bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Assembly and analysis of first genomes of chloroplast and mitochondria of seashore paspalum and the gene transfer among the organelles and nucleus
Authors: Pan Ling , Cai Lirong , Lu Yang , Peng Di , Chen Haiyang , zhao Junming , Wang Xiaoshan
Published: March 2024

Background
Mitochondria and chloroplast are intracellular organelles that generate energy for the cells in plants. Seashore paspalum (Paspalum vaginatum Sw.), a halophytic, warm-season grass, has excellent tolerance capacity towards abiotic stress and is related to various grain crops. The nuclei genome of P. vaginatum has been reported recently, while information on the chloroplast and mitochondrial genomes of P. vaginatum is unavailable so far.
Results
The genomes of cytoplasmic organelles (mitochondria and chloroplast) of a warm-season turfgrass with superior salt tolerance (Paspalum vaginatum) were sequenced and assembled. The 504,515-bp and 140,483-bp genome maps of mitochondria and chloroplast contains a detailed list of protein-coding genes (PCGs), rRNAs and tRNAs. The mitochondrial genome contains large number of small and large repeats, and has little sequence similarity with its relatives such as maize and sorghum. The 580 and 432 RNA editing sites were predicted on 41 PCGs of mitochondrial genome. In the P. vaginatum mitochondrial genome, 185 sequence fragments of nuclear sequences were found, accounting for 16.95% of the total length. 7 chloroplast-derived genes had the 100% similarity with 6 mitochondrial PCGs. Transcriptomic changes in a few PCGs targeted to the two organelles were revealed during salt stress.
Conclusions
This study provides a better understanding of knowledge on plant mitochondrial and chloroplast genomes in seashore paspalum.
Solution for Microclimate Control of Glass Greenhouse Crops via Computational Fluid Dynamics
Authors: Shang Lin-Yuan , Li Tian-Ci , Gao Yu-Xiang , Ye Wei-Bin , Qi Li-Mei , Niu Rong , Si Chun-Jing
Published: March 2024

Glass greenhouse agriculture is becoming increasingly crucial as a sustainable method of food production, particularly because of the effects of extreme climate change on traditional forms of agriculture. However, the current research methods fail to consider the microclimatic conditions of temperature and wind speed within the crop canopy, causing an inadequate assessment of the crop growing environment and subsequently affecting crop growth and yield. In this study, an optimal microclimate scheme for crop growth in a glass greenhouse was designed based on computational fluid dynamics (CFD) considering the effects of fan position, initial speed, and initial temperature. First, the effects of crop presence and absence on wind speed and temperature in a glass greenhouse were analyzed using CFD. Second, the most effective crop growth strategy was determined by adjusting the heater fan speed and fan position. Finally, based on key factors such as the location of the greenhouse fan, initial wind speed, and initial temperature, the optimal fan control scheme for cucumber growth was developed as an example. The experimental results showed that (1) raising the greenhouse fan to 1.4 m ensured sufficient air flow in the crop canopy at 0.5 m and in the interior area at 0.1 m, (2) increasing the initial speed of the greenhouse fan to 3.5 m/s ensured that the wind speed in the crop canopy and the interior area met the optimal growth requirements of 0.3-1 m/s, (3) adjusting the initial temperature of the greenhouse fan to 300.15 K can reduce the overall temperature to a level more favorable for crop growth. Thus, a detailed optimization analysis of the greenhouse environment and adjustments to fan design to meet the specific growth requirements of the crop provide an effective method for improving greenhouse agricultural production conditions.
A Robust Reliable Low-power High Throughput Data Collection Wireless Sensor Network
Authors: Liu Jinzhi , Jiang Zhenhua , Lin kaien
Published: March 2024

This paper presents a robust data gathering protocol for wireless sensor network applications that require high throughput, reliability, and low-power.
Insofar as high throughput is concerned, TDMA is more suitable than CSMA.
Efficient TDMA protocols require solid synchronization and more optimized time slot scheduling.
Reliable data collection calls for end-to-end packet retransmission.
Such factors hinder the implementation of a comprehensive data collection protocol.
In this paper, a heuristic TDMA scheduling algorithm is provided to achieve optimized time slot scheduling with multi-channel communication.
The combination of TDMA and multi-channel communication affords to sustain high throughput and low-power communication.
In addition, this paper leverages constructive interference based flooding to provide robust synchronization and efficient downward communication.
Therefore, we are able to associate constructive interference based flooding with packet retransmission to implement collection reliability.
The proposed protocol is implemented on self-made sensor node with Contiki operating system.
Experimental results in a deployed network consisting of 29 self-made sensor nodes show that the protocol is able to maintain lasting operation and provide throughput as high as 14.74 KByte/s with 100\% data collection.
The Involvement of Gas6/sAXL Signaling Pathway in Patients with Idiopathic Granulomatous Mastitis
Authors: Carkit Sedat , Ozel Merve , Oz Bahadir , Mustafa gok , Akcan Alper , Demiray Sevil , Akgun Hulya , Baskol Gulden
Published: March 2024

