bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Development of a Modified Method for Measuring the Actual Draft Force Using a Tractor-Attached Dynamometer
Authors: Kim Hyo-Geol , Lee Jin-Woong , Kim Su-Chul , Oh Jooseon , Shim Sung-Bo
Published: March 2024

In this study, crank-locker kinematic equations were used to analyze the three-point hitch behavior when the dynamometer was connected to the work machine. The dynamometer was statically tested with a hydraulic actuator, and the accuracy of the three-way force and the moment was confirmed to be 96–99%. The calibrated dynamometer was put to the test on a real farm field, and data were collected using a data acquisition system. Using the transport pitch correction equation, the collected data can be transformed into more realistic data. International standards were used to determine the point of connection between the tractor, dynamometer, and implement. The results of this study made it possible to accurately measure force and moment, which will have an important role in future agricultural technologies such as autonomous agricultural operation.
A UAV-Borne Six-Vessel Negative-Pressure Enrichment Device with Filters Designed to Collect Infectious Fungal Spores in Rice Fields
Authors: Guo Xiaoyan , Ou Yuanzhen , Deng Konghong , Fan Xiaolong , Jiang Rui , Zhou Zhiyan
Published: March 2024

Fungal spores that cause infectious fungal diseases in rice are mainly transmitted through air. The existing fixed, portable or vehicle-mounted fungal spore collection devices used for rice infectious diseases have several disadvantages, such as low efficiency, large volume, low precision and incomplete information. In this study, a mobile fungal spore collection device is designed, consisting of six filters called “Capture-A”, which can collect spores and other airborne particles onto a filter located on a rotating disc of six filters that can be rotated to a position allowing for the capture of six individual samples. They are captured one at a time and designed and validated by capturing spores above the rice field, and the parameters of the key components of the collector are optimized through fluid simulation and verification experiments. The parameter combination of the “Capturer-A” in the best working state is as follows: sampling vessel filter screen with aperture size of 0.150 mm, bent air duct with inner diameter of 20 mm, negative pressure fan with 1500 Pa and spore sampling of cylindrical shape. In the field test, the self-developed “Capturer-A” was compared with the existing “YFBZ3” (mobile spore collection device made by Yunfei Co., Ltd., Zhengzhou, China). The two devices were experimented on at 15 sampling points in three diseased rice fields, and the samples were examined and counted under a microscope in the laboratory. It was found that the spores of rice blast disease and rice flax spot disease of rice were contained in the samples; the number of samples collected by a single sampling vessel of “Capturer-A” was about twice that of the device “YFBZ3”in the test.
The Expression Levels of CD20 as a Prognostic Value in Feline B-Cell Nasal Lymphoma: A Pilot Study
Authors: Chaipoca Kravee , Sirinarumitr Theerapol , Srisampan Supreeya , Wongsali Charuwan , Kovitvadhi Attawit , Jaroensong Tassanee
Published: March 2024

The effect of the semi-quantitative expression of CD20 in the prognosis of feline nasal lymphoma has not been described. This study investigated the prognostic significance of CD20 expression, clinicopathological characterization, and treatment outcomes in cats with nasal lymphoma. Clinical data from cats diagnosed with nasal lymphoma were retrospectively collected, including signalment, clinical signs, clinicopathological variables, treatment outcomes, and survival times. Using ImageJ software, CD20 expression was semi-quantitatively measured based on the proportion of CD20-positive areas. Correlations between laboratory findings, immunohistochemical expressions, and survival outcomes were investigated. All cats included in the study exhibited the B-cell immunophenotype. During treatment, a reduction in PCV was noted in the cats at the second and sixth weeks (p = 0.01 and p = 0.01, respectively). The cats with low CD20 expression exhibited a significantly shorter MST (91 days; 95% CI, 41–141) than those with high CD20 expression (MST, 214 days; 95% CI, 76–351) (p = 0.01). Stage T1 cats displayed a higher MST (143 days; 95% CI, 144–172) than those in other stages > T1 (120 days, 95% CI, 71–169 days) (p = 0.04). Anemia, a common adverse effect in feline nasal lymphoma, did not impact MST. T1 clinical staging and high CD20 expression showed a trend for better MST.
Prefix Data Augmentation for Contrastive Learning of Unsupervised Sentence Embedding
Authors: Wang Chunchun , Lv Shu
Published: March 2024

This paper presents prefix data augmentation (Prd) as an innovative method for enhancing sentence embedding learning through unsupervised contrastive learning. The framework, dubbed PrdSimCSE, uses Prd to create both positive and negative sample pairs. By appending positive and negative prefixes to a sentence, the basis for contrastive learning is formed, outperforming the baseline unsupervised SimCSE. PrdSimCSE is positioned within a probabilistic framework that expands the semantic similarity event space and generates superior negative samples, contributing to more accurate semantic similarity estimations. The model’s efficacy is validated on standard semantic similarity tasks, showing a notable improvement over that of existing unsupervised models, specifically a 1.08% enhancement in performance on BERTbase. Through detailed experiments, the effectiveness of positive and negative prefixes in data augmentation and their impact on the learning model are explored, and the broader implications of prefix data augmentation are discussed for unsupervised sentence embedding learning.
An Introduction to Machine and Deep Learning Methods for Cloud Masking Applications
Authors: Anzalone Anna , Pagliaro Antonio , Tutone Antonio
Published: March 2024

