vitB12 solution with the concentrationof 7.80 microM.
Effects of argon in the acute phase of subarachnoid hemorrhage in an endovascular perforation model in rats
Authors: Krenzlin Harald , Wesp Dominik M. A. , Korinek Anika A. E. , Ubbens Henning , Volland Jakob , Masomi-Bornwasser Julia , Weber Katharina J. , Mole Dominik , Sommer Clemens , Ringel Florian , Alessandri Beat , Keric Naureen
Published: June 2024

Objective: Subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) is a devastating disease with high morbidity and mortality. Neuroprotective effects of the noble gas Argon have been shown in animal models of ischemia. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of Argon in the immediate early phase of SAH in a rat model.
Methods: 19 male Wistar rats were randomly assigned to 3 treatment groups. SAH was induced using the endovascular filament perforation model. Cerebral blood flow (CBF), mean arterial blood pressure (MAP) and body temperature were measured continuously. Group A received 2 hours of ventilation by 50% Argon/50% O2 (n=7) immediately following SAH. Group B underwent a sham operation, and was also ventilated by Argon/O2 (n=6). Group C received a SAH but no further treatment (n=6). Pre- and postoperatively neurological and behavioral testing was performed. Histology and immunohistochemistry were used to evaluate the extent of brain injury and vasospasm.
Results: The CBF dropped in both treatment groups after SAH induction (SAH: 63.0±11.6% of baseline; SAH + argon: 80.2±8.2 % of baseline). During SAH MAP increased (135.2±10.5%) compared to baseline (85.8±26.0mmHG) and normalized thereafter. MAP in both groups showed no significant differences (p=0.3123). Immunohistochemical staining for NeuN demonstrated a decrease of hippocampal immunoreactivity after SAH in the CA 1-3 region compared to baseline (p=0.0127). Animals in the argon ventilated group showed less neuronal loss compared to untreated SAH animals (p<0.0001). Iba-1 staining showed a decreased accumulation after SAH + argon (CA1: 2.57±2.35%; CA2: 1.89±1.89%; CA3: 2.19±1.99%; DG: 2.6±2.24%) compared to untreated SAH animals (CA1: 5.48±2.39%; CA2: 4.85±4.06%; CA3: 4.22±3.01%; DG: 3.82±3.23%). Less microglia accumulation indicated less activation in the argon ventilated group (p=0.0007). The Neuroscore assessment revealed no treatment benefit after SAH compared to baseline (p=0.385).
Conclusion: In the present study neuroprotective effects of argon occurred early after SAH. As neurological deterioration was similar in the pre- and absence of Argon, it remains uncertain if neuroprotective effects translate in improved outcome over time.
Computation of polynomial and rational approximations in complex domains by the τ-method
Authors: Georgieva Irina , Hofreither Clemens
Published: June 2024

We investigate numerical methods for computation of polynomial and rational approximations of functions in complex domains based on Faber polynomials and the Lanczos τ-method. Our interest is motivated by applications in fractional partial differential equations. We give an overview of previous results related to the basis of Faber polynomials associated with a complex domain, Faber expansion, and the Lanczos τ-method. We also collect numerical algorithms for the computational realization of these concepts. Our main new contribution is a τ-method for rational approximation in complex domains which uses Faber polynomials in the perturbation term. We realize it via a novel hybrid symbolic-numeric algorithm which can be applied to arbitrary functions satisfying a suitable differential equation. We present some numerical examples, where we use sectors lying in the complex plane as our domains of interest. We compare results for the various polynomial and rational approximation techniques outlined above; in particular, we observe exponential convergence with respect to the rational degree for our proposed method.
Photosynthetic activity measured in-situ in microalgae cultures grown in large-scale raceway ponds
Authors: Masojídek Jiří , Štěrbová Karolína , Carnero Victor A. Robles , Torzillo Giuseppe , Gómez-Serrano Cintia , Cicchi Bernardo , Manoel João Artur Câmara , Benavides Ana Margarita Silva , Barceló-Villalobos Marta , Dengra Joaquín Pozo , Ördög Vince , Pinchetti Juan Luis Gómez , Fernándéz Francisco Gabriel Acién , Figueroa Félix López
Published: June 2024

