bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Interleukin-33 mediated regulation of microRNAs in human cord blood-derived mast cells: Implications for infection, immunity, and inflammation
Authors: Bakhashab Sherin , Banafea Ghalya H. , Ahmed Farid , Bagatian Nadia , Subhi Ohoud , Schulten Hans-Juergen , Pushparaj Peter Natesan
Published: November 2024

Mast cell (MCs) activation is the driving force of immune responses in several inflammatory diseases, including asthma and allergies. MCs are immune cells found throughout the body and are equipped with numerous surface receptors that allow them to respond to external signals from parasites and bacteria as well as to intrinsic signals such as cytokines. Upon activation, MCs release various mediators and proteases that contribute to inflammation. This study aimed to identify microRNAs (miRNAs) that regulate MC response to interleukin-33 and their target genes using a model of human cord blood-derived mast cells (hCBMCs). hCBMCs were induced with 10 and 20 ng of recombinant human interleukin-33 (rhIL-33) for 6 and 24 h, respectively. Total RNA was extracted from these cells and miRNA profiling was performed using high-throughput microarrays. Differential expression of miRNAs and target analysis were performed using Transcriptome Analysis Console and Ingenuity Pathway Analysis. The most significant miRNAs in each condition were miR-6836-5p (fold change = 1.76, p = 3E-03), miR-6883-5p (fold change = -2.13, p = 7E-05), miR-1229-5p (fold change = 2.46, p = 8E-04), and miR-3613-5p (fold change = 66.7, p = 1E-06). Target analysis revealed that these miRNAs regulate mast cell responsiveness and degranulation by modulating the expression of surface receptors, adaptors, and signaling molecules in response to rhIL-33 stimulation. This study is the first miRNA profiling and target analysis of hCBMCs that will further enhance our understanding of the role of miRNAs in the immune response in a timely manner and their relevance for the development of a new therapeutic target for inflammatory disorders.
Suspension height tune-up with constant stiffness properties through motor-driving double-gas-chamber hydro-pneumatic strut: Experimental study and modeling
Authors: Li Ruihong , Yang Fan , Zhao Feng , Zhang Weiqiang , Lin Dezhao
Published: November 2024

In vehicle suspension, it is important to achieve continuous height adjustment to reduce the possibility of unstable and off-tracking caused by uneven postures. It is usually solved by air suspension, in which the dynamic properties will change under the adjusting process and these changes are not conducive to control. Considering the above, in this paper a double-gas-chamber hydro-pneumatic strut (DHPS) with the constant and/or predicted stiffness during continuous height adjustment, as masses (oil and gas) conversation are guaranteed in the whole system, which is achieved by volume variation of auxiliary gas chamber through motor-driving piston, is proposed. The dynamic properties and mathematic model of the proposed DHPS are investigated and established through bench test applying to the designed prototype. The system response speed has been evaluated through experimental data that for harmonic test the system can reach the stable condition in 1 (2) cycle subjected to 50mm/s (25mm/s) motor-driving piston moving speed. Finally, a typical quarter-car model is utilized to evaluate the performance of the proposed DHPS. It has been shown that the system takes 0.40s and 0.50s (200mm/s moving speed), and 0.76s and 1.36s (40mm/s moving speed) subjected to step test (25 and 50 mm), respectively.
Association between blood pressure control in hypertension and urine sodium to potassium ratio: From the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2016–2021)
Authors: Yoon Youngmin , Son Minkook
Published: November 2024

Background

Hypertension (HTN) is linked to an enhanced risk of chronic kidney disease and cardiovascular disease. While sodium and potassium intake affect blood pressure (BP) control, the urine sodium-to-potassium (Na/K) ratio, which reflects dietary balance and renal regulation of these electrolytes, could be associated with BP. This study aimed to evaluate the independent association between urine Na/K and uncontrolled HTN.

Methods

Data were collected from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey from 2016 to 2021. A total of 5,770 participants diagnosed with HTN were enrolled in this study. Uncontrolled HTN was characterized by a systolic blood pressure (SBP) ≥ 140 mmHg or diastolic blood pressure (DBP) ≥ 90 mmHg. Logistic regression analysis was used to assess the relationship between urine Na/K and the risk of uncontrolled HTN.

Results

The urine Na/K was positively correlated with both SBP and mean arterial pressure. Higher urine Na/K was significantly associated with an increased risk of uncontrolled HTN using both continuous (odds ratio [95% confidence interval] 1.13 [1.09–1.16], P <0.01]) and across quartile values (with Q1 as a reference; Q2: 1.26 [1.06–1.49], P = 0.01; Q3: 1.50 [1.27–1.78], P <0.01; Q4: 1.85 [1.55–2.17], P < 0.01). The subgroup analysis also showed that higher urine Na/K were significantly related to the risk of uncontrolled HTN in the presence of proteinuria or CKD.

Conclusion

Urine Na/K ratio is independently associated with uncontrolled HTN in the general population and in patients with CKD. Our findings suggest that monitoring the urine Na/K could serve as an effective tool for identifying subjects at risk of uncontrolled HTN.
Practical Application of the COuGH RefluX Score for Patients With Laryngopharyngeal Symptoms: Real-World Assessment in Predicting Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease and Proton-Pump Inhibitor Response
Authors: Wong Ming-Wun , Hsiao Shih-Hsuan , Wang Jen-Hung , Hung Jui-Sheng , Liu Tso-Tsai , Lei Wei-Yi , Yi Chih-Hsun , Chen Peir-Rong , Gyawali C. Prakash , Chen Chien-Lin
Published: November 2024

INTRODUCTION:

The COuGH RefluX score has been validated to predict likelihood of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) in patients with laryngopharyngeal symptoms (LPS) using parameters of cough, overweight, globus, hiatal hernia, regurgitation, and male sex. The aim of this study was to assess the real-world value of the COuGH RefluX score in predicting proton-pump inhibitor (PPI) response in patients with LPS.

