bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Modulation of the pre-metastatic bone niche: molecular changes mediated by bone-homing prostate cancer extracellular vesicles
Authors: Brown Thomas J. , Rutland Catrin S. , Choi Katie K. , Tse Feng , Peffers Mandy J. , Mongan Nigel P. , Arkill Kenton P. , Ritchie Alison , Clarke Philip A. , Ratan Hari , Allegrucci Cinzia , Grabowska Anna M. , James Victoria
Published: February 2024

Prostate cancer (PCa) is a leading male malignancy worldwide, often progressing to bone metastasis, with limited curative options. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) have emerged as key players in cancer communication and metastasis, promoting the formation of supportive microenvironments in distant sites. Our previous studies have highlighted the role of PCa EVs in modulating osteoblasts and facilitating tumor progression. However, the early pre-metastatic changes induced by PCa EVs within the bone microenvironment remain poorly understood. To investigate the early effects of repeated exposure to PCa EVs in vivo, mimicking EVs being shed from the primary tumor, PCa EVs isolated from cell line PC3MLuc2a were fluorescently labelled and repeatedly administered via tail vein injection to adult CD1 NuNu male mice for a period of 4 weeks. In vivo imagining, histological analysis and gene expression profiling were performed to assess the impact of PCa EVs on the bone microenvironment. We demonstrate for the first time that PCa EVs home to both bone and lymph nodes following repeated exposures. Furthermore, the accumulation of EVs within the bone leads to distinct molecular changes indicative of disrupted bone homeostasis (e.g., changes to signaling pathways such as Paxillin p = 0.0163, Estrogen Receptor p = 0.0271, RHOA p = 0.0287, Ribonucleotide reductase p = 0.0307 and ERK/MAPK p = 0.0299). Changes in key regulators of these pathways were confirmed in vitro on human osteoblasts. In addition, our data compares the known gene signature of osteocytes and demonstrates a high proportion of overlap (52.2%), suggesting a potential role for this cell type in response to PCa EV exposure. No changes in bone histology or immunohistochemistry were detected, indicating that PCa EV mediated changes were induced at the molecular level. This study provides novel insights into the alterations induced by PCa EVs on the bone microenvironment. The observed molecular changes indicate changes in key pathways and suggest a role for osteocytes in these EV mediated early changes to bone. Further research to understand these early events may aid in the development of targeted interventions to disrupt the metastatic cascade in PCa.
Harnessing Brazilian biodiversity database: identification of flavonoids as potential inhibitors of SARS-CoV-2 main protease using computational approaches and all-atom molecular dynamics simulation
Authors: da Rocha João Augusto Pereira , da Costa Renato Araújo , da Costa Andreia do Socorro Silva , da Rocha Elaine Cristina Medeiros , Gomes Anderson José Bahia , Machado Alencar Kolinski , Fagan Solange Binotto , Brasil Davi do Socorro Barros , Lima e Lima Anderson Henrique
Published: February 2024

SARS-CoV-2 (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2) is the etiological agent responsible for the global outbreak of COVID-19 (Coronavirus Disease 2019). The main protease of SARS-CoV-2, Mpro, is a key enzyme that plays a vital role in mediating viral replication and transcription. In this study, a comprehensive computational approach was employed to investigate the binding affinity, selectivity, and stability of natural product candidates as potential new antivirals acting on the viral polyprotein processing mediated by SARS-CoV-2 Mpro. A library of 288 flavonoids extracted from Brazilian biodiversity was screened to select potential Mpro inhibitors. An initial filter based on Lipinski’s rule of five was applied, and 204 compounds that did not violate any of the Lipinski rules were selected. The compounds were then docked into the active site of Mpro using the GOLD program, and the poses were subsequently re-scored using MM-GBSA (Molecular Mechanics Generalized Born Surface Area) binding free energy calculations performed by AmberTools23. The top five flavonoids with the best MM-GBSA binding free energy values were selected for analysis of their interactions with the active site residues of the protein. Next, we conducted a toxicity and drug-likeness analysis, and non-toxic compounds were subjected to molecular dynamics simulation and free energy calculation using the MM-PBSA (Molecular Mechanics Poisson-Boltzmann Surface Area) method. It was observed that the five selected flavonoids had lower MM-GBSA binding free energy with Mpro than the co-crystal ligand. Furthermore, these compounds also formed hydrogen bonds with two important residues, Cys145 and Glu166, in the active site of Mpro. Two compounds that passed the drug-likeness filter showed stable conformations during the molecular dynamics simulations. Among these, NuBBE_867 exhibited the best MM-PBSA binding free energy value compared to the crystallographic inhibitor. Therefore, this study suggests that NuBBE_867 could be a potential inhibitor against the main protease of SARS-CoV-2 and may be further examined to confirm our results.
The function of chemical folic acid in calibration methods and neurodevelopmental disorders
Authors: Zhou Ziqi , Wang Meng , Fan Qiongli , Zhao Yan , Wang Nianrong
Published: February 2024

