bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A stochastic power flow-based static security assessment under uncertain scenarios
Authors: Zhang Yuyue , Tian Xin , Zhang Lina
Published: August 2024

With the gradual increase in the grid-connected capacity of renewable energy sources, the uncertainty in the operation of power systems has increased, posing challenges to static security assessment considering N-1 contingency scanning. To address this, this article first establishes a static security calculation model based on stochastic power flow. Then, it proposes stochastic component-level safety indexes and system-level safety indexes. Finally, using the analytic hierarchy process to analyze the obtained weighting coefficients, the article establishes a system of static security assessment indexes for power systems. A data-driven simulation method based on extreme gradient boosting (XGBoost) is proposed to tackle the high time consumption of multi-scenario static security assessment, which brings difficulties in model debugging and application. Case studies based on the IEEE 39-bus system demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed model and the rapidity of the data-driven approach.
Byte-Sized Finance, Bushel-Sized Benefits: unraveling digital financial inclusion impact on China’s agricultural green development
Authors: Zhang Ludan , Qi Yanbin , Deng Xin
Published: August 2024

Introduction

China’s rural financial landscape has long been characterized by exclusion, leaving countless farmers without access to essential financial services. However, the advent of digital financial inclusion presents a promising solution, offering low-cost, high-penetration avenues to bolster agricultural sustainability. This paper unravels how “Byte-Sized Finance” can yield “Bushel-Sized Benefits” in China’s agricultural green development.

Methods

Methodologically, we pioneer a novel system to gauge agricultural green development across 31 Chinese provinces spanning from 2013 to 2021. Empirically, employing fixed-effect, mediation effect, and spatial Durbin models.

Results

Our study reveals the intricate pathways through which digital financial inclusion influences agricultural green development. We find that it exerts its impact through the lenses of industrial structure and entrepreneurship, operating at both macro and micro levels. Furthermore, our analysis uncovers spatial spillover effects, shedding light on the differential roles played by these mechanisms across regions.

Discussion

This groundbreaking discovery underscores the transformative potential of leveraging digital financial inclusion to propel China toward agricultural green development. By shedding light on these crucial dynamics, our findings offer insights for policymakers, researchers, and practitioners striving to foster sustainability within China’s agricultural sector.
A systematic review on heavy metals contamination in Bangladeshi vegetables and their associated health risks
Authors: Nowar Abira , Islam Md. Hafizul , Islam Saiful , Jubayer Ahmed , Nayan Md. Moniruzzaman
Published: August 2024

This systematic review aimed to identify the heavy metal contents of Bangladeshi vegetables and evaluate the subsequent health hazards of these heavy metals. Relevant studies were obtained from systematic searches of electronic databases. Average (mean) concentrations of Arsenic (AS), Lead (Pb), Cadmium (Cd), Chromium (Cr), Manganese (Mn), Nickel (Ni), Zinc (Zn), and Copper (Cu) in the vegetables were calculated on a fresh-weight basis. The health hazards associated with these metals’ intake were assessed using estimated daily intake (EDI) and carcinogenic and noncarcinogenic risks were measured as the target cancer risk (TR), target hazard quotient (THQ), and hazard index (HI). The results showed that the mean concentration of As, Pb, Cd, Cr, Mn, Ni, Zn, and Cu was 0.02–0.45, Not detectable (ND)-9.45, 0.00–0.51, 0.05–2.19, 0.28–43.43, Not detectable (ND)-5.80, 2.005–175.77, and 0.20–23.85 mg/kg of fresh vegetables respectively. The concentrations of As, Pb, and Cd were higher than the maximum allowable concentration (MAC) in the vegetables. However, all the metals were consumed daily in amounts below the maximum tolerable daily intake (MTDI) for all vegetables. THQ values for all metals except As and Pb were below the safety level (THQ <1) in all the vegetables. Potential non-carcinogenic risk (THQ >1) was posed by As and Pb in some vegetables like cabbage, string bean, bottle gourd, green papaya, sponge gourd, etc. The TR levels of As, Cd, Cr, and Ni were higher than the acceptable levels (10−4) for most vegetables, suggesting that long-term exposure to these toxic metals may raise the risk of developing various malignancies, including stomach and lung cancer. An integrated approach is required to address the contamination burden to preserve the health of the consumers.
Using preimplantation genetic testing for monogenic disease for preventing citrullinemia type 1 transmission
Authors: Wu Zubo , Liang Tao , Liu Yi , Ding Xiaofang , Shu Defeng
Published: August 2024

Aim

The aim of this study is to investigate if Preimplantation Genetic Testing (PGT) can effectively identify unreported variants according to American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics (ACMG)to prevent citrullinemia type 1 affection.

Design

This study involves a detailed case analysis of a family with history of citrullinemia type 1, focusing on the use of PGT for monogenic diseases (PGT-M). The genetic variants were identified using ACMG guidelines, and PGT was employed to prevent the inheritance of these variants. The study included haplotype analysis and Sanger sequencing to confirm the results.

Results

The study identified previously unreported variations in the ASS1 gene causing citrullinemia type 1. PGT successfully prevented the transmission of these variants, resulting in the birth of a healthy fetus. However, challenges such as allele dropout (ADO) and gene recombination were encountered during haplotype analysis, which could potentially defeat the diagnosis. The study demonstrated that combining haplotype analysis with Sanger sequencing can enhance the accuracy of PGT.