METHODS:

Patients with LPS for > 3 months were prospectively enrolled and assessed using the Reflux Symptom Index and 24-hour impedance-pH monitoring. Based on COuGH RefluX scores, patients were designated unlikely GERD (≤ 2.5), inconclusive GERD (3.0–4.5), and likely GERD (≥ 5.0). PPI response was defined as a 50% reduction in Reflux Symptom Index.

RESULTS:

Among 196 participants (mean age 47.8 years), 121 were unlikely, 60 were inconclusive, and 15 were likely to have GERD. Patients unlikely to have GERD had higher mean nocturnal baseline impedance (MNBI), lower hiatal hernia prevalence, and fewer confirmed GERD cases compared with inconclusive and likely GERD groups (P < 0.05). Symptom severity and acid exposure time were similar across groups (P > 0.05). PPI response rates were 12.4%, 45.0%, and 73.3% across the groups (P < 0.001). Multivariate logistic regression showed COuGH RefluX scores and lower MNBI as independent predictors of PPI responsiveness (scores 3.0–4.5, odds ratio (OR) = 4.190, P = 0.001; scores ≥5.0, OR = 15.772, P < 0.001; MNBI, OR = 0.915, P = 0.001).

DISCUSSION:

The COuGH RefluX score is effective in predicting GERD and guiding PPI use in patients with LPS without esophagitis. The score can ensure appropriate PPI use and targeted testing during initial LPS patient encounters.
Burden of Digestive Diseases in the United States Population: Rates and Trends
Authors: Unalp-Arida Aynur , Ruhl Constance E.
Published: November 2024

Digestive diseases are common in the United States and lead to significant morbidity, mortality, and health care utilization. We used national survey and claims databases to expand on earlier findings and investigate rates and trends in the digestive disease burden in the United States. The Nationwide Emergency Department Sample, National Inpatient Sample, Vital Statistics of the United States: Multiple Cause-of-Death Data, Optum Clinformatics Data Mart, and Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Medicare 5% Sample and Medicaid files were used to estimate claims-based prevalence, medical care, and mortality with a digestive disease diagnosis. Digestive disease prevalence (claims-based, 2019) was 24.2% among Medicaid beneficiaries, 33.2% among private insurance enrollees, and 51.5% among Medicare beneficiaries and rose over the previous decade. Digestive diseases contributed to 42 million emergency department visits, 17 million hospital stays, and 472,000 deaths in 2019. Women had higher medical care rates with a digestive disease diagnosis, but mortality rates were higher among men. Blacks had higher medical care use and mortality rates compared with Whites, and Hispanics had lower rates. During the study period, ambulatory care and emergency department visit rates with a digestive disease diagnosis rose, while hospitalization and mortality rates declined. Among private insurance enrollees, rates were higher compared with national data for hospitalizations, but lower for emergency department visits. The digestive disease burden in the United States is substantial, particularly among Blacks and older adults. Further research is needed to better understand reasons for disparities and trends in health care use and mortality reported in this paper.
Prospective Controlled Study of Endoscopic Botulinum Toxin Injection for Retrograde Cricopharyngeus Dysfunction: The Inability to Belch Syndrome
Authors: Sanagapalli Santosh , Eid Mary , Kim Matthew Bong-Sik , Tudehope Fiona
Published: November 2024

INTRODUCTION:

Complete inability to belch due to retrograde cricopharyngeus dysfunction (R-CPD) may lead to chronic gas-related gastrointestinal complaints. We aimed to validate high-resolution manometric (HRM) diagnostic criteria and prospectively evaluate the feasibility and efficacy of cricopharyngeal botulinum toxin injection (CBTI) by flexible endoscopy.

METHODS:

Consecutive manometrically diagnosed patients with R-CPD were included. Asymptomatic volunteers were also included for diagnostic validation. Patients with R-CPD underwent CBTI (treatment group) or deferred/declined treatment (control group). Outcomes included ability to belch, clinical symptoms, and quality of life measured using self-report questionnaires.

RESULTS:

Sixty-five subjects were included (52 treatment group, 7 controls, and 6 asymptomatic volunteers). All patients with R-CPD had inability to belch since childhood. During HRM with carbonated drink provocative testing, all R-CPD patients demonstrated characteristic esophageal pressurization patterns associated with failure of upper esophageal sphincter relaxation; these findings were never seen in asymptomatic volunteers. At 3 months, 92% patients who received CBTI were able to belch (compared with 0 controls; P < 0.001) and experienced improved clinical symptoms (global symptom score improved from 7.3 ± 1.7 to 1.8 ± 2.3, whereas in controls was static 7.5 ± 2.1 to 7.7 ± 1.8; P < 0.0001 for comparison). Quality of life significantly improved in the treatment group but not controls (P = 0.0002). At 3 months, 43/51 (84%) of the treatment group reported being satisfied or very satisfied with therapeutic outcome.

