bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Establishment of a prediction model of ferroptosis-related genes for overall survival risk in hepatocellular carcinoma and bioinformatic analysis of the novel gene FLT3
Authors: Cui Dapeng , Li Ming , Fu Runjia , Sun Zhongshuai , Li Zhao , Guo Wei , Fei Jiandong
Published: April 2023

Objective: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a malignant tumor caused by malignant transformation of cells in the liver. It is the most common type of chronic liver cancer in adults. Ferroptosis has been found to play a key role in many tumor suppressions, but its prognostic value and key factors in hepatocellular carcinoma need to be further explored.Methods: We downloaded the RNAseq data and corresponding clinical information of HCC patients from TCGA database and ICGC database. The differential expression analysis and survival analysis of ferroptosis-related genes in tumor and normal tissues were carried out by R software. Univariate and multivariable cox regression analysis and the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) regression algorithm were used to build a overall survival (OS) risk prediction model for HCC in TCGA cohort, which was verified in ICGC cohort. The “immunedeconv” and "GSVA" packages were used to explore the important roles of single genes in HCC.Results: We successfully built a prediction model of 12 ferroptosis-related genes for overall survival risk in HCC, and confirmed the validity of the prediction model in the ICGC cohort. In addition, FLT3 gene was significantly associated with multiple pathways such as HCC tumor inflammation, Apoptosis, inflammatory response, and PI3K-AKT-mTOR.Conclusions: Ferroptosis plays a key role in the prognosis and treatment of primary HCC, and the prediction model of 12 ferroptosis-related genes for OS risk in HCC has significant effects. The ferroptosis-related gene FLT3, as a key immune-related factor, may become a new prognostic biomarker and a potential target for the treatment of HCC.
WITHDRAWN: Are Egyptian Students' Entrepreneurial Behaviours Affected by University Ecosystems?
Authors: Ead Hamed , Elbadry Abdullah M. M.
Published: April 2023

This study investigates the impact of university ecosystems on the entrepreneurial behaviours of Egyptian students. The research is based on a survey of 151 students from public and private higher education institutions in Egypt, using a standard questionnaire comprising ten items and demographic questions. Our findings reveal that entrepreneurship education has a positive influence on the entrepreneurial aspirations of students, as they become more willing to pursue entrepreneurship in the future. Furthermore, we examine the role of the academic environment in shaping the relationship between entrepreneurship training and the entrepreneurial motivations of students. This research builds upon the work of Ead et al. (1–6), which examined the entrepreneurship program being taught to university students in Egypt and the factors that contribute to their willingness to engage with it. The results of this study can provide valuable insights for decision-makers, faculty members, and professionals in Egyptian universities, helping them to understand the impact of university ecosystems on the entrepreneurial behaviours of students. Moreover, this study contributes to the existing empirical research on the benefits of entrepreneurship education in the context of Egyptian higher education institutions, offering a nuanced understanding of how university ecosystems can drive or impede student entrepreneurship.
The Effects of Sensory Integration Interventions on Automatic Reinforcement Behaviors in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders: A Single Subject Study
Authors: Pi Yueming , Ma Ying , Wang Tingzhao
Published: April 2023

Background Identifying successful interventions for children with persistent behaviors maintained by automatic reinforcement is quite challenging.Methods This study analyzed the effects of interventions based on sensory integration (SI) on the automatic reinforcement behavior of two preschool boys with Autism Spectrum Disorders(ASD). First, we performed a functional analysis to determine whether the challenging behaviors were maintained by automatic reinforcement. Next, two sensory integration intervention assessments were used to identify the sensory disorders of the participants’ automatic reinforcement behaviors. Finally, this study implemented a sensory integration-based intervention and an adopted A-B-A-B design to verify the effectiveness of the intervention.Results The functional analysis results revealed that the participants’ target behaviors were maintained through automatic reinforcement. The findings suggested that the sensory integration-based intervention, which was designed depending on the results of the functional analysis and sensory integration assessments, positively affected the levels of automatic reinforcement behavior.Conclusions This study demonstrated that an intervention strategy based on the sensory integration theory had considerable effects on the automatic reinforcement behaviors of two preschool children.In the future, parents and professional therapists could apply this model for improving sensory integration disorders in children with ASD.
Three-dimensional finite element analysis of the influence of different surgical methods on the stress of meniscus and patellofemoral joint in the treatment of episodic patellar dislocation
Authors: Biao Xu , Tan Lu
Published: April 2023

