bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Molecular Mechanisms Underlying the Systemic Effects Mediated by Parathormone in the Context of Chronic Kidney Disease
Authors: Maranduca Minela Aida , Cozma Cristian Tudor , Clim Andreea , Pinzariu Alin Constantin , Tudorancea Ionut , Popa Irene Paula , Lazar Cristina Iuliana , Moscalu Roxana , Filip Nina , Moscalu Mihaela , Constantin Mihai , Scripcariu Dragos Viorel , Serban Dragomir Nicolae , Serban Ionela Lacramioara
Published: May 2024

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) stands as a prominent non-communicable ailment, significantly impacting life expectancy. Physiopathology stands mainly upon the triangle represented by parathormone–Vitamin D–Fibroblast Growth Factor-23. Parathormone (PTH), the key hormone in mineral homeostasis, is one of the less easily modifiable parameters in CKD; however, it stands as a significant marker for assessing the risk of complications. The updated “trade-off hypothesis” reveals that levels of PTH spike out of the normal range as early as stage G2 CKD, advancing it as a possible determinant of systemic damage. The present review aims to review the effects exhibited by PTH on several organs while linking the molecular mechanisms to the observed actions in the context of CKD. From a diagnostic perspective, PTH is the most reliable and accessible biochemical marker in CKD, but its trend bears a higher significance on a patient’s prognosis rather than the absolute value. Classically, PTH acts in a dichotomous manner on bone tissue, maintaining a balance between formation and resorption. Under the uremic conditions of advanced CKD, the altered intestinal microbiota majorly tips the balance towards bone lysis. Probiotic treatment has proven reliable in animal models, but in humans, data are limited. Regarding bone status, persistently high levels of PTH determine a reduction in mineral density and a concurrent increase in fracture risk. Pharmacological manipulation of serum PTH requires appropriate patient selection and monitoring since dangerously low levels of PTH may completely inhibit bone turnover. Moreover, the altered mineral balance extends to the cardiovascular system, promoting vascular calcifications. Lastly, the involvement of PTH in the Renin–Angiotensin–Aldosterone axis highlights the importance of opting for the appropriate pharmacological agent should hypertension develop.
Norcantharidin Enhances the Antitumor Effect of 5-Fluorouracil by Inducing Apoptosis of Cervical Cancer Cells: Network Pharmacology, Molecular Docking, and Experimental Validation
Authors: Huang Yong , Wan Xin-Wei , Du Yu-Tong , Feng Yue , Yang Lin-Sen , Liu Yong-Bin , Chen Tian , Zhu Zhuan , Xu Yi-Ting , Wang Cheng-Cheng
Published: May 2024

The high recurrence rate of cervical cancer is a leading cause of cancer deaths in women. 5-Fluorouracil (5-FU) is an antitumor drug used to treat many types of cancer, but its diminishing effectiveness and side effects limit its use. Norcantharidin (NCTD), a demethylated derivative of cantharidin, exhibits various biological activities. Here, we investigated whether NCTD could potentiate 5-FU to induce cervical cancer cell death. To assess the cell viability and synergistic effects of the drugs, cell counting kit-8 and colony formation assays were performed using HR-HPV-positive cervical cancer cell lines. Annexin V-FITC/PI staining and TUNEL assays were performed to confirm the induction of apoptosis. The synergistic effect of NCTD on the antitumor activity of 5-FU was analyzed using network pharmacology, molecular docking, and molecular dynamics simulations. Apoptosis-related proteins were examined using immunoblotting. The combination of NCTD and 5-FU was synergistic in cervical cancer cell lines. Network pharmacological analysis identified 10 common targets of NCTD and 5-FU for cervical cancer treatment. Molecular docking showed the strong binding affinity of both compounds with CA12, CASP9, and PTGS1. Molecular dynamics simulations showed that the complex system of both drugs with caspase-9 could be in a stable state. NCTD enhanced 5-FU-mediated cytotoxicity by activating apoptosis-related proteins. NCTD acts synergistically with 5-FU to inhibit cervical cancer cell proliferation. NCTD enhances 5-FU-induced apoptosis in cervical cancer cell lines via the caspase-dependent pathway.
ADAR Family Proteins: A Structural Review
Authors: Ashley Carolyn N. , Broni Emmanuel , Miller Whelton A.
Published: May 2024

This review aims to highlight the structures of ADAR proteins that have been crucial in the discernment of their functions and are relevant to future therapeutic development. ADAR proteins can correct or diversify genetic information, underscoring their pivotal contribution to protein diversity and the sophistication of neuronal networks. ADAR proteins have numerous functions in RNA editing independent roles and through the mechanisms of A-I RNA editing that continue to be revealed. Provided is a detailed examination of the ADAR family members—ADAR1, ADAR2, and ADAR3—each characterized by distinct isoforms that offer both structural diversity and functional variability, significantly affecting RNA editing mechanisms and exhibiting tissue-specific regulatory patterns, highlighting their shared features, such as double-stranded RNA binding domains (dsRBD) and a catalytic deaminase domain (CDD). Moreover, it explores ADARs’ extensive roles in immunity, RNA interference, and disease modulation, demonstrating their ambivalent nature in both the advancement and inhibition of diseases. Through this comprehensive analysis, the review seeks to underline the potential of targeting ADAR proteins in therapeutic strategies, urging continued investigation into their biological mechanisms and health implications.
Stemness and Cell Cycle Regulators and Their Modulation by Retinoic Acid in Ewing Sarcoma
Authors: Battistella Maria Eduarda , Freire Natália Hogetop , Toson Bruno , Dalmolin Matheus , Fernandes Marcelo A. C. , Tassinari Isadora D. , Jaeger Mariane , Brunetto André T. , Brunetto Algemir L. , Gregianin Lauro , de Farias Caroline Brunetto , Roesler Rafael
Published: May 2024

