bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Selected determinants of anxiety and depression symptoms in adolescents aged 11–15 in relation to the pandemic COVID-19 and the war in Ukraine
Authors: Grzankowska Izabela , Wójtowicz-Szefler Malgorzata , Deja Monika
Published: January 2025

Introduction

The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, which began in early 2020, and the outbreak of war in Ukraine in 2022 (a country bordering Poland on the east) have significantly impacted the mental health of young people in Poland, leading to increased rates of depression, anxiety, and other mental health issues. The rising number of individuals struggling to cope with daily stressors, as well as non-normative stressors, may indicate a decrease in the individual’s potential, specifically in skills, attitudes, and competencies required to overcome difficulties that they encounter. It can be assumed that for young people, maintaining mental health under the influence of social stressors, such as the pandemic and the ongoing war in Ukraine, depends on the ability to adapt positively, which is the ability of young individuals to adjust to situational demands in a way that allows them to effectively manage those situations. The aim of the conducted study was to determine whether social stressors, namely the pandemic and the war in Ukraine, and intrapsychic factors such as beliefs about oneself, others, life, and the world, influence the occurrence of anxiety and depression symptoms in Polish youth. An attempt was made to assess the significance of external stressors and internal potential resources for maintaining psychological balance among young people.

Methods

The study was conducted using the Revised Children’s Anxiety and Depression Scale (RCADS), the Questionnaire of Intrapersonal, Interpersonal, and World Attitudes (QIIWA), as well as a survey created by the researchers containing questions about well-being in relation to the pandemic, remote learning, and the ongoing war in Poland’s neighboring country. Ethical approval for the planned research was obtained from the Bioethics Committee. The study included 945 adolescents aged 11–15 years (M = 13.10; SD = 1.11), representing a sample of youth from 14 regions of Poland.

Results

The results and analyses are presented from three perspectives: (A) the occurrence of anxiety and depression symptoms in relation to the gender and age of the respondents, (B) the significance of situational experiences, such as the COVID-19 pandemic (Q1), remote learning (Q2), and the outbreak of the war in Ukraine (Q3) for the occurrence of anxiety and depression symptoms in Polish youth, and (C) other determinants of anxiety and depression symptoms in Polish youth, such as intrapsychic variables including self-esteem, satisfaction with relationships with others, and views on the world and life.

Discussion

It can be concluded that in the case of young people, maintaining mental health under the influence of social stressors such as the pandemic and the ongoing war in Ukraine depends mainly on intrapsychic variables, including the beliefs and attitudes of young people towards themselves, toward other people, the world and life.
Fine-tuning a local LLaMA-3 large language model for automated privacy-preserving physician letter generation in radiation oncology
Authors: Hou Yihao , Bert Christoph , Gomaa Ahmed , Lahmer Godehard , Höfler Daniel , Weissmann Thomas , Voigt Raphaela , Schubert Philipp , Schmitter Charlotte , Depardon Alina , Semrau Sabine , Maier Andreas , Fietkau Rainer , Huang Yixing , Putz Florian
Published: January 2025

Introduction

Generating physician letters is a time-consuming task in daily clinical practice.

Methods

This study investigates local fine-tuning of large language models (LLMs), specifically LLaMA models, for physician letter generation in a privacy-preserving manner within the field of radiation oncology.

Results

Our findings demonstrate that base LLaMA models, without fine-tuning, are inadequate for effectively generating physician letters. The QLoRA algorithm provides an efficient method for local intra-institutional fine-tuning of LLMs with limited computational resources (i.e., a single 48 GB GPU workstation within the hospital). The fine-tuned LLM successfully learns radiation oncology-specific information and generates physician letters in an institution-specific style. ROUGE scores of the generated summary reports highlight the superiority of the 8B LLaMA-3 model over the 13B LLaMA-2 model. Further multidimensional physician evaluations of 10 cases reveal that, although the fine-tuned LLaMA-3 model has limited capacity to generate content beyond the provided input data, it successfully generates salutations, diagnoses and treatment histories, recommendations for further treatment, and planned schedules. Overall, clinical benefit was rated highly by the clinical experts (average score of 3.4 on a 4-point scale).

Discussion

With careful physician review and correction, automated LLM-based physician letter generation has significant practical value.
Effect of a chemically-modified-curcumin on dental resin biodegradation
Authors: Dai Qi , Lee Hsi-Ming , Giordano Austin , Chiang Fu-Pen , Walker Stephen G. , Delgado-Ruiz Rafael , Johnson Francis , Golub Lorne M. , Gu Ying
Published: January 2025

Introduction

Previous studies have shown Streptococcus mutans (S. mutans) esterase is a key mediator of dental composite biodegradation, which can contribute to recurrent caries. This study is to investigate the inhibitory effects of a novel Chemically-Modified-Curcumin (CMC 2.24) on esterase activities and related dental material biodegradation.

Methods

Dental adhesive materials and composite resins were incubated in S. mutans suspension with CMC 2.24 and other compounds, including doxycycline, Chemically-Modified-Tetracycline (CMT-3), and curcumin for 4 weeks. The pre- and post-incubation surface roughness were evaluated by either laser diffraction pattern and/or a 3D laser scanning microscope. Esterase enzyme inhibition assays were performed with the same test groups and activities were determined spectrophotometrically.