BACKGROUND: At present, there are many surgical methods for the treatment of episodic patellar dislocation, and it is still unclear which surgical method can provide appropriate meniscus and patellofemoral joint stress.
OBJECTIVE: To explore the influence of different surgical methods simulating episodic patellar dislocation in three-dimensional finite element software on the stress of knee meniscus and patellofemoral joint surface under different flexion conditions.
METHODS: Acquire the knee joint CT and MRI of patients with episodic patellar dislocation and import them into Mimics and Geomagic to extract the model, then use Soildworks to complete the 0 °, 30 °, 60 °, 90 ° and 120 °buckling construction of the model, for each model, medial patellofemoral ligament reconstruction, medial retinaculum plication, lateral retinaculum release, medial patellofemoral ligament combined with medial patellotibial ligament reconstruction, medial patellofemoral ligament reconstruction combined with lateral retinaculum release be operation respectively.Finally, the model is imported into the mechanical software Ansys for biomechanical analysis, and the stress results of knee meniscus and patellofemoral joint surface are output.
RESULTS : The medial patellofemoral ligament combined with medial patellotibial ligament reconstruction has the smallest meniscus stress compared with other methods. The medial patellofemoral ligament combined with medial patellotibial ligament reconstruction and the medial patellofemoral ligament reconstruction combined with the lateral retinaculum release have smaller stress on the patellofemoral joint surface compared with the other three methods.
CONCLUSION :The medial patellofemoral ligament combined with medial patellotibial ligament reconstruction can provide well patellofemoral contact stress and meniscus stress, effectively restore the stability of the knee joint, and delay the purpose of joint and cartilage degeneration.Medial patellofemoral ligament reconstruction combined with lateral retinaculum release can also provide better patellofemoral joint stress, but the meniscus stress is slightly higher, so we should be alert to the complications related to the meniscus after surgery.Due to the high stress between patellofemoral joints and meniscus, the medial patellofemoral ligament reconstruction should prevent the risk of redislocation and the high incidence of patellofemoral osteoarthritis.
Revealing the nano-scale mechanisms of the limited non-basal plasticity in magnesium
Authors: Oh Sang Ho , Jeong Jiwon , Xie Zhuocheng , Alfreider Markus , Korte-Kerzel Sandra , Kiener Daniel , Guénolé Julien
Published: April 2023

⟨c+a⟩ dislocations are considered as the primary defects limiting the ductility of magnesium. It is argued that in small magnesium crystals the glide of such dislocations can be activated to accommodate plastic strain at high flow stress levels that are rarely achieved in the bulk. Here, we report ⟨c+a⟩ dislocation-mediated small-scale plasticity of c-axis oriented submicrometer-sized magnesium pillars observed by in situ transmission electron microscopy compression tests. After mobile ⟨c+a⟩ dislocations accommodate the initial plasticity of pillars, interactions between dislocations develop local dislocation entanglements, thereby preventing consecutive dislocation glide and surface annihilation. Supported by atomistic simulations, this increased pinning and multiplication is attributed to the formation of basal I1 and I2 stacking faults, induced by interaction of glissile pyramidal II dislocations, which serve as anchor points for dislocation sources. The ensuing plastic strain is accommodated via dislocation avalanches caused by simultaneous activation of multiple dislocation sources at increasing stress levels, forming a dislocation forest of ⟨c+a⟩ dislocations in the confined volume. This observation distinctly differs to common small-scale plasticity associated with a dislocation starved or exhausted state and provides a new concept towards plasticity and work hardening in bulk Mg.
Diagnostic Accuracy of the Combination of Cerebrospinal fluid and blood Presepsin for Postoperative Meningitis after Neurosurgery: Single-Center Prospective Observational Cohort Study
Authors: Takemoto Kiyoshi , Yamamoto Tomonori , Hashimoto Hiroyuki , Matsuyama Takeshi , Atagi Kazuaki
Published: April 2023

Objective:
Post-neurosurgical meningitis (PNM) is a serious complication in neurocritical care patients, leading to clinical deterioration and worsening outcomes. Accurate diagnosis of PNM is often difficult due to the lack of a definitive diagnostic biomarker. This study investigated the usefulness of cerebral spinal fluid (CSF) and blood presepsin (PSP) for the diagnosis of PNM.
Methods:
We conducted a single-center prospective observational study at Nara Prefecture General Medical Center in Nara, Japan, from April 2020 to March 2022. The postoperative neurosurgical patients with suspected PNM were included in the study and divided into PNM and non-PNM groups. We evaluated the sensitivity, specificity, area under curves (AUCs), positive predictive value (PPV), and negative predictive value (NPV) for the diagnosis of PNM with CSF PSP, blood PSP, and CSF/blood PSP ratio compared in the two groups.
Results:
27 patients suspected of PNM were included and 9 patients were clinical diagnosis with PNM. The results of CSF PSP (cut-off: 548 pg/mL) for the diagnosis of PNM were sensitivity 89%, specificity 72%, PPV 62%, and NPV 93%, AUC 0.76 [95% confidence interval (CI), 0.54–0.98], blood PSP (cut-off: 226 pg/mL) was 78%, 56%, 47%, and 83%, 0.63 [95% CI, 0.40–0.87], and those of CSF/blood PSP ratio (cut-off: 3.79) was 67%, 83%, 67%, and 83%, 0.77 [95% CI, 0.58–0.97].
Conclusion:
This current study suggested that CSF PSP and CSF/blood PSP ratio may be useful indicators for the diagnostic accuracy of PNM.
Medical Student Experiences of Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion: an Ecological Systems Theory Analysis
Authors: Nolan Helen Anne , Owen Katherine
Published: April 2023

