bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effects of Organic Selenium and Nanoselenium on Drought Stress of Pak Choi (Brassica chinensis var. pekinensis. cv. ‘Suzhouqing’) and Its Transcriptomic Analysis
Authors: Wang Yanyan , Rao Chulin , Huang Liu , Wu Junda , Sun Peiheng , Zhan Jianyun , Wu Jianfu , Liu Shiyu , Zhou Changming , Hu Longsong , Li Na , Chen Jiao , He Xiaowu
Published: December 2023

In order to investigate physiological and molecular mechanisms underlying the impacts of organic selenium and nanoselenium on the drought stress of pak choi (Brassica chinensis var. pekinensis. cv. ‘Suzhouqing’), we sprayed 20 mL of 0, 5, 10, 20 mg L−1 concentrations of organic selenium (DCK, DO5, DO10, DO20) and nanoselenium (DN5, DN10, DN20). We measured photosynthetic pigment, antioxidant and nutritional quality, performed transcriptome sequencing of leaves using RNA-seq technology, obtained 297,176,114 clean sequences, and identified differential expressed genes. Organic selenium and nanoselenium increased the photosynthetic capacity by upregulating light-trapping pigment proteins, regulated reactive oxygen species homeostasis by activating the antioxidant system through the upregulation of glutathione S-transferase, and maintained water homeostasis through glutathione oxidase activity, thus enhancing weight. They contributed to the elevated total selenium content by increasing expression levels of ABC transporter, adenylate kinase, and cysteine desulphurase. Additionally, hub genes related to these metabolic pathways were identified using a weighted gene coexpression network analysis. The consistent results with the upregulated genes identified in the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway confirmed the accuracy and reliability of the transcriptome sequencing data. This study provides scientific reference to further in-depth research on the molecular effect of selenium on crops under drought stress conditions.
Epidemiology of Bovine Hemorrhagic Bowel Syndrome in Belgium and The Netherlands
Authors: De Jonge Bert , Pardon Bart , Dewulf Jeroen , Goossens Evy , het Lam Jasper , van Garderen Evert , Roels Stefan , Callens Jozefien , Petitjean Thierry , Chiers Koen
Published: December 2023

Hemorrhagic bowel syndrome (HBS) is a poorly understood, sporadic and often fatal disease in cattle. Although, HBS is considered an important disease in dairy cattle, epidemiological data is largely lacking. This study describes the epidemiology of HBS in Belgium and the Netherlands, based on necropsy records from 2009 to 2022, and reports characteristics from 27 cows and 35 dairy operations with HBS, gathered through a survey. The annual incidence of HBS has a significantly increasing trend both at cow and herd level, with incidence above 3.2% in necropsied mature dairy cattle in the most recent years. Estimated herd-level incidence in the Netherlands was double the estimated incidence in Belgium, which might be explained by higher herd size in the Netherlands. Occurrence of HBS was most prevalent in fall, being 40.1% higher than the average of the other seasons. In 35 Flemish (Belgian) surveyed dairy herds with HBS, manifestation of HBS was mostly as solitary cases, and if multiple cases occurred, the time interval was highly variable. In addition, the majority of cows with HBS (61.1%; 16/26) were in more than 100 days lactation. In conclusion, HBS is an important and possibly emerging disease in dairy cattle in Belgium and the Netherlands.
Estimation of (Co) Variance Components and Genetic Parameters for Pre- and Post-Weaning Growth Traits in Dağlıç Sheep
Authors: Koçak Serdar , Çinkaya Samet , Tekerli Mustafa , Demirtaş Mustafa , Bozkurt Zehra , Çelikeloğlu Koray , Hacan Özlem , Erdoğan Metin
Published: December 2023

The goal of this study was to estimate (co) variance components and genetic parameters for pre- and post-weaning growth traits in Dağlıç sheep, considering the direct additive genetic, maternal genetic, and maternal permanent environmental effects, with different statistical models. The information of 21,735 native Dağlıç lambs born between 2011 and 2021 was used to estimate (co) variance components by the Average Information-Restricted Maximum Likelihood algorithm. The results showed that the most suitable model was Model 3 for birth weight (BW), average daily gain (ADG), and weaning weight (WW). Model 4 was the most appropriate for weight at three (W3), weight at six (W6), and weight at twelve months of age (W12). The direct heritabilities for BW, W3, ADG, WW, W6, and W12 were 0.35 ± 0.02, 0.36 ± 0.03, 0.27 ± 0.02, 0.22 ± 0.02, 0.47 ± 0.05, and 0.47 ± 0.05, respectively. Genetic and phenotypic correlations amongst the traits were in the range of 0.103 ± 0.008 to 0.995 ± 0.002. These results can be used for the improvement of growth traits in the Dağlıç breed of sheep through selection.
Seasonal Variations in Production Performance, Health Status, and Gut Microbiota of Meat Rabbit Reared in Semi-Confined Conditions
Authors: Ye Dingcheng , Ding Xiaoning , Pang Shuo , Gan Yating , Li Zhechen , Gan Qianfu , Fang Shaoming
Published: December 2023