Conclusion

Preimplantation Genetic Testing (PGT) targeting likely pathogenic and pathogenic variants in the ASS1 gene, as rated by ACMG, allows the birth of healthy infants free from citrullinemia type 1. Additionally, the establishment of single haplotypes and Sanger sequencing can reduce the misdiagnosis rate caused by allele dropout (ADO) and genetic recombination.
Integrative analysis reveals novel insights into juvenile idiopathic arthritis pathogenesis and shared molecular pathways with associated traits
Authors: Pudjihartono N. , Ho D. , O’Sullivan J. M.
Published: August 2024

Background

Juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) is an autoimmune joint disease that frequently co-occurs with other complex phenotypes, including cancers and other autoimmune diseases. Despite the identification of numerous risk variants through genome-wide association studies (GWAS), the affected genes, their connection to JIA pathogenesis, and their role in the development of associated traits remain unclear. This study aims to address these gaps by elucidating the gene-regulatory mechanisms underlying JIA pathogenesis and exploring its potential role in the emergence of associated traits.

Methods

A two-sample Mendelian Randomization (MR) analysis was conducted to identify blood-expressed genes causally linked to JIA. A curated protein interaction network was subsequently used to identify sets of single-nucleotide polymorphisms (i.e., spatial eQTL SNPs) that regulate the expression of JIA causal genes and their protein interaction partners. These SNPs were cross-referenced against the GWAS catalog to identify statistically enriched traits associated with JIA.

Results

The two-sample MR analysis identified 52 genes whose expression changes in the blood are putatively causal for JIA. These genes (e.g., HLA, LTA, LTB, IL6ST) participate in a range of immune-related pathways (e.g., antigen presentation, cytokine signalling) and demonstrate cell type-specific regulatory patterns across different immune cell types (e.g., PPP1R11 in CD4+ T cells). The spatial eQTLs that regulate JIA causal genes and their interaction partners were statistically enriched for GWAS SNPs linked with 95 other traits, including both known and novel JIA-associated traits. This integrative analysis identified genes whose dysregulation may explain the links between JIA and associated traits, such as autoimmune/inflammatory diseases (genes at 6p22.1 locus), Hodgkin lymphoma (genes at 6p21.3 [FKBPL, PBX2, AGER]), and chronic lymphocytic leukemia (BAK1).

Conclusion

Our approach provides a significant advance in understanding the genetic architecture of JIA and associated traits. The results suggest that the burden of associated traits may differ among JIA patients, influenced by their combined genetic risk across different clusters of traits. Future experimental validation of the identified connections could pave the way for refined patient stratification, the discovery of new biomarkers, and shared therapeutic targets.
Citrulline and ADI-PEG20 reduce inflammation in a juvenile porcine model of acute endotoxemia
Authors: Vonderohe Caitlin , Stoll Barbara , Didelija Inka , Nguyen Trung , Mohammad Mahmoud , Jones-Hall Yava , Cruz Miguel A. , Marini Juan , Burrin Douglas
Published: August 2024

Background

Arginine is a conditionally essential amino acid that is depleted in critically ill or surgical patients. In pediatric and adult patients, sepsis results in an arginine-deficient state, and the depletion of plasma arginine is associated with greater mortality. However, direct supplementation of arginine can result in the excessive production of nitric oxide (NO), which can contribute to the hypotension and macrovascular hypo-reactivity observed in septic shock. Pegylated arginine deiminase (ADI-PEG20, pegargiminase) reduces plasma arginine and generates citrulline that can be transported intracellularly to generate local arginine and NO, without resulting in hypotension, while maintaining microvascular patency. The objective of this study was to assess the efficacy of ADI-PEG20 with and without supplemental intravenous citrulline in mitigating hypovolemic shock, maintaining tissue levels of arginine, and reducing systemic inflammation in an endotoxemic pediatric pig model.

Methods

Twenty 3-week-old crossbred piglets were implanted with jugular and carotid catheters as well as telemetry devices in the femoral artery to measure blood pressure, body temperature, heart rate, and respiration rate. The piglets were assigned to one of three treatments before undergoing a 5 h lipopolysaccharide (LPS) infusion protocol. Twenty-four hours before LPS infusion, control pigs (LPS; n=6) received saline, ADI-PEG20 pigs (n=7) received an injection of ADI-PEG20, and seven pigs (ADI-PEG20 + CIT pigs [n=7]) received ADI-PEG20 and 250 mg/kg citrulline intravenously. Pigs were monitored throughout LPS infusion and tissue was harvested at the end of the protocol.

Results

Plasma arginine levels decreased and remained low in ADI-PEG20 + CIT and ADI-PEG20 pigs compared with LPS pigs but tissue arginine levels in the liver and kidney were similar across all treatments. Mean arterial pressure in all groups decreased from 90 mmHg to 60 mmHg within 1 h of LPS infusion but there were no significant differences between treatment groups. ADI-PEG20 and ADI-PEG20 + CIT pigs had less CD45+ infiltrate in the liver and lung and lower levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines in the plasma.

