bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The hidden factors of regional prevalence of intussusception in children under two years: Interdisciplinary examination using exploratory geostatistical analysis
Authors: Dixit Shikha , Das Manoja Kumar , Ramadugu Durga Chitra , Arora Narendra Kumar , Group The INCLEN Intussusception Surveillance Network Study
Published: June 2023

Both developed and developing countries carry a large burden of pediatric intussusception. Epidemiological studies conducted so far have highlighted the huge difference in the regional prevalence of intussusception cases. Through the lens of interdisciplinary exploratory geospatial analysis this manuscript attempts to relook at the regional prevalence data reported from the hospital based sentinel surveillance. The objectives of this study are to see the geospatial pattern of the hospital confirmed childhood intussusception, to check the geospatial pattern of cases and assessment of the potential reasons behind the existing geospatial pattern. Study utilizes address information of the cases documented in the INCLEN’s intussusception surveillance study (n 2221) conducted in between 2010 and 2017 after removing the personal identifiers. Majority of cases were concentrated in geographical clusters (Moran’s- I index 0.071 at the statistically significant (p value < 0.0010) Z score of 16.147. Out of the 2221 locations (residence of children with intussusception) across the country, 14 locations (6 in Kerala and 8 in Tamil Nadu) emerged as the hotspots (95% CI). Geostatistical analysis at the granular scale indicated that the 67% of the reported cases resided within < 50 km distance from the hospitals and average distance travelled by the patients to the sentinel hospital site was ~ 47 kms (CI 95%: min1km- max 378 km). The potential cause of the higher caseloads from a few sentinel sites were facility preference. We recommend designing community based surveillance studies for building better understanding of the incidence and epidemiological burden of intussusception.
Hydrogen sulfide maintains redox homeostasis and suppresses ganoderic acids biosynthesis under heat stress via S-sulfhydrating thioredoxin 1 in Ganoderma lucidum
Authors: Shangguan Jiaolei , Han Xiaofei , Qiao Jinjin , Qiu Hao , Liu He , Liu Rui , Ren Ang , Shi Liang , Zhu Jing , Zhao Mingwen
Published: June 2023

Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) is considered to be a novel gaseous signalling molecule with multiple physiological functions. Recently, the identification of sulfhydrated proteins has become a new hotspot in the analysis of the underlying mechanism of H2S. Our preliminary study has shown that H2S negatively regulates the heat-induced accumulation of ganoderic acids (GAs)，a major secondary metabolite in Ganoderma lucidum. However, a comprehensive understanding of its mechanism is lacking. In this study, sulfhydrated proteins in G. lucidum were quantified by quantitative proteomic mass spectrometry (MS), and the role of H2S in maintaining redox homeostasis under heat stress (HS) was determined. A redox-regulated protein, thioredoxin 1 (Trx1), was selected as a potential target of H2S. Further research revealed that the activity of Trx1 was provoked by sulfhydration at Cys31 and Cys34, contributing to the negative regulation of H2S to ROS accumulation and GAs biosynthesis under HS in G. lucidum. Our results provide a novel target for investigating the molecular mechanism of H2S physiological function. Moreover, new evidence is provided regarding the interaction mechanism between the H2S and ROS signalling pathways.
TERT RNAscope analysis of papillary thyroid carcinomas ≤1cm and synchronous lymph node metastases.
Authors: Eich Marie-Lisa , Jeske Wiebke , Zenz Uschi , Chiapponi Costanza , Alidousty Christina , Merkelbach-Bruse Sabine , Buettner Reinhard , Schultheis Anne Maria
Published: June 2023

Introduction Small papillary thyroid cacinomas measuring ≤ 1 cm usually have a good prognosis, however in a significant number of cases lymph node metastases can be observed.Material and Methods 22 cases of papillary thyroid carcinomas ≤ 1 cm with synchronous lymph node metastases were examined regarding morphological patterns and immunohistochemical status of p53 and Ki-67. Immunohistochemical BRAF V660E status was examined in primary tumors, whereas TERT alterations in lymph node metastases were evaluated by RNAScope®.Results Morphological patterns were heterogeneous in both primary tumors and lymph node metastases. Proliferation indices measured by Ki-67 were low. Both primary and lymph node metastases were wild type for p53 by immunohistochemical analysis. No lymph node metastasis showed TERT expression by RNAScope®.Discussion Our data indicate that TERT aberrations are not involved in the development of early lymph node metastasis in patients with PTC measuring ≤ 1cm.
Two-bit Analog to Digital Converter based on Acoustic Directional Coupler
Authors: Tahriri Kimiya , Bahrami Ali , Motaei Farzaneh
Published: June 2023

This study explores the novel application of a solid-state phononic crystal (PnC)-based analog-to-digital converter (ADC). To ensure a ripple-free output, a coupler is utilized, enabling 2-bit quantization. As the input amplitude increases, the structure exhibits non-linear behavior. This non-linearity emerges from an augmented displacement gradient, resulting in a corresponding alteration in mass density. The phononic crystal matrix consists of a 13×20 array of iron rods embedded within a PMMA host material. The system operates at a frequency of 67.5 kHz. A directional coupler is utilized to direct the emitted wave. For the designed model, we have considered transmission less than 0.3 to be logically equivalent to "0" and more than that to be logically equivalent to "1". Also, in order for both outputs to be on, transmission from 0.4 to 0.6 is equivalent to " 1" we have considered. The manufacturing tolerance of the converter is 0.03.
DosePatch: Physics-Inspired cropping layout for Patch-based Monte Carlo simulations to provide fast and accurate internal dosimetry
Authors: De Benetti Francesca , Brosch-Lenz Julia , González Jorge Mario Guerra , Uribe Carlos , Eiber Matthias , Navab Nassir , Wendler Thomas
Published: June 2023