Retinoic acid (RA) regulates stemness and differentiation in human embryonic stem cells (ESCs). Ewing sarcoma (ES) is a pediatric tumor that may arise from the abnormal development of ESCs. Here we show that RA impairs the viability of SK-ES-1 ES cells and affects the cell cycle. Cells treated with RA showed increased levels of p21 and its encoding gene, CDKN1A. RA reduced mRNA and protein levels of SRY-box transcription factor 2 (SOX2) as well as mRNA levels of beta III Tubulin (TUBB3), whereas the levels of CD99 increased. Exposure to RA reduced the capability of SK-ES-1 to form tumorspheres with high expression of SOX2 and Nestin. Gene expression of CD99 and CDKN1A was reduced in ES tumors compared to non-tumoral tissue, whereas transcript levels of SOX2 were significantly higher in tumors. For NES and TUBB3, differences between tumors and control tissue did not reach statistical significance. Low expression of CD99 and NES, and high expression of SOX2, were significantly associated with a poorer patient prognosis indicated by shorter overall survival (OS). Our results indicate that RA may display rather complex modulatory effects on multiple target genes associated with the maintenance of stem cell’s features versus their differentiation, cell cycle regulation, and patient prognosis in ES.
Ex Vivo-Generated Tolerogenic Dendritic Cells: Hope for a Definitive Therapy of Autoimmune Diseases
Authors: Jonny  , Sitepu Enda Cindylosa , Nidom Chairul A. , Wirjopranoto Soetojo , Sudiana I. Ketut , Ansori Arif N. M. , Putranto Terawan Agus
Published: May 2024

Current therapies for autoimmune diseases are immunosuppressant agents, which have many debilitating side effects. However, dendritic cells (DCs) can induce antigen-specific tolerance. Tolerance restoration mediated by ex vivo-generated DCs can be a therapeutic approach. Therefore, in this review, we summarize the conceptual framework for developing ex vivo-generated DC strategies for autoimmune diseases. First, we will discuss the role of DCs in developing immune tolerance as a foundation for developing dendritic cell-based immunotherapy for autoimmune diseases. Then, we also discuss relevant findings from pre-clinical and clinical studies of ex vivo-generated DCs for therapy of autoimmune diseases. Finally, we discuss problems and challenges in dendritic cell therapy in autoimmune diseases. Throughout the article, we discuss autoimmune diseases, emphasizing SLE.
Investigation of the Corrosion and Tribological Properties of WC-Co Tools Hardened with PVD Coatings in Solid Oak Wood Processing
Authors: Kazlauskas Deividas , Jankauskas Vytenis , Antonov Maksim
Published: May 2024

Corrosion and friction coefficient tests were performed on solid oak wood machined with hard-metal woodworking tools coated with PVD coatings (AlCrN, AlTiN, TiAlN, TiCN and CrN). The tannic acid attacks the carbide more intensively than the PVD coatings. During cutting, corrosion spreads on the cutting edge of the cutter due to mechanical action, which dissolves the cobalt binder of the hard-metal and causes the carbide grains to flake off. After 80 min of contact with the wood, the cobalt content decreases from 3.53 to 1.74%. Depending on the PVD coating material, cracks of 4 to 40 µm in width appear after 120 min (9000 m cutting path). After 120 min of machining, wear, corrosion effects and the influence of corrosion on the coefficients of friction were evaluated for tools with and without PVD coatings. TiCN is the most sensitive to corrosion, while AlCrN and CrN coatings are the least sensitive, with the AlTiN coating being the most affected under real cutting conditions (with mechanical + thermal + corrosion effects) and the tools with CrN and AlCrN coatings being the least affected. Corrosion affects the hard-metal and PVD coatings and reduces the coefficient of friction. The angle between the directions of sliding and sharpening of the cutting edge sharpening significantly influences this parameter. The coefficient of friction of hard-metal WC-Co and PVD coatings is higher in the parallel machining direction than in the perpendicular machining direction and ranges from 16.03% (WC-Co) to 44.8% (AlTiN). The coefficient of friction of hard-metal WC-Co decreases by 5.13% before and after exposure to tannic acid, while the corrosion of PVD coatings reduces it by 4.13% (CrN) to 26.7% (TiAlN).
Synthesis and π-Hole vs. π Effects of Pt(II) Complexes with Pentafluorophenyl and Phenyl-Substituted Bipyridines
Authors: Hori Akiko , Takeuchi Yuta , Kawasaki Tadashi , Toyama Naoki , Yuge Hidetaka , Hiroi Takashi
Published: May 2024