Conclusion

ADI-PEG20 and citrulline supplementation failed to ameliorate the hypotension associated with acute endotoxic sepsis in pigs but reduced systemic and local inflammation in the lung and liver.
An anti-sortilin affibody-peptide fusion inhibits sortilin-mediated progranulin degradation
Authors: Ek Moira , Nilvebrant Johan , Nygren Per-Åke , Ståhl Stefan , Lindberg Hanna , Löfblom John
Published: August 2024

Heterozygous loss-of-function mutations in the GRN gene are a common cause of frontotemporal dementia. Such mutations lead to decreased plasma and cerebrospinal fluid levels of progranulin (PGRN), a neurotrophic factor with lysosomal functions. Sortilin is a negative regulator of extracellular PGRN levels and has shown promise as a therapeutic target for frontotemporal dementia, enabling increased extracellular PGRN levels through inhibition of sortilin-mediated PGRN degradation. Here we report the development of a high-affinity sortilin-binding affibody-peptide fusion construct capable of increasing extracellular PGRN levels in vitro. By genetic fusion of a sortilin-binding affibody generated through phage display and a peptide derived from the progranulin C-terminus, an affinity protein (A3-PGRNC15*) with 185-pM affinity for sortilin was obtained. Treating PGRN-secreting and sortilin-expressing human glioblastoma U-251 cells with the fusion protein increased extracellular PGRN levels up to 2.5-fold, with an EC50 value of 1.3 nM. Our results introduce A3-PGRNC15* as a promising new agent with therapeutic potential for the treatment of frontotemporal dementia. Furthermore, the work highlights means to increase binding affinity through synergistic contribution from two orthogonal polypeptide units.
Astrocyte-derived exosomal miR-378a-5p mitigates cerebral ischemic neuroinflammation by modulating NLRP3-mediated pyroptosis
Authors: Sun Ruiting , Liao Wenxin , Lang Ting , Qin Keyi , Jiao Keyan , Shao Le , Deng Changqing , She Yan
Published: August 2024

Objective

This study aimed to investigate the regulatory role of astrocyte-derived exosomes and their microRNAs (miRNAs) in modulating neuronal pyroptosis during cerebral ischemia.

Methods

Astrocyte-derived exosomes were studied for treating cerebral ischemia in both in vitro and in vivo models. The effects of astrocyte-derived exosomes on neuroinflammation were investigated by analyzing exosome uptake, nerve damage, and pyroptosis protein expression. High throughput sequencing was used to identify astrocyte-derived exosomal miRNAs linked to pyroptosis, followed by validation via qRT‒PCR. The relationship between these miRNAs and NLRP3 was studied using a dual luciferase reporter assay. This study used miR-378a-5p overexpression and knockdown to manipulate OGD injury in nerve cells. The impact of astrocyte-derived exosomal miR-378a-5p on the regulation of cerebral ischemic neuroinflammation was assessed through analysis of nerve injury and pyroptosis protein expression.

Results

Our findings demonstrated that astrocyte-derived exosomes were internalized by neurons both in vitro and in vivo. Additionally, Astrocyte-derived exosomes displayed a neuroprotective effect against OGD-induced neuronal injury and brain injury in the ischemic cortical region of middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) rats while also reducing pyroptosis. Further investigations revealed the involvement of astrocyte-derived exosomal miR-378a-5p in regulating pyroptosis by inhibiting NLRP3. The overexpression of miR-378a-5p mitigated neuronal damage, whereas the knockdown of miR-378a-5p increased NLRP3 expression and exacerbated pyroptosis, thus reversing this neuroprotective effect.

Conclusion

Astrocyte-derived exosomal miR-378a-5p has a neuroprotective effect on cerebral ischemia by suppressing neuroinflammation associated with NLRP3-mediated pyroptosis.Further research is required to comprehensively elucidate the signaling pathways by which astrocyte-derived exosomal miR-378a-5p modulates neuronal pyroptosis.
Mechanical properties and deformation behavior of a high entropy alloy with precipitate under cycle loading
Authors: Song Junhan , Zhang Jie , Peng Jing , Song Xinhua , Liang Long , Feng Hui
Published: August 2024

Compared to the traditional alloys, high entropy alloys exhibit exceptional strength and outstanding ductility, making them highly attractive for use in demanding engineering applications. However, the atomic-scale deformation behavior of HEAs with precipitate under the low-cycle loading conditions has not been well studied. Here, we utilize molecular dynamics simulations to investigate the low cycle fatigue behavior of AlCoCrFeNi HEAs with AlNi-rich phase, in order to better understand the cyclic deformation, work hardening, and damage mechanisms. In the stress-strain hysteresis loops, the stress in the elastic stage exhibits a gradual linear increase, followed by fluctuations at yielding and plastic deformation. The strain hardening depends on the cycle number after the yielding stage. With an increase in the number of cycles, the activation mode of stacking faults gradually transitions from a multi-slip system to a single-slip system, attributed to the gradual phase transformation. A thorough examination of dislocation evolution is crucial in understanding the strengthening and plastic behavior of materials under cyclic loading. The generation of more stair-rod dislocations further suppresses the movement of dislocations. The combined effects of element diffusion, structural transformation, and incoherent precipitation play a critical role in enhancing the mechanical properties of AlCoCrFeNi HEAs. The strength of high entropy alloys is improved through interface strengthening caused by element diffusion and structural transformation, along with dispersion induced by incoherent precipitation. This work provides a detailed atomic-level understanding of the cyclic deformation-induced strengthening mechanism, in order to design high-strength and ductile HEAs with specific desired properties.
Prediction of adenomyosis according to revised definitions of morphological uterus sonographic assessment features
Authors: Yavuz Onur , Akdöner Asli , Özgozen Mehmet Eyüphan , Ertan Begüm , Kurt Sefa , Ulukuş Emine Cagnur , Güney Mehmet
Published: August 2024

Objectives

This study aimed to predict the diagnosis of adenomyosis by revised definitions of morphological uterus sonographic assessment (MUSA) features in individuals who had hysterectomy.