Two microalgae, Scenedesmus sp. and Chlorella sp. (Chlorophyceae), robust and well-growing species, with a potential for biostimulating activities, were cultured in raceway ponds (RWPs) placed in a greenhouse. The objective of this case study was to monitor the performance of microalgae cultures in-situ at various depths as concerns photosynthetic activity and physico-chemical variables (irradiance, temperature, dissolved oxygen concentration) including biostimulating activity. The data (photochemical yield and electron transport rate monitored by Chl fluorescence and photosynthetic oxygen production) both in-situ and ex-situ revealed that (i) even in thin cultures (0.5-1 g dry weight L-1), the active photic layer in the culture was only about 1 cm indicating that most of the culture was ˊphotosyntheticallyˋ in the dark and (ii) nevertheless, even at high dissolved oxygen concentrations of about 200 %sat and higher the cultures retained relatively high actual photochemical yield Y(II) of about 0.35 and higher when monitored in-situ. The presented work can be used as exemplary data to optimize the growth of microalgae cultures in large-scale raceway ponds by understanding the interplay between culture depth and cell concentration.
Global Trends in Generative AI Adoption: A Quantitative Survey of Postsecondary Students
Authors: Kumar Rahul , McGray Robert
Published: June 2024

This research details postsecondary education (PSE) students’ (n = 1021) use of artificial intelligence (AI) technologies—specifically Generative AI (GenAI) tools like ChatGPT—in their academic activities. Through a comprehensive survey analysis, the study sought to identify the extent of GenAI usage for academic purposes, exploring factors such as gender, level of study, and primary language proficiency. Key findings revealed a significant adoption rate among PSE students and high intentions to continue using AI to do academic work in subsequent year. Gender-based usage slightly affected the use of AI and the intention to use AI. There was no substantial differences corresponding to primary language or level of study. The research leveraged the unified theory of acceptance and use of technology (UTAUT) model to interpret these patterns, suggesting that gender differences and technological acceptance behaviours significantly influence GenAI tool adoption. The study emphasizes the need for educational institutions to adapt to the evolving landscape of AI in education, advocating for policies that recognize and integrate the use of GenAI tools in academic settings. It also invites scholars to examine why females are more likely to report not having used AI or intending to use AI than expected.
Assesment of pathogenic variants in the PAH gene and genotype-phenotype correlation in Phenylketonuria patients from Turkey.
Authors: Balasar Özgür , YILMAZ Banu KADIOĞLU , BAŞDEMİRCİ Müşerref , EKER Hatice KOÇAK , ÇAVDARTEPE Büşra ESER , ŞİMŞEK Levent , TUNÇEZ Ebru , DUYMUŞ Fahrettin
Published: June 2024

This study aims to determine the allele and genotype frequency, evaluate genotype-phenotype correlation, and contribute to the spectrum of pathogenic variants in the PAH gene. Ninety-three individuals diagnosed with PKU were included in the study. Next-generation sequencing was utilized for detecting variants in the PAH gene. Copy Number Variations in patients without biallelic pathogenic variant were investigated by Multiplex Ligation-dependent Probe Amplification method. Genotype-phenotype correlations and genotype-based phenotype predictions were examined by comparing molecular test results with BIOPKUdb database. The clinical distributions of the patients were as follows: classic PKU 21% (n=19), mild PKU 3% (n=3) and mild hyperphenylalaninemia 76% (n=71), respectively. Thirty-nine distinct variants and 70 distinct genotypes were found in patients. The most frequently observed variant was p.Ala300Ser (15%) and the most frequently observed genotype was p.Ala300Ser)/p.Ala300Ser (5,4%). Compound heterozygous genotypes (%69) were more prevalent than homozygous genotypes. Two novel variants, c.1089G>C and c.441+4A>C, were observed. Predicted metabolic phenotypes in the database showed consistency with patient phenotypes (n=33/41). BH4 responsiveness showed partial consistency with database predictions (n=13/25). Establishing genotype-phenotype correlations can facilitate personalized management approaches. Overall, this study contributes to understanding the genetic basis and clinical course of PKU.
Designing strong inducible synthetic promoters in yeasts
Authors: Ishii Jun , Tominaga Masahiro , Shima Yoko , Nozaki Kenta , Ito Yoichiro , Someda Masataka , Shoya Yuji , Hashii Noritaka , Obata Chihiro , Kitano Miho , Suematsu Kohei , Matsukawa Tadashi , Hosoya Keita , Hashiba Noriko , Kondo Akihiko
Published: June 2024