Functional molecules have been attracting increasing attention in environmental and physiological studies. In particular, folic acid (FA) could be considered a key factor in estimating, adjusting, and making decisions in the treatment of neurodevelopmental disorders. It promotes the general significance and conceptual for considering FA molecular scientific research detections, which implies related advancement in both of biological structure and detection methods. Among these applications, the FA molecule acts as a coenzyme that incorporates carbon atoms and synthesizes purines and pyrimidines. Therefore, the calibration method has real applications and can be used as a sensing platform and for detection approaches, which conveys the internal relationship between the FA molecule and physiological characterization. This mini review briefly discusses multiple FA application fields and detection pathways and could supplement their utilization in anticipation of the onset of disease.
Comprehensive characterization of ERV-K (HML-8) in the chimpanzee genome revealed less genomic activity than humans
Authors: Wang Chunlei , Zhai Xiuli , Wang Shibo , Zhang Bohan , Yang Caiqin , Song Yanmei , Li Hanping , Liu Yongjian , Han Jingwan , Wang Xiaolin , Li Jingyun , Chen Mingyue , Jia Lei , Li Lin
Published: February 2024

Endogenous retroviruses (ERVs) originate from ancestral germline infections caused by exogenous retroviruses. Throughout evolution, they have become fixed within the genome of the animals into which they were integrated. As ERV elements coevolve with the host, they are normally epigenetically silenced and can become upregulated in a series of physiological and pathological processes. Generally, a detailed ERV profile in the host genome is critical for understanding the evolutionary history and functional performance of the host genome. We previously characterized and cataloged all the ERV-K subtype HML-8 loci in the human genome; however, this has not been done for the chimpanzee, the nearest living relative of humans. In this study, we aimed to catalog and characterize the integration of HML-8 in the chimpanzee genome and compare it with the integration of HML-8 in the human genome. We analyzed the integration of HML-8 and found that HML-8 pervasively invaded the chimpanzee genome. A total of 76 proviral elements were characterized on 23/24 chromosomes, including detailed elements distribution, structure, phylogeny, integration time, and their potential to regulate adjacent genes. The incomplete structure of HML-8 proviral LTRs will undoubtedly affect their activity. Moreover, the results indicated that HML-8 integration occurred before the divergence between humans and chimpanzees. Furthermore, chimpanzees include more HML-8 proviral elements (76 vs. 40) and fewer solo long terminal repeats (LTR) (0 vs. 5) than humans. These results suggested that chimpanzee genome activity is less than the human genome and that humans may have a better ability to shape and screen integrated proviral elements. Our work is informative in both an evolutionary and a functional context for ERVs.
HRVEST: a novel data solution for using wearable smart technology to measure physiologic stress variables during a randomized clinical trial
Authors: Gerwin Jeffrey N. , de Oliveira Almeida Gustavo , Boyce Michael W. , Joseph Melissa , Wong Ambrose H. , Burleson Winslow , Evans Leigh V.
Published: February 2024

The purpose of this study was to address the logistical and data challenges of using wearable technologies in the context of a clinical trial to measure heart rate variability (HRV) as a marker of physiologic stress in emergency healthcare providers during the COVID-19 pandemic. When using these wearable smart garments, the dilemma is two-fold: (1) the volume of raw physiological data produced is enormous and is recorded in formats not easily portable in standard analytic software, and (2) the commensurate data analysis often requires proprietary software. Our team iteratively developed a novel algorithm called HRVEST that can successfully process enormous volumes of physiologic raw data generated by wearable smart garments and meet the specific needs of HRV analyses. HRVEST is a noise-filtering and data-processing algorithm that allows the precise measurements of heart rate variability (HRV) of clinicians working in an Emergency Department (ED). HRVEST automatically processed the biometric data derived from 413 electrocardiogram (ECG) recordings in just over 15 min. Furthermore, throughout this study, we identified unique challenges of working with these technologies and proposed solutions that may facilitate future use in broader contexts. With HRVEST, using wearable smart garments to monitor HRV over long periods of time becomes logistically and feasibly viable for future studies. We also see the potential for real-time feedback to prophylactically reduce emergency physician stress, like informing optimal break-taking or short meditation sessions to lower heart rate. This could improve emotional wellbeing and, subsequently, clinical decision-making and patient outcomes.
Cardiac recovery from pressure overload is not altered by thyroid hormone status in old mice
Authors: Kerp Helena , Gassen Janina , Grund Susanne Camilla , Hönes Georg Sebastian , Dörr Stefanie , Mittag Jens , Härting Nina , Kaiser Frank , Moeller Lars Christian , Lorenz Kristina , Führer Dagmar
Published: February 2024

Introduction

Thyroid hormones (THs) are known to have various effects on the cardiovascular system. However, the impact of TH levels on preexisting cardiac diseases is still unclear. Pressure overload due to arterial hypertension or aortic stenosis and aging are major risk factors for the development of structural and functional abnormalities and subsequent heart failure. Here, we assessed the sensitivity to altered TH levels in aged mice with maladaptive cardiac hypertrophy and cardiac dysfunction induced by transverse aortic constriction (TAC).

