bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Human brain single nucleus cell type enrichments in neurodegenerative diseases
Authors: Alvarado Chelsea X , Weller Cory A. , Johnson Nicholas , Leonard Hampton L. , Singleton Andrew B. , Reed Xylena , Blauewendraat Cornelis , Nalls Mike A
Published: November 2023

Background: Single-cell RNA sequencing has opened a window into clarifying the complex underpinnings of disease, particularly in quantifying the relevance of tissue- and cell-type-specific gene expression.
Methods:To identify the cell types and genes important to therapeutic target development across the neurodegenerative disease spectrum, we leveraged genome-wide association studies, recent single-cell sequencing data, and bulk expression studies in a diverse series of brain region tissues.
Results: We were able to identify significant immune-related cell types in the brain across three major neurodegenerative diseases: Alzheimer’s disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, and Parkinson’s disease. Subsequently, putative roles of 30 fine-mapped loci implicating seven genes in multiple neurodegenerative diseases and their pathogenesis were identified.
Conclusions: We have helped refine the genetic regions and cell types effected across multiple neurodegenerative diseases, helping focus future translational research efforts.
RETRACTED: Assessment of Soil chemical properties of traditional and conventional farming practices in legume based cropping systems under mid- hills of H.P. Himalayas
Authors: Rana Navjot , Kumar Rameshwar , . Punam , Sharma R.P. , Manuja Sandeep , Pareek Bheem , Kumar Sarwan
Published: November 2023

The authors have requested that this preprint be removed from Research Square.
Rapid evolution bacteria reveal pathogenic mechanisms and clinical risk
Authors: Sato Toyotaka , Uemura Kojiro , Aoki Kotaro , Yamamoto Soh , Ogasawara Noriko , Saito Atsushi , Wada Takayuki , Kuronuma Koji , Nakajima Chie , Suzuki Yasuhiko , Horiuchi Motohiro , Chiba Hirofumi , Takahashi Satoshi , Yokota Shin-ichi
Published: November 2023

Bacteria continually evolve, as postulated in Darwin’s theory of evolution1-3. Previous studies have evaluated bacterial evolution in retrospect, but this approach is based on only speculation4-6. Cohort studies are reliable but require a long duration7-11. Here, using hypermutable strains, we established a rapid and integrated bacterial evolution analysis, RIBEA, based on serial passaging experiments, whole-genome and transposon-directed sequencing, and in vivo evaluation to monitor bacterial evolution for one month in a cohort. RIBEA enabled the elucidation of the mechanism of clinical progression and the potential clinical risk associated with the development of invasive ability and antimicrobial resistance in the major respiratory pathogen Klebsiella pneumoniae12. RIBEA also revealed novel bacterial factors (via the identification of gene mutations that occurred during evolution) contributing to serum and antimicrobial resistance. Our results demonstrate that RIBEA enables the prediction of bacterial evolution and identification of clinically high-risk bacterial strains, clarifying the associated mechanisms of pathogenicity and antimicrobial resistance development.
Simultaneous assessment of somatic mutations from multiple biofluids
Authors: Diaz Luis , Stewart Caitlin , Li Sonya , White James , Patel Mitesh , Gedvilaite Erika , Lamendola-Essel Michelle , Gerber Drew , Bhattacharya Rohini , Haseltine Justin , Huberman Kety , Bolton Kelly , Levine Ross
Published: November 2023

Measurements of somatic mutations in biofluids (“liquid biopsies”) provide valuable clinical and biological insights. A mutational profile predominant in liquid biopsies is clonal hematopoiesis (CH), a condition resulting from mutations in genes which contribute to leukemia initiation. We hypothesized that mutational processes detected in liquid biopsies, such as CH, would differ across multiple biological specimens from the same patient and lead to novel technical and biological insights.
Comparative Analysis of Biodegradation Resistance in Natural Geotextile Fibers
Authors: Santos Luiz Diego Vidal , Holanda Francisco Sandro Rodrigues , Oliveira Willyan Farias , Silva Emersson Guedes , Sussuchi Eliana Midori , Pedrotti Alceu , Griza Sandro
Published: November 2023

This research provides a comprehensive analysis of the behavior of natural geotextile fibers - Syagrus coronata, Typha domingensis, and Eleocharis sp., under environmental stressors over a period of 120 days. A total of 24 samples, measuring 7 cm in length, were selected for field exposure, comprising geotextile fibers derived from the cited species. Most samples underwent treatment with waterproofing resin at two concentrations: 0.324 mg/mL for a single layer (concentration A) and 0.648 mg/mL for a double layer (concentration B). Control samples were left untreated. Fracture analysis was conducted using digital processing of scanning electron microscopy images. The results revealed variable resistance to degradation, influenced by different treatments and exposure durations. Notably, Typha domingensis fibers treated with concentration B resin exhibited reduced cracking, attributable to their unique morphological and structural characteristics and their interaction with the protective resin, Eleocharis sp. fibers treated with a double layer (concentration B) demonstrated superior resistance to degradation compared to concentration A. On the other hand, no significant difference between treatments was observed in Syagrus coronata fibers, which nonetheless exhibited inherent resistance to degradation even without treatment. Typha domingensis fibers demonstrated superior physical performance compared to other fibers, which can be attributed to their inherent morphological and structural characteristics as well as their intrinsic composition. These findings underscore the importance of additives and protective treatments in enhancing the durability and resistance of geotextiles.
Preoperative reduced hand grip strength and oral frailty as a predictor of disability in the elderly following hepatobiliary-pancreatic surgery
Authors: Tsukagoshi Mariko , Araki Kenichiro , Igarashi Takamichi , Ishii Norihiro , Kawai Shunsuke , Hagiwara Kei , Hoshino Kouki , Seki Takaomi , Harimoto Norifumi , Shirabe Ken
Published: November 2023