In this study, we investigated the variations in production performance, health status, and gut microbiota of meat rabbits raised in the semi-confined barn during summer and winter. Compared to summer, rabbits reared in winter possessed significantly higher slaughter weight and carcass weight. Rabbits fed in the summer were more vulnerable to different stressors, which led to increased protein levels of HSP90, IL-1α, IL-1β, IL-2, and concentrations of MDA, but declined GSH and SOD activities. Additionally, significant differences in gut microbial communities were observed. Compared to the winter, rabbits fed in the summer had significantly lower and higher alpha and beta diversity. Both Firmicutes and Verrucomicrobiota were the dominant phyla, and they accounted for greater proportions in the winter than in the summer. At lower microbial taxa levels, several seasonal differentially enriched microbes were identified, such as Akkermansia muciniphila, the Oscillospiraceae NK4A214 group, the Christensenellaceae R-7 group, Alistipes, and Muribaculaceae. Functional capacities linked to microbial proliferation, nutrient metabolism, and environmental adaptive responses exhibited significantly different abundances between summer and winter. Moreover, strong interactions among different indicators were presented. Based on our findings, we not only proposed several potential strategies to ameliorate the undesirable effects of seasonal changes on the productivity and health of meat rabbits but also underscored the directions for future mechanistic studies of adaptation physiology.
Effects of Immunocastration and Amino Acid Supplementation on Yearling Fallow Deer (Dama dama) Testes Development
Authors: Chitambala Thoniso , Ny Veit , Ceacero Francisco , Bartoň Luděk , Bureš Daniel , Kotrba Radim , Needham Tersia
Published: December 2023

Forty-four fallow deer bucks (10 months old; 22.9 ± 2.4 kg) were utilized to investigate the effects of immunocastration and amino acid supplementation on testes development. Immunocastrated bucks were administered Improvac® at weeks 1, 8, and 20 of this study (control group: intact males). Starting at week 8, half of each sex received rumen-protected lysine and methionine (3:1) supplementation. At slaughter (week 37/39), body size, internal fat deposits, antler size parameters, testes weight, testes surface color, cauda epididymal sperm viability and morphology, and seminiferous tubule circumference and epithelium thickness were determined. Animals with larger body sizes, greater forequarter development, and antler growth also had greater testes development. Whilst the result of immunocastration on testes size is unexpected, testes tissue showed impaired development (atrophied seminiferous tubules), decreased sperm viability, and normal morphology. Testes tissue from immunocastrated deer was less red, possibly indicating reduced blood supply. Conversely, amino acid supplementation increased testes’ redness and sperm viability, and intact males fed amino acids showed the greatest seminiferous tubule development. Thus, immunocastration may be a welfare-friendly alternative for venison production. Whilst the results support findings from the literature that testes size is not a reliable indicator of immunocastration success, this warrants further investigation in deer over different physiological development stages.
Definition of the Neurotoxicity-Associated Metabolic Signature Triggered by Berberine and Other Respiratory Chain Inhibitors
Authors: Suciu Ilinca , Delp Johannes , Gutbier Simon , Suess Julian , Henschke Lars , Celardo Ivana , Mayer Thomas U. , Amelio Ivano , Leist Marcel
Published: December 2023

To characterize the hits from a phenotypic neurotoxicity screen, we obtained transcriptomics data for valinomycin, diethylstilbestrol, colchicine, rotenone, 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium (MPP), carbaryl and berberine (Ber). For all compounds, the concentration triggering neurite degeneration correlated with the onset of gene expression changes. The mechanistically diverse toxicants caused similar patterns of gene regulation: the responses were dominated by cell de-differentiation and a triggering of canonical stress response pathways driven by ATF4 and NRF2. To obtain more detailed and specific information on the modes-of-action, the effects on energy metabolism (respiration and glycolysis) were measured. Ber, rotenone and MPP inhibited the mitochondrial respiratory chain and they shared complex I as the target. This group of toxicants was further evaluated by metabolomics under experimental conditions that did not deplete ATP. Ber (204 changed metabolites) showed similar effects as MPP and rotenone. The overall metabolic situation was characterized by oxidative stress, an over-abundance of NADH (>1000% increase) and a re-routing of metabolism in order to dispose of the nitrogen resulting from increased amino acid turnover. This unique overall pattern led to the accumulation of metabolites known as biomarkers of neurodegeneration (saccharopine, aminoadipate and branched-chain ketoacids). These findings suggest that neurotoxicity of mitochondrial inhibitors may result from an ensemble of metabolic changes rather than from a simple ATP depletion. The combi-omics approach used here provided richer and more specific MoA data than the more common transcriptomics analysis alone. As Ber, a human drug and food supplement, mimicked closely the mode-of-action of known neurotoxicants, its potential hazard requires further investigation.
WaQuPs: A ROS-Integrated Ensemble Learning Model for Precise Water Quality Prediction
Authors: Firdiani Firna , Mandala Satria , Adiwijaya  , Abdullah Abdul Hanan
Published: December 2023