Results

Among all experimental groups, CMC 2.24 significantly reduced surface roughness of dental composite (p < 0.01) and adhesive (p < 0.01) materials compared to bacteria-only group. Additionally, CMC 2.24 reduced porcine esterase activity by 46.5%, while other compounds showed minimal inhibition. In the S. mutans esterase assay, CMC 2.24 showed inhibition of 70.0%, while other compounds showed inhibition ranging from 19% to 36%.

Conclusion

Our study demonstrated that CMC 2.24 inhibited biodegradation of dental composite material more effectively than its mother compound, curcumin. Moreover, the mechanism of this biodegradation was likely mediated through bacterial esterase activity. Doxycycline achieved similar inhibition by completely eradicating S. mutans with its antibiotic action; hence, it is not recommended for long-term use.
Modeling the transport and anisotropy of energetic electrons in solar flares
Authors: Kong Xiangliang , Ning Hao , Chen Yao
Published: January 2025

Transport of energetic electrons in the flare loop is important to understanding nonthermal emissions in solar flares. In this work, we model the propagation of electrons by numerically solving the particle transport equation which includes the physics of magnetic mirroring and turbulent pitch-angle diffusion. We find that both the fractions of electrons trapped in the looptop and precipitating into the solar surface display a non-monotonic behavior with increasing scattering rate. In the moderate diffusion regime, the precipitation fraction is highest and we expect intense nonthermal HXR and microwave emissions at the footpoints. With no or weak pitch-angle scattering, the velocity space distribution can be highly anisotropic both in the looptop and loopleg regions. Different patterns of stripes with positive gradients in the perpendicular direction can drive the electron cyclotron maser instability with higher efficiency than the classical loss-cone distribution, facilitating the excitation of coherent solar radio bursts. Our simulation results highlight the effects of turbulent pitch-angle scattering on electron trap/precipitation and anisotropic distribution in solar flares, which may help us understand the precipitation of magnetospheric electrons accounting for the aurora as well.
Different whole body HIIT protocols do not promote different muscle thickness and functional adaptations among healthy physically active subjects
Authors: Evangelista Alexandre L. , de Camargo Júlio B. B. , Rica Roberta L. , Carnevali Júnior Luiz Carlos , Mallett Gregg S. , Bullo Valentina , Bergamin Marco , Gobbo Stefano , Bocalini Danilo S.
Published: January 2025

Introduction

Despite robust evidence on the benefits of high intensity interval training using body weight (WB-HIIT), the effects of different training configurations on morpho-functional adaptations are still unclear. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to assess the effects of two distinct WB-HIIT protocols on morphological and general fitness adaptations in healthy active young individuals.

Methods

Thirty-four participants (22 males and 12 females) were randomly assigned to one of the following groups: 30 s of all-out effort interspersed with 10 s of passive recovery (G30 × 10, n = 17) or 40 s of an all-out effort interspersed with 20 s of passive recovery (G40 × 20, n = 17). Nine exercises were performed for both protocols, in two weekly sessions, during a 6-week intervention period. Morphological (ultrasound-derived muscle thickness of the vastus lateralis [MTVL]) and general fitness (muscle endurance and maximal oxygen consumption) assessments were performed at pre- and post-intervention moments.

Results

Both training protocols elicited significant improvements in all dependent variables (p < 0.05), with no significant between-group differences.

Conclusion

Regardless of the training configuration, both WB-HIIT programs serve as time-efficient strategies to induce changes in muscle thickness of the vastus lateralis and functional adaptations in healthy, physically active young individuals.
New Insights on the Seismic Activity of Ostuni (Apulia Region, Southern Italy) Offshore
Authors: Pierri Pierpaolo , Filippucci Marilena , Del Gaudio Vincenzo , Tallarico Andrea , Venisti Nicola , Festa Vincenzo
Published: January 2025

On 23 March 2018, an event of magnitude ML 3.9 occurred about 10 km from the town of Ostuni, in the Adriatic offshore. It was the most energetic earthquake in South–Central Apulia ever recorded instrumentally. On 13 February 2019, in the same area, a second ML 3.3 event was recorded. The analysis of the 2018 event shows that the ambiguity of the solution of the fault plane reported by INGV (Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia) on the Italian National Earthquake Centre website can be solved considering existing seismic profiles, exploration well logs and the Quaternary activity of faults in the epicentral area. A seismogenic source was identified in the rupture of a small portion of a 40 km length structure with strike NW-SE, dipping at a high angle toward the south. In this work, we have relocated the recent earthquakes by using the seismic stations managed by the University of Bari (UniBa), one of which is quite close to the event’s epicenter (about 20 km), together with data coming from the RSN (Rete Sismica Nazionale). Furthermore, we have determined the focal mechanism of some events, with implications on stress field of the area. Our results show right-lateral transtensional kinematics of the seismogenic faults along approximately E-W striking planes, with a tension, T, with a trend of about 60° (NE-SW direction) and a plunge of 20°. Finally, we have tried to correlate the location of the four best constrained earthquakes with their seismogenic structures.
A Comparative Study of Advanced Oxidation Processes for the Removal of the Antibiotic Sulfadoxine from Water—Transformation Products and Toxicity
Authors: Bizirtsakis Panagiotis A. , Anagnostopoulou Kyriaki , Sarasidis Vasilis C. , Petsi Panagiota , Moschona Alexandra , Plakas Konstantinos V. , Lambropoulou Dimitra A.
Published: January 2025

