bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Anti-inflammatory effects of sericin and swimming exercise in treating experimental Achilles tendinopathy in rat
Authors: Gundogdu Koksal , Kılıc Erkek Ozgen , Gundogdu Gulsah , Sayin Dilek , Abban Mete Gulcin
Published: January 2024

The aim of this study was to assess the effectiveness of combining sericin with swimming exercise as a treatment for type-I collagenase-induced Achilles tendinopathy (AT) in rats, with a focus on inflammatory cytokines. An experimental AT model was established using type-I collagenase in male Sprague–Dawley rats, categorized into five groups: Group 1 (Control + Saline), Group 2 (AT), Group 3 (AT + exercise), Group 4 (AT + sericin), and Group 5 (AT + sericin + exercise). Intratendinous sericin administration (0.8 g/kg/mL) took place from days 3 to 6, coupled with 30 min daily swimming exercise sessions (5 days/week, 4 weeks). Serum samples were analyzed using ELISA for tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β), interleukin-10 (IL-10), and total antioxidant-oxidant status (TAS-TOS), alongside histopathological and immunohistochemical assessments of Achilles tendon samples. Elevated TNF-α and IL-1β and decreased IL-10 levels were evident in Group 2; Of these, TNF-α and IL-1β were effectively reduced and IL-10 increased across all treatment groups, particularly groups 4 and 5. Serum TAS was notably lower in Group 2 and significantly increased in Group 5 compared to Group 2. Histopathologically, Group 2 displayed severe degeneration, irregular fibers, and round cell nuclei, while Group 5 exhibited decreased degeneration and spindle-shaped fibers. The Bonar score increased in Group 2 and decreased in groups 4 and 5. Collagen type-I alpha-1 (Col1A1) expression was notably lower in Group 2 ( P = 0.001) and significantly increased in groups 4 and 5 compared to Group 2 ( P = 0.011 and 0.028, respectively). This study underscores the potential of sericin and swimming exercises in mitigating inflammation and oxidative stress linked to AT pathogenesis, presenting a promising combined therapeutic strategy.
Impact of decimal power potential and screened in the isotope of platinum spectra
Authors: Fouda Fouda A. B. , Zarma A. , Ngoubi H. , Ahmadou K. , Ele Abiama P. , Ben-Bolie G. H.
Published: January 2024

In this work, the impact of screened and decimal potential to the energy spectra and eigenfunctions associated with these energies is investigated in the case of specific, triaxial platinum isotope nuclei namely: [Formula: see text]Pt, [Formula: see text]Pt and [Formula: see text]Pt for numerical results and the plotting of the curves of the potential. To better do this work, we rely on the Extended Nikiforov–Uvarov method and general Heun equation using the Bohr Hamiltonian operator in the presence of a modified fractional Kratzer screened potential. Our calculated energies and associated wave functions here take into account the screening factor and decimal power of potential term. We discuss steeply the impact of the screened parameter k on the spectra of the quantum energies. The results obtained and their transition are closer to the experimental values than those of other researchers with whom we made the comparison. We prove that the power of decimal term influences well the energy. At this stage, the nucleons of nucleus remain at the bottom of the potential. Consequently, there follows a great stability of the nucleus atomic by improving or reducing the decimal power term contained in the potential, one obtained with great instability, that can lead to other atomic phenomena like radioactivity.
Polarization-encoded 3D structured light and multifocal spot arrays generation based on metasurface
Authors: Zhao Jiaqi , Ge Suyang , Li Yingbo , Liu Zilei , Yang Weihua , Li Siqi
Published: January 2024

Fluorescence microscopy possesses the advantages of high resolution, high sensitivity, molecular specificity and noninvasiveness, providing an important tool in life science research. The multifocal array and 3D structured light are two kinds of important light fields that are often used in scanning fluorescence microscopy systems and wide-field fluorescence microscopy systems. However, traditional methods for generating multifocal arrays and 3D structured light illumination rely on various bulk optical components, making it challenging to achieve compact optical systems. Besides, generating these two types of illumination typically requires two separate and independent optical systems, hindering the integration of different types of fluorescence microscopy systems. Here, a dielectric metasurface is proposed that can achieve the switching between multifocal arrays and 3D structured light through polarization state modulation, greatly simplifying the illumination optics of fluorescence microscopy systems and facilitating the integration of different types of fluorescence microscopy systems.
RESEARCH ON THE K-DIMENSION OF THE SUM OF TWO CONTINUOUS FUNCTIONS AND ITS APPLICATION
Authors: CAO Y. X. , LIU N. , LIANG Y. S.
Published: January 2024

In this paper, we have done some research studies on the fractal dimension of the sum of two continuous functions with different [Formula: see text]-dimensions and approximation of [Formula: see text]-dimensional fractal functions. We first investigate the [Formula: see text]-dimension of the linear combination of fractal function whose [Formula: see text]-dimension is [Formula: see text] and the function satisfying Lipschitz condition is still [Formula: see text]-dimensional. Then, based on the research of fractal term and the Weierstrass approximation theorem, an approximation of the [Formula: see text]-dimensional continuous function is given, which is composed of finite triangular series and partial Weierstrass function. In addition, some preliminary results on the approximation of one-dimensional and two-dimensional fractal continuous functions have been given.
ON THE ASYMPTOTIC STABILITY OF A NEW FRACTIONAL-ORDER SLIDING MODE CONTROL WITH APPLICATION TO ROBOTIC SYSTEMS
Authors: ABDELHEDI FATMA , KHLIF RIM JALLOULI , NOURI AHMED SAID , DERBEL NABIL
Published: January 2024

