bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Experimental study on the flexural behavior of partially encased composite beams with corrugated steel webs
Authors: Chu Liusheng , Guo Xinwei , Li Jie , Xie Xiaomeng , Li Danda , Ma Xing
Published: March 2024

Combining the advantages of partially encased composite structure (PEC) and corrugated steel web, a new type of composite PEC beam with corrugated web was proposed in this paper, namely corrugated webbed PEC (CWPEC) beam. In order to investigate the structural performance of the proposed CWPEC beams, four specimens were designed and fabricated. Four-point bending tests were carried out to study their flexural performance and failure modes. The failure process, load-displacement curve and strain distribution of the tested specimens were analyzed. Experimental results showed the high load carrying capacity and superior ductility of the proposed concept. Parametric study indicated that the concrete strength was increased from C30 to C50, the ultimate load slightly increased by 3.38%. The flange strength decreased from Q355 B to Q235, the ultimate load reduced by 9.17%. The flange width decreased from 250 mm to 200 mm, the ultimate load decreased by 22.21%. As comparison, the increase of steel flange width is more efficient to improve section moment capacity. Further analysis verified that the flexural strength of CWPEC beam was mostly provided by flanges with little contribution from the corrugated web. Finally, based on the quasi-plane assumption, prediction formulas for cracking moment and ultimate moment of CWPEC beams were proposed.
“I stand up for us”: Muslims’ feelings of stigmatization in response to terrorism on social media
Authors: Kaskeleviciute Ruta , Knupfer Helena , Matthes Jörg
Published: March 2024

Terrorism has the potential to divide societies. It is particularly relevant to investigate how Islamist terrorism on social media is associated with Muslim minorities’ attitudes and behaviors. This study examined how seeing terrorism on social media relates to Muslim minority individuals’ perceived stigmatization. We further investigated how perceived stigmatization translates to social media behaviors, namely, terror-related online self-disclosure and correction of false information about religion. A survey among German Muslims ( N = 432) showed that social media use for information about terrorism was positively associated with perceived stigmatization. This relationship was moderated by individuals’ national identity, but not religious identity. Perceived stigmatization, in turn, positively predicted terror-related online self-disclosure and correction of false information about religion. The findings accentuate the role of social media use for minorities to cope and stand up for their in-group in the face of terror.
Late-forming supernumerary teeth: A case series
Authors: Wall Aoibheann , Chawla Rachna , Smyth Robert SD , Ryan Fiona S
Published: March 2024

The aim of this case series was to illustrate the development of late-forming supernumerary teeth (LFST) and highlight the implications for orthodontic treatment. There are limited studies relating to the aetiology, prevalence and treatment of LFST and the cases presented here demonstrate the management of LFST within a tertiary care centre. Five cases are presented, which show various presentations and chronological ages in the development of LFST. This case series emphasises the significance of maintaining a low threshold for suspecting LFST in patients where supernumerary teeth have previously been identified. It also highlights the importance of regular clinical and radiographic reviews. Timely identification can help prevent complications and optimise treatment outcomes.
Deep neural network for damage detection in Infante Dom Henrique bridge using multi-sensor data
Authors: Fernandez-Navamuel Ana , Pardo David , Magalhães Filipe , Zamora-Sánchez Diego , Omella Ángel J , Garcia-Sanchez David
Published: March 2024

This paper proposes a data-driven approach to detect damage using monitoring data from the Infante Dom Henrique bridge in Porto. The main contribution of this work lies in exploiting the combination of raw measurements from local (inclinations and stresses) and global (eigenfrequencies) variables in a full-scale structural health monitoring application. We exhaustively analyze and compare the advantages and drawbacks of employing each variable type and explore the potential of combining them. An autoencoder-based deep neural network is employed to properly reconstruct measurements under healthy conditions of the structure, which are influenced by environmental and operational variability. The damage-sensitive feature for outlier detection is the reconstruction error that measures the discrepancy between current and estimated measurements. Three autoencoder architectures are designed according to the input: local variables, global variables, and their combination. To test the performance of the methodology in detecting the presence of damage, we employ a finite element model to calculate the relative change in the structural response induced by damage at four locations. These relative variations between the healthy and damaged responses are employed to affect the experimental testing data, thus producing realistic time-domain damaged measurements. We analyze the receiver operating characteristic curves and investigate the latent feature representation of the data provided by the autoencoder in the presence of damage. Results reveal the existence of synergies between the different variable types, producing almost perfect classifiers throughout the performed tests when combining the two available data sources. When damage occurs far from the instrumented sections, the area under the curve in the combined approach increases [Formula: see text] compared to using local variables only. The classificatoin metrics also demonstrate the enhancement of combining both sources of data in the damage detection task, reaching close to [Formula: see text] precision values for the four considered test damage scenarios. Finally, we also investigate the capability of local variables to localize the damage, demonstrating the potential of including these variables in the damage detection task.
A method for monitoring the uneven settlement of shield tunnels considering the flattening effect using distributed strain data measured from BOTDA sensors
Authors: Zhou Zheng , Ma Xinteng , Liu Yang , Li Hu
Published: March 2024

