bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Prediction of tumor origin in cancers of unknown primary origin with cytology-based deep learning
Authors: Tian Fei , Liu Dong , Wei Na , Fu Qianqian , Sun Lin , Liu Wei , Sui Xiaolong , Tian Kathryn , Nemeth Genevieve , Feng Jingyu , Xu Jingjing , Xiao Lin , Han Junya , Fu Jingjie , Shi Yinhua , Yang Yichen , Liu Jia , Hu Chunhong , Feng Bin , Sun Yan , Wang Yunjun , Yu Guohua , Kong Dalu , Wang Meiyun , Li Wencai , Chen Kexin , Li Xiangchun
Published: April 2024

Cancer of unknown primary (CUP) site poses diagnostic challenges due to its elusive nature. Many cases of CUP manifest as pleural and peritoneal serous effusions. Leveraging cytological images from 57,220 cases at four tertiary hospitals, we developed a deep-learning method for tumor origin differentiation using cytological histology (TORCH) that can identify malignancy and predict tumor origin in both hydrothorax and ascites. We examined its performance on three internal (n = 12,799) and two external (n = 14,538) testing sets. In both internal and external testing sets, TORCH achieved area under the receiver operating curve values ranging from 0.953 to 0.991 for cancer diagnosis and 0.953 to 0.979 for tumor origin localization. TORCH accurately predicted primary tumor origins, with a top-1 accuracy of 82.6% and top-3 accuracy of 98.9%. Compared with results derived from pathologists, TORCH showed better prediction efficacy (1.677 versus 1.265, P < 0.001), enhancing junior pathologists’ diagnostic scores significantly (1.326 versus 1.101, P < 0.001). Patients with CUP whose initial treatment protocol was concordant with TORCH-predicted origins had better overall survival than those who were administrated discordant treatment (27 versus 17 months, P = 0.006). Our study underscores the potential of TORCH as a valuable ancillary tool in clinical practice, although further validation in randomized trials is warranted.
Placental IGFBP1 levels during early pregnancy and the risk of insulin resistance and gestational diabetes
Authors: Hivert Marie-France , White Frédérique , Allard Catherine , James Kaitlyn , Majid Sana , Aguet François , Ardlie Kristin G. , Florez Jose C. , Edlow Andrea G. , Bouchard Luigi , Jacques Pierre-Étienne , Karumanchi S. Ananth , Powe Camille E.
Published: April 2024

Reduced insulin sensitivity (insulin resistance) is a hallmark of normal physiology in late pregnancy and also underlies gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). We conducted transcriptomic profiling of 434 human placentas and identified a positive association between insulin-like growth factor binding protein 1 gene (IGFBP1) expression in the placenta and insulin sensitivity at ~26 weeks gestation. Circulating IGFBP1 protein levels rose over the course of pregnancy and declined postpartum, which, together with high gene expression levels in our placenta samples, suggests a placental or decidual source. Higher circulating IGFBP1 levels were associated with greater insulin sensitivity (lesser insulin resistance) at ~26 weeks gestation in the same cohort and in two additional pregnancy cohorts. In addition, low circulating IGFBP1 levels in early pregnancy predicted subsequent GDM diagnosis in two cohorts of pregnant women. These results implicate IGFBP1 in the glycemic physiology of pregnancy and suggest a role for placental IGFBP1 deficiency in GDM pathogenesis.
Phenomics and transcriptomic profiling of fruit development in distinct apple varieties
Authors: Zhang Weihan , Han Yuepeng , Liao Liao
Published: April 2024

Apple is one of the most economically important and popular temperate fruit trees. The domestication of apple has resulted in substantial phenotypic differences, particularly between wild and cultivated varieties. However, the relationship between gene expression and phenotypic variations in apple remains poorly understood. Here, we present a comprehensive dataset featuring five distinct apple varieties, including two wild varieties and three representative cultivated varieties. The dataset comprises of both phenomics data, encompassing twelve fruit quality-related traits continuously measured over two years, and transcriptomic data obtained at different developmental stages with three biological replicates. We performed basic quality control process, gene expression normalization and differential gene expression analysis to demonstrate the utility and reliability of the dataset. Our findings indicate that gene expression strongly related with phenotypic variations in apple. This dataset serves as a valuable resource, encompassing phenomics and transcriptomic data in multiple formats, thereby facilitating further exploration of the relationships between gene expression and phenotypic traits in apple.
Analyzing to discover origins of CNNs and ViT architectures in medical images
Authors: Oh Seungmin , Kim Namkug , Ryu Jongbin
Published: April 2024

In this paper, we introduce in-depth the analysis of CNNs and ViT architectures in medical images, with the goal of providing insights into subsequent research direction. In particular, the origins of deep neural networks should be explainable for medical images, but there has been a paucity of studies on such explainability in the aspect of deep neural network architectures. Therefore, we investigate the origin of model performance, which is the clue to explaining deep neural networks, focusing on the two most relevant architectures, such as CNNs and ViT. We give four analyses, including (1) robustness in a noisy environment, (2) consistency in translation invariance property, (3) visual recognition with obstructed images, and (4) acquired features from shape or texture so that we compare origins of CNNs and ViT that cause the differences of visual recognition performance. Furthermore, the discrepancies between medical and generic images are explored regarding such analyses. We discover that medical images, unlike generic ones, exhibit class-sensitive. Finally, we propose a straightforward ensemble method based on our analyses, demonstrating that our findings can help build follow-up studies. Our analysis code will be publicly available.
Urban greening with shrubs can supercharge invertebrate abundance and diversity
Authors: Sharmin Mahmuda , Tjoelker Mark G. , Esperon-Rodriguez Manuel , Katlav Alihan , Gilpin Amy-Marie , Rymer Paul D. , Power Sally A.
Published: April 2024