Cloud cover assessment is crucial for meteorology, Earth observation, and environmental monitoring, providing valuable data for weather forecasting, climate modeling, and remote sensing activities. Depending on the specific purpose, identifying and accounting for pixels affected by clouds is essential in spectral remote sensing imagery. In applications such as land monitoring and various remote sensing activities, detecting/removing cloud-contaminated pixels is crucial to ensuring the accuracy of advanced processing of satellite imagery. Typically, the objective of cloud masking is to produce an image where every pixel in a satellite spectral image is categorized as either clear or cloudy. Nevertheless, there is also a prevalent approach in the literature that yields a multi-class output. With the progress in Machine and Deep Learning, coupled with the accelerated capabilities of GPUs, and the abundance of available remote sensing data, novel opportunities and methods for cloud detection have emerged, improving the accuracy and the efficiency of the algorithms. This paper provides a review of these last methods for cloud masking in multispectral satellite imagery, with emphasis on the Deep Learning approach, highlighting their benefits and challenges.
Study on the Morphology and Mechanical Properties of Cynodon dactylon in the Riparian Zone Slopes of a Large Reservoir
Authors: Zhang Pengyu , Wang Pengcheng , Jin Siyuan
Published: March 2024

The stability of riverbank slopes is crucial in watershed ecology. The morphology and tensile strength properties of plant roots play a significant role in slope stability, which is of great importance for the ecological stability of riverbanks. The Jinsha and Yalong River basins are the largest hydropower bases in China and are in the ecologically fragile areas of the dry and hot river valleys, yet fewer studies are available on these basins. Further studies on the growth morphology and root mechanical properties of plant roots in the riparian zone at different elevations have not been reported. Therefore, we selected the dominant species of Cynodon dactylon root as the research subject, analyzed the root morphology, and conducted indoor single-root tensile tests to study its root structure and mechanical properties at various elevations. The results showed that the root morphology of Cynodon dactylon was positively correlated with elevation. Compared to low elevations (L and M), the root length increased by 57.3% and 21.47%, the root diameter increased by 24.85% and 13.92%, the root surface area increased by 93.5% and 67.37%, and the total root volume increased by 119.91% and 107.36%. As the elevation gradient increased, the flooding time decreased, leading to more developed plant roots for Cynodon dactylon. The Young’s modulus ranged from 148.43 to 454.18 MPa for Ertan Cynodon dactylon roots and 131.31 to 355.53 MPa for Guanyingyan Cynodon dactylon roots. The maximum tensile strength, ultimate tensile strength, ultimate elongation, and Young’s modulus of the plant root of the Cynodon dactylon showed a power function relationship with the diameter. The maximum tensile strength increased as the diameter increased, while the remaining properties decreased following a power function relationship. The maximum tensile strength, ultimate tensile strength, and Young’s modulus of Cynodon dactylon were positively correlated with elevation, while the ultimate elongation was negatively correlated with elevation. The results elucidate the influence of elevation on the root morphology and mechanical properties of dominant riparian species. This provides a theoretical basis for managing and protecting riparian slopes in ecologically fragile areas.
Research on Behavioral Decision at an Unsignalized Roundabout for Automatic Driving Based on Proximal Policy Optimization Algorithm
Authors: Gan Jingpeng , Zhang Jiancheng , Liu Yuansheng
Published: March 2024

Unsignalized roundabouts have a significant impact on traffic flow and vehicle safety. To address the challenge of autonomous vehicles passing through roundabouts with low penetration, improve their efficiency, and ensure safety and stability, we propose the proximal policy optimization (PPO) algorithm to enhance decision-making behavior. We develop an optimization-based behavioral choice model for autonomous vehicles that incorporates gap acceptance theory and deep reinforcement learning using the PPO algorithm. Additionally, we employ the CoordConv network to establish an aerial view for spatial perception information gathering. Furthermore, a dynamic multi-objective reward mechanism is introduced to maximize the PPO algorithm’s reward pool function while quantifying environmental factors. Through simulation experiments, we demonstrate that our optimized PPO algorithm significantly improves training efficiency by enhancing the reward value function by 2.85%, 7.17%, and 19.58% in scenarios with 20, 100, and 200 social vehicles, respectively, compared to the PPO+CCMR algorithm. The effectiveness of simulation training also increases by 11.1%, 13.8%, and 7.4%. Moreover, there is a reduction in crossing time by 2.37%, 2.62%, and 13.96%. Our optimized PPO algorithm enhances path selection during autonomous vehicle simulation training as they tend to drive in the inner ring over time; however, the influence of social vehicles on path selection diminishes as their quantity increases. The safety of autonomous vehicles remains largely unaffected by our optimized PPO algorithm.
Route Risk Index for Autonomous Trucks
Authors: Jones Ryan , Bridgelall Raj , Tolliver Denver
Published: March 2024