Methods

This was retrospective cohort research conducted at a tertiary facility. Between January 2022 and January 2023, 196 individuals who had hysterectomy were analyzed in the research. The revised definitions of MUSA features of the adenomyosis approach were used to record the direct and indirect results of the sonography. The cases were classified as Group 1 (adenomyosis; n = 40, 20.4%) and Group 2 (control; n = 156, 79.6%) according to histopathology reports.

Results

Hyperechogenic islands and echogenic subendometrial buds and lines were the most predictive direct features (p = 0.02). Globular uterus and irregular junctional zone were the most predictive indirect features (p = 0.04; p = 0.03, respectively). Among all indirect features, the globular uterus was the most predictive (p = 0.02). Total feature >4 was determined as the significant cutoff value to predict adenomyosis (p < 0.001).

Conclusion

This study shows that combinations with a total number of features >4 can be practically used in the evaluation of adenomyosis using the revised definitions of MUSA features.
Causality between various cytokines and asthma: a bidirectional two-sample Mendelian randomization analysis
Authors: Zheng Yansen , Chen Qi , Shi Xiaqing , Lei Lei , Wang Donglin
Published: August 2024

Background

Many studies have shown that cytokines play an important role in the pathogenesis of asthma, but their biological effects on asthma remain unclear. The Mendelian randomization (MR) method was used to evaluate the causal relationship between various cytokines [such as interleukins (ILs), interferons (IFNs), tumor necrosis factors (TNFs), colony-stimulating factors (CSFs), transforming growth factor (TGF), etc.,] and asthma.

Methods

In this study, inverse variance weighting was used to evaluate the causal relationship between asthma and cytokines. In addition, the reliability of the results is ensured by multiple methods such as MR-Egger, weighted median, MR-Raps, MR-Presso, and RadialMR, as well as sensitivity analysis.

Results

The results showed that none of the 11 cytokines was associated with the risk of asthma. In contrast, asthma can increase levels of IL-5 [odds ratio (OR) = 1.112, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.009–1.224, P = 0.032] and IL-9 (OR = 1.111, 95% CI: 1.013–1.219, P = 0.025).

Conclusion

Genetically predicted asthma was positively associated with elevated levels of IL-5 and IL-9, indicating the downstream effects of IL-5 and IL-9 on asthma. Medical treatments can thus be designed to target IL-5 and IL-9 to prevent asthma exacerbations.
Establishment and application of a SNP molecular identification system in Grifola frondosa
Authors: Diao Bin , Xu Zhixiang , Liu Min , Zhang Guoli , Wang Guangyuan , Zhang Yinghao , Tian Xuemei
Published: August 2024

Germplasm resources of edible mushrooms are essential for the breeding of varieties with improved traits. Analysis of the genetic diversity of Grifola frondosa germplasm resources and clarification of the genetic relationships among strains can provide valuable information for the selection of breeding parents. A total of 829,488 high-quality SNP loci were screened from 2,125,382 SNPs obtained by sequencing 60 G. frondose. Phylogenetic analysis, PCA, and population structure analysis based on the high-quality SNPs showed that the 60 strains could be divided into five subgroups, and the clustering results were consistent with the geographical distributions of these strains. Based on high-quality SNP loci, a core collection containing 18 representative germplasm resources was constructed, and 1,473 Kompetitive Allele-Specific PCR markers were obtained. A total of 722 SNP markers in the exonic regions were screened using KASP-genotyping experiments, and 50 candidate SNP markers and 12 core SNP markers were obtained. Genetic fingerprints of G. frondosa germplasm resources were constructed based on the selected SNP markers; these fingerprints provide an accurate, rapid, convenient, and efficient method for the identification of G. frondosa germplasm resources. The results of this study have important implications for the preservation and utilization of G. frondosa germplasm resources and the identification of varieties.
Longitudinal evaluation of manufacturer-specific differences for high-sensitive CRP EQA results
Authors: Weiss Nathalie , Vierbaum Laura , Kremser Marcel , Kaufmann-Stoeck Anne , Kappler Silke , Ballert Silvia , Kabrodt Kathrin , Hunfeld Klaus-Peter , Schellenberg Ingo
Published: August 2024

Background

C-reactive protein (CRP) is an established serum biomarker for different pathologies such as tissue injury and inflammatory events. One rising area of interest is the incorporation of low concentrations of CRP, so called high-sensitive (hs-) CRP, in the risk assessment and treatment monitoring of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). Many research projects and the resulting meta-analyses have reported controversial results for the use of hs-CRP, especially in the risk assessment of CVDs. However, since these analyses used different assays to detect hs-CRP, it is important to assess the current level of assay harmonization.