BackgroundIssues relating to equality, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) significantly impact on medical student achievement and wellbeing. Interventions have been introduced at curricular and organizational levels, yet progress in addressing these issues remains limited. Timely evaluation is needed to assess effectiveness of interventions, and to explore issues and interactions in learning environments impacting on student experience. We introduced an anonymous question concerning students’ experiences of EDI into routine online student feedback questionnaires, to scope the nature of ongoing issues and develop greater understanding of students’ experiences in our programme environment. Ecological systems theory, which conceptualizes learning as a function of complex social interactions, determined by characteristics of individual learners and their environment, provides a framework for understanding.MethodsFree-text responses regarding experiences of EDI gathered over 20 months from all programme years (n = 760) were pooled for analysis, providing a holistic overview of experiences in the learning environment. Content analysis of the qualitative dataset was undertaken. Bronfenbrenner’s ecological systems model was applied as a framework to demonstrate interdependencies between respondents’ experiences and environments, and associated impacts.ResultsThree hundred and seventy-six responses were received relating to wide-ranging EDI issues, most frequently gender or ethnicity. Responses mapped onto all areas of the ecological systems model, with frequent links between subsystems, indicating considerable complexity and interdependencies. Interpersonal interactions and associated impacts like exclusion were frequently discussed. Differential experiences of EDI-related issues in medical school compared to clinical settings were reported. Impacts of institutional leadership and wider societal norms were considered by respondents. Respondents discussed their need for awareness of EDI with reference to future professional practice.ConclusionsImplementation of a regular free-text evaluation question allowed data-gathering across cohorts and throughout several stages of the curriculum, illuminating student experience. Connections established demonstrated intersectionality and how environment and other factors interact, impacting on student experiences. Students experience EDI-related issues on multiple levels within the educational environment, with consequent impacts on learning. Any successful approach towards tackling issues and promoting equity of opportunity for all requires multi-level actions and widespread culture change. Students may better understand change needed than staff. Student voice should be enabled to shape change.
Association between homocysteine and aortic aneurysms: A mendelian randomization study
Authors: bie lizhan , Wang Yin
Published: April 2023

Background
The causal association of higher homocysteine (Hcy) with aortic aneurysms (AAs) remain unclear. We aim to employed a multivariable Mendelian randomization (MR) to investigate the causal effects of Hcy on the risk of AAs.
Methods
Genetically predicted Hcy was selected as an instrumental variable from a published genome-wide association study meta-analysis. AAs (including thoracic aortic aneurysm [TAA] and abdominal aortic aneurysm [AAA]) data was extracted as outcome variables from FinnGen cohort. The random-effects inverse variance-weighted (IVW) model was applied as the main method, along with sensitivity analysis.
Results
We found a genetically determined 1-standard deviation (SD) increment of Hcy did not cause the increased risk of AAs (OR = 0.85; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.67–1.10) based on the IVW method. which was consistent with the results of other different MR analysis methods. Similar results were found in the analysis of TAA (IVW: OR = 0.86; 95% CI, 0.70–1.05) and AAA (IVW: OR = 0.91; 95% CI, 0.60–1.39).
Conclusions
This study provided evidence that higher Hcy did not direct causally increased the risk of AAs, TAA, or AAA.
A tailgut cyst in a patient with myelomeningocele – An association or a coincidence? – A case report.
Authors: Beutler Timothy , De Witt Michelle , Padir Aylin , Murillo Martha Caicedo , Bem Jiri , Krishnamurthy Satish
Published: April 2023

Tailgut cysts (TGC) are rare lesions occurring in the retrorectal space, a potential space anterior to the sacrum and coccyx and posterior to the rectum. They are developmental lesions that have potential for malignant transformation into neuroendocrine tumors, carcinomas, or adenocarcinomas. However, they present with non-specific complaints and are often challenging to diagnose and can lead to misdiagnosis and delay of treatment. We present a case of a a 27-year-old female patient with history of a myelomeningocele who was found to have a left sided pre-sacral cystic mass. Histologic examination of the lesion following surgical removal were consistent with TGC. The presence of a TGC in a patient with myelomeningocele is a rare occurrence. There is some evidence that disturbances in the Sonic Hedge Hog (SHH) signaling pathway can lead to abnormal branching and overgrowth of the notochord contributing to abnormal separation from the hindgut endoderm. Clinicians should have a heightened clinical suspicion for a TGC in patients with known neural tube defects who present with a perirectal mass lesion.
Inhibition of the JAK2/STAT3 Signaling Pathway by Piperine Confers Neuroprotection in Rats with Ischemic Stroke
Authors: Zou Yichun , Zhang Tingbao , Zhao Wenyuan , Shi Xiaocheng , Feng Yu , Chen Jincao
Published: April 2023

