bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Potential pathway for reusing Paper Mill Sludge Ash as a Supplementary Material in Alkali-Activated Bricks
Authors: Ramasamy Vetturayasudharsanan , Kumarasamy Vidhya
Published: August 2023

Alkali-activated bricks are considered a sustainable alternative in masonry construction. These bricks are produced by reacting the waste materials in an alkaline environment using alkali activators such as sodium silicate and sodium hydroxide. In this study, our objective is to explore the viability of manufacturing alkali-activated bricks using industrial waste materials, specifically by fly Ash, Paper Mill Sludge Ash (PMSA), and Crusher Sand Dust (CSD). To reduce the reliance on fly ash, alkali-activated bricks are manufactured by substituting PMSA in two different melds. The first meld is performed to optimize the PMSA and the second meld is carried out to optimize the Crusher Sand Dust (CSD) as filler material. Meld 3 is used to investigate the impact of the NaOH molarity of the bricks ranging from 6 M to 14 M for the optimum proportions obtained from Melds 1 and 2. XRD, FT-IR, TGA, and SEM analyses were carried out to understand the mineralogical and chemical characterization of the raw materials and brick specimens. Furthermore, various tests were conducted on the bricks to assess their physio-mechanical properties, following the relevant standards outlined in IS requirements. Overall, this study demonstrates the feasibility of producing alkali-activated bricks by utilizing industrial waste materials. These findings offer promising prospects for creating sustainable construction materials while effectively addressing the issue of waste disposal.
Prevalence and Risk Factors of Wellens Syndrome in Patients with Acute Coronary Syndrome
Authors: Mohamed Sami , Abdelaziz Samoal
Published: August 2023

Background
Wellens syndrome complicates acute coronary syndrome and, if unmanaged, can lead to immanent myocardial infarction. This study aimed towards determining the prevalence of Wellens syndrome among acute coronary syndrome patients while focusing on both types and identifying the most associated risk factor, then determining the commonest coronary artery affected in those who fulfilled Wellens syndrome criteria.
Methods
Implementing a descriptive cross sectional hospital based observational study design at Ahmed Gasim Teaching Hospital for Cardiac Surgery and Renal Transplantation in Khartoum North, Sudan, the study was conducted using a non probability convenience sampling of patients fitting the inclusion criteria. Data was collected using closed ended structured questionnaires. Ethical clearance was obtained from relevant authorities. Data analysis was done using descriptive and comparative data analysis with the aid of the SPSS software.
Results
A total of 120 patients were included, 70 males and 50 females, majority in their fifth decade. 14 patients had no documented risk factors. 42.5% had STEMI, 34.2% had NSTEMI and 23.3% had unstable angina. Patients fulfilling Wellens syndrome criteria were 18 (15%), 44.4% of them were type A and 55.6 were type B. Specific prevalence among NSTEMI alone was 29.3% and 21.4% among unstable angina alone. Most frequently encountered risk factor among Wellens syndrome patients was Diabetes (50%). Out of 16 Wellens syndrome patients who underwent coronary angiography, 50% had mid LAD involvement, most were of type B; 25% had proximal LAD involvement and 25% had normal coronary angiography. There was significant association between Wellens syndrome and NSTEMI, but no significant association with any specific risk factor.
Conclusion
Wellens syndrome is not a rare condition although uncommon, it can present even without a specific predisposing risk factor and coronary angiographic variation other than the proximal part of the LAD artery may occur.
Metabolic and Immune Consequences of Antibiotic Related Microbiome Alterations during first-line Tuberculosis Treatment in Bamako, Mali
Authors: Diallo Dramane , Sun Shan , Somboro Anou Moise , Baya Bocar , Kone Amadou , Diarra Bassirou , Nantoume Mohamed , Koloma Isaac , Diakite Mahamadou , Holl Jane , Maiga Almoustapha Issiaka , Seydi Moussa , Theron Grant , Hou Lifang , Fodor Anthony , Maiga Mamoudou
Published: August 2023

Background
Tuberculosis (TB) infection is known to lead to the unbalance of the gut microbiota and act synergistically on the decline of the host immune response, when untreated. Moreover, previous work has found a correlation between dysbiosis in the gut microbiota composition and the use of antibiotics. However, there is a need for an in-depth understanding of the metabolic and immune consequences of antibiotic-related microbiome alterations during first-line TB treatment.
Methods
In a longitudinal cohort study, which included TB-infected cohorts and healthy individuals (control group), we studied the anti-TB-related changes in the gut microbiota composition and related functional consequences. Sputum, whole blood and stool samples were collected from participants at four time-points including before (Month-0), during (Month-2), at the end of drug treatment (Month-6) and 9 months after treatment (Month-15). Controls were sampled at inclusion and Month-6. We analyzed the microbiota composition and microbial functional pathways with shotgun metagenomics, analyzed the blood metabolomics using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), and measured the levels of metabolites and cytokines with cytometric bead array.
Results
We found that the gut microbiota of patients infected with TB was different from that of the healthy controls. The gut microbiota became similar to healthy controls after treatment but was still significantly different after 6 months treatment and at the follow up 9 months after treatment. Our data also showed disturbance in the plasma metabolites such as tryptophan and tricarboxylic acids components of patients during TB treatment. Levels of IL-4, IL-6, IL-10, and IFN-γ decreased during treatment and levels were maintained after treatment completion, while IL-17A known to have a strong link with the gut microbiota was highly expressed during treatment period and longer than the 9-month post treatment completion. We found that some fatty acids were negatively correlated with the abundance of taxa. For example, Roseburia, Megasphaera, and alpha proteobacterium HIMB5 species were negatively correlated (rho = -0.6) with the quinolinate production.
Conclusion
Changes in the composition and function of gut microbiota was observed in TB patients before and after treatment compared to healthy controls. The differences persisted at nine months after treatment completion. Alterations in some bacterial taxa were correlated to the changes in metabolite levels in peripheral blood, thus the altered microbial community might lead to changes in immune status that influence the disease outcome and future resistance to infections.
Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on psychosocial outcomes among women experiencing breast health delays in New York City
Authors: Fasano Genevieve A. , Bayard Solange , An Anjile , Pinheiro Laura C. , Rosenberg Shoshana M. , Mount Lauren , Malik Manmeet , Newman Lisa , Tamimi Rulla M. , Bea Vivian J.
Published: August 2023