Background:Idiopathic granulomatous mastitis (IGM) is an uncommon, benign, chronic inflammatory breast disease. There are several hypotheses about the etiology of IGM. The interaction between growth arrest-specific protein 6 (Gas6)/Tyro, AXL, and Mer (TAM) affects the regulation of innate immune reactions and promotes the induction of phagocytosis and a reduction in proinflammatory cytokine expression. We analyzed the potential implications of the Gas6/sAXL signaling pathway, which is essential for the inflammatory response to the pathophysiology of IGM, the cause of which is yet unknown.
Methods: This study included 37 patients. Nineteen of these patients achieved a complete response solely through medical treatment (Group R), while the remaining 18 comprised individuals who, following medical treatment, did not achieve a complete response and necessitated supplementary surgery (Group NR). Logistic regression analysis was used to define predictive factors. The optimal cutoff values of the predictive prognostic factors for resistance to treatment were identified using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis.
Results: No significant differences were detected between the two groups in terms of lesion size, age, parity, attack frequency, white blood cell count, presence of accompanying axillary lymphadenopathy (LAP), or smoking history (p>0.05). Significant differences were detected in terms of Gas6, sAXL, and the presence of accompanying abscess (p<0.05).
Conclusions:Decreased Gas6 and sAXL levels can be explained by two mechanisms. Inflammation may have developed due to Gas6 deficiency. The finding that low Gas6 levels are an independent risk factor for IGM treatment resistance will be a new method for treating this disease.
Do educational interventions reduce the gender gap in communication skills?- A systematic review
Authors: Driscoll Alexis M. , Suresh Rohan , Popa George , Berglund Leif , Azer Amanda , Hed Helen , Duan Yajie , Chu Alice , McGrath Aleksandra
Published: March 2024

Background: Efficient doctor-patient communication is essential for improving patient care. The impact of educational interventions on the communication skills of male and female students has not been systematically reviewed. The aim of this review is to identify interventions used to improve communication skills in medical curricula and investigate their effectiveness in improving the communication skills of male and female medical students.
Methods: A systematic review of the literature was conducted using the PRISMA guidelines. Inclusion criteria were as follows: used intervention strategies aiming to improve communication skills, participants were medical students, and studies were primary research studies, systematic reviews, or meta-analyses.
Results: 2913 articles were identified based on search terms. After title, abstract, and full-text review, 58 studies were included with interventions consisting of training or acting courses, curriculum-integrated, patient-interactive experiences, and community-based interventions. 69% of articles reported improved communication skills for both genders equally, 28% for women more than men, and 3% for men more than women. 16 of the 58 articles reported numerical data regarding communication skills pre-and post-intervention. Analysis revealed that post-intervention scores are significantly greater than pre-intervention scores for both male (p<0.001) and female students (p<0.001). While the post-test scores of male students were significantly lower than that of female students (p=0.01), there is no significant difference between genders for the benefits, or difference between post-intervention and pre-intervention scores (p=0.15), suggesting that both genders benefited equally.
Conclusion: Implementation of communication training into medical education will lead to increased overall medical student communication irrespective of gender. No specific interventions benefitting male students have been identified from published literature, suggesting need of further studies to explore the phenomenon of gender gap in communication skills and how to minimize the differences between male and female students.
Antibody blockade of the PSGL-1 immune checkpoint enhances T-cell responses to B-cell lymphoma
Authors: Pereira João , Ferreira Francisca , Matos Andreia , Pereira Dulcineia , Santos Rita , Carmo Alexandre , Oliveira Maria , Machado José Carlos , Santos Nuno Rodrigues dos
Published: March 2024

Despite advancements in cancer immunotherapy, most lymphomas remain unresponsive to checkpoint inhibitors. P-selectin glycoprotein ligand-1 (PSGL-1), recently identified as a promoter of T cell exhaustion in melanoma murine models, has emerged as a novel immune checkpoint protein and promising immunotherapeutic target. In this study, we investigated the potential of PSGL-1 antibody targeting in B-cell lymphoma. Using allogeneic coculture systems, we demonstrated that targeted antibody interventions against human PSGL-1 resulted in enhancement of T cell activation and effector cytokine production in response to lymphoma cells. Moreover, in vitro treatment of primary lymphoma cell suspensions with PSGL-1 antibody resulted in increased activation of autologous lymphoma-infiltrating T cells. Finally, using a syngeneic B-cell lymphoma mouse model, we found that PSGL-1 antibody treatment significantly slowed tumor development and reduced endpoint tumor burden. This anti-tumoral action was accompanied by augmented tumor infiltration with CD4+ and CD8+ T cells and reduced infiltration with regulatory T cells. These results demonstrate that PSGL-1 antibody blockade bolsters T-cell activity against B-cell lymphoma, suggesting a potential novel immunotherapeutic approach to treat these malignancies.
Exploring the reasons for wanting a peer partner to be physically active among women living with and beyond a cancer diagnosis: A content analysis
Authors: O’Rourke Roxy H. , Vani Madison F. , O’Loughlin Erin K. , Thibodeau Delaney , Sabiston Catherine M.
Published: March 2024