In urban areas, diverse and complex habitats for biodiversity are often lacking. This lack of diversity not only compromises essential ecological processes, such as pollination and nutrient cycling, but also diminishes the resilience of urban ecosystems to pests and diseases. To enhance urban biodiversity, a possible solution is to integrate shrubs alongside trees, thereby increasing the overall amount of vegetation, structural complexity and the associated resource diversity. Here, using a common garden experiment involving a variety of trees and shrubs planted alone and in combination, we evaluate how canopy-associated invertebrate assemblages are influenced by vegetation type. In particular, we test whether the presence of shrubs, alone or with trees, results in increased abundance and taxonomic richness of invertebrates, compared to trees on their own. We found that the overall abundance of invertebrates, and that of specific functional groups (e.g., herbivores, pollinators, detritivores), was higher on shrubs, compared to trees, and when trees and shrubs were planted in combination (relative to trees on their own). Our results suggest that planting shrub and tree species with wide and dense crowns can increase the associated abundance and taxonomic and functional group richness of invertebrate communities. Overall, our findings indicate that urban planning would benefit from incorporating shrubs alongside urban trees to maximise invertebrate abundance, diversity and function in urban landscapes.
Barriers to the use of tests for early detection of colorectal cancer in Chile
Authors: Alfaro Gabriela , Berger Zoltan , Mondschein Susana , Subiabre Felipe , Yankovic Natalia
Published: April 2024

This study aimed to assess the use of colorectal cancer (CRC) tests for prevention and early detection, alongside exploring the associated barriers to these tests. A stratified national survey was conducted in Chile, involving 1893 respondents (with a 2.3% error margin and 95% confidence interval). Logistic and multinomial regression analyses were employed to examine variations in test utilization likelihood and barrier. We found that the key determinants for undergoing CRC tests included age, health status, possession of private health insurance, and attainment of postgraduate education. Notably, 18% and 29% of respondents covered by public and private insurance, respectively, cited personal prevention as the primary motivation for test uptake. The principal obstacle identified was lack of knowledge, mentioned by 65% of respondents, while 29% and 19% of the publicly and privately insured respectively highlighted lack of access as a barrier. The results of this study provide valuable insights into factors influencing CRC screening, aiming to inform public health policies for expanding national coverage beyond diagnosis and treatment to encompass preventive measures.
Label-free separation of peripheral blood mononuclear cells from whole blood by gradient acoustic focusing
Authors: Alsved Julia , Rezayati Charan Mahdi , Ohlsson Pelle , Urbansky Anke , Augustsson Per
Published: April 2024

Efficient techniques for separating target cells from undiluted blood are necessary for various diagnostic and research applications. This paper presents acoustic focusing in dense media containing iodixanol to purify peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from whole blood in a label-free and flow-through format. If the blood is laminated or mixed with iodixanol solutions while passing through the resonant microchannel, all the components (fluids and cells) rearrange according to their acoustic impedances. Red blood cells (RBCs) have higher effective acoustic impedance than PBMCs. Therefore, they relocate to the pressure node despite the dense medium, while PBMCs stay near the channel walls due to their negative contrast factor relative to their surrounding medium. By modifying the medium and thus tuning the contrast factor of the cells, we enriched PBMCs relative to RBCs by a factor of 3600 to 11,000 and with a separation efficiency of 85%. That level of RBC depletion is higher than most other microfluidic methods and similar to that of density gradient centrifugation. The current acoustophoretic chip runs up to 20 µl/min undiluted whole blood and can be integrated with downstream analysis.
Automated quantification of avian influenza virus antigen in different organs
Authors: Landmann Maria , Scheibner David , Gischke Marcel , Abdelwhab Elsayed M. , Ulrich Reiner
Published: April 2024

As immunohistochemistry is valuable for determining tissue and cell tropism of avian influenza viruses (AIV), but time-consuming, an artificial intelligence-based workflow was developed to automate the AIV antigen quantification. Organ samples from experimental AIV infections including brain, heart, lung and spleen on one slide, and liver and kidney on another slide were stained for influenza A-matrixprotein and analyzed with QuPath: Random trees algorithms were trained to identify the organs on each slide, followed by threshold-based quantification of the immunoreactive area. The algorithms were trained and tested on two different slide sets, then retrained on both and validated on a third set. Except for the kidney, the best algorithms for organ selection correctly identified the largest proportion of the organ area. For most organs, the immunoreactive area assessed following organ selection was significantly and positively correlated to a manually assessed semiquantitative score. In the validation set, intravenously infected chickens showed a generally higher percentage of immunoreactive area than chickens infected oculonasally. Variability between the slide sets and a similar tissue texture of some organs limited the ability of the algorithms to select certain organs. Generally, suitable correlations of the immunoreactivity data results were achieved, facilitating high-throughput analysis of AIV tissue tropism.
Exploiting high-quality reconstruction image encryption strategy by optimized orthogonal compressive sensing
Authors: Wen Heping , Yang Lincheng , Bai Chixin , Lin Yiting , Liu Tengyu , Chen Lei , Hu Yingchun , He Daojing
Published: April 2024