Purpose:Reallocation of healthcare resources during the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in delays for breast cancer care. Data are sparse regarding the impact of these delays on psychosocial outcomes.Methods:This cross-sectional study utilized validated instruments to measure psychosocial outcomes of women with and without breast cancer experiencing healthcare delays.Results:The study population was comprised of 30 (35%) recently diagnosed breast cancer patients, 24 (28%) women without cancer, and 31 (36%) breast cancer survivors (n = 85). Overall, 58% reported a delay in breast health care. Compared to those who did not report any delays, women with delays had higher levels of anxiety, (78% vs. 58%; p = 0.059), perceived stress (45% vs. 28%; p = 0.17), loneliness (67% vs. 32%; p = 0.003), and depression (16% vs. 8.3%; p = 0.34); and no or low emotional support (58% vs. 28%; p = 0.008).Conclusion:Women with and without breast cancer experiencing a healthcare delay reported more symptoms of anxiety, depression, perceived stress, and loneliness, and less emotional support. Longer time to treatment was experienced by breast cancer patients with higher levels of psychosocial morbidity. When future healthcare resource constraints lead to substantial treatment delays, providers should consider the psychosocial impacts of these delays and consider systematic screening to identify patients in need of additional support.
Effects of drop jump training on physical fitness in youth male volleyball players: Comparing maximal rebound height vs fixed drop height training
Authors: Hammami Raouf , Ayed Karim Ben , Ramirez-Campillo Rodrigo , Duncan Michael , Rebai Haithem , Granacher Urs
Published: August 2023

Background
It has previously been shown that drop jump height is an effective programming parameter in plyometric jump training. Less is known on the usage of maximal rebound jump height from a distinct drop height as a parameter for individualized plyometric jump training.
Aim
This study examined the effects of 8-weeks of two drop jump (DJ) training modalities using maximal rebound height (MRHT) vs fixed (FDHT) drop height programming approaches on selected measures of physical fitness in young volleyball players.
Methods
Thirty male youth volleyball players aged 14 to 16 years were randomly assigned to a MRHT (n = 15) or a FDHT (n = 15) group. The MRHT group performed DJ exercises using a drop height according to the individual’s maximal rebound jump height from 20-cm, 30-cm, 40-cm, and 50-cm drop heights. The FDHT group performed DJs following a standardized drop height (30-cm) across the 8-week intervention period. The overall training volume was similar between MRHT and FDHT with 3 sets of 10 repetitions of DJ exercises per session. Pre- and post-training, DJs were tested from 30, 40, and 50-cm drop heights. In addition, dynamic balance (Y-balance test) as well as linear sprint and change-of-direction (CoD) speed were assessed.
Results
Significant group-by-time interactions were found for DJ, balance, and linear sprint tests (p < 0.0001; d = 0.12–0.88) but not for CoD speed. Post-hoc tests showed significant improvements in favor of the MRHT group for DJ heights from 30-cm (Δ20.4%, p < 0.0001, d = 6.31), 40-cm DJ (Δ20.3%, p < 0.0001, d = 3.46), 50-cm DJ (Δ18.3%, p < 0.0001, d = 4.99), 5-m (Δ9.2%, p < 0.001, d = 1.21) and 20-m (Δ7.4%, p < 0.01, d = 1.60) linear sprint speed.
Conclusions
MRHT is a safe and effective training regime to improve DJ and linear sprint speed performance. Due to the importance of vertical jumps and short accelerations for overall competitive performance in volleyball, our results suggest that young male players should perform MRHT as part of plyometric jump training if the goal is to improve acceleration and vertical jump performance.
Effects of metacognitive strategies on listening comprehension through multimedia supported instruction
Authors: Cheng Hao Yuan
Published: August 2023