Background: Dosimetry-based personalized therapy was shown to have clinical benefits e.g. in liver selective internal radiation therapy (SIRT). Yet, there is no consensus about its introduction into clinical practice, mainly as Monte Carlo simulations (gold standard for dosimetry) involve massive computation time. We addressed the problem of computation time and tested a patch-based approach for Monte Carlo simulations for internal dosimetry to improve parallelization. We introduce a physics-inspired cropping layout for patch-based MC dosimetry, and compare it to cropping layouts of the literature as well as dosimetry using organ-S-values, and dose kernels, taking whole-body Monte Carlo simulations as ground truth. This was evaluated in five patients receiving Yttrium-90 liver SIRT.
Results: The patch-based Monte Carlo approach yielded the closest results to the ground truth, making it a valid alternative to the conventional approach. Our physics-inspired cropping layout and mosaicking scheme yielded a voxel-wise error of ≈ 3% compared to whole-body Monte Carlo in soft tissue, while requiring only ≈ 10% of the time.
Conclusions: This work demonstrates the feasibility and accuracy of physics-inspired cropping layouts for patch-based Monte Carlo simulations.
The Effect of Nursing Educators’ Cultural Competence on Health Promotion in Society: A Systematic Review
Authors: Majnoon Sahand , Lotfi Mojgan
Published: June 2023

Introduction
Cultural care is an essential aspect of nursing as a holistic profession. Culture influences individuals’ health behaviours, so nurses should be attentive to cultural diversity. Health promotion and disease prevention are among the main goals of nursing and caring disciplines. Nursing educators play a vital role in transferring cultural care knowledge and skills that can enhance health promotion in society. This study aimed to review the literature on the impact of nursing educators’ cultural competence on social health.
Methods
This was a review study that searched library resources and the PubMed, Google Scholar, Scopus, and Web of Science (WOS) databases using the keywords cultural competence, nursing educators, culture, and health promotion. The search yielded 447 articles published from 1990 to 2023. Out of these, 21 articles that addressed culture, cultural competence, and health promotion were selected after an initial screening and evaluation.
Results
Due to the breadth and importance of the topic, the results were presented in seven sections, and the different dimensions of the topic were discussed according to the research questions. Specifically, the researchers explored culture and its impact on health and care in the first section, defined transcultural nursing in the second section, examined cultural competence and its definitions in the third section, investigated the significance of cultural competence among nursing educators in the fourth section, assessed the cultural competence status of nursing educators in Iran and the world in the fifth section, and analysed the concept of health promotion and the effect of nursing educators’ cultural competence in the sixth and seventh sections, respectively.
Conclusion
Culture-based care provision is crucial for promoting health in society. The cultural competence of nursing educators as the transmitters of this knowledge is highly important. Several studies on health promotion and disease prevention have highlighted this issue. The main findings of these studies have been summarized in this review.
Combined effect of artificial cervical disc replacement and facet tropism on the index-level facet joints: a finite element study
Authors: Rong Xin , Li Jing , Zhang Junqi , Wang Beiyu , Huang Kangkang , Liu Hao
Published: June 2023

Objective
The purpose of this study was to assess the impact of facet tropism on the facet contact force and facet capsule strain after artificial cervical disc replacement (ACDR).
Methods
A finite element model was constructed from computed tomography (CT) scans of a 28-year-old male volunteer. Symmetrical, moderate asymmetrical (7 degrees tropism), and severe asymmetrical (14 degrees tropism) models were created at the C5/C6 level. C5/C6 ACDR was simulated in all models. A 75 N follower load and 1 N⋅m moment was applied to the odontoid process to initiate flexion, extension, lateral bending, and axial rotation, and the range of motions, facet contact forces, and facet capsule strains were recorded.
Results
In the severe asymmetrical model, the right-side FCF increased considerably under extension, right bending, and left rotation compared with the symmetrical model after C5/C6 ACDR. The ride-side FCFs of the severe asymmetrical model under extension, right bending, and left rotation were about 1.7, 3.1, and 1.8 times of those of the symmetrical model, respectively. The facet capsule strains of both the moderate and severe asymmetrical models increased significantly compared with those of the symmetrical model after C5/C6 ACDR. The left-side capsule strains of the severe asymmetrical model were 2.1, 2.4, 1.6, and 8.5 times of those of the symmetrical model under left bending, right bending, left rotation, and right rotation, respectively. The right-side capsule strains of the severe asymmetrical model were 6.3, 1.6, 3.7, and 2.2 times of those of the symmetrical model under left bending, right bending, left rotation, and right rotation, respectively. The stress distribution on the facet surface in the asymmetrical models was different from that in the symmetrical model.
Conclusions
The existence of facet tropism could considerably increase facet contact force and facet capsule strain after ACDR, especially under extension, lateral bending, and rotation. Facet tropism also could result in abnormal stress distribution on the facet joint surface and facet joint capsule. Such abnormality might be a risk factor for post-operative facet joint degeneration progression after ACDR, making facet tropism noteworthy when ACDR was considered as the surgical option.
Allometric Scaling Inspection Through Figurate Numbers
Authors: Adiguzel Yekbun
Published: June 2023

