bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
SEROLOGICAL SURVEY OF LYME BORRELIOSIS IN THE SOUTH REGION OF KAZAKHSTAN
Authors: Kuligin A. , Lushova A. , Kan S. , Bissenbay A. , Perfilyeva Yu. , Abdolla N. , Dmitrovskiy A. , Skiba Yu. , Ospanbekova N. , Davlyatshin T. , Abuova G. , Bayakhmetova M. , Adil A. , Ostapchuk Ye.
Published: April 2024

Lyme borreliosis (LB) is an infectious disease caused by spirochetes of the Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato complex. Transmission occurs through the bites of hard ticks within the genus Ixodes. Cases of fever of unknown origin are recorded in southern Kazakhstan, however, the prevalence of LB in this area remains unstudied. Almaty oblast is recognized as an endemic area for LB. Ixodid tick vectors also inhabit Jambyl oblast, where antibodies to LB agent were previously detected among residents, while it is classified as non-endemic. Turkistan oblast is also considered non-endemic for LB. The purpose of this study was to investigate the seroprevalence of IgG antibodies to B. burgdorferi s.l. among apparently healthy residents of Almaty city (Almaty oblast), Taraz city (Jambyl oblast), and Shymkent city (Turkistan oblast). A total of 465 human serum samples were collected from March 2022 to September 2023. Using the ELISA method, we detected the presence of IgG antibodies to the LB agent in 5.4% of the entire study group (24/465, 95% CI: 3.3-7.6%), and specifically in 9.3% of residents of Almaty city (11/118, 95% CI: 4.7-16.1%, p=0.03), 4.5% – Taraz city (11/242, 95% CI: 2.3-8.0%) and 1.9% – Shymkent city (2/105, 95% CI: 0.2-6.7%). The results of the study confirm the seroprevalence of IgG antibodies to B. burgdorferi s.l. among the population of Almaty city and Jambyl oblast, and also reveal seropositive samples in residents of Turkistan oblast, suggesting possible infection during travel to endemic regions. It is important to continue LB surveillance in endemic and emerging regions, as well as to raise awareness of the infection among healthcare workers and the general public in non-endemic areas.
PRODUCTION OF RECOMBINANT MILK-CONVERTING ENZYME IN YEAST PICHIA PASTORIS
Authors: Akishev Zh. , Auyez M. , Baltin K. , Tursunbekova A. , Khassenov B.
Published: April 2024

Chymosin is the main enzyme with a high degree of specificity towards k-casein and is therefore used in the cheese industry. This work  presents the results on the expression of the goat  prochymosin gene in the yeast  Pichia pastoris and the study of the milk-clotting  activity of recombinant goat chymosin. The goat prochymosin gene was integrated into the chromosomal DNA of yeast and the secretion of prochymosin into yeast culture was carried out by methanol induction. After activation, chymosin was purified by sequential anion and cation exchange chromatography. A biochemical study showed that a decrease in the milk-clotting activity of the enzyme was observed with an increase in pH. The highest activity of recombinant goat chymosin was manifested at 60 °C and pH 4.5-5.0 and amounted to 7680 ± 0.32 and 8727 ± 0.39 for cow's and goat's milk, respectively. The total proteolytic activity of the enzyme was 7769.2±0.38 U/mg. The results obtained suggest that recombinant goat chymosin can be used in the cheese industry and has good prospects for practical application in the production of cheese from goat's milk.
Assessing the health burden from air pollution
Authors: Sigsgaard Torben , Hoffmann Barbara
Published: April 2024

A broader approach to assessing the burden of disease from air pollution is required
Prophage terminase with tRNase activity sensitizes
Salmonella enterica
to oxidative stress
Authors: Uppalapati Siva , Kant Sashi , Liu Lin , Kim Ju-Sim , Orlicky David , McClelland Michael , Vazquez-Torres Andres
Published: April 2024

Phage viruses shape the evolution and virulence of their bacterial hosts. The
Salmonella enterica
genome encodes several stress-inducible prophages. The Gifsy-1 prophage terminase protein, whose canonical function is to process phage DNA for packaging in the virus head, unexpectedly acts as a transfer ribonuclease (tRNase) under oxidative stress, cleaving the anticodon loop of tRNA
Leu
. The ensuing RNA fragmentation compromises bacterial translation, intracellular survival, and recovery from oxidative stress in the vertebrate host.
S. enterica
adapts to this transfer RNA (tRNA) fragmentation by transcribing the RNA repair Rtc system. The counterintuitive translational arrest provided by tRNA cleavage may subvert prophage mobilization and give the host an opportunity for repair as a way of maintaining bacterial genome integrity and ultimately survival in animals.
Carbon quaternization of redox active esters and olefins by decarboxylative coupling
Authors: Gan Xu-cheng , Zhang Benxiang , Dao Nathan , Bi Cheng , Pokle Maithili , Kan Liyan , Collins Michael R. , Tyrol Chet C. , Bolduc Philippe N. , Nicastri Michael , Kawamata Yu , Baran Phil S. , Shenvi Ryan
Published: April 2024