Methods

Mice at the age of 12 months underwent TAC and received T4 or anti-thyroid medication in drinking water over the course of 4 weeks after induction of left ventricular pressure overload.

Results

T4 excess or deprivation in older mice had no or only very little impact on cardiac function (fractional shortening), cardiac remodeling (cardiac wall thickness, heart weight, cardiomyocyte size, apoptosis, and interstitial fibrosis), and mortality. This is surprising because T4 excess or deprivation had significantly changed the outcome after TAC in young 8-week-old mice. Comparing the gene expression of deiodinases (Dio) 2 and 3 and TH receptor alpha (TRα) 1 and the dominant-negative acting isoform TRα2 between young and aged mice revealed that aged mice exhibited a higher expression of TRα2 and Dio3, while expression of Dio2 was reduced compared with young mice. These changes in Dio2 and 3 expressions might lead to reduced TH availability in the hearts of 12-month-old mice accompanied by reduced TRα action due to higher TRα2.

Discussion

In summary, our study shows that low and high TH availability have little impact on cardiac function and remodeling in older mice with preexisting pressure-induced cardiac damage. This observation seems to be the result of an altered expression of deiodinases and TRα isoforms, thus suggesting that even though cardiovascular risk is increasing with age, the response to TH stress may be dampened in certain conditions.
Green innovation efficiency measurement of manufacturing industry in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region of China based on Super-EBM model and Malmquist-Luenberger index
Authors: Zhong Chongwen , Yu Mengjun , Zhang Zhanwu , Lu Milin
Published: February 2024

Promoting sustainable development in manufacturing is a paramount goal, with a focus on advancing green innovation. This study constructs a system for evaluating green innovation efficiency and employs the Super-EBM model, incorporating unexpected output, to assess the efficiency of green innovation in 13 cities across the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region from 2011 to 2020. The study further conducts dynamic analysis using the Malmquist-Luenberger index. Results reveal that, statically, the overall green innovation efficiency in the manufacturing industry of the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region is inefficient. There exists a considerable gap in green innovation efficiency among Beijing, Tianjin, and Hebei, with Beijing and Tianjin demonstrating superior performance compared to Hebei. Substantial variations exist in the green innovation efficiency of manufacturing across different cities in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region. Only Beijing, Qinhuangdao, and Baoding achieve DEA-effective green innovation efficiency in the manufacturing industry, while the other cities do not. Dynamically, the green innovation efficiency of the manufacturing industry in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region is on the rise. There is a varying degree of improvement in green innovation efficiency in Beijing, Tianjin, and Hebei, with Hebei showing the highest improvement, Tianjin ranking second, and Beijing having the least improvement. With the exception of Langfang and Hengshui, the green innovation efficiency in the manufacturing industry is improving in most cities in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region, with Hebei witnessing the most significant improvement. This study aims to integrate “environmental pollution” into the evaluation index system for green innovation efficiency. It assesses green innovation efficiency in the manufacturing industry of the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region, considering both static and dynamic perspectives. This clarification offers insights into the level of green innovation, contributing valuable information for the advancement of high-quality development in the regional manufacturing industry.
Quantitative methods for integrating climate adaptation strategies into spatial decision support models
Authors: Povak Nicholas A. , Manley Patricia N. , Wilson Kristen N.
Published: February 2024

With the onset of rapid climate change and the legacy of past forest management and fire suppression policies, the capacity for forested landscapes to maintain core functionality and processes is being challenged. As such, managers are tasked with increasing the pace and scale of management to mitigate negative impacts of future large disturbances and improve resilience and climate adaptation of large landscapes. Such efforts require consensus building, with partners and stakeholders to determine where to allocate scarce resources. We present a methodology to identify strategic (where to go) and tactical (what to do) priorities across large landscapes to assist in project level planning. The model integrates a spatial assessment of current ecosystem resource conditions and spatial outputs from a landscape succession and disturbance simulation model (LANDIS-II) to assess the potential to achieve desired conditions under climate change with ongoing disturbances. Based on the expected trajectory of landscape conditions over time, the model applies fuzzy logic modeling to provide quantitative support for four management strategies (Monitor, Protect, Adapt, and Transform) across the landscape. We provide an example application of these methods targeting sustainable carbon loads across a 970,000 ha landscape in the central Sierras in California. By including future landscape conditions in the model, decisions made at the stand-level are inherently tied to and influenced by larger landscape-level processes that are likely to have the greatest impact on future landscape dynamics. The methods outlined here are able to incorporate multiple metrics to capture the many resources targeted by management. Model outputs could also be used as inputs into spatial optimization models to assess tradeoffs and synergies among treatment options and to aid in long-term planning.
Research progress of Ustekinumab in the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease
Authors: Zhang Weilin , Zhong Guoqiang , Ren Xingxing , Li Mingsong
Published: February 2024