Four types of perfluoroarene-substituted and the corresponding non-fluorinated Pt(II) complexes, [PtCl2L] (L = 1 and 2), were prepared with 4,4′-bis(pentafluorophenyl)-2,2′-bipyridine (1a), 4,4′-diphenyl-2,2′-bipyridine (1b), 4,4′-bis(2-pentafluorophenylethynyl)-2,2′-bipyridine (2a), and 4,4′-bis(2-phenylethynyl)-2,2′-bipyridine (2b), respectively, to understand the role of perfluoroaromatic substitution and acetylene linkers on molecular structures and their induced supramolecular associations. The pentafluorophenyl groups lead to significant changes in electron distribution within the Pt(II) complexes, notably causing absorption bands to red-shift due to a metal-to-ligand charge transfer from nucleophilic platinum ions and demonstrating stabilization effects on the bands by fluorination in experimental and theoretical studies. The results of altering electron density and reducing the metal’s nucleophilic tendencies through fluorination and the use of an acetylene linker are discussed, accompanied by crystal structures, the corresponding Hirshfeld surface analysis, and DFT calculations.
Crystal Growth, Photoluminescence and Radioluminescence Properties of Ce3+-Doped Ba3Y(PO4)3 Crystal
Authors: Zou Zhenggang , Weng Jiaolin , Liu Chun , Lin Yiyang , Zhu Jiawei , Sun Yijian , Huang Jianhui , Gong Guoliang , Wen Herui
Published: May 2024

Inorganic scintillation crystals have been widely used in applications of high-energy physics, nuclear medical imaging, industrial nondestructive inspection, etc. In this work, a single crystal Ba3Y(PO4)3 (BYP) with 1.0 at% Ce3+-doping concentration was first grown by the Czochralski method, and the electronic structure was calculated using first principles based on density functional theory. In addition, a series of Ce3+-doped BYP phosphors were synthesized, and the fluorescence emission under UV excitation was measured through low-temperature spectroscopy, containing double-peaked emission from 5d–4f transition and self-trapped exciton recombination. A comparison of the UV and X-ray-excited fluorescence spectra reveals the existence of oxygen vacancies as well as F+ centers in the crystal. The air annealing of the crystal effectively reduces the thermoluminescence defects but reduces the emission intensity under UV or X-ray excitation. The BYP:Ce crystal shows a fast decay lifetime of 15.5 ns, and the fast component is as short as 8 ns. The results show that the Ce3+-doped BYP crystal has potential as a kind of scintillator with fast decay properties.
Neutron Macromolecular Crystallography for Biological Samples—Current State and Future Perspectives
Authors: Hjorth-Jensen Samuel John , Budayova-Spano Monika
Published: May 2024

Knowledge of hydrogen locations and protonation states is critical for a fundamental understanding of biological macromolecular function/interactions, and neutron macromolecular crystallography (NMX) is uniquely suited among the experimental structural-determination methods to provide this information. However, despite its potential, NMX remains a relatively niche technique, due to substantial limitations. This review explores NMX’s role amongst the evolving landscape of structural biology, comparing and contrasting it to the historical gold standard of X-ray macromolecular crystallography (X-ray MX) and the increasingly prevalent electron-based methods—i.e., electron microscopy (EM) and electron diffraction (ED). Forthcoming developments (e.g., the European Spallation Source in Lund, Sweden, coming online) are expected to substantially address current limitations and ensure NMX will remain relevant in the coming decades.
New Anticancer Drugs: Reliably Assessing “Value” While Addressing High Prices
Authors: Stewart David J. , Bradford John-Peter , Sehdev Sandeep , Ramsay Tim , Navani Vishal , Rawson Nigel S. B. , Jiang Di Maria , Gotfrit Joanna , Wheatley-Price Paul , Liu Geoffrey , Kaplan Alan , Spadafora Silvana , Goodman Shaun G. , Auer Rebecca A. C. , Batist Gerald
Published: May 2024

Countries face challenges in paying for new drugs. High prices are driven in part by exploding drug development costs, which, in turn, are driven by essential but excessive regulation. Burdensome regulation also delays drug development, and this can translate into thousands of life-years lost. We need system-wide reform that will enable less expensive, faster drug development. The speed with which COVID-19 vaccines and AIDS therapies were developed indicates this is possible if governments prioritize it. Countries also differ in how they value drugs, and generally, those willing to pay more have better, faster access. Canada is used as an example to illustrate how “incremental cost-effectiveness ratios” (ICERs) based on measures such as gains in “quality-adjusted life-years” (QALYs) may be used to determine a drug’s value but are often problematic, imprecise assessments. Generally, ICER/QALY estimates inadequately consider the impact of patient crossover or long post-progression survival, therapy benefits in distinct subpopulations, positive impacts of the therapy on other healthcare or societal costs, how much governments willingly might pay for other things, etc. Furthermore, a QALY value should be higher for a lethal or uncommon disease than for a common, nonlethal disease. Compared to international comparators, Canada is particularly ineffective in initiating public funding for essential new medications. Addressing these disparities demands urgent reform.
Impact of PET/CT Imaging with FDG in Locally Advanced Cervical Carcinoma—A Literature Review
Authors: Molnar Ottó , Straciuc Oreste Mihai , Mihuțiu Simona , Lazăr Liviu
Published: May 2024

Positron emission tomography (PET) and computed tomography (CT) have evolved as a pivotal diagnostic modality in the field of oncology. With its increasing application in staging and ready availability, it becomes imperative for committed radiation oncologists to possess a complete analysis and understanding of integration of molecular imaging, which can be helpful for radiation planning, while also acknowledging its possible limitations and challenges. A significant obstacle lies in the synthesis and design of tumor-specific bmolecules for diagnosing and treating cancer. The utilization of radiation in medical biochemistry and biotechnology, encompassing diagnosis, therapy, and control of biological systems, is encapsulated under the umbrella term “nuclear medicine”. Notably, the application of various radioisotopes in pharmaceutics has garnered significant attention, particularly in the realm of delivery systems for drugs, DNA, and imaging agents. The present article provides a comprehensive review of use of novel techniques PET and CT with major positron-emitting radiopharmaceuticals currently in progress or utilized in clinical practice with their integration into imaging and radiation therapy.
Age Readings and Assessment in Coastal Batoid Elasmobranchs from Small-Scale Size-Selective Fishery: The Importance of Data Comparability in Multi-Specific Assemblages
Authors: Scacco Umberto , Zanardi Fabiana , Kroha Silvio , Mancini Emanuele , Tiralongo Francesco , Nascetti Giuseppe
Published: May 2024