Pepper is a traditional Chinese herbal medicine used for different inflammatory, fever, and bacterial infections. Our previous research shown that the principal pepper active component, piperine, reduces cerebral ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) damage, but the underlying mechanism was not completely understood. In this study, SH-SY5Y cells and Sprague–Dawley rats were pretreated with piperine, AG490, or vehicle. Oxygen–glucose deprivation of SH-SY5Y cells and a rat middle cerebral artery occlusion model were used to mimic cerebral I/R injury. In vitro results from CCK-8 and LDH assays showed that piperine and AG490 mitigated I/R injury induced by OGD and WB showed that piperine lowered the levels of p-JAK2 and p-STAT3. The infarction volume and neuronal apoptosis were reduced by piperine and AG490 in vivo, as demonstrated by TTC, HE, and TUNEL staining. The mNSS, beam-walking test, and MST test indicated that piperine and AG490 promoted recovery of neurological function after I/R injury in rats. These in vivo and in vitro findings demonstrate that the neuroprotective action of piperine on brain I/R injury is mediated by the JAK2/STAT3 signal pathway. It offers a viable therapeutic target for cerebral I/R injury and piperine could be turned into a potential JAK2-specific inhibitor.
Identification with characters of experiential learning through simulation based on 360º virtual reality in Spanish physical therapy students: a descriptive study
Authors: Bermejo-Franco Alberto , Martínez-Caro Leticia , Medina-Sampedro María , Rubio-Martínez Laura , Ucero-Lozano Roberto , Gaviña-Barroso María Isabel
Published: April 2023

Purpose Virtual reality (VR) technology used in experiential learning through simulation requires a high level of immersion and identification with characters to influence the learning outcomes and the expected level of interactivity. This study aimed to measure the empathy and identification with characters of experiential learning through an simulation based on immersive 360º virtual reality among physical therapy students corresponding to the different steps of a patient suffering from a stroke.Methods Spanish physical therapy students participated in a cross-sectional study watching a 360º filmation based on an immersive VR program called ¨Put yourself in my shoes¨. Identification with characters was evaluated with the self-applied scale of identification with the characters of fictional audiovisual stories (Escala De Identificación [EDI] Scale). A descriptive analysis and statistical differences between gender and Spanish language level in items was performed.Results Most of participants presented high values of identification with characters of EDI Scale. The results analysed in the different dimensions (affective empathy, cognitive empathy, feeling concern for their situation, and ability to fantasize or imagine) of this scale also present high values in participants regardless of gender or language level.Conclusion The implementation of simulation scenarios based on immersive VR technology as ¨Put yourself into my shoes¨ (¨Ponte en mis zapatos¨ ®) is considered by Spanish physical therapy students as a program that presents a high rate of identification with characters and empathy.
Differential Diagnosis of MCI with Lewy bodies and MCI due to Alzheimer’s disease by Visual Assessment of Occipital Hypoperfusion on SPECT images
Authors: Nakata Takashi , Shimada Kenichi , Iba Akiko , Oda Haruhiko , Terashima Akira , Koide Yutaka , Kawasaki Ryota , Yamada Takahiro , Ishii Kazunari
Published: April 2023

Purpose Predicting progression of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) to Alzheimer’s disease (AD) or dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) is important. We evaluated morphological and functional differences between MCI with Lewy bodies (MCI-LB) and MCI due to AD (MCI-AD), and a method for differentiating between these conditions using brain MRI and brain perfusion SPECT.Methods Regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) on SPECT images and relative brain atrophy on MRI images were evaluated retrospectively in 101 MCI-LB and MCI-AD subjects. When dopamine transporter SPECT was negative for Lewy body disease, MCI-AD was diagnosed according to National Institute on Aging-Alzheimer’s Association workgroups guidelines. We performed voxel-based analysis and visually inspected brain perfusion SPECT images for regional brain atrophy, occipital hypoperfusion and the cingulate island sign (CIS), for differential diagnosis of MCI-LB and MCI-AD.Results We recruited 60 MCI-LB and 41 MCI-AD patients. MRI showed no significant differences in regional atrophy between the MCI-LB and MCI-AD groups. In MCI-LB patients, occipital, frontal and parietal lobe rCBF was significantly decreased compared with MCI-AD patients (p < 0.05, family wise error [FWE]-corrected). At p < 0.01 (FWE-corrected), the rCBF of the MCI-LB group was significantly decreased only in the occipital lobe compared with the MCI-AD group. Visual inspection in blind of occipital hypoperfusion had sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy values of 100%, 73.2% and 89.1%, respectively, for differentiating MCI-LB and MCI-AD. Occipital hypoperfusion was offered higher diagnostic utility than the CIS.Conclusion The occipital lobe was the only region with significantly decreased rCBF in MCI-LB compared with MCI-AD patients. Occipital hypoperfusion on brain perfusion SPECT may be a more useful imaging biomarker than the CIS for visually differentiating MCI-LB and MCI-AD.
Factors affecting interannual variation in late summer rainfall in the Red River Delta of Vietnam
Authors: Dinh Tu Duc , Bui Hai Manh , Le Hung Trung , Fu Yen Ta , Lin Chih Cheng , Yen Cheng Ming
Published: April 2023