The proliferation of autonomous trucking demands a sophisticated understanding of the risks associated with the diverse U.S. interstate system. Traditional risk assessment models, while beneficial, do not adequately address the state and regional variations in factors that significantly impact the safety and efficiency of autonomous freight transport. This study addresses the problem by developing a composite risk index that evaluates the safety of U.S. interstate routes for autonomous trucking, considering both state and regional differences in traffic volumes, road conditions, safety records, and weather patterns. The potential for autonomous trucking to transform the freight industry necessitates a risk assessment model that is as dynamic and multifaceted as the system it aims to navigate. This work contributes a regionally sensitive risk index using GIS methodologies, integrating data from national databases, and applying statistical analysis to normalize risk factors. The findings reveal significant state and regional disparities in risk factors, such as the predominance of precipitation-related risks in the Southeast and traffic in the Far West. This work provides a targeted approach to risk assessment for policymakers and infrastructure planners and offers a strategic tool for logistics companies in optimizing autonomous trucking routes. The long-term benefit is a scalable model that can adapt to evolving data inputs and contribute to the broader application of risk assessment strategies in various domains.
The 60 Years of Queer and Trans Activism and Care Project: Learning to Conduct Archival Research and Write Dramatic Verbatim Monologues
Authors: Goldstein Tara , Salisbury Jenny
Published: March 2024

This reflective essay describes a research course which provided undergraduate students with an opportunity to conduct archival research on six decades of queer, trans, Black, Indigenous, and People of Colour (QTBIPOC) activism and care that have challenged heteronormativity, cis-normativity, and racism in Canada. While there are many ways to share the findings of archival research, we chose to teach our students how to create dramatic verbatim monologues as the arts-based research method of verbatim theatre required students to use the words of activists themselves to explain why a particular moment of activism and care was needed. Students attended three different workshops during the full-year course from September 2022 to March 2023: a workshop in conducting archival research, a workshop about centring themselves and their communities in their research, and a workshop in verbatim monologue writing. Here, we reflect upon what these workshops taught us about archival research, working with Indigenous archival material, and rupturing systems of oppression in our own bodies. At the end of the course, students reported their take-aways from the course. This included a new understanding that it was possible to conduct research on topics they felt passionate about and that theatre-based research provided them with a way to express the findings of their research in forms other than writing essays. This new-found freedom was life-changing.
Litter Mass Loss of the Invasive Rhus typhina L. and Native Koelreuteria paniculata Laxm. Trees Alters Soil N-Fixing Bacterial Community Composition under Different N Forms
Authors: Li Yue , Li Chuang , Cheng Huiyuan , Xu Zhelun , Zhong Shanshan , Zhu Mawei , Wei Yuqing , Xu Zhongyi , Du Daolin , Wang Congyan , Zhang Huanshi
Published: March 2024

Soil N-fixing bacterial (NFB) community may facilitate the successful establishment and invasion of exotic non-nitrogen (N) fixing plants. Invasive plants can negatively affect the NFB community by releasing N during litter decomposition, especially where N input from atmospheric N deposition is high. This study aimed to quantitatively compare the effects of the invasive Rhus typhina L. and native Koelreuteria paniculata Laxm. trees on the litter mass loss, soil physicochemical properties, soil enzyme activities, and the NFB. Following N supplementation at 5 g N m−2 yr−1 in four forms (including ammonium, nitrate, urea, and mixed N with an equal mixture of the three individual N forms), a litterbag-experiment was conducted indoors to simulate the litter decomposition of the two trees. After four months of decomposition, the litter cumulative mass losses of R. typhina under the control, ammonium chloride, potassium nitrate, urea, and mixed N were 57.93%, 57.38%, 58.69%, 63.66%, and 57.57%, respectively. The litter cumulative mass losses of K. paniculata under the control, ammonium chloride, potassium nitrate, urea, and mixed N were 54.98%, 57.99%, 48.14%, 49.02%, and 56.83%, respectively. The litter cumulative mass losses of equally mixed litter from both trees under the control, ammonium chloride, potassium nitrate, urea, and mixed N were 42.95%, 42.29%, 50.42%, 46.18%, and 43.71%, respectively. There were antagonistic responses to the co-decomposition of the two trees. The litter mass loss of the two trees was mainly associated with the taxonomic richness of NFB. The form of N was not significantly associated with the litter mass loss in either species, the mixing effect intensity of the litter co-decomposition of the two species, and NFB alpha diversity. Litter mass loss of R. typhina was significantly higher than that of K. paniculata under urea. The litter mass loss of the two trees under the control and N in four forms mainly affected the relative abundance of numerous NFB taxa, rather than NFB alpha diversity.
ORAI Ca2+ Channels in Cancers and Therapeutic Interventions
Authors: Zhang Qian , Wang Chen , He Lian
Published: March 2024