The synthesis of quaternary carbons often requires numerous steps and complex conditions or harsh reagents that act on heavily engineered substrates. This is largely a consequence of conventional polar-bond retrosynthetic disconnections that in turn require multiple functional group interconversions, redox manipulations, and protecting group chemistry. Here, we report a simple catalyst and reductant combination that converts two types of feedstock chemicals, carboxylic acids and olefins, into tetrasubstituted carbons through quaternization of radical intermediates. An iron porphyrin catalyst activates each substrate by electron transfer or hydrogen atom transfer, and then combines the fragments using a bimolecular homolytic substitution (S
H
2) reaction. This cross-coupling reduces the synthetic burden to procure numerous quaternary carbon–­­containing products from simple chemical feedstocks.
Planting a chemical flag on antigens
Authors: Kunjapur Aditya M.
Published: April 2024

Next-generation live vaccines are created by autonomous production of nitrated antigens
How Indigenous communities in New Zealand are protecting their data
Authors: Kukutai Tahu
Published: April 2024

Concerns about the ethical use of data, privacy, and data harms are front of mind in many jurisdictions as regulators move to impose tighter controls on data privacy and protection, and the use of artificial intelligence (AI). Although efforts to hold corporations to account for their deployment of data and data-driven technologies have been largely welcomed by academics and civil society, there is a growing recognition of the
limits to individual data rights
, given the capacity of tech giants to link, surveil, target, and make inferences about groups. Questions about whether collective data rights exist, and how they can be
recognized and protected
, have provided fertile ground for researchers but have yet to penetrate the broader discourse on data rights and regulation.
U.K. boosts digitization of museum specimens
Authors: Pennisi Elizabeth
Published: April 2024

London’s Natural History Museum gets nearly $200 million to scan country’s collections
A practical approach to uveitis screening in children with juvenile idiopathic arthritis
Authors: Foeldvari Ivan , Bohn Marcela , Petrushkin Harry , Angeles Han S , Bangsgaard Regitze , Calzada-Hernández Joan , Constantin Tamas , de Boer Joke H , Díaz-Cascajosa Jesus , Edelsten Clive , Glerup Mia , Ingels Helene , Kramer Sebastian , Miserocchi Elisabetta , Nordal Ellen , Saurenmann Rotraud K , Simonini Gabriele , Solebo Ameenat Lola , Titz Jan , Anton Jordi
Published: April 2024

Background

Juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA)-associated uveitis typically presents as a silent chronic anterior uveitis and can lead to blindness. Adherence to current screening guidelines is hampered by complex protocols which rely on the knowledge of specific JIA characteristics. The Multinational Interdisciplinary Working Group for Uveitis in Childhood identified the need to simplify screening to enable local eye care professionals (ECPs), who carry the main burden, to screen children with JIA appropriately and with confidence.

Methods

A consensus meeting took place in January 2023 in Barcelona, Spain, with an expert panel of 10 paediatric rheumatologists and 5 ophthalmologists with expertise in paediatric uveitis. A summary of the current evidence for JIA screening was presented. A nominal group technique was used to reach consensus.

Results

The need for a practical but safe approach that allows early uveitis detection was identified by the panel. Three screening recommendations were proposed and approved by the voting members. They represent a standardised approach to JIA screening taking into account the patient’s age at the onset of JIA to determine the screening interval until adulthood.

Conclusion

By removing the need for the knowledge of JIA categories, antinuclear antibody positivity or treatment status, the recommendations can be more easily implemented by local ECP, where limited information is available. It would improve the standard of care on the local level significantly. The proposed protocol is less tailored to the individual than the ‘gold standard’ ones it references and does not aim to substitute those where they are being used with confidence.
Validity and reliability of the Persian version of the Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease Health-Related Quality of Life questionnaire
Authors: Ebrahimi Seyed Ali , Mostafavian Zahra , Karazhian Elahe , Najafi Fereshteh , Mashoufi Rasam , Zandbaf Tooraj , Mokhtari Elham
Published: April 2024

Objective

The Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease Health-Related Quality of Life (GERD-HRQL) is one of the most widely used questionnaires for assessing typical gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GORD) symptoms. It is simple, concise, and treatment responsive, yet it has not been validated in the Persian language. This study aimed to translate the GERD-HRQL questionnaire into Persian and assess its validity and reliability.

Design

In this cross-sectional validation study, a team of gastroenterologists, general surgeons, and professional translators conducted the forward-backward translation. A gastroenterologist interviewed 10 patients with GORD to insure understandability of the questionnaire. Fifty-four patients with GORD and 60 patients with gastrointestinal complaints other than GORD were enrolled using convenience sampling method. To assess concurrent validity, patients with GORD completed the Persian GERD-HRQL and the WHO Quality of Life Brief Version (WHOQOL-BREF) questionnaires. To assess discriminant validity, GERD-HRQL scores were compared between GORD and non-GORD patients. After 2 weeks, the patients with GORD completed the GERD-HRQL questionnaire again to assess test–retest reliability. The internal consistency was measured using Cronbach’s alpha.

Results

The mean age of the GORD participants was 36.90±10.44, and the majority were women (78%). All GERD-HRQL domains and total scores exhibited significant negative correlations with WHOQOL-BREF domains (ranging from −0.28 to −0.97). The GERD-HRQL scores were significantly different in GORD and non-GORD patients (p<0.001). Test and retest scores did not show any significant differences (p=0.49). Cronbach’s alpha was 0.85.