Background: Initiating and maintaining exercise is challenging for women during and post-cancer treatment. Adopting a peer partner model to provide social support to be active may contribute to lasting behaviour change of both partners. Despite this, finding a ‘like peer’ can be challenging.
Purpose: To explore women’s reasons for seeking an online exercise partner following a diagnosis with cancer (through www.activematch.ca). We also examined women’s potential socio-demographic and cancer-related differences by reported reasons for wanting an exercise partner.
Methods: Individuals creating an Active Match profile completed demographic and physical activity questions (N=199, Mage(SD)=51.9(10.8) years), including an open-ended question regarding their ‘reason for wanting an exercise partner’. An inductive content analysis was completed focusing on the participants’ peer exercise partner preferences. Additional chi-square tests were run to assess whether participants differed based on sociodemographic and cancer-related characteristics and their motivations to be active by category of ‘reason for wanting an exercise partner’ endorsed in the open-ended question.
Results: The participants’ reasons for wanting an exercise partner were coded into seven categories, with most participants highlighting the reasons of: motivation (52.3%), social support (48.7%), and accountability and adherence (26.6%). Women <50 years of age were more likely to report accountability and adherence related preferences for a partner. Those reporting endorsing weight loss as their primary reason for becoming active were more likely to be categorized as wanting a peer partner for motivation.
Conclusions: While finding a peer partner can be challenging, matching women living with and beyond a cancer diagnosis based on their reason for wanting an exercise partner, as well as their reasons for wanting to be active, may be important to build successful peer exercise partnerships.
Cognitive enrichment through art: a randomized controlled trial on the effect of music or visual arts group practice on cognitive and brain development of young children
Authors: James Clara E. , Tingaud Maxim , Laera Gianvito , Guedj Carole , Zuber Sascha , Palazzi Raffaello Diambrini , Vukovic Stoja , Richiardi Jonas , Kliegel Matthias , Marie Damien
Published: March 2024

Background
The optimal stimulation for brain development in the early academic years remains unclear. Current research suggests that musical training has a more profound impact on children's executive functions (EF) compared to other art forms. What is crucially lacking is a large-scale, long-term genuine randomized controlled trial (RCT) in cognitive neuroscience, comparing musical instrumental training (MIP) to another art form, and a control group (CG). This study aims to fill this gap by using machine learning to develop a multivariate model that tracks the interconnected brain and EF development during the academic years, with or without music or other art training.
Methods
The study plans to enroll 150 children aged 6-8 years and randomly assign them to three groups: Orchestra in Class (OC), Visual Arts (VA), and a control group (CG). Anticipating a 30% attrition rate, each group aims to retain at least 35 participants. The research consists of three analytical stages: 1) baseline analysis correlating EF, brain data, age, gender, and socioeconomic status, 2) comparison between groups and over time of EF brain and behavioral development, including hypothesis testing, and 3) exploratory analysis combining behavioral and brain data. The intervention includes intensive art classes once a week, and incremental home training over two years, with the CG receiving six annual cultural outings.
Discussion
This study examines the potential benefits of intensive group arts education, especially contrasting music with visual arts, on EF development in children. It will investigate how artistic enrichment potentially influences the presumed typical transition from a more unified to a more multifaceted EF structure around age eight, comparing these findings against a minimally enriched active control group. This research could significantly influence the incorporation of intensive art interventions in standard curricula.
Trial registration
The project was accepted after peer-review by the Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF no. 100014_214977) on March 29, 2023. The study protocol received approval from the Cantonal Commission for Ethics in Human Research of Geneva (CCER, BASEC-ID 2023-01016), which is part of Swiss ethics, on October 25, 2023. The study is registered at clinicaltrials.gov (NCT05912270).
Prehospital guidelines on in-water traumatic spinal injuries for lifeguards and prehospital Emergency Medical Services: an international Delphi consensus study
Authors: Breindahl Niklas , Bierens Joost L M , Wiberg Sebastian , Barcala-Furelos Roberto , Maschmann Christian
Published: March 2024

Background
Trauma guidelines on spinal motion restriction (SMR) have changed drastically in recent years. An international group of experts explored whether consensus could be reached and if guidelines on SMR performed by trained lifeguards and prehospital EMS following in-water traumatic spinal cord injury (TSCI) should also be changed.
Methods
An international three-round Delphi process was conducted from October 2022 to November 2023. In Delphi round one, brainstorming resulted in an exhaustive list of recommendations for handling patients with suspected in-water TSCI. The list was also used to construct a preliminary flowchart for in-water SMR. In Delphi round two, three levels of agreement for each recommendation and the flowchart were established. Recommendations with strong consensus (≥ 85% agreement) underwent minor revisions and entered round three; recommendations with moderate consensus (75–85% agreement) underwent major revisions in two consecutive phases; and recommendations with weak consensus (< 75% agreement) were excluded. In Delphi round 3, the level of consensus for each of the final recommendations and each of the routes in the flowchart was tested using the same procedure as in Delphi round 2.
Results
Twenty-four experts participated in Delphi round one. The response rates for Delphi rounds two and three were 92% and 88%, respectively. The study resulted in 25 recommendations and one flowchart with four flowchart paths; 24 recommendations received strong consensus (≥ 85%), and one recommendation received moderate consensus (81%). Each of the four paths in the flowchart received strong consensus (90–95%). The integral flowchart received strong consensus (93%).
Conclusions
This study produced expert consensus on 25 recommendations and a flowchart on handling patients with suspected in-water TSCI by trained lifeguards and prehospital EMS. These results provide clear and simple guidelines on SMR, which can standardise training and guidelines on SMR performed by trained lifeguards or prehospital EMS.
Right frontal gamma transcranial alternating current stimulation modulates optimism biases
Authors: Yao Ziqing , Wei Jinwen , Huang Gan , Li Linling , Liang Zhen , Zhang Li , Wu Haiyan , Yuan Tifei , Zhang Zhiguo , Hu Xiaoqing
Published: March 2024

