bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Prognostic significance of CEA reduction rate in patients with abnormally high preoperative CEA levels who underwent surgery for lung cancer
Authors: Tamura Masaya , Furukawa Naoki , Sakai Takashi , Yamamoto Marino , Miyazaki Ryohei , Okada Hironobu
Published: August 2024

Background
The aim of this research was to investigates the prognostic importance of change in carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) levels (particularly abnormal high concentration) in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) between before and after surgery.
Methods
The study involved 68 patients with NSCLC ( preoperative CEA value ≥ 10ng/ml) who received curative operation from 2012 to 2020. Preoperative and postoperative serum CEA levels, CEA reduction, and other clinicopathological factors were determined on medical records. Receiver operating characteristic curves were used to calculate cut-off levels for prognostic markers. Multivariate analyses with a Cox proportional hazards regression model were performed to identify Independent prognostic variables
Results
The optimal cut-off was value for the CEA reduction rate was 77.3%. The area under the curve for the CEA reduction rate was greater compared with those for preoperative and postoperative CEA levels. The Kaplan-Meier method revealed a significantly worse prognosis in the low CEA reduction rate group versus the high CEA reduction rate group regarding overall survival (OS) (p = 0.002). In the multivariate analysis, the CEA reduction rate (hazard ratio: 3.36, 95% confidence interval : 1.32-8.51, p = 0.011) was identified as an independent and exclusive prognostic marker for OS.
Conclusions
In NSCLC, which is characterized by high preoperative CEA levels, the CEA reduction rate after surgery is a useful prognostic factor. Importantly, it is a more powerful indicator for OS compared with postoperative CEA levels. This factor may be used to clarify the effectiveness of adjuvant therapy in such cases in the future.
Effects of COVID-19 on Heart Failure and Its Risk Factors: A Bidirectional Mendelian Randomization Study
Authors: Liu Yiheng , Huang Mingsheng , Sun Yue , Dai Weiran
Published: August 2024

Introduction Previous studies suggest a potential link between COVID-19 and cardiovascular diseases, particularly heart failure (HF), but causal relationships remain unclear. This study uses bidirectional Mendelian randomization (MR) to investigate these associations.Materials and methods We selected genome-wide association study (GWAS) datasets detailing COVID-19 phenotypes as exposures, while traits associated with HF and its risk factors constituted the outcomes. Our primary estimation method involved utilizing the inverse-variance weighted technique for it could provide a precise estimation by giving more weight to studies with less variance. Alongside, we deployed the weighted median, MR-Egger, MR-PRESSO global test, and Cochran’s Q statistic to address biases, detect and correct for pleiotropy, and assess heterogeneity. Furthermore, we conducted bidirectional MR analysis to ascertain the directional causality.Results Based on the bidirectional MR analysis, our findings indicate a higher likelihood of developing into HF among hospitalized COVID-19 patients, as well as an increased propensity for HF development in individuals with all COVID-19 patients. Furthermore, the presence of HF increases the prevalence of COVID-19, escalates the severity of COVID-19, and raises the hospitalization rate in those affected by COVID-19. COVID-19 does not directly escalate the incidence of the risk factors of HF, but type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) could increases the hospitalization and severity rates of COVID-19 patients. Meanwhile, chronic kidney disease (CKD) contributes to increased hospitalization rates among COVID-19 patients.Conclusion This study provides evidence of a bidirectional causal link among COVID-19 and HF and its risk factors. These findings suggest clinical implications for early detection and management of HF in COVID-19 patients and highlight the need for targeted healthcare resources.
Enhancing Volumetric Segmentation in Wide-Field OCT Images with a Semi- Supervised Learning Framework: Cross-Teaching CNN and Transformer Integration
Authors: Wong Damon , Sr Syna , Phuong Pham Duc Nam , Gani Nur Fidyana Binte Abdul , Chua Jacqueline , Nongpiur Monisha Esther , Aung Tin , Husain Rahat , Schmetterer Leopold , Ramesh Padmini
Published: August 2024

Wide-field optical coherence tomography (OCT) imaging can enable monitoring of peripheral changes in the retina, beyond the conventional fields of view used in current clinical OCT imaging systems. However, wide-field scans can present significant challenges for retinal layer segmentation. Deep Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs) have shown strong performance in medical imaging segmentation but typically require large-scale, high-quality, pixel-level annotated datasets to be effectively developed. To address this challenge, we propose an advanced semi-supervised learning framework that combines the detailed capabilities of convolutional networks with the broader perspective of transformers. This method efficiently leverages labelled and unlabelled data to reduce dependence on extensive, manually annotated datasets. We evaluated the model performance on a dataset of 74 volumetric OCT scans, each performed using a prototype swept-source OCT system following a wide-field scan protocol with a 15x9 mm field of view, comprising 11,750 labelled and 29,016 unlabelled images. Wide-field retinal layer segmentation using the semi-supervised approach show significant improvements (P-value < 0.001) of up to 11% against a UNet baseline model. Comparisons with a clinical spectral-domain-OCT system revealed significant correlations of up to 0.91 (P-value < 0.001) in retinal layer thickness measurements. These findings highlight the effectiveness of semi-supervised learning with cross-teaching between CNNs and transformers for automated OCT layer segmentation.
Lifestyle and Bone Health: Analyzing the Association Between LE8 Scores and BMD
Authors: Cui¹ Yuyu , Xu¹ Zhening , Cui¹ Zhaoshu , Guo¹ Yuanyuan , wu Peiwei , Zhou Xiaoyan
Published: August 2024

