bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Pemberdayaan Keluarga dalam Pendampingan Penanganan Luka Ulkus Diabetes Melitus Type 2 di Kelurahan Labuang Baji Kecamatan Mamajang Kota Makassar
Authors: Maria Ida Leida , Wahiduddin Wahiduddin , Thaha Ridwan M. , Firman Firman
Published: October 2024

South Sulawesi is one of the provinces with the prevalence of diabetes mellitus which continues to increase by 23% in 2022. Labuang Baji sub-district of Makassar city is one of the sub-districts with the highest number of diabetes mellitus patients with wounds/ulcers. This community service is intended to provide education and support to families on how to treat diabetic ulcers. Assistance was given to families (30 people) through communication, information, motivation and education methods through counseling and questionnaires. Tests were given before and after the assistance, then data were analyzed using the McNemer and Wilcoxon tests. Family knowledge before assistance was (36.7%) with poor knowledge, (63.3%) with good knowledge. After the assistance, the family's knowledge increased to (96.7%) good knowledge with an average increase in pre-test and post-test scores of 2.7 times. Based on the T-test, the p-value (<0.05) was obtained. So it can be concluded that the assistance of handling Type 2 diabetes mellitus ulcers in Labuang Baji Village, Mamajang Subdistrict, Makassar has a significant impact on the participants.
Pendampingan Kader Posyandu untuk Deteksi Dini Kanker Payudara melalui Pemeriksaan Payudara Sendiri
Authors: Pandawa Rugaya M. , Saleh Fatmah M.
Published: October 2024

Breast and cervical cancer are the main types of cancer which are the largest contributors to all types of cancer in women. This community service aims to increase the knowledge of posyandu cadres in early detection of breast cancer. Posyandu cadre training is carried out for 8 hours per meeting and assistance for Posyandu cadres is carried out for 4 hours per meeting. A cadre of 10 people was prepared with the criteria for women of childbearing age who visited the posyandu after which they performed a breast phantom set. This research was conducted at the Salero Community Health Center in June 2023. The methods used included face-to-face lectures, questions and answers, and demonstrations with 10 posyandu cadres involved. The results of the research showed an increase in cadre knowledge, where before being given exposure to material and practice, only 10% of participants had sufficient knowledge, whereas after being given exposure to material and practice, good knowledge increased to 90%. The skill level of cadres was also very poor before being given exposure to material and practice where cadres with less knowledge reached 80%, and cadre skills increased after being given exposure to material and practice with cadres with good skills as much as 90%. Conclusion: The implication of the research is that cadre mentoring can be used as an appropriate method to increase cadres' knowledge and skills for breast self-examination.
Genomic and phenotypic characterization of a Clostridioides difficile strain of the epidemic ST37 type from China
Authors: Li Chunhui , Heuler Joshua , Zhu Duolong , Meng Xiujuan , Chakraborty Soumyadeep , Harmanus Céline , Wang Shaohui , Peng Zhong , Smits Wiep Klaas , Wu Anhua , Sun Xingmin
Published: October 2024

Clostridioides difficile strains of sequence type (ST) 37, primarily including PCR ribotype (RT) 017, are prevalent in mainland China. Our study aimed to compare the major virulence factors of an epidemic C. difficile isolate of ST37 type (Xy06) from China with the well-characterized C. difficile reference strains R20291 (RT027) and CD630E (ST54), as well as a Chinese ST54 strain (Xy07) isolated from the same hospital. The Xy06 genome was predicted to harbor two complete prophages and several transposon-like elements. Comparative analysis of PaLoc revealed a truncated tcdA gene, a functional tcdB gene, a functional tcdC gene, and well-conserved tcdR and tcdE genes. Phenotypic comparisons showed that Xy06 was a robust producer of TcdB, readily sporulated and germinated, and strongly bound to human gut epithelial cells. In a mouse model of C. difficile infection, Xy06 was more virulent than strains CD630E and Xy07 and was comparable to strain R20291 in virulence. Our data suggest the potential threat of the epidemic ST37 strains in China.
Association between mitral annulus calcification and severity of coronary artery disease assessed by SYNTAX score in patients presented with acute coronary syndrome
Authors: Esmailpour Afsaneh , Nematollahi Soroush , Hali Reza , Sadeghian Mohammad , Nayebirad Sepehr , Vakili Ahmad
Published: October 2024

Objectives

Mitral annulus calcification (MAC) has been linked to cardiovascular disease severity, but its relationship with the SYNTAX score (SS) in acute coronary syndrome (ACS) patients remains unclear. This study aimed to investigate the association between MAC and SS in ACS patients to explore the role of MAC in predicting cardiovascular disease severity.

Methods

We conducted a cross-sectional study of 233 ACS patients at Tehran Heart Center, Tehran, Iran, from December 2021 to August 2022. Patients with prior coronary artery disease (CAD) were excluded. Demographic data, risk factors, and medical history were extracted from clinical files. SS was determined using coronary angiography, and MAC was assessed via two-dimensional transthoracic echocardiography.

Results

The study population had a mean age of 58.79 years, with 74.7% male. MAC was present in 24.9% of participants, and 57% of those with MAC had an SS above 23. Univariate analysis revealed a significant association between MAC and higher SSs (odds ratio: 1.84, 95% CI: 1.02–3.39; P = 0.046). However, multivariable analysis showed that only left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) was independently associated with SS (odds ratio: 0.94, 95% CI: 0.89–0.99; P = 0.015).