Allometric scaling is a widely-studied, and discussed phenomena in biology that relates the parameters with a power function. There is still space for further investigation. Accordingly, the relationship is aimed to be explained for the first time in this work, through the figurate numbers, specifically the triangular, square, pentagonal, and hexagonal numbers. These mathematical series have not been considered in terms of a possible relation with allometric scaling, which is a mathematical relation in essence. We formulated the possible means of the relation of these figurate numbers with allometric scaling and suggested that their utilization can end up in different exponents and constant multipliers at varying scaling ranges. We also discussed further implications and exemplified the possible association with the blood flow-related metabolic rate adaptation. It is revealed that figurate numbers are having an inherent relation with the allometric scaling.
Intersectionality in transnational English teaching: Exploring the dynamics of privilege and disadvantage in Korean ELT
Authors: Kudaibergenov Meerbek
Published: June 2023

This article explores the niche occupied by transnational English teachers within the context of Korean ELT. Employing intersectionality theory as an analytic framework, the study examines the experiences of Leo (pseudonym), a German national who taught English in Korea circumventing legal restrictions against non-native English-speaking teachers. Through an analysis of Leo's narrative, this research elucidates the complex dynamics of privilege and disadvantage prevalent in the Korean ELT industry. The findings underscore the significance of nationality, race, and marital status in securing a teaching position, revealing a persistent preference for Caucasian teachers and the perpetuation of White supremacy in ELT. Leo's experiences shed light on broader issues of power imbalances, exploitation, and identity tensions that transnational teachers encounter. These findings contribute to a nuanced understanding of the niche occupied by transnational English teachers and provide insights for the development of inclusive and equitable policies and practices in foreign language education.
Impact assessment of relative effectiveness of Ascorbic acid, Salicylic acid and orange juice on soybean cultivar (Glycine Max. L.) under temperature acclimated UV radiation stress
Authors: Arsule Anuja Anil , Nigam Bhavna , Chaudhary Indra Jeet
Published: June 2023

Increasing composition of gaseous pollutant derived by anthropogenic activity disturbed natural atmospheric gaseous composition and deplete the stratospheric ozone layer. Major consequences of this depletion are increase incidents of harmful UV-B radiations reaching to terrestrial surface. Plants being permanent tool to removed harmful effect of solar radiation. Plants use sunlight as primary energy sources, therefore the small increase in UV-B radiation is recognized as harmful for plants. Many studies have shown that solar UV-B radiation causes significantly effect on morphological, physiological and yield components the plant. Therefore the present study conducted for assessment of relative effectiveness of Ascorbic acid, Salicylic acid and orange juice on soybean cultivar (Glycine Max. L.) under temperature acclimated UV radiation stress. Resultants ambient UV radiation caused harmful effect to soybean cultivar and reduce plant biomass 36% at juvenile stage and 40% at vegetative stage as compared to UV filter treatment. The effectiveness of Ascorbic acid, Salicylic acid and orange juice was following the trends 40%OJ > 20%OJ > 50ppm AA > 100ppm AA > 100ppm SA > 50ppm SA as compared to control plant. Based on obtained results orange juice and synthetic ascorbic acid will be useful tool for assessment of harmful effect of UV radiation on plants.
Exploration of the spiritual expectations of patients in a Swiss hemodialysis center
Authors: Mastrangelo Simon , Rochat Etienne , Pruijm Menno
Published: June 2023

Background
Previous American studies suggest that dialysis patients want caregivers to discuss spirituality and mobilize appropriate spiritual resources. Whether this also applies to the Swiss dialysis population, and whether patients' spiritual experiences contribute to their coping mechanisms is unknown. The goal of this pilot study is therefore to explore the spiritual expectations of hemodialysis patients in a Swiss dialysis center.
Methods
A qualitative study was conducted. Semi-structured interviews were performed by an experienced sociologist with dialysis patients in the ambulatory chronic dialysis unit of the University Hospital of Lausanne, Switzerland. The interviews included a set of pre-defined, open questions based on SPIR and HOPE, two validated tools to assess spirituality. The questions included three themes: the role that spirituality plays in patients’ life, in (coping with) their illness and in the recent COVID-19 epidemic. All interviews were recorded, transcribed, and then coded and analyzed following the approach of content analysis.
Results
Interviews took place between February and June 2022. The mean age of the 20 participants was 62.5 years (min 30-max 86), 40% were female. In total 14/20 (70%) patients practiced some form of religion (believers), 4 were agnostics, and 2 defined themselves as atheist. The majority of participants of this study (75%) consider that spirituality can play a positive role to preserve hope and to manage the difficulties caused by the disease and its treatment. The need for spiritual guidance is however not among the patients’ most urgent needs. Although some of them are open to the possibility of spiritual guidance within the hemodialysis unit, none of them expressed this as a formal expectation. Research participants’ level of spirituality and spiritual practice have generally not been significantly impacted by their changing health status, or the recent COVID-19 pandemic. The most frequently mentioned needs are related to social dimensions (isolation, loneliness, need to talk, financial problems).
Conclusions
In this pilot study, the majority of Swiss dialysis patients did not express the wish to discuss more often spiritual issues with dialysis caregivers, but they would appreciate more attention for social and socio-economic difficulties.
Machine Learning for Detecting Trends and Topics from Research Papers and Proceedings in Biomedical Literature
Authors: Dixon Jose , Rahman Md Mahmudur
Published: June 2023