Compressive sensing is favored because it breaks through the constraints of Nyquist sampling law in signal reconstruction. However, the security defects of joint compression encryption and the problem of low quality of reconstructed image restoration need to be solved urgently. In view of this, this paper proposes a compressive sensing image encryption scheme based on optimized orthogonal measurement matrix. Utilizing a combination of DWT and OMP, along with chaos, the proposed scheme achieves high-security image encryption and superior quality in decryption reconstruction. Firstly, the orthogonal optimization method is used to improve the chaotic measurement matrix. Combined with Part Hadamard matrix, the measurement matrix with strong orthogonal characteristics is constructed by Kronecker product. Secondly, the original image is sparsely represented by DWT. Meanwhile, Arnold scrambling is used to disturb the correlation between its adjacent pixels. Following this, the image is compressed and measured in accordance with the principles of compressive sensing and obtain the intermediate image to be encrypted. Finally, the chaotic sequence generated based on 2D-LSCM is used to perform on odd-even interleaved diffusion and row-column permutation at bit-level to obtain the final ciphertext. The experimental results show that this scheme meets the cryptographic requirements of obfuscation, diffusion and avalanche effects, and also has a large key space, which is sufficient to resist brute-force cracking attacks. Based on the sparse and reconstruction algorithm of compressive sensing proposed in this paper, it has better image restoration quality than similar algorithms. Consequently, the compressive sensing image encryption scheme enhances both security and reconstruction quality, presenting promising applications in the evolving landscape of privacy protection for network big data.
Exclusive expression of KANK4 promotes myofibroblast mobility in keloid tissues
Authors: Oishi Mayumi , Shinjo Keiko , Takanari Keisuke , Muraoka Ayako , Suzuki Miho M. , Kanbe Miki , Higuchi Shinichi , Ebisawa Katsumi , Hashikawa Kazunobu , Kamei Yuzuru , Kondo Yutaka
Published: April 2024

Keloids are characterized by abnormal wound healing with excessive accumulation of extracellular matrix. Myofibroblasts are the primary contributor to extracellular matrix secretion, playing an essential role in the wound healing process. However, the differences between myofibroblasts involved in keloid formation and normal wound healing remain unclear. To identify the specific characteristics of keloid myofibroblasts, we initially assessed the expression levels of well-established myofibroblast markers, α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) and transgelin (TAGLN), in scar and keloid tissues (n = 63 and 51, respectively). Although myofibroblasts were present in significant quantities in keloids and immature scars, they were absent in mature scars. Next, we conducted RNA sequencing using myofibroblast-rich areas from keloids and immature scars to investigate the difference in RNA expression profiles among myofibroblasts. Among significantly upregulated 112 genes, KN motif and ankyrin repeat domains 4 (KANK4) was identified as a specifically upregulated gene in keloids. Immunohistochemical analysis showed that KANK4 protein was expressed in myofibroblasts in keloid tissues; however, it was not expressed in any myofibroblasts in immature scar tissues. Overexpression of KANK4 enhanced cell mobility in keloid myofibroblasts. Our results suggest that the KANK4-mediated increase in myofibroblast mobility contributes to keloid pathogenesis.
Comparative evaluation of ten blood biomarkers of inflammation in regular heated tobacco users and non-smoking healthy males–a pilot study
Authors: Świątkowska Beata , Jankowski Mateusz , Kaleta Dorota
Published: April 2024

Heated tobacco products (HTPs) are novel tobacco products that are alternatives to cigarettes. The study aimed to investigate the effect of HTPs on blood biomarkers of inflammation as well as to provide a comparative evaluation between daily heated tobacco users and healthy men who do not use nicotine products. This case–control study was carried out among 92 healthy males in Poland (Lodz-Province) aged 20–56 years: 44 daily heated tobacco users (daily use in the past 90 days) and 48 controls who do not use nicotine products. The history of use of the nicotine-containing products was self-reported and verified using a saliva cotinine test. A 20 ml blood sample was collected and the levels of ten blood biomarkers were analyzed. Among all heated tobacco users (n = 44), only the levels of interleukin 8 (IL-8) were significantly higher when compared to controls: 6.86 vs. 3.95 (p = 0.01). Among exclusive heated tobacco users (n = 33), the levels of IL-8 were also significantly higher when compared to controls: 7.76 vs. 3.95 (p = 0.01). IL-8 level was positively correlated (r = 0.37; p = 0.01) with the daily number of heated tobacco sticks. Out of 10 different biomarkers of inflammation, only IL-8 levels were significantly elevated in heated tobacco use compared to controls.
Combination of losartan with pirfenidone: a protective anti-fibrotic against pulmonary fibrosis induced by bleomycin in rats
Authors: Amirkhosravi Arian , Mirtajaddini Goki Maryamossadat , Heidari Mahmoud Reza , Karami-Mohajeri Somayyeh , Iranpour Maryam , Torshabi Maryam , Mehrabani Mitra , Mandegary Ali , Mehrabani Mehrnaz
Published: April 2024