Sulfonamides, including sulfadoxine (SDX), are widely used antibiotics, particularly for malaria treatment. However, their extensive use has led to environmental pollution, microbial resistance, and public health risks. Advanced Oxidation Processes (AOPs) offer promising methods to degrade such pollutants in water, though they may generate more toxic by-products. This study evaluates three AOPs with different hydroxyl radical generation principles: the Fenton reagent (H2O2/Fe2+), hydrogen peroxide photolysis (UV-C/H2O2), and heterogeneous photocatalysis (UV-A/TiO2). Heterogeneous photocatalysis showed superior performance, achieving 100% degradation and 77% mineralization under optimized conditions. Further analysis explored the effects of UV dose, catalyst concentration, and pH on process efficiency. The influence of water matrices, including Ultrapure Water (UW), Tap Water (TW), and Surface Water (SW) from the Aliakmonas River, was also examined. High-Resolution Mass Spectrometry identified 11 SDX transformation products formed during photocatalysis, with their formation mechanisms reported for the first time. An ecotoxicity assessment using ECOSAR software revealed insights into the potential environmental impact of these by-products.
Meteorological Anomalies During Earthquake Preparation: A Case Study for the 1995 Kobe Earthquake (M = 7.3) Based on Statistical and Machine Learning-Based Analyses
Authors: Hayakawa Masashi , Hirooka Shinji , Michimoto Koichiro , Potirakis Stelios M. , Hobara Yasuhide
Published: January 2025

The purpose of this paper is to discuss the effect of earthquake (EQ) preparation on changes in meteorological parameters. The two physical quantities of temperature (T)/relative humidity (Hum) and atmospheric chemical potential (ACP) have been investigated with the use of the Japanese meteorological “open” data of AMeDAS (Automated Meteorological Data Acquisition System), which is a very dense “ground-based” network of meteorological stations with higher temporal and spatial resolutions than the satellite remote sensing open data. In order to obtain a clearer identification of any seismogenic effect, we have used the AMeDAS station data at local midnight (LT = 01 h) and our initial target EQ was chosen to be the famous 1995 Kobe EQ of 17 January 1995 (M = 7.3). Initially, we performed conventional statistical analysis with confidence bounds and it was found that the Kobe station (very close to the EQ epicenter) exhibited conspicuous anomalies in both physical parameters on 10 January 1995, just one week before the EQ, exceeding m (mean) + 3σ (standard deviation) in T/Hum and well above m + 2σ in ACP within the short-term window of one month before and two weeks after an EQ. When looking at the whole period of over one year including the day of the EQ, in the case of T/Hum only we detected three additional extreme anomalies, except in winter, but with unknown origins. On the other hand, the anomalous peak on 10 January 1995 was the largest for ACP. Further, the spatial distributions of the anomaly intensity of the two quantities have been presented using about 40 stations to provide a further support to the close relationship of this peak with the EQ. The above statistical analysis has been compared with an analysis with recent machine/deep learning methods. We have utilized a combinational use of NARX (Nonlinear Autoregressive model with eXogenous inputs) and Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) models, which was successful in objectively re-confirming the anomalies in both parameters on the same day prior to the EQ. The combination of these analysis results elucidates that the meteorological anomalies on 10 January 1995 are considered to be a notable precursor to the EQ. Finally, we suggest a joint examination of our two meteorological quantities for their potential use in real short-term EQ prediction, as well as in the future lithosphere–atmosphere–ionosphere coupling (LAIC) studies as the information from the bottom part of LAIC.
Modified Endothelial Activation and Stress Index: A New Predictor for Survival Outcomes in Classical Hodgkin Lymphoma Treated with Doxorubicin-Bleomycin-Vinblastine-Dacarbazine-Based Therapy
Authors: Hunutlu Fazıl Çağrı , Öztop Hikmet , Gürsoy Vildan , Ersal Tuba , Elgün Ezel , Yavuz Şeyma , İldemir Ekizoğlu Selin , Ekizoğlu Azim Ali , Özkocaman Vildan , Özkalemkaş Fahir
Published: January 2025