Methods

This paper analyzes data from 17 external quality assessment (EQA) surveys for hs-CRP conducted worldwide between 2018 and 2023. Each EQA survey consisted of two blinded samples. In 2020 the sample material changed from pooled serum to single-donor samples. The aim was to assess the current status of assay harmonization by a manufacturer-based approach, taking into consideration the clinical decision limits for hs-CRP risk-stratification of CVDs as well as the scatter of results.

Results

Our analyses show that harmonization has increased in recent years from median differences of up to 50% to below 20%, with one exception that showed an increasing bias throughout the observed period. After changing sample materials from pools to single-donor samples, the coefficient of variation decreased to below 10% with one exception. Nevertheless, even these differences in the clinical setting could lead to disparate classification of patients depending on the assay used.

Conclusion

While there was a positive trend towards harmonization, meta-analysis of different risk-score publications should stratify their analysis by assay to account for the manufacturer-specific differences observed in this paper. Furthermore, assays are currently traceable to different international standard preparations, which might have a negative impact on future harmonization.
From inner to dyadic connection: the role of mindfulness in mother–infant interaction during the first year of life
Authors: Passaquindici Ilenia , Pastore Massimiliano , Nardozza Odette , Lionetti Francesca , D’Urso Giulio , Palumbo Riccardo , Fasolo Mirco , Spinelli Maria
Published: August 2024

Introduction

Mother–infant attunement is fundamental to supporting infant socio-emotional development. Based on the assumption that we connect better with others if we are aware of and connected with our own experience, mindfulness could affect the maternal ability to attune to the infant. However, little is known about this topic in the first year of life. Study 1 aimed to investigate the role of maternal dispositional mindfulness and mindful parenting in mother–infant physiological and behavioral attunement at 3 months of age. Study 2 aimed to explore the effect of a mindfulness-based intervention not specific to parenting experience on mother–infant behavioral and physiological attunement and on maternal wellbeing at 9 months of age.

Methods

In Study 1, mother–infant (n = 67) behavioral and physiological attunement (i.e., co-regulation and RSA) were collected simultaneously each 20 s during face-to-face interaction. Mothers completed questionnaires about their dispositional mindfulness and mindful parenting. In Study 2, mother–infant dyads were randomly divided into a control (n = 20) and an intervention group (n = 29). The intervention group attended a 5-week mindfulness-based intervention. At T1 and T2, the same procedure described in Study 1 was applied and mothers reported about their wellbeing.

Results

Results showed that maternal mindfulness was associated with high physiological and behavioral attunement at 3 months and with more positive maternal behaviors and less stress at 9 months. Analysis evidenced a slight improvement in the intervention group in maternal dispositional mindfulness and a reduction in parenting stress at T2.

Discussion

Findings from both studies suggested that maternal mindfulness could represent a protective factor that could support mothers in fostering better dyadic interactions with their infants. The implementation of mindfulness-based interventions for mothers could have preventive and clinical implications.
Olfactory neurogenesis plays different parts at successive stages of life, implications for mental health
Authors: Dejou Jules , Mandairon Nathalie , Didier Anne
Published: August 2024

The olfactory bulb is a unique site of continuous neurogenesis, primarily generating inhibitory interneurons, a process that begins at birth and extends through infancy and adulthood. This review examines the characteristics of olfactory bulb neurogenesis, focusing on granule cells, the most numerous interneurons, and how their age and maturation affect their function. Adult-born granule cells, while immature, contribute to the experience-dependent plasticity of the olfactory circuit by enabling structural and functional synaptic changes. In contrast, granule cells born early in life form the foundational elements of the olfactory bulb circuit, potentially facilitating innate olfactory information processing. The implications of these neonatal cells on early life olfactory memory and their impact on adult perception, particularly in response to aversive events and susceptibility to emotional disorders, warrant further investigation.
Cerebral blood flow in the paracentral lobule is associated with poor subjective sleep quality among patients with a history of methadone maintenance treatment
Authors: Sun Jiaxue , Lu Yi , Kong Deshenyue , Lin Wenhua , Du Jinze , Wang Guangqing , Ma Xingfeng , Li Congbin , Wang Kunhua , Zhu Mei , Xu Yu
Published: August 2024

Introduction

Sleep disorders are prevalent and significant among individuals receiving methadone maintenance treatment (MMT), adversely affecting their quality of life and treatment adherence. While cerebral blood flow (CBF) plays a crucial role in the development of various diseases, its relationship with sleep disorders remains uncertain. This observational study focuses on possible correlations between CBF and poor subjective sleep quality in MMT patients.

Methods

A total of 75 participants with a history of MMT were recruited and assessed using pseudo-continuous arterial spin labeling magnetic resonance imaging to determine CBF. A LAASO regression model was employed to identify the region of interest (ROI) most associated with sleep disturbance. The association between the CBF of the ROI and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) was examined using regression analyses. Age, gender, BMI, history of hypertension, diabetes, hyperlipidemia, and methadone withdrawal were included as covariates.

