bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Application of Symmetry Analysis and Conservation Laws to Fractional-Order Nonlinear Conduction-Diffusion Model
Authors: Dhull Harish , Tomar Amit , Gandhi Hemant , Singh Dimple
Published: January 2024

This study is aimed to perform Lie symmetry analysis of the nonlinear
fractional-order conduction-diffusion Buckmaster model (BM), which
involves the Riemann-Liouville (R-L) derivative of fractional-order ‘β’.
We are going through symmetry reduction to convert the fractional
partial differential equation into a fractional ordinary differential
equation. The fractional derivatives of the converted differential
equations are evaluated with the help of Erdelyi-Kober (E-K) fractional
operators. The power series solution and its convergence are analyzed
with Implicit theorem. Conservation laws of the physical model are
obtained for consistency of system by Noether’s theorem.
A cluster expansion free method for computing higher derivatives of the free energy and estimating the error between the finite and infinite volume free energy
Authors: Lo Assane
Published: January 2024

In this paper, we propose a method that is not based on cluster
expansions for computing the higher derivatives of the free energy and
estimating the error between the finite and infinite volume free energy
in certain continuum gas models. The methods known up to now strongly
rely on the validity of the cluster expansion. An extension of the
method to classical lattice gas models is also discussed.
The benefits of land sparing are limited by invasions of alien species
Authors: Lenda Magdalena , Skórka Piotr , Knops Johannes , Kotowska Dorota , Moroń Dawid , Possingham Hugh
Published: January 2024

Globally, agriculture intensification is a dominant driver of
biodiversity loss. The concepts of land sparing and land sharing are
alternatives to seek a balance between maintaining and restoring
biodiversity while producing adequate food. To date, land sparing has
been suggested as the best strategy to maintain biodiversity, but very
few intact lands remain on Earth for sparing. Recently, international
policies for nature conservation have proposed removing land from
agricultural management to meet the need for more land sparing. However,
the idea of land sparing has not considered the risk of biological
invasions in abandoned land. Many abandoned agricultural lands are
colonized by invasive species, creating monospecific patches with low
biodiversity. Such invasions have cascading effects on other trophic
levels and decrease ecosystem services in nearby agricultural fields,
which negatively impacts yield. Moreover, invaded abandoned fields have
lower biodiversity than extensively managed agricultural land. Thus, the
risk of inducing plant invasions and triggering detrimental impacts on
biodiversity, ecosystem services, and agricultural yields limits land
sparing from abandonment as a conservation strategy. Our simulations
also suggest that land sharing may be the best solution for sustaining
biodiversity when the risk of invasion is high.
The nasal endoscopic features of postnasal drip among rhinitis patients- A Cross-sectional study
Authors: Hamizan Aneeza , Tarmizi Nur Eliana Ahmad , Husain Salina , Baki Marina Mat , Zahedi Farah , Lum Sai Guan , Gendeh Hardip Singh , Ng Chong Sian
Published: January 2024

ABSTRACT Background: Nasal endoscopic features of post nasal drip (PND)
is well described but not formally studied. This study aims to assess
the nasal endoscopic features of PND among rhinitis. Design:
Cross-sectional study Settings: Otorhinolaryngology (ORL) outpatient
clinic at a tertiary referral center. Participants: Adults (18 years and
older) with chronic rhinitis grouped into either “Rhinitis with PND”
or “Rhinitis only”. Main outcome measures: The endoscopic features of
PND were scored as: Secretions in the posterior nasal cavity (Yes/no),
erythema in the nasopharynx (none, roof only, diffuse), hemorrhagic
spots (yes/no) and granular posterior pharyngeal wall(patchy/diffuse)
and compared between groups. Results: There were 98 patients included
(age 32.32±11.33, 61.2 % female, 61.2% PND). Presence of secretions in
the posterior nasal cavity was associated with PND (“Rhinitis with
PND” vs “Rhinitis only”, 78.3 v 55.3%, p=0.02). This gave 78.3%
sensitivity and likelihood ratio positive of 1.41 to predict bothersome
PND among rhinitis patients. The other nasal endoscopic features were
not associated with PND. Conclusion: Secretions in posterior nasal
cavity supports PND among rhinitis patients. Further studies to assess
the endoscopic features of PND in other patient populations are needed.
Keywords: laryngopharyngeal reflux, postnasal drip, rhinitis, nasal
endoscopic, bothersome, inflammation, reflux symptoms index, reflux
findings score Key points: rhinitis, nasal endoscopic features,
postnasal drip sign, secretions posterior nasal cavity, quality of life
The Role of CCL21/CCR7 Chemokine Axis in Autoimmune Diseases Progression
Authors: Han Le , Wu Danlian , Zhang Lingling
Published: January 2024

Autoimmune diseases are diseases characterized by local or systemic
abnormal inflammatory immune responses. With the in-depth exploration of
the pathological mechanism of autoimmune diseases, it is found that
occurrence and development of autoimmune diseases are largely related to
the interaction between chemokine receptors and chemokines expressed at
inflammatory sites. CCR7, one of Chemokine receptors members, binds to
CCL21, which regulates lymphocyte homing, neovascularization and immune
cells migration in autoimmune diseases. However, the underlying
signaling pathways of CCL21/CCR7 need to be further explored. Despite
the enormous advances in our knowledge of chemokines, research about the
involvement of CCL21/CCR7 in autoimmune diseases progression is still
limited. Thus, in this review, we summarize the essential role of
CCL21/CCR7 in autoimmune diseases progression. Further studies are
critical to illustrate the distinct roles of CCL21/CCR7 in autoimmune
diseases progression, and are important significance for discovery of
new biomarkers and drug targets of autoimmune diseases.
A pre-clinical model combined cryopreservation technique with precision-cut slice culture method to assess in vitro drug response of hepatocellular carcinoma
Authors: Zhang Yuan , Wang Zhen-yu , Jing Hong-shu , Zhang Hong-dan , Yan He-xin , Fan Jian-xia , Zhai Bo
Published: January 2024