The work presents robust statistical and exploratory analysis to demonstrate the effects of performances of machine learning (ML) classifiers and sampling techniques in document datasets. 1,000 portable document format (PDF) files are divided into five labels from the World Health Organization COVID-19 Research Downloadable Articles and PubMed Central databases for positive and negative papers. PDF files are converted into unstructured raw text files and pre-processed before tokenization. Training size and subsampling were varied experimentally to determine their effect on the performance measures, such as accuracy, precision, recall, and AUC. Supervised classification is performed using the Random Forest, Naïve Bayes, Decision Tree, XGBoost, and Logistic Regression. Imbalanced sampling techniques are implemented using the Synthetic Minority Oversampling Technique, Random Oversampling, Random Undersampling, TomekLinks, and NearMiss to address the problem of distribution of positive and negative samples. R and the tidyverse are used to conduct statistical and exploratory data analysis on performance metrics. The ML classifiers achieve an average precision score of 78% and a recall score of 77%, while the sampling techniques have higher average precision and recall scores of 80% and 81%, respectively. Correcting imbalanced sampling supplied significant p-values from NearMiss, ROS, and SMOTE for precision and recall scores. This work has shown with statistical significance including the analysis of variance (ANOVA) that training size variation, subsampling, and imbalanced sampling techniques with ML algorithms can improve performances in document datasets.
Influence of parameters on performance characteristics and defects during laser micro drilling of titanium alloys using RSM
Authors: Chatterjee Suman , Mahapatra Siba Sankar , Xu Jinyang , Brabazon Dermot
Published: June 2023

Titanium (Ti) and its alloys have received significant attention in recent years, particularly for applications in the medical science, automobile, and aerospace sectors. Drilling is used for around 40 percent to 60 percent of an aeronautical product's material removal processes. Non-conventional machining can be considered to obtain an optimal quality of drilled holes. The present study has employed a pulsed Nd:YAG laser having 250 W average power to perform the micro-drilling on titanium alloy of 0.45 mm thick sheet. The study focuses on determining the impact of laser parameters (gas pressure (4 ~ 8 bar), laser input current (200 ~ 260 A), pulse width (4 ~ 8 ms), and pulse repetition rate (1 ~ 7 Hz)) on performance characteristics during micro drilling on a thin foil of titanium alloy having 0.45 mm thickness. To evaluate the quality of micro-drilled holes, aspects, e.g., circularity, spatter area, and taper, have been considered. The response surface methodology based on the design of experiment technique was employed to estimate the influence of parameters on performance characteristics with the least number of experiments. The study indicates that assistant gas pressure, pulse width, and laser input current are the essential parameters in taper formation and spatter deposition. The study suggests that the increase in pulse repetition rate and pulse width improves the circularity of the hole. The electron micrography of the drilled holes helps to determine the development of the heat-affected zone (HAZ) and micro-crack near drilled holes. The presented research provides a new understanding of how the process parameters contribute to HAZ development, crack occurrence and intensity.
Robust acceleration of Earth system heating observed over the past six decades
Authors: Minière Audrey , von Schuckmann Karina , Sallée Jean-Baptiste
Published: June 2023

Global heating of the Earth system is unequivocal. However, detecting an acceleration of Earth heating has remained elusive to date, despite suggestive evidence of a potential increase in heating rates. In this study, we demonstrate that since 1960, the warming of the world ocean has accelerated at a relatively consistent pace of 0.15±0.02 W/m2/decade, while the land, cryosphere, and atmosphere have exhibited an acceleration pace of 0.013±0.002 W/m2/decade. This has led to a substantial increase in ocean warming, with a magnitude of 0.82±0.47 W/m2 between the decades 1960-1970 and 2010-2020, which overlays significant decadal-scale variability in ocean warming of up to 0.6 W/m2. Our findings withstand a wide range of sensitivity analyses and are consistent across different observation-based datasets. The long-term acceleration of Earth warming aligns qualitatively with the rise in CO2 concentrations and the decline in aerosol concentration during the same period, but further investigations are necessary to properly attribute these changes.
"What is work?”: Perspectives of low-income young adults who use psychoactive substances and participate in a harm reduction-based low-threshold work program
Authors: Guilhon Ana Cecilia Villela , Bertrand Karine , Wagner Vincent , Haig Thomas , Goyette Martin
Published: June 2023