Water presents challenges in swiftly and accurately assessing its quality due to its intricate composition, diverse sources, and the emergence of new pollutants. Current research tends to oversimplify water quality, categorizing it as potable or not, despite its complexity. To address this, we developed a water quality prediction system (WaQuPs), a sophisticated solution tackling the intricacies of water quality assessment. WaQuPs employs advanced machine learning, including an ensemble learning model, categorizing water quality into nuanced levels: potable, lightly polluted, moderately polluted, and heavily polluted. To ensure rapid and precise dissemination of information, WaQuPs integrates an Internet of Things (IoT)-based communication protocol for the efficient delivery of detected water quality results. In its development, we utilized advanced techniques, such as random oversampling (ROS) for dataset balance. We used a correlation coefficient to select relevant features for the ensemble learning algorithm based on the Random Forest algorithm. Further enhancements were made through hyperparameter tuning to improve the prediction accuracy. WaQuPs exhibited impressive metrics, achieving an accuracy of 83%, precision of 82%, recall of 83%, and an F1-score of 82%. Comparative analysis revealed that WaQuPs with the Random Forest model outperformed both the XGBoost and CatBoost models, confirming its superiority in predicting water quality.
The Effects of Different Drivers’ Steering Inputs on the Response of Heavy Ground Vehicles to Crosswind Disturbances
Authors: Tunay Tural , Drugge Lars , O’Reilly Ciarán J.
Published: December 2023

The general approach in the previous studies was to ignore the driver’s steering contribution to a vehicle while investigating the interactions between crosswind and vehicle. Therefore, the goal of this study is to find out how steering inputs by drivers affect a heavy-ground vehicle’s dynamic reaction to crosswinds. In the investigation, a two-way interaction between vehicle dynamics and aerodynamic simulations was employed. The steering inputs of drivers were modelled using a driver model taken from the previous literature that is able to reproduce the steering responses of a human driver. The study’s findings demonstrated that the steering inputs made by drivers significantly impacted how the vehicle responded to crosswinds. For instance, the greatest lateral displacement of the least skilled driver (Driver 1) was around 1.53 times the greatest lateral displacement of the most skilled driver (Driver 3) at the delay time of tδ,delay = 0.5 s in the steering input. Additionally, the maximum lateral displacement results of Driver 1 and Driver 3 at tδ,delay = 1.0 s became 1.39 and 1.56 times greater than their maximum lateral displacement results at tδ,delay = 0.5 s. Similarly, the total steering inputs of Driver 1 and Driver 3 at tδ,delay = 1.0 s were 1.4 and 2.2 times greater than their total steering inputs at tδ,delay = 0.5 s, respectively. In general, the results of a driver who is more skilled than Driver 1 (Driver 2) fall in between the respective results of Driver 1 and Driver 3. On the other hand, each driver’s total steering inputs at tδ,delay = 0.5 s were roughly the same as their total steering inputs at tδ,delay = 0 s. In all delay scenarios for the start of the driver’s steering inputs, the drivers’ steering inputs amplified the yaw moment applied to the vehicle. Meanwhile, they diminished the lateral force and roll moment.
RTMN 2.0—An Extension of Robot Task Modeling and Notation (RTMN) Focused on Human–Robot Collaboration
Authors: Zhang Sprenger Congyu , Corrales Ramón Juan Antonio , Baier Norman Urs
Published: December 2023

This paper describes RTMN 2.0, an extension of the modeling language RTMN. RTMN combines process modeling and robot execution. Intuitive robot programming allows those without programming expertise to plan and control robots through easily understandable predefined modeling notations. These notations achieve no-code programming and serve as templates for users to create their processes via drag-and-drop functions with graphical representations. The design of the graphical user interface is based on a user survey and gaps identified in the literature We validate our survey through the most influential technology acceptance models, with two major factors: the perceived ease of use and perceived usefulness. While RTMN focuses on the ease of use and flexibility of robot programming by providing an intuitive modeling language, RTMN 2.0 concentrates on human–robot collaboration (HRC), which represents the current trend of the industry shift from “mass-production” to “mass-customization”. The biggest contribution that RTMN 2.0 makes is the creation of synergy between HRC modes (based on ISO standards) and HRC task types in the literature. They are modeled as five different HRC task notations: Coexistence Fence, Sequential Cooperation SMS, Teaching HG, Parallel Cooperation SSM, and Collaboration PFL. Both collaboration and safety criteria are defined for each notation. While traditional isolated robot systems in “mass-production” environments provide high payload capabilities and repeatability, they suffer from limited flexibility and dexterity in order to be adapted to the variability of customized products. Therefore, human–robot collaboration is a suitable arrangement to leverage the unique capabilities of both humans and robots for increased efficiency and quality in the new “mass-customization” industrial environments. HRC has made a great impact on the robotic industry: it leads to increased efficiency, reduced costs, and improved productivity, which can be adopted to make up for the skill gap of a shortage of workers in the manufacturing industry. The extension of RTMN 2.0 includes the following notations: HRC tasks, requirements, Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), condition checks and decision making, join/split, and data association. With these additional elements, RTMN 2.0 meets the full range of criteria for agile manufacturing—light-out manufacturing is a manufacturing philosophy that does not rely on human labor.
Experimental Study of the Dynamic Characteristics of PVA-Amended Expansive Soils
Authors: Zhuang Xinshan , Zhang Bowen , Li Xiaofei , Yang Duan , Wen Wu
Published: December 2023