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a chronic, recurrent gastrointestinal disorder with elusive etiology. Interleukin-12 (IL-12) and IL-23 have emerged as key proinflammatory mediators/cytokines in IBD pathogenesis. Ustekinumab (UST), targeting IL-12 and IL-23, has demonstrated promising efficacy and safety in the treatment of IBD. Recently, UST has become increasingly favored as a potential first-line treatment option. This review delineates UST’s mechanism of action, its clinical applications in IBD, including the response rates, strategies for dose optimization for case of partial or lost response, and potential adverse events. This review aims to offer a comprehensive understanding of UST’s role as a therapeutic option in IBD management.
On the incompatibility of object fronting and progressive aspect in Yucatec Maya
Authors: Uth Melanie , Gutiérrez-Bravo Rodrigo , Fliessbach Jan
Published: February 2024

In this paper, we present data from an elicitation study and a corpus study that support the observation that the Yucatec Maya progressive aspect auxiliary táan is replaced by the habitual auxiliary k in sentences with contrastively focused fronted objects. Focus has been extensively studied in Yucatec, yet the incompatibility of object fronting and progressive aspect in Yucatec Maya remains understudied. Both our experimental results and our corpus study point in the direction that this incompatibility may very well be categorical. Theoretically, we take a progressive reading to be derived from an imperfectivity operator in combination with a singular operator, and we propose that this singular operator implicates the negation of event plurality, leading to an exhaustive interpretation which ranks below corrective focus on a contrastive focus scale. This means that, in a sentence with object focus fronting, the use of the marked auxiliary táan (as opposed to the more general k) would trigger two contrastive foci, which would be an unlikely and probably dispreferred speech act.
An attempt using equatorial waves to predict tropical sea surface temperature anomalies associated with the Atlantic zonal mode
Authors: Song Qingyang
Published: February 2024

Introduction

The forecast for anomalous sea surface temperature (SST) events associated with Atlantic zonal mode, also known as Atlantic Niño/Niña, is full of challenge for both statistical and dynamical prediction models.

Methods

This study combines SST, wind and equatorial wave signal to construct a linear model, aiming to evaluate the potential of equatorial waves in extending the lead time of a skilful prediction for Atlantic Niño/Niña events. Wave-induced geopotential simulated by linear ocean models and potential energy flux calculated using a group-velocity-based wave energy flux scheme are involved to capture the signal of equatorial waves in the model establishment.

Results

The constructed linear prediction model has demonstrated comparable prediction skill for the SST anomaly to the dynamical models of the North American Multimodel Ensemble (NMME) during the test period (1992-2016). Compared with the statistical forecast using SST persistence, the model notably improves the six-month-lead prediction (Anomaly correlation coefficient increases from 0.07 to 0.28), which owes to the conservation of wave energy in the narrow Atlantic basin that the Rossby waves reflected in the eastern boundary will transfer the energy back to the central equatorial basin and again affect the SST there.

Conclusion

This study offers a streamlined model and a straightforward demonstration of leveraging wave energy transfer route for the prediction of Atlantic Niño/Niñas.
Revisiting the multidecadal variability of North Atlantic Ocean circulation and climate
Authors: Mishonov Alexey , Seidov Dan , Reagan James
Published: February 2024

The World Ocean’s surface, particularly in the North Atlantic, has been heating up for decades. There was concern that the thermohaline circulation and essential climate variables, such as the temperature and salinity of seawater, could undergo substantial changes in response to this surface warming. The Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC) has changed noticeably over the last centennial and possibly slowed down in recent decades. Therefore, concerns about the future of the North Atlantic Ocean climate are warranted. The key to understanding the North Atlantic current climate trajectory is to identify how the decadal climate responds to ongoing surface warming. This issue is addressed using in-situ data from the World Ocean Atlas covering 1955-1964 to 2005-2017 and from the SODA reanalysis project for the most recent decades of 1980-2019 as fingerprints of the North Atlantic three-dimensional circulation and AMOC’s dynamics. It is shown that although the entire North Atlantic is systematically warming, the climate trajectories in different sub-regions of the North Atlantic reveal radically different characteristics of regional decadal variability. There is also a slowdown of the thermohaline geostrophic circulation everywhere in the North Atlantic during the most recent decade. The warming trends in the subpolar North Atlantic lag behind the subtropical gyre and Nordic Seas warming by at least a decade. The climate and circulation in the North Atlantic remained robust from 1955-1994, with the last two decades (1995-2017) marked by a noticeable reduction in AMOC strength, which may be closely linked to changes in the geometry and strength of the Gulf Stream system.
Acoustic tomographic inversion of 3D temperature fields with mesoscale anomaly in the South China Sea
Authors: Zhang Chuanzheng , Zhu Ze-Nan , Xiao Cong , Zhu Xiao-Hua , Liu Zhao-Jun
Published: February 2024