Background. Young adults in situations of social precarity are more exposed to the risks associated with both unemployment and psychoactive substance use. Low-threshold work is a promising alternative for this cohort, yet it has been little studied to date. This qualitative study describes the significance of both work in general and low-threshold work for these individuals.
Methods. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 23 young adults who had participated in a low-threshold work program. The interviews were transcribed and subsequently analyzed thematically, filtered through a life course theory perspective.
Results. Participants defined “work” as remunerated activity carried out within a formalized framework. The meanings they ascribed to work were somewhat negative, marked by prior experiences of abuse and exploitation. Precarious living conditions were also difficult to reconcile with the routines of full-time employment. However, a different set of meanings was ascribed to low-threshold work. Beyond representing temporary economic relief, it was experienced positively on a number of fronts and categorized by participants as distinctive from what they called “real work.”
Conclusion. Low-threshold work as a harm reduction-based intervention strategy presents a number of potential benefits that include the chance to form lasting relationships, gain exposure to enjoyable work, and be supported in a process of change liable to promote the achievement of certain goals. A broadened definition of work that extends beyond the notion of productivity, as is programs like TAPAJ, could thus provide young people in situations of social precarity with more rewarding income-generating opportunities in addition to fostering feelings of achievement.
Molecular and clinicopathological characteristics of EGFR gene fusions in 35,023 Chinese patients with solid tumors
Authors: Zhang Haiping , Wang Wuping , Li Xiaoxiao , Zhang Dongfeng , Qi Yingxue , He Qianru , Zhang Qin , Luo Ningning , Sun Tingting , Qi Chuang , Wang Xiaoou , Wang Tuo
Published: June 2023

Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) fusions are rare but potentially actionable oncogenic drivers across multiple solid tumors. Here, we assessed the incidence of EGFR fusions and described their impact on prognosis in solid tumors. Panel-based next-generation sequencing (NGS) data of 35,023 patients with different types of solid tumors were collected and analyzed from the Simcere Diagnostics (Nanjing, China) database. A 9563-patient cohort was derived from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) to explore the relationship between EGFR fusion status and overall survival (OS). In our cohort, 0.303% (106/35016) of patients harbored EGFR fusions. The frequencies of EGFR fusions were different in diverse tumor types, ranging from 0.034–1.613%. Gastroesophageal junction cancer had the highest frequency of fusion (1.613%), followed by medatloblastoma (1.515%) and glioma (1.370%). The fusion partner gene is also different in various cancer types. The top 3 genes that comutated with EGFR fusion were TP53 (mutation frequency, MF: 65%), BRCA2 (MF: 43%), and ALK (MF: 41%). In the TCGA cohort, patients in the EGFR fusion group had a significantly shorter OS than those in the non-EGFR fusion group (p < 0.0001), suggesting that EGFR fusion might be a high-risk factor for poor prognosis. Our study is the first retrospective analysis of EGFR fusions in a large-scale solid tumor population, which may provide a reference for future EGFR-TKI clinical trials with EGFR fusions.
Posaconazole and risk of cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma after lung transplantation: a single institution, retrospective cohort study
Authors: Kuklinski Lawrence F. , Klomhaus Alexandra M. , Shen Amy , Achamallah Natalie , Soriano Teresa T. , Saggar Rajan , Weigt Stephen S.
Published: June 2023

The antifungal voriconazole is often used to reduce the risk of invasive fungal infection after lung transplantation but is associated with an increased risk of cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) in this population. The risk of post-transplant SCC related to posaconazole remains incompletely understood. To evaluate the post-transplant risk of SCC related to posaconazole, we created cohorts of lung transplant recipients were created post-transplant antifungal protocol including universal posaconazole prophylaxis (UAP-P), universal voriconazole prophylaxis (UAP-V), and targeted prophylaxis (TAP) with overall low antifungal use. Cumulative incidence of SCC in the UAP-V cohort was higher than either the TAP or UAP-P cohorts but did not differ between the UAP-P and TAP cohorts. In multivariate analysis, the hazard ratio for SCC was not statistically significantly different between the UAP-P and TAP cohorts (hazard ratio = 0.86, p = 0.6294), but was twice as high for the UAP-V cohort compared to the TAP cohort (hazard ratio = 2.06, p = 0.0111). Posaconazole does not appear to be associated with increased risk of SCC after lung transplantation.
Sodium aescinate reduces the incidence of Prolonged postoperative ileus after open surgery of advanced gastric cancer
Authors: Liu Yu , Sui Chao , Tao Liang , wang Meng
Published: June 2023

Background
Prolonged postoperative ileus (PPOI) is one of the common complication postoperative complications of gastric cancer (GC) surgery, with limited preventive and treatment options currently available. This study aims to investigate the therapeutic efficacy of sodium aescinate in managing PPOI and identifying the related risk factors of PPOI in GC patients.
Methods
A total of 121 patients with advanced GC were enrolled and assigned to two groups to receive sodium aescinate or no treatment. Univariate and multivariate analyses were used to identify the PPOI-related risk factors in postoperative GC patients.
Results
The study revealed that postoperative sodium aescinate treatment independently served as a protective factor against PPOI (OR = 0.25, CI: 0.07–0.86, P = 0.028). Furthermore, the incidence of PPOI was significantly lower in patients who received sodium aescinate treatment compared to those who did not (15/66 VS 4/55, P = 0.020).
Conclusions
Postoperative administration of sodium aescinate reduces the occurrence of PPOI in patients with advanced GC.
Comparative proteomics analysis of the responses to cigarette smoke particulate matter in six plant species leaves
Authors: Permana Bayu Hadi , Nookongbut Phitthaya , Krobthong Sucheewin , Yingchutrakul Yodying , Saithong Treenut , Thiravetyan Paitip , Treesubsuntorn Chairat
Published: June 2023