The ORAI proteins serve as crucial pore-forming subunits of calcium-release-activated calcium (CRAC) channels, pivotal in regulating downstream calcium-related signaling pathways. Dysregulated calcium homeostasis arising from mutations and post-translational modifications in ORAI can lead to immune disorders, myopathy, cardiovascular diseases, and even cancers. Small molecules targeting ORAI present an approach for calcium signaling modulation. Moreover, emerging techniques like optogenetics and optochemistry aim to offer more precise regulation of ORAI. This review focuses on the role of ORAI in cancers, providing a concise overview of their significance in the initiation and progression of cancers. Additionally, it highlights state-of-the-art techniques for ORAI channel modulation, including advanced optical tools, potent pharmacological inhibitors, and antibodies. These novel strategies offer promising avenues for the functional regulation of ORAI in research and may inspire innovative approaches to cancer therapy targeting ORAI.
Pituitary Suppression with Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone Agonist Prior to Artificial Endometrial Preparation in Frozen–Thawed Embryo Transfer Cycles: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Different Protocols and Infertile Populations
Authors: Ho Nguyen-Tuong , Ho Dang Khanh Ngan , Tomai Xuan Hong , Nguyen Nam Nhat , Nguyen Hung Song , Hu Yu-Ming , Kao Shu-Huei , Tzeng Chii-Ruey
Published: March 2024

This study investigates the effect of GnRHa pretreatment on pregnancy outcomes in artificial endometrial preparation for frozen–thawed embryo transfer (AC-FET) cycles. A systematic review of English language studies published before 1 September 2022, was conducted, excluding conference papers and preprints. Forty-one studies involving 43,021 participants were analyzed using meta-analysis, with a sensitivity analysis ensuring result robustness. The study found that GnRHa pretreatment generally improved the clinical pregnancy rate (CPR), implantation rate (IR), and live birth rate (LBR). However, discrepancies existed between randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and observational studies; RCTs showed no significant differences in outcomes for GnRHa-treated cycles. Depot GnRHa protocols outperformed daily regimens in LBR. Extended GnRHa pretreatment (two to five cycles) significantly improved CPR and IR compared to shorter treatment. Women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) saw substantial benefits from GnRHa pretreatment, including improved CPR and LBR and reduced miscarriage rates. In contrast, no significant benefits were observed in women with regular menstruation. More rigorous research is needed to solidify these findings.
Research Progress on the Application of Covalent Organic Framework Nanozymes in Analytical Chemistry
Authors: Yao Dongmei , Xia Ling , Li Gongke
Published: March 2024

Covalent organic frameworks (COFs) are porous crystals that have high designability and great potential in designing, encapsulating, and immobilizing nanozymes. COF nanozymes have also attracted extensive attention in analyte sensing and detection because of their abundant active sites, high enzyme-carrying capacity, and significantly improved stability. In this paper, we classify COF nanozymes into three types and review their characteristics and advantages. Then, the synthesis methods of these COF nanozymes are introduced, and their performances are compared in a list. Finally, the applications of COF nanozymes in environmental analysis, food analysis, medicine analysis, disease diagnosis, and treatment are reviewed. Furthermore, we also discuss the application prospects of COF nanozymes and the challenges they face.
Synthetic Cathinones: Epidemiology, Toxicity, Potential for Abuse, and Current Public Health Perspective
Authors: Chen Shanshan , Zhou Wenhua , Lai Miaojun
Published: March 2024

Synthetic cathinones, derived from cathinone found in the plant Catha edulis, represent the second largest and most frequently seized group of new psychoactive substances. They are considered as β-keto analogs of amphetamine, sharing pharmacological effects with amphetamine and cocaine. This review describes the neurotoxic properties of synthetic cathinones, encompassing their capacity to induce neuroinflammation, dysregulate neurotransmitter systems, and alter monoamine transporters and receptors. Additionally, it discusses the rewarding and abuse potential of synthetic cathinones drawing from findings obtained through various preclinical animal models, contextualized with other classical psychostimulants. The review also offers an overview of current abuse trends of synthetic cathinones on the illicit drug market, specifying the aspects covered, and underscores the risks they pose to public health. Finally, the review discusses public health initiatives and efforts to reduce the hazards of synthetic cathinones, including harm reduction methods, education, and current clinical management strategies.
Sources of Social Support and Trauma Recovery: Evidence for Bidirectional Associations from a Recently Trauma-Exposed Community Sample
Authors: Sippel Lauren M. , Liebman Rachel E. , Schäfer Sarah K. , Ennis Naomi , Mattern Alexandra C. , Rozek David C. , Monson Candice M.
Published: March 2024

Although the association between post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and social support is well documented, few studies have tested the causal pathways explaining this association at several points in the acute post-trauma recovery period or examined whether the association varies for different sources of social support. To address these gaps, 151 community individuals (mean age = 37.20 years, 69.5% women) exposed to trauma within the previous 6 months were recruited to complete measures of PTSD and social support from intimate partners, friends, and relatives four times in 1 year. In line with recent recommendations for research on social support and PTSD symptoms, random intercept cross-lagged panel modeling (RI-CLPM) was used to examine dynamic changes between PTSD severity and social support over time. The pattern of RI-CLPM cross-lagged coefficients indicated that positive deviations from one’s expected stable level of total social support (across all sources) sped up the recovery of PTSD symptoms at the end of the post-trauma year, and more severe PTSD symptoms than expected based on one’s expected stable level of PTSD started eroding social support midway through the assessment year. When specific sources of social support were analyzed separately, the association between within-person increases in social support from friends at any given time point accelerated the recovery from PTSD across the entire year. Among participants with intimate partners (n = 53), intimate partner support did not predict PTSD symptoms, but more severe PTSD symptoms at any given time point predicted less support at the following time point. Results from this longitudinal study provide additional support for the bidirectional relationship between PTSD and social support over time and suggest that perceived social support from friends may be especially helpful during trauma recovery.
Early Serum Markers for Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor Induced Hypophysitis in Melanoma Patients
Authors: Mitri Fouad , Machiraju Devayani , Naoum Christina , Hassel Jessica C.
Published: March 2024