Results

Among MMT patients with poor subjective sleep quality, significantly higher CBF was observed in the right paracentral lobule (56.1057 ± 11.1624 ml/100 g/min, p = 0.044), right cerebelum_3 (56.6723 ± 15.3139 ml/100 g/min, p = 0.026), right caudate nucleus (48.9168 ± 6.9910 ml/100 g/min, p = 0.009), and left caudate nucleus (47.6207 ± 6.1374 ml/100 g/min, p = 0.006). Furthermore, a positive correlation was found between CBF in the right paracentral lobule and the total PSQI score (β = 0.1135, p = 0.0323), with the association remaining significant even after adjustment for covariates (β = 0.1276, p = 0.0405).

Conclusion

MMT patients with poor subjective sleep quality exhibited significantly altered CBF in multiple brain regions. The association between increased CBF in the right paracentral lobule and subjective sleep quality in MMT patients could be crucial in understanding sleep disorders in individuals undergoing MMT.

Clinical trial registration

https://www.chictr.org.cn/, identifier: ChiCTR2100051931.
Molecular mechanisms underlying sex and treatment-dependent differences in an animal model of cue-exposure therapy for cocaine relapse prevention
Authors: Peterson Lucy , Nguyen Jonathan , Ghani Naveed , Rodriguez-Echemendia Pedro , Qiao Hui , Guwn Sun Young , Man Heng-Ye , Kantak Kathleen M.
Published: August 2024

Environmental enrichment combined with the glycine transporter-1 inhibitor Org24598 (EE+ORG) during cocaine-cue extinction (EXT) inhibited reacquisition of 1.0 mg/kg cocaine self-administration in male but not female rats in a previous investigation. In this investigation, we determined if this treatment benefit in males required EXT training and ascertained the molecular basis for the observed sex difference in treatment efficacy. Nine groups of male rats trained to self-administer 1.0 mg/kg cocaine or receiving yoked-saline underwent EXT or NoEXT with or without EE and/or ORG. Next, they underwent reacquisition of cocaine self-administration or were sacrificed for molecular analysis of 9 protein targets indicative of neuroplasticity in four brain regions. Two groups of female rats trained to self-administer 1.0 mg/kg cocaine also underwent EXT with or without EE + ORG and were sacrificed for molecular analysis, as above. EE + ORG facilitated the rate of EXT learning in both sexes, and importantly, the therapeutic benefit of EE + ORG for inhibiting cocaine relapse required EXT training. Males were more sensitive than females to neuroplasticity-inducing effects of EE + ORG, which prevented reductions in total GluA1 and PSD95 proteins selectively in basolateral amygdala of male rats trained to self-administer cocaine and receiving EXT. Females were deficient in expression of multiple protein targets, especially after EE + ORG. These included total GluA1 and PSD95 proteins in basolateral amygdala, and total TrkB protein in basolateral amygdala, dorsal hippocampus, and ventromedial prefrontal cortex. Together, these results support the clinical view that sex-specific pharmacological and behavioral treatment approaches may be needed during cue exposure therapy to inhibit cocaine relapse.
SiamEFT: adaptive-time feature extraction hybrid network for RGBE multi-domain object tracking
Authors: Liu Shuqi , Wang Gang , Song Yong , Huang Jinxiang , Huang Yiqian , Zhou Ya , Wang Shiqiang
Published: August 2024

Integrating RGB and Event (RGBE) multi-domain information obtained by high-dynamic-range and temporal-resolution event cameras has been considered an effective scheme for robust object tracking. However, existing RGBE tracking methods have overlooked the unique spatio-temporal features over different domains, leading to object tracking failure and inefficiency, especally for objects against complex backgrounds. To address this problem, we propose a novel tracker based on adaptive-time feature extraction hybrid networks, namely Siamese Event Frame Tracker (SiamEFT), which focuses on the effective representation and utilization of the diverse spatio-temporal features of RGBE. We first design an adaptive-time attention module to aggregate event data into frames based on adaptive-time weights to enhance information representation. Subsequently, the SiamEF module and cross-network fusion module combining artificial neural networks and spiking neural networks hybrid network are designed to effectively extract and fuse the spatio-temporal features of RGBE. Extensive experiments on two RGBE datasets (VisEvent and COESOT) show that the SiamEFT achieves a success rate of 0.456 and 0.574, outperforming the state-of-the-art competing methods and exhibiting a 2.3-fold enhancement in efficiency. These results validate the superior accuracy and efficiency of SiamEFT in diverse and challenging scenes.
Circulating micronutrient levels and respiratory infection susceptibility and severity: a bidirectional Mendelian randomization analysis
Authors: Wei Zhengxiao , Xiong Qingqing , Liang Li , Wu Zhangjun , Chen Zhu
Published: August 2024

Background

Limited and inconclusive data from observational studies and randomized controlled trials exist on the levels of circulating micronutrients in the blood and their association with respiratory infections.

Methods

A Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis was conducted to assess the impact of 12 micronutrients on the risk of three types of infections [upper respiratory tract infections (URTI), lower respiratory tract infections (LRTI), and pneumonia] and their 14 subtypes. This study utilized a bidirectional MR approach to evaluate causal relationships and included a range of sensitivity analyses and multivariable MR to address potential heterogeneity and pleiotropy. The threshold for statistical significance was set at p < 1.39 × 10−3.