DISCUSSION:

HRM with carbonated drink provocation demonstrates pathognomonic signs of R-CPD that were not seen in health. Flexible endoscopic CBTI is highly effective for symptomatic relief compared with no treatment.
Persistence, Effectiveness, and Safety of Upadacitinib in Crohn's Disease and Ulcerative Colitis in Real Life: Results From a Spanish Nationwide Study (Ureal Study)
Authors: García María José , Brenes Yanire , Vicuña Miren , Bermejo Fernando , Sierra-Ausín Mónica , Vicente Raquel , Arroyo María Teresa , Martínez Montiel Pilar , Villoria Albert , Ferrer Juan Ángel , Hernandez Vicent , Piñero Alexis , Carrillo-Palau Marta , Martín-Arranz María Dolores , Miranda-Bautista José , Pajares Ramón , Arranz Hernández Laura , Bejarano Ana , Guardiola Jordi , Iyo Eduardo , Muñoz-Villafranca Carmen , Talavera Aurora , Alonso-Galán Horacio , Barreiro-de Acosta Manuel , Bosca-Watts Maia , Vázquez Rey Teresa , Echarri Ana , Rodríguez-Grau María del Carmen , Gutiérrez Ana , Huguet José María , López-Martín M. Carmen , Mesonero Francisco , Pérez-Martínez Isabel , Plaza Rocío , Ramírez de la Piscina Patricia , Gisbert Javier P. , Chaparro María
Published: November 2024

INTRODUCTION:

Real-world data on the effectiveness of upadacitinib for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) are limited. To assess upadacitinib persistence, effectiveness, and safety in a real-world scenario.

METHODS:

Retrospective multicenter study of patients with IBD who received upadacitinib before 31st December 2022 and at least 12 weeks before the recruitment date. Clinical effectiveness was assessed based on partial Mayo score for ulcerative colitis (UC) and Harvey–Bradshaw index for Crohn's disease (CD).

RESULTS:

We included 100 patients (68 with CD, and 32 with UC). Patients had previously received a median of 4 advanced therapies. Twenty-three discontinued the treatment (median follow-up 7.6 months). CD (vs UC) (hazard ratio 3.7; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.04–12.9) and age below 40 years at upadacitinib initiation (hazard ratio 2.4; 95% CI: 1.0–5.8) were associated with treatment discontinuation in multivariable analysis. Clinical remission for IBD was achieved in 59% of patients at week 8, 64% at week 12, and 42% at week 52. The proportion of patients with UC previously exposed to tofacitinib (n = 25) who achieved clinical remission was 78% at week 12, and 50% at week 52. Factors associated with clinical remission at week 12 were UC diagnosis (odds ratio [OR] 4.6; 95% CI: 1.3–17), mild or moderate activity at baseline (OR 8; 95% CI: 1.1–56), and not smoking (OR 4.4; 95% CI: 1.5–13). Dose escalation recaptured remission in 60% of patients with relapse. Eighty percent of patients with active immune-mediated diseases or extraintestinal manifestations improved with upadacitinib. Forty-three patients reported adverse events, 11 of them serious.

DISCUSSION:

Upadacitinib is effective and safe for treating patients with highly refractory IBD, even in previously treated with Janus kinase inhibitors.
Narrativas de vida de refugiados
Authors: Lara Glaucia Muniz Proença
Published: November 2024

Tomando os fluxos migratórios contemporâneos como um tema sensível e controverso, este artigo tem como principal objetivo examinar, à luz da Análise do Discurso de linha francesa, em seu diálogo com a (Etno)sociologia, narrativas de vida de dois refugiados que se deslocaram para a França. Tais narrativas integram o livro La parole est aux migrants (2015), do jornalista Olivier Geai. Assim, como, em geral, são as autoridades (governantes, especialistas, mídias etc.) que falam sobre e pelos sujeitos em situação de vulnerabilidade e, não raro, se limitam a transformá-los em números, porcentagens e estatísticas, a ideia é “dar voz” a esses sujeitos para que eles próprios contem sua história, no caso deste trabalho, sua experiência migratória. O dispositivo para a análise das narrativas de vida selecionadas retoma alguns planos da semântica global de Dominique Maingueneau (2005), cujo foco é realizar uma abordagem integrada entre a enunciação e o enunciado. São eles: os temas, o vocabulário, a dêixis enunciativa e o modo de enunciação, que remete à noção retórica de éthos. Um segundo objetivo é o de discutir a noção de narrativa de vida para verificar sua condição (ou não) de gênero de discurso, bem como sua relação com a noção próxima de testemunho. Os resultados da análise das narrativas mostram que, se cada uma delas é única e insubstituível, há aspectos que as aproximam, permitindo a construção de um discurso comum: a recorrência de temas como violência, desumanização, xenofobia; a predominância de um eu, que se desdobra entre um aqui-agora (na França, no presente) e um lá-então (no país de origem, no passado); a proposição de um éthos de resiliência. Essas constatações mostram o teor testemunhal do gênero “narrativa de vida” e permitem desestabilizar o discurso oficial e os estereótipos que cerca os refugiados (invasores, delinquentes, terroristas, entre outros), funcionando, então, como um discurso de resistência.
A teoria linguística de Eugenio Coseriu e a noção de universo de discurso
Authors: Pereira José Rubens
Published: November 2024