Conclusion

While MAC was initially associated with higher SSs in ACS patients, only LVEF emerged as an independent predictor in the multivariable analysis. Although MAC may not be independently associated with SS, it may serve as a useful echocardiographic indicator of more severe CAD in ACS.
Risk and predictors of severe hyperkalemia after total parathyroidectomy without auto-transplantation in patients with secondary hyperparathyroidism
Authors: He Chenchen , Li Longfei , Pan Junhao , Cheng Guangming , Wang Chunhui , Tang Yufu
Published: October 2024

Objective

To identify the risk factors of postoperative severe hyperkalemia after total parathyroidectomy (TPTX) without auto-transplantation in patients with secondary hyperparathyroidism (SHPT).

Methods

Data on 406 consecutive patients who underwent TPTX without auto-transplantation for secondary hyperparathyroidism at the General Hospital of Northern Theater Command between January 2013 and January 2023, were prospectively collected. Then, patients were divided into the training set (n=203) and the validation set (n=203) in a ratio of 1:1 by timeline. The patients were divided into severe hyperkalemia group and non-hyperkalemia group according to the postoperative serum kalium level >6.0 mmol/L with ECG changes or serum kalium level ≥6.5 mmol/L. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to evaluate the possible risk factors associated with postoperative severe hyperkalemia after TPTX. The predictive performance was evaluated with receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves with the areas under the ROC curve (AUC) and calibration curve. Decision curve and clinical impact curve analyses were used to validate the clinical application of the value.

Results

The incidence of postoperative severe hyperkalemia was 15.5% in all patients, 17.2% and 13.8% in the training and validation cohorts, respectively. The risk factors associated with postoperative severe hyperkalemia was higher preoperative kalium level. The optimal cut-off value for preoperative serum kalium level was 5.0mmol/L according to the ROC curve. The area under the curve (AUC) achieved good concordance indexes of 0.845 (95%CI, 0.776-0.914) in the training cohort. The sensitivities were 0.829 (95%CI: 0.663-0.934) and 0.857 (95%CI: 0.673-0.960) in the training and validation cohorts, respectively. The specificities were 0.798 (95%CI: 0.729-0.856) and 0.720 (95%CI:0.647-0.785) in the training and validation cohorts, respectively. Calibration curve exhibited a good consistency between actual observations and predicted severe hyperkalemia in the training and validation cohorts.

Conclusions

Our study found that the preoperative kalium levels is only a risk factor for postoperative severe hyperkalemia in patients undergoing TPTX for secondary hyperparathyroidism. The threshold for preoperative serum kalium levels is 5.0mmol/L that can serve as a useful indicator for identifying patients with severe hyperkalemia after surgery. These results provide valuable suggestion for clinical practice.
The adipose tissue keeps the score: priming of the adrenal-adipose tissue axis by early life stress predisposes women to obesity and cardiometabolic risk
Authors: Turner Meghan Blair , Dalmasso Carolina , Loria Analia S.
Published: October 2024

Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) refer to early life stress events, including abuse, neglect, and other psychosocial childhood traumas that can have long-lasting effects on a wide range of physiological functions. ACEs provoke sex-specific effects, whereas women have been shown to display a strong positive correlation with obesity and cardiometabolic disease. Notably, rodent models of chronic behavioral stress during postnatal life recapitulate several effects of ACEs in a sex-specific fashion. In this review, we will discuss the potential mechanisms uncovered by models of early life stress that may explain the greater susceptibility of females to obesity and metabolic risk compared with their male counterparts. We highlight the early life stress-induced neuroendocrine shaping of the adrenal-adipose tissue axis as a primary event conferring sex-dependent heightened sensitivity to obesity.
Opioid−free anesthesia attenuates perioperative immunosuppression by regulating macrophages polarization in gastric cancer patients treated with neoadjuvant PD-1 inhibitor
Authors: Liu Wenjian , Ou Chaopeng , Xue Ruifeng , Yang Xiaohua , Ye Yaqi , Wang Xudong , Xie Jingdun
Published: October 2024

Background

Opioid anesthesia can modulate the impaired immune response and opioid-sparing anesthesia may preserve immune functions. This study was performed to assess the effects of opioid-free anesthesia (OFA) and opioid-based anesthesia (OA) on perioperative macrophages differentiation, cytokine changes, and perioperative complications in locally advanced GC (LAGC) patients.

Methods

We used quality of recovery-15 (QoR-15) questionnaire scores and visual analog scale (VAS) scores to compare postoperative quality of recovery and pain level. In addition, the adverse reactions of patients in the two groups were compared. The perioperative serum level of inflammatory cytokines and the ratio of macrophage subtypes were detected.

Results

The OFA group had significantly longer extubation time and PACU stay, whereas the OA group had significantly higher rate of hypotension, higher doses of norepinephrine, higher PONV and dizziness rate, and delayed flatus passage time. The QoR-15 score on postoperative 24 h was significantly higher in OFA group than in OA group. At the end of or after the surgery, the OFA group had higher levels of interleukin (IL)-12, IL-1β, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, CD68+CD163− macrophage rate, but lower levels of IL-10, transforming growth factor (TGF)-β, and CD68+CD163+ macrophage rate, indicating OFA attenuated perioperative immunosuppression by diminishing M2 and promoting M1 macrophage polarization. And the reversal tendency is more obvious in LAGC patients with neoadjuvant PD-1 inhibitor.