Pirfenidone (PFD), one acceptable medication for treating idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), is not well tolerated by patients at full doses. Hence, employing of some approaches such as combination therapy may be applicable for increasing therapeutic efficacy of PFD. Losartan (LOS), an angiotensin II receptor antagonist, could be a suitable candidate for combination therapy because of its stabilizing effect on the pulmonary function of IPF patients. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the effects of LOS in combination with PFD on bleomycin (BLM)-induced lung fibrosis in rats. BLM-exposed rats were treated with LOS alone or in combination with PFD. The edema, pathological changes, level of transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β1), collagen content, and oxidative stress parameters were assessed in the lung tissues. Following BLM exposure, the inflammatory response, collagen levels, and antioxidant markers in rat lung tissues were significantly improved by PFD, and these effects were improved by combination with LOS. The findings of this in vivo study suggest that the combined administration of PFD and LOS may provide more potent protection against IPF than single therapy through boosting its anti-inflammatory, anti-fibrotic, and anti-oxidant effects. These results hold promise in developing a more effective therapeutic strategy for treating of lung fibrosis.
Comparative effectiveness of angioembolization versus open surgery in patients with blunt splenic injury
Authors: Suzuki Toshinao , Shiraishi Atsushi , Ito Kensuke , Otomo Yasuhiro
Published: April 2024

The effectiveness and safety of transcatheter splenic artery embolization (SAE) compared to those of open surgery in patients with blunt splenic injury (BSI) remain unclear. This retrospective cohort-matched study utilized data from the Japan Trauma Data Bank recorded between 2004 and 2019. Patients with BSI who underwent SAE or open surgery were selected. A propensity score matching analysis was used to balance the baseline covariates and compare outcomes, including all-cause in-hospital mortality and spleen salvage. From 361,706 patients recorded in the data source, this study included 2,192 patients with BSI who underwent SAE or open surgery. A propensity score matching analysis was used to extract 377 matched pairs of patients. The in-hospital mortality rates (SAE, 11.6% vs. open surgery, 11.2%, adjusted relative risk (aRR): 0.64; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.38–1.09, p = 0.10) were similar in both the groups. However, spleen salvage was significantly less achieved in the open surgery group than in the SAE group (SAE, 87.1% vs. open surgery, 32.1%; aRR: 2.84, 95%CI: 2.29–3.51, p < 0.001). Survival rates did not significantly differ between BSI patients undergoing SAE and those undergoing open surgery. Nonetheless, SAE was notably associated with a higher likelihood of successful spleen salvage.
An integrated method for compensating and correcting nonlinear error in five-axis machining utilizing cutter contacting point data
Authors: Chen Liangji , Xu Haohao , Huang Qiang , Wang Pengcheng
Published: April 2024

In current five-axis computer numerical control (CNC) machining, the use of minute linear path segments as an approximation for the ideal cutter contacting (CC) point trajectory is still prevalent. However, introducing rotation axes leads to a deviation of the actual CC point trajectory from the ideal, resulting in nonlinear errors. An integrated method is proposed in this paper for compensating and correcting both the contour error, associated with the approximation of the part surface by the ideal CC point trajectory and the nonlinear error of the CC point trajectory based on the information in the CC point data. By analyzing the spatial relationship between the tool posture and the CC point path during the five-axis linear interpolation process, two adjacent machining tool positions containing CC point data information are selected as the starting and ending points of the five-axis linear interpolation machining. The ideal tool center point and the actual CC point are calculated during the interpolation process, as well as the distance and the unit vector in the perpendicular direction between the actual CC point and the ideal CC point trajectory segment. In the comprehensive error compensation and correction phase, the obtained unit vectors are used as direction vectors for error compensation, and the tool center point during interpolation is first compensated and corrected. This ensures the actual CC point and the contour curve are on the same plane. The compensation direction for contour error is calculated using the start/end tool axis vectors and the ideal CC point trajectory vectors. The size of the contour error approximating the contour curve is calculated through the chord error. A second compensation and correction are applied to the tool center point for interpolation, ultimately achieving comprehensive compensation and correction of nonlinear errors. The data calculations were conducted in the MATLAB environment using actual machining data. After compensation and correction, the contour error was reduced by 76%, the nonlinear error of the CC point trajectory decreased to below 0.88 μm, and the comprehensive nonlinear error of the CC point trajectory was reduced from 19 to 1.5 μm, a reduction of 93%. This demonstrates significant practical value in enhancing the accuracy of five-axis CNC machining. Through actual machining verification, after using the method described in this paper, the average surface roughness decreased from 1.133 to 0.220 μm, and the maximum surface roughness decreased from 6.667 to 1.240 μm. This significantly demonstrates that the compensation and correction method proposed in this paper can significantly improve the surface quality of machined parts.
Evaluation of physiological response and synchronisation errors during synchronous and pseudosynchronous stimulation trials
Authors: Kania Damian , Romaniszyn-Kania Patrycja , Tuszy Aleksandra , Bugdol Monika , Ledwoń Daniel , Czak Miroslaw , Turner Bruce , Bibrowicz Karol , Szurmik Tomasz , Pollak Anita , Mitas Andrzej W.
Published: April 2024

Rhythm perception and synchronisation is musical ability with neural basis defined as the ability to perceive rhythm in music and synchronise body movements with it. The study aimed to check the errors of synchronisation and physiological response as a reaction of the subjects to metrorhythmic stimuli of synchronous and pseudosynchronous stimulation (synchronisation with an externally controlled rhythm, but in reality controlled or produced tone by tapping) Nineteen subjects without diagnosed motor disorders participated in the study. Two tests were performed, where the electromyography signal and reaction time were recorded using the NORAXON system. In addition, physiological signals such as electrodermal activity and blood volume pulse were measured using the Empatica E4. Study 1 consisted of adapting the finger tapping test in pseudosynchrony with a given metrorhythmic stimulus with a selection of preferred, choices of decreasing and increasing tempo. Study 2 consisted of metrorhythmic synchronisation during the heel stomping test. Numerous correlations and statistically significant parameters were found between the response of the subjects with respect to their musical education, musical and sports activities. Most of the differentiating characteristics shown evidence of some group division in the undertaking of musical activities. The use of detailed analyses of synchronisation errors can contribute to the development of methods to improve the rehabilitation process of subjects with motor dysfunction, and this will contribute to the development of an expert system that considers personalised musical preferences.
Tailoring hierarchical microstructures and nanoprecipitates in additive-manufactured Al-Zn-Mg-Cu-Nb alloys for simultaneously enhancing strength and ductility
Authors: Xiao Fei , Shu Da , Wang Yixiao , Sun Qinyao , Wang Donghong , Yang Chao , Wang Shubin , Mi Jiawei , Sun Baode , StJohn David H.
Published: April 2024