The large variation in vertebral shape and calcification observed among elasmobranch species prevents using a single method for enhancing growth bands and reading age. Further, estimating age and growth parameters can be difficult or impractical when samples are incomplete due to the bycatch of a size-selective fishery. Using a single and rapid method, age readings were obtained on the vertebrae of four batoid species, namely 53 individuals of Dasyatis pastinaca, 51 of Raja asterias, 15 of Torpedo marmorata, and 55 specimens of Torpedo torpedo, from the local small-scale trammel net fishery in the coastal waters (5–20 m depth) of the Central Tyrrhenian Sea during 2019–2021. Based on these data, a statistical routine was developed to obtain multiple estimates of age and growth parameters for incomplete samples due to size-selective fishing. The acceptable agreement between and within readers (intra and inter-reader disagreement < 5%) and the rate of increase in vertebral size with body size (differently ranked across species) demonstrated the consistency of the enhancing method. The parameters estimated by the Von Bertalanffy and Gompertz growth models matched the data available in the Mediterranean Sea for the species studied, with D. pastinaca, T. torpedo, and R. asterias showing the lowest (k = 0.05–0.12), intermediate (k = 0.112–0.19), and highest (k = 0.18–0.23) growth rates, respectively, in line with the life history traits of these species. Overall, the method proved effective both in delineating band pairs in vertebrae of different species and in reliably estimating the age and growth parameters of problematic samples due to size-selective fishing. The proposed method supports the collection of comparable demographic data from other areas where similar multi-specific assemblages are bycatch of size-selective fisheries impacting potential nursery areas and other essential habitats for elasmobranchs.
Assessing the Interpretability–Performance Trade-Off of Artificial Neural Networks Using Sentinel Fish Health Data
Authors: McMillan Patrick G. , Feng Zeny Z. , Arciszewski Tim J. , Proner Robert , Deeth Lorna E.
Published: May 2024

A number of sentinel species are regularly sampled from the environment near the Oil Sands Region (OSR) in Alberta, Canada. In particular, trout-perch are sampled as a proxy for the health of the aquatic ecosystem. As the development of the OSR began before the environmental monitoring program was in place, there is currently no established measure for the baseline health of the local ecosystem. A common solution is to calculate normal ranges for fish endpoints. Observations found to be outside the normal range are then flagged, alerting researchers to the potential presence of stressors in the local environment. The quality of the normal ranges is dependent on the accuracy of the estimates used to calculate them. This paper explores the use of neural networks and regularized regression for improving the prediction accuracy of fish endpoints. We also consider the trade-off between the prediction accuracy and interpretability of each model. We find that neural networks can provide increased prediction accuracy, but this improvement in accuracy may not be worth the loss in interpretability in some ecological studies. The elastic net offers both good prediction accuracy and interpretability, making it a safe choice for many ecological applications. A hybridized method combining both the neural network and elastic net offers high prediction accuracy as well as some interpretability, and therefore it is the recommended method for this application.
Pre-Commercial Thinning Increases Tree Size and Reduces Western Gall Rust Infections in Lodgepole Pine
Authors: Scaria Francis , Pinno Bradley D.
Published: May 2024

Alberta’s forest industry is predicted to be impacted by a medium-term decline in timber supply. Intensive silviculture tools, such as pre-commercial thinning, have been shown to increase individual tree growth, shorten rotation lengths, and improve stand merchantability in important commercial species such as lodgepole pine. However, lodgepole pine stands are susceptible to western gall rust infections, and thinning at an early stage may increase infection rates. This study collected tree and stand level data from 33 operational harvest origin lodgepole pine stands consisting of 11 stands thinned at age 17–19 years (PCT_18), 11 stands thinned at age 23–25 (PCT_24), and 11 unthinned stands. Approximately 40 years after pre-commercial thinning, merchantable volume is similar in all stands but thinned stands, regardless of timing, had greater individual tree size (~15% higher) compared to unthinned stands. Pre-commercially thinned stands also had a higher potential for commercial thinning since they have lower variability in tree size and longer live crown lengths. In addition, delayed thinning (PCT_24) reduced western gall rust infections and the severity of infections compared to both PCT_18 and unthinned stands. In conclusion, pre-commercial thinning should be considered for lodgepole pine stands in order to address timber supply issues in Alberta.
Realization of Authenticated One-Pass Key Establishment on RISC-V Micro-Controller for IoT Applications
Authors: Dang Tuan-Kiet , Nguyen Khai-Duy , Kieu-Do-Nguyen Binh , Hoang Trong-Thuc , Pham Cong-Kha
Published: May 2024