A proposta de estudos da linguagem desenvolvida por Eugenio Coseriu representou um marco significativo para a Linguística do século XX. A base de sua teoria reside na premissa de que a linguagem é um saber múltiplo, subdividido em três níveis: universal, histórico e individual (Coseriu, 1955). Coseriu (2003) teoriza que as práticas linguísticas desempenhadas pelo sujeito falante são determinadas, entre outros entornos, pelos universos de discurso – categorizados em experiência comum, ciência, fantasia e fé –, que atuam como conjuntos de sistemas de significações que atestam o valor de verdade dos enunciados. Neste trabalho, discute-se a noção de universo de discurso, inserida no nível individual da linguagem. Para tanto, elaborou-se uma reflexão marcada por dois momentos: i) buscou-se adentrar nos textos do autor para compreender e sistematizar sua concepção de universo de discurso; ii) foi realizado um levantamento das pesquisas de estudiosos que, antes de Coseriu, já haviam definido essa noção, a fim de entender o fundamento epistemológico de seu pensamento. A Linguística coseriana tem recebido pouca atenção no meio acadêmico. Kabatek (2018) explica que as razões para tal ostracismo variam desde o uso predominante do idioma espanhol na redação de seus textos até a complexidade inerente ao pensamento coseriano. Nessa perspectiva, busca-se recuperar os princípios linguísticos postulados por Coseriu, com ênfase particular nos universos de discurso. Através de uma discussão teórica, espera-se suscitar debates metodológico-analíticos que possibilitem a aplicação dessa noção em pesquisas futuras.
Effect of gluing garment materials with adhesive inserts on their multidirectional drape and bending rigidity
Authors: Stępień Michał , Frydrych Iwona , Miśkiewicz Pamela
Published: November 2024

The article concerns the study on multidirectional drape and bending rigidity of six wool (clothing) fabrics with two types of adhesive inserts. The aim of research was to investigate the effect of joining woolen fabrics with “Freudenberg Vilene” adhesive inserts on the bending rigidity and multidirectional drape. The adhesive inserts were differentiated according to mass per square meter, while the fabrics were differentiated according to thickness, weave, and mass per square meter. Based on the scientific literature, the issues related to the methods of testing the bending rigidity and multidirectional drape coefficient were discussed. All the conducted tests were aimed at the proper selection of adhesive inserts for the designed clothing products. The use of adhesive inserts affects the bending stiffness and multidirectional drapeability of clothing material. The fabric weave significantly affects the values of bending rigidity and drapeability. As the thickness of adhesive inserts increases, the overall bending rigidity increases. The greater the fabric mass per square meter, the stiffer the fabric. As the mass per square meter and thickness increase, the multidirectional rigidity of fabrics increases. The value of bending rigidity for the plain fabric is higher compared to twill fabric.
To Create or to Redistribute? That is the Question
Authors: Koursaros Demetris , Savva Christos , Michail Nektarios , Papadopoulou Niki
Published: November 2024

This study delves into the persistent low GDP growth observed in the post-crisis period, despite aggressive financial easing measures. It explores how economic agents allocate available funds, either through investments in new capital creation or the acquisition of existing assets for capital gains (asset redistribution). The former approach bolsters total income and employment, while the latter reshapes wealth distribution among agents. Through a combination of theoretical insights and empirical evidence, we argue that during economic downturns, investors often find it more lucrative, and lenders consider it safer, to finance the repurchasing of existing assets rather than investing in new ones. This trend not only worsens recessions but also hampers the recovery process by limiting entrepreneurs’ access to funding and altering the economy’s capital structure. Moreover, given that asset redistribution tends to benefit the wealthy, a surge in inequality fosters a cycle of income redistribution, further exacerbating economic downturns.
Exact controllability for nonlinear thermoviscoelastic plate problem
Authors: Moulahi Taoufik , Aouadi Moncef , Althobaiti Saad
Published: November 2024

In this article, we consider a problem of exact controllability in the processes described by a nonlinear damped thermoviscoelastic plate. First, we prove the global well-posedness result for the nonlinear functions that are continuous with respect to time and globally Lipschitz with respect to space variable. Next, we perform a spectral analysis of the linear and uncontrolled problem. Then, we prove that the corresponding solutions decay exponentially to zero at a rate determined explicitly by the physical constants. Finally, we prove the exact controllability of the linear and the nonlinear problems by proving that the corresponding controllability mappings are surjective.
Comparing the effects of blended learning and traditional instruction on “Medical Genetics and Embryonic Development” in undergraduate medical students: a randomized controlled trial
Authors: Liao Bing , Ma Shuangyu , Ni Yingyin , Li Hui , Xue Yan , Dang Suying , Chen Yan , Xia Xiaoyu , Wu Jingwen , Gu Mingmin , Tang Yujie , Huang Lei
Published: November 2024

Objectives

The Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine is at the forefront of educational innovation to enhance student learning outcomes. Herein, this study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of blended learning compared to traditional on-site instruction in the “Medical Genetics and Embryonic Development” curriculum.

Methods

A randomized trial was conducted involving 338 second-year clinical medicine students during the 2023–2024 academic year. The students were divided into two groups: one received blended learning and the other, on-site instruction. Students’ performance was evaluated using ongoing assessments together with mid-term and final exams.

Results

Blended learning led to higher overall final grades, with no significant difference in quiz performance, but better exam scores compared to traditional learning. At the level of higher-order learning skills, students in the blended learning group performed better in karyotyping. However, the traditional on-site group slightly outperformed the blended learning group in case-based learning scores. Ultimately, approximately 92 % of students were satisfied with the blended learning course.