Background The aim of this study was to create a patient-derived slice
model by combining cryopreservation technique with precision-cut slice
culture method and explore its effectivity of predicting anti-cancer
drug sensitivity in vitro. Methods We prepared 0.3 mm thick tissue
slices by a microtome and maintain its cell viability by
cryopreservation technique. Slices were cultured individually in the
presence or absence of regorafenib (REG) for 72 hours. Alterations in
morphology and gene expression was assessed by histological and genetic
analysis. Overall viability was also analyzed in tissue slices by CCK-8
quantification assay and fluorescent staining. Tissue morphology and
cell viability could be evaluated to quantify drug effects. Results
Histological and genetic analysis showed that no significant alterations
in morphology and gene expression were induced by vitrification‑based
cryopreservation. The viability of warmed HCC tissues was up to 90% of
the fresh tissues. The viability and proliferation could be retained for
at least four days in filter culture system. The positive drug responses
in precision-cut slice culture in vitro were evaluated by tissue
morphology and cell viability. Conclusions In summary, the successful
application of precision-cut HCC slice culture combining
cryopreservation technique in a systematic drug screen demonstrates the
feasibility and utility of slice culture method for drug response.
Closed-loop flexible control and optimal design of heat exchange network
Authors: Wang Xing , Yang Ying , Cao Yubo , Zhang Long
Published: January 2024

Heat exchanger network is one of the major technique of energy
conservation. This article synthesizes the heat exchange network,
through adjusting the bypass of the heat exchanger, the flexibility of
the heat exchange network and the redundancy of the control system can
be effectively improved, which is conducive to forming a closed-loop
control of the final heat exchange temperature, thereby improving the
quality of the heat exchange network and the stability of the system.
The matching relationship is selected effectively through the
qualitative analysis of operating characteristics and coupling
relationship of control loops, which reduces the coupling degree between
the control loops effectively in the engineering design stage. The
concepts and discrimination methods of resonance coupling are proposed,
the design process of control loop variable matching is optimized, and
the selection and matching rules of adjusting variables are supplemented
and perfected.
Hyperleukocytosis -- A Cause of Pericardial Thrombi
Authors: BHAT YASSER , Alqwaee Abdullah , Al-Mesned Abdulrahman , Anzi Faisal Al
Published: January 2024

Hyperleukocytosis in leukaemia causes leukostasis, which can lead to
thrombosis of arterial systems of various organs and cause renal and
retinal thrombosis, acute limb ischemia and myocardial infarction. We
report a case of an eight-year-old male child who had pericardial
thrombus formation consequential to hyperleukocytosis. Keywords
Hyperleukocytosis, Leukostasis, Pericardial thrombus, Leukemia
Investigation and control strategy for canine distemper disease on endangered wild dog species: A model-based approach.
Authors: Reja Selim , Ghosh Sinchan , Ghosh Indrajit , Paul Ayan , Bhattacharya Sabyasachi
Published: January 2024

The canine distemper virus is a major threat to the already endangered
wild dogs. We propose an evidence-based mathematical model of canine
distemper in the wild to predict the rate and possibility of disease
spread under a different scenario. We find the endemic and disease-free
equilibrium points and the condition for their stability from the model.
The bifurcation analysis of the model shows how the endemic equilibrium
can be transformed into the disease-free equilibrium through parameters
that represent fundamental ecological properties. The sensitivity of
these parameters to the secondary disease spread points out the specific
interaction rates and a birth rate that should be targeted to reduce the
CDV outbreak. We suggest target parameters for controlling the disease
outbreak considering the plausibility of manipulating them in terms of
implications besides the sensitivity of the parameters. Finally, this
article proposes two specific control strategies based on this modeling
framework: isolation and birth-control-reintroduction. Since the
isolation strategy may be cost-intensive, we modify our model to
quantify the isolation rate necessary to reduce the disease outbreak. We
suggest that the birth-control-reintroduction strategy based on the
proposed model is cost-effective for a small contaminated area.
Novel Archetype in Cancer Therapeutics: Exploring Prospectives of Phyto-nanocarriers
Authors: Sangwan Neelam
Published: January 2024

Cancer is a commonly occurring disease, rising worldwide, so need to be
a better approach for the world to cure this disease. Various risk
factors effect incidence prevalence of cancer. Specialized metabolites
from medicinal plants are promising alternative method available against
those expensive methods available in the market. Treatment of cancer
using plant products is an alternative and safe option. Studies have
proven phytomolecules as important in preventing/treating cancer using
several cell lines including blood, breast, colon, oral cancer cell
lines etc. Some of the leads have been authenticated and validated in
animal models also. Nanoparticles have been attempted as a novel,
precised and safe option for various diseases. NPs have unique physical
and chemical properties which provide unique applications in diseases
prevention including anticancer. Newer approaches such as
phyto-nanocarriers have been considered even more selective and
effective in managing the cancer and could become an affective cancer
phytotheraputics.
Ocean acidification alters developmental timing and gene expression of ion transport proteins during larval development in resilient and susceptible lineages of the Pacific oyster (Crassostrea gigas)
Authors: Wright-LaGreca Marissa , Mackenzie Clara , Green Timothy
Published: January 2024