Background: Although the cure rates of classical Hodgkin Lymphoma (cHL) are as high as 90% using the current treatment protocols, the prognosis is poor for primary refractory patients. Thus, a biomarker that can predict patients with early progression at the time of diagnosis is an unmet clinical need. Endothelial activation and stress index (EASIX) and its variant modified EASIX (mEASIX) is a scoring system currently used for the prediction of prognosis in hematologic malignancies. This study aimed to investigate the prognostic value of the mEASIX score in newly diagnosed cHL patients. Methods: Data from 206 patients who underwent positron emission tomography (PET)-guided doxorubicin, bleomycin, vinblastine, and dacarbazine (ABVD) therapy for cHL between January 2007 and November 2023 were retrospectively analyzed. The prognostic value of the mEASIX score was evaluated using the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis, Cox regression analysis, and the Kaplan–Meier method, and then compared with standard risk assessment methods. Results: The median age at diagnosis was 33 years, and the rate of patients in the advanced stage was 67%. ROC analysis determined an optimal mEASIX score cut-off of 17.28, categorizing patients into mEASIXhigh (47%) and mEASIXlow (53%) groups. The 5-year progression-free survival (PFS) (60% vs. 84.3%) and overall survival (OS) (79.6% vs. 95.8%) were significantly lower in the mEASIXhigh group (p < 0.001). Additionally, multivariate analysis showed that the independent variables affecting PFS included the nodular sclerosing subtype (HR: 0.4), bone marrow involvement (HR: 2.6), and elevated mEASIX (HR: 3.1). Independent variables, which had an effect on OS included elevated mEASIX (HR:3.8) and higher IPS-3 scores (HR:1.9). Furthermore, a higher mEASIX score (≥17.28) was identified as an independent variable indicating primary refractory disease (OR: 6.5). Conclusions: mEASIX is a powerful and easy-to-access marker for the detection of primary refractory disease and prognosis in newly diagnosed cHL cases.
Lipocalin 2 in Obesity and Diabetes: Insights into Its Role in Energy Metabolism
Authors: Lindstrom Erik , Deis Jessica , Bernlohr David A. , Chen Xiaoli
Published: January 2025

Background: Lipocalin 2 (LCN2), also known as neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin, is a 25 kDa protein involved in immune defense, inflammation, and metabolism. Results: LCN2 is widely expressed across various tissues, including immune cells, bone, adipose tissue, liver, kidneys, lung, spleen, and epithelial cells, and exhibits sex- and fat depot-specific expression patterns. Structurally, LCN2 contains a hydrophobic lipid-binding pocket and glycosylation sites, enabling it to interact with diverse ligands and form dimers. In innate immunity, LCN2 plays a critical role by sequestering iron-laden siderophores, thereby restricting bacterial growth. Beyond its role in infection control, LCN2 is implicated in metabolic inflammation and diseases such as obesity and diabetes. Recent research has highlighted a pivotal role for LCN2 in mitochondrial phospholipid metabolism and mitochondrial function. In metabolic diseases and mitochondrial metabolism, LCN2 appears to display paradoxical effects. While some studies link it to improved insulin sensitivity, glucose regulation, and mitochondrial function, others associate it with insulin resistance, obesity, and mitochondrial dysfunction. These inconsistencies may arise from differences in experimental conditions and study populations. Conclusions: This review provides an up-to-date summary of LCN2’s multifaceted roles in obesity, diabetes, energy balance, and mitochondrial function, emphasizing its context-dependent effects. LCN2 appears to have dual roles, exerting both protective and detrimental outcomes depending on the physiological or pathological context, sex, cell types, and experimental conditions. Further research is necessary to unravel its complex functions and resolve conflicting findings, particularly in metabolic disorders.
Fluxes of Cadmium, Chromium, and Lead Along with Throughfall and Stemflow Vary Among Different Types of Subtropical Forests
Authors: Jiang Wenfeng , He Jinghui , Peng Yan , Wu Qiqian , Yang Qiao , Heděnec Petr , Huang Yanbo , Wu Fuzhong , Yue Kai
Published: January 2025

The interaction between forests and precipitation plays a crucial role in the material cycling of forest ecosystems. Atmospheric deposition and rainfall leaching promote the transfer of heavy metals to the forest floor, while canopy exchange may potentially slow this process. Therefore, studying heavy metal fluxes and their influencing factors, along with canopy rainfall partitioning, is essential for understanding forest material cycling. We conducted a year-long experiment to examine the dynamics of chromium (Cr), cadmium (Cd), and lead (Pb) concentrations and fluxes in four types of forests (Cunninghamia lanceolata plantations, Castanopsis carlesii plantations, Cas. carlesii natural forests, and Cas. carlesii secondary forests) located in the subtropical regions of southeast China. Results showed that (1) the annual mean concentrations of Cr, Cd, and Pb were 167.6, 13.8, and 6180.5 μg L−1 in the throughfall and 204.7, 28.4, and 2251.1 μg L−1 in the stemflow, respectively, and the annual fluxes of Cr, Cd, and Pb through throughfall were 29.3, 2.4, and 847.7 g ha−1, respectively, and were 1.7, 0.2, and 12.7 g ha−1 through stemflow, respectively; (2) the concentrations of these heavy metals associated with throughfall did not vary between forest types, but their fluxes were highest in Cas. carlesii natural forests; (3) Cr concentration and flux were higher during the rainy than dry seasons, while Cd and Pb concentrations and fluxes showed an opposite trend. Overall, our results indicate that the fluxes of heavy metals along with rainfall partitioning were highest in natural forests and are primarily controlled by meteorological factors, indicating that the conversion of natural forests to other forest types will substantially change the fluxes of heavy metals along with hydrological processes. These results will contribute to a better understanding of the natural fluxes of heavy metals in forest ecosystems and are valuable for sustainable forest management, particularly in the context of forest type transformation.
A Review of Transportation 5.0: Advancing Sustainable Mobility Through Intelligent Technology and Renewable Energy
Authors: Shamsuddoha Mohammad , Kashem Mohammad Abul , Nasir Tasnuba
Published: January 2025