This study examined the impact of multimedia-assisted instruction with the awareness of metacognitive strategies on students’ performance in listening comprehension in English as a foreign language (EFL) classroom. The findings indicated that YouTube videos and podcasts had different effects on the participants’ performance. The results for YouTube showed significant differences only in the first and last tests, with an improvement rate of 14.7%, indicating that YouTube assisted instruction provided certain advantages for the students with visual learning style. On the other hand, tests for the podcast condition showed significant differences for in every pair, with an improvement rate of 49.7%, suggesting that most students were auditory learners who relied more on audio for comprehension. The results also indicated that students’ prior knowledge and competence played a significant role in their listening comprehension. Furthermore, the study found that English reading, speaking, and writing were equally challenging for the participants, and they felt anxious when coping with listening comprehension questions. However, the use of multimedia instruction, infused with metacognitive strategies, motivated students to become better language learners and take more responsibility for their learning. The multimedia instruction involved authentic and engaging listening materials, opportunities for self-paced and interactive practice, and enhanced motivation and engagement. Overall, the use of multimedia instruction in EFL classrooms can have significant benefits for learners’ listening comprehension, language proficiency, and motivation to learn.
OSL dating of fault gouges from the Atotsugawa Fault, Japan: Insights into partial resetting conditions by earthquakes
Authors: Tsukamoto Sumiko , Guralnik Benny , Prince Erick , Oohashi Kiyokazu , Otsubo Makoto
Published: August 2023

Optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) dating utilises the detection of trapped charge in minerals, and have ultralow closure temperatures. There is the potential for direct dating of fault movement using this method, because frictional heating caused by large earthquakes can reduce the signal intensity. In this study, we conducted quartz OSL dating on four fault gouge and breccia samples from a surface outcrop of the Atotsugawa Fault, one of the most active dextral strike-slip faults in central Japan, where the last large earthquake occurred in AD1858, with an estimated magnitude of 7. The natural OSL signal intensity of fine-grained quartz was clearly below the signal saturation level, with the fraction of saturation (n/N) between 0.34 ± 0.04 and 0.42 ± 0.07. Quartz OSL ages range from 21 ± 2 to 70 ± 3 ka, two orders of magnitude older than the age of the last earthquake, suggesting that the past earthquakes only partially reset the OSL signal. We calculate the mean storage temperature of the samples to be 53 ± 2°C, which reflects past fault activity. Using the known recurrence interval of faulting to be 2.5 ka, the OSL ages, and the thermal stability parameters of the signal, we deduce partial resetting conditions.
A hemagglutinin and neuraminidase biased immunological memory shapes the dynamics of antibody responses to Influenza A virus
Authors: Wong Sook-san , Lin Xia , Wang Jiaqi , Ling Shiman , Xiao Cheng , Liang Zaolan , Bai Yaqin , Xiao Biying , Yang Bingyi , Cowling Benjamin , Webby Richard , Zanin Mark
Published: August 2023

As influenza A virus (IAV) infection establishes a more diverse immunological memory to different viral proteins compared to vaccination, we hypothesize that this could skew antibody responses to immunizing antigens after infection. To explore this, we generated mouse models that possess either an IAV hemagglutinin (HA)- or neuraminidase (NA)-biased immunological memory by simultaneously or, sequentially-inoculating them with cocktails of isogenic viruses bearing four antigenically-distinct HA (H3v) or NA (N2v), that spans the IAV H3N2 human circulation history. Cocktail priming elicited comparable antibody responses to all immunizing antigens, whilst responses in sequentially-inoculated mice were antigen-dependent. We then challenged the mice with two H3N2 strains of opposing virulence and antigenic distance and examined the post-infection antibody landscapes. In both models, antibody increases after the two challenges occurred to antigenically-related, and not against antigenically-distant, HAs or NAs for which baseline titers were low. H3-imprinted mice seroconverted to challenge NA, but not HA, and vice versa. In primed mice, the antibody response was directed to the viral target with low pre-existing immunity, despite high titers of protective antibodies and no signs of symptomatic infections, while immune-naïve mice seroconverted to both HA and NA. Our findings show that the dynamics of antibody responses to HA and NA after infection can be altered by pre-existing immunity, i.e the “antibody ceiling effect” does not imply no-response, simply a "misdirected" response, to an antigenically-related antigen or an alternate viral protein. These results have implications on our seroepidemiological studies as well as our understanding of immune correlates of protection in populations with different influenza immune histories.
Combining bucketization and information hidden vector techniques in building an efficient range query scheme on encrypted numerical data
Authors: Hoang Canh Ngoc , Nguyen Minh Hieu , Nguyen Thuy Thu Thi , Tran Danh Kim Le
Published: August 2023

This research intends to propose a new method for executing queries with an efficient range of encrypted data. The efficiency of the method is represented through several aspects, such as the ability to support high-speed range queries, removing false-positive records in the returned result set after making queries, and preventing leakage of plaintext data on the outsourced databases. The approach to solving here is based on three steps. In the first step, we improve the technique of partitioning data to create buckets with more security and fewer false positives while still supporting indexing when searching in database management systems. Second, the research proposes a new structure called the information hiding vector (IHV) to encode bucket values in a form that allows comparison without revealing the order. In the last step, we build a special IHV_B+ Tree at the outsourced database based on the plain values and bucket values and then encode the values in the node of the tree with the IHV. The entire process is described in an SSE schema that we propose a so-called efficient search index tree - searchable symmetric encryption (ESIT-SSE).
Association between Bone Mineral Density and Serum Uric Acid in the Elderly Chinese: Observational and Mendelian Randomization Analyses
Authors: Xie Min , Yuan Chunchun , Huang Chen , Ji Jiangxun , Cai Feihong , Shi Binhao , Wang Jing , Ye Xiulan , Chai Yuan , Pu Wenjun , Xie Xuehua , Wang Yongjun , Jiang Lijuan , Tang Dezhi , Liang Qianqian
Published: August 2023