Ocean acidification (OA) adversely impacts initial shell formation of
bivalve larvae. Despite many studies observing large differences in
developmental success between distinct genetic populations of bivalves
exposed to OA, few studies have investigated the molecular mechanisms
that enable resilient larvae to build their initial shell. This
knowledge is key to their ecological and economical conservation.
Herein, we used a genetic-selection program for Crassostrea gigas to
produce a resilient and susceptible larval lineage to OA. The resilient
and susceptible larvae were sampled every 3-hours over a 24-hour period
in OA and control conditions. The susceptible lineage failed to develop
a larval shell in OA conditions, whereas 52 % of the resilient lineage
developed to D-larvae by 24 hours post fertilisation. We measured the
expression of 23 genes involved in initial shell formation by RTqPCR,
which revealed significant genotype-by-time and environment-by-time
interactions for the transcription of these genes. OA upregulated a
single gene encoding a protein involved in ion transport, Na+ K+ ATPase,
in both the resilient and susceptible lineage. These results were
corroborated by a second experiment involving 25 pair-mated C. gigas
families exposed to OA and control conditions. Our findings indicate C.
gigas have a fixed capacity to modulate expression of genes involved in
initial shell formation in response to OA. Thus, phenotypic differences
to OA between the resilient and susceptible lineage are likely explained
by other cellular processes, such as bioenergetics or protein
translation.
Distress Screening as a Predictor for Perioperative Outcomes in Head and Neck Cancer Patients
Authors: Hardin Frances , Eskander Peter N. , Dooley Laura , Galloway Tabitha , Tassone Patrick
Published: January 2024

Objectives: An estimated 20-60% of head and neck cancer patients have
reported distress during the evaluation and management of their disease.
This study aims to assess for a relationship between distress scores and
several perioperative metrics. Design: Retrospective cohort study
Setting: Single tertiary care center Main Outcome Measures: 34 head and
neck cancer patients during the designated time period were evaluated
for their distress screening results. Primary outcomes evaluated are
distress scores, stratified by age and subsite, as well as, staging.
Power analysis and logistic regression were performed. Results:
Significantly lower distress scores were associated with a skin primary
site (OR = 0.06, 0.003-0.41 95% CI, p = 0.01<0.05), and there
was a trend toward lower distress score with Medicare insurance
(OR=0.11, 0.01-0.76 95% CI, p=0.06>0.05) indicating
potential protective factors against distress scores >3.
Conclusions: Identifying specific protective factors may objectively
help identify new head and neck cancer patients who are at higher risk
for greater levels of distress.
Nephrin in maternal urine applied to a point-of-care kit to predict preeclampsia: a prospective study.
Authors: Lee Kyong-No , Hong Subeen , Kim Tae Eun , Oh Eun Ji , Kim Ki-seok , Kang Ju-Hyung , Yeo Min-Young , Kim Hyeon Ji , Park Jee Yoon
Published: January 2024

Objective: Nephrin is a protein in the glomerular podocyte slit
diaphragm; therefore, its presence in urine implies damage to podocytes.
This study aimed to determine the efficacy of nephrin as a biomarker in
maternal urine to predict preeclampsia (PE). Design and setting: This
prospective study included pregnant women admitted for delivery at Seoul
National University Bundang Hospital: March 2019 – May 2020.
Population: Patients who had been diagnosed with PE were included and
patients without a history of underlying diseases were recruited for the
control group. Important clinical data has been collected. Methods:
Urine samples were obtained, and nephrin signaling was detected through
test strips using a lateral flow assay. Main Outcome Measures: The
results of the point-of-care test were compared between the 2 groups:
patients with PE, and without (control group) using the exact
concentration of nephrin by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).
Results: Clinical characteristics – maternal age, rate of nulliparity,
proportion of twin pregnancies, height, weight, cesarean section rate –
were comparable between the PE and control groups. Nephrin signals were
classified into four groups. In the PE group, signals 0, 1, 2, and 3
were found in 18.4% (9/49), 44.9% (22/49), 24.5% (12/49), and 12.2%
(6/49) of participants, respectively. This was significantly different
from the control group, in which 84.3% (43/51) were found to have
signal 0 (P<0.001). Conclusions: Nephrin signaling in maternal
urine could be a noninvasive and useful test for predetecting severity
of PE.
Evaluation of the prognostic value of lymphadenectomy in low-grade serous ovarian cancer: A case-control multicenter retrospective study
Authors: Chen Zhongshao , Chu Ran , Shen yuanming , Yao Qin , Qin Tianyu , LI Li , Chen Gang , Sun Chaoyang , Song Li , Li Junting , Liu Penglin , Pan Xiyu , Li Jingnan , Zhu Xiaoying , Zhang Li , Kong Beihua , Song Kun
Published: January 2024