Additive manufacturing provides an efficient way of producing metallic components with complex geometries. Their microstructure is substantially different to those from conventional processing, creating opportunities for manipulating the final microstructure and properties via heat treatment. Here, we demonstrate that as-built heterostructures in an Al-Zn-Mg-Cu-Nb alloy produced during the solidification of molten pools provide a driving force and additional Zener pinning sources for recrystallization. This creates a bimodal grain structure after solution treatment, causing additional hetero-deformation-induced strengthening and hardening. Coarse grains are found to promote work hardening and blunt the propagate of cracks during deformation, increasing ductility. Together with precipitation strengthening from a high number density nanoprecipitates, the simultaneous improvement of strength and ductility in a highly alloyed Al-Zn-Mg-Cu-Nb alloy is achieved. These results provide a simple strategy for the development of additively manufactured age-hardening alloys with improved strength and ductility for high performance structural applications.
Integrating ultraviolet sensing and memory functions in gallium nitride-based optoelectronic devices
Authors: Chang Kuan-Chang , Feng Xibei , Duan Xinqing , Liu Huangbai , Liu Yanxin , Peng Zehui , Lin Xinnan , Li Lei
Published: April 2024

An ultraviolet optoelectronic memory based on GaN with dual storage modes, which adopts a new structure of SiO2 side-gates, is reported.
Advances in superhydrophobic material research: from preparation to electrified railway protection
Authors: Bo Wang , Xueqin Zhang , Bingkun Li , Yijie Liu , Chenguang Yang , Yujun Guo , Song Xiao , Wenfu Wei , Guoqiang Gao , Guangning Wu
Published: April 2024

Superhydrophobic coatings give a solution for the protection of electrical equipment and some corresponding preparation methods.
Synthesis and study of antibiofilm and antivirulence properties of flavonol analogues generated by palladium catalyzed ligand free Suzuki–Miyaura coupling against Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1
Authors: Benny Anjitha Theres , Thamim Masthan , Srivastava Prakhar , Suresh Sindoora , Thirumoorthy Krishnan , Rangasamy Loganathan , S. Karthikeyan , Easwaran Nalini , Radhakrishnan Ethiraj Kannatt
Published: April 2024

An overview on the mechanism of Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1 biofilm inhibition by Suzuki–Miyaura coupled flavonols.
Collagen/polyester-polyurethane porous scaffolds for use in meniscal repair
Authors: Savin Gaëlle , Caillol Sylvain , Bethry Audrey , Rondet Eric , Assor Michel , David Ghislain , Nottelet Benjamin
Published: April 2024

Focusing on the regeneration of damaged knee meniscus, we propose a hybrid scaffold made of poly(ester-urethane) (PEU) and collagen that combines suitable mechanical properties with enhanced biocompatibility.
CO2-induced gate-opening structural transition process of a porous coordination polymer revealed by solid-state 13C NMR
Authors: Kurihara Takuya , Souri Yue , Inukai Munehiro , Mizuno Motohiro
Published: April 2024

The closed-pore-PCP surface forms an open-pore structure below the gate-opening pressure, and closed- and open-pore crystallites coexist during the transition.
Construction of a novel cuboid-shape Mn-Urea nanozyme with arsenic(v)-enhanced oxidase-like activity as a colorimetric probe for the selective detection of inorganic arsenic
Authors: Wang Jia-Li , Chen Ling-Xiao , Chen Guo-Ying , Chai Tong-Qing , Li Jia-Xin , Chen Hua , Yang Feng-Qing
Published: April 2024

An efficient colorimetric assay is developed for As(v) detection based on a novel kind of cuboid-shape Mn-Urea nanozyme with arsenic-enhanced oxidase-like activity.
First-principles prediction of a direct Z-scheme WSe2/HfS2 van der Waals heterostructure for overall photocatalytic water decomposition
Authors: Zhang Yan , Qiang Zhi-Bo , Ding Jian-Xin , Xie Kang-Xin , Duan Li , Ni Lei
Published: April 2024

Band alignment of the WSe2 and HfS2 monolayers pre- and post-contact (a) and the path of photogenerated carrier migration in the WSe2/HfS2 heterojunction within a direct Z-scheme mechanism (b).
Effect of terahertz waves on the aggregation behavior of neurotransmitters
Authors: Li Meng-Qiu , Chen Chen , Ma Yu-Qiang , Ding Hong-Ming
Published: April 2024

By using all-atom molecular dynamics simulation, we reveal a nuanced relationship between THz frequencies and neurotransmitter aggregation.
Characteristics and adsorption behavior of typical microplastics in long-term accelerated weathering simulation
Authors: Yu Fei , Qin Qiyu , Zhang Xiaochen , Ma Jie
Published: April 2024

