bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Anti-SARS-CoV-2-specific antibodies in human breast milk following SARS-CoV-2 infection during pregnancy: a prospective cohort study
Authors: Fernández-Buhigas Irene , Rayo Nieves , Silos Julia Cuesta , Serrano Berta , Ocón-Hernández Olga , Leung Bo Wah , Delgado Juan Luis , Fernández David Sánchez-Nieves , Valle Silvia , De Miguel Laura , Silgado Aroa , Tanoira Ramón Perez , Rolle Valeria , Santacruz Belén , Gil Maria M. , Poon Liona C.
Published: January 2024

Background

While the presence of SARS-CoV-2 in human breast milk is contentious, anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies have been consistently detected in human breast milk. However, it is uncertain when and how long the antibodies are present.

Methods

This was a prospective cohort study including all consecutive pregnant women with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection during pregnancy, recruited at six maternity units in Spain and Hong Kong from March 2020 to March 2021. Colostrum (day of birth until day 4 postpartum) and mature milk (day 7 postpartum until 6 weeks postpartum) were prospectively collected, and paired maternal blood samples were also collected. Colostrum samples were tested with rRT-PCR-SARS-CoV-2, and skimmed acellular milk and maternal sera were tested against SARS-CoV-2 specific immunoglobulin M, A, and G reactive to receptor binding domain of SARS-CoV-2 spike protein 1 to determine the presence of immunoglobulins. Then, we examined how each immunoglobulin type in the colostrum was related to the time of infection by logistic regression analysis, the concordance between these immunoglobulins in the colostrum, maternal serum, and mature milk by Cohen's kappa statistic, and the relationship between immunoglobulin levels in mature milk and colostrum with McNemar.

Results

One hundred eighty-seven pregnant women with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection during pregnancy or childbirth were recruited and donated the milk and blood samples. No SARS-CoV-2 was found in the human breast milk. Immunoglobulin A, G, and M were present in 129/162 (79·6%), 5/163 (3·1%), and 15/76 (19·7%) colostrum samples and in 17/62 (27·42%), 2/62 (3·23%) and 2/62 (3·23%) mature milk samples, respectively. Immunoglobulin A was the predominant immunoglobulin found in breast milk, and its levels were significantly higher in the colostrum than in the mature milk (p-value < 0.001). We did not find that the presence of immunoglobulins in the colostrum was associated with their presence in maternal, the severity of the disease, or the time when the infection had occurred.

Conclusions

Since anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies are found in the colostrum irrespective of the time of infection during pregnancy, but the virus itself is not detected in human breast milk, our study found no indications to withhold breastfeeding, taking contact precautions when there is active disease.
Partners’ experiences of breastfeeding: a qualitative evaluation of a breastfeeding support intervention in Sweden
Authors: Blixt Ingrid , Axelsson Ove , Funkquist Eva-Lotta
Published: January 2024

Background

The World Health Organization states that women and their families need breastfeeding support from the healthcare system. However, knowledge about the most effective way to involve the partner in breastfeeding is lacking. A qualitative evaluation can provide insight and knowledge about the partner’s experiences towards a breastfeeding support intervention and thus contribute to how forthcoming breastfeeding support policies are designed. The aim of this study was to explore partners’ experiences regarding breastfeeding while participating in The Breastfeeding Study.

Methods

An exploratory, longitudinal and qualitative design was used. This study was part of The Breastfeeding Study, which took place in Sweden. The intervention was performed in line with the Ten Steps to Successful Breastfeeding. Partners in the in the intervention group (IG) were part of a structured breastfeeding support programme. An individual breastfeeding plan was established in cooperation with the parents-to-be during pregnancy, and the plan was followed up at the child healthcare centre. A purposive sample was recruited from March to December 2021. Interviews and diary entries from IG (n = 8) and control group (CG) (n = 8) during pregnancy and 2 months after birth were analysed by content analysis, in accordance with the COREQ guidelines.

Results

Partners’ experiences can be summarised under the main category of ‘Striving to be part of the family and important that the family’s everyday life was well-functioning’. IG partners experienced that both parents were involved and cooperated in the breastfeeding process and that guidance from healthcare professionals (HCPs) helped them to feel secure. CG partners experienced feeling excluded and not receiving support from HCPs.