Conclusion

The Persian GERD-HRQL questionnaire is valid and reliable and can effectively assess the GORD symptoms in Persian-speaking individuals.
Head rotation and the perception of eyelid height and contour
Authors: Diniz Stefania B , Meer Elana , Nesemann John M , Jackson Nicholas J , Rootman Daniel B
Published: April 2024

Purpose

Effective visual perceptual processing is one of the many components of surgical competence. Human face identification is most efficient when viewed upright. However, it is not yet clear how this perception sensitivity impacts eyelid symmetry. This study investigates surgeons’ and laypeople’s accuracy and efficiency in perceiving eyelid asymmetry from different spatial perspectives.

Methods

A prospective psychometric experiment was conducted where oculoplastic surgeons were recruited from the American Society of Ophthalmic Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery and the Brazilian Oculoplastic Surgery Society, and control participants were recruited via crowdsourcing (Amazon’s Mechanical Turk). Standard illustrations of the human face with varying degrees of eyelid abnormality, laterality, gender and rotation were presented to participants who were asked to judge whether the eyelids were symmetric or asymmetric.

Results

The survey was completed by 75 oculoplastic surgeons (49.33% male; mean age of 46.9±10.7) and 192 lay individuals (54.6% male; mean age 34.6±11.3 years). Among oculoplastic surgeons, deviation from upright was significantly associated with increased reaction time and decreased proportion correct (OR per 45° for peak 0.68, 95% CI 0.60 to 0.77, p<0.001; OR per 45° for ptosis 0.52, 95% CI 0.32 to 0.87, p=0.012; OR per 180° for aggregate responses 0.56, 95% CI 0.51 to 0.61, p<0.001). Oculoplastic surgeons demonstrated increasing accuracy and decreasing reaction time with additional trials for both peak and ptosis.

Conclusion

Oculoplastic surgeons perceive eyelid asymmetries more accurately and can better compensate for inverted sensory information. However, accuracy increases and reaction time decreases with additional trials, suggesting trainability and potential for improvement in inversion disability.
Parenting attitude towards children with autism spectrum disorders: the Japan environment and children’s study
Authors: Kanamori Keita , Suzuki Tomohisa , Ota Chiharu
Published: April 2024

Objective

The primary objective of this study was to investigate the parenting attitudes towards children with autism spectrum disorders in early childhood in Japan.

Design

This study was a cohort study. The participants were enrolled from January 2011 to March 2014. We obtained the prevalence of autism spectrum disorders at 3 years of age, parenting attitudes and other factors from questionnaires. We divided the participants into two groups, an autism spectrum disorders group and a non-autism spectrum disorders group, and compared the parenting attitudes.

Setting

This study used data from a Japanese birth cohort study: the Japan Environment and Children’s Study, conducted across 15 regional centres in Japan.

Participants

The full dataset of the Japan Environment and Children’s Study comprised 104 059 records. We excluded 17 889 records because the answer for the autism spectrum disorders in the questionnaire was blank. As a result, we analysed the remaining 82 411 mother–child pairs.

Main outcome measures

The primary outcome variable was parenting attitudes at 3.5 years of age, which was assessed using a questionnaire. We asked respondents 16 questions related to parenting attitudes, and they answered based on their behaviours. The independent variable was the prevalence of autism spectrum disorders at 3 years of age.

Results

Of the 82 411 participants, the children with autism spectrum disorders at 3 years of age were 372 (0.45%). In most questions about parenting attitudes, the autism spectrum disorders group had unfavourable responses. The difference was particularly noticeable when the parents taught their children social discipline. Unfavourable parenting attitudes were 16.6% in the autism spectrum disorders group and 0.8% in the non-autism spectrum disorders group in the question item with the largest difference between the two groups, a significant difference.

Conclusions

Parents of children with autism spectrum disorders tended to have unfavourable attitudes, suggesting the importance of parental training.
Universal versus risk-based strategies for vaccinating children against COVID-19: Japan and Korea
Authors: Choe Seung-Ah , Choe Young June , Miyairi Isao
Published: April 2024

The global impact of COVID-19 on children emphasises the need for effective vaccination. While most cases are mild, those with underlying conditions face severe risks. Public health agencies promote various paediatric vaccination approaches. Japan universally recommends vaccination, while Korea prioritises high-risk children. Despite similar healthcare systems, Japan’s coverage rates (19%–72%) surpass Korea’s (2%–55%). Korea’s child death rates are higher, indicating increased risk. Both lack methods to address individual risks, hindering prevention. This study advocates universal vaccination to mitigate future pandemics’ impact on children systematically.
Grand rounds in methodology: designing for integration in mixed methods research
Authors: Guetterman Timothy C , Manojlovich Milisa
Published: April 2024

Mixed methods research is a popular approach used to understand persistent and complex problems related to quality and safety, such as reasons why interventions are not implemented as intended or explaining differential outcomes. However, the quality and rigour of mixed methods research proposals and publications often miss opportunities for integration, which is the core of mixed methods. Achieving integration remains challenging, and failing to integrate reduces the benefits of a mixed methods approach. Therefore, the purpose of this article is to guide quality and safety researchers in planning and designing a mixed methods study that facilitates integration. We highlight how meaningful integration in mixed methods research can be achieved by centring integration at the following levels: research question, design, methods, results and reporting and interpretation levels. A holistic view of integration through all these levels will enable researchers to provide better answers to complex problems and thereby contribute to improvement of safety and quality of care.
PROJECT PREVENT: a randomized controlled trial of preoperative vaginal metronidazole to decrease patient issues and infections after hysterectomy
Authors: Pradhan Tana , Zhang Helen , Kadesh Amanda , Buskwofie Ama , Patankar Sonali , Menon Sharifa , Ryntz Timothy , Grimes Cara L.
Published: April 2024

Objectives

To evaluate if vaginal metronidazole for 5 days before hysterectomy decreases postoperative infections and patient issues.