Background
This study aimed to investigate the usefulness of preoperative assessment of frailty in elderly patients using a self-check questionnaire and hand grip strength assessment on surgical outcomes and disability after hepatobiliary-pancreatic surgery.
Methods
We retrospectively analyzed data of 150 elderly patients (≥ 70 years) following hepatobiliary-pancreatic surgery for malignancies between June 2020 and June 2022. Disability was defined as a new need for long-term health care or an increase in the level of care within six months after surgery. We assessed frailty using the frailty checkup introduced by the Ministry of Health, Labor, and Welfare to check the state of frailty.
Results
The incidence of disability was significantly correlated with reduced grip strength (P = 0.001), difficulty eating hard foods (P = 0.004), and falling (P = 0.049). Multivariate analysis showed that difficulty eating hard foods (P = 0.016), oral frailty, and reduced hand grip strength (P = 0.007) were independent risk factors for the incidence of postoperative disability. Patients at risk of reduced hand grip strength and difficulty eating hard foods showed significantly lower albumin and zinc levels. Furthermore, patients with both risks were significantly associated with increased postoperative complications (P = 0.026), prolonged postoperative hospital stay (P = 0.015), increased hospital transfer (P < .001), and the incidence of disability (P < .001).
Conclusion
Oral frailty and reduced handgrip strength may be useful screening tools for predicting postoperative disability in patients undergoing hepatobiliary-pancreatic surgery.
Investigating the effects of boron compounds on the cellulose fiber performance in paper recycling process
Authors: Şahin Halil Turgut , Bozkurt Cihan , Çiçekler Mustafa
Published: November 2023

This study aimed to investigate the effects of boron compounds on cellulose fibers during recycling. Three recycling stages were conducted, applying boric acid and borax to bleached papers. Physical, mechanical, and optical properties were measured after each process. The highest water absorption (218 g/m2) was observed in test papers from the second recycling stage using 10% borax-treated pulps (10Bx2). Boric acid treatment notably improved burst strength, with the highest value (3.94 kPa m2/g) in the first recycling stage with 5.0% boric acid treatment (5Ba1). The highest tensile strength (49.48 Nm/g) occurred in the first recycling stage with 5.0% boric acid treatment, while the lowest (17.41 Nm/g) was in the second recycling stage (5Bx2) with 5.0% borax treatment. Tear strength exhibited different trends from burst and tensile strength, with notable improvements using 5.0% and 10% boric acid and 10% borax treatments on recovered cellulose fibers. The highest tear strength (9.20 Nm2/g) was achieved with 5.0% boric acid treatment (5Ba2) in the second recycling stage, followed by 8.21 Nm2/g with 10% boric acid treatment (10Ba1) in the first recycling stage. Tear strength trends differed from burst and tensile strength properties, regardless of treatment conditions.
Age-Specific Pattern of Nutritional Status by BMI, PG-SGA, and Blood Biomarkers among Cancer Patients
Authors: Shi Hanping , Li Shuqun , Li Xiang-Rui , Chen Yue , Liu Chen-An , Zheng Xin , Liu Tong , Xie Hailun , Lin Shiqi , Zhang Heyang , Shi Jinyu , Zhao Hong , Liu Xiao-yue , Xu Benjamin
Published: November 2023

Purpose
Malnutrition is highly prevalent among cancer patients but receives little attention. This study aimed to comprehensively assess the nutritional status of 15,656 adult cancer patients by different age groups, sex, and cancer types, using three complementary measurements: body mass index (BMI), the Patient Generated-Subjective Global Assessment (PG-SGA), and blood biomarkers.
Methods
Data were obtained from the multicentered Investigation on Nutrition Status and its Clinical Outcome of Common Cancers (INSCOC) project in China. Participants aged 18 years or older, with confirmed cancer diagnoses, were included. Nutritional assessment measures included BMI, the PG-SGA, and seven blood biomarkers. Age-specific patterns in these parameters were analyzed, and further stratified by sex and cancer types.
Results
The mean age was 57.4 years (SD = 11.6). Age-related variations in nutritional parameters were observed. BMI and PG-SGA scores exhibited bell-shaped patterns by age that varied by sex and tumor types. PG-SGA scores increased with age, especially in gastrointestinal cancer patients. Blood biomarkers showed an inverse association with age for total protein, albumin, and hemoglobin levels, while creatinine increased with age. White blood cell (WBC) counts remained relatively stable across age, while NLR increased with age, indicating immune imbalance or inflammation.
Conclusion
This is the first study to simultaneously assess three complementary nutritional measures among Chinese cancer patients. Our findings highlight the importance of considering age, sex, and cancer type in assessing nutritional status among cancer patients. If confirmed by future studies, these findings will help inform the design of personalized nutritional interventions to optimize nutrition and improve cancer treatment and prognosis.
Efficacy of radiofrequency ablation for solitary hepatocellular carcinoma 5 cm or smaller and construction of prognostic model by machine learning: a retrospective cohort study
Authors: He Qifan , Xiong Yue , Xia Pengcheng , Yang Xiaoyu , Yu Yihui , Chen Zhonghua
Published: November 2023