Based on station monthly observational statistics, the major rainfall in the Red River Delta (RRD) occurs in late summer (July–September) with conspicuous year-to-year variation. Using the ± 0.8 of the seasonal total rainfall standard deviation as criteria, seven wet and six dry years are identified over the period 1983–2015. In addition to the mean rainfall in wet years being nearly double that in dry years, the occurrence frequency of heavy rainfall days and their corresponding rainfall accumulation in wet (dry) years are higher (lower) than climatology–in particular, the average rainfall accumulation during heavy rainfall days in wet years is more than four times as much as that in dry years. As revealed from further analyses, the large variability in rainfall is attributed to the influence of tropical cyclones (TCs) and 7–24- and 30– 60-day intraseasonal oscillations (ISOs). During the wet (dry) years, the number of TCs affecting the RRD and rainfall produced by TCs are more (less), and the intensity of ISOs also enhances (reduces). It is found from the water vapor budget analyses that an anomalous cyclone (anticyclone) dominates over the Indochina Peninsula in wet (dry) years, resulting in more (less) water vapor being transported to the RRD, whereas the anomalous convergence (divergence) of water vapor flux leads to the maintenance of excessive (insufficient) rainfall over the RRD. However, the El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) forcing shows minor effects on the interannual variation in rainfall in the RRD.
A preprocessing method for coronary artery stenosis detection based on deep learning
Authors: Li Yanjun , Yoshimura Takaaki , Horima Yuto , Sugimori Hiroyuki
Published: April 2023

The detection of coronary artery stenosis is one of the most important indicators for the diagnosis of coronary artery disease. However, stenosis in branch vessels is often difficult to detect using computer-aided systems and even radiologists because of several factors, such as imaging angle and contrast agent inhomogeneity. Traditional coronary artery stenosis localization algorithms often only detect aortic stenosis and ignore branch vessels that may also cause major health threats. Therefore, improving the localization of branch vessel stenosis in coronary angiographic images is a potential development property. In this study, we propose a preprocessing approach that combines vessel enhancement and image fusion as a prerequisite for deep learning. The sensitivity of the neural network to stenosis features is improved by enhancing the blurry features in coronary angiographic images. By validating five neural networks, such as YOLOv4 and R-FCN-Inceptionresnetv2 , our proposed method can improve the performance of deep learning network applications on the images from six common imaging angles. The results showed that the proposed method is suitable as a preprocessing method for coronary angiographic image processing based on deep learning and can be used to amend the recognition ability of the deep model for fine vessel stenosis.
Inhibition of TGF-βRI alleviates endothelial-mesenchymal transition of mitral valve damage due to rheumatic heart disease
Authors: Liang Yuanying , Wu Si-yi , Lu Chuang-hong , Zeng Zhi-yu
Published: April 2023

Background: Rheumatic heart disease (RHD) is an autoimmune disease caused by rheumatic fever following infection with Group A Streptococcus (GAS) that primarily affects the mitral valve, and our previous study has shown that endothelial-mesenchymal transition (EndMT) plays an important role in mitral valve damage due to RHD. TGF-β1 is an important profibrotic factor, but its role has not been explored in RHD. The current study is aimed to investigate the role of TGF-β1 in mitral valve damage due to RHD.
Methods: RHD rats were established using inactivated GAS. Successful modelling of the RHD rat was verified in mitral valve pathology sections. Echocardiography and running test were used to detect the cardiac function of rats. And immunohistochemistry, RT-qPCR and Western blotting were used to detect activation of the TGF-β1/Smad signalling pathway and EndMT in mitral valve. Wounding healing and cell counting Kit-8 assay were conducted to figure out the function of TGF-β1 in vitro.
Results: The TGF-β1/Smad signalling pathway was activated, and significant EndMT of the mitral valve occurred in RHD rats. And TGF-β type I receptor (TGF-βRI) inhibitor SB431542 inhibited the TGF-β1/Smad signalling pathway and EndMT of the mitral valve.
Conclusion: EndMT was involved in mitral valve damage, and inhibition of TGF-βRI alleviated EndMT of mitral valve damage due to RHD.
Two-dimensional DOA estimation with a staggered two-parallel linear array for reducing mutual coupling
Authors: Liu Sheng , Zhao Jing , Wu Decheng , Xiong Weizhi , Xia Linli , Tan Wenbin
Published: April 2023

In this paper, a two-dimensional (2D) direction of arrival (DOA) estimation algorithm with a staggered two-parallel linear array has been proposed. The proposed array consists of two staggered linear arrays, any one of which is determined by two consecutive positive integers. The distance between any two sensors of the proposed array is larger than half-wavelength of incident signal, so it has strong robustness to mutual coupling. Using this array, a segmented propagator method (PM) algorithm is proposed to get automatic matching 2D DOA estimation. Compared with some similar PM algorithms based on two-parallel linear array, the proposed segmented PM algorithm has higher estimation accuracy and approaching complexity. Not only that, the proposed algorithm can detect more signals than the similar algorithms without using virtual elements. Complexity analysis and simulation results can prove the advantage of the proposed algorithm.
Mathematical analysis for the vector-host Dengue epidemic model with time delay
Authors: Murugadoss Prakash Raj , Ambalarajan Venkatesh , Karuppusamy Arun Kumar , Mayavel Manivel
Published: April 2023