Purpose This study aims to investigate the association between Life's Essential 8 scores(LE8) and bone mineral density(BMD) in adults aged 20–59 years.Methods This cross-sectional study utilized nationally representative data from NHANES 2011–2018. Weighted multiple linear regression models were used to explore the relationship between LE8 scores and different levels of cardiovascular health(CVH) with BMD. Additionally, subgroup analyses were conducted to examine the differences in the impact of LE8 scores on BMD across different age groups, genders, races, socioeconomic statuses, and BMI.Results A total of 2,159 participants were included in the study. After adjusting for all covariates, LE8 scores were significantly and positively linearly associated with lumbar spine BMD, thoracic spine BMD, trunk BMD, and total BMD (P < 0.05). Compared to the low CVH group, individuals in the medium and high CVH groups had higher BMD (P < 0.05). Subgroup analyses revealed that this relationship was more pronounced in the 20–35 age group and within the normal BMI range (P < 0.05). In females, thoracic spine BMD was more sensitive to changes in LE8 scores (P < 0.05).Conclusion This study reveals a positive linear relationship between LE8 and BMD. Higher LE8 scores are associated with greater BMD in adults aged 20–59 years, suggesting that lifestyle interventions can effectively prevent and treat OP.
Examining the Structural, Dielectric, and Electrical Characteristics of Sol-Gel
Authors: Tayari Faouzia , Teixeira Silvia Soreto , Graça M. P. F. , Essid Manel , Nassar Kais Iben
Published: August 2024

Creating perovskite ceramic with electrical and dielectric properties appropriate for energy storage, medical uses, and electronic devices is the goal of this research. A bismuth ferric titanate, Bi₀.₇Ba₀.₃(FeTi)₀.₅O3, doped with barium and crystalline, was effectively synthesized at the A-site via sol-gel synthesis. A rhombohedral structure emerged in 12 the R 3́ C space group, which was confirmed by room-temperature X-ray studies. An average grain size of 263 nm and a homogeneous grain distribution and chemical composition were confirmed by the results of scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDX). The relationship between temperature and frequency and electrical properties was found. Impedance spectroscopy and electrical modulus measurements, performed in the frequency range of 1 kHz to 1 MHz and at temperatures ranging from 200 K to 360 K, demonstrated a non-Debye type of relaxation. Furthermore, once the material was produced at various temperatures, its frequency-dependent electrical conductivity was examined using Jonscher's law. Over the complete temperature range, consistent conduction and relaxation mechanisms were discovered. These findings suggest that the chemical may find widespread applicability across a broad temperature range, including electrical fields and capacitors.
Risk Factors and Diagnostic Markers for Fatty Liver and Metabolic Syndrome Among Young Adults: Insights from a Community-Based Investigation
Authors: Lin Yi-Hung , Wu Yi-Fang , Wang Po-Chang , Chen Mei-Yen , Tu Ya-Chi , Hsieh Yung-Yu , Lin Ming-Shyan
Published: August 2024

Background
There is a growing incidences of hepatosteatosis and metabolic syndrome in young adults worldwide. This study aimed to address these gaps by systematically evaluating simple indices in clinical practice to strengthen the prediction and prevention of hepatosteatosis in young adults.
Methods
Of the 4,067 young adults (20–40 years old) who underwent a community health check-up between March and December 2022, 3,796 (93%) were eligible for analysis. The characteristics of the participants with and without moderate-to-severe fatty liver were compared using SPSS 26 with two-tailed tests. Multivariable logistic regression model and AUC were performed to assess the correlation between fatty liver and associated factors in this study.
Results
Those prevalence was significant, with 24.9%, 19.8%, and 7.1% of the participants having mild, moderate, and severe fatty liver, respectively. The alanine transaminase/aspartate transaminase ratio (ALT/AST) showed a good diagnostic performance for fatty liver (AUC = 79.1%, 95% CI = 77.8 to 80.4%) and cutoff value > 1.3 for ALT/AST ratio, whereas blood cell parameters were less effective. Multivariable analysis identified male (odds ratio [OR] 1.44, 95% CI 1.20–1.73), elder age (OR 1.06, 95% CI 1.05–1.08), ALT/AST > 1.3 (OR 6.13, 95% CI 5.15–7.30) associated with a higher risk of significant fatty liver while smoking and betel chewing additionally associated with metabolic syndrome. By contrast, regular exercise (OR 0.79, 95% CI 0.64–0.93) and dental scaling (OR 0.81, 95% CI 0.69–0.96) were significantly associated with a lower risk.
Conclusions
Beyond male, age, education, exercise and dental scaling, our study found ALT/AST ratios > 1.3 might be significantly correlated with moderate-to-severe hepatosteatosis and metabolic syndrome among young adults. Further large-scale and long-term observations are required to verify these findings and understand the underlying mechanisms.
Experimental and Numerical Investigations of Double Bracket-to-CHS Column Joints
Authors: Abdelaal Ahmed H. , Radwan Tamer H. , Shaat Amr A.
Published: August 2024