Background
The effectiveness of Radiofrequency Ablation (RFA) in improving long-term survival outcomes for patients with solitary hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) of 5 cm or less remains uncertain. This study was designed to elucidate the impact of RFA therapy on the survival outcomes of these patients and to construct a prognostic model for patients following RFA.
Methods
This study was performed using the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database from 2004 to 2017, focusing on patients diagnosed with solitary HCC ≤ 5 cm. We compared the overall survival (OS) and cancer-specific survival (CSS) rates of these patients with those who received hepatectomy, radiotherapy, chemotherapy, or were part of a blank control group. To enhance the reliability of our findings, we employed Stabilized Inverse Probability Treatment Weighting (sIPTW) and stratified analyses. Additionally, we conducted a Cox regression analysis to identify prognostic factors. Extreme Gradient Boosting (XGBoost) models were developed to predict 1-year, 3-year, and 5-year CSS. The XGBoost models were evaluated via ROC curves, calibration plots, decision curve analysis (DCA) curves and so on.
Results
Regardless of whether the data were unadjusted or adjusted using sIPTW, the RFA group exhibited higher 5-year OS (46.7%) and CSS (58.9%) rates compared to the radiotherapy (27.1%/35.8%), chemotherapy (32.9%/43.7%), and blank control groups (18.6%/30.7%), while being lower than the hepatectomy group (69.4%/78.9%). Stratified analysis based on age and cirrhosis status revealed that RFA and hepatectomy yielded similar OS and CSS outcomes for patients with cirrhosis and aged over 65 years. Age, race, marital status, grade, cirrhosis, tumor size, and AFP levels were selected to build the XGBoost models based on the training cohort. The area under the curve (AUC) of 1, 3, and 5 years in the validation cohort were 0.88, 0.81, 0.79. Calibration plots further demonstrated the consistency between predicted and actual values in both training and validation cohorts.
Conclusion
RFA can enhance the survival prospects of patients diagnosed with solitary HCC ≤ 5 cm. In certain clinical scenarios, RFA achieve survival outcomes comparable to those of hepatectomy. The XGBoost models developed in this study performed admirably in predicting the CSS of patients with solitary HCC tumors smaller than 5cm following RFA.
Microstructures and shear properties of Sb and In strengthened Sn5Bi/Cu joints
Authors: Zhang Jiaheng , Zhao Yongheng , Wang Xiaojing , Cai Shanshan , Peng Jubo , Liu Chen , Azab Islam H. El , Ibrahim Mohamed M. , Wang Shuai , Liu Baosheng , Zhang Weibin , Chen Cai , Guo Fengyi , Wang Yingwu , El-Bahy Salah M.
Published: November 2023

The effects of x(Sb/In) (x = 1, 2, 3 wt.%) added to Sn5Bi solder alloy on the melting properties, microstructures and the shear behavior of solder/Cu joints were investigated combined with the corresponding phase diagram. It is found that the addition of Sb reduces the melting range and supercooling with the increase of Sb content caused by SnSb formation, while the In addition can reduce the melting point resulted by In solid solution. Both Sn5BixIn/Cu and Sn5BixSb/Cu are mainly composed of β-Sn and two types precipitates, i.e. Bi particles and Cu6Sn5 compound. The difference lies in that In doping only can dissolve into β-Sn and Cu6Sn5 while Sb doping mainly form tiny SnSb. Increase In content also inhibit precipitation of Bi particles and reduce the phase fraction Cu6(SnIn)5, resulting in that precipitation strengthening becomes weaker and solid solution strengthening becomes stronger. In contrast, the phase fraction of Bi particles and Cu6Sn5 increases with increasing Sb content, leading to that precipitation strengthening becomes stronger. These strengthening mechanism causes that their ultimate shear force monotonically increases with increasing Sb and In content, and the strengthening effect of the Sb element is better. Sb and In addition also can improve the ductility of Sn5Bi/Cu solder joints and both 2 wt.% In/Sb addition present the best shear fracture work. Thus, the optimal mechanical property was achieved by 2 wt.% Sb addition.
Evolutionary game analysis of graduates’ honest employment
Authors: Cao Xiaoyan
Published: November 2023

In the current employment situation for Chinese college graduates, there is a growing prevalence of dishonesty in securing jobs. This is not only poses challenges for the graduates themselves, but also leads to higher costs and difficulties for employers in the recruitment process. Additionally, it impacts the reputation of colleges and the development of social credit systems. This paper analyzes the long-term employment dishonesty of graduates by evolutionary game theory. The findings indicate that addressing this problem requires enhancing graduates’ education on honest employment, fostering a sense of awareness about the importance of honest employment, ensuring effective channels for supervision and reporting, decreasing the immediate advantages of dishonest employment, and intensifying the penalties for graduates involved in dishonest practices.
Vascular Transmigration in Peripheral Giant Cell Lesion: a Case Study on Histogenesis
Authors: Carvalho Stephany Pimenta , Santos Kris Fellipe do Nascimento , Silva Ricardo Natã Fonseca , Júnior Wilson José Mariano , Costa Nádia do Lago , Vencio Eneida Franco
Published: November 2023

Peripheral giant cell granulomas (PGCL) have microscopic similarities to other pathologies and their origin remains unclear. In this case, a 47-year-old woman presented with a chief complaint of a "painful bleeding lesion" in the region of the canine teeth with a recent history of tooth extraction. Intraorally, a well-circumscribed, pedunculated, purplish-red nodule was noted on the upper alveolar crest associated with an unstable denture. Periapical radiographs showed superficial bone resorption. The lesion was removed and vigorous curettage was performed. Microscopy revealed an ulcerative, non-encapsulated lesion composed of mononuclear stromal cells, prominent multinucleated giant cells (MGCs), and hemorrhage surrounded by fibrous tissue. Apoptotic MGCs were also noted. Interesting, large vessels in the periphery showed transendothelial migration of MGCs positive for matrix metallopeptidase 9 (MMP-9) and macrophage fusion marker CD44. Further studies are needed to clarify the clinical significance of vascular extension in PGCL.
Creating data-driven products and services in Industry 4.0 – a case study on companies in the German machine and tool industry.
Authors: Permin Eike , Castillo Lina
Published: November 2023