Conclusions

Blended learning does show promise in improving the self-learning skill and overall learning outcomes of medical students. Future studies should focus on optimizing blended learning strategies and assessing their long-term impacts on clinical competencies.
Bažant-Le-Kirane Paradox of fatigue failure in engineering materials
Authors: Gattu Mahendra
Published: November 2024

The problem of fracture in quasi-brittle materials is strongly linked with a zone of micro-cracking known as the fracture process zone (FPZ). For monotonic loading, the material length scale parameter D
0 is used in strength scaling law to describe the transition from strength criteria to linear elastic fracture mechanics criteria. The Paris Law approach to quasi-brittle materials for cyclic loading introduces another length scale parameter, D
0c. Experimental testing of concrete, rock, and sandstone showed two contradictory results. A few experiments showed that the parameter D
0c is higher than D
0, and the cyclic FPZ is larger than monotonic FPZ. Another set of experiments showed that D
0c is smaller than D
0, and the cyclic FPZ is smaller than monotonic FPZ. This interesting contradiction is named the Bažant-Le-Kirane Paradox (B-L-K Paradox) after the scientists involved in the experimentation. The B-L-K Paradox is the holy grail of fatigue fracture mechanics, and solving this problem will allow for the rational design of concrete structures.
The deal.II library, Version 9.6
Authors: Africa Pasquale C. , Arndt Daniel , Bangerth Wolfgang , Blais Bruno , Fehling Marc , Gassmöller Rene , Heister Timo , Heltai Luca , Kinnewig Sebastian , Kronbichler Martin , Maier Matthias , Munch Peter , Schreter-Fleischhacker Magdalena , Thiele Jan P. , Turcksin Bruno , Wells David , Yushutin Vladimir
Published: November 2024

This paper provides an overview of the new features of the finite element library deal.II, version 9.6.
Placental fetal vascular malperfusion in maternal diabetes mellitus
Authors: Stanek Jerzy
Published: November 2024

Objectives

To study the clinical and placental correlations in diabetic pregnancies in which placental histopathology included routine double E cadherin/CD34 immunostaining.

Methods

Retrospective study of 229 cases of diabetic pregnancies, mostly with gestational diabetes mellitus. The cases were individually matched for gestational age at delivery with non-diabetic pregnancies to yield a comparative group of 229 cases. 23 independent clinical and 50 placental phenotypes (variables) were statistically compared by analysis of variance or Chi-square with application of the Bonferroni correction for multiple comparisons.

Results

The study group showed statistically significantly more common gestational hypertension, chronic hypertension, polyhydramnios, umbilical cord compromise, cesarean sections, macerated stillbirths, neonatal deaths, and fetal malformations. About a third of cases in each group showed lesions of maternal and fetal vascular malperfusion (FVM), the latter more common than reported in literature. The CD34 component of the double immunostaining increased the sensitivity of placental examination by highlighting clustered endothelial fragmentation of recent fetal vascular malperfusion or increasing the grade of fetal vascular malperfusion (on-going distal villous fetal vascular malperfusion with temporal heterogeneity).

Conclusions

With the double immunostaining, FVM is as common as maternal vascular malperfusion pattern of placental injury in diabetic pregnancies with high prevalence of fetal congenital malformations. This is likely due to umbilical cord compression evoked by mass-forming fetal anomalies. Recognizing placental FVM may sensitize to the increased risk of neonatal systemic thrombotic pathology. However, several hypoxic lesions and patterns as well as those of shallow placental implantation were also seen with increased frequencies in diabetic pregnancies.
Integrated analyses reveal prognostic markers associated with cancer-associated fibroblasts in oral squamous cell carcinoma
Authors: Li Mengyuan , Yin Xiteng , Wang Jialing , Wang Zengxiang , Xu Wenguang
Published: November 2024

Objectives

Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is characterized by the presence of cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) in its tumor microenvironment. This study aimed to investigate factors associated with stromal CAFs and develop a CAF-based classifier for prognosis and treatment prediction in OSCC.

Methods

mRNA expression profiles of mRNA and clinical data from 245 patients with OSCC were sourced from TCGA. Additional datasets (GSE41613, GSE65858, and GSE30784) comprising 97, 83, and 167 OSCC patients were also included. Weighted gene co-expression network analysis revealed genes linked to stromal CAFs, and a CAF-based risk signature was established. Primary OSCC tumor tissues were obtained from Nanjing Stomatological Hospital, and CAFs were isolated from fresh tumor samples. Expression of POSTN was confirmed in fibroblast and OSCC cell lines using reverse transcription-quantitative PCR and western blotting.

Results

Enhanced infiltration of CAFs correlated with a worse prognosis in OSCC patients. A four-gene prognostic signature including POSTN, TGFB3, PDGFRB, and COL6A2 was identified. Patients were categorized into high and low CAF risk groups based on median risk scores, with the high-risk group showing a significantly worse prognosis (p<0.001). High-risk OSCC patients exhibited increased susceptibility to BMS-754807, GSK269962A, and JQ1 treatments, while the response to radiotherapy and immunotherapy did not significantly differ. Fibroblast cell lines exhibited higher POSTN expression compared to OSCC cell lines and normal fibroblasts.