Background: Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have shown promising anti-tumor activities and are widely used for the treatment of advanced cancers. However, they may lead to immune-related adverse events (irAEs) and some of them, such as hypophysitis, can be life-threatening. Here, early diagnosis is critical. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 40 melanoma patients who developed hypophysitis during ICI treatment with either ipilimumab and/or anti-PD1 therapy and compared them to 40 control patients who did not develop hypophysitis during the ICI treatment, matched for age, gender, type of immunotherapy, and stage. Clinical data and blood values such as LDH, CRP, TSH, T3, T4, and absolute immune cell counts were retrieved from the medical records. Patient characteristics, laboratory values, progression-free survival, and overall survival were compared between the two groups. Results: Patients with ir-hypophysitis had a median age of 59 years, and most of them were male. Clinically, frequent symptoms were fatigue, headache, dizziness, and gastrointestinal symptoms such as nausea or abdominal pain. The onset of ir-hypophysitis differed much between ipilimumab- (median 8 weeks) and anti-PD1 (median 40 weeks)-induced hypophysitis (p < 0.001). At baseline, besides a slightly increased CRP level (p = 0.06), no differences were observed in patients who later developed hypophysitis compared to the control. After treatment started, hypophysitis patients showed a constant and significant decline in T4 levels from the start of therapy until diagnosis (p < 0.05), independent of the ICI treatment regime. However, a decline in T3 and TSH was only noted in patients with ipilimumab-induced ir-hypophysitis. Furthermore, serum sodium levels declined rapidly at the diagnosis of hypophysitis (p < 0.001). In addition, there was a constant increase in the absolute counts of eosinophils and lymphocytes from baseline in hypophysitis patients (p < 0.05). Conclusion: Ir-hypophysitis reveals different clinical pictures and onset times depending on the ICI regime used. Whereas a drop in T4 levels was indicative of developing hypophysitis independent of the ICI regime, TSH levels only declined in patients under ipilimumab-based ICI regimes. To best monitor our patients, it is important to recognize these differences.
Cervical Cancer Associated with Pregnancy: Current Challenges and Future Strategies
Authors: Le Guévelou Jennifer , Selleret Lise , Laas Enora , Lecuru Fabrice , Kissel Manon
Published: March 2024

Cancer during pregnancy is defined as a tumor diagnosed in a pregnant woman or up to 1-year post-partum. While being a rare disease, cervical cancer is probably one of the most challenging medical conditions, with the dual stake of treating the cancer without compromising its chances for cure, while preserving the pregnancy and the health of the fetus and child. To date, guidelines for gynecological cancers are provided through international consensus meetings with expert panels, giving insights on both diagnosis, treatment, and obstetrical care. However, these expert guidelines do not discuss the various approaches than can be found within the literature, such as alternative staging modalities or innovative surgical approaches. Also, the obstetrical care of women diagnosed with cervical cancer during pregnancy requires specific considerations that are not provided within our current standard of care. This systematic review aims to fill the gap on current issues with regards to the management of cervical cancer during pregnancy and provide future directions within this evolving landscape.
NDRGs in Breast Cancer: A Review and In Silico Analysis
Authors: Villodre Emilly S. , Nguyen Anh P. N. , Debeb Bisrat G.
Published: March 2024

The N-myc downstream regulated gene family (NDRGs) includes four members: NDRG1, NDRG2, NDRG3, and NDRG4. These members exhibit 53–65% amino acid identity. The role of NDRGs in tumor growth and metastasis appears to be tumor- and context-dependent. While many studies have reported that these family members have tumor suppressive roles, recent studies have demonstrated that NDRGs, particularly NDRG1 and NDRG2, function as oncogenes, promoting tumor growth and metastasis. Additionally, NDRGs are involved in regulating different signaling pathways and exhibit diverse cellular functions in breast cancers. In this review, we comprehensively outline the oncogenic and tumor suppressor roles of the NDRG family members in breast cancer, examining evidence from in vitro and in vivo breast cancer models as well as tumor tissues from breast cancer patients. We also present analyses of publicly available genomic and transcriptomic data from multiple independent cohorts of breast cancer patients.
The Therapeutic Efficacy and Mechanism of Action of Gnetin C, a Natural Compound from the Melinjo Plant, in a Preclinical Mouse Model of Advanced Prostate Cancer
Authors: Campanelli Gisella , Francois Ekniel , Parupathi Prashanth , Devarakonda Lakshmi Sirisha , Yang Ching , Kumar Avinash , Levenson Anait S.
Published: March 2024