SummaryAs an endogenous antioxidant, serum uric acid (SUA) can promote the proliferation and differentiation of osteoblasts and prevent osteoporosis. We found the higher SUA levels may associate with lower risk of osteoporosis (OP) in postmenopausal women.MethodsA community-based cross-sectional study was designed on the basis of 2156 postmenopausal women and elderly men (≥50 years old) from Kunming and Jinshan, China. the bone mineral density (BMD) was measured using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA).ResultsA total of 1755 participants were recruited. In observational study, a linear association between SUA and BMD existed only in postmenopausal women, and the association was still significant after other confounding factors were adjusted (P<0.05). The binary logistic regression analysis proved that the odds ratio(OR) for OP in SUA quartile 4 was the lowest (Model 1:OR=0.521<1, 95% confidence intervals (CI), 0.358~0.757,P= 0.01). Restricted cubic spline (RCS) concluded no nonlinear relationship of SUA with BMD in both women and men (P>0.05). Moreover, the Mendelian randomization (MR)analysis showed no causal effect of SUA on BMD at different skeletal sites (IVW causal effect -0.02, 95%CI-0.08 to 0.04,P= 0.55, and MR- -Egger causal effect -0.03, 95%CI-0.13 to 0.06,P=0.50).ConclusionsOur study concluded a positive linear relationship between SUA and BMD only in the postmenopausal women, and a higher SUA level could predict a higher BMD and a lower risk of OP. However, we found no casual effect of SUA on BMD.
Structural insights into epitope-paratope interactions of monoclonal antibody targeting CEACAM5-expressing tumors
Authors: Rak Alexey , Kumar Anand , Duffi Francis , Gagnaire Marie , Rapisarda Chiara , Bertrand Thomas
Published: August 2023

Carcinoembryonic antigen-related cell adhesion molecules (CEACAMs) are overexpressed in some tumor types. The antibody-drug conjugate, tusamitamab ravtansine, specifically recognizes the A3-B3 domains of human CEACAM5 (hCEACAM5). To understand this specificity, we mapped the epitope-paratope interface between the A3-B3 domains of hCEACAM5 (hCEACAM5A3 − B3) and the antigen-binding fragment of tusamitamab (tusa Fab). Hydrogen/deuterium exchange mass spectrometry identified the tusa Fab paratope, which involves heavy chain (HC) residues 101–109 and light chain residues 48–54 and 88–104. Surface plasmon resonance demonstrated that alanine variants of HC residues 96–108 abolish binding to hCEACAM5, suggesting that these residues are critical for the Fab-antigen complex formation. Cryogenic electron microscopy structure of the tusa Fab-hCEACAM5A3 − B3 complex (3.11 Å overall resolution) revealed a discontinuous epitope involving residues in the A3-B3 domains and an N-linked mannose at residue 612. Conformational constraints on the epitope-paratope interface enable tusamitamab to target hCEACAM5A3 − B3 and differentiate it from other CEACAMs.
Slice-aware 5G Network Orchestration Framework Based on Dual-Slice Isolation and Management Strategy (D-SIMS)
Authors: Venkatapathy Sujitha , Sriniva Thiruvenkadam , Lee Oh-Sung , Jo Han-Gue , Ra In-Ho
Published: August 2023

Network slicing is crucial to the 5G architecture because it enables the virtual-ization of network resources into a logical network. Network slices are created, isolated, and managed using software-defined networking (SDN) and network function virtualization (NFV). The virtual network function (VNF) manager must devise strategies for all stages of network slicing to ensure optimal allocation of physical infrastructure (PI) resources to high-acceptance virtual service requests (VSRs). This paper investigates two independent network slicing frameworks named as dual-slice isolation and management strategy (D-SIMS) and recommends the best of the two based on performance measurements. D-SIMS places VNFs for network slicing using self-sustained resource reservation (SSRR) and master-sliced resource reservation (MSRR), with some flexibility for the VNF manager to choose between them based on the degree to which the underlying physical infrastructure has been sliced. The present research work consists of two 1 phases: the first deals with the creation of slices, and the second with determining the most efficient way to distribute resources among them. A deep neural network (DNN) technique is used in the first stage to generate slices for both PI and VSR. Then, in the second stage, we propose D-SIMS for resource allocation, which uses both the fuzzy-PROMETHEE method for node mapping and Dijk-stra’s algorithm for link mapping. During the slice creation phase, the proposed DNN training method’s classification performance is evaluated using accuracy, precision, recall, and F1 score measures. To assess the success of resource allocation , metrics such as acceptance rate and resource effectiveness are used. The performance benefit is investigated under various network conditions and VSRs. Finally, to demonstrate the importance of the proposed work, we compare the simulation results to those in the academic literature.
Burden of Disease Attributable to Ischemic Heart Disease in Colombia (2015 - 2020)
Authors: Nieto Katherine Helena Avila , Ramirez Alexandra Porras , Mendoza Alejandro Rico
Published: August 2023