This study used a system of delay differential equations (DDE) to construct a time-delayed vector-host dengue epidemic model that accounts for inhibitory impact rates, immunity loss rates, and partial immunity rates. The model's solution is investigated and is determined to be positive and bounded. Using the next-generation matrix technique, the reproduction number is utilized to assess the model's stability. The virus-free equilibrium points were found to be locally asymptotically unstable. The existence of endemic equilibrium stability with and without time delay was investigated; as a result, endemic equilibrium points were locally stable with delay under certain conditions. For dengue transmission sensitivity analysis, the epidemiological model was analyzed. Finally, our theoretical results are validated by numerical simulations.
Determination of kynurenic acid in Linum usitatissimum L.
Authors: Wróbel-Kwiatkowska Magdalena , Turski Waldemar , Silska Grażyna , Rakicka-Pustułka Magdalena , Rymowicz Waldemar
Published: April 2023

Kynurenic acid (KYNA) is a bioactive compound exhibiting positive effects on human health due to its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-virus properties. Despite notable progress in the research focused on KYNA observed during the last 10 years, KYNA presence in flax (Linum usitatissimum L.) has not been proven so far. In the present study, parts of flax plants were analysed for KYNA synthesis. Moreover, eight different cultivars of flax seeds were tested for KYNA presence, resulting in maximally 0.432 µg/g FW in the seeds of the cultivar Jan. The level of KYNA was also tested in stems and roots of two selected flax cultivars: an oily cultivar (Linola) and a fibrous cultivar (Nike). The exposure of plants to the KYNA precursors tryptophan and kynurenine resulted in higher KYNA accumulation in flax shoots and roots. Thus, the obtained results indicate that KYNA might be synthesized in flax. The highest amount of KYNA (295.9 µg/g dry weight [DW]) was detected in flax roots derived from plants grown in tissue cultures supplemented with 10 mM tryptophan. The content of KYNA in flax cultivated on tryptophan-enriched medium was about 90-fold higher than in potato tubers and 600-fold higher than in flax seeds in the present study. These data suggest that flax tissue cultures enriched with tryptophan might be an efficient source of KYNA.
Sodium selenite inhibits the proliferate of cervical cancer cells through PI3K/AKT pathway
Authors: Wang Yuanyuan , Qi Lei , Wang Mingxing , Jia Yuehui , Wang Ruixiang , Hao Shuxiu , Feng Chen , Li Guijin , Su Shengqi , Du Linlin , Sun Huixin , Li Jiacheng , Lv Cunqi , Zeng Qingyu , Wang Tong , Li Qi
Published: April 2023

Selenium can inhibit cervical cancers, but the specific mechanism of anti-cervical cancer is not fully understood. In this study, we investigated the effect of sodium selenite (SS) on cervical cancer cell lines HeLa and SiHa and examined the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/protein kinase B (PI3K/AKT) signaling pathway to reveal the mechanism of SS against cervical cancer. We detected cell viability by MTT [3-(4, 5dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2, 5- diphenyltetrazolium bromide] assay, and apoptosis by Annexin V-FITC/PI staining. The levels of PI3K, AKT, phosphorylated PI3K (p-PI3K), and phosphorylated Akt (p-AKT) were measured by Western Blot. The results showed that SS reduced the viability and increased apoptosis of HeLa and SiHa cells and suppressed the activation of the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway in a dose-dependent manner. To verify the role of PI3K/AKT signaling pathway in this, we treated HeLa and SiHa cells with LY294002 (LY, a specific PI3K inhibitor) and established control, LY-treated, SS-treated, and combined LY + SS-treated groups. The results showed that the combined LY + SS treatment group enhanced the inhibitory effect of SS on the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway, which further inhibiting cervical cancer cell viability and increasing apoptosis. In conclusion, SS exerted its anti-cervical cancer effects by inhibiting cell proliferation, promoting apoptosis, and inhibiting PI3K/AKT signaling pathway.
Construction and Classification Prediction of Risk Assessment Iindicators for Water Environment Treatment PPP Projects
Authors: Yang Ruijia , Feng Jingchun , Sun Yong
Published: April 2023

Water pollution control is crucial for ecological environmental safety and sustainable socio-economic development. Public Private Partnership (PPP) collaboration is an important approach for water pollution control, but it faces numerous risks. Accurately assessing and predicting these risks is essential for ensuring effective water pollution management. This study aims to develop an effective risk classification prediction model for water environment treatment PPP projects, addressing the limitations of traditional methods. First, based on the relevant research on the risk assessment system for water environment treatment PPP projects, a risk data feature set of water environment treatment PPP projects consisting of four subsystems, namely, natural environment, ecological environment, socio-economic, and engineering entity, is proposed. Second, the association between different feature indicators and project risk levels is analyzed from a statistical perspective, and the contribution value of risk features is obtained. Then, an ensemble learning model based on Stack-ing is established to predict the risks of water environment treatment PPP projects. To improve the model's performance, a weighted voting mechanism is designed by introducing weight factors to adjust the relative importance of base learners during the voting process, allowing the model to better exploit the differences between base learners and improve prediction accuracy. Finally, an empirical analysis is conducted on the Phase I project of the comprehensive management of the water environment system in the central urban area of Jiujiang City, China, verifying the effectiveness and accuracy of the risk assessment system and evaluation model constructed in this study. Experimental results show that the constructed Water Environment Treatment Project Risk Support Vector Machine (WETPR-SVM) model outper-forms other traditional single machine learning classification models in terms of accuracy, macro-average precision, macro-average recall, and macro-average value, providing an effective method for risk classification prediction of water environment treatment PPP projects.
NEIL3 promotes the proliferation of ccRCC via the cyclin D1-Rb-E2F1 feedback loop regulation
Authors: Zhang Mengzhao , Wang Jichang , Yue Yangyang , Liu Wei , Wang Lu , Li Yan , Wu Shiqi , Wang Weiyi , Jiang Yunzhong , Yang Zezhong , Ma Minghai , Lu Shaoying , Fan Jinhai
Published: April 2023