Expansive soils are distributed across a wide area in China, and land transport and surface construction will inevitably involve these soils. To mitigate the deficiencies of single-method expansive soil modification, it is highly important to adopt the use of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) to improve expansive soils and enhance the strength and toughness of modified soils. In addition, solidification technology can be utilized for the resource utilization of expansive soils. In this study, triaxial testing is employed to evaluate the mechanical properties of solidified soil. When the confining pressure is the same and with increasing PVA content, soil particles and PVA combine to form a cemented substance, which fills the internal pores of the soil samples, enhances the cohesion between soil particles, and improves the bearing capacity of the soil. The stress–strain curve for the modified soil first increases and then decreases. The shear strength peaks at a PVA content of 3%. Based on the improved soil with a 3% PVA content, GDS dynamic triaxial tests were carried out to investigate the effects of different confining pressures and frequencies on the dynamic stress–strain curves, dynamic modulus of elasticity, and variation rule for the damping ratio of the improved soil. The results show that the dynamic stress–strain curve for the improved soil increases with increasing confining pressure and frequency and that the dynamic stress–strain backbone curves exhibit significant nonlinearities at different frequencies and circumferential pressures. The dynamic elastic modulus increases with increasing confining pressure and frequency and decreases gradually with increasing dynamic strain. The initial dynamic modulus of elasticity increases with increasing envelope pressure and frequency but is less affected by frequency, and the damping ratio decreases with increasing confining pressure and frequency. Soil treatment can improve the pore distribution, inhibit the extension of soil cracks, and enhance soil compactness.
Prosodic Feature Analysis for Automatic Speech Assessment and Individual Report Generation in People with Down Syndrome
Authors: Corrales-Astorgano Mario , González-Ferreras César , Escudero-Mancebo David , Cardeñoso-Payo Valentín
Published: December 2023

Evaluating prosodic quality poses unique challenges due to the intricate nature of prosody, which encompasses multiple form–function profiles. These challenges are more pronounced when analyzing the voices of individuals with Down syndrome (DS) due to increased variability. This paper introduces a procedure for selecting informative prosodic features based on both the disparity between human-rated DS productions and their divergence from the productions of typical users, utilizing a corpus constructed through a video game. Individual reports of five speakers with DS are created by comparing the selected features of each user with recordings of individuals without intellectual disabilities. The acquired features primarily relate to the temporal domain, reducing dependence on pitch detection algorithms, which encounter difficulties when dealing with pathological voices compared to typical ones. These individual reports can be instrumental in identifying specific issues for each speaker, assisting therapists in defining tailored training sessions based on the speaker’s profile.
Functionalized Magnesium Phosphate Cement Induces In Situ Vascularized Bone Regeneration via Surface Lyophilization of Chondroitin Sulfate
Authors: Gong Changtian , Yang Jian , Zhang Xiping , Wei Zhun , Wang Xingyu , Huang Xinghan , Yu Ling , Guo Weichun
Published: December 2023

Bone defect repair poses significant challenges in orthopedics, thereby increasing the demand for bone substitutes. Magnesium phosphate cements (MPCs) are widely used for bone defect repair because of their excellent mechanical properties and biodegradability. However, high crystallinity and uncontrolled magnesium ion (Mg2+) release limit the surface bioactivity of MPCs in bone regeneration. Here, we fabricate chondroitin sulfate (CS) as a surface coating via the lyophilization method, namely CMPC. We find that the CS coating is uniformly distributed and improves the mechanical properties of MPC through anionic electrostatic adsorption, while mediating degradation-related controlled ion release of Mg2+. Using a combination of in vitro and in vivo analyses, we show that the CS coating maintained cytocompatibility while increasing the cell adhesion area of MC3T3-E1s. Furthermore, we display accelerated osteogenesis and angiogenesis of CMPC, which are related to appropriate ion concentration of Mg2+. Our findings reveal that the preparation of a lyophilized CS coating is an effective method to promote surface bioactivity and mediate Mg2+ concentration dependent osteogenesis and angiogenesis, which have great potential in bone regeneration.
Hypoxia Dysregulates the Transcription of Myoendothelial Junction Proteins Involved with Nitric Oxide Production in Brain Endothelial Cells
Authors: Thomas Gregory , Banton Kaysie L. , Garrett Raymond , Palacio Carlos H. , Acuna David , Madayag Robert , Bar-Or David
Published: December 2023

Myoendothelial junctions (MEJs) are structures that allow chemical signals to be transmitted between endothelial cells (ECs) and vascular smooth muscle cells, which control vascular tone. MEJs contain hemoglobin alpha (Hbα) and endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) complexes that appear to control the production and scavenging of nitric oxide (NO) along with the activity of cytochrome b5 reductase 3 (CYB5R3). The aim of this study was to examine how hypoxia affected the regulation of proteins involved in the production of NO in brain ECs. In brief, human brain microvascular endothelial cells (HBMEC) were exposed to cobalt chloride (CoCl2), a hypoxia mimetic, and a transcriptional analysis was performed using primers for eNOS, CYB5R3, and Hbα2 with ΔΔCt relative gene expression normalized to GAPDH. NO production was also measured after treatment using 4,5-diaminofluorescein diacetate (DAF-DA), a fluorescent NO indicator. When HBMEC were exposed to CoCl2 for 48 h, eNOS and CYB5R3 messenger RNA significantly decreased (up to −17.8 ± 4.30-fold and −10.4 ± 2.8, respectively) while Hbα2 increased to detectable levels. Furthermore, CoCl2 treatment caused a redistribution of peripheral membrane-generated NO production to a perinuclear region. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first time this axis has been studied in brain ECs and these findings imply that hypoxia may cause dysregulation of proteins that regulate NO production in brain MEJs.
A Silicon-Based Field-Effect Biosensor for Drug-Induced Cardiac Extracellular Calcium Ion Change Detection
Authors: Qiu Yong , Ma Chiyu , Jiang Nan , Jiang Deming , Yu Zhengyin , Liu Xin , Zhu Yuxuan , Yu Weijie , Li Fengheng , Wan Hao , Wang Ping
Published: December 2023