The metastasis-associated protein 1/protein kinase B (MTA1/AKT) signaling pathway has been shown to cooperate in promoting prostate tumor growth. Targeted interception strategies by plant-based polyphenols, specifically stilbenes, have shown great promise against MTA1-mediated prostate cancer progression. In this study, we employed a prostate-specific transgenic mouse model with MTA1 overexpression on the background of phosphatase and tensin homolog (Pten) null (R26MTA1; Ptenf/f) and PC3M prostate cancer cells which recapitulate altered molecular pathways in advanced prostate cancer. Mechanistically, the MTA1 knockdown or pharmacological inhibition of MTA1 by gnetin C (dimer resveratrol) in cultured PC3M cells resulted in the marked inactivation of mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling. In vivo, mice tolerated a daily intraperitoneal treatment of gnetin C (7 mg/kg bw) for 12 weeks without any sign of toxicity. Treatment with gnetin C markedly reduced cell proliferation and angiogenesis and promoted apoptosis in mice with advanced prostate cancer. Further, in addition to decreasing MTA1 levels in prostate epithelial cells, gnetin C significantly reduced mTOR signaling activity in prostate tissues, including the activity of mTOR-target proteins: p70 ribosomal protein S6 kinase (S6K) and eukaryotic translational initiation factor 4E (elF4E)-binding protein 1 (4EBP1). Collectively, these findings established gnetin C as a new natural compound with anticancer properties against MTA1/AKT/mTOR-activated prostate cancer, with potential as monotherapy and as a possible adjunct to clinically approved mTOR pathway inhibitors in the future.
CD99 Expression and Prognostic Impact in Glioblastoma: A Single-Center Cohort Study
Authors: Rocca Andrea , Giudici Fabiola , Donofrio Carmine Antonio , Bottin Cristina , Pinamonti Maurizio , Ferrari Benvenuto , Schettini Francesco , Pineda Estela , Panni Stefano , Cominetti Marika , D’Auria Patrizia , Bianchini Simonetta , Varotti Elena , Ungari Marco , Ciccarelli Stefano , Filippini Marzia , Brenna Sarah , Fiori Valentina , Di Mambro Tomas , Sparti Angelo , Magnani Mauro , Zanconati Fabrizio , Generali Daniele , Fioravanti Antonio
Published: March 2024

Glioblastoma is the most frequent and aggressive brain tumor in adults. This study aims to evaluate the expression and prognostic impact of CD99, a membrane glycoprotein involved in cellular migration and invasion. In a cohort of patients with glioblastoma treated with surgery, radiotherapy and temozolomide, we retrospectively analyzed tumor expression of CD99 by immunohistochemistry (IHC) and by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) for both the wild type (CD99wt) and the truncated (CD99sh) isoforms. The impact on overall survival (OS) was assessed with the Kaplan–Meier method and log-rank test and by multivariable Cox regression. Forty-six patients with glioblastoma entered this study. Immunohistochemical expression of CD99 was present in 83%. Only the CD99wt isoform was detected by qRT-PCR and was significantly correlated with CD99 expression evaluated by IHC (rho = 0.309, p = 0.037). CD99 expression was not associated with OS, regardless of the assessment methodology used (p = 0.61 for qRT-PCR and p = 0.73 for IHC). In an exploratory analysis of The Cancer Genome Atlas, casuistry of glioblastomas CD99 expression was not associated with OS nor with progression-free survival. This study confirms a high expression of CD99 in glioblastoma but does not show any significant impact on survival. Further preclinical studies are needed to define its role as a therapeutic target in glioblastoma.
The ZIKV NS5 Protein Aberrantly Alters the Tubulin Cytoskeleton, Induces the Accumulation of Autophagic p62 and Affects IFN Production: HDAC6 Has Emerged as an Anti-NS5/ZIKV Factor
Authors: Pérez-Yanes Silvia , Lorenzo-Sánchez Iria , Cabrera-Rodríguez Romina , García-Luis Jonay , Trujillo-González Rodrigo , Estévez-Herrera Judith , Valenzuela-Fernández Agustín
Published: March 2024

Zika virus (ZIKV) infection and pathogenesis are linked to the disruption of neurogenesis, congenital Zika syndrome and microcephaly by affecting neural progenitor cells. Nonstructural protein 5 (NS5) is the largest product encoded by ZIKV-RNA and is important for replication and immune evasion. Here, we studied the potential effects of NS5 on microtubules (MTs) and autophagy flux, together with the interplay of NS5 with histone deacetylase 6 (HDAC6). Fluorescence microscopy, biochemical cell-fractionation combined with the use of HDAC6 mutants, chemical inhibitors and RNA interference indicated that NS5 accumulates in nuclear structures and strongly promotes the acetylation of MTs that aberrantly reorganize in nested structures. Similarly, NS5 accumulates the p62 protein, an autophagic-flux marker. Therefore, NS5 alters events that are under the control of the autophagic tubulin-deacetylase HDAC6. HDAC6 appears to degrade NS5 by autophagy in a deacetylase- and BUZ domain-dependent manner and to control the cytoplasmic expression of NS5. Moreover, NS5 inhibits RNA-mediated RIG-I interferon (IFN) production, resulting in greater activity when autophagy is inhibited (i.e., effect correlated with NS5 stability). Therefore, it is conceivable that NS5 contributes to cell toxicity and pathogenesis, evading the IFN-immune response by overcoming HDAC6 functions. HDAC6 has emerged as an anti-ZIKV factor by targeting NS5.
A Pilot Feasibility Study on the Use of Dual-Joystick-Operated Ride-on Toys in Upper Extremity Rehabilitation for Children with Unilateral Cerebral Palsy
Authors: Srinivasan Sudha , Kumavor Patrick D. , Morgan Kristin
Published: March 2024