Conclusions

This study links increased CAF infiltration to a negative prognosis in OSCC patients. The four-gene prognostic signature holds potential clinical value, and identified markers may serve as therapeutic targets for OSCC.
Effects of different ratios of soft and rigid segment on the properties of soil and sand fixing materials of polyacrylate
Authors: Chen Lifang , Luo Yu , Xu Jiaxin , He Qinchuan , Wang Yiqun
Published: November 2024

Four polyacrylate materials with different mass ratios of soft and rigid segment were made by semi-continuous pre-emulsified seed emulsion polymerization. Methyl methacrylate (MMA) and butyl acrylate (BA) were used as soft and rigid segments, and acrylic acid (AA) was used as the functional segment. The composite emulsifiers were composed of sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) and alkylphenol polyoxyethylene ether (OP-10). In this study, we successfully fabricated polyacrylate (PA). The morphology of the latex particles was spherical, with a diameter of ∼200 nm. With the increase of BA content, the glass transition temperature (T

g
) of PA decreased. The PA curing agent could significantly improve the soil’s mechanical property and water resistance. The compressive strength of PA-1 solidified soil increased to 2.67 MPa, which 187 % higher than the pure soil sample (PA-0). Meanwhile, PA-1 solidified soil would not break down after being immersed in water for 30 days. This indicated that PA emulsion had an efficient solidification ability and a good water resistance, which was beneficial to sand fixation and slope protection.
Método para Melhoria dos Indicadores da Atenção Primária a Saúde
Authors: Tondolo Vilmar , Rosa Barros Rasia Isabel Cristina , Da Rosa Portella Tondolo Rosana
Published: November 2024

A Atenção Primária à Saúde é um dos pilares centrais do Sistema Único de saúde no Brasil. A implantação do Programa Previne Brasil alterou a sistemática de financiamento da atenção básica à saúde, acarretando novos desafios de gestão aos municípios em termos de garantias de repasses para financiamento de suas ações de atenção básica à saúde. Com isso, ficou em evidência a necessidade de desenvolvimento de capacidade de gestão efetiva para garantir o adequado serviço à população. Nesse sentido este estudo tem como objetivo descrever o processo de aplicação da lógica do Planejamento Estratégico Situacional (PES) na gestão dos indicadores de atenção básica à saúde. Como principais resultados destacam-se a sensível melhoria nos indicadores de desempenho do programa Previne Brasil, melhoria nos serviços de saúde prestados à população e o desenvolvimento de uma tecnologia de gestão que pode ser aplicada a outros municípios.
Conhecer para evitar: esclarecimentos sobre Infecções sexualmente transmissível (IST’s) no ensino de Ciências
Authors: Souza Filho Erivaldo Almeida de , Cota Maria Raquel de Carvalho , Cunha Ulisses José Praia , Meliciano Natasha Verdasca , Yamaguchi Klenicy Kazumy de Lima
Published: November 2024

A adolescência é um período de transição e as mudanças que ocorrem podem interferir no processo natural de maturidade e formação, trazendo curiosidades que levam os jovens a experimentarem alguns comportamentos que fazem deles mais vulneráveis a riscos para a saúde, incluindo o aspecto sexual. Este artigo tem como objetivo contribuir com o esclarecimento sobre os tipos e as causas das infecções sexualmente transmissíveis abordando seus sintomas, grau de gravidade e impactos gerados. O projeto foi realizado em uma turma de 7° ano do ensino fundamental de uma escola no município de Coari, Amazonas, Brasil. Os alunos participaram da atividade que contou com a apresentação de um vídeo, uma explicação teórica, uma roda de conversa sobre o tema mediada por um profissional da saúde convidado que esclareceu sobre métodos de prevenção, uso de contraceptivos e esclareceu dúvidas relacionadas a temática. Os alunos participantes elaboraram uma cartilha sobre IST’s como material didático de apoio sobre o tema de forma atualizada e criativa, contendo dicas, conceitos, formas de prevenção e tratamento das doenças sexualmente. Foi produzida uma cartilha impressa e fixada nos murais da escola a fim de divulgação e prevenção das IST’s. O projeto contribuiu com o esclarecimento sobre IST´s e aplicação de Ciências, por meio do esclarecimento e pela construção de opiniões sobre as problemáticas relacionadas ao cuidado com a saúde.
Avaliação da saúde bucal dos idosos institucionalizados da cidade de Janaúba/MG
Authors: Paiva Paula Cristina Pelli , Leite Paulino Gabriela , De Matos Costa Larissa , Marques Santos Matheus
Published: November 2024

O envelhecimento da população brasileira é um fenômeno que tem se intensificado nas últimas décadas e gerado a necessidade de cuidados específicos para os idosos. As Instituições de Longa Permanência para Idosos (ILPIs) têm um papel importante nesse cuidado, mas é necessário avaliar a qualidade dos serviços prestados. O objetivo da pesquisa foi avaliar as condições de saúde bucal dos idosos institucionalizados do Município de Janaúba, Minas Gerais. Foi realizado um estudo descritivo com uma amostra de conveniência composta por 43 idosos. Para a coleta dos dados foi realizado exame bucal dos idosos, após a efetivação de atividade educativa. Foram avaliados número de dentes e condição dos dentes através do índice CPOD, condição periodontal, alteração em tecidos moles e presença e qualidade de próteses dentárias. A condição bucal dos idosos foi considerada precária, onde a maioria não possuía nenhum dente, e necessitavam de próteses. Também foi observada diversas alterações de tecido mole, os quais foram encaminhados para biópsia e tratamento. Esses resultados indicam que a saúde bucal dos idosos que vivem em ILPIs requer atenção especial dos profissionais de saúde e das instituições que cuidam desses idosos. É necessário que essas instituições ofereçam serviços odontológicos regulares para que esses indivíduos possam receber tratamento adequado e manter uma boa saúde bucal ao longo da vida. Além disso, é importante implementar ações de prevenção e educação para melhorar a limpeza da boca, diminuir a ocorrência de doenças bucais e melhorar a qualidade de vida desses idosos.
SOBRE O USO DAS ASSEMBLAGES NAS ABORDAGENS RELACIONAIS GEOGRÁFICAS
Authors: Silva Leonardo Luiz Silveira da
Published: November 2024