Calcium ions participate in the regulation of almost all biological functions of the body, especially in cardiac excitation–contraction coupling, acting as vital signaling through ion channels. Various cardiovascular drugs exert their effects via affecting the ion channels on the cell membrane. The current strategies for calcium ion monitoring are mainly based on fluorescent probes, which are commonly used for intracellular calcium ion detection (calcium imaging) and cannot achieve long-term monitoring. In this work, an all-solid-state silicone–rubber ion-sensitive membrane was fabricated on light-addressable potentiometric sensors to establish a program-controlled field-effect-based ion-sensitive light-addressable potentiometric sensor (LAPS) platform for extracellular calcium ion detection. L-type calcium channels blocker verapamil and calcium channel agonist BayK8644 were chosen to explore the effect of ion channel drugs on extracellular calcium ion concentration in HL-1 cell lines. Simultaneously, microelectrode array (MEA) chips were employed to probe the HL-1 extracellular field potential (EFP) signals. The Ca2+ concentration and EFP parameters were studied to comprehensively evaluate the efficacy of cardiovascular drugs. This platform provides more dimensional information on cardiovascular drug efficacy that can be utilized for accurate drug screening.
Location Has Prognostic Impact on the Outcome of Colorectal Mucinous Adenocarcinomas
Authors: Benesch Matthew G. K. , Nelson Erek D. , O’Brien Shalana B. L.
Published: December 2023

Mucinous (colloid) adenocarcinomas (MAs) are a rare histological subtype of tumors defined by extracellular mucin comprising more than 50% of the tumor. These tumors are on a continuum of mucin-producing malignancies with signet ring cell adenocarcinomas (SRCCs), which instead produce intracellular mucin. Mucin-containing cancers occur primarily in the stomach and colon, where for SRCCs, outcomes are relatively worse in the proximal stomach and the rectum. It is not known if MAs have similar outcomes. In this study, we use the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database to examine the effects of tumor localization, age, sex, and stage on colorectal and gastric cancer outcomes for MAs. For right colon cancers, MAs are more common, particularly in females, and have slightly better or equivalent outcomes across all stages and ages compared to conventional adenocarcinomas, but outcomes are progressively worse compared to conventional adenocarcinomas for left colon and rectal cancers. Unlike SRCCs, MAs have similar outcomes to conventional adenocarcinomas in all stomach locations. Overall, these results suggest that MAs have an intrinsically different tumor biology in the left colon and rectum that promotes pathogenesis. Decoding this phenomenon could lead to more effectively tailored patient treatment regimens.
Regular Alpha-Fetoprotein Tests Boost Curative Treatment and Survival for Hepatocellular Carcinoma Patients in an Endemic Area
Authors: Oh Joo Hyun , Lee Jonghyun , Yoon Eileen L. , Jeong Soung Won , Kim Soon Sun , Chon Young Eun , Ahn Sang Bong , Jun Dae Won
Published: December 2023

Guidelines vary on alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) testing for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) screening. This study aims to reassess AFP’s role in HCC surveillance, utilizing a comprehensive, recent, nationwide cohort. Utilizing the National Health Claims Database from the Korean National Health Insurance Service, this research included data from 185,316 HCC patients registered between 2008 and 2018. Specifically, 81,520 patients diagnosed with HCC from 2008 to 2014 were analyzed. The study focused primarily on mortality and, secondarily, on the status of curative treatments. Multivariate analysis revealed that frequent AFP testing significantly impacts overall survival in HCC patients. Specifically, each additional AFP test correlated with a 6% relative improvement in survival (hazard ratio = 0.94, 95% CI: 0.940–0.947, p < 0.001). Patients who underwent AFP testing three or more times within two years prior to HCC diagnosis showed improved survival rates, with 55.6% receiving liver transplantation or hepatectomy. This trend was particularly pronounced in hepatitis B patients undergoing antiviral treatment. The findings highlight the potential of regular AFP testing to enhance survival in HCC patients, especially those with hepatitis B. Integrating frequent AFP testing with ultrasonography could increase the likelihood of early detection and access to curative treatments.
Relapsed Ovarian Cancer Patients with Ascites and/or Pleural Effusion Still Benefit from Treatment: A Real-Life Study
Authors: Rebordão-Pires Mariana , Estrada Marta F. , Gomes António , Silva Filipa , Baptista Carlota , Ramos Maria João , Fortuna Ana , Simões Pedro , Sousa Gabriela , Marreiros Ana , Fior Rita
Published: December 2023