Introduction: Ischemic heart disease is a worldwide public health problem, since 2000 the largest increase in deaths corresponds to this, which has increased from more than 2 million deaths in 2000 to 8.9 million in 2019.
Objective: To estimate the burden of disease attributable to ischemic heart disease, measured in disability-adjusted life years DALYs in the Colombian inhabitants from 2015 to 2020.
Methodology: This is an exploratory ecological study in which the burden of disease for ischemic heart disease was estimated by reviewing the trend in mortality and morbidity. Incidence rate data from the Individual Service Provision Records (RIPS) of the Social Protection Information System (SISPRO) and specific mortality rates by age, sex, year and department, according to the official source of vital statistics of the DANE, were used. Years of life lost due to premature death (YLL) and years of life lost due to disability (YLD) were estimated to calculate the DALYs, according to Murray's methodology.
Results: During the years from 2015 to 2020, ischemic heart disease caused a loss of 4,703,914 total disability-adjusted life years. A greater contribution of DALYs is observed in all periods in men compared to women. The distribution by age group indicates that from the age of 60 years onwards, the loss of DALYs is progressive. At the national level, a greater loss was observed in the departments of Quindío, Risaralda, Caldas, Tolima, Valle del Cauca, Atlántico, Bogotá, Santander, Huila and Cundinamarca.
Conclusion: The main cause of mortality in Colombia is ischemic heart disease, which is a major contributor to disability in the country. This scenario and the aging inhabitants point to challenges for the health system and decision makers that require effective national policies and immediate interventions to lessen the negative impact on the health and development of Colombians.
Differentiation of Human umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal stem cells to melanocyte, Osteogenic and Neural cells in vitro
Authors: Zhu Chunxiao , Guo Yuan , Liu Le , wang shichao , cao junwei , liu chunxia , Zhou Huanmin , zhang yanru
Published: August 2023

This study aimed to isolated and culture human umbilial cord mesenchymal stem cells (hUMSCs) in vitro by tissue block attachment to investigate their biological characteristics. The hUMSCs were cultured to passage 3, following which the induction experiments were performed in vitro and induced to osteoblasts, neurons, and melanocytes. The reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) results revealed that the expression of Nanog Homeobox (NANOG), Pou Class 5 Homeobox 1 (OCT4), 5'-nucleotidase ecto (CD73), CD44 molecule (CD44) in umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal stem cells were positive and population doubling time was 24.7 h. The differentiation properties of neurogenesis and osteogenic cells were confirmed by histological staining using toluidine blue and Alizarin red. Melanocytes were detected by RT-PCR, quantitative PCR (qPCR), and immunofluorescence staining. After 28 days of differentiation, the cells exhibited a typical morphology such as bipolar or tripolar cells with slender dendrites. The immunofluorescence staining showed that the differentiated cells expressed microphthalmia transcription factor (MITF) and tyrosinase (TYR), the expression of MITF, TYR and KIT proto-oncogene receptor tyrosine kinase (KIT) from 0d to 28 days by qPCR was significantly different and the expression of marker genes MITF, SOX10, KITby RT-PCR were positive. The results demonstrated that the cells isolated from human umbilical cord were mesenchymal stem cells, and hUMSCs had multidifferentiation potentialities. hUMSCs could also differentiate into melanocytes in vitro, providing reliable sources of melanocytes for treating vitiligo future.
Multi-omics Blueprint of Cellular Senescence in Deciphering Immune Characteristics and Prognosis Stratification of CRC
Authors: Huang He , Wu Jiezhong , Deng Xiaohong , Tu Xusheng , Li Fen , Ke Chunlian
Published: August 2023

Introduction:
As one of the most common digestive system malignancies, colorectal cancer (CRC) imposed grave danger on the public health. Cellular senescence involves gradual changes in functionality and reproducibility leading to abnormalities, including apoptosis resistance and enhanced secretion of inflammatory factors.
Methods
Cellular senescence-related gene set was determined by the application of WCGNA. We performed single-cell annotations of CRC cells and determined crucial signaling pathways through Cell chat analysis. Using LASSO and Cox analyses, we identified a gene set with prognostic values. Our model was validated using independent external cohort. In addition, we employed ssGSEA and xCell analyses to describe the detailed profile of infiltrated immune cells.
Results
We identified 3 distinct cell clusters in CRC samples, including T cells, myeloid cells, and B cells. We found that MIF signaling to CD74 + CD44 and CXCR4 displayed the highest interaction probability in the B cells communication. We determined a set of 6 genes of prognostic significance, GPR88, PTH1R, SFRP2, GPX3, ELFN1, and MS4A2. The prognostic differences between the two groups in the internal and external sets were found to be statistically significant. We observed higher infiltration of the activated B cells, CD4 + T cells, and CD8 + T cells in the LR group, which was characterized with an inferior prognosis. The abundance of CD8 + T cells were highly correlated with plasmacytoid and activated dendritic cells and follicular T helper cells.
Conclusion
Our study developed a prognostic model based on cellular senescence, which demonstrated significant efficacy in stratifying patients with CRC. Our findings offer new insights into potential precision immune treatments for this disease, with the hope of improving patient outcomes.
SFDB-MLPP: A Secure and Fine-Grained Data Sharing Scheme with Blockchain Based on Multi-Level Privacy Protection
Authors: Lin Junyu , Feng Libo , Wang Jinli , Qiu Fei , Yu Bei , Cheng Jing , Yao Shaowen
Published: August 2023