Design

This randomized trial compared vaginal metronidazole for 5 days before a scheduled hysterectomy to no intervention. Sample size calculation was based on a 20% difference in issues and infection (30% incidence and 10% in the intervention arm) with 80% power and an alpha error of 0.05 and indicated 62 subjects needed in each arm.

Setting

Outpatient gynecology clinics at a single academic institution.

Participants

154 subjects were screened for eligibility between July 2020 and September 2022. 133 underwent hysterectomy including 68 subjects (51.1%) randomized to the metronidazole and 65 (48.9%) controls. Overall, the population was racially and ethnically diverse. There was no significant difference in characteristics between the two groups.

Interventions

Vaginal metronidazole for 5 days before hysterectomy.

Main outcome measures

Postoperative patient issues and documented postoperative infections at 4–8 weeks after surgery.

Results

There was no difference in the composite rate of patient-reported issues and/or documented postoperative infection (53/133 (39.8%) with no difference between groups (29/68 (42.6%) vs 24/65 (36.9%), p=0.50). There was no difference in patient-reported issues which was 51/133 (38.3%) with no difference between groups (28/68 (41.2%) vs 23/65 (33.8%), p=0.49) or in documented infections with a rate of 25/133 (18.8%) with no significant difference between groups (15/68 (22.0%) vs 10/65 (15.4%), p=0.33). In the intervention arm, the compliance rate was 73.5% for all 5 days of vaginal metronidazole, and a per-protocol analysis was performed which resulted in no significant difference between groups.

Conclusions

There is insufficient evidence to suggest a significant benefit of preoperative vaginal metronidazole to prevent surgical site infections and postoperative patient issues in patients undergoing hysterectomy.

Trial registration number

ClinicalTrials.gov,NCT04478617.
Changes in family situation and concurrent changes in working life: a 15-year longitudinal analysis
Authors: Wang Mo , Svedberg Pia , Narusyte Jurgita , Ropponen Annina
Published: April 2024

Objective

Currently, little is known regarding changes in family situation with concurrent changes in working life. This study aimed to examine whether changes in family situation (based on living with children and/or marrying/divorcing) were associated with changes in working life and whether the associations were influenced by sex, genetics and early life environment.

Design

Prospective cohort study.

Setting and participants

Data from Swedish national registers of 16 410 twins were used. Fixed-effects logistic regression models assessing ORs with 95% CIs were applied to examine associations between changes in family situation and working life controlling for time-invariant effects and adjusted for covariates, and conditional models to account for confounding of genetics and early life environment.

Results

Changes in individuals life situation from being single and living without children to married and living with children were associated with transitioning from unsustainable (ie, having unemployment or sickness absence/disability pension) to sustainable working life (men: OR 2.40, 95% CI 2.26 to 2.56; women: OR 1.68, 95% CI 1.59 to 1.78). Changes from being married to single, in contrast, attenuated the likelihood of transitioning to a sustainable working life. Moreover, changes in men’s working life seem to be more dependent on changes in family situation compared with women. Genetic factors and early life environment play a role in the associations.

Conclusions

Family formation increases the likelihood of a more stable working life whereas divorce is a risk factor for work interruptions. Our study emphasises that family formation improves the work life situation and to a higher degree for men.
Thirty-year trends of anxiety disorders among adolescents based on the 2019 Global Burden of Disease Study
Authors: Liu Xiaohan , Yang Fan , Huang Ning , Zhang Shan , Guo Jing
Published: April 2024

Background

Anxiety disorders are the most common psychiatric problems, affecting approximately 1 in 12 children and 1 in 4 adolescents. Understanding the incidence, burden and correlated risks of anxiety disorders among children and adolescents can help identify areas of success, stagnation and emerging threats, thereby facilitating effective improvement strategies.

Aims

To estimate the incidence and burden trends of anxiety disorders in children and adolescents from 1990 to 2019 in 204 countries and compare the incidence and disease burden in different countries. To examine the association between anxiety disorders and social indicators (healthcare access and quality of life).

Methods

Data were obtained from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019. The age-standardised incidence rates (ASIRs) and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) were reported to assess the burden of anxiety disorders, and the estimated annual percentage change was calculated to quantify the temporal trends. Pearson’s correlation was used to investigate country-level risk factors for incidence and DALYs.

Results

Globally, there were 932 million incident cases of anxiety disorders in children and adolescents, 739.29 per 100 000 ASIRs and 380.62 million DALYs in 2019. From 1990 to 2019, the estimated annual percentage change of incidence of anxiety disorders decreased by 2.2%. Significant variations were observed in the age-standardised burden rate and the changing trend of anxiety disorders among countries. Portugal reported the highest ASIR of anxiety disorders, while Mexico had the largest increase rate of ASIR. In 2019, Portugal reported the highest number of DALYs (1001.71 million), and India (212.09 million) reported the lowest number of DALYs. The burden of anxiety disorders was positively correlated with the average number of psychiatrists, psychologists and nurses in the mental health sector (per 100 000), and quality of life and the correlation coefficients were 0.58, 0.67, 0.43 and 0.53, respectively.