Children with unilateral cerebral palsy (UCP) require task-oriented practice several hours per week to produce meaningful gains in affected upper extremity (UE) motor function. Clinicians find it challenging to provide services at the required intensity and sustain child engagement. This pilot study assessed the acceptance and utility of a child-friendly program using dual-joystick-operated ride-on toys incorporated into an intensive UE rehabilitation camp. Eleven children with UCP between four and 10 years received ride-on-toy navigation training for 20–30 min/day, five days/week, for three weeks as part of camp programming. We report session adherence and percent time children spent in task-appropriate attention/engagement across sessions. The overall effects of camp programming on children’s motor function were assessed using the Shriner’s Hospital Upper Extremity Evaluation (SHUEE) from pretest to posttest and using training-specific measures of bimanual UE use and navigational accuracy. Children showed excellent adherence and sustained task-appropriate engagement across sessions. The combined program led to improved navigational accuracy (p-values ≤ 0.007) as well as spontaneous affected UE use during bimanual activities outside the training context (p < 0.001). Our pilot study provides promising evidence for using modified, commercially available ride-on toys to incentivize rehabilitation and boost repetitive, task-oriented UE practice among children with UCP.
Whole Blood as a Sample Matrix in Homogeneous Time-Resolved Assay—Förster Resonance Energy Transfer-Based Antibody Detection
Authors: Lintala Annika , Vapalahti Olli , Nousiainen Arttu , Kantele Anu , Hepojoki Jussi
Published: March 2024

The protein-L-utilizing Förster resonance energy transfer (LFRET) assay enables mix-and-read antibody detection, as demonstrated for sera from patients with, e.g., severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), Zika virus, and orthohantavirus infections. In this study, we compared paired serum and whole blood (WB) samples of COVID-19 patients and SARS-CoV-2 vaccine recipients. We found that LFRET also detects specific antibodies in WB samples. In 44 serum–WB pairs from patients with laboratory-confirmed COVID-19, LFRET showed a strong correlation between the sample materials. By analyzing 89 additional WB samples, totaling 133 WB samples, we found that LFRET results were moderately correlated with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay results for samples collected 2 to 14 months after receiving COVID-19 diagnosis. However, the correlation decreased for samples >14 months after receiving a diagnosis. When comparing the WB LFRET results to neutralizing antibody titers, a strong correlation emerged for samples collected 1 to 14 months after receiving a diagnosis. This study also highlights the versatility of LFRET in detecting antibodies directly from WB samples and suggests that it could be employed for rapidly assessing antibody responses to infectious agents or vaccines.
Arterial Calcification Disappearance in Breast Imaging: A Key Indicator for Transition to Invasive Ductal Carcinoma
Authors: Sato Arisa , Fujioka Tomoyuki , Onishi Iichiroh , Yamaga Emi , Katsuta Leona , Kubota Kazunori , Kumaki Yuichi , Ishiba Toshiyuki , Oda Goshi , Tateishi Ukihide
Published: March 2024

A woman in her 70s, initially suspected of having fibroadenoma due to a well-defined mass in her breast, underwent regular mammography and ultrasound screenings. Over several years, no appreciable alterations in the mass were observed, maintaining the fibroadenoma diagnosis. However, in the fourth year, an ultrasound indicated slight enlargement and peripheral irregularities in the mass, even though the mammography images at that time showed no alterations. Interestingly, mammography images over time showed the gradual disappearance of previously observed arterial calcification around the mass. Pathological examination eventually identified the mass as invasive ductal carcinoma. Although the patient had breast tissue arterial calcification typical of atherosclerosis, none was present around the tumor-associated arteries. This case highlights the importance of monitoring arterial calcification changes in mammography, suggesting that they are crucial indicators in breast cancer diagnosis, beyond observing size and shape alterations.
Characterisation and Outcomes of Patients with Solid Organ Malignancies Admitted to the Intensive Care Unit: Mortality and Impact on Functional Status and Oncological Treatment
Authors: García de Herreros Marta , Laguna Juan Carlos , Padrosa Joan , Barreto Tanny Daniela , Chicote Manoli , Font Carme , Grafiá Ignacio , Llavata Lucía , Seguí Elia , Tuca Albert , Viladot Margarita , Zamora-Martínez Carles , Fernández-Méndez Sara , Téllez Adrián , Nicolás Josep Maria , Prat Aleix , Castro-Rebollo Pedro , Marco-Hernández Javier
Published: March 2024