As the network communication and service capabilities rapidly improve in the 5G era, billions of terminal devices achieve global interconnection and intercommunication, which leads to the generation of massive data. However, the existing cloud-based data sharing mechanism faces challenges such as sensitive information leakage and data islands, which makes it difficult to achieve secure sharing across domains. The emerging Blockchain technology can achieve secure transmission among unfamiliar nodes without relying on trusted third parties, which can provide a solution for data sharing in the cloud environment of 5G mobile internet. In this paper, we propose a fine-grained and efficient data sharing scheme based on Blockchain and ciphertext policy attribute-based encryption (CP-ABE), and design a verifiable outsourced computation method to reduce the computational pressure of end users. Secondly, we comprehensively consider the user’s identity privacy and transaction privacy, and propose a multi-level privacy protection method based on ring signature and garbled bloom filter, which enhances the user’s data privacy and availability, and prevents the traceability of requests. Finally, we design a set of interconnected smart contracts, and verify that our scheme can achieve secure and efficient data sharing through security analysis and performance testing.
Optimizing Network Performance and Power Consumption in Green Optical Networking: A Dual Algorithm Approach
Authors: Swamidoss Mathumohan , Samiayya Duraimurugan , Gunasekar Manikandan
Published: August 2023

Nowadays, there is an increasing need for advanced technological solutions due to concerns about the energy crisis and environmental protection. In particular, there has been a growing focus on developing green Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) solutions, as the energy consumption of ICT devices has been rapidly increasing in recent decades. This paper introduces EPSO-based flow-aware routing mechanisms that aim to minimize Queueing Delay, Power Consumption (Energy Dissipation), and Load Deviation. Two flow-aware mechanisms, namely the Flow aware load adaptive scheme (FA-LAR) and the flow-aware distance adaptive scheme (FA-DAR), are utilized in this study. The goal is to avoid traffic congestion across the routes by selecting the most direct and efficient paths for the flows. These routed paths are optimized using the MEPSO-based FA-DAR routing algorithm, resulting in significant energy savings. Extensive numerical simulations are conducted to evaluate the proposed algorithms using metrics such as throughput, routing efficiency, queuing delay, load deviation, and energy efficiency. The simulation results demonstrate that the proposed method outperforms existing benchmark methods in all metrics. Furthermore, it ensures lower power consumption, queuing delay, and load deviation. The method exhibits a 30% improvement in throughput and a 24% improvement in energy efficiency compared to existing benchmark methods.
Identification of Triple-Negative Breast Cancer Subtypes Based on Ferroptosis- Related Gene Signature for Targeted Treatment Prioritization
Authors: Chen Yongzhen , Huang Xiaoying , Wang Haining , Zheng Yanan , Su Zhongping , Ling Tao , Xu Yujie , You Qiang , Ji Jie , Zhao Ting
Published: August 2023

Ferroptosis, an iron-dependent form of programmed cell death, plays a crucial role in cancer therapies. However, its impact on chemotherapy, immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) treatments, and molecular subtypes of triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is poorly understood. In this study, we utilized the FUSCC TNBC cohort to classify TNBC patients into distinct subtypes based on the expression of eight ferroptosis-related genes (FRGs). We employed Gene Ontology (GO) and Gene Set Variation Analysis (GSVA) to characterize the immune phenotype and enriched pathways associated with these subtypes. Additionally, we developed the FerrScore model to identify potential compounds and predict the benefits of ICIs in TNBC patients. Our analysis revealed two ferroptosis-related subtypes with contrasting overall survival (OS) outcomes. Cluster 1 had superior OS and exhibited a "hot" tumor phenotype with increased immune cell infiltration and elevated expression of immune checkpoints compared to Cluster 2. We identified Everolimus as the most promising candidate drug for TNBC patients with a high FerrScore, considering CMap score, experimental evidence, and clinical trial status. Moreover, we validated FerrScore as a powerful metric for predicting the benefits of various ICIs. These findings highlight the influence of ferroptosis on the tumor microenvironment, enabling the classification of TNBC patients into subgroups with different OS outcomes. The FerrScore model has potential in screening compounds and predicting the benefits of ICIs in TNBC, offering valuable insights for treatment prioritization in clinical settings.
Safety assessment of L-Arg oral intake in healthy subjects: a systematic review of randomized control trials
Authors: Kuramochi Yui , Murata Mai , Sumino Akihide , Sone Hideko , Hayamizu Kohsuke
Published: August 2023

L-Arg (L-Arg) is a nonessential amino acid but has many physiological roles. Accordingly, L-Arg has been used in various fields, but there is only limited information available about its safety upon overdose. Generally, the no observed adverse effect level (NOAEL) is used when setting the upper amount for chemical substances. Recently, systematic reviews have been used to assess the safety as well as the effectiveness and usefulness of them. Therefore, we conducted an assessment of the safety of the oral intake of L-Arg in healthy subjects by using gastrointestinal symptoms as an index. We limited the study design to only double-blind randomized controlled trials and searched PubMed, Cochrane Library, EBSCOhost, and Ichushi-Web from inception until May 2021. Assessment of the quality of studies was conducted using the Cochrane Collaboration tool and Jadad score, and the random effects model was used for data analysis. Ultimately, 34 studies were selected for inclusion in this work. The dosage of L-Arg used in the studies ranged from 2000 to 30,000 mg/day (or / one-time dose), and the treatment duration was 1 to 84 days. The increased risk of gastrointestinal symptoms associated with L-Arg intake from 23 studies (647 participants in total) in which such symptoms were reported was 0.01 (95% confidence interval: -0.02 to 0.04), which was not significant difference. NOAEL was estimated as 7531 mg/ one-time dose by using a weighted change-point regression model. (UMIN000046133)
WITHDRAWN: LINC01770 stabilizes TEAD1 expression to mediates nasopharyngeal cancer radiation resistance rendering tumor cells vulnerable to ferroptosis
Authors: Xu Qing-qing , Wen Xin , Huang Cheng-long , Lin Zai-shan , Xu Zhen , Sun Ci-ming , Li Li , Zhang Sui-xian , Song Shuang-Hong , Lou Jia-hao , Hou Zan , Chen Yuan-yuan , Li Xuan , Chen Lei
Published: August 2023