Backgrounds: Nei endonuclease VIII-like 3 (NEIL3), a novel tumor-related gene, was differentially expressed and involved in pathophysiological processes in multiple tumors. However, the potential biological functions and molecular mechanisms of NEIL3 in human clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) have not been identified.Methods The expression pattern and prognostic value of NEIL3 in ccRCC patients were analyzed in multiple comprehensive databases and validated by qRT-PCR, western blotting analysis, immunohistochemistry, and tissue chips. The regulatory mechanisms were verified by the GSEA analysis, chromatin immunoprecipitation, dual-luciferase reporter gene, and immunofluorescence assay. The oncogenic effect of NEIL3 in ccRCC was confirmed by MTT assay, colony formation assay, tumorsphere assay, cell flow cytometry analysis, and xenograft tumor models.Results Nei endonuclease VIII-like 3 (NEIL3), a novel tumor-related gene, was highly expressed in ccRCC and positively correlated with adverse clinicopathological characteristics and worse prognosis. Mechanistically, we demonstrated that NEIL3 promoted cell proliferation and cell cycle progression in vitro and tumor growth in vivo. Furthermore, we found that NEIL3 overexpression activated the cyclin D1-Rb-E2F1 pathway. The E2F1 elevation then promoted the proliferation, cell cycle transition, and the NEIL3 expression, thus forming a feedback loop of the NEIL3-E2F1 axis to contribute to ccRCC progression. In addition, there was a positive correlation between NEIL3 and E2F1 expression in clinical specimens of ccRCC.Conclusion NEIL3 and cyclin D1-Rb-E2F1 pathway form a positive feedback loop and coordinately contribute to ccRCC progression. NEIL3 presents as a novel candidate for ccRCC diagnosis and treatment.
Genome-wide identification and comparative analysis of elongation of very long-chain fatty acid (Elovl) genes in echinoderms
Authors: Liu Meng-Yu , Li Jia-Qi , Zhang Dong , Mu Jin-Hua , Shen Xu-Hong
Published: April 2023

Elongation of very long-chain fatty acid (Elovl) proteins is the critical rate-limiting enzyme that catalyzes the biosynthesis of long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LC-PUFAs). Echinoderms are extremely important research objects in various fields, such as regeneration studies and developmental biology. However, to date, the genome-wide characterization and analysis of Elovl genes in echinoderms have not been investigated. In this study, the identification and analysis of Elovl genes in 10 representative echinoderms were performed using bioinformatics methods. A total of 117 Elovl genes have been found in the studied echinoderms. The phylogenetic tree showed that all Elovl genes from echinoderms can be subdivided into 6 classes, Elovl3-like class, Elovl4-like class, Elovl5-like class, Elovl6-like class, Elovl7-like class, and Elovl8-like class. Furthermore, the selection pressure analysis suggested that Elovl genes in echinoderms were mainly constrained by strong purifying selection events. In general, this study provides a molecular basis for echinoderm Elovl genes and may serve as a reference for in-depth phylogenomics.
Comparison of joint awareness after total knee arthroplasty, medial unicompartmental knee arthroplasty, and high tibial osteotomy: a retrospective study
Authors: Huang Yiwei , Ge Hao , Peng Bo , Feng Wenjun , Zhang Haitao , Zeng Yirong
Published: April 2023

Introduction:This study aimed to compare the Forgotten Joint Score-12(FJS) outcomes after high tibial osteotomy (HTO), unicompartmental knee arthroplasty (UKA), and total knee arthroplasty (TKA) with short-term follow-up (at least 2 years). We hypothesized that there would be differences in subjective outcomes between the three procedures as measured by FJS.Methods:Patients who underwent HTO, UKA, and TKA from January 2016 to December 2020 and were followed up for a minimum of 2 years were included in the study. Patient were asked to complete the FJS and Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Scores (KOOS) questionnaires. The preoperative and postoperative clinical outcomes were compared and evaluated the patient-related factor. The FJS scores were predicted using multiple linear regression analysis. In addition, we used Patient’s Joint Perception (PJP) questions as anchors to determine whether achieve the forgotten joint and FJS thresholds were calculated using the receiver operating characteristic curve.Results:391 patients were included in the final study, and there were 111 patients in HTO groups,128patients in UKA groups, and 150 patients in TKA groups. The mean follow-up was 47.0 months. There was a significant difference in the total FJS between the HTO, UKA, and TKA groups (p <0.001).In multiple linear regression, younger age, and higher Function Score (FS) were significant predictors of better FJS.we found the thresholds of the FJS of HTO, UKA, and TKA were 63.54, 69.79, and 61.45, respectively.Conclusion:Medial UKA was associated with superior patient awareness compared to HTO and TKA as measured by FJS.
Development of a method for compressing the information content of the results of the continuation power flow analysis
Authors: Bislimi Agron
Published: April 2023