Conclusions

The OFA may attenuate perioperative immunosuppression by diminishing M2 and promoting M1 macrophage polarization in LAGC patients with neoadjuvant PD-1 inhibitor.

Clinical trial registration

http://gcpgl.sysucc.org.cn, identifier 2022-FXY-001.
Multiple sclerosis and COVID-19: a bidirectional Mendelian randomization study
Authors: Liu Shitong , Liang Yixin , Sheng Binbin , Zhang Rongxin
Published: October 2024

This study aimed to investigate the potential relationship between multiple sclerosis (MS) and coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outcomes using Mendelian randomization analysis. Specifically, it evaluates whether genetic factors, including the single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) rs10191329, influence the susceptibility of MS patients to three COVID-19 outcomes [severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection, hospitalized COVID-19, and severe COVID-19]. This study utilized genome-wide association study summary statistics from the International Multiple Sclerosis Genetics Consortium to conduct a Mendelian randomization analysis. SNPs strongly associated with MS were selected to examine their impact on COVID-19 outcomes. The analysis focused on identifying any causal associations between MS and COVID-19 severity, as well as assessing the role of interferon beta (IFNβ) treatment in modifying these outcomes. The results suggest a potential association between MS and an increased risk of COVID-19, but individuals carrying the rs10191329 SNP appeared less likely to develop severe COVID-19. This SNP, located within the DYSF-ZNF638 locus, may influence immune responses and MS severity, highlighting its relevance for personalized treatment strategies. Importantly, no significant causal relationship was found between IFNβ treatment and the three COVID-19 outcomes, indicating that the findings in treated patients differ from those observed in untreated patients. This suggests that IFNβ may offer protective effects against SARS-CoV-2 in MS patients. These findings underscore the importance of genetic factors, such as rs10191329, in shaping the clinical outcomes of MS patients in the context of COVID-19. Further research should explore targeted therapies and personalized approaches for managing MS during the ongoing pandemic.
Tertiary lymphoid structure-related score as a predictor for survival prognosis and immunotherapy response in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma
Authors: Wu Fan , Cao Haotian , Ren Siqi , Wu Jiaying , Liu Xin , Li Qunxing , Xu Qiuping , Chen Jiali , Wang Ruixin , Chen Suling , Kuang Shijia , Xia Binbin , Li Yanyan , Wang Liansheng , Li Jintao , Li Bowen , Li Jinsong , Lan Tianjun
Published: October 2024

Background

Substantial studies reveal that tertiary lymphoid structure (TLS) correlate with prognosis and immunotherapy response in various types of cancers. However, the predictive value of TLS, the specific immune cell subtype within TLS and their anti-tumor mechanisms remain unclear.

Methods

Based on 23 TLS-related genes (TLSRGs), we utilized bioinformatics methods to construct a scoring system, named TLSscore. By integrating RNA and single-cell sequencing data, we assessed the utility of TLSscore in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). Flow cytometric sorting was used to isolate specific T cells subtypes, in vivo and in vitro experiments were conducted to demonstrate its anti-tumor effects.

Results

The TLSscore model was constructed and specific TLSscore-genes were found to consistently align with the spatial location of TLS. TLSscore has proven to be a robust predictive model for predicting survival prognosis, immune cell infiltration, somatic mutation and immunotherapy response. Notably, a specific PD1+CXCL13+CD8+T cell subtype was identified within TLS. Both in vivo and in vitro experiments demonstrated that PD1+CXCL13+CD8+T cell might represent a functional cell subtype exerting anti-tumor effects during the process of immune surveillance.

Conclusions

Our study presents a predictive model for TLS, which can evaluate its presence and predicts survival prognosis and immunotherapy response in HNSSC patients. Additionally, we identify a specific subtype of T cells that might elucidate the mechanism of TLS function in anti-tumor activities. This T cell subtype holds the potential to be a prognostic marker and a target for adoptive cell therapy (ACT) in the future.
Sex differences and testosterone interfere with the structure of the gut microbiota through the bile acid signaling pathway
Authors: Duan Xueqing , Nie Yinli , Xie Xin , Zhang Qi , Zhu Chen , Zhu Han , Chen Rui , Xu Jun , Zhang Jinqiang , Yang Changfu , Yu Qi , Cai Kun , Wang Yong , Tian Weiyi
Published: October 2024

Background

The gut microbiome has a significant impact on human wellness, contributing to the emergence and progression of a range of health issues including inflammatory and autoimmune conditions, metabolic disorders, cardiovascular problems, and psychiatric disorders. Notably, clinical observations have revealed that these illnesses can display differences in incidence and presentation between genders. The present study aimed to evaluate whether the composition of gut microbiota is associated with sex-specific differences and to elucidate the mechanism.

Methods

16S-rRNA-sequencing technology, hormone analysis, gut microbiota transplantation, gonadectomy, and hormone treatment were employed to investigate the correlation between the gut microbiome and sex or sex hormones. Meanwhile, genes and proteins involved bile acid signaling pathway were analyzed both in the liver and ileum tissues.