Background
Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) regulate various essential biological processes, including cell proliferation, differentiation, apoptosis, migration, and invasion. However, in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC), the clinical significance and mechanisms of lncRNAs in malignant progression are unknown.
Methods
LINC01770 expression was determined using quantitative real-time reverse transcription PCR, and its prognostic value was evaluated using Kaplan-Meier survival analysis. RNA sequencing and bioinformatic analysis were used to determine the potential function of LINC01770, and its biological effects were investigated using in vitro and in vivo experiments. Mass spectrometry-coupled RNA pull-down assays and western blotting identified LINC01770 interacting proteins, followed by confirmation using RNA immunoprecipitation (RIP) assays. Ferroptosis and lipid peroxidation were detected using flow cytometry.
Results
LINC01770 was overexpressed in NPC tissues according to microarray screening. Patients with NPC showing high LINC01770 expression experienced shorter survival and worse prognosis. In vitro and in vivo experiments suggested that knockdown of LINC01770 expression significantly inhibited the proliferation, migration, and invasion of NPC cells. Sequencing and functional complementation experiments showed that LINC01770 regulates the proliferation and metastasis of NPC through TEA domain transcription factor 1 (TEAD1). Meanwhile, RIP and PCR experiments suggested that LINC01770 and TEAD1 were common targets of microRNAs miR-615-5p and miR-1293. Overexpression of LINC01770 promoted ferroptosis in vitro and in vivo through the TEAD1/Acyl-CoA synthetase long chain family member 4 (ACSL4)/transferrin receptor (TFRC) pathway.
Conclusions
LINC01770 is a prognostic biomarker for NPC and participates in the regulation of TEAD1 signaling pathway through competitive binding to miRNA-615-5p and miRNA-1293, resulting in NPC metastasis and progression. Radiation resistant cells are in a delicate balance between lipid peroxidation and increased vulnerability to ferroptosis, suggesting that ferroptosis could be used to kill NPC cells and reverse their radiotherapy resistance during the malignant progression of NPC caused by high expression of LINC01770. Thus, inducing ferroptosis could be used to treat recurrent and refractory NPC.
The Role of Water in Radiation-induced Fragmentation of Cellulosic Backbone Polysaccharides
Authors: Muscolino Emanuela , Sabatino Maria Antonietta , Jonsson Mats , Dispenza Clelia
Published: August 2023

Xyloglucan (XG) is a cellulosic backbone polysaccharide commercially used for food applications, but also widely investigated in biomedical applications, for its gelling properties and specific biological activity. In this study, the possibility of using gamma radiation to cleave XG and generate lower molecular weight variants was explored. The impact of absorbed dose and irradiation conditions on the XG molecular weight distribution was investigated. Two other cellulosic polysaccharides, hydroxypropyl cellulose (HPC) and an oxidized variant of XG (CXG), were also studied for comparison. Before irradiation, the polymers were characterized with thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA) and, after irradiation, with gel filtration chromatography (GFC). The results showed that for XG irradiated in dilute aqueous solution, a dose of 10 Gy is sufficient to significantly reduce the polymer molecular weight, while HPC is less affected by irradiation under identical conditions. When the polymers were irradiated in the solid form, either dry or humid, the reduction in average molecular weight is much less pronounced. Interestingly, for HPC the cleavage of the chains is more pronounced for the dry than for the humid powder. A similar behavior, but less pronounced, was observed for XG and CXG. Arguably, when water was present in the system as bound water it had a protective effect. This is probably due to energy transfer from the polymer to the bound water preventing chain scission. Indeed, humid HPC has more bound water than XG and CXG. Conversely, when water was present as solvent, water radiolysis products were able to efficiently induce depolymerization.
The experience in dealing with abnormal signal intensities in Children with Neurofibromatosis type 1
Authors: Han Yong , Wang Hangzhou , Huang Yunlun
Published: August 2023

Background: We sought to define the radiologic features which could differentiate non-neoplastic from neoplastic T2 hyperintensities (T2Hs) identiﬁed on MRI in children with neurofibromatosis type 1(NF1) and identify lesions that most likely to require oncologic surveillance.
Methods: We conducted a single-center retrospective review of all available brain MRIs from 49 children with NF1 and 50 healthy pediatric controls. All T2Hs identified on MRI were characterized based on location, presence of T1 hypointensity, mass effect, contrast enhancement, edma, cystic lesion, or lesion related symptoms. Subsequently, all T2Hs were classified using newly established criteria as either unidentified bright objects (UBOs) or probable tumors. Lesion classification was pathologically confirmed in 6 NF1 cases.
Results: T2Hs were present in 35 (71.4%) individuals of the NF1 cohort. UBOs constituted the majority of T2Hs and were most frequently located in basal ganglia, cerebellar hemispheres, and brainstem. T2Hs of 7 NF1 patients were classified as probable tumors, and 6 children with probable tumors received surgical treatment. Five lesions of the six surgical children proved to be glioma.
Conclusion: T2Hs has been found to be a highly sensitive and specific marker for the diagnosis of NF1. With the application of standardized radiologic criteria, a high prevalence of probable brain tumors will be identiﬁed in this at-risk population of children, of which nearly 70% require treatment, emphasizing the need for appropriate oncologic surveillance for NF1 patients with probable brain tumors.
Preparation of Amino Cellulose aerogel and its formaldehyde adsorption Properties
Authors: Liu zhongzheng , Jiang Guiquan , Li Yaning , Chi Chuanxi , Zhang Yang , Song Jianxi
Published: August 2023