No contexto das abordagens relacionais, muitas das quais baseadas em inspirações e pressupostos advindos da teoria ator-rede, destaca-se uma forma de pensamento que tem como base reflexiva a existência de arranjos relacionais heterogêneos, que entrelaçam humanos e não-humanos. Tais arranjos são comumente referidos como assemblages na literatura acadêmica, e tem servido como referência importante para as pesquisas mais-que-representacionais na geografia. Todavia, algumas questões relacionadas ao seu uso exigem atenção: as consequências advindas dos planos entrecruzados das assemblages, a assimetria que envolve os actantes partícipes das redes e a ascensão do pensamento não-correlacional que tem se disseminado a partir da consolidação do realismo especulativo. Apesar destes pontos de atenção, concluímos que as questões levantadas não invalidam o uso das assemblages na pesquisa mais-que-representacional no âmbito da geografia, mas possibilitam a qualificação do discurso que se apropria dos arranjos relacionais heterogêneos aplicados à leitura espacial.
Fragile Mentalizing: Lack of Behavioral and Neural Markers of Social Cognition in an Established Social Perspective Taking Task when Combined with Stress Induction
Authors: Cheema Simrandeep , Augustin Calina , Göttlich Martin , Krämer Ulrike M. , Beyer Frederike
Published: November 2024

The growing field of social neuroscience is reliant on the development of robust, ecologically valid paradigms for simulating social interaction and measuring social cognition in highly controlled laboratory settings. Perspective taking is a key component of social cognition, and accordingly several paradigms aimed at measuring perspective taking exist. A relatively novel paradigm is the ball detection task, in which participants and a virtual agent form independent beliefs about the presence of a target stimulus behind an occluder. Previous studies have shown that incongruent trials (in which the participant's and the agent's beliefs differ) affect participant reaction times and elicit increased neural activity in the so-called mentalizing network. This paradigm has important advantages over previous ones, in that experimental conditions can be fully randomized, and ceiling effects are not found even for adult populations. Here, we combined this paradigm with a stress induction and a nonstressful control task. In an online study, we found no evidence of perspective taking at the behavioral level. Combining the task with functional magnetic resonance imaging, we found no evidence of perspective taking at the behavioral or neural level, even for the control condition. While this paradigm is reliable on its own, implementing it in the context of a task-switching paradigm appears to reduce participants’ focus on task-irrelevant perspective taking elements. Our findings highlight the fragility of existing social cognition paradigms and the need for reliable, simple, and ecologically valid measures of perspective taking.
Minimal Variation in Functional Connectivity in Relation to Daily Affect
Authors: Godfrey Kate J. , Rai Shefali , Graff Kirk , Yin Shelly , Merrikh Daria , Tansey Ryann , Vanderwal Tamara , Harris Ashley D. , Bray Signe
Published: November 2024

Reported associations between functional connectivity and affective disorder symptoms are minimally reproducible, which can partially be attributed to difficulty capturing highly variable clinical symptoms in cross-sectional study designs. “Dense sampling” protocols, where participants are sampled across multiple sessions, can overcome this limitation by studying associations between functional connectivity and variable clinical states. Here, we characterized effect sizes for the association between functional connectivity and time-varying positive and negative daily affect in a nonclinical cohort. Data were analyzed from 24 adults who attended four research visits, where participants self-reported daily affect using the PANAS-X questionnaire and completed 39 min of functional magnetic resonance imaging across three passive viewing conditions. We modeled positive and negative daily affect in relation to network-level functional connectivity, with hypotheses regarding within-network connectivity of the default mode, salience/cingulo-opercular, frontoparietal, dorsal attention, and visual networks and between-network connectivity of affective subcortical regions (amygdala and nucleus accumbens) with both default mode and salience/cingulo-opercular networks. Effect sizes for associations between affect and network-level functional connectivity were small and nonsignificant across analyses. We additionally report that functional connectivity variance is largely attributable to individual identity with small relative variance (<3%) accounted for by within-subject daily affect variation. These results support previous reports that functional connectivity is dominated by stable subject-specific connectivity patterns, while additionally suggesting relatively minimal influence of day-to-day affect. Researchers planning studies examining functional connectivity in relation to daily affect, or other varying stable states, should therefore anticipate small effect sizes and carefully consider power in study planning.
Histone-Binding Protein RBBP4 Is Necessary to Promote Neurogenesis in the Developing Mouse Neocortical Progenitors
Authors: Dhanya Sreeja Kumari , Kalia Kishan , Mohanty Sattwik , Azam Tulaib , Channakkar Asha S. , D’Souza Leora , K. S. Swathi , Reddy Puli Chandramouli , Muralidharan Bhavana
Published: November 2024