Results

The composition and diversity of the microbiota from the jejunum and feces and the level of sex hormones in the serum differed between the sexes in young and middle-aged Sprague Dawley (SD) rats. However, no similar phenomenon was found in geriatric rats. Interestingly, whether in young, middle-aged, or old rats, the composition of the microbiota and bacterial diversity differed between the jejunum and feces in rats. Gut microbiota transplantation, gonadectomy, and hormone replacement also suggested that hormones, particularly testosterone (T), influenced the composition of the gut microbiota in rats. Meanwhile, the mRNA and protein level of genes involved bile acid signaling pathway (specifically SHP, FXR, CYP7A1, and ASBT) exhibited gender-specific differences, and T may play a significant role in mediating the expression of this pathway.

Conclusion

Sex-specific differences in the structure of the gut microbiota are mediated by T through the bile acid signaling pathway, pointing to potential targets for disease prevention and management techniques by indicating that sex differences and T levels may alter the composition of the gut microbiota via the bile acid signaling pathway.
Ecological shifts in soil microbiota and root rot disease progress during ginseng monoculture
Authors: Cho Gyeongjun , Kim Da-Ran , Kwak Youn-Sig
Published: October 2024

Introduction

The phenomenon in which the damage of plant diseases is suppressed by continuous cropping is defined as “suppressiveness” and the development of suppressive soils and key beneficial microorganisms have been identified through various previous studies. However, no studies have been conducted on microbial communities related to disease occurrence before the initial occurrence of diseases in crop monoculture.

Methods

We aimed to investigate the ecological modifications of pathogen population density in soil, disease occurrence rate, and microbiota community shifting during ginseng monoculture to better understand the tripartite social relationships in the monoculture system. To achieve the study’s objectives, a long-term monoculture of ginseng was established. The microbial diversity and community structure were analyzed using high-throughput sequencing, and the pathogen population density and disease occurrence rate were determined using qPCR and observation.

Results and discussion

The results showed that the initial rhizosphere bacterial community of ginseng had already collapsed before the development of the root rot disease. The study also identified the crucial role of soil-borne pathogens in causing disease and the loss of initial keystone taxa populations in the early stages of monoculture. Our study revealed a novel aspect of soil microbiota dynamics during ginseng monoculture, with seven distinct microbes (Beijerinckiaceae, Comamonadaceae, Devosiaceae, Rhizobiaceae, Sphingobacteriaceae, Sphingomonadaceae, and Xanthomonadaceae) participating in soil nitrogen metabolism as an ‘initial community’ that regulates root rot disease through nutritional competition. The findings contribute to ecological research on disease-suppressiveness soil, disease management, and sustainable agriculture.
Different characteristics of the soil in marmot habitats might be one of the factors that influcting Yersinia pestis prevalent in which than pikas
Authors: Zhao Wenlong , Li Shixiong , Sun Yuechen , Liu Jingpeng , Ma Yixin , Qi Rui
Published: October 2024

Introduction

Marmots are recognized as host animals for plague caused by Yersinia pestis infection. It is unclear that why plague prevalent in marmot rather than other rodents like pikas in the same habitats. This study aims to analyze the differences of the soil characteristics around marmots and pikas burrows to explore the soils factors impacting on different epidemic intensities of Yersinia pestis in these two rodents.

Methods

Soil samples were collected from within and around marmot and pika burrows, as well as from the nearby areas not inhabited by them and Chinese baseline soil properties as control groups, in the Qilian Mountains of Gansu Province, China. The physicochemical properties and the bacterial 16S rRNA were measured to analyze the characteristics of soils from different groups. Subsequently, the data were analyzed using R studio.

Results

The analysis revealed that marmot habitats exhibited distinct soil characteristics, including lower organic matter and alkaline hydrolyzed nitrogen, but higher electrical conductivity and total soluble salts. And soil in marmot areas tended to have higher concentrations of nickel, chromium, and iron, also lower levels of zinc and selenium. Additionally, the alpha diversity of soil microorganisms in marmot habitats was significantly low. Simultaneously, redundancy analysis was conducted, which showed that the low alpha diversity of marmot-soil was influenced by its physicochemical properties. The alpha diversity of the soil was positively correlated with EC, TSS, Na, and Cr, etc., while it was negatively correlated with AHN, OM, Se, Zn, and Fe, etc.

Conclusion

These characteristics in marmot habitats, including low levels of organic matter, alkaline hydrolyzed nitrogen, zinc, selenium, and bacterial alpha diversity, as well as high levels of electrical conductivity, total soluble salts, iron, and nickel, played a crucial role in the spread of plague. It was discovered that the unique characteristics of marmot-soils provided essential elements necessary for the survival of Yersinia pestis, including high levels of Fe and Ca, or facilitated the spread of plague. Thus, the transmission of the plague was facilitated.
Design and analysis of exoskeleton devices for rehabilitation of distal radius fracture
Authors: Chen Zhiquan , Guo Jiabao , Liu Yishan , Tian Mengqian , Wang Xingsong
Published: October 2024