When investigating the uneven settlement monitoring of shield tunnels, the influence of the flattening effect under longitudinal bending is rarely considered, which leads to inaccurate and incomplete settlement monitoring. To address this issue, a method for monitoring the uneven settlement of shield tunnels that considers the flattening effect is proposed, which is achieved using high-density strain data from distributed Brillouin optical time domain analysis (BOTDA) sensors. The high-density measured strain data is used to combine global settlement with the additional influence of the flattening effect, which includes extrusion and shear effects. This approach allows the trend of uneven settlement to be effectively monitored. Furthermore, a finite element model updating process is implemented in advance to improve the accuracy of soil parameters and minimize calculation errors in practical engineering. To demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed method, an application example from the Jinan Rail Transit Line 3 was utilized for numerical simulations and practical tests. The results of the application example reveal that the proposed method has a high accuracy, with measurements comparable to the total station-based method. This indicates that the proposed method is an effective and robust settlement monitoring approach and provides a referential basis for further tunnel operations and maintenance.
How UK universities approach sustainability: A timely review
Authors: Zhou Ronghui
Published: March 2024

This article aims to explore the definitions and approaches of sustainable development (SD) in UK higher education institutions (UKHEI). Specifically, the article investigates how SD and education for sustainable development (ESD) are defined and enacted from the official websites of the 24 Russell Group Universities. The findings reveal that some of these universities disclosed their institutionalised sustainability conceptualisation with specific targets; more than half of these universities did not disclose their institutional definitions. Despite this inconsistency, all of the universities have recognised the importance of sustainability and SDGs and prioritised one or multiple dimensions of sustainability. Sustainability is implemented in UKHEIs mainly through four categories of activity: the learning environment, Research SDGs, external collaboration, and curriculum integration. This article found that sustainability has been routinised and systematically integrated by these universities regardless of their institutionalised sustainability conceptualisation. A more innovative path, however, is needed to ensure that sustainability transitions from being merely a strategic priority to an institutional ethos that drives all actions and decisions in these universities.
Measuring operational cognitive readiness of military personnel using Joint Theater Level Simulation System (JTLS)
Authors: Alim Hasmady , Subramaniam Ananthan , Mohamad Nor Norazman , Abd Wahab Amelia Yuliana
Published: March 2024

Cognitive Readiness refers to military personnel who are cognitively ready to perform effective and efficient roles in military operations with the necessary knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSAs). These KSAs are essential for critical thinking, problem-solving and decision-making. Military personnel at each level in the Malaysian Armed Forces (MAF) must be cognitively ready for military deployment. To enhance the cognitive readiness of military personnel at the operational level, a training design—scenario-based training (SBT) has been developed by the Malaysian Armed Forces Staff College (MAFSC) to develop cognitive readiness for course participants (CPs) who attended staff courses. Joint Theater Level Simulation (JTLS) has been used to analyze the Line of Operation (LOO) that has been produced by the course participant. The results show that SBT affected the development of cognitive readiness to prepare military personnel at the operational level through Joint Warfare environment exercises and tested by Modeling and Simulation (M&S).
Impact of air entrapment on capillary absorption in porous building materials
Authors: Fukui Kazuma , Takada Satoru
Published: March 2024

When the water content of a porous material is high, air entrapped in the pore space is expected to affect water transfer through the pores. To understand the effects of air entrapment on water transfer in porous building materials in the high-water-saturation region, we examined the water transfer characteristics corresponding to significantly small air entrapment effects. First, we conducted two sets of water uptake experiments. In the first experiment, using three building materials, the time evolution of the amount of water absorption was measured at a low air pressure near vacuum (several kPa). In the second experiment, the water content profile during water uptake was measured using the gamma-ray attenuation method. The experimental results showed that low air pressure accelerated the water uptake by the brick and aerated concrete specimens, whereas water uptake by the calcium silicate board specimens was not significantly affected. These differences among materials were analyzed from a pore structure viewpoint. Moreover, gamma-ray attenuation measurements confirmed that the obtained water content profile was qualitatively similar at atmospheric and low air pressures, although the low air pressure increased both the water content of the material after capillary absorption and the wetting front propagation rate. Finally, simultaneous water and air transfer calculations based on the air and liquid water balance in a material reproduced the measured water absorption rates well, confirming that air entrapment and pressure development in the pores can significantly reduce the rate of water uptake and water content after capillary absorption. The calculation results also indicated that the air pressure in a material did not significantly increase at early water uptake stages where local water content was not high, which supported the general assumption that treating the liquid-water transfer in porous building materials as a one-component flow is valid in most cases.
Intrathecal hematoma following epidural blood patch: An alternative mechanism to intrathecal puncture
Authors: Mark Ian , Madhavan Ajay , Carr Carrie , Cutsforth-Gregory Jeremy
Published: March 2024

Intrathecal blood after a percutaneous epidural blood patch is a known complication, one that has been previously attributed to inadvertent needle tip position in the subarachnoid space. We present two cases with imaging confirmation of an alternative mechanism, one that includes blood transferring from the epidural space to the subarachnoid space through a pre-existing dural defect.
Low-grade mucoepidermoid carcinoma mimicking benign cystic lesions in the salivary gland: A diagnostic dilemma
Authors: Shi Wangpan , Law Timothy , Brumund Kevin Thomas , Chang Jennifer , Patel Charmi , Lin Grace , Hu Jingjing
Published: March 2024