ABSTRACT Objective: To evaluate the effect of lymphadenectomy on
clinical outcome in patients with low-grade serous ovarian cancer
(LGSOC). Design: Case-control multicenter retrospective study. Setting:
University Hospital-based research center. Population: 147 patients with
LGSOC. Methods: Propensity score matching (PSM) algorithm was used to
balance the basic characteristics of patients with lymphadenectomy or
not, and the Kaplan-Meier analysis was used to evaluate the impact of
clinical prognosis. Finally, univariate and multivariate Cox
proportional hazards regression analysis were performed to analyze the
high-risk factors associated with clinical prognosis. Main outcome
measures: Disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS).
Results: A total of 147 women from 4 medical centers were enrolled. In
the before matching cohort, 101 (68.7%) patients underwent
lymphadenectomy. Fifty-two (35.4%) patients experienced recurrence, and
25 (17%) patients died. Kaplan-Meier analysis showed that there was no
significant difference in DFS(P=0.058) and OS(P=0.067) in the after
matching cohort. Cox proportional hazard regression analysis showed age
(P=0.012), the International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics
(FIGO) stage (P=0.031) and effective cytoreductive surgery (P=0.044)
were 3 high-risk factors associated with recurrence. Age (P=0.031) and
effective cytoreductive surgery (P=0.009) were 2 high-risk factors
associated with death. Conclusions: Lymphadenectomy seems not to provide
a significant benefit neither DFS nor OS in our study. Age, the FIGO
stage and effective cytoreductive surgery are high-risk factors
associated with clinical prognosis in LGSOC patients.
THE SURFACES OF ROTATION GENERATED BY KILLING VECTOR FIELD IN G3
Authors: Almaz Fatma , Külahcı Mihriban
Published: January 2024

In this paper, by using rotational matrice which is the subgroups of the
manifold M corresponding to rotation, some certain results of describing
the surface are given in detail obtaining Killing vector field in G3,
the rotational surfaces generated by the rotational matrices are given
using an isotropic curve and isotropic matrice of rotation in G3.
Moreover, taking the Gaussian and mean curvatures of this special
rotational surface, we express the conditions being linear Weingarten
surfaces and HK−quadric surface, harmonic surface.
An overview of nanoparticles in drug delivery and of Tumor Tissue in cancer
Authors: kianfar ehsan
Published: January 2024

Today, in diverse medical and clinical fields, including cancer
treatment, nanoscience has evolved and evolved. Cancer and its forms, on
the other hand, have been rumored and inclusive, and many individuals
suffer from this fatal and lethal condition. Actually, even with the
medicinal effect, current therapeutic approaches, including
chemotherapy, radiotherapy, etc., create symptoms that are inconvenient
for patients. Scientists and scholars are also working to establish and
strengthen the options and methods of therapy to deal with this
dangerous illness. Nanoscience and nanotechnology have been popular
today, and their different areas, including nanoparticles, are commonly
used for a number of applications, especially for drug delivery and
diagnostic products and cases of imaging. Release mechanisms focused on
nanotechnology have a profound effect on the release of cancer drugs.
Biomaterials and bio-engineering developments are leading to novel
approaches to nanoparticles that could offer a new way for cancer
patients to improve. In the drug release method, nano-technology has had
a great effect on the selection of cancer cells, the release of a
targeted drug, and the overcoming of traditional chemotherapy
limitations. In the body’s cells, cancer is caused by mutations. Mutant
cells proliferate faster than healthy cells and remove nutrients and
oxygen from these cells. A variety of methods, such as surgery,
chemotherapy, and radiation therapy, or a combination of these, are used
to control the disease.
Maternal haemoglobin levels and adverse pregnancy outcomes: individual patient data analysis from two prospective UK pregnancy cohorts
Authors: Burden Christy , Smith Gordon , Sovio Ulla , Clayton Gemma , Fraser Abigail
Published: January 2024

Objective To estimate the shape and magnitude of associations between
maternal Hb levels in the first and third trimesters of pregnancy, and
pregnancy outcomes in a high-income setting. Design Prospective cohort
studies Setting Two population based pregnancy cohorts from the UK
Population The Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children(ALSPAC)
and Pregnancy Outcome Prediction Study(POPS). Methods We used
multivariable logistic regression models to examine the relationship
between Hb and pregnancy outcomes, adjusting for maternal age,
ethnicity, BMI, smoking status and parity. Main Outcome Measures Preterm
labour, low birth weight, small for gestational age(SGA),
pre-eclampsia(PET), and gestational diabetes mellitus(GDM). Results
There was no strong evidence of associations between a higher Hb (1g/dL)
in the first trimester and preterm birth (1.07: 95% CI 0.96,1.21), low
birth weight(1.09: 0.96, 1.24) and SGA (1.05; 0.96, 1.14). Higher Hb in
the third trimester was associated with preterm birth (1.43:1.28,1.61),
low birth weight(1.68: 1.48,1.90) and SGA (1.41:1.30, 1.53). Higher Hb
in the first and third trimesters were associated with PET in ALSPAC(1st
trimester- 1.38:1.07,1.76, 3rd trimester- 1.57: 1.28,1.94) but not in
POPS(1st trimester- 1.10: 0.92, 1.30, 3rd trimester- 1.10: 0.92, 1.31).
In ALSPAC(1st trimester- 1.37:0.96,1.95, 3rd trimester- 1.35:0.97,1.78)
and POPS(1st trimester- 0.94:0.77, 1.17, 3rd trimester- 0.85: 0.69,
1.01), there were no associations with GDM. Conclusion Higher maternal
Hb, in late pregnancy, may indicate a suboptimal increase in blood
volume and therefore, women at risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes.
Further research is required to investigate if this association is
causal, and to identify underlying mechanisms.
MDP induces the senescence of activated hepatic stellate cells through regulating Ago2/miR-708/ZEB1/p53 pathway
Authors: Yang Junfa , Fang Hui , Mei Dan , Wang Han , Yu Qianqian , Zhang Xianzheng , Sun Wuyi , Wang Hua , Wei Wei , Zhang Ling-Ling
Published: January 2024