The primary objective of this study is to precisely characterize the behavior of double bracket-to-circular Hollow Section (CHS) column joints due to combined internal forces resulting from double tensile loading in opposite directions. In order to accomplish this goal, an experimental program consisting of eight specimens has been carried out and numerical finite element modeling has been employed for the same specimens to analyze the stresses and deformations that occur within the vicinity of bracket-to-CHS joints. The study included an investigation of various parameters, including the spacing between brackets in the longitudinal direction, as well as the depth-to-thickness ratio of the CHS columns and adding a T-stiffener to the bracket configuration. The study determined that an increase in the diameter-to-thickness ratio of the CHS columns significantly reduced the overall strength of the joint. Furthermore, findings suggested that increasing the longitudinal spacing between brackets resulted in an increase in single-bracket joint strength and a minor reduction regarding joint strength considering the effect of line loading. Moreover, adding a T-stiffener shape for the brackets enhanced the joint strength and prevented bracket tip fracture. In addition, a distinct behavior arises when considering joints with positive eccentricity, where the forces' line of action extends beyond the circular cross-section of the CHS. In such cases, a reduction in joint strength is observed. Finally, a modification factor “A” is applied to the X-type branch plate-to-CHS strength equation presented by the AISC-22 to account for the longitudinal spacing between brackets.
A Computed Tomography–Based Morphometric Analysis of Thoracic Pedicles in a European Population
Authors: Zellner Alberto Alfieri , Prangenberg Christian , Roos Jonas , Amar Soufian Ben , Babasiz Tamara , Wahlers Christopher , Eysel Peer , Oppermann Johannes
Published: August 2024

Purpose:
The goal of this retrospective study was to perform a CT imaging assessment of thoracic pedicles to provide a representative understanding of pedicle morphology for pedicle-based fixation systems commonly used in orthopedics, trauma and neurosurgery. This study aimed to better understand the morphology of the spine and therefore reduce the complication rate of surgical techniques such as spinal fusion, which rely on placing screws in the pedicles.
Methods:
In this study, we retrospectively measured the thoracic spine pedicles of a total of 16 males and 16 females, totaling in 768 individual pedicles. For the measurements, we used standardized planes in computed tomography imaging with a maximum slice thickness of 1 mm.
Results:
In brief, we identified significant differences in various measurements of male and female pedicle morphology. The medial cortical wall of the pedicles was significantly thicker than the lateral wall, and, in both sexes, vertebral body number four was the vertebra with the least amount of cortical bone in the pedicle.
Conclusions:
Surgeons performing operations involving pedicle screw placement should be aware of the sex-specific differences in thoracic spine pedicle morphology noted in this research.
Simple Biliary Atresia Score - A Validated Diagnostic Aid for Infantile Cholestasis
Authors: Toh Qi , Chen Yong , Lee Yang Yang , Mali Vidyadhar , Choo Suet Cheng , Chiang Li Wei
Published: August 2024

Purpose
The work-up of jaundiced infants may be variable and protracted, thereby delaying the diagnosis and timely intervention for biliary atresia (BA). This potentially leads to inferior outcomes. We developed a practical score to stratify infantile cholestasis according to the risk of having BA.
Method
The score (0-7)[gallbladder length ≤15mm(+1), common-bile-duct (CBD) diameter <0.5mm(+1), pre-portal vein (PV) echogenicity(+1), direct-to-total bilirubin ratio (D/T) ≥0.7(+2) and gamma-glutamyl-transferase (GGT) ≥200IU/L(+2)] is derived from logistic regression of data from a retrospective cohort of cholestatic infants (n=58, 41 BA) in our institution. It was then validated with a separate retrospective cohort (n=28, 17 BA) from another institution. Final diagnoses were as per intraoperative cholangiogram (IOC) and liver histopathology.
Results
A cut-off score of ≥3 diagnosed BA with 100% and 94% sensitivity in the derivative cohort (area-under-Receiver-Operating-Characteristic-curve, AUROC 0.869) and validation cohort (AUROC 0.807) respectively. D/T ratio was the most sensitive (93%) and CBD diameter was the most specific (88%) parameter. The score accurately predicted non-BA in 11(65%) and 7(63%) infants in the derivative and validation cohorts respectively, with one missed BA in the latter.
Conclusion
We propose a validated, simple, yet sensitive diagnostic score to risk-stratify cholestatic infants, aiming to expedite definitive management of BA.
Interdecadal Variability in Ocean Memory of the Maritime Continent and Its Effect on Asian-Australian Monsoon Prediction
Authors: han Simeng , Wu Zhiwei
Published: August 2024

Ocean memory is crucial for improving climate models and enhancing the accuracy of climate predictions. However, due to the changes in ocean memory over the past few decades, its impact on monsoon predictions remains unclear. The persistence of sea surface temperature (SST) anomalies, as a key indicator of ocean memory, can regulate the local air-sea coupling processes affecting the Asian-Australian monsoon (A-AM), thereby significantly influencing climate predictions for Asia, Australia, and the entire Indo-Pacific region. Based on observational and numerical modeling evidence, the study finds that within the context of interdecadal variation in ocean memory, the seasonal persistence of Maritime Continent (MC) SST anomalies is more pronounced during the strong memory epoch (1982–1999), sustaining the anomalous western North Pacific anti-cyclone (WNPAC) through a stronger Matsuno-Gill response during the decaying phase of El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO), thereby enhancing the overall strength of the A-AM system during the monsoon year. Additionally, the connection between ENSO and the A-AM is strengthened. By contrast, these air-sea coupling processes have weakened during the weak memory epoch (2000–2017), making it more difficult to capture the characteristics of the A-AM. The early 21st-century decline in MC ocean memory reduced the prediction skills of the leading mode of the A-AM. Above all, this study emphasizes the significant impact of ocean memory on monsoon prediction skills, providing new insight into seeking more reliable sources of predictability for the A-AM.
C7ORF41 Alleviated Ferroptosis Through Keap1/Nrf2/HO-1 Axis in Sepsis-Associated Acute Kidney Injury
Authors: Yu Xi , Ye Chenglin , Wang Zhong , Wang Huaxin , Shao Haoren , Yang Yunzhao , Peng Xuan
Published: August 2024