Acoustic tomographic inversion is based on travel times measured along the transmission paths between all station pairs to reconstruct three-dimensional temperature structures with mesoscale anomalies. In this study, tomographic simulation experiments were designed based on the Hybrid Coordinate Ocean Model (HYCOM) reanalysis data to reconstruct mesoscale phenomena from travel time data obtained from five, seven, and nine stations in the South China Sea over a domain of 100 × 100 km. The travel times for each station pair were calculated in the vertical section using the Bellhop acoustic ray simulation method. Six Empirical orthogonal function (EOF) modes of sound speed along the sound transmission paths in a vertical slice were used to formulate the inversion equations. The horizontal-slice distributions of temperature in the tomography domain were reconstructed using the grid-segmented method for each depth layer. For station-to-station distances greater than 100 km, the performance of inversion was best for the seven-station case rather than for the nine-station case, with the highest horizontal resolution of the three cases. This case study concluded that the seven-station case rather than the nine-station case provided an optimal station number for reconstructing the three-dimensional temperature fields.
The host range and distribution pattern of rhizocephalan parasitic barnacles in Korean coasts and their relationship with geographical factors
Authors: Jung Jibom
Published: February 2024

Introduction

This study undertakes a detailed examination of the host range and distribution patterns of Rhizocephala, a group of specialized parasitic barnacles, within Korean marine environments. It aims to expand the understanding of their biodiversity and ecological impact.

Methods

Employing both morphological observation and mitochondrial DNA sequencing, the study identifies the variety of rhizocephalan species infecting decapod hosts in Korean waters, aiming to document their diversity and distribution.

Results

The investigation identifies 26 rhizocephalan species parasitizing 28 decapod hosts, including the discovery of three new parasite-host relationships not previously reported. It was observed that while a few rhizocephalan species infect multiple hosts, most have a narrow host range. Additionally, the study maps out regional differences in Rhizocephala diversity across three Korean marine ecoregions, noting the highest diversity in the warmer East China Sea ecoregion and lower diversity in the colder Yellow Sea and East Sea ecoregions.

Discussion

The findings underscore the necessity for continued taxonomic research on Rhizocephala and their host species to better understand and manage these parasites, which hold significant ecological and economic importance. The study suggests that geographical variations in host-parasite relationships are influenced by regional climatic conditions, particularly winter water temperatures.
Tumor cell stemness in gastrointestinal cancer: regulation and targeted therapy
Authors: Yang Kangqi , Yi Tuo
Published: February 2024

The cancer stem cells are a rare group of self-renewable cancer cells capable of the initiation, progression, metastasis and recurrence of tumors, and also a key contributor to the therapeutic resistance. Thus, understanding the molecular mechanism of tumor stemness regulation, especially in the gastrointestinal (GI) cancers, is of great importance for targeting CSC and designing novel therapeutic strategies. This review aims to elucidate current advancements in the understanding of CSC regulation, including CSC biomarkers, signaling pathways, and non-coding RNAs. We will also provide a comprehensive view on how the tumor microenvironment (TME) display an overall tumor-promoting effect, including the recruitment and impact of cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs), the establishment of an immunosuppressive milieu, and the induction of angiogenesis and hypoxia. Lastly, this review consolidates mainstream novel therapeutic interventions targeting CSC stemness regulation.
Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation in neurogenetic syndromes: new treatment perspectives for Down syndrome?
Authors: Faralli Alessio , Fucà Elisa , Lazzaro Giulia , Menghini Deny , Vicari Stefano , Costanzo Floriana
Published: February 2024

This perspective review aims to explore the potential neurobiological mechanisms involved in the application of transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) for Down syndrome (DS), the leading cause of genetically-based intellectual disability. The neural mechanisms underlying tDCS interventions in genetic disorders, typically characterized by cognitive deficits, are grounded in the concept of brain plasticity. We initially present the neurobiological and functional effects elicited by tDCS applications in enhancing neuroplasticity and in regulating the excitatory/inhibitory balance, both associated with cognitive improvement in the general population. The review begins with evidence on tDCS applications in five neurogenetic disorders, including Rett, Prader-Willi, Phelan-McDermid, and Neurofibromatosis 1 syndromes, as well as DS. Available evidence supports tDCS as a potential intervention tool and underscores the importance of advancing neurobiological research into the mechanisms of tDCS action in these conditions. We then discuss the potential of tDCS as a promising non-invasive strategy to mitigate deficits in plasticity and promote fine-tuning of the excitatory/inhibitory balance in DS, exploring implications for cognitive treatment perspectives in this population.
Higher fibrinogen and neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio are associated with the early poor response to intravenous thrombolysis in acute ischemic stroke
Authors: Deng Mingzhu , Song Kangping , Tong Yangping , Chen Sufen , Xu Wei , He Guohua , Hu Jue , Xiao Hui , Wan Changmin , Wang Zhen , Li Fangyi
Published: February 2024

Background

Inflammation and platelet activation play pivotal roles in acute ischemic stroke (AIS) pathogenesis. Early response to thrombolysis is a vital indicator for the long-term prognosis of AIS. However, the correlation between fibrinogen or the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and the early response to intravenous thrombolysis in patients with AIS remains unclear.