Conclusions

The incidence and global burden of anxiety disorders in adolescents have continued to decrease over the past 30 years. However, the incidence and disease burden in developed countries are still increasing steadily. Policymakers should design and implement mental health strategies for adolescents based on their specific developmental status, as well as the cultural and regional characteristics of each country.
Lab-based evaluation of the reproductive performance of Trojan (MYY) brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis)
Authors: Davenport Kaeli A. , Twibell Ronald G. , Piteo Matthew S. , Peterson Douglas P. , Baker William P. , Simmons Ryan K. , Whiteley Andrew R.
Published: April 2024

Evaluating the efficacy of the use of Trojan male brook trout with two Y chromosomes (MYY) requires a better understanding of reproductive performance. We measured the reproductive performance of hatchery age-0 and age-1 MYY brook trout compared to hatchery XY males using laboratory crosses. Offspring of XY males had higher survival than offspring of age-1 MYY 1-day post-fertilization, but not offspring of age-0 MYY. We found no detectable differences in survival from eyed-egg to the juvenile-fry stage. However, size-at-age differed, where offspring of age-0 MYY were 3.6% smaller in length and 25.2% smaller in weight than those of XY males. For crosses fertilized by both MYY and XY males, we found that a significantly higher proportion of offspring within families were sired by MYY versus XY males. These results show, under controlled conditions, evidence for possible fitness advantage for MYY under sperm competition, but a possible fitness disadvantage associated with early growth of their offspring. Overall, our results hold promise for the use of MYY brook trout to serve as an effective eradication tool.
Conception, modelling, and characterization of a fiber amplifier with a simple and easy-to-repair configuration intended for the use in harsh environments
Authors: Ozawa Naoya , Nakamura Keisuke , Sakemi Yasuhiro
Published: April 2024

We have developed a Yb-doped fiber amplifier (YDFA) using fusion splicing, and characterized its performance with numerical simulation, achieving a continuous output of above $10~{\mathrm{W}}$
10

W
of $1064~{\mathrm{nm}}$
1064

nm
light. The device has been conceptualized to have a configuration as simple as possible; a strategy for using fiber amplifiers in harsh environments where quick repairs and replacements may become necessary at unexpected times.
A Characterization of Quantum Generative Models
Authors: Riofrio Carlos A. , Mitevski Oliver , Jones Caitlin , Krellner Florian , Vuckovic Aleksandar , Doetsch Joseph , Klepsch Johannes , Ehmer Thomas , Luckow Andre
Published: April 2024

Quantum generative modeling is a growing area of interest for industry-relevant applications. This work systematically compares a broad range of techniques to guide quantum computing practitioners when deciding which models and methods to use in their applications. We compare fundamentally different architectural ansatzes of parametric quantum circuits: (1) A
continuous
architecture, which produces continuous-valued data samples, and (2) a
discrete
architecture, which samples on a discrete grid. We also compare the performance of different data transformations: the min-max and the probability integral transforms. We use two popular training methods: (1) quantum circuit Born machines (QCBM), and (2) quantum generative adversarial networks (QGAN). We study their performance and tradeoffs as the number of model parameters increases, with a baseline comparison of similarly trained classical neural networks. The study is performed on six low-dimensional synthetic and two real financial data sets. Our two key findings are that: (1) For all data sets, our quantum models require similar or fewer parameters than their classical counterparts. In the extreme case, the quantum models require two orders of magnitude less parameters. (2) We empirically find that a variant of the
discrete
architecture, which learns the copula of the probability distribution, outperforms all other methods.
Nonenzymatic Detection of Glucose Using 3D Printed Carbon Electrodes in Human Saliva
Authors: Glasco Dalton L. , Elhassan Manar M. , McLeod William T. , Bell Jeffrey G.
Published: April 2024

One of the most prevalent diseases where point-of-care (POC) diagnostics has focused is diabetes, which impacts hundreds of millions of people globally. Due to the severe negative outcomes including renal failure, nerve damage, and stroke, many POC sensors have been designed to streamline low-cost testing. Recently, the utility of 3D printing for rapidly fabricating housings, electrodes, and sensors for use at the POC has been exploited toward diverse applications. Particularly interesting are 3D printed carbon electrodes (3DpCEs) in POC diagnostics owing to their simplicity, affordability, and mass production capabilities for developing sensors either for direct use or through post-printing surface modifications. Herein, we report a copper modified 3DpCE as a sensitive and selective nonenzymatic biosensor for glucose. Copper deposition, paired with an optimized activation protocol, produced a sensitive and selective sensor for glucose with a larger detection range, enhanced sensitivity, and better reproducibility compared to nonactivated and alkaline immersed 3DpCEs. The sensor displayed excellent linearity between 10–1800 μM and proved to be highly selective over common biologically relevant interferants. The 3D printed sensor successfully determined biologically relevant concentrations of glucose in human saliva which resulted in percent recoveries of 101 ± 8%, 106 ± 6%, and 98 ± 6% for 74, 402, and 652 μM glucose, respectively.
Supplementary Table S1 from Single-Cell RNA Sequencing Unifies Developmental Programs of Esophageal and Gastric Intestinal Metaplasia
Authors: Nowicki-Osuch Karol , Zhuang Lizhe , Cheung Tik Shing , Black Emily L. , Masqué-Soler Neus , Devonshire Ginny , Redmond Aisling M. , Freeman Adam , di Pietro Massimilliano , Pilonis Nastazja , Januszewicz Wladyslaw , O'Donovan Maria , Tavaré Simon , Shields Jacqueline D. , Fitzgerald Rebecca C.
Published: April 2024