Mucoepidermoid carcinoma (MEC) is a common malignancy arising in the parotid gland. The diagnosis of MEC is typically based on its morphological features alone, characteristically containing mucocytes, intermediate cells and epidermoid cells. However, when cystic degeneration is diffuse, it is challenging to distinguish MEC from other benign cystic tumors. This is a case report of a 58-year-old Caucasian man who presented with a parotid mass. H&E sections of the mass reveal multiloculated cysts lined by bland-looking epithelium with only rare papillary architectures. The papillary proliferation contains mucocytes, and epidermoid cells highlighted by the p63 immunohistochemistry study. The diagnosis was confirmed by FISH result of positive MAML2 (11q21) rearrangement. Patient underwent parotidectomy and is disease-free 6 months post-surgery. MEC with cystic degeneration is a common diagnostic pitfall which can mimic many benign lesions in the salivary gland. We present a rare case with MEC with extensive cystic change, its molecular and pathologic findings and review the diagnostic features of MEC, its benign mimickers and useful tools for distinguishing these entities.
Reconfiguring dynamics of bordering/debordering in EU-Eastern neighbours’ relations: The EU as locus of resistance
Authors: Freire Maria Raquel
Published: March 2024

EU relations with its eastern neighbours have been pursued with the goal of building a ‘ring of friends’ contributing towards security and stability-building, through reforms’ implementation and the development of closer relations. This transformative agenda met, however, some criticism and resistance from Eastern Partnership (EaP) countries. Russia’s full-scale invasion on 24 February 2022 changed profoundly the setting for these relations, including the accession requests coming from Ukraine, Moldova and Georgia, along with the cut off of relations with Russia and Belarus. The implied debordering and rebordering dynamics taking place show the complexity of material and symbolic bordering practices. Through a critical border studies approach, this paper seeks to unpack these bordering dynamics and how they are reconfiguring the European space, arguing the EU has become locus of resistance for countries such as Ukraine, Moldova and Georgia assuring their European identity.
Integration of rupture directivity models for the US National Seismic Hazard Model
Authors: Withers Kyle , Moschetti Morgan , Powers Peter , Petersen Mark , Graves Rob , Aagaard Brad T , Baltay Annemarie , Luco Nicolas , Wirth Erin , Rezaeian Sanaz , Thompson Eric
Published: March 2024

Several rupture directivity models (DMs) have been developed in recent years to describe the near-source spatial variations in ground-motion amplitudes related to propagation of rupture along the fault. We recently organized an effort toward incorporating these directivity effects into the US Geological Survey (USGS) National Seismic Hazard Model (NSHM), by first evaluating the community’s work and potential methods to implement directivity adjustments into probabilistic seismic hazard analysis (PSHA). Guided by this evaluation and comparison among the considered DMs, we selected an approach that can be readily implemented into the USGS hazard software, which provides an azimuthally varying adjustment to the median ground motion and its aleatory variability. This method allows assessment of the impact on hazard levels and provides a platform to test the DM amplification predictions using a generalized coordinate system, necessary for consistent calculation of source-to-site distance terms for complex ruptures. We give examples of the directivity-related impact on hazard, progressing from a simple, hypothetical rupture, to more complex fault systems, composed of multiple rupture segments and sources. The directivity adjustments were constrained to strike–slip faulting, where DMs have good agreement. We find that rupture directivity adjustments using a simple median and aleatory adjustment approach can affect hazard both from a site-specific perspective and on a regional scale, increasing ground motions off the end of the fault trace up to 30%–40% and potentially reducing it for sites along strike. Statewide hazard maps of California show that the change in shaking along major faults can be a factor to consider for assessing long-period [Formula: see text] near-source effects within the USGS NSHM going forward, reaching up to 10%–20%. Finally, we suggest consideration of minimum parameter ranges and baseline requirements as future DMs are developed to minimize single approach adaptations to enable more consistent application within both ground motion and hazard studies.
A nano-cocktail of the PARP inhibitor talazoparib and CDK inhibitor dinaciclib for the treatment of triple negative breast cancer
Authors: Baldwin Paige , Yang Shicheng , Orriols Adrienne , Wang Sherrie , Brown Needa , Sridhar Srinivas
Published: March 2024

Background

The addition of the cyclin dependent kinase inhibitor (CDKi) dinaciclib to Poly-(ADP-ribose) polymerase inhibitor (PARPi) therapy is a strategy to overcome resistance to PARPi in tumors that exhibit homologous recombination (HR) deficiencies as well as to expand PARPi therapy to tumors that do not exhibit HR deficiencies. However, combination therapy using pathway inhibitors has been plagued by an inability to administer doses sufficient to achieve clinical benefit due to synergistic toxicities. Here we sought to combine nanoformulations of the PARPi talazoparib, nTLZ, and the CDKi dinaciclib, nDCB, in a nano-cocktail to enhance therapeutic efficacy while maintaining lower doses.