During the past ten years, lots of new data-driven products and services for tools, machinery and equipment have been developed. While several new players from other industries gained a certain market share, plant and machinery producers also started to enhance their portfolio to take on new data-driven products and services as a consequence of the technological changes in Industrie 4.0.
As a first part of the research, an extensive market study was carried out to analyze how many German companies already offer data-based products and services in addition to their core machines and understand what kind of offerings they make. To classify these offerings, a scheme based on established Industrie 4.0 maturity models was developed. In brief, the market for data-driven products and services is still developing, with few technology leaders and fast mover taking the largest share.
While the market study gave an overview of what was on offer, the second part of this contribution analyzes how the fast movers with a high level of Industrie 4.0 maturity conducted their data-driven services and products. Thus, these few companies were analyzed in more detail, based on public material as well as subsequent expert interviews. Most fast movers in this study relied on the same patterns and approaches, especially when looking at organizational issues such as customer-driven innovation, agile organization of operations, mixed teams, partnering and portfolio enhancement.
Protective effect of vitamins A, E and C on the Zinc oxide nanoparticles induced oxidative stress status in Kidney of male Wistar rats
Authors: Noorin Somayeh-Sadat , Abbasalipourkabir Roghayeh , Ziamajidi Nasrin , Nourian Alireza , Bahmani Mahdi
Published: November 2023

Introduction:
This study aimed to evaluate the protective effects of All-trans retinoic acid, Alpha-tocopherol, and vitamin C against on ZnO-NP-induced kidney damage.
Material and methods
Fifty-four rats were divided into nine groups including Groups Con1 (deionized water), Con2 (olive oil), VitA (All-trans retinoic acid 1000IU/Kg), Group VitE (Alpha-tocopherol 100IU/Kg), VitC (Vitamin C 200 mg/Kg), ZnO (ZnO-NPs 200 mg/Kg), ZnO + VitA (All-trans retinoic acid 1000 mg/Kg + ZnO-NP 200mg/Kg), ZnO + VitE (Alpha-tocopherol 100IU/kg + ZnO-NP 200mg/Kg) and ZnO + VitC (VitaminC 200 mg/Kg + ZnO-NPs 200 mg/Kg). Expression of Catalase (CAT), Glutathione peroxidase (GPX) and Superoxide mutase (SOD) genes were evaluated by Real-time PCR. Urea, Creatinine, Total antioxidant capacity (TAC), Total oxidant status (TOS), Malondialdehyde (MDA), CAT, GPX and SOD activity were assayed by colorimetric methods.
Results
ZnO-NPs decreased TAC levels and, CAT, GPX, and SOD activity, and increased the levels of Urea, TOS, and MDA in the kidney. ZnO-NPs also caused to histopatological lesions in the tissue. Treatment with All-trans retinoic acid and Alpha-tocopherol prevented the worsening of oxidative stress and increased Urea and BUN levels. Thus, the mentioned variables in the ZnO + VitA and ZnO + VitE groups were not significantly different from those in the control groups. These vitamins improved the ZnO-NPs-induced kidney lesions.
Conclusion
Although present study revealed All-trans retinoic acid and Alpha-tocopherol partly prevent ZnO-NP-induced kidney damage, no significant difference was observed between the level of the studied variables in the groups ZnO + VitA and ZnO + VitE, and group ZnO. Therefore, it is necessary to investigate effect of these vitamins effects on ZnO-NP-induced nephrotoxicity with emphasis on other aspects such as inflammation.
Evaluation of emergency department visits and immune-related adverse effects (irAEs) in patients treated with nivolumab
Authors: Kudu Emre , Akdag Goncagul , Yildirim Mahmut Emre
Published: November 2023

Introduction
: One of the most important innovations in cancer treatment is the development of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) in the last decade. Nivolumab which is one of ICI is used in many cancer treatments. As with any drug, this drug also have some side effects including the class-spesific immune-related adverse effects (irAEs). Although irAE is not rare, it is challenging to diagnose. Therefore, we examined the emergency department (ED) visits of patients receiving nivolumab therapy. In addition to previous studies, this study aims to evaluate the irAE management, diagnostic difficulties and outcome of irAEs in the ED.
Material and Methods
A retrospective cohort study was conducted on adult patients who received nivolumab therapy for any cancer between 1 April 2018 and 31 March 2023 at a large, urban tertiary care center. In this study we evaluated the ED visits of patients receiving nivolumab. In adddition to previous studies, we evaluated irAEs in detail (percentage, recognizability, risk factors, reasons for late recognition and outcome). Patient data was collected from electronic medical records and patient’s medical files. The anamnesis, laboratory, and imaging results, ED management, and consultation notes were examined separately for each ED visit. Logistic regression models were used to identify significant univariable predictors of ED visit and irAEs.
Results
One hundred ninety-nine patients were included in the study. All patients had metastatic cancer, and 154 patients (77.4%) received nivolumab therapy for non-small cell lung cancer. Most patients (71.9%, n = 143) had at least one additional comorbidity. One hundred and eleven patients (55.8%) presented to the ED. Hypertension (OR: 2.425, 95% CI: 1.226–4.795, p = 0.011) and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (OR: 2.489, 95% CI: 1.133–5.468, p = 0.023) are risk factors for presenting ED. Twenty-one visits were diagnosed (14 in ED, 6 in the oncology clinic, and 1 in the ward) as irAEs. The univariate analysis found no association between irAE diagnosis and any factors.
Conclusion
A significant part of the patients treated with nivolumab for advanced cancer presents to ED for ICI-related adverse events, although most cases were unrelated to irAEs. Close collaboration between ED physicians and oncologist is paramount to management of patients with cancer in the ED.
The Effect of non-surgical periodontal therapy on interleukin-34 in stage I and II periodontitis (A controlled clinical trial with biochemical analysis)
Authors: Ahmed Nada , Adel-Khattab Doaa , Ela Hala Abuel , Fouad Yasmine
Published: November 2023