This paper presents an advanced control strategy based on Fractional-Order Sliding Mode Control (FO-SMC), which introduces a robust solution to significantly improve the reliability of robotic manipulator systems and increase its control performance. The proposed FO-SMC strategy includes a two-key term-based Fractional Sliding Function (FSF) that presents the main contribution of this work. Additionally, a fractional-order-based Lyapunov stability analysis is developed for a class of nonlinear systems to guarantee the asymptotic stability of the closed loop system. Four FSF-based versions of the designed FO-SMC are studied and discussed. Various scenarios of the proposed control strategy are tested on a 3-degree-of-freedom SCARA robotic arm and compared to recent FO-SMC works, demonstrating the effectiveness of the new proposed control strategy to (i) ensure the asymptotic stability, (ii) achieve a smooth start-up, (iii) cancel the static error, giving a good tracking trajectory, and (iv) reduce the control torques, yielding a consumed energy minimization.
Kv7 channel activation reduces brain endothelial cell permeability and prevents kainic acid-induced blood-brain barrier damage
Authors: Celentano Camilla , Carotenuto Lidia , Miceli Francesco , Carleo Giusy , Corrado Brunella , Baroli Giulia , Iervolino Stefania , Vecchione Raffaele , Taglialatela Maurizio , Barrese Vincenzo
Published: January 2024

This study describes for the first time the expression and the functional role of Kv7 potassium channels in the blood-brain barrier. We show that the opening of Kv7 channels reduces endothelial cell permeability both in physiological and pathological conditions via the hyperpolarization of cell membrane and the sealing of tight junctions. Therefore, activation of endothelial Kv7 channels might be a useful strategy to treat epilepsy and other neurological disorders characterized by blood-brain barrier dysfunction.
FPT-Former: A Flexible Parallel Transformer of Recognizing Depression by Using Audiovisual Expert-Knowledge-Based Multimodal Measures
Authors: Li Yifu , Yang Xueping , Zhao Meng , Wang Zihao , Yao Yudong , Qian Wei , Qi Shouliang
Published: January 2024

Background and Objective. Currently, depression is a widespread global issue that imposes a significant burden and disability on individuals, families, and society. Deep learning (DL) has emerged as a valuable approach for automatically detecting depression by extracting cues from audiovisual data and making a diagnosis. PHQ-8 is considered a validated diagnostic tool for depressive disorders in clinical studies, and the objective of this experiment is to improve the accuracy of PHQ-8 prediction. Furthermore, this paper aims to demonstrate the effectiveness of expert knowledge in depression diagnosis and discuss a novel multimodal network architecture. Methods. This research paper focuses on multimodal depression analysis, proposing a flexible parallel transformer (FPT) model capable of extracting data from three distinct modalities (i.e., one video and two audio descriptors). The FPT-Former model incorporates three paths, each using expert-knowledge-based descriptors from one modality as inputs. These descriptors are represented into 32 features by the encoder part of a transformer module, and these features are fused to realize the final regression of PHQ-8 score. The extended distress analysis interview corpus (E-DAIC) is an expansion of WOZ-DAIC which comprises semiclinical interviews intended to assist in the diagnosis of psychological distress conditions. It encompasses a sample size of 275 participants, and in this study, it was utilized to test the model in a way of 10-fold cross-validation. Results. The FPT presented herein achieved comparable performance to the state-of-the-art works, with a root mean square error (RMSE) of 4.80 and a mean absolute error (MAE) of 4.58. The ablation experiments demonstrate that the three-modality-fused model outperforms other two-modality-fused and single-modality models. While using a PHQ-8 score threshold of 10, the accuracy of the depression classification is 0.79. Conclusions. Leveraging the strength of expert-knowledge-based multimodal measures and parallel transformer structure, the FPT model exhibits promising performance in depression detection. This model improved the accuracy of depression diagnosis through audio and video, and it also proved the effectiveness of using expert-knowledge in the diagnosis of depression. The traits of flexible structure, high predictive efficiency, and secure privacy protection make our model a promotable intelligent system in mental healthcare.
Experimental Study on Water Reduction Modification and Efficient Utilization of Coal‐Based Solid Waste Slurry
Authors: Ma Chengwei , Xuan Dayang , Xu Jialin , Li Jian
Published: January 2024

Unreasonable treatment of coal‐based solid waste and coal mining damage are important factors that cause negative environmental effects. Overburden isolated grouting, a green mining method, can realize solid waste emission reduction and coal mine impairment mining. Fluidity and economy are important indices to measure the performance of slurry. Although fly ash slurry with a high water‒cement ratio has good fluidity, it is wasteful in terms of water resources, the filling efficiency is low, and tectonic complexity affects its safe production; similarly, gangue powder slurry has good fluidity but comes with a high cost and complex implementation. Here, the relationship between fluidity and water‒cement ratio in fly ash and gangue powder slurries was studied experimentally; the effects of particle size and dosage of gangue powder and polycarboxylic acid water reducer on the water consumption of fly ash slurry preparation were analyzed. Our results show that the fluidities of fly ash and gangue powder slurries increased with increasing water‒cement ratios under laboratory conditions; the fluidity of gangue powder slurry was much higher than that of fly ash slurry under the same water‒cement ratio and particle size conditions. When 50% gangue powder with particle sizes of 40‒45, 50‒55, 60‒70, and 70‒80 mesh was added to make composite slurries, the water reduction rate of fly ash slurry was 20%, 31%, 34%, and 36%, respectively. Adding a 1% polycarboxylic acid water reducer on top of the effect of the gangue powder gave comprehensive water reduction rates of 29%, 44%, 49%, and 53%, respectively. The critical particle size of gangue powder in the fly ash slurry to achieve stable suspension was 0.27‒0.33 mm; when this was exceeded, the precipitation speed accelerated, and the water reduction rate reduced. A flocculation structure exists in fly ash and composite slurries, and the water reducer can breakdown this flocculation structure, increase the proportion of free water, and improve the fluidity of the resultant slurry. This high‐efficiency utilization method of coal‐based solid waste modified by water reduction can improve the utilization efficiency of coal‐based solid waste and improve the effect and safety of grout‐filling technology.
How Do We Treat Children with Anterior Cutaneous Nerve Entrapment Syndrome and Is the Biopsychosocial Model Also Being Applied? A Scoping Review
Authors: Top Anke P. C. , de Leeuw Thomas G. , Bramer Wichor M. , de Mol Bernadette C. M. , Huygen Frank J. P. M. , Dirckx Maaike
Published: January 2024