Methods

Pharmacokinetics of nDCB were assessed to ensure it is compatible with nTLZ. nDCB was combined with nTLZ to generate a nano-cocktail nDCB:nTLZ, which elicits greater cell death in vitro compared to the combination of the free drugs. MDA-MB-231-LUC-D3H2LN xenografts were utilized to assess therapeutic efficacy of the nano-cocktail in terms of tumor progression.

Results

Administration of the nano-cocktail significantly slowed tumor progression in the HR proficient animal model compared to administration of free talazoparib and free dinaciclib at the same doses. Histology of the liver, spleen, and kidneys revealed long-term treatment did not induce nanoparticle associated morphological changes. Complete blood count did not reveal any significant hematologic changes after treatment with either the free combination or nano-cocktail.

Conclusions

The efficacy and toxicity data suggest that further dose escalation can be pursued in order to achieve a stronger response. These data suggest the administration of combination therapy through the nano-cocktail leads to a better response than the use of free compounds and is a promising strategy for implementing combination therapy in the clinic.
Human-derived bacterial strains mitigate colitis via modulating gut microbiota and repairing intestinal barrier function in mice
Authors: Dai Juanjuan , Jiang Mingjie , Wang Xiaoxin , Lang Tao , Wan Leilei , Wang Jingjing
Published: March 2024

Background

Unbalanced gut microbiota is considered as a pivotal etiological factor in colitis. Nevertheless, the precise influence of the endogenous gut microbiota composition on the therapeutic efficacy of probiotics in colitis remains largely unexplored.

Results

In this study, we isolated bacteria from fecal samples of a healthy donor and a patient with ulcerative colitis in remission. Subsequently, we identified three bacterial strains that exhibited a notable ability to ameliorate dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis, as evidenced by increased colon length, reduced disease activity index, and improved histological score. Further analysis revealed that each of Pediococcus acidilactici CGMCC NO.17,943, Enterococcus faecium CGMCC NO.17,944 and Escherichia coli CGMCC NO.17,945 significantly attenuated inflammatory responses and restored gut barrier dysfunction in mice. Mechanistically, bacterial 16S rRNA gene sequencing indicated that these three strains partially restored the overall structure of the gut microbiota disrupted by DSS. Specially, they promoted the growth of Faecalibaculum and Lactobacillus murinus, which were positively correlated with gut barrier function, while suppressing Odoribacter, Rikenella, Oscillibacter and Parasutterella, which were related to inflammation. Additionally, these strains modulated the composition of short chain fatty acids (SCFAs) in the cecal content, leading to an increase in acetate and a decrease in butyrate. Furthermore, the expression of metabolites related receptors, such as receptor G Protein-coupled receptor (GPR) 43, were also affected. Notably, the depletion of endogenous gut microbiota using broad-spectrum antibiotics completely abrogated these protective effects.

Conclusions

Our findings suggest that selected human-derived bacterial strains alleviate experimental colitis and intestinal barrier dysfunction through mediating resident gut microbiota and their metabolites in mice. This study provides valuable insights into the potential therapeutic application of probiotics in the treatment of colitis.
Clostridium butyricum inhibits the inflammation in children with primary nephrotic syndrome by regulating Th17/Tregs balance via gut-kidney axis
Authors: Li Ting , Ma Xiaolong , Wang Ting , Tian Wenyan , Liu Jian , Shen Wenke , Liu Yuanyuan , Li Yiwei , Zhang Xiaoxu , Ma Junbai , Zhang Xiaoxia , Ma Jinhai , Wang Hao
Published: March 2024

Background

Primary nephrotic syndrome (PNS) is a common glomerular disease in children. Clostridium butyricum (C. butyricum), a probiotic producing butyric acid, exerts effective in regulating inflammation. This study was designed to elucidate the effect of C. butyricum on PNS inflammation through the gut-kidney axis.

Method

BALB/c mice were randomly divided into 4 groups: normal control group (CON), C. butyricum control group (CON+C. butyricum), PNS model group (PNS), and PNS with C. butyricum group (PNS+C. butyricum). The PNS model was established by a single injection of doxorubicin hydrochloride (DOX) through the tail vein. After 1 week of modeling, the mice were treated with C. butyricum for 6 weeks. At the end of the experiment, the mice were euthanized and associated indications were investigated.

Results

Since the successful modeling of the PNS, the 24 h urine protein, blood urea nitrogen (BUN), serum creatinine (SCr), urine urea nitrogen (UUN), urine creatinine (UCr), lipopolysaccharides (LPS), pro-inflammatory interleukin (IL)-6, IL-17A were increased, the kidney pathological damage was aggravated, while a reduction of body weights of the mice and the anti-inflammatory IL-10 significantly reduced. However, these abnormalities could be dramatically reversed by C. butyricum treatment. The crucial Th17/Tregs axis in PNS inflammation also was proved to be effectively regulated by C. butyricum treatment. This probiotic intervention notably affected the expression levels of signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3), Heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) protein, and retinoic acid-related orphan receptor gamma t (RORγt). 16S rRNA sequencing showed that C. butyricum could regulate the composition of the intestinal microbial community and found Proteobacteria was more abundant in urine microorganisms in mice with PNS. Short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) were measured and showed that C. butyricum treatment increased the contents of acetic acid, propionic acid, butyric acid in feces, acetic acid, and valeric acid in urine. Correlation analysis showed that there was a closely complicated correlation among inflammatory indicators, metabolic indicators, microbiota, and associated metabolic SCFAs in the gut-kidney axis.