Objective
Interleukin 34 (IL-34) is the second active component of (the colony-stimulating factor receptor) CSF-1R, it is debatable whether IL-34 is a pro-inflammatory cytokine (as seen in Sjogren syndrome) or anti-inflammatory cytokine( as seen in Alzheimer disease) so this study was conducted to distinguish better whether IL-34 is a proinflammatory or anti-inflammatory cytokine in the pathogenesis of periodontal diseases and to evaluate the change of its levels in gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) in periodontal disease after non-surgical periodontal therapy (NSPT).
Methods
45 patients were included in this study and allocated to 15 periodontally healthy individuals, 15 stage I grade B periodontitis patients, and 15 stages II grade B periodontitis. plaque index (PI), gingival index (GI), probing depth (PD), and clinical attachment loss (CAL) were assessed at baseline and 3 months after receiving NSPT. GCF samples were collected immediately and 3 months after therapy, levels of IL-34 in GCF samples were analyzed by Immunoassay.
Results
Regarding IL-34 GCF level, the Periodontitis Stage II group showed a statistically significantly highest mean IL-34 level than the Periodontitis Stage I and control groups, after three months, there was a statistically significant difference between mean IL-34 levels in the three groups Additionally, at baseline, there was a significant positive correlation between PD, CAL, and IL-34 levels. However, after 3 months there was no significant correlation between PD, CAL, measurements, and IL-34 levels.
Conclusion
IL-34 can be regarded as one of the pro-inflammatory markers of periodontal disease and may be investigated in the future as a potential target for periodontal disease therapy.
Correlating CT Volumetry with Actual Graft Volume in Living Donor Liver Transplantation: A Retrospective Analysis
Authors: khan Bilal ahmed , khalid abdullah , Saeed Zubair , khan muhammad yasir , Rashid Sohail , Haq Ihsan ul , Dar Faisal saud
Published: November 2023

Introduction:
Liver transplantation offers a crucial treatment for end-stage liver diseases. Living donor liver transplantation (LDLT) is gaining prominence, especially in areas with deceased donor scarcity. Accurate preoperative liver volume assessment is critical in LDLT for predicting outcomes for the donor and recipient. This study focuses on evaluating the correlation between preoperative CT liver volume and actual intraoperative graft weight during LDLT at the Pakistan Kidney and Liver Institute and Research Centre.
Methods:
A retrospective study of 472 liver donors was conducted between March 2019, and July 2023. Donors who underwent liver volume assessments for transplantation purposes were included. Those with liver steatosis, suboptimal liver volume, significant liver anomalies, and uncommon anatomical variations were excluded. CT scans were executed with a 128 slice GE Healthcare system, followed by volumetric reconstructions. The graft volume was determined post-resection by physically weighing the graft. Pearson's correlation analyzed the relationship between preoperative liver volume and intraoperative graft weight.
Results:
Among 472 donors, 56.36% were males (n = 266) and 43.64% females (n = 206). The average CT-predicted donor graft volume was 717.59 mL, while the actual post-operative graft weight averaged at 618.53 grams, resulting in an average difference of + 96.32 grams. The predominant graft type was the right lobe excluding the middle hepatic vein, accounting for 82.00% (n = 387). Gender-based analysis showed males had slightly larger average CT-predicted graft volumes (719.79 mL) compared to females (710.48 mL). A strong positive correlation was observed between CT-estimated donor graft volume and the actual graft weight (Pearson's correlation coefficient = 0.74, P < 0.001).
Conclusion:
CT-derived preoperative liver volumes consistently overestimate the actual intraoperative graft weights in LDLT. Despite this disparity, CT remains a valuable tool in preoperative assessments, with the correlation between CT estimates and actual graft weights showcasing its reliability. Further advancements in CT techniques may minimize these discrepancies in future applications.
Reduced toxicity (FluBu3) versus myeloablative (BuCy) conditioning in acute myeloid leukemia patients who received first allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation in measurable residual disease-negative CR1
Authors: Kim Hee-Je , Park Silvia , Bang Su-Yeon , Kwag Daehun , Min Gi June , Park Sung-Soo , Yoon Jae-Ho , Lee Sung-Eun , Cho Byung-Sik , Eom Ki-Seong , Kim Yoo-Jin , Lee Seok , Min Chang-Ki , Cho Seok-Goo , Lee Jong Wook , Lee Jong Hyuk , Yahng Seung-Ah , Kim Tong Yoon , Jeon Youngwoo , Lee Joon yeop , Shin Seung-Hwan
Published: November 2023