Adsorption of different organic pollutants by three microplastics before and after weathering.
Magnetic-responsive Pickering emulsions based on MFe2O4 (M = Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn) for green and efficient oxidation of benzyl alcohol
Authors: Wang Yan , Wang Xuan , Dong Yonghao , Peng Mingli , Guo Lina , Cui Mengyao , He Yuan , Yi Jiabao , Ma Huijun , Zhang Huan , Fan Haiming
Published: April 2024

Herein, ferrite nanoparticles served as a nanocatalyst for the oxidation of benzyl alcohol, a stabilizer in PIC, and a magnetic responder for separation and recycling with a magnet.
Thickness-dependent characteristics and oxidation of 2D-cadmium
Authors: Gulucu Arda , Sahin Hasan
Published: April 2024

In this study, the structural, electronic, and vibrational properties of the thinnest crystal structure that can be obtained by thinning bulk Cd down to a monolayer are investigated by performing first-principles calculations.
Enhanced photocatalytic CO2 reduction by controlled oxygen vacancy generation and co-constructed heterojunction strategy for Pd/CeO2
Authors: Kong Fanlin , Lu Xiaoyan , Xie Jing , Lu Zhenjiang , Hu Jindou , Cao Yali
Published: April 2024

Rational control of Vo concentration and the construction of a heterojunction strategy enable Pd/CeO2-Vo(r) to exhibit excellent photocatalytic CO2RR activity. The presence of COOH* creates favorable conditions for CO formation and desorption.
New ultraviolet transparent rare-earth borates with enhanced birefringence induced by cation chemical substitution
Authors: Sun Guanglian , Qi Xiaofang , Wu Hongping , Hu Zhanggui , Wang Jiyang , Wu Yicheng
Published: April 2024

In the three structures, the substitution of large-size cations results in the rearrangement of the anionic group, and their birefringence exhibits a progressive doubling increase, transitioning from 0.017, 0.033 to 0.070 at 532 nm.
Substituent-controlled divergent cyclization reactions of benzo[c][1,2]dithiol-3-ones and hexahydro-1,3,5-triazines
Authors: Zhang Bohao , He Sifan , Dong Na , Zhu Antong , Duan Haojie , Wang Dunjia , Zhou Yao
Published: April 2024

An unprecedented metal-free divergent cyclization reaction of benzo[c][1,2]dithiol-3-ones with hexahydro-1,3,5-triazines to assemble six- and eight-membered N-containing heterocycles has been developed.
Selective nickel-catalyzed disulfuration of alkyl halides with di/trithiosulfonates
Authors: Liu Lulu , Hou Jiaqi , Ma Yingying , Wang Hongwei , Zhong Yu , Liang Fangcan , Wang Luyao , Wang Qingling , Liu Ji-Quan , Xu Wen-Hua , Zhu Dianhu
Published: April 2024

Selective reductive disulfuration of alkyl halides with di/trithiosulfonate reagents was developed through ligand regulation, with key features of broad substrate scope, good tolerance and excellent selectivity to disulfides over trisulfides.
Expedient deaminative phosphorylation and sulfonylation of benzylic tertiary amines enabled by difluorocarbene
Authors: Li Chengbo , Guo Yu , Su Jianke , Hu Xinyuan , Xuan Qingqing , Song Qiuling
Published: April 2024

A deaminative functionalization of aliphatic tertiary amines via the cleavage of C(sp3)–N bonds under transition metal-free conditions was disclosed, which goes through SN2 reaction with various phosphorus and sulfur nucleophiles.
Detection of SARS-CoV-2 N protein using AgNPs-modified aligned silicon nanowires BioSERS chip
Authors: Kouz Sadok , Raouafi Amal , Ouhibi Awatef , Lorrain Nathalie , Essafi Makram , Mejri Manel , Raouafi Noureddine , Moadhen Adel , Guendouz Mohammed
Published: April 2024

A sensitive and selective bioSERS chip was developed for the detection of nucleocapsid protein from SARS-CoV-2 virus, applied to sense the N protein in human blood serum.
Label-free detection of Aβ-42: a liquid crystal droplet approach for Alzheimer's disease diagnosis
Authors: Pradhan Saumya Ranjan , Pathinti Ramadevi Suguru , Kandimalla Ramesh , Chithari Krishnakanth , Veeramalla N. Madhava Rao , Vallamkondu Jayalakshmi
Published: April 2024

This study introduces a biosensor based on liquid crystals (LC) designed to detect the Aβ-42 biomarker, commonly associated with Alzheimer's disease.
Investigation into the impact of CeO2 morphology regulation on the oxidation process of dichloromethane
Authors: Wu Hao , Zhao Xiaoliang , Li Jian , Bharti Bandna , Tan Yuling , Long Hongyan , Zhao Jiuhu , Tian Gang , Wang Fan
Published: April 2024

Four distinct CeO2 catalysts featuring varied morphologies (nanorods, nanocubes, nanoparticles, and nano spindle-shaped) were synthesized through a hydrothermal process and subsequently employed in the oxidation of dichloromethane (DCM).
Structure–activity relationships of aniline-based squaraines for distinguishable staining and bright two-photon fluorescence bioimaging in plant cells
Authors: Zhang Nan , Chang Haixia , Miao Rong , Liu Taihong , Ding Liping , Fang Yu
Published: April 2024

Regulation effects of three aniline-based squaraines were investigated. The first expression of distinct tissue labelling and high-resolution 3D reconstruction in the onion and plant cells induced by the subtle structure changes was further evaluated.
The role of bio-inspired micro-/nano-structures in flexible tactile sensors
Authors: Fu Xiyao , Xu Hao , Fan Jie , Zou Yonggang , Han Wei , Wang Lili
Published: April 2024