Background and Purpose: Extracellular matrix (ECM) is mainly derived
from activated hepatic stellate cells (HSC), and its excessive
deposition is one of the characteristics of liver fibrosis. Monomer
derivative of paeoniflorin (MDP) inhibits inflammatory responses.
However, the role and fundamental mechanism of MDP in liver fibrosis was
still unclear. Experimental Approach: The effect of MDP was evaluated on
CCl4-induced C57BL/6J mice and TGF-β1-induced LX-2 cells. The level of
SA-β-Gal was detected by SA-β-Gal kits. The cell cycle was evaluated by
flow cytometry. The expression of p16, p21, α-SMA and Col. I proteins
were analyzed by qRT-PCR, Western blots and immunofluorescence staining
and IHC staining. The pathological changes of liver tissue were
evaluated by histological analysis. Key Results: We demonstrated that
MDP inhibited the progression of liver fibrosis in vivo and in vitro,
concomitant with the elevated expression of Ago2, miR-708 and p53 as
well as the downregulated expression of ZEB1. MDP could combined with
Ago2. Upregulation of miR-708 and p53 and downregulation of ZEB1
increased the number of SA-β-Gal-positive HSCs and the expression levels
of p16 and p21 as well as decreased the expression of α-SMA and Col. I
in activated HSCs. Meanwhile, miR-708 directly targeted ZEB1, thus
inhibiting the mRNA of ZEB1. ZEB1 could bind to the E‐box of p53
promoter and restrain its promoter activity as well as thus block the
expression of p53. Conclusion and Implications: MDP could induce
senescence of activated HSCs via regulating Ago2/miR-708/ZEB1/p53 aixs
and may be applied to treat liver fibr
How squids response to climate change in the Pacific Ocean?
Authors: Wang Jintao , Chen Xinjun , Boenish Robert , Li Yunkai , liu bilin , Li Gang , Lu Huajie , Yu Wei , Zhou Fang , Gong Yi
Published: January 2024

Climate change is proving to be a driving factor reshaping the
distribution and altering the movement of marine species, dynamics of
which are crucial for sustainable development and marine resources
management. However, how Pacific Ocean squids – boasting the salient
biological features of a one-year life span and strong adaptive
abilities, and which support more than 25% of global squid catches –
respond to climate change is overlooked. We address this knowledge gap
by constructing spatio-temporal generalized additive mixed models based
on hundreds of thousands of digitized Chinese squid-jigging logbooks
covering three Pacific stocks of two squid species (Ommastrephes
bartramii and Dosidicus gigas) spanning 2005 – 2018. Here we show the
relationships between environmental variables and local abundance of
squids (reflected by response curves) track changes in climate; the
squid biomass peaks and troughs coinciding with La Niña and El Niño
events, respectively are moderate in contrast to the effects of
directional climate change. We find substantial poleward shifts by
squids inhabiting low latitude and middle latitudes. These findings have
broad implications both for food security and open ocean ecosystem
dynamics.
Urticaria Patients Are Highly Interested in Apps to Monitor Their Disease Activity and Control: A UCARE CURICT Analysis
Authors: Cherrez-Ojeda Ivan , Vanegas Emanuel , Cherrez Annia , Felix Miguel , Weller Karsten , Magerl Markus , Maurer Rasmus , MATA Valeria L , Kasperska-Zając Alicja , SIKORA Agnieszka , Fomina Daria , KOVALKOVA Elena , Godse Kiran , RAO Nimmagadda Dheeraj , Khoshkhui Maryam , RASTGOO Sahar , Criado Roberta , Abuzakouk Mohamed , GRANDON Deepa , Doorn Martijn van , Valle Solange , Lima Eduardo M. de Souza , Thomsen Simon Francis , Ramón German , BENAVIDES Edgar Matos E , Bauer Andrea , Arnau Ana Giménez , Kocatürk Emek , Guillet Carole , Larco Jose Ignacio , Zhao Zuotao , Makris Michael , RITCHIE Carla , XEPAPADAKI PARASKEVI , Ensina Luis , CHERREZ Sofia , Maurer Marcus
Published: January 2024

Background: Information/communication technologies such as
mobile phone applications (apps) would enable chronic urticaria (CU)
patients to self-evaluate their disease activity and control. Yet,
recently Antó et al (2021) reported a global paucity of such apps for
patients with CU. In this analysis, we assessed patient interest in
using apps to monitor CU disease activity and control using questions
from the CURICT study, Methods: The methodology for CURICT has
been reported. Briefly, a 23-item questionnaire was completed by 1,841
CU patients from 17 UCAREs across 17 countries. Here, we analyzed
patient responses to the CURICT questions on the use of apps for
urticaria-related purposes. Results: As previously published,
the majority of respondents had chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU;
63%; 18% chronic inducible urticaria [CIndu]; 19% with both),
were female (70%) and in urban areas (75%). Over half of patients were
very/extremely interested in an app to monitor disease activity (51%)
and control (53%), while only ~1/10 were not. Patients
with both urticaria types vs those with CSU only (OR, 1.36
[1.03-1.79]) and females vs males (OR[95%CI], 1.47
[1.17-1.85]) were more likely to be very to extremely interested in
an app to assess disease control. Conclusions: Overall,
patients with CU were highly interested in using an app to assess their
disease activity and control. Development of well-designed apps,
specific to disease types (CSU, CIndU, CSU+CIndU, etc), validated by
experts across platforms would help improve the management and possibly
outcomes of CU treatment while providing important patient information
to be used in future research.
Risk of preeclampsia among women exposed to H2S emission due to sargassum stranding in Martinique, a French Caribbean Island
Authors: BAHEZRE Donatien , MONTHIEUX Alice , JEAN-LAURENT Mehdi , RESIERE Dabor , DRAME Mousapha , NEVIERE Remi
Published: January 2024