Background
When forecasting the future, people often underestimate the likelihood of adverse life events, a phenomenon known as optimism bias. While transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS) over frontal regions has been employed to modulate various cognitive and emotional functions, its potential impact on optimism bias remains unexplored.
Results
Using a single-blind, sham-controlled, between-subjects design, we investigated the effects of alpha- and gamma-tACS on optimism bias. Three groups of participants received 15-min of either individualized alpha frequency (IAF)-tACS, 40 Hz-tACS, or sham stimulation over the right frontal cortex during rest. To assess how tACS impacted the optimism bias, participants completed a belief update task before and immediately after the tACS. To assess potential delayed effect of the tACS, participants completed a delay estimation task 24 hours later. We found that across all three groups, participants showed the classic optimism bias, such that they were more likely to update their beliefs toward desirable than undesirable feedback. Notably, compared to the sham and IAF-tACS groups, 40 Hz-tACS further enhanced optimism biases after 24 hours.
Conclusion
These findings suggest that right frontal gamma- but not alpha-tACS could effectively modulate the long-term optimistic belief updating. Our study highlights the potential of non-invasive brain stimulation as a promising tool for altering optimism biases, which may benefit individuals with pessimistic outlooks.
UBI29-41-targeted, NIR-triggered nanoparticles for enhanced PDT against periodontal plaque biofilm formation and immunomodulation
Authors: Li Wen , You Fengqun , Bao Han , Yang Jie , Gu Deao , Li Yuyang , Zhang Xuan , Liu Chao , Miao Leiying , Sun Weibin
Published: March 2024

Periodontitis, a prevalent inflammatory disease affecting the oro-maxillofacial region, is induced by dental plaque biofilms. Periodontitis not only causes the degradation of supporting periodontal tissues but also poses a significant threat to overall health. The distinctive architecture of biofilms renders conventional mechanical debridement and antibiotic treatment ineffective against them. To overcome this problem, in this study, we successfully developed a multifunctional nanocomposite that combines antimicrobial peptides with photodynamic therapy (PDT) to selectively exert antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory effects. Our findings show that under 808-nm single-wavelength near-infrared light irradiation, the cationic antimicrobial peptide UBI29-41 not only enhances the efficacy of antibacterial PDT in specifically inhibiting the formation of periodontal biofilm by binding to lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and lipoteichoic acid (LTA) on the surface of bacteria through electrostatic interactions. Additionally, the targeting effect of UBI29-41 on LPS inhibits IκBα phosphorylation and NF-κB signaling pathway activation, ultimately exerting anti-inflammatory effects. We confirmed our in vivofindings in a rat periodontitis model and also demonstrated efficacy of the nanoparticles in inhibiting the degradation of collagen in gingival tissue, which enabled the successful treatment of periodontal disease. Hence, this study offers a novel strategy for the precise treatment of periodontal disease, including the management of deeply infected tissues.
Spacing-adjustable and switchable multi-wavelength erbium-doped fiber laser using the filter of MMF-PMF-MMF based on PHB
Authors: Zhang Weihua , Liu Xinbo , Shi Yanmei , Tong Zhengrong , Wang Hao , Wang Xue
Published: March 2024

A spacing-adjustable and switchable multi-wavelength erbium-doped fiber laser is proposed and analyzed based on the polarization hole burning (PHB) effect. The comb filter consists of multimode fiber - polarization maintaining fiber - multimode fiber (MMF-PMF-MMF). Here the filter is used as the polarization-dependent element to induce the polarization hole burning (PHB) effect. The filter is placed in the laser cavity or embedded into the Sagnac loop. By adjusting the polarization controller (PC) in the cavity, when the filter is placed in the laser cavity, the output wavelengths can be switched from single-wavelength to sextuple-wavelength, and dual-, triple-, quad-, quintuple- and sextuple-wavelength with adjustable wavelength spacing can be obtained. The dual-wavelength has a substantial amount of wavelength spacing adjustability with the range of 3.32 nm to 30.16 nm. When the filter is embedded into the Sagnac loop, the wavelength tuning ranges for single-, dual-, triple- and quad-wavelength are 28.42 nm, 28.10 nm, 18.21 nm and 14.58 nm, respectively. The proposed erbium-doped fiber laser (EDFL) provides a wide range of wavelengths and adjustable spacing, which is suitable for a variety of applications such as optical communication, optical detection and optical signal processing.
Super-enhancer-associated LINC00963 promotes epithelial-mesenchymal transition in gastric cancer
Authors: Du Hong , Xiang Tingting , Xia Ying , Jin Yong , Deng Fahua , Xia Wansong , Li Hongyu , Cheng Shuqiang , Lan Bingxue , Wei Sixi , Song Cunfeng , Huang Hai
Published: March 2024