Internet-of-things networks consist of multiple sensor devices spread over a wide area. In order to protect the data from unauthorized access and tampering, it is essential to ensure secure communication between the sensor devices and the central server. This security measure aims to guarantee authenticity, confidentiality, and data integrity. Unlike traditional computing systems, sensor node devices are often limited regarding memory and computing power. Lightweight communication protocols, such as LoRaWAN, were introduced to overcome these limitations. However, despite the lightweight feature, the protocol is vulnerable to different types of attacks. This proposal presents a highly secure key establishment protocol that combines two cryptography schemes: Elliptic Curve Qu–Vanstone and signcryption key encapsulation. The protocol provides a method to establish a secure channel that inherits the security properties of the two schemes. Also, it allows for fast rekeying with only one exchange message, significantly reducing the handshake complexity in low-bandwidth communication. In addition, the selected schemes complement each other and share the same mathematical operations in elliptic curve cryptography. Moreover, with the rise of a community-friendly platform like RISC-V, we implemented the protocol on a RISC-V system to evaluate its overheads regarding the cycle count and execution time.
Optimization of Wheelchair Control via Multi-Modal Integration: Combining Webcam and EEG
Authors: Zaway Lassaad , Ben Amor Nader , Ktari Jalel , Jallouli Mohamed , Chrifi Alaoui Larbi , Delahoche Laurent
Published: May 2024

Even though Electric Powered Wheelchairs (EPWs) are a useful tool for meeting the needs of people with disabilities, some disabled people find it difficult to use regular EPWs that are joystick-controlled. Smart wheelchairs that use Brain–Computer Interface (BCI) technology present an efficient solution to this problem. This article presents a cutting-edge intelligent control wheelchair that is intended to improve user involvement and security. The suggested method combines facial expression analysis via a camera with EEG signal processing using the EMOTIV Insight EEG dataset. The system generates control commands by identifying specific EEG patterns linked to facial expressions such as eye blinking, winking left and right, and smiling. Simultaneously, the system uses computer vision algorithms and inertial measurements to analyze gaze direction in order to establish the user’s intended steering. The outcomes of the experiments prove that the proposed system is reliable and efficient in meeting the various requirements of people, presenting a positive development in the field of smart wheelchair technology.
Effects of Leaf Species and Conditioning State of Fresh Leaves on Colonization by Stream and Pond Macroinvertebrates
Authors: Hoffman Austin R. , Iyengar Erika V.
Published: May 2024

Fresh, green leaves are increasing as resources in aquatic ecosystems due to more frequent severe spring and summer storms, but research on allochthonous resources typically uses senescent leaves. We examined macroinvertebrate colonization of green leaves of three native deciduous trees (red maple, red oak, and tulip poplar) over two weeks within both a stream and fishless pond. Leaf colonization varied depending on the taxa of leaves and colonizers, submersion time, and the ecosystem examined. Within the stream, the densities of isopods (Lirceus sp.) and snails (mostly the invasive Potamopyrgus antipodarum) did not vary significantly across leaf species. In contrast, mayflies (Tricorythodes sp.) in the stream colonized tulip poplar in greater numbers than red oak leaves, while higher densities of planarians (order Tricladida) occurred within red oak leaves. The numbers of mayflies and snails decreased significantly by the second week, but the densities of isopods and planaria within stream leaf packs were consistent. In contrast, within the pond, significantly more isopods (Caecidotea communis) were collected after the first than after the second week of submersion and in tulip poplar leaves. Clams (Sphaeriidae) in the pond, on the other hand, were more prevalent in the second week but did not discriminate among leaf species. While the number of leeches (mostly Helobdella stagnalis) was consistent across weeks, significantly fewer leeches resided within tulip poplar leaves than within red oak leaves. Our results suggest that there are no consistent colonization-preference rankings of species of fresh leaves across freshwater benthic macroinvertebrate taxa. Even within a functional feeding group (e.g., the two types of isopods and snails, all detritivore-herbivores), there were differences in colonization patterns. Therefore, increased allochthonous inputs of fresh leaf litter due to severe spring- and summer-time storms are likely to promote the populations of various taxa to different extents.
Enhancing EQ-5D-5L Sensitivity in Capturing the Most Common Symptoms in Post-COVID-19 Patients: An Exploratory Cross-Sectional Study with a Focus on Fatigue, Memory/Concentration Problems and Dyspnea Dimensions
Authors: Janols Helena , Wadsten Carl , Forssell Christoffer , Raffeti Elena , Janson Christer , Zhou Xingwu , Kisiel Marta A
Published: May 2024

This study aimed to determine whether the EQ-5D-5L tool captures the most common persistent symptoms, such as fatigue, memory/concentration problems and dyspnea, in patients with post-COVID-19 conditions while also investigating if adding these symptoms improves the explained variance of the health-related quality of life (HRQoL). In this exploratory cross-sectional study, two cohorts of Swedish patients (n = 177) with a history of COVID-19 infection answered a questionnaire covering sociodemographic characteristics and clinical factors, and their HRQoL was assessed using EQ-5D-5L with the Visual Analogue Scale (EQ-VAS). Spearman rank correlation and multiple regression analyses were employed to investigate the extent to which the most common persistent symptoms, such as fatigue, memory/concentration problems and dyspnea, were explained by the EQ-5D-5L. The explanatory power of EQ-5D-5L for EQ-VAS was also analyzed, both with and without including symptom(s). We found that the EQ-5D-5L dimensions partly captured fatigue and memory/concentration problems but performed poorly in regard to capturing dyspnea. Specifically, the EQ-5D-5L explained 55% of the variance in memory/concentration problems, 47% in regard to fatigue and only 14% in regard to dyspnea. Adding fatigue to the EQ-5D-5L increased the explained variance of the EQ-VAS by 5.7%, while adding memory/concentration problems and dyspnea had a comparatively smaller impact on the explained variance. Our study highlights the EQ-5D-5L’s strength in capturing fatigue and memory/concentration problems in post-COVID-19 patients. However, it also underscores the challenges in assessing dyspnea in this group. Fatigue emerged as a notably influential symptom, significantly enhancing the EQ-5D-5L’s predictive ability for these patients’ EQ-VAS scores.
Online Interest in Urology Residency: A Comprehensive Analysis of Current Internet Temporal and Geographic Patterns
Authors: Drouaud Arthur , Antar Ryan , Xu Vincent , Nagao Paul , Tafuri Sean , Whalen Michael
Published: May 2024