This review focuses on the development of tactile sensors for parameters such as pressure, strain and integration of multiple functions. The application prospect of bionic sensors in e-skin, human–computer interaction, and bionic robots is envisioned.
Layered methylhydrazinium lead halide perovskites: new crystal polymorphs with a tailored band gap and photoluminescence colour via halide substitution
Authors: Drozdowski Dawid , Kabański Adam , Stefańska Dagmara , Ptak Maciej , Mączka Mirosław , Gągor Anna
Published: April 2024

The Ruddlesden–Popper lead halide HOIPs exhibit rich temperature-driven polymorphism, bandgap adjustability, and shift of photoluminescence colour via the halide-mixing approach. This is the first report of a 3D perovskite phase with MHy+.
Molecular regulation of NLRP3 inflammasome activation during parasitic infection
Authors: Alonaizan Rasha
Published: April 2024

Parasitic diseases are a serious global health concern, causing many common and severe infections, including Chagas disease, leishmaniasis, and schistosomiasis. The NLRP3 inflammasome belongs to the NLR (nucleotide-binding domain leucine-rich-repeat-containing proteins) family, which are cytosolic proteins playing key roles in the detection of pathogens. NLRP3 inflammasomes are activated in immune responses to Plasmodium, Leishmania, Toxoplasma gondii, Entamoeba histolytica, Trypanosoma cruzi, and other parasites. The role of NLRP3 is not fully understood, but it is a crucial component of the innate immune response to parasitic infections and its functions as a sensor triggering the inflammatory response to the invasive parasites. However, while this response can limit the parasites’ growth, it can also result in potentially catastrophic host pathology. This makes it essential to understand how NLRP3 interacts with parasites to initiate the inflammatory response. Plasmodium hemozoin, Leishmania glycoconjugate lipophosphoglycan (LPG) and E. histolytica Gal/GalNAc lectin can stimulate NLRP3 activation, while the dense granule protein 9 (GRA9) of T. gondii has been shown to suppress it. Several other parasitic products also have diverse effects on NLRP3 activation. Understanding the mechanism of NLRP3 interaction with these products will help to develop advanced therapeutic approaches to treat parasitic diseases. This review summarizes current knowledge of the NLRP3 inflammasome’s action on the immune response to parasitic infections and aims to determine the mechanisms through which parasitic molecules either activate or inhibit its action.
Förderliche und hinderliche Faktoren für die Durchführung der
medizinischen Rehabilitation bei Jugendlichen mit Skoliose vor und während der
SARS-CoV-2-Pandemie: Eine qualitative Studie
Authors: Baasner Anna-Lena , Banaschak Hannes , Fauser David , Bethge Matthias
Published: April 2024

Ziel der Studie Ziel der Studie war die Identifizierung von förderlichen
und hinderlichen Faktoren für die Durchführung der medizinischen Rehabilitation
während zukünftiger Pandemien aus den Erfahrungen der SARS-COV-2-Pandemie bei
Jugendlichen mit Skoliose und die daraus folgende Ableitung von
Empfehlungen.

Methodik Es wurde ein qualitatives Studiendesign mit leitfadengestützten
Expert*inneninterviews gewählt. Im Rahmen der Studie wurden zwölf Interviews mit
Jugendlichen und sieben Interviews mit Physiotherapeut*innen geführt. Die
Auswertung folgte der qualitativen Inhaltsanalyse nach Mayring mit induktiver
Kategorienbildung.

Ergebnisse Für 83,3% der Jugendlichen war die Therapiegestaltung unter
Berücksichtigung individueller Rehabilitand*innenbedürfnisse ein förderlicher
Faktor. Das gute Informationsmanagement (91,7%), ein weiterhin bestehendes
Freizeitangebot (66,7%) und ein hohes Sicherheitsempfinden (100%) waren
förderlich. 71,4% befürworteten die Therapie an der frischen Luft. Als
hinderlich wurden die erhöhte Anstrengung durch die Maskenpflicht (91,7%) oder
die verkürzten Therapiezeiten gesehen (66,7%). Der Aufbau sozialer Kontakte war
für 75% der Jugendlichen erschwert. Alle Therapeut*innen gaben an, dass die
Kommunikation zwischen Rehabilitand*innen und Therapeut*innen distanzierter
war.

Schlussfolgerung Für eine gelungene Rehabilitation unter
Pandemiebedingungen sollte darauf geachtet werden, dass abhängig von den
Witterungsbedingungen die Therapie außerhalb geschlossener Räume ermöglicht
wird, da im Freien kein Mund-Nasen-Schutz getragen werden muss. Zudem sollte die
physiotherapeutische Behandlung (Schroth-Therapie) aufgrund der Übungsintensität
ohne Mund-Nasen-Schutz durchgeführt werden. Der Aufbau sozialer Kontakte unter
den Jugendlichen sollte bestmöglich unterstützt werden. Das Freizeitangebot
sollte eine große Auswahl und ausreichend freie Plätze bieten. Die Fortführung
bestimmter hygienischer Maßnahme könnte dazu beitragen, dass Erkrankungen (z. B.
Magen-Darm-Infektionen), die während der Pandemie in den
Rehabilitationseinrichtungen kaum wahrgenommen wurden, zukünftig seltener
auftreten.
Prevalence and Incidence of Medication-Treated Diabetes and Pattern
of Glucose-Lowering Treatment During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Real-World Data from
the Electronic Greek Prescription Database
Authors: Siafarikas C. , Karamanakos G. , Makrilakis K. , Tsolakidis A. , Mathioudakis K. , Liatis S.
Published: April 2024

Objectives This study aimed to investigate the prevalence and incidence of
medication-treated diabetes mellitus and the evolving patterns of
glucose-lowering treatments the year before and during the first two years of
the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.