Phytoremediation has been recognized to reduce particulate matter (PM) concentration in the air. Plant stress response plays a crucial role in PM removal. In this study, six plants including ornamental and perennial plants were exposed to PM from cigarette smoke for 24 hours. Ornamental plants were Calathea makoyana, Sansevieria trifasciata, and Zamioculcas zamiifolia, where perennial plants Bauhina purpurea, Tectona grandi, and Wrightia religiosa. The initial concentration of PM was 300–320, 400–450, and 500–530 µg m− 3 for PM1.0, PM2.5, and PM10, respectively. The plant response of each plant was compared to determine the plant response of each group and plant against PM stress. The results showed that all plants have different protein expressions. Ornamental plants showed more enrichment in photosynthesis and antioxidant enzymes, whereas perennial plants were in photosynthesis, an antioxidant enzyme, and carbon metabolism. The results suggest the plant response of each plant of an ornamental and perennial plant. This proteomics approach was useful for future studies, especially for phytoremediation.
Healthy Life Skills and Related Factors Among University Students: A Cross-Sectional Study in İstanbul, Turkey
Authors: Rashidi Mahruk , Karaman Funda , Yıldırım Gülay , Genç Aslı , Jafarov Gülşah Ünsal , Çakmak Sultan
Published: June 2023

Background:Chronic non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are the leading cause of global deaths. Unhealthy lifestyle choices contribute significantly to the development of NCDs. University students, in particular, are considered a high-risk population for NCDs due to the transitional phase they experience. Adopting and maintaining healthy behaviors during this period is crucial for their overall well-being and future health outcomes.Aims:This study was conducted to determine healthy life skills in university students.Methods:A cross-sectional study was conducted at a university in Istanbul. A questionnaire measuring healthy life skills was administered. Data were analyzed using various statistical tests, including chi-squared tests, t-tests, Mann-Whitney U test, one-way ANOVA test, univariate, and regression analysis. The significance level for all statistical tests was set at p < 0.05.Results:A total of 547 students participated in the study. The mean age of the participants was 21.6±2.9 years, with 51.4% male and 48.6% female students. The average score for healthy life skills was 63.5 out of 84. Significant differences were found in the scores based on marital status, economic income, social security insurance coverage, and educational grade. Students who reported alcohol and smoking consumption had lower scores.Conclusion:The study revealed that university students in Istanbul possess a satisfactory level of healthy life skills. By providing social support, such as expanding the coverage of social security insurance and establishing conducive educational environments, while also paying attention to the influence of peers on students, we can contribute to the development of healthy life skills in university students.
Identification of protein-degraders in an anaerobic digester by protein stable isotope probing combined with metagenomics
Authors: Deng Zhe , Poulsen Jan Struckmann , Nielsen Jeppe Lund , Weissbrodt David G. , Spanjers Henri , Lier Jules B.
Published: June 2023

BackgroundPresence of carbohydrates hampers protein degradation in anaerobic digesters. To understand this phenomenon, we used proteogenomics to identify the active protein-degraders in the presence of low and high carbohydrates concentrations. Active metabolic pathways of the identified protein-degraders were investigated using proteomics with13C-protein substrates (protein stable isotope probing).ResultsAcinetobacterwas identified as the main protein-degraders under both protein-fed and protein-glucose mixture-fed conditions. The incorporation of the13C-labelled protein substrate was predominantly observed in outer membrane-bound proteins and porin proteins, which are associated with proteinases or the transportation of amino acids across the cell wall. TheAcinetobactermetabolic model and the incubation conditions suggested that glucose and proteins were degraded through anaerobic respiration.ConclusionsThe unfavourable effect of the presence of carbohydrates on protein biodegradation was attributed toAcinetobacter’s preference for substrate. This work highlights that efficient degradation of protein and carbohydrate mixtures in anaerobic digesters requires a staged or time-phased approach and enrichment of active protein-degraders.
Clinical significance of TMEM229A Q200del mutation in lung adenocarcinoma
Authors: Liang Yixian , Xie Yanping , Yu Huanming , Zhu Wenjuan , Yin Chengyi , Zhang Xilin , Dong Zhaohui
Published: June 2023