Conclusion

Both parents need to be targeted in breastfeeding support policies to meet the support needs. Midwives at antenatal care and child healthcare nurses at the child healthcare centre have important roles to play in providing structured breastfeeding support and a breastfeeding plan. Both IG and CG partners strived to become a part of the infant’s life and to make family life work. Midwives should involve both parents in a reflective dialogue on how the partner can be involved, apart from just feeding the infant.

Trial registration

Retrospectively registered in ACTRN12623000648628.
The SIRT1/Nrf2 signaling pathway mediates the anti-pulmonary fibrosis effect of liquiritigenin
Authors: Hua Qingzhong , Ren Lu
Published: January 2024

Background

At present, the treatment options available for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis are both limited and often come with severe side effects, emphasizing the pressing requirement for innovative therapeutic alternatives. Myofibroblasts, which hold a central role in pulmonary fibrosis, have a close association with the Smad signaling pathway induced by transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) and the transformation of myofibroblasts driven by oxidative stress. Liquiritigenin, an active compound extracted from the traditional Chinese herb licorice, boasts a wide array of biomedical properties, such as anti-fibrosis and anti-oxidation. The primary objective of this study was to examine the impact of liquiritigenin on bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis in mice and the underlying mechanisms.

Methods

The anti-pulmonary fibrosis and anti-oxidant effects of liquiritigenin in vivo were tested by HE staining, Masson staining, DHE staining and bio-chemical methods. In vitro, primary mouse lung fibroblasts were treated with TGF-β1 with or without liquiritigenin, the effects of liquiritigenin in inhibiting differentiation of myofibroblasts and facilitating the translocation of Nrf2 were valued using Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (Q-PCR), western blotting and immunofluorescence. Nrf2 siRNA and SIRT1 siRNA were used to investigate the mechanism underlies liquiritigenin’s effect in inhibiting myofibroblast differentiation.

Results

Liquiritigenin displayed a dose-dependent reduction effect in bleomycin-induced fibrosis. In laboratory experiments, it was evident that liquiritigenin possessed the ability to enhance and activate sirtuin1 (SIRT1), thereby facilitating the nuclear translocation of Nrf2 and mitigating the oxidative stress-induced differentiation of primary mouse myofibroblasts. Moreover, our investigation unveiled that SIRT1 not only regulated myofibroblast differentiation via Nrf2-mediated antioxidant responses against oxidative stress but also revealed liquiritigenin's activation of SIRT1, enabling direct binding to Smad. This led to decreased phosphorylation of the Smad complex, constrained nuclear translocation, and suppressed acetylation of the Smad complex, ultimately curtailing the transcription of fibrotic factors. Validation in live subjects provided substantial evidence for the anti-fibrotic efficacy of liquiritigenin through the SIRT1/Nrf2 signaling pathway.

Conclusions

Our findings imply that targeting myofibroblast differentiation via the SIRT1/Nrf2 signaling pathway may constitute a pivotal strategy for liquiritigenin-based therapy against pulmonary fibrosis.
Knowledge mapping of spastic cerebral palsy. A bibliometric analysis of global research (2000–2022)
Authors: Wang Xing , Teh Siew Hoon , Wang Xing-hua
Published: January 2024

Background

Cerebral palsy (CP) is characterized by abnormal pronunciation, posture, and movement. Spastic CP accounts for more than 70% of all CP. To date, there has been no bibliometric analysis to summarize study on spastic CP. Here, we aim to conduct a bibliometric analysis of spastic CP to summarize this field's knowledge structure, research hotspots, and frontiers.

Method

Publications about spastic CP were searched utilizing the Web of Science Core Collection (WoSCC) database from 1 January 2000 to 30 November 2022, the WoSCC literature analysis wire, VOSviewer 1.6.18, CiteSpace 6.1.R4 and Online analysis platform for bibliometrics were used to conduct the analysis.