Transportation 5.0 is an advanced and sophisticated system combining technologies with a focus on human-centered design and inclusivity. Its various components integrate intelligent infrastructure, autonomous vehicles, shared mobility services, green energy solutions, and data-driven systems to create an efficient and sustainable transportation network to tackle modern urban challenges. However, this evolution of transportation is also intended to improve accessibility by creating environmentally benign substitutes for traditional fuel-based mobility solutions, even when addressing traffic management and control issues. Consequently, to promote synergy for sustainability, the diversified nature of the Transportation 5.0 components ought to be efficiently and effectively managed. Thus, this study aims to reveal the involvement of Transportation 5.0 core component prediction in the sustainable transportation system through a systematic literature review. This study also contemplates the causal model under system dynamics modeling in order to address sustainable solutions and the movement toward sustainability in the context of Transportation 5.0. From this review, in addition to the developed causal model, it is identified that every core component management method in the sustainable Transportation 5.0 system reduces environmental impact while increasing passenger convenience and the overall efficiency and accessibility of the transport network, with greater improvements for developing nations. As the variety of transportation options, including electric vehicles, is successfully integrated, this evolution will eventually enable shared mobility, green infrastructure, and multimodal transit options.
Influence of Sex and Body Composition on Aerobic Capacity in Normal Weight Lean, Normal Weight Obese, and Obese Phenotypes
Authors: Emerson Sam R. , Hart Samantha , Sciarrillo Christina M. , Eden Travis , Godsey Tyler J. , Smith Harrison , Keller Ashley , Keirns Bryant H.
Published: January 2025

Normal weight obesity (NWO) is a body composition phenotype that is associated with increased cardiometabolic risk and is characterized by a normal weight body mass index but elevated body fat. The purpose of this study was to determine sex differences in aerobic capacity across body composition phenotypes, including normal weight lean (NWL), NWO, and traditional obesity (OB). We recruited 60 participants according to three body composition phenotypes: NWL (n = 10 females, n = 10 males), NWO (n = 10 females, n = 10 males), and OB (n = 10 females, n = 10 males). Measurements included fasting metabolic risk factors, body composition X-ray scan, and peak exercise test on a cycle ergometer to determine aerobic capacity (VO2peak). Across groups, males (34.5 ± 11.7 mL/kg/min) exhibited greater VO2peak than females (28.8 ± 8.8 mL/kg/min; p = 0.04). There were no differences in VO2peak between sexes within the same body composition phenotype, but NWL (42.7 ± 9.0 mL/kg/min) exhibited greater VO2peak than NWO (27.9 ± 4.4 mL/kg/min; p < 0.0001) and OB (24.4 ± 7.3 mL/kg/min; p < 0.0001). VO2peak was inversely correlated with relative body fat in the full sample (r = −0.67; p < 0.0001), but was stronger in males (r = −0.78; p < 0.0001) than females (r = −0.53; p = 0.0028). Visceral adipose tissue was not significantly correlated with VO2peak in the full sample (r = −0.25; p = 0.05) or in males (r = −0.23; p = 0.25), although they were inversely correlated in females (r = −0.36; p = 0.048). Our results suggest low aerobic capacity in both men and women with NWO, similar to men and women with OB. The relationship between body composition and aerobic capacity is strong across body composition phenotypes, but appears to be more consistent in females than males. For healthcare professionals aiming to lower cardiometabolic risk, attention should be given to improving aerobic fitness in both men and women with elevated body fat, including those with NWO.
Ferroptosis Inducers Erastin and RSL3 Enhance Adriamycin and Topotecan Sensitivity in ABCB1/ABCG2-Expressing Tumor Cells
Authors: Perera Lalith , Brown Shalyn M. , Silver Brian B. , Tokar Erik J. , Sinha Birandra K.
Published: January 2025

Acquired resistance to chemotherapeutic drugs is the primary cause of treatment failure in the clinic. While multiple factors contribute to this resistance, increased expression of ABC transporters—such as P-glycoprotein (P-gp), breast cancer resistance protein (BCRP), and multidrug resistance proteins—play significant roles in the development of resistance to various chemotherapeutics. We found that Erastin, a ferroptosis inducer, was significantly cytotoxic to NCI/ADR-RES, a P-gp-expressing human ovarian cancer cell line. Here, we examined the effects of both Erastin and RSL3 (Ras-Selected Ligand 3) on reversing Adriamycin resistance in these cell lines. Our results show that Erastin significantly enhanced Adriamycin uptake in NCI/ADR-RES cells without affecting sensitive cells. Furthermore, we observed that Erastin enhanced Adriamycin cytotoxicity in a time-dependent manner. The selective iNOS inhibitor, 1400W, reduced both uptake and cytotoxicity of Adriamycin in P-gp-expressing NCI/ADR-RES cells only. These findings were also confirmed in a BCRP-expressing human breast cancer cell line (MCF-7/MXR), which was selected for resistance to Mitoxantrone. Both Erastin and RSL3 were found to be cytotoxic to MCF-7/MXR cells. Erastin significantly enhanced the uptake of Hoechst dye, a well-characterized BCRP substrate, sensitizing MCF-7/MXR cells to Topotecan. The effect of Erastin was inhibited by 1400W, indicating that iNOS is involved in Erastin-mediated enhancement of Topotecan cytotoxicity. RSL3 also significantly increased Topotecan cytotoxicity. Our findings—demonstrating increased cytotoxicity of Adriamycin and Topotecan in P-gp- and BCRP-expressing cells—suggest that ferroptosis inducers may be highly valuable in combination with other chemotherapeutics to manage patients’ cancer burden in the clinical setting.
Re-Examination Characterization and Screening of Stripe Rust Resistance Gene of Wheat TaPR1 Gene Family Based on the Transcriptome in Xinchun 32
Authors: Sun Tingting , Yan Niannian , Liu Qi , Bai Tingyu , Gao Haifeng , Chen Jing
Published: January 2025