Urology is one of the most competitive specialties in medicine, creating a challenge for prospective students looking to secure a residency position. Our study aims to assess online interest in urology residency by querying online interaction with search terms and criteria for urology residency programs. Utilizing Google Trends analysis from 2011 to 2024, this study examined urology-related search volume indexes, as well as temporal and geographical patterns. Furthermore, the number of residency positions from the American Urological Association database for the 2022 match process was evaluated. Our analysis of temporal trends revealed increased interest in urologist salaries from 2011 to 2019, followed by a decline from 2019 to 2023. Interest in urology-related interviews, applications, research, and letters increased in 2019, marked by the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. California, New York, and Texas had the lowest interest-to-position (IP) ratio, while Maryland, New Jersey, and Virginia had the highest IP ratio. Our analysis reveals an evolving interest in salaries, residency programs, and USMLE Step 1 changes in areas connected with urology. We report key geographical areas with high urology residency interest and low numbers of programs, implying a need for expanded residencies in underserved yet high-interest areas. Awareness and continued interest monitoring after the COVID-19 pandemic is critical for understanding interest in urology applicants.
MortalityMinder: Visualization and AI Interpretations of Social Determinants of Premature Mortality in the United States
Authors: Bhanot Karan , Erickson John S. , Bennett Kristin P.
Published: May 2024

MortalityMinder enables healthcare researchers, providers, payers, and policy makers to gain actionable insights into where and why premature mortality rates due to all causes, cancer, cardiovascular disease, and deaths of despair rose between 2000 and 2017 for adults aged 25–64. MortalityMinder is designed as an open-source web-based visualization tool that enables interactive analysis and exploration of social, economic, and geographic factors associated with mortality at the county level. We provide case studies to illustrate how MortalityMinder finds interesting relationships between health determinants and deaths of despair. We also demonstrate how GPT-4 can help translate statistical results from MortalityMinder into actionable insights to improve population health. When combined with MortalityMinder results, GPT-4 provides hypotheses on why socio-economic risk factors are associated with mortality, how they might be causal, and what actions could be taken related to the risk factors to improve outcomes with supporting citations. We find that GPT-4 provided plausible and insightful answers about the relationship between social determinants and mortality. Our work is a first step towards enabling public health stakeholders to automatically discover and visualize relationships between social determinants of health and mortality based on available data and explain and transform these into meaningful results using artificial intelligence.
Enhanced Surface Properties of TiO2-Based Coatings via Stevia-Assisted Spark Suppression: Insights from Density Functional Theory Calculations
Authors: Kaseem Mosab , Safira Ananda Repycha , Fattah-alhosseini Arash
Published: May 2024

This study investigates the enhancement of surface properties in TiO2-based coatings on the Ti-6Al-4V alloy through micro-arc oxidation (MAO), employing stevia sugar as a novel additive. By incorporating stevia sugar into acetate–glycerophosphate–tetraethoxysilane solutions used in MAO treatment, the porous morphology of TiO2-based oxide layers is regulated. The incorporation of stevia moderates plasma discharge intensity, facilitating the formation of a uniform silicon-rich structure characterized by reduced porosity and pore size. This effect is attributed to the interaction between stevia and tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS), which modifies the TEOS hydrolysis process, thereby enhancing structural uniformity and stability while concurrently reducing plasma discharge intensity. Additionally, theoretical calculations offer a valuable understanding of the reactivity and interactions of stevia, TEOS, and their complex during the MAO process, laying the groundwork for further research and optimization in this promising field.
Optimizing Vision Transformers for Histopathology: Pretraining and Normalization in Breast Cancer Classification
Authors: Baroni Giulia Lucrezia , Rasotto Laura , Roitero Kevin , Tulisso Angelica , Di Loreto Carla , Della Mea Vincenzo
Published: May 2024

This paper introduces a self-attention Vision Transformer model specifically developed for classifying breast cancer in histology images. We examine various training strategies and configurations, including pretraining, dimension resizing, data augmentation and color normalization strategies, patch overlap, and patch size configurations, in order to evaluate their impact on the effectiveness of the histology image classification. Additionally, we provide evidence for the increase in effectiveness gathered through geometric and color data augmentation techniques. We primarily utilize the BACH dataset to train and validate our methods and models, but we also test them on two additional datasets, BRACS and AIDPATH, to verify their generalization capabilities. Our model, developed from a transformer pretrained on ImageNet, achieves an accuracy rate of 0.91 on the BACH dataset, 0.74 on the BRACS dataset, and 0.92 on the AIDPATH dataset. Using a model based on the prostate small and prostate medium HistoEncoder models, we achieve accuracy rates of 0.89 and 0.86, respectively. Our results suggest that pretraining on large-scale general datasets like ImageNet is advantageous. We also show the potential benefits of using domain-specific pretraining datasets, such as extensive histopathological image collections as in HistoEncoder, though not yet with clear advantages.
The Systemic Inflammation Index: A New Candidate Minor Criterion in the Diagnosis of Polycythemia Vera
Authors: Gulturk Emine , Kapucu Korhan
Published: May 2024