In this work, the mechanical principles of external fixation and resistance training for the wrist affected by a distal radius fracture (DRF) are revealed. Based on the biomechanical analysis, two wearable exoskeleton devices are proposed to facilitate the DRF rehabilitation progress. Chronologically, the adjustable fixation device (AFD) provides fixed protection and limited mobilization of the fractured wrist in the early stage, while the functional recovery of relevant muscles is achieved by the resistance training device (RTD) in the later stage. According to the designed mechatronic systems of AFD and RTD, the experimental prototypes for these two apparatuses are established. By experiments, the actual motion ranges of AFD are investigated, and the feasibility in monitoring joint angles are validated. Meanwhile, the resistant influences of RTD are analyzed based on the surface electromyography (sEMG) signal features, the results demonstrate that the training-induced muscle strength enhancement is generally increased with the increment in external resistance. The exoskeleton devices presented in this work would be beneficial for the active rehabilitation of patients with DRF.
Morphological characterization of the hippocampus: a first database in Ecuador
Authors: Cevallos Stefano Buitrón , Jerves Alex X. , Vinueza Clayreth , Hernandez Dennis , Ávila Carlos , Auquilla Andrés , Alvear Óscar
Published: October 2024

Introduction

The hippocampal volume is a well-known biomarker to detect and diagnose neurological, psychiatric, and psychological diseases. However, other morphological descriptors are not analyzed. Furthermore, not available databases, or studies, were found with information related to the hippocampal morphology from Latin-American patients living in the Andean highlands.

Methods

The hippocampus is manually segmented by two medical imaging specialists on normal brain magnetic resonance images. Then, its morphological qualitative and quantitative descriptors (volume, sphericity, roundness, diameter, volume-surface ratio, and aspect ratio) are computed via 3D digital level-set-based mathematical representation. Furthermore, other morphological descriptors and their possible correlation with the hippocampal volume is analyzed.

Results

We introduce a first database with the hippocampus’ morphological characterization of 63 patients from Quito, Ecuador, male and female, aged between 18 and 95 years old.

Discussion

This study provides new research opportunities to neurologists, psychologists, and psychiatrists, to further understand the hippocampal morphology of Andean and Latin American patients.
Exploring the therapeutic mechanisms of millet in obesity through molecular docking, pharmacokinetics, and dynamic simulation
Authors: Lakhani Komal G. , Hamid Rasmeih , Gupta Sheetal , Prajapati Poojaben , Prabha Ratna , Patel Saumya , Suthar Kirankumar P.
Published: October 2024

Obesity, a prevalent global health concern, is characterized by excessive fat accumulation, which confers significant nutritional and health risks, including a shortened lifespan and diminished wellbeing. Central to the regulation of energy balance and food intake is the fat mass and obesity-associated (FTO) protein, which modulates the interplay between caloric consumption and energy expenditure. Given its pivotal role in obesity regulation, the identification of effective inhibitors targeting the FTO protein is imperative for developing therapeutic interventions. Currently available anti-obesity drugs are often plagued by undesirable side effects. In contrast, natural plant-derived bioactive compounds are gaining prominence in the pharmaceutical industry due to their efficacy and lower incidence of adverse effects. Little Millet, a traditional cereal known for its rich nutritional profile and high satiety index, was investigated in this study using molecular docking and dynamics simulation approach for its potential as an anti-obesity agent. Our research demonstrates that four bioactive compounds from Little Millet exhibit superior binding energies ranging from 7.22 to 8.83 kcal/mol, compared to the standard anti-obesity drug, orlistat, which has a binding energy of 5.96 kcal/mol. These compounds fulfilled all drug-like criteria, including the Lipinski, Ghose, Veber, Egan, and Muegge rules, and exhibited favorable profiles in terms of distribution, metabolism, and prolonged half-life without toxicity. Conversely, orlistat was associated with hepatotoxicity, a reduced half-life, and multiple violations of drug-likeness parameters, undermining its efficacy. Molecular dynamics simulations and Gibbs free energy assessments revealed that the four identified compounds maintain stable interactions with key residues in the FTO protein’s active site. We propose further validation through extensive In vitro, In vivo, and clinical studies to ascertain the therapeutic potential of these compounds in combating obesity.
The clinical relevance of surgical specimens for RNA sequencing in lung cancer: a cohort study
Authors: Eom Jung Seop , Kim Soo Han , Kim Kyungbin , Kim Ahrong , Ahn Hyo Yeong , Mok Jeongha , Cho Jeong Su , Lee Min Ki , Song Ju Sun , Kim Mi-Hyun
Published: October 2024

Background

Molecular screening using next-generation sequencing (NGS) in the pathologic evaluation of lung cancer is considered the standard in clinical practice; hence, we evaluated the diagnostic yields of various sampling methods for NGS.

Methods

NGS data from patients with lung cancer at the Pusan National University Hospital (Busan, South Korea), admitted October, 2020–April, 2023, was obtained. The sampling methods by which NGS data was obtained were divided into surgical and nonsurgical. Surgical methods included thoracoscopic surgery, surgical biopsy from the metastatic site, and lymph node excisional biopsy, whereas nonsurgical methods included bronchoscopy procedures and medical thoracoscopic biopsy.