Lung adenocarcinoma is one of the major histopathological subtype of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), including solid, acinar, lepidic, papillary and micropapillary subtypes. Increasing evidence had showed that micropapillary lung adenocarcinoma was positively associated with higher incidence of metastasis and poorer prognosis, while lepidic lung adenocarcinoma had a relatively better prognosis. However, the key alteration signatures and its role in micropapillary lung adenocarcinoma progression are not exactly determined. Here, 181 patients with lung adenocarcinoma who underwent surgery in the First Affiliated Hospital of Huzhou University from January 2016 and December 2020 were retrospectively enrolled. And three lepidic and three micropapillary lung adenocarcinoma samples were sequenced using whole-exome sequencing. More comprehensively analyze genomic variations between lepidic and micropapillary lung adenocarcinoma was performed. In addition, TMEM229A Q200del mutation was verified using our cohort and The Cancer Genome Atlas-Lung Adenocarcinoma (TCGA-LUAD) datasets. The correlations between TMEM229AQ200del mutation and clinicopathological characteristics of patients with lung adenocarcinoma were further analyzed. The functions of TMEM229A Q200del in H23 cell proliferation and migration were also determined. As expected, the frequency of genomic alteration signatures in patients with micropapillary lung adenocarcinoma was higher than that in lepidic lung adenocarcinoma. Mutations in EGFR, ATXN2, C14orf180, MUC12, NOTCH1 and PKD1L2 were concomitantly detected in three micropapillary and three lepidic lung adenocarcinoma cases. But TMEM229A Q200del mutation was only mutated in lepidic lung adenocarcinoma. Additionally, TMEM229AQ200del mutation was observed in 16 cases (8.8%) of our cohort, while TMEM229A mutations (R76H, Q200del and M346T) accounted for approximately 1.0% of cases in TCGA-LUAD cohorts. Further correlation analysis between TMEM229AQ200del mutation and clinicopathological characteristics suggested that lower frequency of Q200del mutation was significantly associated with gender, positive of lymph node metastasis, advanced TNM stage, positive of cancer thrombus and pathological patterns. Finally, forced overexpression of TMEM229AQ200del markedly suppressed H23 cell proliferation and migration in vitro. In summary, our results demonstrated that TMEM229AQ200del mutation plays a protective role in the progression of lung adenocarcinoma, which could be helpful in developing a novel therapeutic target in lung adenocarcinoma.
Examining Sociodemographic Disparities in Maternal Health in Brooklyn via an Obstetric Outcomes Database
Authors: Tang TzeYin , Smith Michelle , Kernizan Faradia , Friedman Monica , Afable Aimee , Pardo Christina , Clare Camille A.
Published: June 2023

BACKGROUND
Socioeconomic inequities in obstetrics, which manifest as differential rates of maternal adverse events, have been elucidated in past studies. Our obstetric database was created to examine the link between social determinants of health (SDOH) and maternal outcomes in our community in Central Brooklyn, New York, which consists predominantly of the Black and Afro-Caribbean population.
METHODS
Our obstetric database collects information on six categories: 1) severe maternal morbidity events, 2) demographics, 3) prenatal care initiation, 4) risk factors, 5) delivery outcomes, and 6) postpartum follow-up. Data was extracted retrospectively from records at an area hospital in 2019. A data dashboard with analyses on SDOH variables and obstetric outcomes via logistic regression is regularly maintained.
RESULTS
In our population, the prevalence of postpartum hemorrhage, gestational diabetes mellitus, gestational hypertension, preeclampsia, and chronic hypertension are 9.6%, 11.2%, 4.1%, 7.4% and 3.7% respectively. Furthermore, our patients have reported healthcare barriers related to inadequate insurance coverage, transportation to healthcare facility, and childcare. Furthermore, postpartum visit non-attendance was significantly associated with health care barriers (p<0.05), unemployment during pregnancy (p<0.05) and Medicaid usage (p=0.05).
CONCLUSIONS
Our data reveals links between SDOH and postpartum visit attendance, but not obstetric outcomes. Continuous data tracking can reveal the impact of SDOH on obstetrical outcomes and enable institutions to devise initiatives to mitigate health inequities.
Classification of MR Images pertaining to with artifact / without artifact using Deep Autoencoder Convolutional Neural Network
Authors: Samuel Shiju , Ochawar Rohini S. , Rukmini M.S.S
Published: June 2023

Today's radiologists are highly concerned with motion artifact available in MR images and expect MR images during diagnosis without motion artifact. Radiologists receive merged data of MR images with and without motion at the time for patient diagnosis. The radiologist may be mislead by these images of motion artifacts. We suggest a classification model in this paper that makes use of a deep autoencoder convolutional neural network (DAE-CNN) and has three levels as (i) input level (ii) hidden level and (iii) output level. We assessed the classification model and the results are analyzed regarding the accuracy in terms of motion/without motion MR Images.
Genetic Diversity and the Effects of the Highway Matrix on the Roadkill Patterns of the Crab-Eating Fox, Cerdocyon Thous (Linnaeus, 1766), in Northeastern Brazil
Authors: Tenório José Cleiton Souza , Cruz Geyner Alves dos Santos , Silveira-Filho Vladimir , Alexandre Fernando Silva , Gripp Tiago Mota , de Araújo Bianca Gonzaga , Lyra-Neves Rachel Maria , Júnior Wallace Rodrigues Telino
Published: June 2023

The development of modern society depends on the connectivity of different regions, and in particular, the establishment of roads and highways. While roads may be fundamental to development, they tend to have negative impacts on the biodiversity of a region. The present study verifies the roadkill patterns of the crab-eating fox, Cerdocyon thous, in the context of the characteristics of the surrounding matrix. Specimens were collected from four highways in the Brazilian states of Pernambuco and Alagoas, between August 2019 and December 2020. The date, time, and location of each specimen was recorded, and the carcasses were removed from the highway to avoid replicating records. A total of 101 specimens were collected, with a 1:1 sex ratio. Roadkill hotspots were observed in environments to which C. thous is adapted, in particular open fields and the margins of areas with denser vegetation. Rainfall may influence the observed roadkill patterns, given that the hotspots coincided with areas that have annual rainfall of between 600 mm and 700 mm. The molecular analyses indicated that the sample collected encompasses individuals from two distinct genetic groups, which are both distributed throughout the study area, reflecting its reduced genetic diversity. This scenario is influenced by factors such as the pattern of anthropogenic impacts within the study area and the ecological characteristics of the species. The impacts of the roadkill hotspots can be mitigated by measures such as signposting during recruitment periods.
Modelling the long-term carbon storage potential from recalcitrant matter inputs in tropical arable croplands
Authors: Díaz Christhel Andrade , Balugani Enrico , Zamora-Ledezma Ezequiel , Hamelin Lorie
Published: June 2023