Results

A total of 3988 publications, consisting of 3699 articles and 289 reviews, were included in our study. The United States emerged as the most productive country, while Kathleen Univ Leuven was the most productive institution. The leading author was Desloovere K. A total of 238 journals contributed to this field, with Developmental medicine and child neurology being the leading journal. Important keywords and keyword clusters included Spastic cerebral palsy, Reliability, and Gross motor function. Keywords identified through burst detection indicated that hotspots in this field were management, randomized controlled trials, and definition.

Conclusion

Based on the analysis of bibliometric on spastic CP over the past 20 years, the trends and the knowledge graph of the countries, institutions, authors, references, and the keywords have been identified, providing accurate and expedited insights into critical information and potentially new directions in the study of spastic CP.
Digital image analysis and machine learning-assisted prediction of neoadjuvant chemotherapy response in triple-negative breast cancer
Authors: Fisher Timothy B. , Saini Geetanjali , Rekha T. S. , Krishnamurthy Jayashree , Bhattarai Shristi , Callagy Grace , Webber Mark , Janssen Emiel A. M. , Kong Jun , Aneja Ritu
Published: January 2024

Background

Pathological complete response (pCR) is associated with favorable prognosis in patients with triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). However, only 30–40% of TNBC patients treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) show pCR, while the remaining 60–70% show residual disease (RD). The role of the tumor microenvironment in NAC response in patients with TNBC remains unclear. In this study, we developed a machine learning-based two-step pipeline to distinguish between various histological components in hematoxylin and eosin (H&E)-stained whole slide images (WSIs) of TNBC tissue biopsies and to identify histological features that can predict NAC response.

Methods

H&E-stained WSIs of treatment-naïve biopsies from 85 patients (51 with pCR and 34 with RD) of the model development cohort and 79 patients (41 with pCR and 38 with RD) of the validation cohort were separated through a stratified eightfold cross-validation strategy for the first step and leave-one-out cross-validation strategy for the second step. A tile-level histology label prediction pipeline and four machine-learning classifiers were used to analyze 468,043 tiles of WSIs. The best-trained classifier used 55 texture features from each tile to produce a probability profile during testing. The predicted histology classes were used to generate a histology classification map of the spatial distributions of different tissue regions. A patient-level NAC response prediction pipeline was trained with features derived from paired histology classification maps. The top graph-based features capturing the relevant spatial information across the different histological classes were provided to the radial basis function kernel support vector machine (rbfSVM) classifier for NAC treatment response prediction.

Results

The tile-level prediction pipeline achieved 86.72% accuracy for histology class classification, while the patient-level pipeline achieved 83.53% NAC response (pCR vs. RD) prediction accuracy of the model development cohort. The model was validated with an independent cohort with tile histology validation accuracy of 83.59% and NAC prediction accuracy of 81.01%. The histological class pairs with the strongest NAC response predictive ability were tumor and tumor tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes for pCR and microvessel density and polyploid giant cancer cells for RD.

Conclusion

Our machine learning pipeline can robustly identify clinically relevant histological classes that predict NAC response in TNBC patients and may help guide patient selection for NAC treatment.
Effects of small-dose S-ketamine on anesthesia-induced atelectasis in patients undergoing general anesthesia accessed by lung ultrasound: study protocol for a randomized, double-blinded controlled trial
Authors: Zhang Di , Liang Yi , Bao Di , Xiong Wei , Li Lu , Wang Yaxin , Liu Bin , Jin Xu
Published: January 2024

Background

Atelectasis after anesthesia induction in most patients undergoing general anesthesia may lead to postoperative pulmonary complications (PPCs) and affect postoperative outcomes. However, there is still no existing effective method used for the prevention of perioperative atelectasis. S-ketamine may prevent atelectasis due to airway smooth muscle relaxation and anti-inflammatory effects. Lung ultrasound is a portable and reliable bedside imaging technology for diagnosing anesthesia-induced atelectasis. The primary objective of this study is to assess whether a small dose of S-ketamine can reduce the incidence of atelectasis after intubation, and further investigate the effects of preventing the early formation of perioperative atelectasis and PPCs.