Pathogenesis-related protein-1 (PR1) encodes a water-soluble protein produced in plants after pathogen infection or abiotic stimulation. It plays a crucial role in plant-induced resistance by attacking pathogens, degrading cell wall macromolecules and pathogen toxins, and inhibiting the binding of viral coat proteins to plant receptor molecules. Compared to model plants, the mechanism of action of PR1 in wheat remains underexplored. In this study, the recently published wheat genome database (IWGSC RefSeq V2.1) was used to identify 83 genes in the TaPR1 gene family. Compared to previous work, the duplicate genes were removed and we corrected misannotated genes. Fourteen TaPR1 genes involved in the wheat–Pst interaction were identified based on RNA sequencing from Xinchun 32. The expression patterns of eight genes were validated using qRT-PCR, and the results showed that PR1 was highly expressed following Puccinia striiformis f. sp. tritici (Pst) infection. This study enhances previous research on wheat PR1, contributing to a more comprehensive understanding of the TaPR1 gene family and providing a reference for the screening of more broad-spectrum and high-resistance wheat populations.
Differential Coding of Fruit, Leaf, and Microbial Odours in the Brains of Drosophila suzukii and Drosophila melanogaster
Authors: Dumenil Claire , Yildirim Gülsüm , Haase Albrecht
Published: January 2025

Drosophila suzukii severely damages the production of berry and stone fruits in large parts of the world. Unlike D. melanogaster, which reproduces on overripe and fermenting fruits on the ground, D. suzukii prefers to lay its eggs in ripening fruits still on the plants. Flies locate fruit hosts by their odorant volatiles, which are detected and encoded by a highly specialised olfactory system before being translated into behaviour. The exact information-processing pathway is not yet fully understood, especially the evaluation of odour attractiveness. It is also unclear what differentiates the brains of D. suzukii and D. melanogaster to cause the crucial difference in host selection. We hypothesised that the basis for different behaviours is already formed at the level of the antennal lobe of D. suzukii and D. melanogaster by different neuronal responses to volatiles associated with ripe and fermenting fruit. We thus investigated by 3D in vivo two-photon calcium imaging how both species encoded odours from ripe fruits, leaves, fermented fruits, bacteria, and their mixtures in the antennal lobe. We then assessed their behavioural responses to mixtures of ripe and fermenting odours. The neural responses reflect species-dependent shifts in the odour code. In addition to this, morphological differences were also observed. However, this was not directly reflected in different behavioural responses to the odours tested.
Elevated Interleukin-6 Is Associated with an Increased Risk of Long-Term Arteriovenous Fistula Failure for Dialysis
Authors: Ciucanu Claudiu Constantin , Mureșan Alexandru , Florea Elena , Réka Bartus , Mureșan Adrian Vasile , Szanto Ludovic-Alexandru , Arbănași Eliza-Mihaela , Hosu Ioan , Russu Eliza , Arbănași Emil-Marian
Published: January 2025

Background/Objectives: The autologous arteriovenous fistula (AVF) is the preferred choice for vascular access in patients with end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) undergoing maintenance hemodialysis. However, in the long term, the primary patency of AVF is suboptimal, with an AVF failure of approximately 30% in one year. The aim of this study is to examine how the pre-operative baseline levels of interleukin-6 (IL-6) affect long-term AVF failure. Methods: This retrospective, observational study involves ESKD patients admitted to the Vascular Surgery Clinic for AVF creation from January 2020 to December 2023. Ultimately, a total of 91 patients whose AVFs matured and began dialysis were enrolled. Prior to surgery, each patient underwent a thorough blood sample collection, with IL-6 levels assessed. The patients were categorized into two groups: those with functioning AVFs and those with dysfunctional AVFs. Their progress was monitored via a review of medical records, telephone interviews, or direct contact. Following the surgery, patients were observed for an average of 1.53 ± 0.94 years. Results: During the follow-up, patients who experienced AVF failure had a higher incidence of diabetes mellitus (p = 0.019) and active smoking (p = 0.012), as well as higher levels of IL-6 (p < 0.001). At ROC analysis, we found a strong association between IL-6 value and AVF failure (AUC: 0.814, p < 0.001), with an optimal cut-off value of 7.08 (76.5% Sensitivity and 79.7% Specificity). Furthermore, at the survival curve Kaplan-Meier analysis, we observed a higher occurrence of AVF failure in patients with baseline IL-6 values above the median (p = 0.004), in tertile 3 (p = 0.002), and above the optimal cut-off value (p < 0.001). At cox-regression analysis, elevated baseline IL-6 levels are associated with AVF Failure (HR: 2.23, p < 0.001). Conclusions: In the current study, we demonstrated that elevated IL-6 levels at baseline are associated with long-term AVF failure, independent of age, sex, and cardiovascular risk factors.
Development of an Innovative Magnetorheological Gearbox for Positioning Control and Anti-Disturbance of a Robotic Arm
Authors: Zhang Yuyang , Sun Shuaishuai , Deng Lei , Wang Guorui , Yu Rui , Li Weihua , Gong Xinglong , Zhang Shiwu , Du Haiping , Yang Jian
Published: January 2025