Background. Evidence-based guidelines for managing anterior cutaneous nerve entrapment syndrome (ACNES) in children are absent. The primary aim of this review was to scrutinize the evidence supporting currently used treatment interventions. In accordance with the World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines for managing chronic pain in children, these patients and their families and caregivers should be treated within the context of the biopsychosocial model; pain should not be treated purely as a biomedical problem. Therefore, our second aim was to evaluate whether these interventions are applied within the context of the biopsychosocial model, utilizing an inter- or multidisciplinary approach. Materials and Methods. A scoping review of the literature was conducted to explore treatment strategies for ACNES in children. To ensure a comprehensive overview of published literature on this topic, the search was not restricted based on study type. Two reviewers independently assessed titles and abstracts. After excluding records unrelated to children, full texts were screened for inclusion. Any discrepancies in judgement were resolved through discussion with a third reviewer. Results. Out of 35 relevant titles, 22 were included in this review. Only 4 articles provided information on long-term outcomes. The overall quality of the review was deemed low. The majority of reports did not address treatment or education within the psychological and social domains. A structural qualitative analysis was not feasible due to the substantial heterogeneity of the data. Conclusion. The evidence supporting current treatment strategies in children with ACNES is of low quality. More research is needed to establish an evidence-based treatment algorithm for patients with this challenging pain problem. In line with the WHO recommendation, greater emphasis should be placed on a biopsychosocial approach. The ultimate goal should be the development of a generic treatment algorithm outlining an approach to ACNES applicable to all professionals involved.
Nurse Managers’ Authentic Leadership and their Relationship with Work Engagement among Registered Nurses
Authors: Assi Hazar , Rayan Ahmad , Eshah Nidal Fareed , Albashtawy Mohammed , Al-Ghabeesh Suhair Hussni
Published: January 2024

Reports have highlighted the role of supportive work environments in several nurse outcome measures, indicating a need for effective leadership styles that improve the nurse working environment. Authentic leadership is a relatively new concept in Arab work culture. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between authentic leadership demonstrated by nurse managers and work engagement among Jordanian registered nurses. A cross-sectional correlational design was employed. A sample of 238 registered nurses working in a public hospital in Jordan was collected. Data collection was performed by using the staff demographics questionnaire, the authentic leadership questionnaire (ALQ), and the Utrecht Work Engagement Scale (UWES)-17 items. Descriptive statistics, independent samples t-tests, one-way ANOVA, Pearson correlation, and hierarchical multiple regression analysis were employed to analyze the data. The results showed a statistically significant positive correlation between authentic leadership and work engagement in the hierarchical regression analysis (B = 0.34, t = 5.54, p<0.001). After controlling demographic variables, authentic leadership accounted for 11% of the additional variance above and beyond the 5% accounted for age, educational level, and work experience (change of R2 = 0.11, p<0.01). Nurses whose managers demonstrate higher levels of authentic leadership report more work engagement (r = 0.37, p<0.001). Considering the role of authentic leadership in promoting nurses’ work engagement, it would be beneficial to develop authentic leadership behaviors for nurse managers.
Tumor Cell–Intrinsic p38 MAPK Signaling Promotes IL1α-Mediated Stromal Inflammation and Therapeutic Resistance in Pancreatic Cancer
Authors: Singh Samara P. , Dosch Austin R. , Mehra Siddharth , De Castro Silva Iago , Bianchi Anna , Garrido Vanessa T. , Zhou Zhiqun , Adams Andrew , Amirian Haleh , Box Edmond W. , Sun Xiaodian , Ban Yuguang , Datta Jashodeep , Nagathihalli Nagaraj S. , Merchant Nipun B.
Published: January 2024

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is characterized by a KRAS-driven inflammatory program and a desmoplastic stroma, which contribute to the profoundly chemoresistant phenotype. The tumor stroma contains an abundance of cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAF), which engage in extensive paracrine cross-talk with tumor cells to perpetuate protumorigenic inflammation. IL1α, a pleiotropic, tumor cell–derived cytokine, plays a critical role in shaping the stromal landscape. To provide insights into the molecular mechanisms regulating IL1A expression in PDAC, we performed transcriptional profiling of The Cancer Genome Atlas datasets and pharmacologic screening in PDAC cells and identified p38α MAPK as a key positive regulator of IL1A expression. Both genetic and pharmacologic inhibition of p38 MAPK significantly diminished IL1α production in vitro. Chromatin- and coimmunoprecipitation analyses revealed that p38 MAPK coordinates the transcription factors Sp1 and the p65 subunit of NFκB to drive IL1A overexpression. Single-cell RNA sequencing of a highly desmoplastic murine PDAC model, Ptf1aCre/+; LSL-KrasG12D/+; Tgfbr2flox/flox (PKT), confirmed that p38 MAPK inhibition significantly decreases tumor cell–derived Il1a and attenuates the inflammatory CAF phenotype in a paracrine IL1α-dependent manner. Furthermore, p38 MAPK inhibition favorably modulated intratumoral immunosuppressive myeloid populations and augmented chemotherapeutic efficacy to substantially reduce tumor burden and improve overall survival in PKT mice. These findings illustrate a cellular mechanism of tumor cell–intrinsic p38-p65/Sp1-IL1α signaling that is responsible for sustaining stromal inflammation and CAF activation, offering an attractive therapeutic approach to enhance chemosensitivity in PDAC.