Methods

This is a single-institution, prospective, randomized controlled, parallel grouping, and double-blind study. From October 2020 to March 2022, 100 patients (18–60 years old) scheduled for elective surgery will be recruited from Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, and randomly assigned to the S-ketamine group (group 1) and the normal saline group (group 2) at a ratio of 1:1. The label-masked agents will be administered 5 min before induction, and all patients will undergo a standardized general anesthesia protocol. Related data will be collected at three time points: after radial artery puncture (T1), 15 min after tracheal intubation (T2), and before extubation (T3). The primary outcome will be the total lung ultrasound scores (LUS) at T2. Secondary outcomes will include LUS in six chest regions at T2, total LUS at T3, arterial blood gas analysis results (PaCO2, PaO2) and PaO2/FiO2 at T2 and T3, and plateau pressure (Pplat) and dynamic lung compliance (Cdyn) at T2 and T3. The incidence of postoperative complications associated with S-ketamine and PPCs at 2 h and 24 h after surgery will be recorded.

Discussion

This trial aims to explore whether a simple and feasible application of S-ketamine before the induction of general anesthesia can prevent atelectasis. The results of this study may provide new ideas and direct clinical evidence for the prevention and treatment of perioperative pulmonary complications during anesthesia.

Trial registration

ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04745286. Registered on February 9, 2021.
Vector competence of Ixodes ricinus instars for the transmission of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato in different small mammalian hosts
Authors: Lindsø Lars K. , Viljugrein Hildegunn , Mysterud Atle
Published: January 2024

Background

Many pathogens and parasites can infect multiple host species, and the competence of different hosts as pathogen reservoirs is key to understanding their epidemiology. Small mammals are important hosts for the instar stages of Ixodes ricinus ticks, the principal vector of Lyme disease in Europe. Small mammals also act as reservoirs of Borrelia afzelii, the most common genospecies of the Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato (s.l.) spirochetes causing Lyme disease in Europe. However, we lack quantitative estimates on whether different small mammal species are equally suitable hosts for feeding I. ricinus and whether they show differences in pathogen transmission from host to tick.

Methods

Here, we analysed the feeding success and prevalence of B. burgdorferi s.l. infections in 12,987 instar I. ricinus found on captured small mammals with known infection status in Norway (2018–2022).

Results

We found that larvae were more likely to acquire a blood meal from common shrews (Sorex araneus, 46%) compared to bank voles (Myodes glareolus, 31%) and wood mice (Apodemus sylvaticus, 36%). Nymphs tended to be more likely to acquire a blood meal from wood mice (66%) compared to bank voles (54%). Common shrews harboured few nymphs (n=19). Furthermore, we found that larvae feeding on infected bank voles (11%) were more likely to be infected with B. burgdorferi s.l. than larvae on infected common shrews (7%) or wood mice (4%).

Conclusions

Our study provides quantitative evidence of differences in suitability for the instar stages of I. ricinus across taxa of small mammals and highlights how even known small mammal host species can differ in their ability to feed ticks and infect larval ticks with the pathogen causing Lyme disease.

Graphical Abstract
Detecting GNSS spoofing using deep learning
Authors: Borhani-Darian Parisa , Li Haoqing , Wu Peng , Closas Pau
Published: January 2024

Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) is pervasively used in position, navigation, and timing (PNT) applications. As a consequence, important assets have become vulnerable to intentional attacks on GNSS, where of particular relevance is spoofing transmissions that aim at superseding legitimate signals with forged ones in order to control a receiver’s PNT computations. Detecting such attacks is therefore crucial, and this article proposes to employ an algorithm based on deep learning to achieve the task. A data-driven classifier is considered that has two components: a deep learning model that leverages parallelization to reduce its computational complexity and a clustering algorithm that estimates the number and parameters of the spoofing signals. Based on the experimental results, it can be concluded that the proposed scheme exhibits superior performance compared to the existing solutions, especially under moderate-to-high signal-to-noise ratios.
Advanced series decomposition with a gated recurrent unit and graph convolutional neural network for non-stationary data patterns
Authors: Han Huimin , Neira-Molina Harold , Khan Asad , Fang Meie , Mahmoud Haitham A. , Awwad Emad Mahrous , Ahmed Bilal , Ghadi Yazeed Yasin
Published: January 2024