Background: Despite the increasing number of ICU admissions among patients with solid tumours, there is a lack of tools with which to identify patients who may benefit from critical support. We aim to characterize the clinical profile and outcomes of patients with solid malignancies admitted to the ICU. Methods: Retrospective observational study of patients with cancer non-electively admitted to the ICU of the Hospital Clinic of Barcelona (Spain) between January 2019 and December 2019. Data regarding patient and neoplasm characteristics, ICU admission features and outcomes were collected from medical records. Results: 97 ICU admissions of 84 patients were analysed. Lung cancer (22.6%) was the most frequent neoplasm. Most of the patients had metastatic disease (79.5%) and were receiving oncological treatment (75%). The main reason for ICU admission was respiratory failure (38%). Intra-ICU and in-hospital mortality rates were 9.4% and 24%, respectively. Mortality rates at 1, 3 and 6 months were 19.6%, 36.1% and 53.6%. Liver metastasis, gastrointestinal cancer, hypoalbuminemia, elevated basal C-reactive protein, ECOG-PS greater than 2 at ICU admission, admission from ward and an APACHE II score over 14 were related to higher mortality. Functional status was severely affected at discharge, and oncological treatment was definitively discontinued in 40% of the patients. Conclusion: Medium-term mortality and functional deterioration of patients with solid cancers non-electively admitted to the ICU are high. Surrogate markers of cachexia, liver metastasis and poor ECOG-PS at ICU admission are risk factors for mortality.
Adaptive Space-Aware Infotaxis II as a Strategy for Odor Source Localization
Authors: Liu Shiqi , Zhang Yan , Fan Shurui
Published: March 2024

Mobile robot olfaction of toxic and hazardous odor sources is of great significance in anti-terrorism, disaster prevention, and control scenarios. Aiming at the problems of low search efficiency and easily falling into a local optimum of the current odor source localization strategies, the paper proposes the adaptive space-aware Infotaxis II algorithm. To improve the tracking efficiency of robots, a new reward function is designed by considering the space information and emphasizing the exploration behavior of robots. Considering the enhancement in exploratory behavior, an adaptive navigation-updated mechanism is proposed to adjust the movement range of robots in real time through information entropy to avoid an excessive exploration behavior during the search process, which may lead the robot to fall into a local optimum. Subsequently, an improved adaptive cosine salp swarm algorithm is applied to confirm the optimal information adaptive parameter. Comparative simulation experiments between ASAInfotaxis II and the classical search strategies are carried out in 2D and 3D scenarios regarding the search efficiency and search behavior, which show that ASAInfotaxis II is competent to improve the search efficiency to a larger extent and achieves a better balance between exploration and exploitation behaviors.
Does Entrepreneurship Education Deliver? A Review of Entrepreneurship Education University Programmes in the UK
Authors: Rogers-Draycott Matthew , Bozward David , Smith Kelly , Mave Mokuba , Curtis Vic , Maragh Dean
Published: March 2024

The student is a consumer of education and is motivated by their graduate outcomes. Entrepreneurship provides the opportunity for substantially greater graduate outcomes, but does it deliver? This paper reviews the undergraduate bachelor Entrepreneurship Education Programmes (EEPs) offered by universities in the UK. It explores the active and engaged approaches to learning through the module themes offered and considers the challenges of using routinely collected data to understand the impact of these programmes. By using data which is publicly available, we build a national viewpoint on the subjects that lead to greater continuation, student satisfaction and earning potential. The results of this study provide five key insights about EEPs. First, they focus mainly on entrepreneurship but lack a high proportion of entrepreneurship-specific modules. Comparative analysis with other disciplines is needed for context. Second, the number of entrepreneurship modules generally increases throughout the programme, but researchers face challenges such as ambiguous module naming. Third, EEP students show lower satisfaction than those studying for other business degrees, indicating a potential impact of unique pedagogies. Fourth, higher EEP continuation rates are not evident, although this may be mitigated by more selective entry requirements. Finally, EEP graduates have higher employability rates than their business degree counterparts but lower initial earnings, reflecting their entrepreneurial career paths. From this work, we identified a range of calls for further research and suggestions for practice.
Enhancing Crowd-Sourced Video Sharing through P2P-Assisted HTTP Video Streaming
Authors: Geng Jieran , Fujita Satoshi
Published: March 2024

This paper introduces a decentralized architecture designed for the sharing and distribution of user-generated video streams. The proposed system employs HTTP Live Streaming (HLS) as the delivery method for these video streams. In the architecture, a creator who captures a video stream using a smartphone camera subsequently transcodes it into a sequence of video chunks called HLS segments. These chunks are then stored in a distributed manner across the worker network, forming the core of the proposed architecture. Despite the presence of a coordinator for bootstrapping within the worker network, the selection of worker nodes for storing generated video chunks and autonomous load balancing among worker nodes are conducted in a decentralized fashion, eliminating the need for central servers. The worker network is implemented using the Golang-based IPFS (InterPlanetary File System) client, called kubo, leveraging essential IPFS functionalities such as node identification through Kademlia-DHT and message exchange using Bitswap. Beyond merely delivering stored video streams, the worker network can also amalgamate multiple streams to create a new composite stream. This bundling of multiple video streams into a unified video stream is executed on the worker nodes, making effective use of the FFmpeg library. To enhance download efficiency, parallel downloading with multiple threads is employed for retrieving the video stream from the worker network to the requester, thereby reducing download time. The result of the experiments conducted on the prototype system indicates that those concerned with the transmission time of the requested video streams compared with a server-based system using AWS exhibit a significant advantage, particularly evident in the case of low-resolution video streams, and this advantage becomes more pronounced as the stream length increases. Furthermore, it demonstrates a clear advantage in scenarios characterized by a substantial volume of viewing requests.