Objective: Our objective was to determine whether chronic exposure to
ambient H2S due to sargassum strandings is associated to increased
occurrence of preeclampsia in Martinique, a French Caribbean Island.
Design: Observational case control study Settings and population: Data
for this study derive from 25/01/2016 to 31/07/2020 births database of
the University Hospital of Martinique. Methods: Women were considered
exposed to H2S if living and/or working in cities along the Atlantic
coast of Martinique known to be impacted by sargassum strandings. Main
Outcome Measures: Primary endpoint was occurrence of preeclampsia as
defined by the International Society for the Study of Hypertension in
Pregnancy in 2018. Secondary endpoint was preeclampsia free survival
time, which was defined by the number of months free of preeclampsia
between the 20th and 37th week of amenorrhea. Results: In the exposed
population, median H2S concentration, averaged across pregnancy length,
was 300 ppb (IQR H-spread 197). There were no differences (p=0.20) in
preeclampsia incidence rate between H2S exposed (n=623) and non-exposed
(n=2367) pregnant women during the follow-up period (7.5% versus 6.1%,
respectively). Time to preeclampsia between the 20th and 37th week of
amenorrhea was shorter (p=0.02) in H2S exposed compared with non-exposed
pregnant women (median=30.9 months - IQR 8.6 versus 32.9 months - IQR
6.0, respectively) Conclusions: We found that onset of preeclampsia was
earlier in women living and/or working in areas impacted by sargassum
seaweed strandings compared with non-exposed pregnant women. Funding:
None
High-resolution exploration of mRNA expression during development in Daphnia mitsukuri
Authors: Zhang Xiuping , Yang Wenwu , Wang Jinhui , Blair David , Hu Wei , Yin Mingbo
Published: January 2024

We generated RNA-seq data for the water flea Daphnia mitsukuri at five
developmental stages, including the embryo and representative
post-embryonic stages in the life cycle. Embryos showed a large number
of unique and highly expressed genes, mainly related to DNA replication,
differentiation, morphogenesis and the Hippo signaling pathway.
Post-embryonic stages showed an enrichment of transcripts for genes
involved in chemosensory perception, visual perception, cuticle
formation and antioxidative defense. These specific highly expressed
transcripts at post-embryonic stages are essential to help Daphnia to
respond to current or likely environmental stresses. Our data provide a
high-resolution view of transcriptome dynamics throughout development of
Daphnia, a model organism for ecology and evolution.
Long-term Hydrological Simulation of a Himalayan River watershed, Uttarakhand using Soil and Water Assessment Tool
Authors: Kumar Dilip , Rautela Kuldeep Singh , BG Rajeev Gandhi , Kumar Ajay , Dubey Amit Kr
Published: January 2024

A large population depends on runoff from Himalayan rivers. They provide
enough water for drinking, domestic, industrial, and irrigation. Also,
these rivers have a high hydropower potential. A lack of in-depth
studies has made it difficult to understand how these rivers respond
hydrologically to climate change and, thus, impact the environment. In
this paper, modelling the Alkhnanda river system using the Soil and
Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) has been conducted to understand the
hydrological response and assess its water balance components. The
result shows that the basin’s water yield and Evapotranspiration (ET)
vary from 58-63% and 34-39% of precipitation, respectively. The amount
of lateral runoff contributed by snowmelt to the Alkhnanda River ranged
from 20-24%. SFTMP, TLAPS, SMTMP, CN2, SMFMX, and GW_DELAY is found
most sensitive at the significance level less than 0.05, shows the
contribution of the snowmelt is significant in streamflow while delay in
the groundwater will affect the contribution of surface runoff and
groundwater in the streamflow. Based on the results, it is highly
recommended that the study area’s spatial and temporal
hydro-meteorological data be strengthened to improve modelling.
Transvenous lead extraction, epicardial lead implantation and simultaneous left atrial appendage closure in a patient with left-sided superior vena cava and systemic device-related endocarditis
Authors: Pecha Simon , Petersen Johannes , Yildirim Yalin , Kirchhof Paulus , Reichenspurner Hermann , Tönnis Tobias
Published: January 2024

A 78-year old male patient with a left-sided superior vena cava
presented with systemic device infection and atrial fibrillation.
Transvenous lead extraction was successfully performed. Due to a
previously difficult endovascular left-ventricular (LV) lead
implantation and pacemaker dependency, an epicardial LV-lead was
implanted via minimally-invasive left-lateral thoracotomy.
Simultaneously, due to AF, left-atrial appendage closure using an
epicardial clip was performed through the same access. The patient was
discharged with a wearable defibrillator and scheduled for a CRT-D
upgrade eight weeks later. An implantation of new transvenous RV- and RA
lead was performed and the existing left-ventricular epicardial lead was
used.
Timing of delivery in antenatal fetal hydronephrosis: a snap shot social media survery of obstetric and fetal medicine practice
Authors: Corbett Harriet , Williams Ruby , Agarwal Umber
Published: January 2024