In the present study, reduced toxicity (FluBu3) and myeloablative (BuCy) conditioning were compared in patients with AML who received first allogeneic HSCT in MRD-negative CR1. The study included 124 adult patients who underwent HSCT from an HLA-matched (8/8) sibling, unrelated, or 1-locus mismatched (7/8) unrelated donor (MMUD). The median age was 45 years and intermediate cytogenetics comprised majority (71.8%). The 2-year OS, RFS, CIR and NRM for BuCy (n = 78, 62.9%) and FluBu3 (n = 46, 37.1%) groups were 78.3% and 84.5% (p = 0.358), 78.0% and 76.3% (p = 0.806), 7.7% and 21.5% (p = 0.074) and 14.3% and 2.2% (p = 0.0324), respectively. At the time of data cut-off, relapse and NRM were the main causes of HSCT failure in each of the FluBu3 and BuCy arms. Among patients, 75% of relapsed FluBu3 patients had high-risk features of either poor cytogenetics or FLT3-ITD mutation compared with 16.7% of BuCy patients. The majority of NRM in the BuCy group was due to GVHD (73%), half of whom received MMUD transplantation. To conclude, the FluBu3 reduced toxicity conditioning showed comparable post-transplant OS and RFS to BuCy and was associated with significantly reduced NRM that was offset by a trend towards higher risk of relapse even in MRD-negative CR1 population.
ITFNet-API: Image and Text Based Multi-Scale Cross-Modal Feature Fusion Network for Agricultural Pest Identification
Authors: Yu KeJian , Xu WenWen , Zhang Cheng , Dai ZeXu , Ding Jie , Yue Yi , Zhang YouHua , Wu YunZhi
Published: November 2023

In agricultural production, pest problems are inevitable. In recent years, China has suffered annual losses of up to 40 million tons of grain due to various pests and diseases. There are over one million known insect species in the natural world, exhibiting complex and diverse morphologies, making manual identification costly. With the advancement of deep learning technologies, methods relying solely on image data for crop pest identification have achieved some success. However, these methods heavily depend on numerous high-quality annotated images. Many existing approaches overlook the role and value of other modalities beyond images and rely solely on low-level image features for recognition. They fail to fully exploit semantic correlations between multimodal data, leading to poor reliability and interpretability of the recognition results. Moreover, in real-world scenarios, pest habitats are complex and diverse, with varying scales, imposing high demands on the practical application of models. To address these challenges, this paper proposes a Multi-Scale Cross-Modal Feature Fusion Model (ITFNet-API) utilizing multi-scale visual features and textual features for cross-modal attention learning. Super-resolution reconstruction techniques are introduced to restore high-frequency information in low-quality images. To avoid altering low-frequency information during the reconstruction process, the reconstructed high-quality images are combined with the original images and fed into the model for feature learning to enrich pest features. The proposed Image and Text Fusion Module (ITFM) performs multi-scale cross-modal information fusion and an Inverse Transpose Convolution (ITC) network module is introduced to restore multi-scale visual features. The obtained visual features are input into the neck and head networks of the YOLOv4 (You Only Look Once version 4) model to obtain pest category and location information in each image. Finally, to verify the model’s practical application capability, this paper introduces an Arbitrary Combination Image Enhancement (ACIE) data augmentation method which generates a batch of complex multi-target, multi-scale pest images in challenging scenarios for data augmentation and model training. We conducted extensive comparative experiments based on the IP102 dataset to validate the effectiveness of the proposed method. The experimental results indicate that our method achieved an accuracy rate of 82.15% in pest recognition, outperforming other advanced methods significantly with an AP50 of 92.18%. Moreover, in multi-target recognition,the accuracy rate reached 45.24% with an AP50 of 43.04%.
Is a randomised controlled trial of take home naloxone distributed in emergency settings likely to be feasible and acceptable? Findings from a UK qualitative study exploring perspectives of people who use opioids and emergency services staff
Authors: Sampson Fiona C , Hughes Jane , Long Jaqui , Buykx Penny , Goodacre Stephen W , Snooks Helen , Edwards Adrian , Evans Bridie , Jones Jenna , Moore Chris , Johnston Sasha
Published: November 2023

Objective Distribution of take-home naloxone (THN) by emergency services may increase access to THN and reduce deaths and morbidity from opioid overdose. As part of a feasibility study for a randomised controlled trial (RCT) of distribution of THN kits and education within ambulance services and Emergency Departments (EDs), we used qualitative methods to explore key stakeholders’ perceptions of feasibility and acceptability of delivering the trial.Methods: We undertook semi-structured interviews and focus groups with 26 people who use opioids and with 20 paramedics and ED staff from two intervention sites between 2019 and 2021. Interviews and focus groups were recorded, transcribed verbatim and analysed using Framework Analysis.Results People using opioids reported high awareness of overdose management, including personal experience of THN use. Staff perceived emergency service provision of THN as a low-cost, low-risk intervention with potential to reduce mortality, morbidity and health service use. Staff understood the trial aims and considered it compatible with their work. All participants supported widening access to THN but reported limited trial recruitment opportunities partly due to difficulties in consenting patients during overdose. Procedural problems, restrictive recruitment protocols, limited staff buy-in and patients already owning THN limited trial recruitment. Determining trial effectiveness was challenging due to high levels of alternative community provision of THN.Conclusions Distribution of THN in emergency settings was considered feasible and acceptable for stakeholders but an RCT to establish the effectiveness of THN delivery is unlikely to generate further useful evidence due to difficulties in recruiting patients and assessing benefits.
Cloud-based application for generate spatial and statistical data about environmental fragility and land cover
Authors: Vianna Luiz Fernando Novaes , Zambonim Fábio Martinho
Published: November 2023