Conclusion

C. butyricum regulates Th17/Tregs balance via the gut-kidney axis to suppress the immune inflammatory response in mice with PNS, which may potentially contribute to a safe and inexpensive therapeutic agent for PNS.
Integrating genes and metabolites: unraveling mango's drought resilience mechanisms
Authors: Hou Xianbin , Kong Yu , Teng Zheng , Yang Cuifeng , Li Yufeng , Zhu Zhengjie
Published: March 2024

Background

Mango (Mangifera indica L.) faces escalating challenges from increasing drought stress due to erratic climate patterns, threatening yields, and quality. Understanding mango's drought response mechanisms is pivotal for resilience and food security.

Results

Our RNA-seq analyses unveil 12,752 differentially expressed genes linked to stress signaling, hormone regulation, and osmotic adjustment. Weighted Gene Co-expression Network Analysis identified three essential genes—WRKY transcription factor 3, polyamine oxidase 4, and protein MEI2-like 1—as drought defense components. WRKY3 having a role in stress signaling and defense validates its importance. Polyamine oxidase 4, vital in stress adaptation, enhances drought defense. Protein MEI2-like 1's significance emerges, hinting at novel roles in stress responses. Metabolite profiling illuminated Mango’s metabolic responses to drought stress by presenting 990 differentially abundant metabolites, mainly related to amino acids, phenolic acids, and flavonoids, contributing to a deeper understanding of adaptation strategies. The integration between genes and metabolites provided valuable insights by revealing the correlation of WRKY3, polyamine oxidase 4 and MEI2-like 1 with amino acids, D-sphingnosine and 2,5-Dimethyl pyrazine.

Conclusions

This study provides insights into mango's adaptive tactics, guiding future research for fortified crop resilience and sustainable agriculture. Harnessing key genes and metabolites holds promise for innovative strategies enhancing drought tolerance in mango cultivation, contributing to global food security efforts.
Predictors of improvement in left ventricular systolic function after catheter ablation in patients with persistent atrial fibrillation complicated with heart failure
Authors: Zhao Xinliang , Hu Xiaoqin , Bao Wei , Huang Shuo , Li Fei , Liu Chen , Ge Liqi , Zhang Quan , Zhang Chaoqun , Li Chengzong
Published: March 2024

Aims

The current management of patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) and concomitant heart failure (HF) remains a significant challenge. Catheter ablation (CA) has been shown to improve left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) in these patients, but which patients can benefit from CA is still poorly understood. The aim of our study was to determine the predictors of improved ejection fraction in patients with persistent atrial fibrillation (PeAF) complicated with HF undergoing CA.

Methods and results

A total of 435 patients with persistent AF underwent an initial CA between January 2019 and March 2023 in our hospital. We investigated consecutive patients with left ventricular systolic dysfunction (LVEF < 50%) measured by transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) within one month before CA. According to the LVEF changes at 6 months, these patients were divided into an improved group (fulfilling the ‘2021 Universal Definition of HF’ criteria for LVEF recovery) and a nonimproved group. Eighty patients were analyzed, and the improvement group consisted of 60 patients (75.0%). In the univariate analysis, left ventricular end-diastolic diameter (P = 0.005) and low voltage zones in the left atrium (P = 0.043) were associated with improvement of LVEF. A receiver operating characteristic analysis determined that the suitable cutoff value for left ventricular end-diastolic diameter (LVDd) was 59 mm (sensitivity: 85.0%, specificity: 55.0%, area under curve: 0.709). A multivariate analysis showed that LVDd (OR = 0.85; 95% CI: 0.76–0.95, P = 0.005) and low voltage zones (LVZs) (OR = 0.26; 95% CI: 0.07–0.96, P = 0.043) were significantly independently associated with the improvement of LVEF. Additionally, parameters were significantly improved regarding the left atrial diameter, LVDd and ventricular rate after radiofrequency catheter ablation (all p < 0.05).

Conclusions

The improvement of left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) occurred in 75.0% of patients. Our study provides additional evidence that LVDd < 59 mm and no low voltage zones in the left atrium can be used to jointly predict the improvement of LVEF after atrial fibrillation ablation.
Pre-lacteal feeding practice and associated factors among mothers having children aged less than six months in Dilla town, Southern Ethiopia
Authors: Gashaw Anteneh , Mitku Haymanot
Published: March 2024

Background

Pre-lacteal feeding, the introduction of liquids or non-breast milk foods before establishing regular breastfeeding, poses significant risks to newborns, depriving them of vital nutrients and the protective benefits of colostrum while exposing them to infection hazards. Despite breast milk being a renewable and comprehensive source of infant nutrition for the first six months of life, prevalent in many low income country are pre-lacteal feeds such as honey, sugar-water, jiggery water, castor oil, and goat’s milk. These practices, widespread in such regions, carry potential risks of infection and aspiration. The objective of this study is to assess the prevalence of pre-lacteal feeding and identify associated factors among mothers with children under six months in Dilla Town, Southern Ethiopia.