(1) Background: Relapsed HGSOC with ascites and/or pleural effusion is a poor-prognostic population and poorly represented in clinical studies. We questioned if these patients are worth treating. In other words, if these patients received the most effective treatment, would it change the course of this disease? To our knowledge this is the first real-life study to evaluate this question in this low-survival population. (2) Methods: To tackle this question we performed a retrospective, multi-centric, real-life study, that reviewed relapsed HGSOC patients with ascites and/or pleural effusion. Our rationale was to compare the OS of two groups of patients: responders, i.e., patients who had an imagological response to treatment (complete/partial response/stable disease, RECIST criteria) versus non-responders (no response/progression upon treatment). We evaluated the predictive value of clinical variables that are available in a real-life setting (e.g., staging, chemotherapy, surgery, platinum-sensitivity). Multivariate logistic regression and survival analysis was conducted. A two-step cluster analysis SPSS tool was used for subgroup analysis. Platinum sensitivity/resistance was also analyzed, as well as multivariate and cluster analysis. (3) Results: We included 57 patients, 41.4% first line responders and 59.6% non-responders. The median OS of responders was 23 months versus 8 months in non-responders (p < 0.001). This difference was verified in platinum-sensitive (mOS 28 months vs. 8 months, p < 0.001) and platinum-resistant populations (mOS 16 months vs. 7 months, p < 0.001). Thirty-one patients reached the second line, of which only 10.3% responded to treatment. Three patients out of thirty-one who did not respond in the first line of relapse, responded in the second line. In the second line, the mOS for the responders’ group vs. non-responders was 31 months versus 13 months (p = 0.02). The two step cluster analysis tool found two different subgroups with different prognoses based on overall response rate, according to consolidation chemotherapy, neoadjuvant chemotherapy, FIGO staging and surgical treatment. Cluster analysis showed that even patients with standard clinical and treatment variables associated with poor prognosis might achieve treatment response (the opposite being also true). (4) Conclusions: Our data clearly show that relapsed HGSOC patients benefit from treatment. If given an effective treatment upfront, this can lead to a ~3 times increase in mOS for these patients. Moreover, this was irrespective of patient disease and treatment characteristics. Our results highlight the urgent need for a sensitivity test to tailor treatments and improve efficacy rates in a personalized manner.
Clinical Biofluid Assays for Prostate Cancer
Authors: Borbiev Talaibek , Kohaar Indu , Petrovics Gyorgy
Published: December 2023

This mini review summarizes the currently available clinical biofluid assays for PCa. The second most prevalent cancer worldwide is PCa. PCa is a heterogeneous disease, with a large percentage of prostate tumors being indolent, and with a relatively slow metastatic potential. However, due to the high case numbers, the absolute number of PCa-related deaths is still high. In fact, it causes the second highest number of cancer deaths in American men. As a first step for the diagnosis of PCa, the PSA test has been widely used. However, it has low specificity, which results in a high number of false positives leading to overdiagnosis and overtreatment. Newer derivatives of the original PSA test, including the Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved 4K (four kallikreins) and the PHI (Prostate Health Index) blood tests, have higher specificities. Tissue-based PCa tests are problematic as biopsies are invasive and have limited accuracy due to prostate tumor heterogeneity. Liquid biopsies offer a minimally or non-invasive choice for the patients, while providing a more representative reflection of the spatial heterogeneity in the prostate. In addition to the abovementioned blood-based tests, urine is a promising source of PCa biomarkers, offering a supplementary avenue for early detection and improved tumor classification. Four urine-based PCa tests are either FDA- or CLIA-approved: PCA3 (PROGENSA), ExoDX Prostate Intelliscore, MiPS, and SelectMDx. We will discuss these urine-based, as well as the blood-based, clinical PCa tests in more detail. We also briefly discuss a few promising biofluid marker candidates (DNA methylation, micro-RNAs) which are not in clinical application. As no single assay is perfect, we envision that a combination of biomarkers, together with imaging, will become the preferred practice.
2-Propanol Activation on the Low Index Co3O4 Surfaces: A Comparative Study Using Molecular Dynamics Simulations
Authors: Omranpoor Amir Hossein , Kenmoe Stephane
Published: December 2023

We used ab initio molecular dynamics simulations to compare the activation of 2-propanol on the low index Co3O4 (111), (110) and (001) surfaces in dry conditions. The thermal and surface assisted decomposition of a film of 2-propanol to 2-propoxide on the B-termination of each surface was monitored and analyzed. The investigations suggest an activity order of Co3O4 (111) > (110) > (001). On all surfaces, the Co3+ serve as adsorption sites. On the B-terminated (111) surface, full dissociation of all 2-propanol molecules at the interface is observed, accompanied by a Mars-van Krevelen-type mechanism upon pre-hydroxylation of the surface. The active regions show Co3+–O2-propoxide–Co2+ bridges where the coordinatively unsaturated Co2+ ions also participate in the adsorption and decomposition of 2-propanol. On the (110) surface, 2-propanol dissociation is driven by temperature, which activates the two-fold coordinatively unsaturated surface oxygens. The (001) surface on which almost no dissociation occurs is the least active. No formation of acetone is observed in the simulations conditions on all surfaces.
Advancements in Cell-Based Therapies for HIV Cure
Authors: Matsui Yusuke , Miura Yasuo
Published: December 2023