Methods

AIS patients undergoing intravenous thrombolysis were enrolled between January 2018 and May 2023. Blood cell counts were sampled before thrombolysis. A good response was defined as a National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score decreased ≥4 or complete recovery 24 h after thrombolysis treatment. A poor response was defined as any increase in the NIHSS score or a decrease in the NIHSS score <4 at the 24 h after thrombolysis treatment compared with that at admission. Logistic regression analysis was performed to explore the relationship of the fibrinogen level and NLR with a poor thrombolysis response. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis was used to assess the ability of the fibrinogen level and NLR to discriminate poor responders.

Results

Among 700 recruited patients, 268 (38.29%) were diagnosed with a good response, and 432 (61.71%) were diagnosed with a poor response to intravenous thrombolysis. A binary logistic regression model indicated that an elevated fibrinogen level (odds ratio [OR], 1.693; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.325–2.122, P < 0.001) and NLR (OR, 1.253; 95% CI, 1.210–2.005, P = 0.001) were independent factors for a poor response. The area under the curve (AUC) values for the fibrinogen level, NLR and fibrinogen level combined with the NLR for a poor response were 0.708, 0.605, and 0.728, respectively.

Conclusions

Our research indicates that the levels of fibrinogen and NLR at admission can be used as a prognostic factor to predict early poor response to intravenous thrombolysis.
Contribution of the subthalamic nucleus to motor, cognitive and limbic processes: an electrophysiological and stimulation study in monkeys
Authors: Bertrand Mathilde , Chabardes Stephan , Fontanier Vincent , Procyk Emmanuel , Bastin Julien , Piallat Brigitte
Published: February 2024

Deep brain stimulation of the subthalamic nucleus (STN) has become the gold standard surgical treatment for Parkinson’s disease and is being investigated for obsessive compulsive disorders. Even if the role of the STN in the behavior is well documented, its organization and especially its division into several functional territories is still debated. A better characterization of these territories and a better knowledge of the impact of stimulation would address this issue. We aimed to find specific electrophysiological markers of motor, cognitive and limbic functions within the STN and to specifically modulate these components. Two healthy non-human primates (Macaca fascicularis) performed a behavioral task allowing the assessment of motor, cognitive and limbic reward-related behavioral components. During the task, four contacts in the STN allowed recordings and stimulations, using low frequency stimulation (LFS) and high frequency stimulation (HFS). Specific electrophysiological functional markers were found in the STN with beta band activity for the motor component of behavior, theta band activity for the cognitive component, and, gamma and theta activity bands for the limbic component. For both monkeys, dorsolateral HFS and LFS of the STN significantly modulated motor performances, whereas only ventromedial HFS modulated cognitive performances. Our results validated the functional overlap of dorsal motor and ventral cognitive subthalamic territories, and, provide information that tends toward a diffuse limbic territory sensitive to the reward within the STN.
Individual, family and social-related factors of eating behavior among Chinese children with overweight or obesity from the perspective of family system
Authors: Zhu Hanfei , Zhao Kang , Huang Lidong , Shi Wenbing , Tang Chulei , Xu Ting , Zhu Shuqin , Xu Qin , Li Xiaonan , Chen Yinhua , Liu Qianqi , Yang Linhui
Published: February 2024

Purpose

The purpose of the present study is to examine the factors contributing to the development of eating behavior in overweight and obese children from the perspective of the family system.

Methods

A cross-sectional survey was conducted by using convenience sampling method to select 388 participants in two primary schools in Jiangsu, China. Individual, family and social-related factors were collected. Individual factors included age, gender, ethnicity, single child, social anxiety, depression, physical activity, sleep duration, screen time. Family factors included family environment, family structure, family function, family income, parenting style, parental feeding behavior, home food environment and marital satisfaction. Social-related factors included place of residence, number of surrounding restaurants and social support. Univariate analysis, correlation analysis and multivariate analysis were used to identify factors of eating behavior among Chinese children with overweight and obese.

Results

In this study, 388 participants took part with a 94.865% response rate. In the univariate analysis, the significant differences regarding Dutch Eating Behavior Questionnaire (DEBQ) scores were found between children aged 6–9 years and those aged >9 years. Correlation analysis indicated that parent's nutrition literacy (r = 0.118, P < 0.05), pressure to eat (r = 0.212, P < 0.01), perception of child weight (r = −0.112, P < 0.05) and family function (r = −0.563, P < 0.01) were associated with children's eating behavior. With regard to psychosocial factors, children's social anxiety (r = 0.299, P < 0.01) and depressive symptoms (r = 0.081, P < 0.05) were in positive correlation with eating behavior. The independent variables included in the initial model were age, father's employment status, social anxiety, maternal punishment and harshness, parents' nutrition literacy, pressure to eat, family function and perception of child weight. These variables in the final model accounted for 20.7% of the variance.