This file contains details of individual samples (including clinical data) used in the sutdy
Tumor–Host Cometabolism Collaborates to Shape Cancer Immunity
Authors: Wu Yingcheng , Zou Qiang , Jiang Peng , Gao Qiang
Published: April 2024

Nutrients are essential for supporting tumor growth and immune cell function in the tumor microenvironment, but emerging evidence reveals a paradoxical competition and collaboration between the metabolic demands of proliferating cancer cells and immune cell activation. Dietary interventions and metabolic immunoengineering offer promise to selectively modulate cancer and immune cell metabolism by targeting metabolic sensing processes rather than pathways directly, moving beyond conventional ideas and heralding an exciting new era of immunometabolism discovery and translation.
Immunogenetic Diversity and Cancer Immunotherapy Disparities
Authors: de Miranda Noel F.C.C. , Scheeren Ferenc A.
Published: April 2024

The success of checkpoint blockade cancer immunotherapies has unequivocally confirmed the critical role of T cells in cancer immunity and boosted the development of immunotherapeutic strategies targeting specific antigens on cancer cells. The vast immunogenetic diversity of human leukocyte antigen (HLA) class I alleles across populations is a key factor influencing the advancement of HLA class I–restricted therapies and related research and diagnostic tools.
The Hallmarks of Precancer
Authors: Stangis Mary M. , Chen Zhengyi , Min Jimin , Glass Sarah E. , Jackson Jordan O. , Radyk Megan D. , Hoi Xen Ping , Brennen W. Nathaniel , Yu Ming , Dinh Huy Q. , Coffey Robert J. , Shrubsole Martha J. , Chan Keith S. , Grady William M. , Yegnasubramanian Srinivasan , Lyssiotis Costas A. , Maitra Anirban , Halberg Richard B. , Dey Neelendu , Lau Ken S.
Published: April 2024

Research on precancers, as defined as at-risk tissues and early lesions, is of high significance given the effectiveness of early intervention. We discuss the need for risk stratification to prevent overtreatment, an emphasis on the role of genetic and epigenetic aging when considering risk, and the importance of integrating macroenvironmental risk factors with molecules and cells in lesions and at-risk normal tissues for developing effective intervention and health policy strategies.
FIGURE 5 from Induction of Viral Mimicry Upon Loss of DHX9 and ADAR1 in Breast Cancer Cells
Authors: Cottrell Kyle A. , Ryu Sua , Pierce Jackson R. , Soto Torres Luisangely , Bohlin Holly E. , Schab Angela M. , Weber Jason D.
Published: April 2024

Induction of a viral mimicry phenotype upon knockdown of DHX9 and ADAR1 in MCF-7. A, Volcano plot showing changes in RNA expression upon knockdown of DHX9 and ADAR1 in MCF-7, a volcano plot for SK-BR-3 is in Supplementary Fig. S6F. RNA was isolated from cells 5 days after transduction with the shRNAs listed. Fold change of RNA expression shown in A was determined using an interaction term between ADAR1 and DHX9 knockdown, volcano plots for fold change of RNA expression for single knockdown of ADAR1 or DHX9 is in Supplementary Fig. S6A–S6B and S6D–S6E. B, GO terms identified by gene set enrichment analysis of the RNA-seq data in A. C–E, Heat maps and summary box plots showing RNA expression changes in MCF-7 and SK-BR-3 upon knockdown of ADAR1 and/or DHX9. C shows RNA expression for core ISGs (22, 35), D shows ATF4 targets, and E shows NFκB targets with ISGs removed. Genes are clustered by RNA expression across all four samples. Clustering was performed for each gene set (ISGs, ATF4 targets, or NFκB targets) independently. For more information, see GitHub repository link in Data and Code Availability.
Posterior Hypothalamic Region Deep Brain Stimulation for the Treatment of Aggression Disorders in Patients with Intellectual Disability: A Systematic Review
Authors: Cojazzi Vittoria , Innocenti Niccolò , Castelli Nicolò , Levi Vincenzo , Nazzi Vittoria , Lozano Andres , Rizzi Michele
Published: April 2024

Introduction: Aggressive disorders, in patients with intellectual disability, are satisfactorily managed with an educational, psychological, and pharmacological approach. Posterior hypothalamic region deep brain stimulation emerged in the last two decades as a promising treatment for patients with severe aggressive disorders. However, limited experiences are reported in the literature. Methods: A systematic review was performed following PRISMA guidelines and recommendations by querying PubMed and Embase on August 24th, 2022, with the ensuing string parameters: ([deep brain stimulation] OR [DBS]) AND ([aggressiv*] OR disruptive). Cochrane Library, DynaMed, and ClinicalTrials.gov were consulted using the combination of keywords “deep brain stimulation” and “aggressive” or “aggression”. The clinical outcome at the last follow-up and the rate of complications were considered primary and secondary outcomes of interest. Results: The initial search identified 1,080 records, but only 10 studies met the inclusion criteria and were considered. The analysis of clinical outcome and complications was therefore performed on a total of 60 patients. Quality of all selected studies was classified as high, but one. Mean Overt Aggression Scale (OAS) improvement was 68%, while Inventory for Client Agency Planning (ICAP) improvement ranged between 38.3% and 80%. Complications occurred in 4 patients (6.7%). Conclusion: Posterior hypothalamic region deep brain stimulation may be considered a valuable option for patients with severe aggression disorders and ID. This review can represent a mainstay for those who will be engaged in the surgical treatment of these patients.
Failure of Treatment-Free Remission after a Prolonged Deep Molecular Response in Patients with Chronic Myeloid Leukemia
Authors: Nasnas Patrice E. , Jabbour Elias J. , Sasaki Koji , Issa Ghayas C. , Masarova Lucia , Short Nicholas J. , Haddad Fadi G.
Published: April 2024