In this study, we present the EEG-GCN, a novel hybrid model for the prediction of time series data, adept at addressing the inherent challenges posed by the data's complex, non-linear, and periodic nature, as well as the noise that frequently accompanies it. This model synergizes signal decomposition techniques with a graph convolutional neural network (GCN) for enhanced analytical precision. The EEG-GCN approaches time series data as a one-dimensional temporal signal, applying a dual-layered signal decomposition using both Ensemble Empirical Mode Decomposition (EEMD) and GRU. This two-pronged decomposition process effectively eliminates noise interference and distills the complex signal into more tractable sub-signals. These sub-signals facilitate a more straightforward feature analysis and learning process. To capitalize on the decomposed data, a graph convolutional neural network (GCN) is employed to discern the intricate feature interplay within the sub-signals and to map the interdependencies among the data points. The predictive model then synthesizes the weighted outputs of the GCN to yield the final forecast. A key component of our approach is the integration of a Gated Recurrent Unit (GRU) with EEMD within the GCN framework, referred to as EEMD-GRU-GCN. This combination leverages the strengths of GRU in capturing temporal dependencies and the EEMD's capability in handling non-stationary data, thereby enriching the feature set available for the GCN and enhancing the overall predictive accuracy and stability of the model. Empirical evaluations demonstrate that the EEG-GCN model achieves superior performance metrics. Compared to the baseline GCN model, EEG-GCN shows an average R2 improvement of 60% to 90%, outperforming the other methods. These results substantiate the advanced predictive capability of our proposed model, underscoring its potential for robust and accurate time series forecasting.
Renewable energy as a connecting spot between China and Central and Eastern European countries: status, directions and perspectives
Authors: Šekarić Stojanović Nevena , Zakić Katarina
Published: January 2024

Background

Considering energy- and climate-related policies adopted, the European Union and the People’s Republic of China are expected to be on the same trajectory of reducing pollution, aiming for carbon neutrality in 2050 and 2060, respectively. However, although they share a common goal of more sustainable development, their targets and means often collide. The main objective of the study is to identify the main similarities and differences in approaches to energy and climate policies in the European Union and the People’s Republic of China, with special attention given to the scope, past, present, and future of Chinese investments in renewable energy projects in the countries of the Central and Eastern European region, and to reveal the prevailing factors of the (un)successful renewable energy projects in those countries eventually. The methods used are literature review and qualitative content analysis of the European Union’s and the People’s Republic of China’s energy- and climate-related policies according to the prescribed indicators (from 2005 onwards) and in-depth exploratory desk research of cooperation in renewable energy projects between the People’s Republic of China and 14 Central and Eastern European Countries (from 2014 onwards).

Results

The study showed that despite the significant alignment of the European Union’s and the People’s Republic of China’s energy- and climate-related policies on a normative level, renewable energy cooperation between the People’s Republic of China and Central and Eastern European countries on a practical level is moderate. This state of play mainly results from political factors, such as rising levels of Sino-scepticism and the overall deterioration of the European Union–People’s Republic of China relations.

Conclusions

The study showed that political rather than economic or legal factors had a great impact on the Chinese presence in the domain of renewable energy in the countries of the Central and Eastern European region. However, the significant alignment of the European Union’s and the People’s Republic of China’s energy- and climate-related policies and dedication to common energy transition targets offer room for improving renewable energy cooperation. Overcoming political and economic divergences imposes a condition for achieving better cooperation in the renewable energy domain.
One step closer: Laypeople’s perception of production steps for manufacturing CO2-based jet fuel
Authors: Engelmann Linda , Arning Katrin , Ziefle Martina
Published: January 2024

Background

The need for greenhouse gas abatement measures grows as climate change threatens life on earth. Negative emission technologies, such as carbon capture and utilization (CCU), can reduce emissions from the transport sector, particularly aviation. However, the lack of support and low public acceptance can impact the successful introduction of new technologies. This study analyzes the factors that influence acceptance of the single production steps (capture, purification, conversion, and transport of CO2) of production of CO2-based jet fuels to identify acceptance hot spots and potential roll-out barriers.