Acute kidney injury (AKI) stemming from sepsis, termed SA-AKI, frequently emerges as a predominant complication among critically ill patients, with over half of intensive care unit (ICU) AKI cases linked to sepsis. Ferroptosis in tubules is implicated in SA-AKI development, yet its regulatory mechanism remains unclear. Recently, C7ORF41, a conserved sequence on chromosome 7, was associated with inflammation and lipid accumulation in palmitic acid. We investigated C7ORF41's role in lipopolysaccharide (LPS) induced AKI models in C57BL mice. Post-LPS treatment, renal tubules showed reduced C7ORF41 expression. C7ORF41 deficiency significantly mitigated LPS induced lipid peroxidation, tissue damage, and renal dysfunction. In vitro experiments showed decreased ferroptotic cell death, lipid ROS, and GPX4 expression in renal tubular cells lacking C7ORF41. From a mechanistic standpoint, ferroptosis is facilitated by C7ORF41 through activating the pathway involving Keap1, Nrf2, and HO-1, known for its cytoprotective and antioxidant properties. Our findings suggest that C7ORF41 promotes ferroptosis in SA-AKI through Keap1/Nrf2/HO-1 Axis, highlighting its potential as a therapeutic target for SA-AKI treatment.
De novo biosynthesis of β-Arbutin in Komagataella phaffii based on metabolic engineering strategies
Authors: yang Jiashuo , Yang Liu , Zhao Fengguang , Ye Chunting , Han Shuangyan
Published: August 2024

Background
β-Arbutin, found in the leaves of bearberry, stands out as one of the globally acknowledged eco-friendly whitening additives in recent years. However, the natural abundance of β-Arbutin is low, and the cost-effectiveness of using chemical synthesis or plant extraction methods is low, which cannot meet the requirements. While modifying the β-Arbutin synthesis pathway of existing strains is a viable option, it is hindered by the limited synthesis capacity of these strains, which hinders further development and application.
Results
In this study, we established a biosynthetic pathway in Komagataella phaffii for β-Arbutin production with a titer of 1.58 g/L. Through diverse metabolic strategies, including fusion protein construction, enhancing shikimate pathway flux, and augmenting precursor supplies (PEP, E4P, and UDPG), we significantly increased β-Arbutin titer to 4.32 g/L. Further optimization of methanol concentration in shake flasks led to a titer of 6.32 g/L titer after 120 h of fermentation, representing a four-fold increase over the initial titer. In fed-batch fermentation, strain UA3-10 set a record with the highest production to date, reaching 128.6 g/L in a 5 L fermenter.
Conclusions
This is the highest yield in the fermentation tank level of using microbial cell factories for de novo synthesis of β-Arbutin. Applying combinatorial engineering strategies has significantly improved the β-Arbutin yield in K. phaffii and is a promising approach for synthesizing functional products using a microbial cell factory. This study not only advances low-cost fermentation-based production of β-Arbutin but also establishes K. phaffii as a promising chassis cell for synthesizing other aromatic amino acid metabolites.
Controlling Reactivity and Electron Transfer in De Novo Designed Artificial Cu Proteins by Systematic Primary, Secondary, and Outer Sphere Modulation
Authors: Chakraborty Saumen , Prakash Divyansh , Mitra Suchitra , Sony Simran , Murphy Morgan , Andi Babak , Ashley Landon , Prasad Pallavi
Published: August 2024

Copper-dependent metalloenzymes play essential roles in biology. However, unraveling how the active sites and the surrounding environment influence their functions presents a significant challenge. Inspired by Cu enzymes, we report de novo designed artificial copper proteins (ArCuPs) within trimeric (3SCC) and tetrameric (4SCC) self-assemblies, featuring a trigonal Cu(His)3 and a square pyramidal Cu(His)4(OH2) coordination. 3SCC electrocatalyzes C-H oxidation, but 4SCC does not. CuI-3SCC reacts more rapidly with H2O2 compared to O2, while 4SCC is less active. These trends mirror the peroxygenation of lytic polysaccharide monooxygenases (LPMOs) and the unreactive nature of the particulate methane monooxygenase (pMMO) CuB site. The differences in reactivity are attributed to inherent reducibility and reoxidation processes, with ET and reorganization energies (l) along with second-sphere and outer-sphere H2O-mediated H-bonding patterns providing further insights. Modulation of second/outer-sphere H-bonding without changing the primary coordination tunes the solvent l, which renders the unreactive 4SCC active for C-H peroxidation.
Multiphysical Characterization for Predicting Compressive Strength of Portland Cement Concrete using Synthetic Aperture Radar, Ultrasonic Testing, and Rebound Hammer
Authors: Abazarsa Maryam , Yu Tzuyang
Published: August 2024