Objective To identify when obstetricians would deliver a fetus with
antenatal hydronephrosis and normal liquor Design Snap-shot survey
Setting Survey Monkey link Population or Sample Obstetrics and fetal
medicine consultants who received the survey link via closed
professional forums on the North West Coast Maternity Clinical Network,
Facebook, and publicly on Twitter Methods Survey link publicised as
above, obstetric consultants were asked at what gestation would they
deliver a fetus with antenatal hydronephrosis and normal liquor; and
what criteria would they use to make that decision Main Outcome Measures
Number of years in practice, gestation at delivery, anteroposterior
diameter (APD) of renal pelvis Results 44/102 respondents (43%) would
deliver prior to 40 weeks (median no of years as consultant 10 years
(IQR 5-17) versus those who would not median years as consultant 5.5
(3-12). Re APD threshold of delivery: 17 indicated delivery if the APD
were 20mm, 10if it were 21-30mm and 16 if it were >30mm. Re
gestation at which they would deliver: 13 indicated 37-38weeks, 13
indicated 38-39 weeks and 17 indicated 39-40 weeks. Reasons selected for
delivery before term were obstetric anxiety n=2, maternal request n=2,
maternal anxiety n=2 and concern about fatal renal damage / renal n=34.
Conclusions A surprising number of respondents would consider early
delivery of a fetus with hydronephrosis and normal liquor despite the
lack of evidence of benefit. The evidence supporting term delivery means
that early term delivery is only indicated for obstetric reasons in this
scenario.
Study on synthetic properties of fly ash shotcrete material in underground coal mines
Authors: Ren Wanxing , Liu Xin , Lu Hongzhuan , Meng Xianliang , Yang Wei , Luo Weidong
Published: January 2024

A new shotcrete material with high compressive strength, low water
absorption rate and controlled coagulation time was developed. The
changes of coagulation time, compressive strength and water absorption
rate of shotcrete material with different additions of fly ash were
studied according to the traditional proportion of shotcrete materials.
The improving effects of the synthetic properties of fly ash shotcrete
materials with different maintenance periods were studied by normal
temperature activation of the new shotcrete materials through the
compounding of alkali activator Na2SO4 and polycarboxylic acid water
reducing agent. The results show that it is feasible to use the
activated fly ash to make shotcrete material for roadway. The
combination of AA-Na2SO4 and PAWRa can improve the comprehensive
properties of fly ash shotcrete. When 1.5% and 0.5% of AA-Na2SO4 and
PAWRa were added respectively, the comprehensive properties of the
shotcrete material were the best.
Very Low Tidal Volume, High Frequency Ventilation in Atrial Fibrillation Ablation: A Systematic Review
Authors: Kadado Anis John , Gobeil Kyle , Fakhoury Fadi , Pervaiz Abdullah , Chalhoub Fadi
Published: January 2024

Introduction Ventilation strategies in atrial fibrillation ablation
affect procedure outcomes by influencing catheter stability. Studies
have highlighted favorable atrial fibrillation (AF) ablation outcomes
with the use of high frequency jet ventilation (HFJV) which has shown to
improve lesion durability, energy delivery and tissue contact. However,
this mode of ventilation is not readily available. In this systematic
review we highlight the available data on the use of very low tidal
volume, high frequency ventilation using standard ventilators, that aims
to provide settings similar to HFJV during AF ablations. Methods Using a
combination of search terms in databases and manual searches in
bibliographies of identified articles, we reviewed all published data
reported in the English language on the use of very low tidal volume
with high frequency ventilation during atrial fibrillation ablation.
Results A total of 4 manuscripts were identified; 3 cohort studies and 1
case report. The utilization of standard ventilators with a high
frequency, very low tidal volume ventilation strategy appears to closely
mimic the catheter stability benefits that HFJV ventilators provide.
Across the 3 cohort identified studies, the use of this ventilation
strategy was associated with improved catheter stability, tissue
contact, and decrease in radiofrequency time. No increased risk was
identified compared to standard ventilation. Conclusion With a purpose
of limiting thoracic excursion and cardiac movement, limited and sparse
studies have shown improved outcomes with a very low tidal volume, high
frequency ventilation strategy. Additional studies are needed to
solidify this easily accessible and widely available mode of
ventilation.
Convergent semi-explicit scheme to a non-linear eikonal system
Authors: Zohbi Maryam Al , HAJJ Ahmad EL , Jazar Mustapha
Published: January 2024

We consider a system of non-linear eikonal equations in one space
dimension that describes the evolution of interfaces moving with
non-signed strongly coupled velocities. We have recently proven the
global existence and uniqueness of viscosity solutions for this system,
under a BV estimate. In this paper, we propose a semi-explicit scheme
that satisfies the same BV estimate proven in the continuous case, at
the discrete level, and we show that a certain linear interpolation of
the discrete solution to the scheme converges to a viscosity solution of
the main system considered. We also provide some numerical simulations
in the case of dislocations dynamics
Yeast curation pipeline; functional annotation; Pichia pastoris; cis-acting DNA elements; transcription factors; phylogenetic footprinting; Saccharomyces cerevisiae
Authors: Avcı Beste , Yaman Oğuz , Calik Pinar
Published: January 2024