Inducible promoters are essential for precise control of target gene expression in synthetic biological systems. However, engineering eukaryotic promoters is often more challenging than engineering prokaryotic promoters due to their greater mechanistic complexity. In this study, we describe a simple and reliable approach for constructing strongly inducible synthetic promoters with minimum leakiness in yeast. The results indicated that the leakiness of yeast-inducible synthetic promoters is primarily the result of cryptic transcriptional activation of heterologous sequences that may be avoided by appropriate insulation and operator mutagenesis. Our promoter design approach successfully generated robust, inducible promoters that achieve a >103-fold induction in reporter gene expression. The utility of these promoters was demonstrated by using them to produce various biologics with titers up to 2 g/L, including antigens designed to raise specific antibodies against a SARS-CoV-2 omicron variant through chicken immunization.
Moral Changes at Post-COVID Atmosphere: A Generational Study of Freshman Iranian University Students
Authors: Azimpour Alireza , Rasti Alireza , Sourshejani Fatemeh Heidari , Sheibani Marziyeh , Nikfetrat Yasaman , Nazarizadeh Reyhaneh , Karimpour Zahra
Published: June 2024

Since the COVID-19 pandemic began in 2020, some psychological changes have been tracked and reported across the world. Post-COVID-19 freshman university students can be classified as generation Z. The aim of this study was to examine changes in moral and moral-related variables among Iranian freshman university students in generation Z compared with generation Y in the post-COVID-19 era. Variables, including prosocial behaviors, types of prosocial moral reasoning, dimensions of moral identity and religiosity, identity styles, empathy, and social desirability, were assessed among 212 freshman students at …. University of ….. in 2014. However, another assessment of those variables by the same measures and methods was performed among 114 similar students in 2022. Social desirability and lie/nonsense responses were statistically controlled by multiple analysis of covariance and partial correlation methods. Among the post-COVID group, there was less total prosocial moral reasoning, hedonistic, approval-oriented and internalized prosocial moral reasoning, normative identity, symbolization of moral identity, public prosocial behavior, and total, ideological and experimental religiosity; additionally, there was more needs-oriented and stereotypic prosocial moral reasoning, informational identity, altruistic prosocial behaviors, consequential and ritualistic religiosity and empathy. There were different correlations among the two groups, whereas religiosity and its dimensions were positively correlated with many moral variables in the 2014 group, the correlations were negative in the 2022 group. The findings indicate that in post-COVID-19 generation Z, sentimental aspects (e.g., empathy and altruism) of morality increased and that rational (e.g., prosocial moral reasoning) or traditional (e.g., religiosity) aspects decreased.
Single-cell transcriptomics reveals immunosuppressive microenvironment and highlights stumor-promoting macrophage cells in Glioblastoma
Authors: Cheng Han , Yan Yan , Zhang Biao , Ma Zhuolin , Fu Siwen , Ji Zhi , Zou Ziji , Wang Qin
Published: June 2024