Mainly occurring in tropical forests, deforestation is a worldwide environmental threat, particularly considering associated factors of climate change and loss of biodiversity. The Brazilian MapBiomas project developed a free and open-source platform to monitor Brazilian land cover changes since 1985. To increase its analytic power with respect to land cover changes, we developed an Environmental Fragility Mapping System (EFMS), using Google Earth Engine (GEE). Environmental fragility (EF) analysis has its origins in ecodynamics, and it is composed of potential environmental fragility (PEF) and emergent environmental fragility (EEF), arising from the effects of land-use and land-cover (LULC) changes on PEF. The main advantage of EF analysis over LULC analysis is its flexibility in evaluating multiple scenarios for different aspects of environmental challenges. In EFMS, we calculate three environmental fragility indexes: (i) potential fragility index (PFI), (ii) land cover fragility index (LCFI), and (iii) emergent fragility index (EFI). Combined with LULC change analysis from the MapBiomas Project, EFMS can provide spatial analysis and generate maps and data for environmental management.
Reliable callus-induced plantlet regeneration from leaf explants of Lagerstroemia speciosa and genetic fidelity assessment through ISSR markers
Authors: Wu Bin , Zhang Nicholas S , Dixon Benjamin , Sierra Ivan , Kan Sofya , Layton Alanna , Gu Mengmeng , Pooler Margaret R , Duan Hui , Qin Hongmin
Published: November 2023

Crapemyrtle (Lagerstroemia sp.) is the top-selling flowering tree in the U.S. However, threats from arthropod pests, including the recently emerged crapemyrtle bark scale (CMBS; Acanthococcus lagerstroemiae), severely jeopardize the aesthetic and production attributes of crapemyrtle. A tropical species, L. speciosa (L.) Pers. (“Queen's Crapemyrtle”) exhibits partial resistance to CMBS and other pests, but conventional breeding to incorporate the characteristics of L. speciosa into existing hybrids remains challenging. Recognizing the potential of tissue culture in facilitating molecular breeding, but also the possibility of undesirable somaclonal variations from in-vitro organogenesis, we utilized leaf explants of L. speciosa to develop a callus-induced regeneration protocol and assessed genetic fidelity of regenerated plantlets using inter-simple sequence repeat (ISSR) markers. Using woody plant medium (WPM) supplemented with 0.2 mg/L 2,4-D and 1.0 mg/L 6-BA achieved 97.9% callus induction. Shifting the growth regulators to 10.0 mg/L 6-BA and 0.5 mg/L NAA resulted in 32.4% of callus explants differentiating into adventitious buds. Finally, nodal segment proliferation (94.6%) and new shoot growth was maximized by using WPM supplemented with 1.0 mg/L 6-BA and 0.02 mg/L NAA. Explants rooted 100% using half-strength WPM supplemented with 0.2 mg/L IBA, and acclimatization survival was 98.3%. The ISSR primer analysis revealed 98.7% monomorphic markers, confirming the genetic integrity of the regenerated plantlets. We describe a reliable callus-induced regeneration system for L. speciosa, which will facilitate future molecular breeding and biotechnology to enhance cold hardiness, pest resistance, and other desired traits in this important genus.
Effect analysis of lauromacrogol foam injection under ultrasonic guidance for pediatric superficial lymphatic malformation
Authors: Li Keyao , Zhou Bin , Huang Wenya , Luo Yongqi , Liu Jinqiao , Wei Zhu , Zhang Litao
Published: November 2023

Objective To evaluate the efficacy and safety of ultrasound guided lauromacrogol foam sclerotherapy in the treatment of children’s superficial lymphatic malformation.
Methods Retrospectively analyzing 64 pediatric patients (36 male, 28 female), aged 3 months to 14 years, who underwent lauromacrogol foam sclerotherapy with ultrasonic guidance for superficial lymphatic malformation at Hunan Children's Hospital from March 2018 to November 2022, the study grouped patients into 18 macrocystic, 40 microcystic, and 6 mixed types. Pre-sclerotherapy evaluations included local ultrasound, blood routine, liver and kidney function, and coagulation tests. The surface anesthetic lidocaine cream was applied 30 minutes prior, followed by ultrasound-guided lymphatic malformation area localization, cyst fluid extraction, and lauromacrogol foam injection (lauromacrogol: air = 1:3; single dose < 20 ml) to fill the cyst cavity, with retention of the lauromacrogol stock solution (< 2 ml). Assessing drug dispersion in the cyst cavity via ultrasound and confirming high-echo gas filling, the follow-up period ranged from 3 to 12 months, with evaluations on clinical manifestations, imaging data, treatment efficacy, and complications.
Results The children received treatment 2-6 times, with an average of 4 treatments per case. A total of thirty-three cases(51.56%) achieved complete remission, while twenty-eight(43.75%) cases showed significant improvement. Three cases failed to respond and subsequently underwent surgical resection. The overall efficacy rate was determined to be 95.31%. Early edema occurred in five cases, localized skin pigmentation in one case, thrombotic superficial vein inflammation in two cases, and transient cough in one case. None of the children experienced serious complications such as allergic reactions, deep vein thrombosis or pulmonary embolism, skin necrosis or discoloration, chest tightness or other cardiopulmonary issues.
Conclusions The utilization of ultrasound-guided foam sclerotherapy with lauromacrogol represents a secure and efficacious approach for managing lymphatic malformations in pediatric patients.
Anomalous optical resonance on supramolecularly chiral metaspheres with a swirl topology
Authors: Yamamoto Yohei , Oki Osamu , Lin Wenbo , Nakayama Sota , Yamagishi Hiroshi , Sasaki Fumio , Iwamoto Satoshi
Published: November 2023