Significance:

Inhibition of p38 MAPK suppresses tumor cell–derived IL1α and attenuates the inflammatory stroma and immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment to overcome chemotherapeutic resistance in pancreatic cancer.
Associations between Plasma Tocopherols and Lung Cancer Risk: Results from the Southern Community Cohort Study
Authors: Yoon Hyung-Suk , Wu Jie , Shidal Chris , Sun Yan , Franke Adrian A. , Yang Jae Jeong , Braithwaite Dejana , Courtney Regina , Cai Hui , Blot William J. , Shu Xiao-Ou , Zheng Wei , Cai Qiuyin
Published: January 2024

Background:

Despite the various anticancer activities of tocopherols, little is known about tocopherols associated with lung cancer risk among low-income African Americans (AA) and European Americans (EA) who are disproportionately affected by the disease.

Methods:

We conducted a nested case–control study that included 209 incident lung cancer cases and 406 matched controls within the Southern Community Cohort Study. Using biospecimens collected at cohort enrollment, plasma levels of α-, β/γ-, δ-, and total-tocopherols were measured by high-performance liquid chromatography with photodiode array detection. Conditional logistic regression was used to estimate ORs and 95% confidence intervals (CI) for lung cancer risk after adjusting for potential confounders. Stratified analyses were also conducted.

Results:

Plasma levels of total-tocopherols were inversely associated with lung cancer risk overall [OR (95% CI) for the highest vs. lowest tertile = 0.51 (0.30–0.90)]. The inverse association remained significant among EAs [0.20 (0.06–0.65)], men [0.43 (0.21–0.90)], current smokers [0.49 (0.26–0.93)], and cases diagnosed within 2 years of blood draw [0.36 (0.15–0.86)], though we did not find a significant risk reduction among AAs [0.75 (0.39–1.45)]. Notably, we found significant interactions between α-tocopherol and race after controlling the FDR to correct for multiple comparisons (Pinteraction = 0.02).

Conclusions:

Our results indicate that plasma total-tocopherols are inversely associated with lung cancer risk, but the association may differ across specific isomeric forms of tocopherols, race, or other individuals’ characteristics. Further large-scale studies are warranted to confirm our findings.

Impact:

Recommendations on tocopherols for lung cancer prevention should take isomers, race, and smoking behaviors into consideration.
Semi-Supervised, Attention-Based Deep Learning for Predicting TMPRSS2:ERG Fusion Status in Prostate Cancer Using Whole Slide Images
Authors: Omar Mohamed , Xu Zhuoran , Rand Sophie B. , Alexanderani Mohammad K. , Salles Daniela C. , Valencia Itzel , Schaeffer Edward M. , Robinson Brian D. , Lotan Tamara L. , Loda Massimo , Marchionni Luigi
Published: January 2024

Prostate cancer harbors several genetic alterations, the most prevalent of which is TMPRSS2:ERG gene fusion, affecting nearly half of all cases. Capitalizing on the increasing availability of whole-slide images (WSI), this study introduces a deep learning (DL) model designed to detect TMPRSS2:ERG fusion from H&E-stained WSIs of radical prostatectomy specimens. Leveraging the TCGA prostate adenocarcinoma cohort, which comprises 436 WSIs from 393 patients, we developed a robust DL model, trained across 10 different splits, each consisting of distinct training, validation, and testing sets. The model's best performance achieved an AUC of 0.84 during training, and 0.72 on the TCGA test set. This model was subsequently validated on an independent cohort comprising 314 WSIs from a different institution, in which it has a robust performance at predicting TMPRSS2:ERG fusion with an AUC of 0.73. Importantly, the model identifies highly-attended tissue regions associated with TMPRSS2:ERG fusion, characterized by higher neoplastic cell content and altered immune and stromal profiles compared with fusion-negative cases. Multivariate survival analysis revealed that these morphologic features correlate with poorer survival outcomes, independent of Gleason grade and tumor stage. This study underscores the potential of DL in deducing genetic alterations from routine slides and identifying their underlying morphologic features, which might harbor prognostic information.

Implications:

Our study illuminates the potential of deep learning in effectively inferring key prostate cancer genetic alterations from the tissue morphology depicted in routinely available histology slides, offering a cost-effective method that could revolutionize diagnostic strategies in oncology.
TABLE 1 from Maternal Embryonic Leucine Zipper Kinase is Associated with Metastasis in Triple-negative Breast Cancer
Authors: Xie Xuemei , Chauhan Gaurav B. , Edupuganti Ramakrishna , Kogawa Takahiro , Park Jihyun , Tacam Moises , Tan Alex W. , Mughees Mohd , Vidhu Fnu , Liu Diane D. , Taliaferro Juliana M. , Pitner Mary Kathryn , Browning Luke S. , Lee Ju-Hyeon , Bertucci François , Shen Yu , Wang Jian , Ueno Naoto T. , Krishnamurthy Savitri , Hortobagyi Gabriel N. , Tripathy Debu , Van Laere Steven J. , Bartholomeusz Geoffrey , Dalby Kevin N. , Bartholomeusz Chandra
Published: January 2024