Introduction: Treatment discontinuation and treatment-free remission (TFR) emerged as the new goal of therapy in patients with chronic myeloid leukemia in chronic phase (CML-CP). Although uncommon, some patients may still experience molecular or hematologic relapse after treatment discontinuation, even after a prolonged duration of remission. Case Presentation: In this case series, we report the outcome of 3 patients with CML-CP who were treated with tyrosine kinase inhibitors and achieved a deep molecular response for ≥8 years, but eventually experienced disease relapse after treatment discontinuation. We discuss the importance of regular monitoring after treatment discontinuation as well as future strategies to increase the chances of TFR in patients with CML-CP. Conclusion: Despite the high chances of TFR after TKI discontinuation in patients with CML-CP who remain in sustained and prolonged DMR, relapses can still occur. Regular monitoring with RT-PCR is recommended to detect any recurrence of the disease.
Simulation and modeling for controlling stepper motor with tuned PID by GWO: comparative study
Authors: Shneen Salam Waley , Dakheel Hashmia S. , Abdullah Zainab B.
Published: April 2024

The current work aims to simulate the operation of the electric motor in one of the most important industrial applications, which is printers, by adopting stepper motors (SM). The performance of the motor is also improved by adopting traditional control systems and adjusting them using the gray wolf optimization (GWO) advanced algorithm. It works to adjust the parameters of a conventional controller. Simulation to reach an appropriate design with high performance, which is obtained by adopting the integral time absolute error (ITAE) function to get rid of the error for transient cases. Transfer function was adopted to represent the engine and two methods of control were used, traditional and advanced optimization. Results demonstrated the possibility of improving performance by adopting both methods with a clear superiority of advanced optimization. Response of SM without controller for close loop shows the values of each rising time equal 130.440 ms, overshoot equal 0.505%, and undershoot equal 1.077%. Response of SM for close loop with proportional-integral-derivative controllers (PIDC) shows the parameters, performance, and robustness of PIDC also the values of overshoot=9.16%, settling time=0.406, and rise time=0.0628 s. Results were developed by using GWO-PID over the previous cases by reducing values of overshoot to zero, rise time, and settling time to 0.00145 and 0.0027 respectively.
A review of 2.45 GHz microstrip patch antennas for wireless applications
Authors: Rana Md. Sohel , Rocky Tanvir Rahman , Islam Md. Arif , Mamun Al , Joy Sanjay Kumar , Mondal Saikat , Ahmed Md. Toukir , Islam Md. Hasibul , Pal Sourav , Chowdhury Imran , Faruq Omar
Published: April 2024

Recently, microstrip patch antennas have become popular. Due to their ubiquity, these antennas have more uses every day. In this research paper, a 2.45 GHz microstrip patch antenna has been reviewed and analyzed. Different substrate materials have been used to make these antennas, and their thickness is different. Various antennas are designed based on the application, such as rectangular, square, triangle, ring, donut, and dipole. Other types of software were used to design the antenna, including CST, HFSS, MATLAB, ADS, and FEKO. Microstrip patch antenna design is a relatively new field of study for wireless applications. Several devices are linked to send or receive radio waves using a single antenna. Antennas designed for 2.45 GHz are used in various wireless communication systems, including television broadcasts, microwave ovens, mobile phones, wireless local area network (WLAN), Bluetooth, global positioning system (GPS), and two-way radios. This article looks at the geometric structures of antennas, including their many parameters and materials and the many different shapes they can take. In addition, the substrate materials, the loss tangent, the thickness, the return loss, the bandwidth, the voltage standing wave ratio (VSWR), the gain, and the directivity of previous articles will also be discussed.
Strategic electromagnetic interferences suppression in boost converters: zero-switch techniques
Authors: M'barki Zakaria , Ait Salih Ali , Mejdoub Youssef , Senhaji Rhazi Kaoutar
Published: April 2024

This article delves into the growing demand for efficient power conversion technologies accompanying the rise in electric vehicle (EV) adoption. Boost converters, essential for increasing the battery pack voltage to propel EV motors, pose a challenge due to the electromagnetic interference (EMI) generated by the high switching frequency of power devices. To address this issue, practitioners employ zero-voltage switching (ZVS) and zero-current switching (ZCS) techniques. In this comparative study, we systematically evaluate the effectiveness of these soft switching techniques in reducing conducted EMI in boost converters designed for EV applications. The results illuminate the potential of both ZVS and ZCS in significantly mitigating EMI emissions when compared to conventional hard-switching methods. Notably, ZVS soft switching emerges as more efficient and effective, particularly under higher loads, while ZCS soft switching excels in reducing EMI at lighter loads. In conclusion, the study asserts that ZVS soft switching presents a more promising solution for curtailing conducted EMI in boost converters for EV applications, particularly in high-load scenarios. However, it underscores the importance of considering specific operational conditions when deciding between the two techniques.
Determining the possibility of passage through narrow alleys using ultrasonic sensors
Authors: Jeong Yeonchang , Jung Im Y.
Published: April 2024