Method

A community-based cross-sectional study took place in Dilla town, southern Ethiopia, spanning from June 20 to August 20, 2022. The study included a total of 372 participants, selected through simple random sampling for kebele and systematic random sampling for individual participants. Data was collected using interviewer-administered structured questionnaires and subsequently coded, entered, cleaned, and edited using SPSS version 23.0 software. The presentation of data utilized tables and figures, followed by a logistic regression analysis to identify potential factors associated with pre-lacteal feeding. The significance level was set at a p-value less than 0.05 for the final model.

Result

The prevalence of pre-lacteal feeding practice was 176 (47.3%) in the study area and having no maternal education (AOR = 3.68, 95% CI; [1.01–5.84] colostrum avoidance (AOR = 4.20, 95% CI; [2.03–6.86] and lack of breast feeding counseling (AOR = 2.00, 95% CI; 1.40–2.57), were factors associated with pre-lacteal feeding practices.

Conclusion and recommendation

Pre-lacteal feeding practice among mothers of children aged less than 6 months in Dilla town was found to be higher than the national prevalence. No formal education, colostrum avoidance, lack of breastfeeding counseling, were factors associated with pre-lacteal feeding practices. So awareness creation activities on the risks of PLF (pre-lacteal feeding) and improving breastfeeding counseling targeted to all mothers and care givers including their families within the study area is vital.
Spontaneous tumor lysis syndrome (STLS) during biopsy for burkitt lymphoma: a case report
Authors: Pan Sirui , Shen Qiyang , Zhou Jianfeng , Li Tao
Published: March 2024

Background

Tumor lysis syndrome (TLS) is a hematologic oncological emergency characterized by metabolic and electrolyte imbalances. On breakdown of tumor cells, enormous amounts of potassium, phosphate, and nucleic acids are released into systemic circulation. TLS mainly occurs during chemotherapy. However, there are rare incidences of spontaneous tumor lysis syndrome (STLS) prior to commencement of therapy.

Case presentation

In the case being reported, the child had just undergone a biopsy. As the incision was being closed, there was a sudden onset of high fever, arrhythmia, severe hyperkalemia, hypocalcemia, and acidosis. Following timely symptomatic treatment and continuous renal replacement therapy(CRRT), the child’s laboratory results improved, and organ function was restored to normal. The final pathological diagnosis confirmed Burkitt lymphoma. The boy is currently on maintenance chemotherapy.

Conclusions

TLS is a potentially life-threatening complication in hematologic oncology. Several important conclusions can be drawn from this case, reminding clinicians to: (1) be fully aware of the risk factors of TLS and evaluate the level of risk; (2) pay attention to the possibility of STLS during operation, if surgical procedures are necessary and operate with minimal trauma and in the shortest time possibly; (3) take preoperative prophylaxis actively for high-risk TLS patients, including aggressive fluid management and rational use of diuretics and uric-acid-lowering drugs. In addition, this case confirms the effectiveness of CRRT for severe STLS.
The effect of cuff arthropathy stage on sleep disturbance and kinesiophobia in reverse shoulder arthroplasty patients
Authors: Ilyas Gokhan , Egeli Ercument , Ipci Fikri Burak , Gokalp Oguzhan
Published: March 2024

Background

The current study aimed to determine the changes in pre-and post-operative Pittsburg sleep quality index (PSQI) and Tampa scale of kinesiophobia (TSK) values ​​according to the Hamada classification in patients who underwent reverse shoulder arthroplasty (RSA) for rotator cuff tear arthropathy (RCTA).

Methods

One hundred and eight patients who underwent RSA for RCTA were reviewed retrospectively. The patients were divided into two groups with low grade (stages 1-2-3) (n = 49) and high grade (stages 4a-4b-5) (n = 59) according to the Hamada classification, which is the radiographic evaluation of RCTA. PSQI and TSK values ​​were calculated preoperatively, and post-operatively at the 6th week, 6th month, and 1st year. The change in PSQI and TSK values ​​between the evaluations and the effect of staging according to the Hamada classification on this change was examined.

Results

When compared in preoperative evaluations, PSQI and TSK scores were found to be lower in low-grade group 1 (7.39 ± 1.56, 51.88 ± 4.62, respectively) than in high-grade group 2 (10.47 ± 2.39, 57.05 ± 3.25, respectively) according to Hamada classification (both p < 0.001). In the postoperative evaluations, PSQI and TSK results decreased gradually compared to the preoperative evaluations, and there was a severe decrease in both parameters between the 6th-week and 6th-month evaluations (both p < 0.001). Preoperatively, 102 (95%) patients had sleep disturbance (PSQI ≥ 6), and 108 (100%) patients had high kinesiophobia (TSK > 37). In the 1st year follow-ups, sleep disturbance was observed in 5 (5%) patients and kinesiophobia in 1 (1%) patient. When the Hamada stages were compared, it was seen that there was a significant difference before the operation (both p < 0.001), but the statistically significant difference disappeared in the PSQI value in the 1st year (p = 0.092) and in the TSK value in the 6th month (p = 0.164) post-operatively. It was observed that Hamada staging caused significant differences in PSQI and TSK values ​​in the preoperative period but did not affect the clinical results after treatment.