Clinicopathologic characteristics of patients in the World IBC Consortium dataset whose data were used for our analysis (n = 314)
Supplementary Materials and Methods from Maternal Embryonic Leucine Zipper Kinase is Associated with Metastasis in Triple-negative Breast Cancer
Authors: Xie Xuemei , Chauhan Gaurav B. , Edupuganti Ramakrishna , Kogawa Takahiro , Park Jihyun , Tacam Moises , Tan Alex W. , Mughees Mohd , Vidhu Fnu , Liu Diane D. , Taliaferro Juliana M. , Pitner Mary Kathryn , Browning Luke S. , Lee Ju-Hyeon , Bertucci François , Shen Yu , Wang Jian , Ueno Naoto T. , Krishnamurthy Savitri , Hortobagyi Gabriel N. , Tripathy Debu , Van Laere Steven J. , Bartholomeusz Geoffrey , Dalby Kevin N. , Bartholomeusz Chandra
Published: January 2024

Supplementary Materials and Methods
Supplementary Figure S3 from Maternal Embryonic Leucine Zipper Kinase is Associated with Metastasis in Triple-negative Breast Cancer
Authors: Xie Xuemei , Chauhan Gaurav B. , Edupuganti Ramakrishna , Kogawa Takahiro , Park Jihyun , Tacam Moises , Tan Alex W. , Mughees Mohd , Vidhu Fnu , Liu Diane D. , Taliaferro Juliana M. , Pitner Mary Kathryn , Browning Luke S. , Lee Ju-Hyeon , Bertucci François , Shen Yu , Wang Jian , Ueno Naoto T. , Krishnamurthy Savitri , Hortobagyi Gabriel N. , Tripathy Debu , Van Laere Steven J. , Bartholomeusz Geoffrey , Dalby Kevin N. , Bartholomeusz Chandra
Published: January 2024

Supplementary Figure S3. Top 20 master regulators that were differentially expressed in Cas9-p15 control and MELK knockout (KO) MDA-NB-231 cells.
Supplementary Figure S1 from Maternal Embryonic Leucine Zipper Kinase is Associated with Metastasis in Triple-negative Breast Cancer
Authors: Xie Xuemei , Chauhan Gaurav B. , Edupuganti Ramakrishna , Kogawa Takahiro , Park Jihyun , Tacam Moises , Tan Alex W. , Mughees Mohd , Vidhu Fnu , Liu Diane D. , Taliaferro Juliana M. , Pitner Mary Kathryn , Browning Luke S. , Lee Ju-Hyeon , Bertucci François , Shen Yu , Wang Jian , Ueno Naoto T. , Krishnamurthy Savitri , Hortobagyi Gabriel N. , Tripathy Debu , Van Laere Steven J. , Bartholomeusz Geoffrey , Dalby Kevin N. , Bartholomeusz Chandra
Published: January 2024

Figure S1. Inhibitory effect of treatment with MELK-In-17 on the expression of epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition markers in murine 4T1 triple-negative breast cancer cells.
FIGURE 3 from Maternal Embryonic Leucine Zipper Kinase is Associated with Metastasis in Triple-negative Breast Cancer
Authors: Xie Xuemei , Chauhan Gaurav B. , Edupuganti Ramakrishna , Kogawa Takahiro , Park Jihyun , Tacam Moises , Tan Alex W. , Mughees Mohd , Vidhu Fnu , Liu Diane D. , Taliaferro Juliana M. , Pitner Mary Kathryn , Browning Luke S. , Lee Ju-Hyeon , Bertucci François , Shen Yu , Wang Jian , Ueno Naoto T. , Krishnamurthy Savitri , Hortobagyi Gabriel N. , Tripathy Debu , Van Laere Steven J. , Bartholomeusz Geoffrey , Dalby Kevin N. , Bartholomeusz Chandra
Published: January 2024

Inhibitory effect of MELK-In-17 on anchorage-independent growth, motility, CSC properties, and EMT transition in TNBC cells. A–D, MELK-In-17 inhibited anchorage-independent growth (A), suppressed migration and invasion (B), reduced mammosphere formation (C), and reduced CD44+/CD24− and ALDH1+ CSC subpopulations (D) in TNBC cells. In A, the anchorage-independent growth was determined using a soft-agar assay at week 3 following treatment. In B, cells were pretreated with MELK-In-17 for 2 hours and then assayed for migration and invasion in the presence of MELK-In-17. In C, cells were seeded for mammosphere formation and the next day treated with MELK-In-17. In D, cells were treated with MELK-In-17 for 48 hours and then subjected to flow cytometry analysis. E, Western blot analysis of the effects of treatment with MELK-In-17 on the expression of EMT markers. α-Tubulin was used as a loading control. Band intensity of proteins is normalized to that of α-Tubulin. In A–C, data are presented as mean ± SD. *, P < 0.05; **, P < 0.01; ***, P < 0.001; ****, P < 0.0001.
Risk Factors for Medial and Intimal Intracranial Internal Carotid Artery Calcification in Men and Women with Cardiovascular Disease: The UCC-SMART Study
Authors: Lucci Carlo , Rissanen Ina , van den Beukel Tim C. , Takx Richard , de Jong Pim A. , Hendrikse Jeroen , Geerlings Mirjam I. ,   on behalf of the UCC-SMART study group
Published: January 2024