Background
In clinical practice, gastric cancer (GC) is a common malignancy with high morbidity. Accumulating research has revealed that lncRNAs are involved in the development and metastasis of tumor tissues in multiple cancers. As reported, LINC00963, a typical lncRNA is aberrantly expressed in gastric cancer. However, the underlying mechanisms of super-enhancers mediating remain unclear.
Materials and methods
The GC cell line enhancer-super-enhancer data were downloaded and analyzed from the NCBI database (GSE75595). Combined RT-qPCR and Sanger sequencing were employed to identify three variants of LINC00963 in gastric cell lines and peripheral blood samples from gastric cancer patients. The gene expression was detected through RT-qPCR, and their encoded protein expression levels were mesured by western blot. Transwell assayswere applied to assess the cell invasion and migration, while the apoptosis rate was tested by flow cytometry. A xenograft model was applied to simulate the tumor development process, during which the effect of LINC00963 on promoting tumorigenesis were investigated.
Results
Analysis of the GC cell line enhancer-super-enhancer data revealed a high expression of LINC00963 driven by super-enhancer. The variant 1 and variant 2 of LINC00963 exhibited high expression in GC cell line and the peripheral blood of gastric cancers. After down-regulated variant 1 of LINC00963, the results showed a significant increase in cell apoptosis rate. LINC00963 expression in GC cell line reduced upon exposure to a low dose of the bromodomain and extra-terminal inhibitor, JQ1, which resulted in a decrease of the protein levels of β-catenin and ZEB1. As a result, the protein expression levels of several marker proteins related to epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), such as Vimentin, N-cadherin and Snail were observed to decrease, which may lead to an inhibition on GC cells metastasis, thereby suppressing tumor growth.
Conclusion
This study demonstrated that the Super-enhancer-associated LINC00963 is via a Wnt/β-catenin pathway that promotes EMT and tumor metastasis in gastric cancer.
Risk factors and the establishment of nomogram model for failure of air enema reduction in children with Ileocolic Intussusception
Authors: Xiong Jie , Wang Jun , Luo Bo , Zhao Yi , Qi Zhao-yang , Hu Gao-Lian , Zhou Ping-hui , Li Tian-Liang
Published: March 2024

Objective: This study aims to identify the risk factors associated with the failure of air enema reduction in children diagnosed with Ileocolic Intussusception, and subsequently develop a nomogram model to predict the likelihood of this failure.
Method:The retrospective analysis involved the examination of clinical data from 502 children diagnosed with intussusception who were admitted to the Children's Surgery Center of the First People's Hospital of Zigong City, Sichuan Province between June 2017 and June 2022. Out of these cases, 87 (17.3%) experienced failure in air enema reduction, while 100 cases (19.9%) required surgical intervention. Univariate and multivariate analyses were conducted to identify the risk factors associated with air enema reduction failure in children. Additionally, a nomogram was developed to establish a risk assessment model for predicting the likelihood of air enema reduction failure. Receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) and AUC values were used to evaluate the accuracy of the model.
Results: The findings from the Univariate analysis indicate that several factors, including overweight, abdominal mass, abdominal distension, location of intussusception, length and diameter of intussusception, ileocecal valve edema, frequency of enema, and pathological factors, are significantly associated with the failure of intussusception air enema reduction in children (p < 0.05). The results of the multivariate analysis indicated that several factors were found to be independent risk factors for the failure of air enema reduction in children. These factors included overweight (OR=4.02, 95%CI 2.15-7.51, P < 0.001), location of intussusception (OR=3.39, 95%CI 1.31-8.77, P=0.012), times of enema (OR=2.18, 95%CI 1.27-3.77, P=0.005), and pathological factors (OR=2.54, 95%CI 1.17-5.49, P=0.018). The risk assessment model's nomogram had a total score of 260 points, and the area under the curve (AUC) value of the nomogram was 0.743.
Conclusion The failure of air enema in children can be attributed to various risk factors, including overweight, location of intussusception, the timing of enema, and pathological factors. Furthermore, the risk assessment model that has been developed exhibits promising clinical predictive capabilities.
Sustainability of opioid agonist therapy programmes in Belarus, the Republic of Moldova, Tajikistan and Ukraine in the context of transition from Global Fund support during 2020-2023
Authors: Stuikyte Raminta , Varentsov Ivan , Dvoriak Sergii , Filippovych Myroslava , Kralko Aleksei , Malikov Naimdzhon , Iatco Ala , Latypov Alisher , Cook Catherine
Published: March 2024