Conclusions

RSA performed based on RCTA improves sleep quality and reduces kinesiophobia. RCTA stage negatively affects PSQI and TSK before the operation but does not show any effect after the treatment.
Identification of allograft inflammatory factor-1 suppressing the progression and indicating good prognosis of osteosarcoma
Authors: Liu Wenda , Shi Tao , Zheng Di , Ke Guangshui , Chen Jingteng
Published: March 2024

Background

Osteosarcoma is one of the most common cancers worldwide. Intense efforts have been made to elucidate the pathogeny, but the mechanisms of osteosarcoma are still not well understood. We aimed to investigate the potential biomarker, allograft inflammatory factor-1 (AIF1), affecting the progression and prognosis of osteosarcoma.

Methods

Three microarray datasets were downloaded from GEO datasets and one was obtained from the TCGA dataset. The differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified. GO and KEGG functional enrichment analyses of overlapped DEGs were performed. The PPI network of overlapped DEGs was constructed by STRING and visualized with Cytoscape. Overall survival (OS) and Metastasis free survival (MFS) were analyzed from GSE21257. Finally, the effect of the most relevant core gene affecting the progression of osteosarcoma was examined in vitro.

Results

One hundred twenty six DEGs were identified, consisting of 65 upregulated and 61 downregulated genes. Only AIF1 was significantly associated with OS and MFS. It was found that AIF1 could be enriched into the NF-κB signaling pathway. GSEA and ssGSEA analyses showed that AIF1 was associated with the immune invasion of tumors. Cell experiments showed that AIF1 was underexpressed in osteosarcoma cell lines, while the malignant propriety was attenuated after overexpressing the expression of AIF1. Moreover, AIF1 also affects the expression of the NF-κB pathway.

Conclusion

In conclusion, DEGs and hub genes identified in the present study help us understand the molecular mechanisms underlying the carcinogenesis and progression of osteosarcoma, and provide candidate targets for diagnosis and treatment of osteosarcoma.
A review of the clinical efficacy of FDA-approved antibody‒drug conjugates in human cancers
Authors: Liu Kaifeng , Li Meijia , Li Yudong , Li Yutong , Chen Zixin , Tang Yiqi , Yang Meitian , Deng Guoquan , Liu Hongwei
Published: March 2024

While strategies such as chemotherapy and immunotherapy have become the first-line standard therapies for patients with advanced or metastatic cancer, acquired resistance is still inevitable in most cases. The introduction of antibody‒drug conjugates (ADCs) provides a novel alternative. ADCs are a new class of anticancer drugs comprising the coupling of antitumor mAbs with cytotoxic drugs. Compared with chemotherapeutic drugs, ADCs have the advantages of good tolerance, accurate target recognition, and small effects on noncancerous cells. ADCs occupy an increasingly important position in the therapeutic field. Currently, there are 13 Food and Drug Administration (FDA)‒approved ADCs and more than 100 ADC drugs at different stages of clinical trials. This review briefly describes the efficacy and safety of FDA-approved ADCs, and discusses the related problems and challenges to provide a reference for clinical work.
A novel microglia-targeting strategy based on nanoparticle-mediated delivery of miR-26a-5p for long-lasting analgesia in chronic pain
Authors: Lu Yitian , Liu Shuai , Wang Peng , Guo Xiangna , Qin Zaisheng , Hou Honghao , Tao Tao
Published: March 2024

Accumulating evidence supports the notion that microglia play versatile roles in different chronic pain conditions. However, therapeutic strategies of chronic pain by targeting microglia remain largely overlooked. This study seeks to develop a miRNA-loaded nano-delivery system by targeting microglia, which could provide a decent and long-lasting analgesia for chronic pain. Surface aminated mesoporous silica nanoparticles were adopted to load miR-26a-5p, a potent analgesic miRNA, by electrostatic adsorption, which can avoid miR-26a-5p is rapidly released and degraded. Then, targeting peptide MG1 was modified on the surface of aminated mesoporous silica particles for microglia targeting. In peripheral nerve injury induced neuropathic pain model, a satisfactory anti-allodynia effect with about 6 weeks pain-relief duration were achieved through targeting microglia strategy, which decreased microglia activation and inflammation by Wnt5a, a non-canonical Wnt pathway. In inflammatory pain and chemotherapy induced peripheral neuropathic pain, microglia targeting strategy also exhibited more efficient analgesia and longer pain-relief duration than others. Overall, we developed a microglia-targeting nano-delivery system, which facilitates precisely miR-26a-5p delivery to enhance analgesic effect and duration for several chronic pain conditions.

Graphical Abstract
Outcomes of reconstructive techniques in breast cancer using BCCT. core software
Authors: Kurt Sevgi , İlgün Ahmet Serkan , Özkurt Enver , Soybir Gürsel , Alço Gül , Ünal Çağlar , Çelebi Filiz Elbüken , Duymaz Tomris , Tapan Tuğba Kayan , Ak Naziye , Ordu Çetin , Özmen Vahit
Published: March 2024

Background

Surgery remains a priority for breast cancer treatment. This study aimed to compare the cosmetic outcomes of oncoplastic patients who had undergone breast-conserving surgery, mini-LDF (latissimus dorsi flap), and immediate implant reconstruction using both the Japanese scale and the BCCT.core (The Breast Cancer Conservative Treatment cosmetic results software) program and to validate this program.