Introduction: Calcifications of the intracranial internal carotid artery (iICA) can lead to an increased risk for stroke. Two types of iICA calcification are known: those affecting the tunica intima or the tunica media. In extracranial arteries, risk factors and calcification patterns are different in women and men, but little is known regarding the iICA. In this study, we aimed to identify sex-specific risk profiles and medications associated to intimal and medial iICA calcification in patients with cardiovascular disease (CVD). Methods: Participants of the UCC-SMART cohort undergoing a non-contrast head CT within 6 months from the study inclusion were considered (n = 475). Intimal or medial iICA calcification pattern was assessed using a previously histology-validated method. Sex-stratified associations between calcification pattern and cardiovascular risk factors, laboratory parameters, and medication use were calculated using Poisson regression analysis with robust standard errors. Results: Two hundred and four women and 271 men (age range 24–79 years) were included. 45.4% of men and 34.8% of women showed intimal iICA calcification, while 28.4% of men and 24.0% of women showed medial iICA calcification. Minimal or no iICA calcification was observed in 26.2% of men and in 41.2% of women (reference group). Older age was associated with both calcification patterns in women and men. In women, use of vitamin K antagonists and lipid-lowering drugs was associated to medial calcification, while systolic blood pressure and glucose levels were associated to intimal calcification. In men, current smoking was associated to intimal calcification. Conclusions: Women and men with CVD show differences in risk profiles and medication use associated to intimal and medial iCA calcification.
Conduction System Stimulation to Avoid Left Ventricle Dysfunction
Authors: González-Matos Carlos E. , Rodríguez-Queralto Oriol , Záraket Fátima , Jiménez Jesús , Casteigt Benjamín , Vallès Ermengol
Published: January 2024

BACKGROUND:

Right ventricular apical pacing (RVAP) can produce left ventricle dysfunction. Conduction system pacing (CSP) has been used successfully to reverse left ventricle dysfunction in patients with left bundle branch block. To date, data about CSP prevention of left ventricle dysfunction in patients with preserved left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) are scarce and limited mostly to nonrandomized studies. Our aim is to demonstrate that CSP can preserve normal ventricular function compared with RVAP in the setting of a high burden of ventricular pacing.

METHODS:

Consecutive patients with a high-degree atrioventricular block and preserved or mildly deteriorated LVEF (>40%) were included in this prospective, randomized, parallel, controlled study, comparing conventional RVAP versus CSP.

RESULTS:

Seventy-five patients were randomized, with no differences between basal characteristics in both groups. The stimulated QRS duration was significantly longer in the RVAP group compared with the CSP group (160.4±18.1 versus 124.2±20.2 ms;
p
<0.01). Seventy patients were included in the intention-to-treat analyses. LVEF showed a significant decrease in the RVAP group at 6 months compared with the CSP group (mean difference, −5.8% [95% CI, −9.6% to −2%];
P
<0.01). Left ventricular end-diastolic diameter showed an increase in the RVAP group compared with the CSP group (mean difference, 3.2 [95% CI, 0.1–6.2] mm;
P
=0.04). Heart failure–related admissions were higher in the RVAP group (22.6% versus 5.1%;
P
=0.03).

CONCLUSIONS:

Conduction system stimulation prevents LVEF deterioration and heart failure–related admissions in patients with normal or mildly deteriorated LVEF requiring a high burden of ventricular pacing. These results are only short term and need to be confirmed by further larger studies.

REGISTRATION:

URL:
https://www.clinicaltrials.gov
; Unique identifier: NCT06026683.
Diagnosis and Management of Cerebral Venous Thrombosis: A Scientific Statement From the American Heart Association
Authors: Saposnik Gustavo , Bushnell Cheryl , Coutinho Jonathan M. , Field Thalia S. , Furie Karen L. , Galadanci Najibah , Kam Wayneho , Kirkham Fenella C. , McNair Norma D. , Singhal Aneesh B. , Thijs Vincent , Yang Victor X.D. ,   on behalf of the American Heart Association Stroke Council; Council on Cardiopulmonary, Critical Care, Perioperative and Resuscitation; Council on Cardiovascular and Stroke Nursing; and Council on Hypertension
Published: January 2024

Cerebral venous thrombosis accounts for 0.5% to 3% of all strokes. The most vulnerable populations include young individuals, women of reproductive age, and patients with a prothrombotic state. The clinical presentation of cerebral venous thrombosis is diverse (eg, headaches, seizures), requiring a high level of clinical suspicion. Its diagnosis is based primarily on magnetic resonance imaging/magnetic resonance venography or computed tomography/computed tomographic venography. The clinical course of cerebral venous thrombosis may be difficult to predict. Death or dependence occurs in 10% to 15% of patients despite intensive medical treatment. This scientific statement provides an update of the 2011 American Heart Association scientific statement for the diagnosis and management of cerebral venous thrombosis. Our focus is on advances in the diagnosis and management decisions of patients with suspected cerebral venous thrombosis. We discuss evidence for the use of anticoagulation and endovascular therapies and considerations for craniectomy. We also provide an algorithm to optimize the management of patients with cerebral venous thrombosis and those with progressive neurological deterioration or thrombus propagation despite maximal medical therapy.
Checklist of the Cerambycidae (Coleoptera: Chrysomeloidea) of Oaxaca, Mexico
Authors: MARTÍNEZ-HERNÁNDEZ JOSÉ GUADALUPE , RÖS MATTHIAS , PÉREZ-FLORES OSCAR , TOLEDO-HERNÁNDEZ VÍCTOR HUGO
Published: January 2024

The knowledge of the Cerambycidae (Coleoptera) family from the Mexican state of Oaxaca is updated based on specialized literature, databases, and specimens preserved in entomological collections. A total of 565 species (including subspecies) are recorded for the state. Leptostylus notaticollis Bates, 1880 is a new record for Mexico and 64 species, 28 genera, and four tribes are recorded for the first time for Oaxaca.
Three new earthworms of the Amynthas corticis-group (Clitellata: Megascolecidae) from the Nam Et-Phouleoi, Laos
Authors: HONG YONG , INKHAVILAY KHAMLA , JAMES SAMUEL W.
Published: January 2024