The optics of topological structures have progressed, with the expectation of unprecedented spatiotemporal control of light. Micrometre-scale spheres with a mesoscopic molecular order, as represented by liquid crystalline (LC) droplets, occupy a unique position owing to the prominent appearance of a nontrivial topological surface. However, because of the lack of material rigidity, comprehensive studies on the optical impacts arising from topological spherical textures have not yet been achieved. Here, we show mechanically and optically robust chiral polymer microspheres with mesoscopic supramolecular swirl textures that display anomalous optical resonance behaviours. Spatially resolved hyperspectral camera imaging reveals that the whispering gallery modes (WGMs) on the metasphere surface are azimuthally anisotropic and localize along a diagonal path in an asymmetric manner. Reconstructed polarized fluorescence microscope images clearly visualize the swirl arrangement of polymers at the surface, which explains the azimuthally selective WGMs and their wavelength dependency. These findings expand two-dimensional metasurface studies to quasi-three-dimensional non-Euclidean planes and open up the possibility of anisotropic control of light and directional radiation of WGM lasers.
Real life data and outcome of FOLFIRINOX use in metastatic pancreatic cancer patients in general hospitals in the Netherlands
Authors: Haberkorn B. , Hoogendijk Lotte , Loosveld Olaf , Thijs A. M.J. , Verstijnen J.
Published: November 2023

Introduction
Pancreatic cancer is one of the five most common causes of cancer mortality in developed countries. In patients with metastatic disease, the most frequent treatment used is FOLFIRINOX, which is associated with moderate toxicity which could influence quality of life. The efficacy of FOLFIRINOX in a general population in the Netherlands hasn’t been subject of research before and therefore this research has been set up in order to investigate what the real-life benefits of FOLFIRINOX are in a population with metastatic pancreatic cancer (mPC) treated in a general hospital in the Netherlands.
Methods
The data used in this study was collected by patient records leading to a noninterventional retrospective cohort study. Ninety-two patients, over 18 years of age, diagnosed with mPC between the years 2015 and 2022 and treated with FOLFIRINOX at Maasstad hospital in Rotterdam, Amphia hospital in Breda or Catharina hospital in Eindhoven were included in the study. Kaplan-Meier models were used in order to represent survival outcomes
Results
Results showed, a median overall survival of 228 days (IQR118-351) and a median progression-free survival of 122 days (IQR 72–209). Only 14.1% (n = 13) completed the full first-line treatment and 50% (n = 46) of patients stopped treatment before or during cycle 6. Toxicity is highest, grade 3, after the first cycle but remains high for grade 1 and 2 during all treatment cycles.
Conclusion
Survival rates for patient with metastatic pancreatic cancer treated with FOLFIRINOX were worse in our study population than in comparative studies
Opportunities and barriers for promoting biodiversity in Danish beef production
Authors: Ejrnaes R. , Dalby L , Bladt J. , Søndergaard S. , Dümke L. , Fløjgaard C. , Bruun L. , Ejrnaes D. , Moeslund J. E. , Bruun H. H.
Published: November 2023

Despite being a key process in ecosystems, natural grazing is rare, whereas abandonment and overgrazing frequently results in loss of threatened species. Here, we evaluate a biodiversity-promotion strategy of a Danish beef producing company involving nature conservation by livestock grazing. Using field surveys, a national biodiversity map and interviews with livestock farmers, we evaluate the potential nature conservation by farmers committed to a conservation grazing scheme. We found that most farmers practiced summer-grazing, primarily grazed areas of low conservation value, and with stocking rates far above carrying capacity. We conclude that a conservation grazing beef brand will only have real value for threatened and habitat-typical species if committed and held accountable to a scientifically informed grazing scheme. Our results point to agricultural traditions, regulations, and economic incentives as responsible for the observed obstruction of a beneficial natural grazing practice. Hence, the results of this study call for a critical and scientifically informed approach to future land-sharing policies.
Global research trends on temperature management in critical ill: a visualization analysis
Authors: Meng Chang , Wang Shufang , Bai Ying , Sun Jing , Chen Lijuan , Li Jie , Miao Guobin , Liu Peng
Published: November 2023

Background
Temperature management has been shown to be important in different diseases, and our study analyzes the research trends and future directions of temperature management in critically ill patients.
Methods
Literatures in our study were searched from the Web of Science core collection database (WoSCC), timeline was confined from the earliest time of the database to the latest time of literature search (October 22, 2023). R-studio and Citespace were used to perform the visualization analysis.
Results
A total of 529 publications from the WoSCC were analyzed. According to our research, there has been a rapid increase in publications since 2013. The largest number of articles produced by corresponding authors in the United States is as high as 161. Resuscitation had the highest number of publications among journals worldwide, with 23 publications representing 4.59% of all publications. Most of the keywords were related to cardiac arrest, critical care, hypothermia, targeted temperature management and therapeutic hypothermia. Latest burst words are neuron specific enolase, prognostication, septic shock and ambient temperature. This suggests that there may be more groundbreaking reports in these directions.
Conclusions
Temperature management is crucial in the clinical treatment of critically ill patients. Future studies should analyze more aspects of specific implementation in different diseases that can be controlled by temperature management target temperature, treatment timing, induction mode, induction speed, duration, rewarming mode and speed.