In this work is developed a method for compressing the information content of the results of the CPF analysis. MATLAB was used as the calculation tool, which made it possible to display the results graphically in a simple manner. In this paper is presented schematically the created algorithm, and then through an example in a theoretical and practical way it is explained step by step by reading the schematics of the algorithm. Synthetic high-voltage grids with 2 to 17 nodes served as test systems. The development of software that can be used for any network will be the subject of future work. The investigations revealed the following advantages of the CPF. It enables the analysis of the system behaviour both in the stable and the unstable area of the system under investigation. The CPF thus provides "exact" information about the load level at which the voltage collapse occurs. This result can be considered "exact" if there is a consensus that the phenomenon of voltage collapse can be described by a stationary approach. Finally, the CPF analyses (PV curve) results are easy to interpret with appropriate graphic processing. Results of voltage stability analyses are presented. The voltage magnitudes and voltage angles are graphically displayed depending on the load for all networks calculated using CPF (from 2 nodes to 17 nodes).
Causally probing the role of the human hippocampus in fear discrimination: A precision functional mapping guided TMS study in individuals with post-traumatic stress symptoms
Authors: Webler Ryan D , Carrasco Cristian , Cooper Samuel , Chen Mo , Hunt Christopher , Hennessy Sierra , Cao Lancy , Lam Carol , Chiu Allen , Differding Cash , Todd Erin , Hendrickson Timothy , Oathes Desmond , Widge Alik , Hermosillo Robert , Nelson Steve , Fair Damien , Lissek Shmuel , Nahas Ziad
Published: April 2023

Fear overgeneralization is a potential pathogenic mechanism of anxiety-related disorders. A dominant model posits that overgeneralization occurs when the hippocampus fails to distinctly encode benign stimuli with insufficient similarity to previously encountered fear cues, triggering excessive retrieval of stored fear representations. This model has cross-species support but has not been causally tested in humans. A developing literature demonstrates that hippocampal network targeted transcranial magnetic stimulation (HNT-TMS) can strengthen hippocampal-dependent memory encoding. Building on this literature, we hypothesized that HNT-TMS would strengthen encoding of perceptually similar stimuli and thereby reduce retrieval errors (i.e., sharpen discrimination) in participants with post-traumatic stress symptoms. We predicted that this effect would emerge for fear stimuli as measured by the Farmer Task and neutral stimuli as measured by the Mnemonic Similarity Task. Continuous theta-burst stimulation (cTBS) was delivered to individualized left posterior-parietal targets derived via precision functional mapping, seed-based connectivity, and electric-field modeling methods. A vertex control target was also stimulated in a within-subject design (final N = 25). Multilevel models did not reveal significant interactions between stimulation target and fear or neutral stimulus discrimination. However, HNT-TMS strengthened fear discrimination in participants with lower sensitization, indexed by responsivity to a control stimulus perceptually unrelated to the CS+. Sensitization reflects indiscriminate fear responding unrelated to CS + similarity and is not expected to engage the hippocampal CS + matching function. Our findings therefore indicate that HNT-TMS may selectively sharpen fear discrimination when the hippocampal CS + matching function is more strongly engaged.
Triclosan-antibacterial sutures impact on the incidence of surgical site infection in laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy, laparoscopic appendectomy, or laparoscopic cholecystectomy: a multicenter, double-blind, randomised study
Authors: Erfan Moatasem A. , Thabet El Ashraf , Mohy Sara M. , Alwardany Ibrahim N.
Published: April 2023

The authors have requested that this preprint be removed from Research Square.
Precise Dynamic Resource Allocation for Virtualised Network Functions
Authors: Chapanduka Godwin Thomas Samuel , Olwal Thomas Otieno , Kurien Anish Mathew
Published: April 2023

The chaining and optimal placement of Virtual Network Functions (VNFs) in a static network has been extensively discussed and investigated. However a key trend of current network evolution is towards network softwarisation which is targeted at addressing the exponential growth in traffic demand that is causing progressive congestions in today’s Communication Service Providers (CSPs) networks. In network softwarisation, VNFs are being deployed as part of complex network service chains, containing multiple VNFs distributed across multiple points of presence (PoPs). VNFs are instantiated and resources have to be precisely allocated dynamically on-demand otherwise this can lead easily to either bad quality of service or waste of resources if too few or too many are allocated. To mitigate the challenges, we propose a Precise Dynamic Resource Allocation (PDRA) model which is a machine learning-based dynamic resource allocation targeted at adequately allocating VNF resources. The model has the following components: VNF profiling, VNF performance measurement, machine learning training and VNF auto scaling and placement. In comparison to standard fixed resource allocation, our model significantly addresses VNF under and over allocation of resources resulting in low latency and improved service quality.