Three new earthworms of the Amynthas corticis-group (Clitellata: Megascolecidae) from Phouleoi Mountain, Lao PDR. Earthworm specimens were collected from Mt. Phouleoi, Viengthong District, Houaphanh Province, Lao PDR. The species belong to the pheretimoid earthworms. All three holandric species key out to the A. corticis-group in Sims & Easton (1972), having spermathecal pores in 5/6–8/9. The new species are: Amynthas ammalinei sp. nov., Amynthas xayi sp. nov., and Amynthas piyakarnae sp. nov. Amynthas ammalinei sp. nov. has male pores superficial on small round porophores, 0.16–0.31 circumference apart. Amynthas xayi sp. nov. has male pores superficial in XVIII at centers of round porophores, 0.17–0.29 circumference apart. Amynthas piyakarnae sp. nov. has male pores superficial on transverse elevated elongate oval pads equatorial on XVIII, pads surrounded by 3–4 small outer rings, 0.25–0.31 circumference apart.
A new canopy-dwelling species of the genus Alloscopus Börner (Collembola: Orchesellidae: Heteromurinae) from Mt. Makiling, Philippines
Authors: ALVIOLA MARNELLI S. , LUCAÑAS CRISTIAN C. , JR. IRENEO L. LIT , SOTO-ADAMES FELIPE N. , JANTARIT SOPARK
Published: January 2024

A new species of Alloscopus Börner, 1906 (Orchesellidae: Heteromurinae), A. arborealis sp. nov., is herein described from Mt. Makiling, Laguna, Philippines. The new species is distinct from its blind congeners by the combination of: 7+7 macrochaetae on head ‘An’ series and 1+1 on ‘M’ series; 13+13 macrochaetae on thorax II (vs. 9–12) and 7+7 central on thorax III (vs. 6+6); absence of the microsensilla on abdomen I; abdomen IV with four sensilla (vs. three); and ventral tube with a small number of chaetae on its posterior face (4–5 vs. 11–23) and lateral flap (7 vs. 9–16). The complete body chaetotaxic pattern of the new species and a revised key to the world fauna of Alloscopus are also provided.
Polskie i słowackie czasowniki dystrybutywne
Authors: Sojda Sylwia
Published: January 2024

Polish and Slovak Distributive Verbs
The article is a compilation of Polish and Slovak research on distributive verbs. It indicates the definition of distributiveness in the compared language systems and the characteristic formal exponents of distributive verb forms, namely prefixes. Distributive verbs are described as those expressing a divisible action involving many objects and taking place at different times and places. The study also touches upon the relationship between distributivity and iterativity and pluractional verbs in Polish and Slovak linguistics.
Polskie i słowackie czasowniki dystrybutywne
Artykuł jest zestawieniem polskich i słowackich badań nad czasownikami dystrybutywnymi. Głównym celem jest uwypuklenie definicji dystrybutywności w konfrontowanych systemach językowych oraz charakterystycznych dla formacji dystrybutywnych wykładników formalnych – prefiksów. Czasowniki dystrybutywne to takie, które wyrażają akcję podzielną, dotyczącą wielu obiektów i odbywającą się w różnym miejscu i czasie. Tekst dotyka również związków dystrybutywności z iteratywnością i plurakcyjnością czasownika w lingwistyce polskiej i słowackiej.
Środki morfologiczne w poradnikach Natalii Iwanowny Stiepanowej (pierwsza osoba liczby mnogiej)
Authors: Rybarczyk-Dyjewska Joanna
Published: January 2024

Morphological Means in Natalia Ivanovna Stepanova’s Magical Handbooks (the Plural Forms of the First Person)
The aim of the article is to present the plural forms of the first person found in Natalia Ivanovna Stepanova’s magical handbooks. The author (also known as the Siberian Healer) uses them for persuasive purposes: she tries to convince readers to use the magical practices (spells) she recommends. In the analysed material, mainly statements containing “inclusive we” are noted. Stepanova uses them to evoke a sense of community of experiences and values in her readers, as well as to invite them to joint actions and “include” them in the healers group that she represents. There are also forms of “exclusive we” in the handbooks under study. These forms play an important role in building Stepanova’s authenticity as a healer from Siberia: they help the author emphasise her close connection with her ancestors, who were famous for their healing practices and passed on their magical knowledge to her. The article also reflects on the specific communicative situation taking place in the interaction between the counsellor and the advice seeker, and highlights the problem of defining persuasion and manipulation.
Środki morfologiczne w poradnikach Natalii Iwanowny Stiepanowej (pierwsza osoba liczby mnogiej)
Celem artykułu jest analiza form pierwszej osoby liczby mnogiej występujących w poradnikach Natalii Iwanowny Stiepanowej. Autorka, znana także jako „uzdrowicielka syberyjska”, wykorzystuje środki morfologiczne w celach perswazyjnych, starając się przekonać czytelników, by stosowali polecane przez nią praktyki magiczne. W analizowanym materiale odnotowano przede wszystkim wypowiedzi zawierające „my inkluzywne”. Stiepanowa używa ich, by wywołać wrażenie wspólnoty doświadczeń i wartości, zaprosić czytelników do kolektywnego działania i „włączyć” do grupy znachorów, którą sama reprezentuje. W badanych poradnikach znajdują się również formy „my ekskluzywnego”, które odgrywają ważną rolę w budowaniu jej autorytetu. Z ich pomocą Natalia Iwanowna akcentuje swoje pochodzenie z Syberii oraz ścisły związek z przodkami, którzy słynęli z działalności znachorskiej i przekazali jej wiedzę magiczną. W tekście podjęto także refleksję nad specyficzną sytuacją komunikacyjną zachodzącą w interakcji „doradca–radzący się”, zwrócono też uwagę na problem z precyzyjnym zdefiniowaniem perswazji i manipulacji.
Sloganowa funkcja tytułów w publicystyce politycznej Dmytra Doncowa
Authors: Tomanek Przemysław B.
Published: January 2024