Results

In total, we obtained 319 patients’ NGS data:150 (47.0%) and 169 (53.0%) was obtained using surgical and nonsurgical methods, respectively. The overall diagnostic yield of NGS analysis was 97.5% for all samples. There were no significant differences in the success rates of deoxyribonucleic acid sequencing between surgical and nonsurgical sampling methods (98.0% vs. 96.4%, p = 0.313). On the other hand, the success rate of ribonucleic acid (RNA) sequencing was significantly lower in the surgical method group (78.0% vs. 92.3%; p < 0.001). Multivariate analysis showed that surgical sampling significantly correlated with RNA sequencing failure (Odd Ratio 4.128, 95% Confidence Interval 1.681–10.133, p = 0.002).

Conclusions

Small samples obtained using nonsurgical procedures are suitable for NGS analysis in clinical practice. However, surgical sampling showed a relatively lower success rate for RNA sequencing than nonsurgical sampling. This information may help in the development of protocols to reduce RNA degradation during the surgical process.
Metallothionein family genes in kiwifruit: characterization and determining their roles in plant’s response to different stresses
Authors: Liu Linya , Song Shuyi , Yang Na , He Bin , Xin Lusheng , Huang Yacheng
Published: October 2024

Kiwifruit growth and development are severely affected by various biotic and abiotic stresses, especially cold stress and the bacterial disease caused by Pseudomonas syringae pv. actinidiae (Psa). Metallothioneins (MTs) are a group of cysteine-rich proteins that play crucial roles in stress response, metal detoxification, and homeostasis in plants. However, the protective role of these MTs in kiwifruit remains to be elucidated. In the present study, four AcMT genes were identified in the Hongyang kiwifruit genome, namely, two Type 2 isoforms (AcMT2 and AcMT2a) and two Type 3 isoforms (AcMT3a and AcMT3b) located separately on four different chromosomes. The hormones and stress response cis-elements within the promoter regions of these AcMTs were characterized. It was revealed that the four AcMT genes exhibited different expression patterns in different tissues: AcMT2 and AcMT2a were expressed at much higher levels in the fruit, male flower, female flower, root, and bark, while AcMT3a was expressed mainly in the fruit and AcMT3b was expressed highly in the bark. The expression patterns of these AcMT genes after exposure to Psa infection and different phytohormones, including gibberellic acid A3(GA3), ethylene (ET), and abscisic acid (ABA), were evaluated. It was revealed that in response to Psa infection, the main AcMTs in each tissue (those with expression levels higher compared to the other MTs in that tissue) were downregulated during the early stage in kiwifruits, followed by a recovery phase. In addition, most AcMTs were downregulated after exposure to ET and GA3, while type 2 AcMTs (AcMT2 and AcMT2a) were upregulated after treatment with ABA. The overexpression of AcMTs in Escherichia coli presented a higher tolerance to H2O2, heavy metals, low temperature, and high temperature. Collectively, these findings demonstrated the protective roles of AcMTs in terms of stress resistance conferred through plant hormone-related signal pathways.
From eco-anxiety to eco-hope: surviving the climate change threat
Authors: Betro’ Sophia
Published: October 2024

Introduction

As the average global temperature increases, the effects of climate change worsen, through effects on worsening extreme events as well as exacerbating political, economic, and social turmoil (wars, conflicts, and migrations). This poses an existential risk to the survival of humans and non-humans. These effects are visible due to the impact on people’s mental health and psychophysical well-being. This article aims to explore the growing phenomenon of psychoterratic syndromes, with focus on the effect of eco-anxiety on mental health. Furthermore, the relationship between eco-anxiety and behavior response (both individual and collective) in the climate crisis era is outlined.

Methods

A research with interdisciplinary approach was carried out for recent literature and articles relating to psychoterratic syndromes and the effects of climate change on mental health.

Results

The article explores the effects of climate change on mental health, including various research on the onset of new emotions in response to psychological effects to climate change, called psychoterratic syndromes (such as eco-anxiety, climate anxiety, solastalgia, eco-grief). Among these, eco-anxiety is the most popular term used for describing how people feel about climate change. However, the paradigm that described eco-anxiety only as a pathological emotion needs to be changed.

Discussion

The article emphasizes the positive effect of eco-emotions and the need to stimulate people to move from a state of anxiety, which could bring apathy and resignation, toward eco-hope. Eco-hope could be an adaptive coping mechanism in people and communities, which is key to preventing, mitigating, and protecting mental and planetary health.
Distinguishing pain profiles among individuals with long COVID
Authors: Tabacof Laura , Chiplunkar Maanas , Canori Alexandra , Howard Rebecca , Wood Jamie , Proal Amy , Putrino David
Published: October 2024

Background

For many people with long COVID (LC), new-onset pain is a debilitating consequence. This study examined the nature of new-onset pain and concomitant symptoms in patients with LC to infer mechanisms of pain from the relationships between pain and health-related factors.

Methods

Pain and other symptoms were evaluated in 153 individuals with LC using the Self-Administered Leeds Assessment of Neuropathic Symptoms and Signs, EuroQoL Visual Analog Scale, and Quality of Life in Neurological Disorders. The relationships between pain and patient factors were analyzed using Chi Square and independent t-tests.

Results

20.3% of individuals who reported new-onset pain had neuropathic pain, which was associated with lower quality of life and higher rates of cognitive dysfunction compared to those with non-neuropathic pain. Other symptoms were similar between groups, however heart-related symptoms were more prevalent in individuals with neuropathic pain and mood swings were more prevalent for individuals with non-neuropathic pain.