Portland cement concrete (PCC) is a versatile and widely used construction material renowned for its strength and durability. The mechanical properties of PCC, including compressive strength, flexural strength, and splitting tensile strength, play a pivotal role in ensuring the safety and sustainability of structures such as buildings, bridges, and dams. Traditionally, the determination of PCC's compressive strength involves destructive testing of standard-size concrete cylinders until they fail. While nondestructive evaluation (NDE) techniques are available for assessing these properties, they often require direct contact between the sensor and the concrete surface, making them less efficient and practical compared to remote sensing techniques. In this paper, we applied three NDE techniques for estimating the mechanical properties of concrete, including synthetic aperture radar (SAR), ultrasonic testing (UT), and a rebound hammer (RH). We manufactured a total of 48 laboratory concrete cylinders (diameter = 3", height = 6"). These cylinders were created with different water-to-cement ratios (0.4, 0.45, 0.5, and 0.55) with a mix design ratio of 1:2:3 for cement: sand: gravel (by mass). Before these cylinders were tested by destructive compression test, they were measured by three NDE techniques. A 10GHz SAR system, a 54kHz UT system, and a RH sensor were used to inspect those cylinders at different concrete ages (7, 14, 28, and 96 days). From our result, the performance ranking among three NDE techniques was individually UT, SAR, and RH. When combining two NDE techniques, SAR with UT delivered the best performance. Multiphysical NDE (SAR with UT) outperformed uniphysical NDE (UT with RH) on the prediction of compressive strength of concrete. This research demonstrates the promising potential of multiphysical NDE for other engineering problems.
GSBF-YOLO: a lightweight model for tomato ripeness detection in natural environments
Authors: Hao Fengqi , Zhang Zuyao , Ma Dexin , Kong Hoiio
Published: August 2024

Accurate tomato ripeness detection is essential for optimizing harvest timing and maximizing yield. Deep learning-based object detection has proven effective in this task. However, many existing algorithms have numerous parameters and substantial computational demands, making them unsuitable for agricultural environments with limited computational resources. Additionally, accurate detection becomes challenging with overlapping fruits, leaf occlusion, or complex backgrounds. To address these issues, this paper proposes a lightweight detection model, GSBF-YOLO. This model designs the GSim module to reduce parameters while maintaining detection accuracy. The C3Ghost module further reduces parameter count by replacing the traditional C3 module. The PANet multi-scale feature fusion network in the neck is replaced with the Bi-directional Feature Pyramid Network (BiFPN), which adjusts weights based on the importance of input features. Lastly, the fine-tuned FocalEIOU Loss function is used to calculate the bounding box regression loss, enhancing the model's ability to adjust the weights of high-quality anchor boxes for better detection of targets in occlusion scenarios. Experimental results show that GSBF-YOLO reduces parameters and computational load by 42% and 45%, respectively, while mean Average Precision (mAP) increases by 1.9% and 1.6% on two datasets. The model achieves 110 Frames Per Second (FPS), meeting real-time detection requirements, and has fewer parameters and higher accuracy compared to models like YOLOv8. The research indicates that the proposed lightweight model can effectively detect tomato ripeness in natural environments.
Dual chemo- and photodynamic therapy against DMBA- induced mammary carcinoma in mice using water soluble porphyrin and phthalocyanine photosensitizers
Authors: Mokhtar Aya , Mohamed Tarek , Eigza Ahmed Osman , El-Khouly Mohamed E.
Published: August 2024

Breast cancer ranks as the second most widespread form of cancer globally and holds the highest mortality rate among women. Currently, combination therapy is being actively employed in clinical practice to augment the efficiency of anticancer treatment. Hence, the objective of this study was to assess the therapeutic efficacy of a combination of femtosecond laser-based PDT utilizing two distinct photosensitizers (PSs), zinc phthalocyanine tetrasulfonate (ZnPcS4) and meso-tetrakis(4-N-methylpyridyl) porphine (TMPyP) in conjunction with doxorubicin chemotherapeutic agent, on mammary carcinomas experimentally induced in female mice using 7,12-dimethylbenz (a) anthracene (DMBA). Our results showed the efficiency of the combined therapy for promoting tissue apoptosis and necrosis as evidenced by histopathological observations and the noticeable reduction of Bcl-2 and Ki-67 expression. Moreover, there was a reduction in serum levels of the carcinoma antigen CA15-3 and transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β). Co-treatment of doxorubicin with ZnPcS4-PDT or TMPyP-PDT or a combination of both resulted in a decrease in the expression of EGFR and its downstream oncogenes NRAS, NF-κB, mTERT, and c-Myc, and an increase in the expression of the caspase-3 apoptotic gene. These results validate the therapeutic potential of combining doxorubicin with photodynamic therapy, highlighting the potential of this co-treatment strategy as a promising alternative for enhancing existing anticancer approaches.
Demographic and Regional Trends of Pneumonia Mortality in the United States
Authors: Holland Eva , Jabbar Ali Bin Abdul , Asghar Muhammad Sohaib , Asghar Noureen , Mistry Karishma , Mirza Mohsin , Tauseef Abubakar
Published: August 2024