The Slogan Function of Titles in Dmytro Dontsov’s Political Journalism
The aim of this article is to analyse the function of titles of Dmytro Dontsov’s works and to prove the validity of the hypothesis of their “slogan” nature. Dontsov (1883–1973) consciously used a number of linguistic devices for persuasive purposes. The polemical nature of his political writings was also reflected in the titles he gave to his texts. In Dontsov’s works, one can distinguish a number of lexically, semantically, phraseologically, or metaphorically marked titles, which allowed us to hypothesise that many of the examined titles play a role similar to that of a political slogan. The analysed titles contain elements that make it easier for the recipient to assimilate their condensed message. We notice the conciseness of the message and the deliberate use of a number of linguistic, eristic and stylistic means. This leads to the conclusion that such a construction of the title serves, similarly to advertising or political slogans, to mobilise and motivate the recipient-reader.
Sloganowa funkcja tytułów w publicystyce politycznej Dmytra Doncowa
Celem artykułu jest analiza funkcji tytułów utworów Dmytra Doncowa oraz udowodnienie słuszności hipotezy o ich „sloganowym” charakterze. Doncow (1883–1973) dla celów perswazyjnych świadomie wykorzystywał szereg środków językowych, przy czym polemiczny charakter pism politycznych Doncowa przejawiał się także w tym, jak tytułował swoje teksty. W jego twórczości można wyróżnić szereg tytułów nacechowanych leksykalnie, semantycznie, frazeologicznie czy metaforycznie, co pozwala postawić hipotezę, że wiele z nich pełni rolę zbliżoną do hasła politycznego. Analizowane tytuły zawierają elementy ułatwiające odbiorcy przyswojenie ich skondensowanego przekazu. W tytułach Doncowa zauważamy zwięzłość przekazu oraz celowe użycie szeregu środków językowych, erystycznych i stylistycznych. Prowadzi to do wniosku, że taka konstrukcja tytułu służy, podobnie jak ma to miejsce w przypadku sloganów, mobilizacji odbiorcy-czytelnika do politycznej aktywności.
Development of an Optimal Postprocessing Model Using the Microgenetic Algorithm to Improve Precipitation Forecasting in South Korea
Authors: Kim Junsu , Kim Yeon-Hee , Bok Hyejeong , Jang Sungbin , Cho Eunju , Kim Seungbum
Published: January 2024

We developed an advanced postprocessing model for precipitation forecasting using a microgenetic algorithm (MGA). The algorithm determines the optimal combination of three general circulation models: the Korean Integrated Model, the Unified Model, and the Integrated Forecast System model. To measure model accuracy, including the critical success index (CSI), probability of detection (POD), and frequency bias index, the MGA calculates optimal weights for individual models based on a fitness function that considers various indices. Our optimized multimodel yielded up to 13% and 10% improvement in CSI and POD performance compared to each individual model, respectively. Notably, when applied to an operational definition that considers precipitation thresholds from three models and averages the precipitation amount from the satisfactory models, our optimized multimodel outperformed the current operational model used by the Korea Meteorological Administration by up to 1.0% and 6.8% in terms of CSI and false alarm ratio performance, respectively. This study highlights the effectiveness of a weighted combination of global models to enhance the forecasting accuracy for regional precipitation. By utilizing the MGA for the fine-tuning of model weights, we achieved superior precipitation prediction compared to that of individual models and existing standard postprocessing operations. This approach can significantly improve the accuracy of precipitation forecasts.

Significance Statement

We developed an optimized multimodel for predicting precipitation occurrence using advanced techniques. By integrating various weather models with their optimized weights, our approach outperforms the method of using an arithmetic average of all models. This study underscores the potential to enhance regional precipitation forecasts, thereby facilitating more precise weather predictions for the public.
Univariate Flux Partition Functions for Planetary Boundary Layer Schemes at Gray Zone Resolutions
Authors: Liu Mengjuan , Huang Wei , Chu Hai , Zhou Bowen
Published: January 2024

When the horizontal grid spacing of a numerical weather prediction model approaches kilometer scale, the so-called gray zone range, turbulent fluxes in the convective boundary layer (CBL) are partially resolved and partially subgrid scale (SGS). Knowledge of the partition between resolved and SGS turbulent fluxes is key to building scale-adaptive planetary boundary layer (PBL) schemes that are capable of regulating the SGS fluxes with varying grid spacing. However, flux partition depends not only on horizontal grid spacing, but also on local height, bulk stability of the boundary layer, and the particular turbulent flux. Such multivariate functions are difficult to construct analytically, so their implementations in scale-adaptive PBL schemes always involve certain levels of approximation that can lead to inaccuracies. This study introduces a physically based perspective for the flux partition functions that greatly simplifies their implementation with high accuracy. By introducing an appropriate scaling length λ that accounts for both height and bulk stability dependencies, the dimensionality of the partition functions is reduced to a single dimensionless group. Based on the analysis of a comprehensive large-eddy simulation dataset of the CBL, it is further shown that λ’s height and bulk stability dependencies can be separately represented by a similarity length scale and a stability coefficient. The resulting univariate partition functions are incorporated into a traditional first-order PBL scheme as a proof of concept. Our results show that the augmented scheme well-reproduces the SGS fluxes at gray zone resolutions.

Significance Statement

Flux partition functions are a key component in most scale-adaptive planetary boundary layer (PBL) schemes developed for kilometer- and subkilometer-resolution numerical weather prediction models. They regulate the parameterized turbulent fluxes as a function of horizontal grid spacing, while they also depend on height and atmospheric stability. Such multivariate dependencies forbid simple analytical expressions, and as a result, partition functions implemented in scale-adaptive PBL schemes are generally simplified at the cost of accuracy in previous works. This study investigates the possibility of constructing partition functions that are both accurate and easy to parameterize. Utilizing a physically based length scale, univariate partition functions are built, evaluated, and put into a conventional PBL scheme to improve the gray zone turbulence parameterization.