The urgency to achieve climate neutrality and limit global warming requires a transition to low fossil carbon use. Crop residues, an abundant source of renewable carbon, remain underutilized, among others due to soil conservation practices. Soil organic carbon (SOC) plays a crucial role in tropical croplands by supporting soil health, nutrient availability, and biogeochemical cycles. The incorporation of exogenous organic matter (EOM) amendments has the potential to enhance carbon storage and fertility. This study conducted in Ecuador, a biodiversity hotspot, aims to identify SOC stock vulnerabilities, estimate SOC storage potential and changes in CO2 fluxes in tropical cropping systems resulting from changes in crop residue harvest for use within the bioeconomy, when a subsequent recalcitrant EOM application is involved. A spatially-explicit modeling framework representing the agricultural area into 15,782 agricultural pedoclimatic units was employed to assess the potential for SOC storage and to quantify resulting CO2 emission changes in tropical cropping systems. Four scenarios were analyzed, all implying the conversion of crop residues into bioeconomy products as well as recalcitrant EOMs. The RothC soil model, adapted to incorporate additional carbon pools for labile (CL) and recalcitrant (CR) fractions, as well as the priming effect, was utilized alongside high-resolution data to evaluate SOC storage potential for each scenario. Baseline SOC stocks ranged from 7.43 to 235 t C ha− 1, with an average of 61.76 t C ha− 1. At the national level, the business-as-usual (BAU) scenario, i.e. crop residues removal, projected a potential 4% increase in SOC stocks by 2040 and a 7% increase by 2070. However, SOC stocks decreased in 79% of the study area. The simulations demonstrated the potential to supply 113 PJ biomass for the bioeconomy without incurring SOC losses in the pyrolysis and gasification scenarios. Harvesting residual biomass with co-product return led to a 19–39% reduction in CO2 emissions over 50 years, depending on the scenario. Sensitivity analyses revealed the priming effect as a particularly sensitive parameter for the results.
FSCN1 has a potential indication for the prognosis and regulates the migration of HNSCC
Authors: Wei Xin
Published: June 2023

Background
The study of molecular markers for diagnosis and prognosis is of great clinical significance for HNSCC patients. In this study, we proposed that FSCN1 has a potential indication for prognosis and is essential for the migration of HNSCC.
Methods
We analyzed the expression and survival association of FSCN1 in HNSCC using TCGA data. We compared the expression of FSCN1 in tumors from primary and metastasis HNSCC patients using QPCR, western blotting, and immunochemistry staining. We determined the migration velocity of multiple HNSCC cell lines using a chemotaxis migration assay. We analyzed the correlation between FSCN1 expression and HNSCC cell migration. We also test the effect of FSCN1 knockdown and overexpression on HNSCC cell migration.
Results
FSCN1 was overexpressed in HNSCC than pair normal tissues and metastasis HNSCC than primary HNSCC. FSCN1 expression was associated with significantly poorer overall survival of HNSCC patients. FSCN1 was potentially associated with immune cell infiltration and migration-associated genes. FSCN1 level was correlated with the migration in HNSCC cell lines. Knockdown of FSCN1 reduced the migration and the overexpression of FSCN1 promoted the migration of HNSCC cell lines.
Conclusion
FSCN1 is a potential prognostic marker and a critical biomolecule for the migration of HNSCC
Human nonsense mutations in primary hyperammonemia – Analysis of publicized patient mutations and variations in general populations in eight disease-causing genes
Authors: Kamoshita Nobuhiko , Hiramoto Takafumi , Kashiwakura Yuji , Hayakawa Morisada , Ohmori Tsukasa
Published: June 2023

To dissect nonsense mutations to be treated with tRNAs, variations within eight genes causing primary hyperammonemia were evaluated. Overall, 156 patient mutation and 60 variation sites were reported in 140 publications and in two genomic databases of 114,878 participants, respectively. Counting the frequency revealed that CGA>TGA was by far the hottest spot, accounting for 41% of patient mutations and 50% of nonsense alleles, which were underestimated in preceding database searches but match the observed high CpG mutation rate. Over 20 variations were linked to patient mutations in the same population at both CGA and non-CGA sites, which will be informative for therapy. While values in the database could predict incidence rate of autosomal enzyme deficiencies, most of them were lower than the equilibrium value expected in autosomal recessive genes, which was calculated from germline CpG mutation rate and selection coefficients estimated here. Toxicity inherent to nonsense variations, if expressed during reproduction, explains this observation, although the details need to be elucidated. The presence, maintenance, and pathogenesis of nonsense variations will thus be diverse. Pertinent clinical information including personal genomic data will enrich our understanding of their characteristics.