The complex road topography of South Korea presents significant challenges to the timely arrival of emergency vehicles. Compounding the issue, obstacles such as legally or illicitly constructed structures, and improperly parked or stationary vehicles, frequently obstruct the path of emergency vehicles. To address these challenges, this study introduces a novel system aimed at enhancing emergency response times. The system employs ultrasonic sensors that can be integrated into personal devices to measure the width of the numerous narrow alleys prevalent in Korea's densely populated regions. Experiments demonstrate that within a 1-meter range in front of a narrow alley with widths varying between 270 cm and 450 cm where vehicle maneuvering is possible, it's possible to accurately gauge the width using two ultrasonic sensors, achieving a precision within a 5 cm margin of error. This level of accuracy enables the practical assessment of whether emergency vehicles can access the area in real-time by identifying the alley's narrowest point. The proposed system is a cost-effective method using easy-to-buy devices for augmenting emergency preparedness and enhancing emergency response times by ensuring that emergency vehicles can navigate through alleys, thereby fostering a safer living environment.
Performance evaluation of novel 9-level RSMLI topology for grid-tied solar-PV system
Authors: Sharma Pidatala Prabhakara , Rao Lingineni Shanmukha , Amulya Goddanti
Published: April 2024

The shortage of traditional fossil fuels like coal, petrol and natural-gas are increased day-by-day, fulfills the most of energy demand. Most of engineers are trying to maximize the energy demand by employing renewable energy with existing micro-grid system. Owing to merits, the solar-PV system plays a significant alternative among all other renewable energy sources due to abundant and virtuous nature. For grid-tied solar-PV system, the cascaded H-bridge multilevel inverter is the most significant over the classical 2-level inverter due to provision of isolated input DC sources. But the cascaded H-bridge topology is designed for limited voltage levels due to its larger number of switches for higher voltage levels, high cost, large-size, and more weight. To alleviate these demerits, a reduced-switch multilevel inverter has been generally preferable for higher voltage levels. In this work, a novel 9-level reduced-switch multilevel inverter (RSMLI) topology has been proposed by utilizing low number of switching devices. The performance of proposed novel 9-level RSMLI topology has been verified in grid-tied solar-PV system by using MATLAB/Simulink tool, simulation results are presented with attractive comparisons.
ANFIS-based optimisation for achieving the maximum torque per ampere in induction motor drive with conventional PI
Authors: Rao Gurrala Madhusudhana , Karthik Mamidala Vijay , Kumar Annavarapu Ananda , Kumar Chava Sunil , Parameshwar Tummeti , Bindu Abbaraju Hima
Published: April 2024

This research presents an innovative approach to controlling the speed of an induction motor drive by utilizing a combination of neural networks and fuzzy inference systems (ANFIS). The study focuses on computing the rotor's magnetic flux while considering different overshoot and settling criteria for torque and motor speed. The goal is to optimize torque per ampere and generate the necessary torque. The proposed ANFIS-based torque-per-ampere control technique offers a distinctive method applicable to a static induction motor model. This method allows for an increase in stator current while maintaining flexibility and individuality in motor control strategies. It compares various motor vector control methods, specifically focusing on strategies to reduce torque ripple. These strategies include adaptive ANFIS, fuzzy logic control (FLC), and proportional-integral (PI) control. The research highlights the effectiveness of an adaptive ANFIS controller in achieving the most significant reduction in torque ripple within the induction motor system. This proposed problem identification sets the stage for exploring and developing solutions to enhance the performance and efficiency of induction motor drives.
Maximum power optimization of a direct-drive wind turbine connected to PMSG using multi-objective genetic algorithm
Authors: Mrabet Najoua , Benzazah Chirine , El Akkary Ahmed , Ennaciri Yassine , Lahlouh Ilyas
Published: April 2024

This work aimed to develop and evaluate a maximum power point tracking (MPPT) control system for a wind energy conversion system (WECS) based on a permanent magnet synchronous generator (PMSG). PMSG is commonly used to generate direct-drive and variable-speed wind energy. Initially, the generator and converter on the DC load side are controlled to follow the wind speed reference set by the MPPT algorithm. The paper presents the optimization problem formulation, including the optimization space, constraints, and objectives. The genetic algorithm (GA) is used to extract the maximum power from the WECS in this design improvement. In this study, to control and stabilize the maximum power point (MPP) of the wind turbine, a proportional integral (PI) controller and a GA heuristic approach were utilized. The GA approach was employed to determine the best settings (Kp, Ki) using MATLAB/Simulink with a 12.3 kW PMSG to model and simulate the proposed system. Based on four performance indicators-integrated squared error (ISE), integrated absolute error (IAE), integrated time absolute error (ITAE), and integrated time squared error (ITSE), the GA approach was used to optimize the controller settings. The results of the simulation show that the wind turbine (WT) can effectively track the necessary MPP. The simulation's output also includes generated power, DC bus voltage, electromagnetic torque, and currents.