Aim: To investigate inflammation indices and erythropoietin levels for their potential role in distinguishing polycythemia vera from secondary polycythemia and to compare different parameter combinations in terms of the diagnostic accuracy. Methods: This retrospective cohort was created from patients assessed for polycythemia from January 2020 to December 2023. Polycythemia vera diagnosis was made according to the 2016 World Health Organization criteria (n = 145). Those who did not fulfill the criteria were defined as having secondary polycythemia (n = 84). Results: The neutrophil lymphocyte ratio, platelet lymphocyte ratio and systemic immune-inflammation index were significantly higher in the polycythemia vera group (p < 0.001 for all). Erythropoietin had the highest area under the curve in the analysis to distinguish groups, followed by the systemic immune-inflammation index. The platelet lymphocyte ratio (≥135) had the highest specificity to detect polycythemia vera, followed closely by the systemic immune-inflammation index. The sensitivity for polycythemia vera detection was highest with the erythropoietin and systemic immune-inflammation index combination, followed by erythropoietin and the neutrophil lymphocyte ratio. All the single and combinatory variables exhibited significant performance in predicting polycythemia vera after adjusting for age and sex. However, the erythropoietin and systemic immune-inflammation index combination had the highest odds ratio, followed by erythropoietin alone. Conclusion: These are promising findings supporting the usability of these biomarkers, especially the systemic immune-inflammation index, as minor criteria in the diagnosis of polycythemia vera. It is especially crucial to note that using erythropoietin in combination with these markers may improve diagnostic accuracy.
Hemoglobin, Ferritin, and Lactate Dehydrogenase as Predictive Markers for Neonatal Sepsis
Authors: Lungu Nicoleta , Popescu Daniela-Eugenia , Manea Aniko Maria , Jura Ana Maria Cristina , Doandes Florina Marinela , Popa Zoran Laurentiu , Gorun Florin , Citu Cosmin , Gruber Denis , Ciurescu Sebastian , Boia Marioara
Published: May 2024

(1) Background: This study evaluates the predictive effectiveness of biomarkers in diagnosing newborn sepsis. (2) Methods: This was a case–control study conducted on neonates hospitalized at the Clinical Hospital “Louis Turcanu”, Timisoara, Romania, from October 2018 to July 2023. Using a vacutainer collection device, venous blood was collected at admission for complete blood tests, including ferritin, hemoglobin, LDH, and blood culture analysis. Neonates were divided into two groups: sepsis-positive and sepsis-negative. The outcome of interest was a diagnosis of sepsis. (3) Results: Data from 86 neonates, 51 of whom had been confirmed to have sepsis, were analyzed. This study found no significant difference in gestational age, infant weight, fetal growth restriction, or APGAR score between neonates with and without sepsis. However, there was a higher incidence of sepsis among neonates delivered via cesarean section. Neonatal patients with sepsis showed significantly higher levels of neonatal serum ferritin and LDH compared to those without sepsis. Ferritin and LDH biomarkers demonstrated excellent discriminatory capabilities in diagnosing neonatal sepsis. Logistic regression analysis revealed a significant association between elevated ferritin and LDH levels and the likelihood of neonatal sepsis, while anemia did not show a significant association. (4) Conclusions: LDH and ferritin concentrations are found to be predictive biomarkers for neonatal sepsis, indicating a potential role in detecting susceptible neonates and implementing prompt interventions to improve patient outcomes.
Divergent Cellular Expression Patterns of PD-L1 and PD-L2 Proteins in Breast Cancer
Authors: Jorns Julie M. , Sun Yunguang , Kamaraju Sailaja , Cheng Yee Chung , Kong Amanda , Yen Tina , Patten Caitlin R. , Cortina Chandler S. , Chitambar Christopher R. , Rui Hallgeir , Chaudhary Lubna N.
Published: May 2024

PD-L1 immunohistochemistry (IHC) has become an established method for predicting cancer response to targeted anti-PD1 immunotherapies, including breast cancer (BC). The alternative PD-1 ligand, PD-L2, remains understudied but may be a complementary predictive marker. Prospective analysis of 32 breast cancers revealed divergent expression patterns of PD-L1 and PD-L2. PD-L1-positivity was higher in immune cells than in cancer cells (median = 5.0% vs. 0.0%; p = 0.001), whereas PD-L2-positivity was higher in cancer cells than immune cells (median = 30% vs. 5.0%; p = 0.001). Percent positivity of PD-L1 and PD-L2 were not correlated, neither in cancer cells nor immune cells. Based on a cut-point of ≥1% positivity, ER+ tumors (n = 23) were frequently PD-L2-positive (73.9%), whereas only 40.9% were PD-L1-positive. These data suggest differential control of cellular PD-L1 and PD-L2 expression in BC and a potential role for PD-L2 IHC as a complementary marker to PD-L1 to improve selection of aggressive ER+ BC that may benefit from anti-PD-1 therapy.
VOD: Vision-Based Building Energy Data Outlier Detection
Authors: Tian Jinzhao , Zhao Tianya , Li Zhuorui , Li Tian , Bie Haipei , Loftness Vivian
Published: May 2024