The design and engineering of promoter architectures with tunable and
improved promoter activity is a major challenge that substantially
impacts recombinant protein production and industrial biotechnology.
Pichia pastoris and Saccharomyces cerevisiae are of industrial interest
owing to their recombinant protein production capacities, genetic
accessibility, and simple nutrient requirements. We annotated the
binding sites for the targeted transcription factors (TFs) in P.
pastoris through the constructed yeast curation pipeline using
phylogenetic footprints of TF binding sites (TFBSs) in the model yeast
S. cerevisiae. The upstream regulatory regions of the genes encoding the
enzymes in central carbon metabolism for putative TFBSs in S. cerevisiae
and P. pastoris were analyzed with a direct scanning algorithm. The
conserved putative TFBSs located in the promoters of the orthologous
genes in P. pastoris were identified by the pairwise sequence alignments
between the promoters of the two species. Among the putative TFBSs
annotated in P. pastoris, the probable functional regions of those in
coordination with the TFs play a role in the regulation of central
carbon metabolism was evaluated based on the functional regions of their
counterparts in S. cerevisiae. The consensus sequence of TFBS motifs in
P. pastoris was also determined. The structural analysis we presented is
invaluable for designing novel engineered promoters and ensuring
transcriptional robustness in P. pastoris and phylogenetic footprinting
analyses of other yeast species.
Interaction between baseline HBV loads and the prognosis of patients with HCC who receive anti-PD-1 in combination with an antiangiogenic therapy and are simultaneously given TAF prophylaxis
Authors: Hu Xiaoyun , Li Rong , Li Qi , Zang Mengya , Yuan Guosheng , Chen Jinzhang
Published: January 2024

Aims: A high baseline hepatitis B virus (HBV) load has always been
listed as an exclusion criterion for programmed cell death-1 (PD-1)
inhibitor-associated therapy in clinical trials, as the interaction
between HBV load and anti-PD-1/PD-L1 therapy remains controversial.
Methods: We performed a retrospective cohort study of unresectable HCC
patients who were seropositive for HBsAg and accepted tenofovir
alafenamide fumarate (TAF) therapy before anti-PD-1 in combination with
an antiangiogenic treatment. Patients were divided into a low HBV DNA
group (≤ 2000 IU/ml) and a high HBV DNA group (> 2000
IU/ml) according to the baseline HBV DNA levels. Tumour response and
progression-free survival (PFS) were compared, and univariate and
multivariate Cox analyses were performed to identify potential risk
factors for PFS. The incidences of HBV reactivation and HBV-associated
hepatitis were also recorded. Results: Seventy eligible patients were
included: 48 in the low group and 22 in the high group. The objective
response rates (ORRs), disease control rates (DCRs), and PFS did not
differ significantly between the two groups (P = 0.761, 0.552, and
0.784, respectively). The results of Cox analyses revealed that the
baseline HBV load did not affect PFS. Additionally, HBV reactivation
occurred in only 2 patients (2.9%), and no patient experienced
HBV-related hepatic impairment when given a continuous TAF treatment.
Conclusions: Baseline HBV loads do not affect the prognosis of HCC
patients receiving anti-PD-1 in combination with an antiangiogenic
therapy, while PD-1 inhibitors do not aggravate HBV reactivation and
hepatic impairment in patients simultaneously subjected to TAF
prophylaxis.
Preparation and Characterization on the Physicochemical Properties of Liner Dextrin-insulin Inclusion Complexes
Authors: Xie Huifang , Ma Xin , Lin Wenbin , Dong Shiting , Liu Qiang , Chen Yi , Gao Qunyu
Published: January 2024

Liner Dextrin (LD) was prepared by waxy potato starch debranched with
pullulanse, which has attracted immense interest in food, pharmaceutical
and cosmetic industries as a versatile ingredient. These LD were
separated on the basis of their differential solubility in
aqueous/ethanol solutions of different volumetric ratios. Three LD
products F-40, F-50, and F-M were obtained with average DP degree of
polymerization values of 31.44, 21.84, 16.10. The results of Fourier
transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) analysis reveal that the
reaction mainly conclude hydrogen bonding and hydrophobic interaction
between LD and insulin in the process of inclusion complexes formation.
X-ray diffraction (XRD) results indicate that the insulin is dispersed
in the linear dextrin in an amorphous state, which proves that insulin
is encapsulated in LD. The results of circular dichroism (CD) show that
the changes in the secondary structure of insulin were negligible during
the release from the inclusion complexes. The order of encapsulation
capacity is F-M-INS> LD-INS>
F-50-INS> F-40-INS. F-M-INS inclusion complexes show better
effect on reducing the release of insulin in gastric juice and promote
the release of insulin in intestinal juice and blood plasma than LD-INS.
Evaluating positive and negative effects of seven biogenic metal-based nanoparticles on seed germination and seedling of nano-primed wheat and flax
Authors: Bayat Maryam , Zargar Meisam
Published: January 2024

Seed germination is the first and the most susceptible stage in plant’s
growing phases, so could be considered as an index to evaluate the
effect of newly developed materials like nanoparticles (NPs), providing
useful information for researchers. Germination tests have been carried
out in Petri plates, containing wet filter paper and nano-primed seeds.
We had biosynthesized seven nanoparticles in our previous researches,
including calcinated and non-calcinated zinc oxide, zinc, magnesium
oxide, silver, copper and iron nanoparticles. The effect of these
biogenic nanoparticles and their counterpart metallic salts including
zinc acetate, magnesium sulphate, silver nitrate, copper sulphate and
iron (III) chloride was studied on two popularly grown plants, wheat and
flax, in laboratory condition to obtain preliminary information for
future field experiments. Germination percentage, shoot length, root
length, seedlings length, root-shoot ratio, seedling vigor index (SVI),
shoot length stress tolerance index (SLSI) and root length stress
tolerance index (RLSI) were calculated at 2nd and 7th days of the
experiment. According to the results, the response of the plants to
metal containing nanoparticles and metal salts mainly depend on type of
the metal, plant species, concentration of the NP suspension or salt
solution, condition of the exposure and the stage of growth.