Results

Meta-analysis revealed that higher levels of circulating copper were significantly associated with a reduced risk of URTI (odds ratio (OR) = 0.926, 95% CI: 0.890 to 0.964, p = 0.000195). Additionally, copper demonstrated a suggestive association with a reduced risk of LRTI (p = 0.0196), and Vitamin B6 was nominally associated with a reduced risk of pneumonia (p = 0.048). Subtype analyses further indicated several suggestive associations: copper reduces the risk of acute pharyngitis (p = 0.029), vitamin C increases the risk of critical care admissions for pneumonia (p = 0.032) and LRTI (p = 0.021), and folate reduces the risk of viral pneumonia (p = 0.042). No significant connections were observed for other micronutrients.

Conclusion

We observed a genetically predicted potential protective effect of copper in susceptibility to upper respiratory infections. This provides new insights for further research into the role of micronutrients in the prevention and treatment of infection.
Effects of acetylated distarch phosphate on the physicochemical characteristics and stability of the oyster sauce system
Authors: Li Xiao , Zou Feixue , Kang Xuemin , Gao Wei , Cui Bo , Sui Jie
Published: August 2024

In this study, the effect of different acetylated distarch phosphate (ADSP) ratios (0, 1%, 2%, 3%, 4%, 5%) on the physicochemical characteristics and stability of the oyster sauce (OS) system was investigated. The texture, water state, interactions, rheological properties, microstructure, and stability of OS samples were analyzed through the texture analyser, low-field nuclear magnetic resonance (LF-NMR), particle diameter and zeta potential, fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), rheometer, and microscopes. The results revealed that the addition of ADSP improved the firmness, consistency, cohesiveness, and water-holding capacity of OS. Moreover, ADSP reduced the average particle size and zeta potential of OS, indicating that electrostatic and steric stabilization existed in the ADSP-OS system. The addition of ADSP enhanced the hydrogen bonding and decreased water mobility for OS system, processing a more continuous and smooth structure. All ADSP-OS samples were typical non-Newtonian fluids with shear-thinning characteristics. In addition, the non-significant instability index changes of ADSP-OS over the whole storage period confirmed the excellent long-term stabilization capability of OS prepared with ADSP. This study provides a theoretical basis for starch-based sauce products and contributes to the development of sauce products.
Impact of heat and high-moisture pH treatments on starch digestibility, phenolic composition, and cell bioactivity in sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L. Moench) flour
Authors: Peterson Jaymi , Santana Adina L. , Cox Sarah , Perez-Fajardo Mayra , Covarrubias Jose , Perumal Ramasamy , Bean Scott , Wu Xiaorong , Wang Weiqun , Smolensky Dmitriy
Published: August 2024

Sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L. Moench), characterized by substantial genetic diversity, encompasses some lines rich in health-promoting polyphenols. Laboratory studies have demonstrated anticancer properties of sorghum phenolics; however, their presence may impact nutritional factors, such as digestible starch. The objective of this study was to determine the effects of pH and high-moisture heating on starch digestibility, phenolic profile, and anticancer activity in sorghum. High Phenolic sorghum flour line SC84 was combined with buffer solutions (pH 3, 4, 5, 7, and 8) and heated for 0, 10, 30, 60, or 120 min. Starch digestibility was assessed using the K-DSTRS kit from Megazyme. Changes in phenolic composition were analyzed using total phenolic content (TPC) and condensed tannin content (CTC) assays coupled with reversed phase high performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC) analysis. Anticancer potential against human colorectal cancer cells (HCT116 and SW480) was determined though cell viability assay. Results indicated a significant increase in total starch digestibility of sample after heating. Heating samples for 10 min did not significantly reduce TPC of samples. However, CTC was significantly reduced with heating time, while pH exhibited no significant effect on CTC. The measured 3-deoxyanthocyanidins experienced a significant decrease (p < 0.0001), while certain flavonoids increased significantly (p < 0.05) after heating for 30 min or longer. Notably, the 10 min heating duration minimally affected anticancer activity, whereas longer heat times diminished extract efficacy against human colorectal cancer cells. Alkaline pH levels significantly decreased anticancer activity, regardless of heating time. Importantly, heating sorghum for 10 min improved starch digestibility with minimal compromise to potential health benefits. These findings suggest promising implications for the development of high-phenolic sorghum products, and provide valuable insights to guide forthcoming animal and clinical studies. The demonstrated impact of wet-heating on increased starch digestibility, coupled with the preservation of phenolic content and bioactivity, underscores the potential of incorporating high-phenolic sorghum lines in future functional food formulations.
Intravoxel incoherent motion and enhanced T2*-weighted angiography for preoperative prediction of microvascular invasion in hepatocellular carcinoma
Authors: Ren Xue , Zhao Ying , Wang Nan , Liu Jiahui , Zhang Shuo , Zhuang Mingrui , Wang Hongkai , Wang Jixiang , Zhang Yindi , Song Qingwei , Liu Ailian
Published: August 2024

Objective

To investigate the value of the combined application of intravoxel incoherent motion (IVIM) and enhanced T2*-weighted angiography (ESWAN) for preoperative prediction of microvascular invasion (MVI) in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Materials and methods

76 patients with pathologically confirmed HCC were retrospectively enrolled and divided into the MVI-positive group (n=26) and MVI-negative group (n=50). Conventional MRI, IVIM, and ESWAN sequences were performed. Three region of interests (ROIs) were placed on the maximum axial slice of the lesion on D, D*, and f maps derived from IVIM sequence, and R2* map derived from ESWAN sequence, and intratumoral susceptibility signal (ITSS) from the phase map derived from ESWAN sequence was also automatically measured. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were drawn to evaluate the ability for predicting MVI. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression were used to screen independent risk predictors in clinical and imaging information. The Delong’s test was used to compare the differences between the area under curves (AUCs).