Background:
Pneumonia is the amongst the leading causes of death in the United States. In 2020, pneumonia accounted for over 53,000 deaths and 2.6 million emergency department visits. Further research is needed to study the evolution of country-wide trends and highlight disparities.
Methods:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Wide-ranging Online Data for Epidemiologic Research (CDC WONDER) was used to identify pneumonia-related deaths occurring within the United States. We extracted data regarding pneumonia-related deaths and population sizes from 1999 to 2020. Data on demographic and regional groups were analyzed, including gender, race/ethnicity, age, urban-rural classification, region, and states.
Results:
Overall mortality from pneumonia related deaths declined within the study period. Males experienced a larger age-adjusted mortality rate decrease than females. African American and Black people experienced the highest mortality throughout the duration of the study, while American Indian and Native Alaskan had the greatest reduction in mortality. Nursing home deaths decreased over time, and in turn, hospice deaths substantially rose. Deaths in people 85 years and older steadily declined. Finally, several geographical differences were found between urban-rural groups, states, and census regions.
Conclusions:
Pneumonia-related mortality between 1999–2020 has decreased in the United States. Policies to increase vaccination rates appear to be most promising in continuing the downward trend. Further research is needed to address pneumonia-related mortalities across demographic and geographical disparities.
Annotated Sequence Record - Complete genomic sequences of two novel Ralstonia jumbo phages isolated from leaf litter compost
Authors: Takahashi Hideki , Sasaki Ryota , Miyashita Shuhei
Published: August 2024

Two Ralstonia phages, FLC1-1B and FLC4-3B, were isolated from leaf litter compost, using Ralstonia pseudosolanacearum, which is a causal agent of bacterial wilt disease, as a host. The genomic DNA sequences of FLC1-1B and FLC4-3B were 290,008 bp and 291,257 bp, respectively, and they were therefore classified as jumbo phages. However, they did not show high similarity to any jumbo phage genomic sequences according to a blastn search using the NCBI nt database. The closest hit was to the jumbo phage Ripduovirus RP12 with only 35% coverage and 77% sequence identity, whereas 99.0% of the genomic sequence between FLC1-1B and FLC4-3B was similar. Based on these findings, FLC1-1B and FLC4-3B should be classified into a different genus of the order Caudoviricetes. The wilt disease–suppressive activity of FLC4-3B in tomato plants suggested that these two Ralstonia phages have potential application as a biocontrol agent for managing R. pseudosolanacearum.
The significance of reproduction-related traits for wet meadow species survival in a fragmented landscape
Authors: Sounapoglou Antigoni , Janeček Štěpán , Bartoš Michael , Chmelová Eliška , Delabye Sylvain , Horník Jan , Jersáková Jana , Jiráská Šárka , Klomberg Yannick , Maicher Vincent , Tropek Robert , Janečková Petra
Published: August 2024

Habitat fragmentation refers to the breaking of continuous habitat into multiple patches; these patches create less connected vegetation areas than before, which can result in smaller plant species populations due to, among other factors, limited pollinator visitation. Specific plant reproductive success traits related to pollination can filter species success in the remaining vegetation, affect their relative abundance and distribution and further shed light on relevant conservation efforts. The European grasslands comprise the most fragmented biome in the world. We explored whether wet meadow plant species are affected by connectivity degree between patches and if so, which traits related directly or indirectly to reproduction and pollination are responsible for their success degree. More particularly, we constructed a trait suite for each species which consisted of 15 interaction, phenotypic and propagation life-history traits mainly focusing on pollination process. Seven traits were revealed as important with flower colour, a categorical variable, flowering duration and rewards accessibility being the strongest predictors. Partial dependencies further revealed that, generally, the most successful species exhibited non-specialised life-history, phenotypic and interaction traits. These results imply that species with specific specialised traits require greater conservation attention. We further stress the importance of many different types of traits and ecological processes needed to be studied at the same time, to better understand what drives species success in not well-connected fragmented habitats or other stressful environments.
Intelligent game between intubation and stress regarding hemodynamic and hormonal changes
Authors: elhafez Nashwa Farouk Abd , Abdelraouf Abdelraouf MS , Fahmy Marina Kamal , Saleem Tahia . H. , Abdelall Alshimaa Hafez
Published: August 2024

Background
Endotracheal intubation is accompanied by a huge amount of stress. Numerous drugs have been used to attenuate such stress
Aim of the work
To compare the efficacy of Dexmedetomidine and Fentanyl in attenuating the hemodynamic and biochemical stress markers in patients undergoing general anesthesia.
Patients and methods
This is a prospective randomized controlled study conducted in Assiut University, Faculty of Medicine Hospitals from January 2024 to end of June 2024. Patients meeting the inclusion Criteria were randomly divided into two groups; Group D received Dexmedetomidin and Group F received Fentanyl. All patients underwent ECG monitoring and blood pressure measurement. Four blood samples were drawn from each patient at the following time points: T0 (after 20 minutes resting in supine position), T1 (Two minutes after initiation of anesthesia), T2 (One minute after endotracheal intubation, and T3 (10 minutes after endotracheal intubation). Blood samples were analyzed for Insulin, Blood glucose, T3, T4, Human Growth hormone (HGH), Cortisol, ACTH, Lactic acid and Norepinephrine.
Results
The study included 100 subjects (80 patients and 20 healthy control subjects with matching age and sex). Patients were randomly divided into two groups Group D (40 patients) and Group F (40 patients). Endotracheal intubation resulted in a significant increase in both hemodynamic and biochemical stress markers in both groups compared to the baseline time of the study (T0) and after the initiation of anesthesia (T1). However, 10 minutes after intubation (T3), there was a slight improvement in both hemodynamic and biochemical markers in both groups. Group D patients showed a significant decline in most of the biochemical parameters studied at T1, T2, and T3 and a significant decline in hemodynamic parameters at T2. However, Group F patients showed earlier recovery after surgery compared to Group D patients.
Conclusion
Dexmedetomidine proved to be more effective than Fentanyl in decreasing intubation-induced stress. However, Fentanyl resulted in earlier post-operative recovery compared to Dexmedetomidine.
Catch-up effects and incentive effects: Evidence from regulatory reform in Australian electric distribution utilities
Authors: Li Hong-Zhou , Yin Yong , Kopsakangas-Savolainen Maria
Published: August 2024