The aerogel prepared from cellulose has the advantages of low density, high porosity, large specific surface area, good gas diffusion and adsorption space, which is a good gas adsorption material. In this study, microcrystalline cellulose was used as raw material, LiBr ionic liquid was used as solvent system, cellulose aerogel was modified by polyethyleneimine, which retained three-dimensional network structure and had excellent formaldehyde adsorption capacity. The adsorption capacity of Polyethyleneimine-modified Cellulose Aerogel(PCC) to formaldehyde can reach 12.3 mg/g at 25℃. It was found that the adsorption capacity of PCC aerogel for formaldehyde changed with the increase of nitrogen content. The adsorption of formaldehyde was mainly through the chemical adsorption of Schiff base reaction between NH2 and formaldehyde molecules in Polyethylenimine(PEI).
Sustainable Innovation for Garri Roasting: Examining the Potential of Parabolic Dish Solar Collectors and Thermal Energy Storage
Authors: Sobarasua O. G. , Onuche I. F. , Kuye A. O. , Diemuodeke E. O. , Muritala I. K. , Saturday E. G.
Published: August 2023

Gari roasting is an energy-intensive process that is commonly used to produce gari, a popular food in Nigeria made from cassava. Traditional gari roasting methods use firewood as an energy source, which is not only inefficient but also harmful to the health of those who inhale the smoke (who are mainly women and children in rural communities) and contributes to deforestation. This work aims to investigate the use of a developed garri roasting system driven by a concentrated parabolic solar collector. Important garri roasting food chain data was obtained from a work-study at a rural community: temperatures, moisture content. The garri roasting temperatures range between 85oC - 100oC. The parabolic dish solar collector was designed and fabricated to achieve temperatures between 1180C-154oC at optimum tilt angles at Port Harcourt (4°54' 22.86''N, 6°55' 27.52''E) climatic conditions. The focal length ranges between 50mm-80mm, and the fluctuation of the focal point position was considered for the thermal storage system design. Gravel was used as a thermal storage and heat transfer enhanced through small internally placed mild steel rods. A theoretical estimate for total fry time per batch was 8.5 minutes. The garri roasting experiment was conducted for three days with favorable weather conditions, with an achieved maximum temperature of 101oC. This innovation is an important step in addressing the health risks associated with traditional gari roasting methods, and in moving towards zero-emission and zero-poverty innovative systems.
Long-term evolution and driving mechanisms of the Baiyangdian wetland based on land cover frequency characteristics
Authors: Guo Chao-fan , Zhao Dong-liang , Wu Dong-li
Published: August 2023

For sustainable conservation and management of wetlands, it is essential to quantify evolution progress and driving mechanisms of wetlands. This study examined Baiyangdian Wetland as a research area, and Landsat images and statistical yearbooks were used as data sources. Land cover type-dominant zones were innovatively defined based on spatial characteristics of land cover frequency. A transfer matrix and random forest were used to analyze the evolution process and driving mechanism of typical wetlands in the North China Plain. The conclusions were: (1) There was significant spatial differentiation of land cover frequency characteristics in the Baiyangdian wetland, with the cultivated land-dominated zone, the aquatic vegetation-dominated zone, and the water body-dominated zone being the three core zones of wetland ecosystem evolution. (2) There was a frequent and significant change in the land cover of the Baiyangdian wetland due to extreme climatic conditions. Between 1987 and 2017, the built-up land area and the water body area increased by 4.62 km2 and 16.17 km2, respectively, while the aquatic vegetation area decreased by 20.70 km2. (3) The driving mechanisms of ecosystem evolution in the Baiyangdian wetland were influenced significantly by space, time, and land use types. Specifically, on a spatial scale, social factors were the predominant factors contributing to changes in water body and cultivated land in the cultivated land-dominant zone and the aquatic vegetation-dominant zone. In contrast, natural factors were the dominant factors leading to changes in aquatic vegetation. There was a greater contribution from social factors to the driving mechanism of changes in the water body, aquatic vegetation, and cultivated land in the water body-dominant zone than from natural factors. On a temporal scale, it was primarily influenced by natural factors in the early stages and socio-economic factors in the late stages, with the year 2002 serving as a turning point. The scale of land use types can be seen primarily in the differences among the agricultural lands, aquatic vegetation, and water body. In particular, the Secondary Industry Out Value (SIOV) was highly sensitive to changes in the cultivated area. In addition, cumulative evaporation (EC) has been identified as the main factor responsible for the evolution of aquatic vegetation, which is closely related to the changes in water body.