Chromatin regulation plays a crucial role in neocortical neurogenesis, and mutations in chromatin modifiers are linked to neurodevelopmental disorders. RBBP4 is a core subunit of several chromatin-modifying complexes; however, its functional role and genome-wide occupancy profile in the neocortical primordium are unknown. To address this, we performed RBBP4 knockdown using CRISPR/Cas9 on neocortical progenitors derived from mice of both sexes at embryonic age 12.5 during deep layer neurogenesis. Our study demonstrates that downregulation of RBBP4 in the E12.5 neocortical progenitors reduced neuronal output, specifically affecting CTIP2-expressing neurons. We demonstrate that RBBP4 plays an essential role in regulating neocortical progenitor proliferation. However, overexpression of RBBP4 alone was not sufficient to regulate neuronal fate. Genome-wide occupancy analysis revealed that RBBP4 primarily binds to distal regulatory elements, and neuron differentiation is a significant GO biological pathway of RBBP4-bound genes. Interestingly, we found that RBBP4 binds toCdon, a receptor protein in the Shh signaling pathway, and knockdown ofCdonphenocopies RBBP4 knockdown resulting in a significant reduction in neurogenesis, particularly CTIP2-expressing neurons. CDON overexpression could rescue the phenotype caused upon loss of RBBP4 in the neocortex, thereby suggesting the functional link between RBBP4 and its target gene CDON. Our results shed light on the cellular role of RBBP4 and identify CDON as a novel regulator of deep layer neurogenesis in the neocortical progenitors. Our findings are significant in the context of understanding how dysregulated chromatin regulation impacts cellular mechanisms in neurodevelopmental disorders.
Optimal Estimation of Local Motion-in-Depth with Naturalistic Stimuli
Authors: Herrera-Esposito Daniel , Burge Johannes
Published: November 2024

Estimating the motion of objects in depth is important for behavior and is strongly supported by binocular visual cues. To understand both how the brain should estimate motion in depth and how natural constraints shape and limit performance in two local 3D motion tasks, we develop image-computable ideal observers from a large number of binocular video clips created from a dataset of natural images. The observers spatiotemporally filter the videos and nonlinearly decode 3D motion from the filter responses. The optimal filters and decoder are dictated by the task-relevant image statistics and are specific to each task. Multiple findings emerge. First, two distinct filter subpopulations are spontaneously learned for each task. For 3D speed estimation, filters emerge for processing either changing disparities over time or interocular velocity differences, cues that are used by humans. For 3D direction estimation, filters emerge for discriminating either left–right or toward–away motion. Second, the filter responses, conditioned on the latent variable, are well-described as jointly Gaussian, and the covariance of the filter responses carries the information about the task-relevant latent variable. Quadratic combination is thus necessary for optimal decoding, which can be implemented by biologically plausible neural computations. Finally, the ideal observer yields nonobvious—and in some cases counterintuitive—patterns of performance like those exhibited by humans. Important characteristics of human 3D motion processing and estimation may therefore result from optimal information processing in the early visual system.
Social Risk Coding by Amygdala Activity and Connectivity with the Dorsal Anterior Cingulate Cortex
Authors: Kim Jae-Chang , Zangemeister Leopold , Tobler Philippe N. , Schultz Wolfram , Grabenhorst Fabian
Published: November 2024

Risk is a fundamental factor affecting individual and social economic decisions, but its neural correlates are largely unexplored in the social domain. The amygdala, together with the dorsal anterior cingulate cortex (dACC), is thought to play a central role in risk-taking. Here, we investigated in human volunteers (n = 20; 11 females) how risk (defined as the variance of reward probability distributions) in a social situation affects decisions and concomitant neural activity as measured with fMRI. We found separate variance-risk signals for social and nonsocial outcomes in the amygdala. Specifically, amygdala activity increased parametrically with social reward variance of presented choice options and on separate trials with nonsocial reward variance. Behaviorally, 75% of participants were averse to social risk as estimated in a Becker–DeGroot–Marschak auction-like procedure. The stronger this aversion, the more negative the coupling between risk-related amygdala regions and dACC. This negative relation was significant for social risk attitude but not for the attitude toward variance-risk in juice outcomes. Our results indicate that the amygdala and its coupling with dACC process objective and subjectively evaluated social risk. Moreover, while social risk can be captured with a framework originally established by finance theory for nonsocial risk, the amygdala appears to process social risk largely separately from nonsocial risk.
High optimization of crystallization experimental conditions of ZnO nano thin films prepared by spray pyrolysis technique for optoelectronic applications
Authors:   LEVRES Laboratory, University of El Oued, 39000 El Oued, Algeria, Bouras L. , Beggas A. ,   LEVRES Laboratory, University of El Oued, 39000 El Oued, Algeria, Sahnoune D. ,   Plateau technique en analyses physico-chimiques PTAPC.CRAPC-Biskra 07000 b Algeria, Ghougali M. ,   LEVRES Laboratory, University of El Oued, 39000 El Oued, Algeria, Ferhat R. ,   LEVRES Laboratory, University of El Oued, 39000 El Oued, Algeria
Published: November 2024

The present study intends to provide the impact of nitric acid on the structural and optical
characteristics of thin films of ZnO. The latter was grown on substrates of glass via spray
pyrolysis with 400°C, using Zinc acetate aqueous solution acidified by different amounts of
nitric acid to obtain a pH ranging from 6.8 to 2.9. The film properties were analyzed as a
function of pH. In the light of the XRD analysis, all the films have a preferential direction
along the (002) plane. Depending on pH conditions, the crystal size increased from 32.38 to
37.4 nm, with a decrease in pH from 6.8 to 2.9, according to the X-ray diffraction analysis.
It can be observed from the transmission spectra of the 300-900 nm wavelengths range that
the optical transmission of the films is on average above 90%, and band gap values were
found in the range 3.28 - 3.19 eV. The ZnO film’s FTIR spectrum in the wavenumber range
(400-4000 cm-1) displayed a wide band between 400 and 552 cm-1, which was assigned to
the Zn-O stretching mode.
Arheološki nadzor u Ulici Franka Lisice
Authors: Jurković Pešić Filipa
Published: November 2024

U radu se donose rezultati arheološkog nadzora u ulicama Put Kotlara i Franka Lisice.