Patients and methods

Patients who underwent surgery for breast cancer between 1997 and 2021 were retrospectively studied. Patients were divided into three groups: 1-those who had undergone breast-conserving surgery (245 patients, 71.3%), 2-those who had undergone mini-LDF after lumpectomy (38 patients, 11.02%), and 3- those who underwent reconstruction with implants after nipple-sparing mastectomy (61 patients, 17.68%). The patients were called for a follow-up examination, and their photos were taken. The photographs were shown to an independent breast surgeon and a plastic surgeon who was not included in the surgeries, and they were asked to evaluate and rate them according to the Japanese cosmetic evaluation scale. The same images were transferred to the computer and scored using BCCT.core.

Results

The plastic and breast surgeon evaluation results showed no significant difference between the three cosmetic techniques (p = 0.99, 0.98).

The results of BCCT.core software measurements were similar to the results of plastic and breast surgeons (p: 0.43).

Conclusion

Patients are more knowledgeable about cosmetic outcomes and expect more objective data. In this study, we used 3 different cosmetic evaluation scales. We found that these techniques give results that are compatible with each other in terms of evaluating the work done in a more concrete way. For this reason, we recommend the use of such software, which offers objective results in a subjective field such as aesthetics and is very easy to apply.
Immunological profile of lactylation-related genes in Crohn’s disease: a comprehensive analysis based on bulk and single-cell RNA sequencing data
Authors: Wu Jingtong , Lv Yinyin , Hao Pei , Zhang Ziyi , Zheng Yongtian , Chen Ermei , Fan Yanyun
Published: March 2024

Background

Crohn's disease (CD) is a disease characterized by intestinal immune dysfunction, often accompanied by metabolic abnormalities. Disturbances in lactate metabolism have been found in the intestine of patients with CD, but studies on the role of lactate and related Lactylation in the pathogenesis of CD are still unknown.

Methods

We identified the core genes associated with Lactylation by downloading and merging three CD-related datasets (GSE16879, GSE75214, and GSE112366) from the GEO database, and analyzed the functions associated with the hub genes and the correlation between their expression levels and immune infiltration through comprehensive analysis. We explored the Lactylation levels of different immune cells using single-cell data and further analyzed the differences in Lactylation levels between inflammatory and non-inflammatory sites.

Results

We identified six Lactylation-related hub genes that are highly associated with CD. Further analysis revealed that these six hub genes were highly correlated with the level of immune cell infiltration. To further clarify the effect of Lactylation on immune cells, we analyzed single-cell sequencing data of immune cells from inflammatory and non-inflammatory sites in CD patients and found that there were significant differences in the levels of Lactylation between different types of immune cells, and that the levels of Lactylation were significantly higher in immune cells from inflammatory sites.

Conclusions

These results suggest that Lactylation-related genes and their functions are closely associated with changes in inflammatory cells in CD patients.
Cryopreservation of cerebrospinal fluid cells preserves the transcriptional landscape for single-cell analysis
Authors: Kodali Mahesh Chandra , Antone Jerry , Alsop Eric , Jayakumar Rojashree , Parikh Khushi , Chiot Aude , Sanchez-Molina Paula , Ajami Bahareh , Arnold Steven E. , Jensen Kendall , Das Sudeshna , Weinberg Marc S.
Published: March 2024

Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) matrix biomarkers have become increasingly valuable surrogate markers of neuropsychiatric diseases in research and clinical practice. In contrast, CSF cells have been rarely investigated due to their relative scarcity and fragility, and lack of common collection and cryopreservation protocols, with limited exceptions for neurooncology and primary immune-based diseases like multiple sclerosis. The advent of a microfluidics-based multi-omics approach to studying individual cells has allowed for the study of cellular phenotyping, intracellular dynamics, and intercellular relationships that provide multidimensionality unable to be obtained through acellular fluid-phase analyses. Challenges to cell-based research include site-to-site differences in handling, storage, and thawing methods, which can lead to inaccuracy and inter-assay variability. In the present study, we performed single-cell RNA sequencing (10x Genomics) on fresh or previously cryopreserved human CSF samples from three alternative cryopreservation methods: Fetal Bovine Serum with Dimethyl sulfoxide (FBS/DMSO), FBS/DMSO after a DNase step (a step often included in epigenetic studies), and cryopreservation using commercially available Recovery© media. In comparing relative differences between fresh and cryopreserved samples, we found little effect of the cryopreservation method on being able to resolve donor-linked cell type proportions, markers of cellular stress, and overall gene expression at the single-cell level, whereas donor-specific differences were readily discernable. We further demonstrate the compatibility of fresh and cryopreserved CSF immune cell sequencing using biologically relevant sexually dimorphic gene expression differences by donor. Our findings support the utility and interchangeability of FBS/DMSO and Recovery cryopreservation with fresh sample analysis, providing a methodological grounding that will enable researchers to further expand our understanding of the CSF immune cell contributions to neurological and psychiatric disease.