Background
Most national programmes of opioid agonist therapy (OAT) in Eastern Europe and Central Asia are at a critical juncture for building their sustainability due to decreasing support from the Global Fund and other international HIV funders. Therefore, it is timely to identify the status, trends, opportunities and risk factors of OAT preparedness in the face of donor transition.
Methods
The study assessed the OAT sustainability progress in 4 countries: Belarus, the Republic of Moldova, Tajikistan and Ukraine. The national assessments were conducted in 2020 and repeated during 2022–2023. In total, 363 sources were reviewed and used, 83 interviews with key informants and 13 focus groups were conducted with clients, using a joint methodology and a defined Framework with three dimensions: ‘Policy & Governance’; ‘Finance & Resources’; and, ‘Services’.
Results
All four countries have made improvements to increase OAT sustainability, though it varied. In 2022, Ukraine had a substantial degree of sustainability, followed by Belarus and Moldova with a moderate degree, while Tajikistan’s sustainability was at moderate-to-high risk. No country achieved a high degree of OAT sustainability in any of the three dimensions measured. However, a high degree of sustainability was reported for at least one indicator in Belarus, Moldova and Ukraine: ‘Medicines’; ‘Financial resources’; ‘Evidence and information systems’; ‘Service Accessibility’; or, ‘Service integration & quality’. On average, the greatest improvement between 2020 and 2022 was seen for ‘Availability & coverage’; ‘Financial resources’; ‘Service quality & integration’; and, ‘Service accessibility’. The highest risks across the countries, notably in Belarus and Tajikistan, were recorded for the indicator, ‘Availability and coverage’. Of concern is that the least progress, or even a decline, was found in ‘Human resources’ within the sustainability indicator.
Conclusions
OAT sustainability in 4 analysed countries remains at risk, although those countries are at a different point of donor transition. OAT resilience and ability to scale up depend upon multiple factors. Political will and continued funding are two of them, as demonstrated by Ukraine’s progress despite challenges posed by Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022. The results show that both financial and programmatic areas are at risk and stagnating progress requires collective efforts.
Path Enumeration Solution for Evaluating Reliability, Based on the Path Algebra Framework
Authors: Prekas Stelios , Trakadas Panagiotis , Karkazis Panagiotis
Published: March 2024

The demand for connectivity in this fourth industrial revolution, is growing in an exponential rate. As the Fourth-Generation communication systems are replaced by the Fifth and Sixth-Generation ones, a plethora of fundamental performance issues need to constantly be addressed. Virtual network reliability is one of those main challenges for deploying resilient service-centric and user-centric scenarios in Next-Generation Networks. The need for strengthening critical applications dictates the emergence of mechanisms that could inherently produce more reliable resource allocations, either at the cloud or edge level. However, until the adoption of fully artificially intelligent management systems, the enhancement of existing resource evaluation and allocation mechanisms is mandatory during this transitional era. To reach this pressing milestone, we will have to revise the already deployed reliability frameworks, assessing their orchestrating stages. Our research focuses on providing a novel evaluation mechanism that could successfully replace traditional path choosing techniques in reliability prone algorithms, regardless of their orientation. The proposed synthesized metrics enumerate the candidate paths validly and optimally, by adhering to the Path Algebra fundamental properties of monotonicity and isotonicity. Such an implementation can be deployed seamlessly, either on legacy or modern architectures, cementing the innovative qualities of its design. The experimental results of our simulations indicate that the proposed solution favors substantially more reliable paths than its shortest-path counterpart.
An Optimised CRISPR Cas9 and Cas12a Toolkit for Barley and Wheat
Authors: Lawrenson Tom , Clarke Martha , Kirby Rachel , Forner Macarena , Steuernagel Burkhard , Harwood Wendy
Published: March 2024

Background
CRISPR Cas9 and Cas12a are the two most frequently used programmable nucleases reported in plant systems. There is now a wide range of component parts for both which likely have varying degrees of effectiveness and potentially applicability to different species. Our aim was to develop and optimise Cas9 and Cas12a based systems for highly efficient genome editing in the monocotyledons barley and wheat and produce a user-friendly toolbox facilitating simplex and multiplex editing in the cereal community.
Results
We identified a Zea mays codon optimised Cas9 with 13 introns in conjunction with arrayed guides driven by U6 and U3 promoters as the best performer in barley where 100% of T0 plants were simultaneously edited in all three target genes. When this system was used in wheat >90% of T0 plants were edited in all three subgenome targets. For Cas12a, an Arabidopsiscodon optimised sequence with 8 introns gave the best editing efficiency in barley when combined with a tRNA based multiguide array, resulting in 90% mutant alleles in three simultaneously targeted genes. When we applied this Cas12a system in wheat 86% & 93% of T0 plants were mutated in two genes simultaneously targeted. We show that not all introns contribute equally to enhanced mutagenesis when inserted into a Cas12a coding sequence and that there is rational for including multiple introns. We also show the combined effect of two features which boost Cas12a mutagenesis efficiency (D156R mutation and introns) is more than the sum of the features applied separately.
Conclusion
Based on the results of our testing, we describe and provide a GoldenGate modular cloning system for Cas9 and Cas12a use in barley and wheat. Proven Cas nuclease and guide expression cassette options found in the toolkit will facilitate highly efficient simplex and multiplex mutagenesis in both species. We incorporate GRF-GIF transformation boosting cassettes in wheat options to maximise workflow efficiency.
Nonlocal abstract Stokes equations and applications
Authors: Shakhmurov Veli
Published: March 2024

In this paper, the Cauchy problem for the stationary and instationary nonlocal imcompressible abstract Stokes equation is considered. The equation involve a convolution term and an abstract operator in a Banach space E on leading part. The existence, uniqueness and coercive estimates are derived in Lp spaces. We, can obtain different classes of Stokes equations by choosing the space E and the linear operator A which occur in a wide variety of physical systems. In application the existence, uniqueness and Lp-maximal regularity properties to solution of initial value problems for nonlocal degenerate Stokes equations and nonlocal Stokes equations with discontinuous coefficients are established
AMS: 35Q30, 76D05, 34G10, 35J25
​Durna: Achieving Cloud of Clouds by integrating Blockchain and Software Defined Storage
Authors: Dinparast Saber , Mohasefi Jamshid Bagherzadeh , Javan Morteza Sargolzaei , Sardroud Asghar Asl Asgharian
Published: March 2024