Conclusions

Characterizing the relationships between NP and quality of life in individuals with LC can aid in developing better clinical management strategies. Understanding the associations between NP and cognitive dysfunction provides the imperative foundation for future studies further examining the pathophysiological mechanisms underlying pain development in LC.
Simulation and real-life implementation of UAV autonomous landing system based on object recognition and tracking for safe landing in uncertain environments
Authors: Baidya Ranjai , Jeong Heon
Published: October 2024

The use of autonomous Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) has been increasing, and the autonomy of these systems and their capabilities in dealing with uncertainties is crucial. Autonomous landing is pivotal for the success of an autonomous mission of UAVs. This paper presents an autonomous landing system for quadrotor UAVs with the ability to perform smooth landing even in undesirable conditions like obstruction by obstacles in and around the designated landing area and inability to identify or the absence of a visual marker establishing the designated landing area. We have integrated algorithms like version 5 of You Only Look Once (YOLOv5), DeepSORT, Euclidean distance transform, and Proportional-Integral-Derivative (PID) controller to strengthen the robustness of the overall system. While the YOLOv5 model is trained to identify the visual marker of the landing area and some common obstacles like people, cars, and trees, the DeepSORT algorithm keeps track of the identified objects. Similarly, using the detection of the identified objects and Euclidean distance transform, an open space without any obstacles to land could be identified if necessary. Finally, the PID controller generates appropriate movement values for the UAV using the visual cues of the target landing area and the obstacles. To warrant the validity of the overall system without risking the safety of the involved people, initial tests are performed, and a software-based simulation is performed before executing the tests in real life. A full-blown hardware system with an autonomous landing system is then built and tested in real life. The designed system is tested in various scenarios to verify the effectiveness of the system. The code is available at this repository: https://github.com/rnjbdya/Vision-based-UAV-autonomous-landing.
Klebsiella pneumoniae co-infection leads to fatal pneumonia in SARS-CoV-2-infected mice
Authors: Villalva Crystal , Patil Girish , Narayanan Sai Sankara , Ghimire Roshan , Chanda Debarati , Samarakoon Nishantha , Snider Timothy , Ramachandran Akhilesh , Channappanavar Rudragouda , More Sunil
Published: October 2024

SARS-CoV-2 patients have been reported to have high rates of secondary Klebsiella pneumoniae infections. K. pneumoniae is a commensal that is typically found in the respiratory and gastrointestinal tracts. However, it can cause severe disease when a person’s immune system is compromised. Despite a high number of K. pneumoniae cases reported in SARS-CoV-2 patients, a co-infection animal model evaluating the pathogenesis is not available. In our cohort of COVID-19-positive human patients, 38% exhibited the presence of K. pneumoniae. Therefore we developed a mouse model to study the disease pathogenesis of SARS-CoV-2 and K. pneumoniae co-infection. BALB/cJ mice were inoculated with mouse-adapted SARS-CoV-2 followed by a challenge with K. pneumoniae. Mice were monitored for body weight change, clinical signs, and survival during infection. The bacterial load, viral titers, immune cell accumulation and phenotype, and histopathology were evaluated in the lungs. The co-infected mice showed severe clinical disease and a higher mortality rate within 48 h of K. pneumoniae administration. The co-infected mice had significantly elevated bacterial load in the lungs, however, viral loads were similar between co-infected and single-infected mice. Histopathology of co-infected mice showed severe bronchointerstitial pneumonia with copious intralesional bacteria. Flow cytometry analysis showed significantly higher numbers of neutrophils and macrophages in the lungs. Collectively, our results demonstrated that co-infection of SARS-CoV-2 with K. pneumoniae causes severe disease with increased mortality in mice.
Design and Testing of a Crawler Chassis for Brush-Roller Cotton Harvesters
Authors: Wang Zhenlong , Kong Fanting , Xie Qing , Zhang Yuanyuan , Sun Yongfei , Wu Teng , Chen Changlin
Published: October 2024

In China’s Yangtze River and Yellow River basin cotton-growing regions, the complex terrain, scattered planting areas, and poor adaptability of the existing machinery have led to a mechanized cotton harvesting rate of less than 10%. To address this issue, we designed a crawler chassis for a brush-roller cotton harvester. It is specifically tailored to meet the 76 cm row spacing agronomic requirement. We also conducted a theoretical analysis of the power transmission system for the crawler chassis. Initially, we considered the terrain characteristics of China’s inland cotton-growing regions and the current cotton agronomy practices. Based on these, we selected and designed the power system and chassis; then, a finite element static analysis was carried out on the chassis frame to ensure safety during operation; finally, field tests on the harvester’s operability, stability, and speed were carried out. The results show that the inverted trapezoidal crawler walking device, combined with a hydraulic continuously variable transmission and rear-drive design, enhances the crawler’s passability. The crawler parameters included a ground contact length of 1650 mm, a maximum ground clearance of 270 mm, a maximum operating speed of 6.1 km/h, and an actual turning radius of 2300 mm. The maximum deformation of the frame was 2.198 mm, the deformation of the walking chassis was 1.0716 mm, the maximum equivalent stress was 216.96 MPa, and the average equivalent stress of the entire frame was 5.6356 MPa, which complies with the physical properties of the selected material, Q235. The designed cotton harvester crawler chassis features stable straight-line and steering performance. The vehicle’s speed can be adjusted based on the complexity of the terrain, with timely steering responses, minimal compaction on cotton, and reduced soil damage, meeting the requirements for mechanized harvesting in China’s inland small plots.
Optimization of Manure-Based Substrate Preparation to Reduce Nutrients Losses and Improve Quality for Growth of Agaricus bisporus
Authors: Geng Yucong , Wang Yuhan , Li Han , Li Rui , Ge Shengxiu , Wang Hongyuan , Wu Shuxia , Liu Hongbin
Published: October 2024