Conclusion

We found that age, father's employment status, social anxiety, maternal punishment and harshness, parents' nutrition literacy, pressure to eat, family function and perception of child weight have great effect on children's eating behavior who are overweight or obese. As early childhood is a critical timeline for child development, children's social anxiety, parenting style, parent's nutrition literacy, parent's feeding behavior and family function should be intervened to promote eating behavior. Intervention programs aimed at promoting healthy eating behaviors among children, thereby mitigating the risk of pediatric obesity, should primarily target parents.
Neural network methods for radiation detectors and imaging
Authors: Lin S. , Ning S. , Zhu H. , Zhou T. , Morris C. L. , Clayton S. , Cherukara M. J. , Chen R. T. , Wang Zhehui
Published: February 2024

Recent advances in image data proccesing through deep learning allow for new optimization and performance-enhancement schemes for radiation detectors and imaging hardware. This enables radiation experiments, which includes photon sciences in synchrotron and X-ray free electron lasers as a subclass, through data-endowed artificial intelligence. We give an overview of data generation at photon sources, deep learning-based methods for image processing tasks, and hardware solutions for deep learning acceleration. Most existing deep learning approaches are trained offline, typically using large amounts of computational resources. However, once trained, DNNs can achieve fast inference speeds and can be deployed to edge devices. A new trend is edge computing with less energy consumption (hundreds of watts or less) and real-time analysis potential. While popularly used for edge computing, electronic-based hardware accelerators ranging from general purpose processors such as central processing units (CPUs) to application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs) are constantly reaching performance limits in latency, energy consumption, and other physical constraints. These limits give rise to next-generation analog neuromorhpic hardware platforms, such as optical neural networks (ONNs), for high parallel, low latency, and low energy computing to boost deep learning acceleration (LA-UR-23-32395).
Effects of virtual exposure to urban greenways on mental health
Authors: Jiang Xiangrong , Wang Xiaocan , He Linxin , Gu Qingrui , Wei Xin , Xu Mengfei , Sullivan William C.
Published: February 2024

Urban greenways (UGW) are increasingly recognized as vital components of urban green infrastructure (UGI). While existing research has provided empirical evidence on the positive impacts of UGW on physical health, studies focusing on the effects on mental health remain limited. Moreover, previous investigations predominantly compare UGW as a whole with other built environments, neglecting the influence of specific vegetation designs along UGW on mental health. To address this research gap, we conducted a randomized controlled experiment to examine the impact of vegetation design along UGW on stress reduction and attention restoration. A total of 94 participants were randomly assigned to one of four UGW conditions: grassland, shrubs, grassland and trees, or shrubs and trees. Utilizing immersive virtual reality (VR) technology, participants experienced UGW through a 5-min video presentation. We measured participants’ subjective and objective stress levels and attentional functioning at three time-points: baseline, pre-video watching, and post-video watching. The experimental procedure lasted approximately 40 minutes. Results of the repeated-measures ANOVA revealed that participants experienced increased stress and mental fatigue after the stressor and decreased levels following the UGW intervention. Furthermore, between-group analyses demonstrated that the shrubs group and the grassland and trees group exhibited significantly greater stress reduction than the grassland group. However, there are no significant differences in attention restoration effects between the four groups. In conclusion, virtual exposure to UGW featuring vegetation on both sides positively affected stress reduction and attention restoration. It is recommended that future UGW construction incorporates diverse vegetation designs, including shrubs or trees, instead of solely relying on grassland. More research is needed to explore the combined effects of shrubs and trees on mental health outcomes.
Parental migration and cyberbullying victimization among Chinese left-behind children: understanding the association and mediating factors
Authors: Wang Menmen , Lou Jiaxue , Xie Xiaoliang , Zhao Guanlan , Zhu Hui
Published: February 2024

Introduction

Parental absence is greatly associated with school bullying victimization of left-behind children (LBC) in migrant families. With the increasing popularity of the Internet, little is known about the association between parental migration and cyberbullying victimization, and potential mediators.

Methods

We conducted a cross-sectional study in Anhui and Zhejiang Province, China, in 2020. With a sample of 792 currently left-behind children (CLBC), 541 previously left-behind children (PLBC), and 628 never left-behind children (NLBC), path analysis was used to explore the association between parental migration and cyberbullying victimization among children, while considering the independent and sequential mediating roles of parent-child communication, and time spent online.

Results

The prevalence of cyberbullying victimization was 29.3% among CLBC, 29.2% among PLBC, and 23.4% among NLBC. Path analysis showed that current left-behind status was positively associated with cyberbullying victimization among children (p = 0.024). Furthermore, current left-behind status was associated with worse parent-child communication, which, in turn, predicted a higher prevalence of cyberbullying victimization [95% CI = (0.007, 0.036)]. Similarly, the previous left-behind experience was associated with worse parent-child communication, which, in turn, predicted a higher prevalence of cyberbullying victimization [95% CI = (0.013, 0.043)]. Current left-behind status was associated with increased time spent online, which, in turn, predicted a higher prevalence of cyberbullying victimization [95% CI = (0.013, 0.038)]. Additionally, the current left-behind status positively predicted cyberbullying victimization among children through the serial mediating roles of parent-child communication and time spent online [95% CI = (0.001, 0.006)]. Similarly, previous left-behind experience positively predicted cyberbullying victimization among children through the serial mediating roles of parent-child communication and time spent online [95% CI = (0.002, 0.007)].