The robotic arm is a critical component of modern industrial manufacturing. However, its positioning performance can be hindered by overshooting and oscillation. External disturbances, including collisions or impacts with other objects, can also affect its accuracy and precision. To resolve this problem, this work integrates a compact magnetorheological (MR) bearing, which is capable of switching between locking and unlocking states utilizing the MR effect, into the gearbox of the actuation system of the robotic arm. This integration enables the gearbox (referred to as the MR gearbox) to exhibit variable damping characteristics. This controllable damping property will play an important role in improving the positioning accuracy by offering additional damping. In this study, the MR gearbox was first designed and prototyped. A characterization test was then conducted to verify its variable damping property. The classic Bouc–Wen model was used to describe the MR gearbox and then a mathematical model was established for the whole robotic arm. Additionally, a new variable damping control method was proposed for further improving the positioning precision and reducing energy consumption. As follows, the positioning and the anti-disturbance performances of the robotic arm system installed with the MR gearbox were assessed through numerical simulations and experimental tests. The result shows that the robotic arm under the new control method achieves reductions of 11.76% in overshoot, 14.73% in settling time, and 26.1% in energy consumption compared to the uncontrolled case under the step trajectory, indicating improved positioning performance.
A Low-Profile Balanced Dielectric Resonator Filtering Power Divider with Isolation
Authors: Cai Rong , Shao Chuan , Xu Kai
Published: January 2025

A balanced dielectric resonator filtering power divider with isolation performance is proposed. By using the coupling of the TE111y modes between three rectangle dielectric resonators, combined with balanced feed structures, the differential-mode filtering and power dividing functions, as well as the common-mode suppression were achieved effectively. Additionally, by technically utilizing the hollow structure of the stacked substrates, isolation resistor structures are introduced at the two output ports to improve the isolation level of the power divider. It can solve the problem of traditional metal-cavity dielectric resonator filter power dividers being unable to add isolation structures due to structural reasons. Compared with the reported dielectric resonator filtering power dividers, the proposed one has the characters of a lower profile and high isolation. For demonstration, one dielectric resonator filtering power divider was fabricated and measured at 11.65 GHz with the profile of 0.66 λg and an isolation higher than 15 dB. The simulation results are in good agreement with the measured results.
The Impact of Breakfast Consumption or Omission on Exercise Performance and Adaptations: A Narrative Review
Authors: Stratton Matthew T. , Holden Shelley L. , Davis Ray , Massengale Austin T.
Published: January 2025

Background: Breakfast is often termed the most important meal of the day. However, its importance to acute and chronic adaptations to exercise is currently not well summarized throughout the literature. Methods: A narrative review of the experimental literature regarding breakfast consumption’s impact on acute and chronic exercise performance and alterations in body composition prior to November 2024 was conducted. To be included in this review, the selected investigations needed to include some aspect of either endurance or resistance training performance and be conducted in humans. Results: These findings suggest that breakfast consumption may benefit acute long-duration (>60 min) but not short-duration (<60 min) morning endurance exercise. Evening time trial performance was consistently inhibited following breakfast omission despite the resumption of eating midday. No or minimal impact of breakfast consumption was found when examining acute morning or afternoon resistance training or the longitudinal adaptations to either resistance or endurance training. Favorable changes in body composition were often noted following the omission of breakfast. However, this was primarily driven by the concomitant reduced kilocalorie intake. Conclusions: Consuming breakfast may aid endurance athletes regularly performing exercise lasting >60 min in length. However, the morning meal’s impact on resistance training and changes in body composition appears to be minimal. Although, as the body of literature is limited, future investigations are needed to truly ascertain the dietary practice’s impact.
Different Genotypes of the Rare and Threatened Moss Physcomitrium eurystomum (Funariaceae) Exhibit Different Resilience to Zinc and Copper Stress
Authors: Božović Djordje P. , Ćosić Marija V. , Kolarčik Vladislav , Goga Michal , Varotto Claudio , Li Mingai , Sabovljević Aneta D. , Sabovljević Marko S.
Published: January 2025

The funarioid moss species Physcomitrium eurystomum, which is threatened with extinction, was the subject of this study. The riparian habitat type of this species is often under the influence of contaminated water, and, therefore, we tested the influence of selected potentially toxic elements (PTEs), namely zinc and copper, on the development, physiological features, and survival of the species on two different accessions (German and Croatian). The results obtained showed the different resilience of the two accessions to the PTEs. Flow cytometry analyses revealed that the two accessions differ significantly in terms of genome size. However, the different amplitude of resilience to the tested PTEs, the divergence in physiological responses, and survival within two accessions of the same species are confirmed, as well as the dissimilarity of their genome size, likely associated with ploidy level difference and possibly distinct hybrid origin.
A Comparative Phytochemical Investigation of the Greek Members of the Genus Helichrysum Mill., with Emphasis on the Local Endemic Helichrysum amorginum Boiss and Orph
Authors: Samanidis Iordanis , Krigas Nikos , Athanasiadis Vassilis , Makrygiannis Ioannis , Mantiniotou Martha , Lalas Stavros I.
Published: January 2025