Results

The D and D* values of MVI-negative group were significantly higher than those of MVI-positive group (P=0.038, and P=0.023), which in MVI-negative group were 0.892×10-3 (0.760×10-3, 1.303×10-3) mm2/s and 0.055 (0.025, 0.100) mm2/s, and in MVI-positive group were 0.591×10-3 (0.372×10-3, 0.824×10-3) mm2/s and 0.028 (0.006, 0.050)mm2/s, respectively. The R2* and ITSS values of MVI-negative group were significantly lower than those of MVI-positive group (P=0.034, and P=0.005), which in MVI-negative group were 29.290 (23.117, 35.228) Hz and 0.146 (0.086, 0.236), and in MVI-positive group were 43.696 (34.914, 58.083) Hz and 0.199 (0.155, 0.245), respectively. After univariate and multivariate analyses, only AFP (odds ratio, 0.183; 95% CI, 0.041–0.823; P = 0.027) was the independent risk factor for predicting the status of MVI. The AUCs of AFP, D, D*, R2*, and ITSS for prediction of MVI were 0.652, 0.739, 0.707, 0.798, and 0.657, respectively. The AUCs of IVIM (D+D*), ESWAN (R2*+ITSS), and combination (D+D*+R2*+ITSS) for predicting MVI were 0.772, 0.800, and, 0.855, respectively. When IVIM combined with ESWAN, the performance was improved with a sensitivity of 73.1% and a specificity of 92.0% (cut-off value: 0.502) and the AUC was significantly higher than AFP (P=0.001), D (P=0.038), D* (P=0.023), R2* (P=0.034), and ITSS (P=0.005).

Conclusion

The IVIM and ESWAN parameters showed good efficacy in prediction of MVI in patients with HCC. The combination of IVIM and ESWAN may be useful for noninvasive prediction of MVI before clinical operation.
Research progress on m6A demethylase FTO and its role in gynecological tumors
Authors: Wang SiYuan , Liu Qin
Published: August 2024

Recent advances in genomic research have increasingly focused on the fat mass- and obesity-associated (FTO) gene due to its notable correlation with obesity. Initially explored for its contribution to increased body weight, FTO was later discovered to function as an m6A demethylase. This pivotal role enhances our understanding of its broader implications across various pathologies. Epigenetic modifications, such as m6A, have been implicated in gynecological cancers, including ovarian, endometrial, and cervical malignancies. However, the precise mechanisms by which FTO influences the development of gynecological cancers remain largely unknown. This analysis underscores the growing relevance of investigations into the FTO gene in elucidating the mechanisms underlying gynecological cancers and exploring potential therapeutic avenues.
A joint learning framework for multisite CBCT-to-CT translation using a hybrid CNN-transformer synthesizer and a registration network
Authors: Hu Ying , Cheng Mengjie , Wei Hui , Liang Zhiwen
Published: August 2024

Background

Cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) is a convenient method for adaptive radiation therapy (ART), but its application is often hindered by its image quality. We aim to develop a unified deep learning model that can consistently enhance the quality of CBCT images across various anatomical sites by generating synthetic CT (sCT) images.

Methods

A dataset of paired CBCT and planning CT images from 135 cancer patients, including head and neck, chest and abdominal tumors, was collected. This dataset, with its rich anatomical diversity and scanning parameters, was carefully selected to ensure comprehensive model training. Due to the imperfect registration, the inherent challenge of local structural misalignment of paired dataset may lead to suboptimal model performance. To address this limitation, we propose SynREG, a supervised learning framework. SynREG integrates a hybrid CNN-transformer architecture designed for generating high-fidelity sCT images and a registration network designed to correct local structural misalignment dynamically during training. An independent test set of 23 additional patients was used to evaluate the image quality, and the results were compared with those of several benchmark models (pix2pix, cycleGAN and SwinIR). Furthermore, the performance of an autosegmentation application was also assessed.

Results

The proposed model disentangled sCT generation from anatomical correction, leading to a more rational optimization process. As a result, the model effectively suppressed noise and artifacts in multisite applications, significantly enhancing CBCT image quality. Specifically, the mean absolute error (MAE) of SynREG was reduced to 16.81 ± 8.42 HU, whereas the structural similarity index (SSIM) increased to 94.34 ± 2.85%, representing improvements over the raw CBCT data, which had the MAE of 26.74 ± 10.11 HU and the SSIM of 89.73 ± 3.46%. The enhanced image quality was particularly beneficial for organs with low contrast resolution, significantly increasing the accuracy of automatic segmentation in these regions. Notably, for the brainstem, the mean Dice similarity coefficient (DSC) increased from 0.61 to 0.89, and the MDA decreased from 3.72 mm to 0.98 mm, indicating a substantial improvement in segmentation accuracy and precision.

Conclusions

SynREG can effectively alleviate the differences in residual anatomy between paired datasets and enhance the quality of CBCT images.