Discussion

We propose that to protect CLBC and PLBC from cyberbullying victimization, it is of great importance for migrant parents to regulate children's time spent online and promote daily parent-child communication.
Overcoming language barriers in pediatric care: a multilingual, AI-driven curriculum for global healthcare education
Authors: Benboujja Fouzi , Hartnick Elizabeth , Zablah Evelyn , Hersh Cheryl , Callans Kevin , Villamor Perla , Yager Phoebe H. , Hartnick Christopher
Published: February 2024

Background

Online medical education often faces challenges related to communication and comprehension barriers, particularly when the instructional language differs from the healthcare providers' and caregivers' native languages. Our study addresses these challenges within pediatric healthcare by employing generative language models to produce a linguistically tailored, multilingual curriculum that covers the topics of team training, surgical procedures, perioperative care, patient journeys, and educational resources for healthcare providers and caregivers.

Methods

An interdisciplinary group formulated a video curriculum in English, addressing the nuanced challenges of pediatric healthcare. Subsequently, it was translated into Spanish, primarily emphasizing Latin American demographics, utilizing OpenAI's GPT-4. Videos were enriched with synthetic voice profiles of native speakers to uphold the consistency of the narrative.

Results

We created a collection of 45 multilingual video modules, each ranging from 3 to 8 min in length and covering essential topics such as teamwork, how to improve interpersonal communication, “How I Do It” surgical procedures, as well as focused topics in anesthesia, intensive care unit care, ward nursing, and transitions from hospital to home. Through AI-driven translation, this comprehensive collection ensures global accessibility and offers healthcare professionals and caregivers a linguistically inclusive resource for elevating standards of pediatric care worldwide.

Conclusion

This development of multilingual educational content marks a progressive step toward global standardization of pediatric care. By utilizing advanced language models for translation, we ensure that the curriculum is inclusive and accessible. This initiative aligns well with the World Health Organization's Digital Health Guidelines, advocating for digitally enabled healthcare education.
Drivers of extent of commercialization of potato farming through digital marketing platforms in Nakuru County, Kenya
Authors: Maina Florence , Mburu John , Nyang’anga Hillary
Published: February 2024

Digital agricultural marketing platforms have emerged as one of the key tools for facilitating farmers’ access to markets. While previous studies have predominantly focused on examining factors influencing adoption of these platforms, there remains a gap in understanding factors that determine the proportion of a farmer’s produce marketed through the platforms. This knowledge is crucial for effective scaling up of digital marketing platforms. Consequently, this research aimed to evaluate the extent of commercialization of potato farming through Digital Agricultural Marketing Platforms (DAMPs), with a specific focus on the M-shamba platform in Kenya. To achieve this objective, data was collected in 2022 from a sample of 375 potato farmers from Nakuru County. The data was analyzed with Stata using probit and Tobit models through the conditional mixed process. The findings revealed that total farm income, price per kilogram of output, access to credit, size of the farm dedicated to potato cultivation, and age of the household head influenced the use of M-shamba platform. Further, the extent of commercialization through M-shamba was significantly determined by total livestock units, marketing decision-maker, having potato farming as primary enterprise, farm income, access to credit, membership to agricultural groups, and age of the household head. In light of these findings, the study recommends targeted support and training programs for older farmers to enhance their proficiency in utilizing DAMPs. Moreover, policies and initiatives aimed at increasing farm income should be implemented to assist farmers with limited incomes. Farmers in groups should be encouraged to participate in collective digital marketing efforts.
Bacteria Affect the Distribution of Soil-Dissolved Organic Matter on the Slope: A Long-Term Experiment in Black Soil Erosion
Authors: Cai Shanshan , Wang Wei , Sun Lei , Li Yumei , Sun Zhiling , Gao Zhongchao , Zhang Jiuming , Li Yan , Wei Dan
Published: February 2024

Soil erosion results in dissolved organic matter (DOM) loss and is one of the main paths of soil carbon loss. Bacteria affect the generation and transformation of DOM. However, the effect of bacteria on the composition and slope distribution of DOM has rarely been investigated under field conditions. Based on a long-term experiment of three gradients (3°, 5°, 8°) in a black soil erosion area of Northeast China, the content, composition, and source of DOM were studied. The results showed that the DOM of the 3° and 5° slope was enriched midslope, and the DOM of the 8° slope was enriched downslope. Parallel factor (PARAFAC) analysis indicated that the main substances in DOM were fulvic-like acid, humic-like acid, tryptophan-like protein, and soluble microbial metabolites. The upslope and downslope soils of 3° and 5° slopes showed high DOM bioavailability, while the downslope soil of the 8° slope showed high DOM bioavailability. The content of new DOM in downslope soil increased with the gradient. Bacteria played an important role in the synthesis and transformation of DOM and affected its composition and slope distribution. Verrucomicrobiota, Firmicutes, Planctomycetota, and Gemmatimonadota were the main factors affecting soil DOM. The results could be helpful in understanding the loss mechanism of DOM in eroded black soil and provide support for soil carbon sequestration.