The treatment of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV-1) has evolved since the establishment of combination antiretroviral therapy (ART) in the 1990s, providing HIV-infected individuals with approaches that suppress viral replication, prevent acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) throughout their lifetime with continuous therapy, and halt HIV transmission. However, despite the success of these regimens, the global HIV epidemic persists, prompting a comprehensive exploration of potential strategies for an HIV cure. Here, we offer a consolidated overview of cell-based therapies for HIV-1, focusing on CAR-T cell approaches, gene editing, and immune modulation. Persistent challenges, including CAR-T cell susceptibility to HIV infection, stability, and viral reservoir control, underscore the need for continued research. This review synthesizes current knowledge, highlighting the potential of cellular therapies to address persistent challenges in the pursuit of an HIV cure.
Uncovering the Localization and Function of a Novel Read-Through Transcript ‘TOMM40-APOE’
Authors: Chang Shichen , Torii Satoru , Inamo Jun , Ishikawa Kinya , Kochi Yuta , Shimizu Shigeomi
Published: December 2023

Recent advancements in genome analysis technology have revealed the presence of read-through transcripts in which transcription continues by skipping the polyA signal. We here identified and characterized a new read-through transcript, TOMM40-APOE. With cDNA amplification from THP-1 cells, the TOMM40-APOE3 product was successfully generated. We also generated TOMM40-APOE4, another isoform, by introducing point mutations. Notably, while APOE3 and APOE4 exhibited extracellular secretion, both TOMM40-APOE3 and TOMM40-APOE4 were localized exclusively to the mitochondria. But functionally, they did not affect mitochondrial membrane potential. Cell death induction studies illustrated increased cell death with TOMM40-APOE3 and TOMM40-APOE4, and we did not find any difference in cellular function between the two isoforms. These findings indicated that the new mitochondrial protein TOMM40-APOE has cell toxic ability.
Anti-Staphylococcal, Anti-Candida, and Free-Radical Scavenging Potential of Soil Fungal Metabolites: A Study Supported by Phenolic Characterization and Molecular Docking Analysis
Authors: Al Mousa Amal A. , Abouelela Mohamed E. , Al Ghamidi Nadaa S. , Abo-Dahab Youssef , Mohamed Hassan , Abo-Dahab Nageh F. , Hassane Abdallah M. A.
Published: December 2023

Staphylococcus and Candida are recognized as causative agents in numerous diseases, and the rise of multidrug-resistant strains emphasizes the need to explore natural sources, such as fungi, for effective antimicrobial agents. This study aims to assess the in vitro anti-staphylococcal and anti-candidal potential of ethyl acetate extracts from various soil-derived fungal isolates. The investigation includes isolating and identifying fungal strains as well as determining their antioxidative activities, characterizing their phenolic substances through HPLC analysis, and conducting in silico molecular docking assessments of the phenolics’ binding affinities to the target proteins, Staphylococcus aureus tyrosyl-tRNA synthetase and Candida albicans secreted aspartic protease 2. Out of nine fungal species tested, two highly potent isolates were identified through ITS ribosomal gene sequencing: Aspergillus terreus AUMC 15447 and A. nidulans AUMC 15444. Results indicated that A. terreus AUMC 15447 and A. nidulans AUMC 15444 extracts effectively inhibited S. aureus (concentration range: 25–0.39 mg/mL), with the A. nidulans AUMC 15444 extract demonstrating significant suppression of Candida spp. (concentration range: 3.125–0.39 mg/mL). The A. terreus AUMC 15447 extract exhibited an IC50 of 0.47 mg/mL toward DPPH radical-scavenging activity. HPLC analysis of the fungal extracts, employing 18 standards, revealed varying degrees of detected phenolics in terms of their presence and quantities. Docking investigations highlighted rutin as a potent inhibitor, showing high affinity (−16.43 kcal/mol and −12.35 kcal/mol) for S. aureus tyrosyl-tRNA synthetase and C. albicans secreted aspartic protease 2, respectively. The findings suggest that fungal metabolites, particularly phenolics, hold significant promise for the development of safe medications to combat pathogenic infections.
Factors Contributing to Surgical Site Infections: A Comprehensive Systematic Review of Etiology and Risk Factors
Authors: Bucataru Alexandra , Balasoiu Maria , Ghenea Alice Elena , Zlatian Ovidiu Mircea , Vulcanescu Dan Dumitru , Horhat Florin George , Bagiu Iulia Cristina , Sorop Virgiliu Bogdan , Sorop Madalina Ioana , Oprisoni Andrada , Boeriu Estera , Mogoanta Stelian Stefanita
Published: December 2023