Theoretically, incentive regulation should induce all regulated companies to reduce costs by making them residual claimants. In particular, it should stimulate relatively lower performance companies to cut more costs by an additional "stretch factor" (differentiated efficiency improvement target). This study terms the first as incentive effects and the second as catch-up effects. Using panel data from Australian electric distribution companies, the study aims to identify whether these two effects exist and assess the outcomes of the regulatory reform implemented in 2012. To achieve this, the paper adopts convergence indexes developed by Horta & Camanho (2015) and Camanho et al. (2023), substituting their DEA-based framework with the StoNEZD framework. The newly proposed convergence indexes account for environmental heterogeneity and stochastic error, reflecting purely performance changes due to management efforts in daily operations. Empirical results confirm the existence of both effects, implying that the 2012 reform has produced the expected results.
JEL classification C13 · C14 · L51 · L94
Causal effect between immunocytes, plasma metabolites, and hepatocellular carcinoma: a bidirectional two-sample Mendelian randomization study and mediation analysis
Authors: Tang Xilong , Xue Jianjin , Zhang Jie , Zhou Jiajia
Published: August 2024

Background
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a primary malignant liver tumor, characterized by a notably low 5-year survival rate and a high mortality rate globally. This study aimed to investigate the causal effect between immune cell phenotypes, plasma metabolites, and HCC.
Methods
Summary statistics of 731 immunocytes traits (N = 3,757), 1,400 plasma metabolite traits (N = 8,299) and HCC trait (N = 197,611) were obtained from publicly available genome-wide association studies (GWAS). Two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis was applied to infer the causal links using inverse variance-weighted, simple mode, MR-Egger, weighted median, and weighted mode. Several sensitivity analyses were performed to ensure reliable MR results. Finally, we used mediation analysis to identify the pathway from immunocytes to mediated by plasma metabolites.
Results
Causal relationships were identified among the 20 immune cell phenotypes and HCC with one exhibiting reverse causality. Additionally, 36 metabolites were causally related to HCC. Based on known causal metabolites, we observed that the glycerophospholipid metabolism pathway is closely related to HCC. Utilizing two-step MR analysis, 11 cell phenotypes were determined to have causal relationships with HCC mediated by 14 plasma metabolites, with Linolenate [alpha or gamma; (18:3n3 or 6)] levels showing the highest mediation proportion (19.3%).
Conclusion
Our findings affirm a causal relationship between immune cell phenotypes, plasma metabolites, and HCC, computing the proportion of the effect mediated by plasma metabolites. This study provides novel insights into the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of HCC.
A Novel Feeder cell based on 4-1BBL and Membrane-bound IL-21/ IL-15 Induce Highly Expansion and Anti-tumor Effect of Natural Killer Cells
Authors: Gong Sha , Mei Nan , Wang Jun , Zhu Junsheng , Wang Lu , Lu Xiaohong , He Pengcheng , Chen Weiwei , Xi Lei , Bao Yingying , Wald David N. , Fan Xiaohu , Wang Huaiyu
Published: August 2024

Background
Natural killer (NK) cell immunotherapy is a promising approach for cancer treatment. However, its extensive clinical application was limited to the large-scale clinical-grade expansion of NK cells. In this study, we expanded NK cells from healthy donor’s peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) using a newly designed K562 feeder cell line.
Methods
The feeder cells were generated by transducing K562 cells with lentiviral particles carrying 4-1BBL and mbIL-21/-15. NK cells were expanded from PBMCs with these genetically modified, frozen-thawed and irradiated K562 feeder cells in the presence of IL-2. The purity, quantity, and receptors expression of the expanding NK cells were dynamically monitored. Furthermore, their anti-tumor efficacy was evaluated both in vitro and in vivo following a two-week expansion period.
Results
The K562-4-1BBL-mbIL-21/-15 feeder cells induced highly-efficient NK cells expansion from PBMC (17902-fold) within two weeks. There was a notable upregulation in the expression of activating receptors including NKG2D, NKp30, NKp44, and NKp46 during the expansion process. Moreover, the expanded NK cells displayed enhanced cytotoxicity against a variety of hematological (K562, MOLM-13, OCI-AML-3, THP-1) and solid (Hep-G2, OVCAR3) cancer cell lines in vitro. In the humanized U937 xenograft mouse model, the NK cells extended the median survival time of the AML-bearing mice from 19.40 to 28.25 days.
Conclusions
We have successfully established a highly-efficient, cost-effective and rapid NK cell expansion platform from PBMC utilizing K562-4-1BBL-mbIL-21/-15 feeder cells, which also significantly improved the cytotoxicity both in vitro and in vivo, presenting a significant advancement in the field of NK cell-based immunotherapy.
A study of the plasmonic metasurface based on hexagonally oriented Sn nanobars
Authors: He Xinyu , He Yifan , Sun Cheng
Published: August 2024