Outlier detection plays a critical role in building operation optimization and data quality maintenance. However, existing methods often struggle with the complexity and variability of building energy data, leading to poorly generalized and explainable results. To address the gap, this study introduces a novel Vision-based Outlier Detection (VOD) approach, leveraging computer vision models to spot outliers in the building energy records. The models are trained to identify outliers by analyzing the load shapes in 2D time series plots derived from the energy data. The VOD approach is tested on four years of workday time-series electricity consumption data from 290 commercial buildings in the United States. Two distinct models are developed for different usage purposes, namely a classification model for broad-level outlier detection and an object detection model for the demands of precise pinpointing of outliers. The classification model is also interpreted via Grad-CAM to enhance its usage reliability. The classification model achieves an F1 score of 0.88, and the object detection model achieves an Average Precision (AP) of 0.84. VOD is a very efficient path to identifying energy consumption outliers in building operations, paving the way for the enhancement of building energy data quality, operation efficiency, and energy savings.
Effects of UV/H2O2 Degradation on the Physicochemical and Antibacterial Properties of Fucoidan
Authors: He Zhicheng , Zhu Biyang , Deng Lijuan , You Lijun
Published: May 2024

The applications of fucoidan in the food industry were limited due to its high molecular weight and low solubility. Moderate degradation was required to depolymerize fucoidan. A few studies have reported that fucoidan has potential antibacterial activity, but its antibacterial mechanism needs further investigation. In this study, the degraded fucoidans were obtained after ultraviolet/hydrogen peroxide treatment (UV/H2O2) at different times. Their physicochemical properties and antibacterial activities against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli were investigated. The results showed that the average molecular weights of degraded fucoidans were significantly decreased (up to 22.04 times). They were mainly composed of fucose, galactose, and some glucuronic acid. Fucoidan degraded for 90 min (DFuc-90) showed the strongest antibacterial activities against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli, with inhibition zones of 27.70 + 0.84 mm and 9.25 + 0.61 mm, respectively. The minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) were 8 mg/mL and 4 mg/mL, respectively. DFuc-90 could inhibit the bacteria by damaging the cell wall, accumulating intracellular reactive oxygen species, reducing adenosine triphosphate synthesis, and inhibiting bacterial metabolic activity. Therefore, UV/H2O2 treatment could effectively degrade fucoidan and enhance its antibacterial activity.
Technical Feasibility of Extraction of Freshwater from Produced Water with Combined Forward Osmosis and Nanofiltration
Authors: Mohamed Madina , Tagliabue Marco , Tiraferri Alberto
Published: May 2024

This study assesses the technical feasibility of a forward-osmosis-based system for concentrating produced water and extracting freshwater. Forward osmosis was combined with nanofiltration, the latter system used to restore the initial osmotic pressure of the diluted draw solutions while concurrently obtaining the final freshwater product. Three draw solutions, namely, MgCl2, NaCl, and C3H5NaO2, were initially tested against a synthetic water mimicking a pretreated produced water effluent having an osmotic pressure equal to 16.3 bar. MgCl2 was thus selected for high-recovery experiments. Different combinations of draw solution osmotic pressure (30, 40, 60, 80, and 120) and draw-to-feed initial volume ratios (1, 1.6, and 2.2) were tested at the laboratory scale, achieving recovery rates between roughly 35% and 70% and water fluxes between 4 and 8 L m−2h−1. One-dimensional, system-wide simulations deploying the analytical FO water flux equation were utilized to validate the experiments, investigate co-current and counter-current configurations, and understand the system potential. The diluted draw solutions were then transferred to nanofiltration to regenerate their original osmotic pressure. There, the highest observed rejection was 96.6% with an average flux of 21 L m−2h−1, when running the system to achieve 100% relative recovery.
Petrogenesis and Tectonic Setting of the Baluogenguole Mafic Dykes, Zongwulong Belt: Implications for Evolution of the Northern East Paleo-Tethys Ocean
Authors: Chen Min , Pan Tong , Zhao Wen-Tao , Wang Yan-He , Xue Chun-Ji , Wang Bing-Zhang , Xia Chu-Lin
Published: May 2024

The late Paleozoic tectonic setting of the Zongwulong Belt (ZWLB), a significant unit located in the northern Qaidam margin, Qinghai province, remains uncertain. Diabase dykes in the western part of the Zongwulong Belt offer insights into this issue. Field investigations reveal that the dips of the dykes are almost vertical, and they have sharp boundaries with the host rocks. These dykes consist of plagioclase, clinopyroxene, and opaque minerals exhibiting a characteristic porphyritic texture and massive structure. Zircon U-Pb dating of the dykes yields a weighted 206Pb/238U age of 289 ± 1 Ma. The dykes exhibit relatively high concentrations of TFeO, K2O + Na2O, and TiO2, while the SiO2 and MgO concentrations are relatively low. They display relative light-over-heavy REE enrichment, and lack negative Nb-Ta and Eu anomalies. The dykes underwent negligible crustal contamination, and experienced extensive fractional crystallization of olivine, clinopyroxene, and Fe-Ti oxides. Originating from the spinel–garnet transition zone at depths of approximately 75 km, the dykes result from garnet facies low-degree melting (5%–10%) in a continental rift setting. Combining these findings with regional geological data, we propose that the ZWLB likely experienced a continental rift in the west and exhibited a narrow oceanic environment in the east in the late Paleozoic period, potentially representing the most distant north branch of the East Paleo-Tethys Ocean.