This paper proposes a new architecture which addresses the challenge of creating a unified storage cloud out of multiple independent cloud storage by developing a decentralized configuration management system named Durna. Durna integrates blockchain and software defined storage technologies and creates a unified decentralized service while preserving each autonomous unit independent. Durna is capable of generating, distributing, and applying configuration files among nodes in the storage network in a stable, and decentralized manner. By achieving this, the software defined storage gains the decentralized management capability, while still benefiting from its established capabilities in guaranteeing storage service quality. To ensure the system's effectiveness and prevent unforeseen problems, a formal model of the decentralized configuration management system was created and evaluated using model-checking. At the end, we discussed our experience of deploying the primitive Durna hyper-cloud system.
Accuracy of the Gross-Pitaevskii Equation in a Double-Well Potential
Authors: Sakhel Asaad R. , Ragan Robert J. , Mullin William J.
Published: March 2024

The Gross-Pitaevskii equation (GPE) in a double well potential produces solutions that break the symmetry of the underlying non-interacting Hamiltonian, i.e., asymmetric solutions. The GPE is derived from the more general second-quantized Fock Schrödinger equation (FSE). We investigate whether such solutions appear in the more general case or are artifacts of the GPE. We use two-mode analyses for a variational treatment of the GPE and to treat the Fock equation. An exact diagonalization of the FSE in dual-condensates yields degenerate ground states that are very accurately fitted by phase-state representations of the degenerate asymmetric states found in the GPE. The superposition of degenerate asymmetrical states forms a cat state. An alternative form of cat state results from a change of the two-mode basis set.
Psychosocial factors contribute to the disability and distress associated with chronic pain in ambulatory patients attending an Australian cancer center
Authors: Glare Paul A , Pugliano Lina , Sequeira Amit A. , Asghari Ali , Nicholas Michael K.
Published: March 2024

Purpose: The prevalence, characteristics, and optimal management of chronic pain in cancer survivors remain uncertain. This study aimed to estimate its prevalence, origin, and severity, while examining the role of mood and unhelpful thoughts and beliefs in pain-related distress and disability.
Methods: Ambulatory adults visiting the cancer center of a university teaching hospital in Sydney, Australia, were invited to participate in a de-identified cross-sectional survey. The survey included demographics, clinical information, and responses to validated pain questionnaires.
Results: Out of 362 patients attending the center during the survey period, 346 (96%) returned completed surveys. Among them, 120 (35%) believed they were cured or in remission. 60 (17%, 95%CI 14%-20%) reported pain persisting for more than three months, with 35 (57% of those in pain) attributing it to unrelated comorbidities. 39 (11% of survey participants) reported moderate to severe interference with functioning due to pain. Pain interference correlated in the expected direction with depression, pain catastrophizing, and low pain self-efficacy (all p<0.01). Low pain self-efficacy significantly contributed to physical interference even when controlling for pain intensity. Similarly, pain catastrophizing contributed to pain-related distress.
Conclusion: Chronic pain was prevalent in those surveyed, often stemming from comorbidities. Over 10% of respondents reported high-impact chronic pain, linked to depressed mood, low pain self-efficacy, and pain catastrophizing.
Cosmic quenching and scaling laws for evolution of galaxies and SMBHs
Authors: Xu Zhijie (Jay)
Published: March 2024

Observations suggest a tight coupling between spuermassive black hole (SMBH) growth and star formation in the host galaxy. Based on Illustris simulations and astronomical observations, a cosmic quenching over the cosmic time scale is proposed to regulate the synchronized evolution of both SMBH and host. A central quantity of cosmic quenching is the parameter 𝜀𝑏 (unit: 𝑚2/𝑠3) that describes the rate of mass and energy flow of gases along the bulge radial direction. The parameter 𝜀𝑏 also controls the efficiency of gas cooling and the supply of cold gas. The value 𝜀𝑏 ≈ 10−4 (1 + 𝑧)5/2𝑚2/𝑠3 can be determined which decreases with time. For a larger 𝜀𝑏 in the early universe, gas cooling is more efficient in providing a richer supply of cold gas for a rapid initial evolution of both SMBH and host. At lower redshifts, a smaller 𝜀𝑏 means less efficient gas cooling, less cold gas supply, and slower star formation and black hole growth (quenched). The rate of mass accretion naturally exhibits a peak at 𝑧 ≈ 2 due to the decrease in 𝜀𝑏. Scaling laws involving 𝜀𝑏 are identified that govern the evolution of both SMBHs and their hosts. For host galaxies, we identify the mass-size relation 𝑀𝑏 ∝ 𝜀2/3 𝑏 𝑟5/3 𝑏 𝐺−1 and the dispersion-size relation 𝜎2 𝑏 ∝ (𝜀𝑏𝑟𝑏)2/3 ∝ (1 + 𝑧), where 𝑟𝑏 ∝ (1 + 𝑧)−1 is the bulge size. For SMBH, an initial rapid growth is identified with a sharp increase in luminosity 𝐿𝐵 ∝ (𝜀𝑏𝑀𝐵𝐻)4/5𝐺−1/5𝑐, followed by a transition stage with a decreasing luminosity 𝐿𝐵 ∝ 𝜀2𝑏𝑀𝐵𝐻 ∝ (1 + 𝑧)5, and a dormant stage with 𝐿𝐵 ∝ (𝜀𝑏𝑀𝐵𝐻)4/3𝐺1/3𝑐−5/3. Here 𝐺 is the gravitational constant, 𝑐 is the speed of light, 𝑀𝐵𝐻 is the mass of BH. For SMBH-galaxy co-evolution, the observed M-σ correlation can be analytically derived as 𝑀𝐵𝐻 ∝ 𝜎5 𝑏 /(𝜀𝑏𝐺). Using these scaling laws, analytical solutions are formulated for the evolution of the SMBH mass function Φ𝐵𝐻 (𝑀, 𝑧), the AGN mass function Φ𝐴𝐺𝑁 (𝑀, 𝑧), duty cycle 𝑈(𝑀, 𝑧), and the Eddington ratio distribution. The model predicts Φ𝐿 ∝ 𝐿−1/5 for the faint-end quasar luminosity function, Φ𝐴𝐺𝑁 ∝ 𝑀−1/5 for a small-mass-end AGN mass function, and 𝑈 ∝ 𝑀−1/5 for the duty cycle at high redshift. Finally, the complete redshift evolution of some observed high-redshift SMBHs can be modeled. The results suggest an initial super-Eddington growth in a short period when the SMBHs are still small, followed by a slow growth due to cosmic quenching when the SMBHs become large.
Dismantle and rebuild: The importance of preparedness and self-efficacy before, during, and after allogeneic haematopoietic cell transplantation
Authors: Holmberg Katarina , Bergkvist Karin , Wengström Yvonne , Hagelin Carina Lundh
Published: March 2024