The members of the genus Helichrysum Mill. are notable for producing a diverse range of structurally intricate secondary metabolites, being the focus of current phytochemical research. Their importance is recognized as several species hold significant ethnopharmacological value, being traditionally used to address ailments in human systems, such as respiratory, gastrointestinal, and urinary conditions, among others. This study used liquid chromatography coupled with high-resolution mass spectrometry results to present the phytochemical composition of non-volatile secondary metabolites in 11 Greek Helichrysum taxa (species and subspecies). For the first time, their total polyphenol content is comparatively assessed and an overview of the non-volatile compounds for five Endangered or Critically Endangered Greek Endemic Helichrysum taxa are presented herein. Almost all of the studied Helichrysum taxa differed significantly in the mean values of their polyphenolic content, except for H. doerfleri and H. heldreichii. A particular emphasis was placed on extracting polyphenols from a cultivated genotype of H. amorginum using aqueous pressurized liquid extraction as an alternative to the traditional organic solvent extraction method. Analysis by high-performance liquid chromatography revealed that this method increased the concentration of neochlorogenic acid and astragalin, compared to other extraction conditions. These findings highlight the potential of alternative extraction techniques for obtaining natural products from sustainably managed phytogenetic sources.
An Experimental Approach for Investigating Fatigue-Induced Debonding Propagation in Composite Stiffened Panels Using Thermographic Phase Mapping
Authors: Riccio Aniello , Russo Angela , Toscano Cinzia , Zarrelli Mauro
Published: January 2025

This work introduces an experimental approach focused on investigating fatigue-driven debonding in a composite structure designed to simulate the complexity of a typical aeronautical panel. The debonding is placed between the skin and the stringer, and the structure has been tested under fatigue compression conditions. Using lock-in thermography, the damage evolution during fatigue cycles has been detailed monitored. Indeed, thermographic phase maps obtained after a predetermined number of cycles during the whole fatigue test have been graphically analysed and have allowed us to obtain an accurate measurement of the delaminated area extent and shape. Our approach advances the understanding of damage propagation in composite materials, contributing to the development of damage-tolerant structural designs and supplying valuable data to validate numerical fatigue prediction models. Furthermore, the use of non-destructive testing techniques, such as thermography, has been found crucial for accurately quantifying the extent and the shape of the debonding after a given number of fatigue cycles.
Correction: Soliman et al. Evaluating Antimicrobial Activity and Wound Healing Effect of Rod-Shaped Nanoparticles. Polymers 2022, 14, 2637
Authors: Soliman Wafaa E. , Elsewedy Heba S. , Younis Nancy S. , Shinu Pottathil , Elsawy Lamis E. , Ramadan Heba A.
Published: January 2025

In the original publication, there was a mistake in Figure 7 as published [...]
Unidirectional Polyvinylidene/Copper-Impregnated Nanohydroxyapatite Composite Membrane Prepared by Electrospinning with Piezoelectricity and Biocompatibility for Potential Ligament Repair
Authors: Cheng Chih-Hsin , Chen Wen-Cheng , Yang Wen-Chieh , Yang Sen-Chi , Liu Shih-Ming , Chen Ya-Shun , Chen Jian-Chih
Published: January 2025

Ligament tears can strongly influence an individual’s daily life and ability to engage in physical activities. It is essential to develop artificial scaffolds for ligament repairs in order to effectively restore damaged ligaments. In this experiment, the objective was to evaluate fibrous membranes as scaffolds for ligament repair. These membranes were created through electrospinning using piezoelectric polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) composites, which contained 1 wt.% and 3 wt.% of copper-impregnated nanohydroxyapatite (Cu-nHA). The proposed electrospun membrane would feature an aligned fiber structure achieved through high-speed roller stretching, which mimics the properties of biomimetic ligaments. Nanoparticles of Cu-nHA had been composited into PVDF to enhance the pirzoelectric β-phase of the PVDF crystallines. The study assessed the physicochemical properties, antibacterial activity, and biocompatibility of the membranes in vitro. A microstructure analysis revealed that the composite membrane exhibited a bionic structure with aligned fibers resembling human ligaments. The piezoelectric performance of the experimental group containing 3 wt.% Cu-nHA was significantly improved to 25.02 ± 0.68 V/g·m−2 compared with that of the pure PVDF group at 18.98 ± 1.18 V/g·m−2. Further enhancement in piezoelectric performance by 31.8% was achieved by manipulating the semicrystalline structures. Antibacterial and cytotoxicity tests showed that the composite membrane inherited the antibacterial properties of Cu-nHA nanoparticles without causing cytotoxic reactions. Tensile tests revealed that the membrane’s flexibility of strain was adequate for use as artificial scaffolds for ligaments. In particular, the mechanical properties of the two experimental groups containing Cu-nHA were significantly enhanced compared with those of the pure PVDF group. The favorable piezoelectric and flexible properties are highly beneficial for ligament tissue regeneration. This study successfully developed PVDF/Cu-nHA piezoelectric fibers for a biocompatible, unidirectional piezoelectric membrane with potential applications as ligament repair scaffolds.