Surgical site infections persist as a substantial concern within the realm of hospital-acquired infections. This enduring issue is further compounded by the mounting challenge of antibiotic resistance, a surge in surgical interventions, and the presence of comorbidities among patients. Thus, a comprehensive exploration of all discernible risk factors, as well as proactive preventive and prophylactic strategies, becomes imperative. Moreover, the prevalence of multidrug-resistant microorganisms has reached alarming proportions. Consequently, there is an acute need to investigate and scrutinize all potential therapeutic interventions to counter this burgeoning threat. Consequently, the primary objective of this review is to meticulously assess the origins and risk elements intertwined with surgical site infections across a diverse spectrum of surgical procedures. As the medical landscape continues to evolve, this critical analysis seeks to provide a nuanced understanding of the multi-faceted factors contributing to surgical site infections, with the overarching aim of facilitating more effective management and mitigation strategies. By exploring these dimensions comprehensively, we endeavor to enhance patient safety and the quality of surgical care in this era of evolving healthcare challenges.
Recent Progress on Anti-Slip and Highly Wear-Resistant Elastic Coatings: An Overview
Authors: Chen Wenrui , Zhang Jingying , Qi Xinyu , Tian Pan , Feng Zenghui , Qin Weihua , Wu Dongheng , Liu Lanxuan , Wang Yang
Published: December 2023

There has been great interest in the research and development of different anti-skid and highly wear-resistant materials that can effectively reduce energy losses and improve efficiency in numerous applications. This article reviews the design, performance, and application of anti-skid and highly wear-resistant coating materials at home and abroad. First, it introduces the structure and mechanism of anti-skid and wear-resistant coatings. The preparation of different anti-slip coatings is mainly accomplished by changing the base material and anti-slip granules as well as the coating method, and the anti-slip performance is determined with the coefficient of friction test. The application mostly encompasses airplane and ocean decks, as well as pedestrian spaces. This review introduces the development status and research progress of metal-based anti-skid coatings and polymer-based anti-skid coatings, which are two groups of pavement. Finally, the challenges and future development directions of this key field are summarized and considered.
Model and Algorithm for a Rotor-Bearing System Considering Journal Misalignment
Authors: Zhao Zhiming , Ma Junjie , Liu Qi , Yang Peiji
Published: December 2023

Disturbances caused as a result of the misalignment and axial motion of the journal affect the characteristics of the rotor-bearing system. This paper aims to propose an algorithm for the theoretical analysis of a rotor-bearing system that considers these disturbances. A theoretical model for a journal bearing considering disturbances is given. The dynamic equations for a rigid rotor-bearing system are introduced. A detailed algorithm that can simultaneously solve the rotor-dynamic equations and the Reynolds equation is proposed. The static performance, such as the bearing attitude angle and the fluid film pressure, are given, and dynamic characteristics such as the nonlinear dynamic responses and the axial orbits of a rigid rotor-bearing system are presented. The hydrodynamic effect of the bearing is enhanced by the axial disturbance. Disturbances in the circumferential and radial directions lead to variations in the fluid film thickness distribution in the axial direction and the offset of the fluid film pressure distribution in the axial direction. When these disturbances work together, the variation trend is more obvious and affects the capacity and dynamic characteristics of the bearing. When the L/D value of the bearing increases, the clearance between the journal and the bearing decreases rapidly. When the value reaches a certain limit, contact and collision might occur. The theoretical analysis method and the algorithm proposed for a rotor-bearing system considering several disturbances could enhance the design level for a bearing and rotor-bearing system.
Predicting Neoadjuvant Treatment Response in Triple-Negative Breast Cancer Using Machine Learning
Authors: Bhattarai Shristi , Saini Geetanjali , Li Hongxiao , Seth Gaurav , Fisher Timothy B. , Janssen Emiel A. M. , Kiraz Umay , Kong Jun , Aneja Ritu
Published: December 2023

Background: Neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) is the standard treatment for early-stage triple negative breast cancer (TNBC). The primary endpoint of NAC is a pathological complete response (pCR). NAC results in pCR in only 30–40% of TNBC patients. Tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs), Ki67 and phosphohistone H3 (pH3) are a few known biomarkers to predict NAC response. Currently, systematic evaluation of the combined value of these biomarkers in predicting NAC response is lacking. In this study, the predictive value of markers derived from H&E and IHC stained biopsy tissue was comprehensively evaluated using a supervised machine learning (ML)-based approach. Identifying predictive biomarkers could help guide therapeutic decisions by enabling precise stratification of TNBC patients into responders and partial or non-responders. Methods: Serial sections from core needle biopsies (n = 76) were stained with H&E and immunohistochemically for the Ki67 and pH3 markers, followed by whole-slide image (WSI) generation. The serial section stains in H&E stain, Ki67 and pH3 markers formed WSI triplets for each patient. The resulting WSI triplets were co-registered with H&E WSIs serving as the reference. Separate mask region-based CNN (MRCNN) models were trained with annotated H&E, Ki67 and pH3 images for detecting tumor cells, stromal and intratumoral TILs (sTILs and tTILs), Ki67+, and pH3+ cells. Top image patches with a high density of cells of interest were identified as hotspots. Best classifiers for NAC response prediction were identified by training multiple ML models and evaluating their performance by accuracy, area under curve, and confusion matrix analyses. Results: Highest prediction accuracy was achieved when hotspot regions were identified by tTIL counts and each hotspot was represented by measures of tTILs, sTILs, tumor cells, Ki67+, and pH3+ features. Regardless of the hotspot selection metric, a complementary use of multiple histological features (tTILs, sTILs) and molecular biomarkers (Ki67 and pH3) resulted in top ranked performance at the patient level. Conclusions: Overall, our results emphasize that prediction models for NAC response should be based on biomarkers in combination rather than in isolation. Our study provides compelling evidence to support the use of ML-based models to predict NAC response in patients with TNBC.