Purpose The aim of this study was to explore patients’ experiences of being prepared for allogenic haematopoietic cell transplantation and to explore their perceived self-efficacy and preparedness for self-care after allogenic haematopoietic cell transplantation.
Methods Qualitative descriptive design was adopted using content analysis to analyse individual interviews.
Results An overarching theme, Life is taken apart, then you have to know how to put the pieces together, and four sub themes, Convert information into something understandable, Taking responsibility, maintaining and preparing for an uncertain time in life, Fumbling independence, and Reorientating in an altered body places new demands on self-care illustrates the dismantlement of life during treatment and how actions and approaches can build a new life.
Conclusions Emphasis was placed on preparation before admission, this applied to both healthcare professionals and participants. However, during admission, preparation decreased and the time was not used for preparatory learning. This meant that participants were well prepared for the acute phase but unprepared for life after completion of treatment. Self-efficacy was perceived as high among the participants who sought information about taking care of their health.
Implication for cancer survivors This study provides insight into, and knowledge about, how patients prepare before, during, and after treatment. This knowledge should primarily be directed towards healthcare professionals to be used for future patients who may need advice and support, as well as continued preparation for a life after transplantation.
Genetic evaluation of the patients with clinically diagnosed inborn errors of immunity by whole exome sequencing: Results from a specialized research center for immunodeficiency in Türkiye
Authors: Erman Baran , Aba Umran , Ipsir Canberk , Pehlivan Damla , Aytekin Caner , Cildir Gokhan , Cicek Begum , Bozkurt Ceren , Tekeoglu Sidem , Kaya Melisa , Aydogmus Cigdem , Cipe Funda , Sucak Gulsan , Eltan Sevgi Bilgic , Ozen Ahmet , Barıs Safa , Karakoc-Aydiner Elif , Kıykım Ayca , Karaatmaca Betul , Kose Hulya , Uygun Dilara Fatma Kocacık , Celmeli Fatih , Arikoglu Tugba , Ozcan Dilek , Keskin Ozlem , Arık Elif , Aytekin Elif Soyak , Cesur Mahmut , Kucukosmanoglu Ercan , Kılıc Mehmet , Yuksek Mutlu , Bıcakcı Zafer , Esenboga Saliha , Ayvaz Deniz Cagdas , Sefer Asena Pınar , Guler Sukru Nail , Keles Sevgi , Reisli Ismail , Musabak Ugur , Demirbas Nazlı Deveci , Haskologlu Sule , Kilic Sara Sebnem , Metin Ayse , Dogu Figen , Ikinciogullari Aydan , Tezcan Ilhan
Published: March 2024

Molecular diagnosis of inborn errors of immunity (IEI) poses critical implications for patient’s long-term prognosis, treatment options, and genetic counseling. Over the past decade, the broader utilization of next-generation sequencing (NGS) techniques in both research and clinical settings has facilitated the evaluation of a significant proportion of patients for gene variants associated with IEI. In addition to its role in diagnosing known gene defects, the application of high-throughput techniques such as targeted, exome, and genome sequencing has led to the identification of novel disease-causing genes. However, the results obtained from these different methods can vary depending on disease phenotypes or patient characteristics. In this study, we conducted whole-exome sequencing in a sizable cohort of IEI patients, consisting of 303 individuals from 21 different clinical immunology centers in Türkiye. Our analysis resulted in genetic diagnoses for 41.1% of the patients (122 out of 297), revealing 52 novel variants and uncovering potential new IEI genes in six patients. The significance of understanding outcomes across various IEI cohorts cannot be overstated, and we believe that our findings will make a valuable contribution to the existing literature and foster collaborative research between clinicians and basic science researchers.