Methods Data from the Greek electronic prescription database were analyzed
for 2019, 2020, and 2021. The study population included individuals with active
social security numbers. Prevalence and incidence rates were calculated based on
the dispensing of glucose-lowering medications according to their unique
anatomical therapeutic chemical (ATC) code.

Results The study population comprised 10,289,140 individuals in 2019,
10,630,726 in 2020, and 11,246,136 in 2021. Diabetes prevalence rates were
8.06%, 6.89%, and 7.91%, and incidence rates were 16.8/1000, 8.6/1000, and
13.4/1000 individuals, respectively. Metformin was the most prescribed
medication, and newer classes, like sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors 2
(SGLT-2) inhibitors and glucagon like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists
exhibited increasing trends.

Conclusions The study identified a decrease in medication-prescribed
diabetes prevalence and incidence during the initial year of the COVID-19
pandemic, attributed to healthcare access restrictions. Subsequently, figures
returned close to baseline levels. Glucose-lowering medication trends reflected
adherence to local and international guidelines, with metformin as the
cornerstone, and increasing preference for newer classes such as GLP-1 receptor
agonists and SGLT-2 inhibitors.
Comparison of the Prognostic Accuracy of Full Outline of Unresponsiveness (FOUR) Score with Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) Score among Patients with Traumatic Brain Injury in a Tertiary Care Center
Authors: Chattopadhyay Indrani , Ramamoorthy Lakshmi , Kumari Manoranjitha , Harichandrakumar K.T. , Lalthanthuami H.T. , Subramaniyan Rani
Published: April 2024

Objectives The Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) is widely used and considered the gold standard in assessing the consciousness of patients with traumatic brain injury. However, some significant limitations, like the considerable variations in interobserver reliability and predictive validity, were the reason for developing the Full Outline of Unresponsiveness (FOUR) score. The current study aims to compare the prognostic accuracy of the FOUR score with the GCS score for in-hospital mortality and morbidity among patients with traumatic brain injury.

Materials and Methods A prospective cohort study was conducted, where 237 participants were selected by consecutive sampling from a tertiary care center. These patients were assessed with the help of GCS and FOUR scores within 6 hours of admission, and other clinical parameters were also noted. The level of consciousness was checked every day with the help of GCS and FOUR scores until their last hospitalization day. Glasgow Outcome Scale was used to assess their outcome on the last day of hospitalization. The GCS and FOUR scores were compared, and data were analyzed by descriptive and inferential statistics. The chi-square test, independent Student's t-test, and receiver operating characteristic analysis were used for inferential analysis.

Results The area under the curve (AUC) for the GCS score at the 6th hour for predicting mortality was 0.865 with a cutoff value of 5.5, and it yields a sensitivity of 87% and a specificity of 64%. The AUC for FOUR scores at the 6th hour for predicting the mortality was 0.893, with a cutoff value of 5.5, and it yields a sensitivity of 87% and a specificity of 73%.

Conclusion The current study shows that, as per the AUC of GCS and FOUR scores, their sensitivity was equal, but specificity was higher in the FOUR score. So, the FOUR score has higher accuracy than the GCS score in the prediction of mortality among traumatic brain injury patients.
Complementary and Alternative Medicine Use and Its Impact on the Delayed Presentation and Advanced Stage of Breast Cancer in Newly Diagnosed Indian Women
Authors: Pawar Amol , Diwan Ashok , Mahobia Vijay
Published: April 2024

Introduction Complementary and alternate medicine (CAM) use is highly prevalent among Indian cancer patients. However, such studies from the perspective of Indian patients with breast cancer (BC) are lacking.

Objective The aim of this study was to evaluate the incidence of CAM use and its impact on the presentation of patients with BC.

Materials and Methods This retrospective study was performed in the Department of Radiation Oncology over a period of 6 months (January to June 2019) and involved review of hospital-record of 229 newly-diagnosed patients with BC. Univariate and multivariate binary logistic regression analysis was done to evaluate the association of CAM use with the BC stage and various clinicodemographic variables.

Results Of 229 patients, 96 (41.92%) used CAM. The CAM use was significantly associated with rural residence (odds ratio [OR]: 4.092; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 2.27–7.35), illiteracy (OR: 6.417; 95% CI: 1.83–22.45), delayed presentation by 3 to 6 (OR: 12.964; 95% CI: 2.94–57.00) and more than 6 months (OR: 40.667; 95% CI: 9.26–178.46), and advanced stage at diagnosis (OR: 10.786; 95% CI: 5.15–22.58). Similarly, advanced stage at diagnosis was significantly associated with rural residence (OR: 2.78; 95% CI: 1.59–4.84), illiteracy (OR: 7.20; 95% CI: 1.86–22.79,), and delayed presentation by 3 to 6 (OR: 6.41; 95% CI: 2.81–14.61) and more than 6 months (OR: 17.55; 95% CI: 7.26–42.45).

Conclusions CAM use was highly prevalent among the patients with BC and significantly associated with advanced stage at diagnosis. Moreover, both CAM use and advanced stage at diagnosis were significantly associated with rural residence, low educational status, and delayed presentation.