With the growing world population, food demand has also increased, resulting in increased agricultural waste and livestock manure production. Wheat straw and cow dung are rich nutrient sources and, if not utilized properly, may lead to environmental pollution. Keeping in view the cultivation of Agaricus bisporus on straw/manure-based substrate, the current study aimed to optimize the conventional manure preparation technique to reduce nutrient losses and keep the quality of manure at its best. The treatments were considered as traditional and optimized schemes for mushroom substrate preparation. The results achieved herein indicated that the nutrient losses were low in the optimum scheme. For carbon (C), the loss was 43.55% at the substrate stage in the traditional scheme and reduced to 37.75% in the optimum scheme. In the case of nitrogen (N), the loss was 22.01% in the traditional scheme and was lower (18.49%) in the optimum scheme. The nutrient concentration in Agaricus bisporus was higher with the optimum scheme compared with the traditional scheme. It was 1.74% for C, 7.17% for N, 3.58% for phosphorus (P), and 4.92% for potassium (K). The optimum scheme also improved the Agaricus bisporus yield per unit area (84.55%) and the total yield (28.92%). The net income of the optimum scheme was 102.95% higher compared to the traditional scheme. The economic analysis also revealed that the benefit–cost ratio of the optimum scheme was high (48.86%) compared with the traditional scheme. This study concludes that the use of the optimum scheme can better utilize the wheat straw and cow manure waste for substrate preparation and reducing nutrient losses. In addition, the final mushroom residue can also be used as a leftover substrate for further utilization.
Sugarcane-YOLO: An Improved YOLOv8 Model for Accurate Identification of Sugarcane Seed Sprouts
Authors: Zhang Fujie , Dong Defeng , Jia Xiaoyi , Guo Jiawen , Yu Xiaoning
Published: October 2024

Sugarcane is a crop that propagates through seed sprouts on nodes. Accurate identification of sugarcane seed sprouts is crucial for sugarcane planting and the development of intelligent sprout-cutting equipment. This paper proposes a sugarcane seed sprout recognition method based on the YOLOv8s model by adding the simple attention mechanism (SimAM) module to the neck network of the YOLOv8s model and adding the spatial-depth convolution (SPD-Conv) to the tail convolution part. Meanwhile, the E-IoU loss function is chosen to increase the model’s regression speed. Additionally, a small-object detection layer, P2, is incorporated into the feature pyramid network (FPN), and the large-object detection layer, P5, is eliminated to further improve the model’s recognition accuracy and speed. Then, the improvement of each part is tested and analyzed, and the effectiveness of the improved modules is verified. Finally, the Sugarcane-YOLO model is obtained. On the sugarcane seed and sprout dataset, the Sugarcane-YOLO model performed better and was more balanced in accuracy and detection speed than other mainstream models, and it was the most suitable model for seed and sprout recognition by automatic sugarcane-cutting equipment. Experimental results showed that the Sugarcane-YOLO achieved a mAP50 value of 99.05%, a mAP72 value of 81.3%, a mAP50-95 value of 71.61%, a precision of 97.42%, and a recall rate of 98.63%.
Deep Learning-Based Gender Recognition in Cherry Valley Ducks Through Sound Analysis
Authors: Han Guofeng , Liu Yujing , Cai Jiawen , Duan Enze , Shi Zefeng , Zhao Shida , Huo Lianfei , Wang Huixin , Bai Zongchun
Published: October 2024

Gender recognition is an important part of the duck industry. Currently, the gender identification of ducks mainly relies on manual labor, which is highly labor-intensive. This study aims to propose a novel method for distinguishing between males and females based on the characteristic sound parameters for day-old ducks. The effective data from the sounds of day-old ducks were recorded and extracted using the endpoint detection method. The 12-dimensional Mel-frequency cepstral coefficients (MFCCs) with first-order and second-order difference coefficients in the effective sound signals of the ducks were calculated, and a total of 36-dimensional feature vectors were obtained. These data were used as input information to train three classification models, include a backpropagation neural network (BPNN), a deep neural network (DNN), and a convolutional neural network (CNN). The training results show that the accuracies of the BPNN, DNN, and CNN were 83.87%, 83.94%, and 84.15%, respectively, and that the three classification models could identify the sounds of male and female ducks. The prediction results showed that the prediction accuracies of the BPNN, DNN, and CNN were 93.33%, 91.67%, and 95.0%, respectively, which shows that the scheme for distinguishing between male and female ducks via sound had high accuracy. Moreover, the CNN demonstrated the best recognition effect. The method proposed in this study can provide some support for developing an efficient technique for gender identification in duck production.