This work reports on the plasmonic properties of a Sn metasurface structure, in the wavelength region of 0.4-4um. On top of a glass substrate, the metasurface is formed by a central Sn nanobar surrounded with hexagonally oriented Sn nanobars. As the light polarization, the length and angle of the central Sn nanobars are respectively varied, the light transmittance of the metastructure is numerically simulated, using the finite difference time domain method. Multiple plasmonic resonances are observed, the plasmonic coupling effect at the Sn metasurface is revealed, and the corresponding electromagnetic field distributions are demonstrated. The results show that the plasmonic resonance wavelength associated with the Sn nanobars can be tuned in the studied wavelength range, by adjusting the parameters of the metasurface. Based on this study, we suggest that the structure of the Sn metastructure proposed in this work be implemented in the design for plasmonic devices at 0.4-4um wavelengths.
Real-time correction of gain nonlinearity in electrostatic actuation for whole-angle micro-shell resonator gyroscope
Authors: Wu Xuezhong , Yu Sheng , Sun Jiangkun , Zhang Yongmeng , Xi Xiang , Lu Kun , Shi Yan , Xiao Dingbang
Published: August 2024

MEMS gyroscopes are well known for their outstanding advantages in Cost Size Weight and Power (CSWaP), which have inspired great research attention in recent years. A higher signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) for MEMS gyroscopes operating at larger vibrating amplitudes provides improved measuring resolution and ARW performance. However, the increment of amplitude causes strong nonlinear effects of MEMS gyroscopes due to their micron size, which has negative influences on the performance. This paper carries out detailed research on a general nonlinear mechanism on the sensors using parallel-plate capacitive transducers, which is called the gain nonlinearity in electrostatic actuation. The theoretical model established in this paper demonstrates the actuation gain nonlinearity causes the control-force coupling and brings extra angle-dependent bias with the 4th component for the whole-angle gyroscopes, which are verified by the experiments carried out on a micro-shell resonator gyroscope (MSRG). Furthermore, a real-time correction method is proposed to restore a linear response of the electrostatic actuation, which is realized by the gain modification with an online parameter estimation based on the harmonic-component relationship of capacitive detection. This real-time correction method could reduce the 4th component of the angle-dependent bias by over 95% from 0.003°/s to less than 0.0001°/s even under different temperatures. After the correction of actuation gain nonlinearity, the bias instability (BI) of whole-angle MSRG is improved by about 3.5 times from 0.101°/h to 0.029°/h and the scale factor nonlinearity (SFN) is reduced by almost one order of magnitude from 2.02ppm to 0.21ppm.
The Deepest Podasconidae (Cryptoniscoidea, Epicaridea) from the Japan Trench
Authors: Yamamoto Daiki , Takano Tsuyoshi , Kojima Shigeaki
Published: August 2024

Purpose The Podasconidae, which are parasitic on the Amphipoda, are poorly studied taxa within marine isopods. Consequently, information on occurrence has been limited to shallower waters and molecular sequence data are not available. Here we report first podasconid specimens from amphipods collected from abyssal and hadal depths. In this study, these podasconids were characterised through morphological and molecular analyses.
Methods Podasconids were detected from amphipods sampled from abyssal and hadal depths of the Japan and Kuril-Kamchatka Trenches. Newly collected podasconids were observed under a stereoscopic microscope. Partial sequences of nuclear 18S and mitochondrial 16S rRNA genes were determined for all parasites, whilst those of mitochondrial COI gene were provided for the host amphipods.
Results In total, seven podasconids were found from three species of benthic amphipods, Aristiassp., Byblisoides arcillis and Epimeria abyssalis, collected at 4556–6539 m of the Japan Trench. Differences in body size and morphology of uropods and article 1 of antennule were observed among parasites. 18S phylogenetic tree, constructed with other cryptoniscoid sequences from the GenBank, agreed with morphological analyses. As a result, we have assigned three morphospecies for the present podasconid samples whilst the non-monophyletic nature of Podasconidae was also indicated.
Conclusion This study identified three novel amphipod hosts of Podasconidae and extends the known geographical and bathymetrical distribution of Podasconidae to include the abyssal and hadal depths. Additionally, our results indicated a high diversity of Podasconidae in the deep water, with an inference to potentially complex diversification of cryptoniscoids.
Navigating Recovery in Childhood OCD: A Qualitative Analysis of Barriers and Facilitators
Authors: Srava Lakshmi , Madegowda Rajendra Kiragasur , Velusamy Arul Jayendra Pradeep , Kommu John Vijay Sagar , Girimaji Satish Chandra , Seshadri Shekhar
Published: August 2024

Objective
The objective is to examine the barriers and facilitators to recovery in children and adolescents with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).
Methods
Ten semi-structured interviews were conducted, audio-recorded, and analyzed using thematic analysis. Findings were validated through investigator triangulation, peer validation and member check.
Results
Barriers to recovery were internal – lack of awareness; poor motivation to seek treatment; and perceived stigma, or external – poor parental support; parental anxiety; inadequate awareness in schools; social misconceptions about illness; myths about medication; and frustrations in treatment processes. Facilitators were internal – will and determination; self-discipline; keeping calm; sense of purpose, and external – general awareness; parental support; peer support; and good therapeutic engagement.
Conclusions
To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to explore barriers and facilitators to recovery in-depth in pediatric OCD. Findings underscore the importance of tailored interventions, robust support networks, and cultural sensitivity for successful recovery outcomes.
Trial registration
NIMH/DO/IEC (BEH. Sc. DIV)/2018, l1 April 2018