Purpose
Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most prevalent and aggressive primary brain malignancy in adults. Nevertheless, the cellular heterogeneity and complexity within the GBM microenvironment (TME) are still not fully understood, posing a significant obstacle in the advancement of more efficient immunotherapies for GBM.
Methods
In this study, we conducted an integrated analysis of 48 tumor fragments from 24 GBM patients at the single-cell level, uncovering substantial molecular diversity within immune infiltrates.
Results
We characterized molecular signatures for five distinct tumor-associated macrophage (TAM) subtypes. Notably, the TAM_MRC1 subtype displayed a pronounced M2 polarization signature. Additionally, we identified a subtype of natural killer (NK) cells, designated CD56dim_DNAJB1. This subtype is characterized by an exhausted phenotype, evidenced by an elevated stress signature and enrichment in the PD-L1/PD-1 checkpoint pathway. Our findings also highlight significant cell-cell interactions among malignant glioma cells, TAM, and NK cells within the TME.
Conclusion
This research sheds light on the functional heterogeneity of glioma and immune cells in the TME, providing potential targets for therapeutic intervention in this immunologically cold cancer.
Convection Flow Patterns and Instability in Evaporating Nanofluid Sessile Droplets under Marangoni and Buoyancy Effects
Authors: Tao Yuequn , Wei Youqiang , Xu Qingxuan , Qin Yi , Liu Qiusheng , Chu Fuqiang
Published: June 2024

The evaporation of droplets containing nanoparticles is commonplace in industrial processes, while there is a lack of research on the instability-related characteristics of evaporation convection in nanofluid droplets, which differ from those of pure fluid droplets. Here we investigate the convection instability patterns and transition phenomenon in an Al2O3-ethanol nanofluid sessile droplet evaporation. Three different convection flow patterns are observed under the influence of both Marangoni effect and buoyancy during the evaporation: Two macroscopic convection cells appear at first, followed by the periodic generation and propagation of hydrothermal waves (HTWs) near the contact line. Then, the Bénard-Marangoni (BM) convection cells gradually emerge and eventually assume a dominant role. The deposition patterns, partly different from the classic coffee-ring pattern, are closely related to the flow patterns of HTWs and BM convection cells during the pinning stage of droplet evaporation. The critical Marangoni (Ma) and Rayleigh (Ra) numbers for the onset of convection flow instability increase with the increase of substrate heating temperature.
Evaluation of machine learning approach for surgical results of Ahmed valve implantation in patients with glaucoma
Authors: Lee Seung Yeop , Lee Dong Yun , Ahn Jaehong
Published: June 2024

Background
Ahmed valve implantation demonstrated an increasing proportion in glaucoma surgery, but predicting the successful maintenance of target intraocular pressure remains a challenging task. This study aimed to evaluate the performance of machine learning (ML) in predicting surgical outcomes after Ahmed valve implantation and to assess potential risk factors associated with surgical failure to contribute to improving the success rate.
Methods
This study used preoperative data of patients who underwent Ahmed valve implantation from 2017 to 2021 at Ajou University Hospital. These datasets included demographic and ophthalmic parameters (dataset A), systemic medical records excluding psychiatric records (dataset B), and psychiatric medications (dataset C). Logistic regression, extreme gradient boosting (XGBoost), and support vector machines were first evaluated using only dataset A. The algorithm with the best performance was selected based on the area under the receiver operating characteristics curve (AUROC). Finally, three additional prediction models were developed using the best performance algorithm, incorporating combinations of multiple datasets to predict surgical outcomes at 1 year.
Results
Among 153 eyes of 133 patients, 131 (85.6%) and 22 (14.4%) eyes were categorized as the success and failure groups, respectively. The XGBoost was shown as the best-performance model with an AUROC value of 0.684, using only dataset A. The final three further prediction models were developed based on the combination of multiple datasets using the XGBoost model. All datasets combinations demonstrated the best performances in terms of AUROC (dataset A + B: 0.782; A + C: 0.773; A + B + C: 0.801). Furthermore, advancing age was a risk factor associated with a higher surgical failure incidence.
Conclusions
ML provides some predictive value in predicting the outcomes of Ahmed valve implantation at 1 year. ML evaluation revealed advancing age as a common risk factor for surgical failure.