Results

In a quantitative survey with n = 543 German respondents, we find that transport of CO2 in comparison with capture, purification, and conversion of CO2 into hydrocarbons is perceived as less acceptable, efficient, and useful, more expensive as well as damaging for the environment and health. Furthermore, product-step specific risk perceptions, as well as benefit and barrier perceptions for CCU mainly predict people’s attitude towards the four production steps. A cluster-analysis revealed two groups, “Approvers” and “Sceptics”, which were characterized by distinctive perception profiles. Further analysis showed that sustainability (e.g., use of renewable energy) and efficiency (e.g., carbon removal and resource use) were of greater importance to Approvers.

Conclusions

The study’s results suggest the need for further research and information provision to enhance public understanding of the technology and its role as a part of circular economy approaches. Risk perceptions play a central role in determining attitudes towards CCU, which should be considered in future studies and communication strategies. The findings can inform policymakers, industry stakeholders, and communication experts working to promote sustainable aviation fuel technologies.
Project coordination success factors in European Union-funded research, development and innovation projects under the Horizon 2020 and Horizon Europe programmes
Authors: Tenhunen-Lunkka Anna , Honkanen Riitta
Published: January 2024

Success factors for managing European Union-funded research, development and innovation projects is rather uncharted territory and scarce publications exist, even though considering that the H2020 funding was nearly €80 billion, and Horizon Europe is €95,5 billion. Managing these types of projects has been referred to as ‘managing the unmanageable’, which indicates importance of our study. The aim of this study was to gather input via survey from both project coordinators and partners by assessing factors in five categories of good practices, skills, characteristics and tools of project management, and coordination for successful project implementation. A total of 118 persons replied to the survey who have experience from Horizon 2020 or Horizon Europe funded project(s). Over 80 factors were assessed and rated by the participants. Via standard statistical analysis, a top three lists were created for the different categories from both project partners and coordinators perspectives. A combination of 15 top success factors was formed. Furthermore, to emphasise the practicality of the results, an overarching framework was formed where we propose three prioritised key success factors that research, development, and innovation project management of should focus on. The three key success factors are communication, trust, and collaboration. Communication and trust are further traced down to the coordinator and consortium levels. Active communication and good listening skills are key. Mutual trust is built through high motivation, competence, and active approach to dedicated project activities and roles. Efficient collaboration is reached by nourishing inclusivity and culture, creating a productive environment, and good administrative practices.
Development and validation of School Resilience Questionnaire (SRQ) in Iranian adolescents
Authors: Afzali Leila , Hosseinian Simin
Published: January 2024

Background

School resilience, encompassing factors like teacher involvement and school supportiveness, is crucial for positive educational outcomes in adolescents. However, few validated scales measure school resilience. This study aimed to develop and validate the School Resilience Questionnaire (SRQ) for Iranian adolescents.

Methods

The study used a cross-sectional design. The SRQ was developed through expert reviews, interviews with students, and evaluation of existing resilience measures. After expert feedback, the final 55-item questionnaire was used. Participants were high school adolescents from Tehran, Iran (2021–2022). A multi-stage cluster random sampling approach was used. Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) involved 200 students, and Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) included 310 students to validate the factor structure. Convergent validity was assessed by examining correlations with academic support, while divergent validity was evaluated using academic burnout measures. Construct validity and reliability were also assessed.

Results

EFA revealed six consistent factors across the sample. CFA confirmed significant and acceptable factor loadings for all SRQ items. Fit indices were RMSEA = 0.076; SRMR = 0.070, CFI = 0.94, NFI = 0.93, IFI = 0.94, RFI = 0.93. Convergent validity showed positive correlations between SRQ subscales and academic support. Divergent validity showed negative correlations between SRQ subscales and academic burnout (p < 0.05).

Conclusion

The study successfully developed and validated the 55-item SRQ for Iranian adolescents. The questionnaire demonstrates satisfactory psychometric properties, making it a valuable tool for research and evaluation purposes in this context.
Flexibility and inflexibility in an Iranian sample: psychometric properties of MPFI based on the Hexaflex model
Authors: Moosivand Mahboobeh , Kulemarzi Mohammad Javad Bagian , Shirazi Maryam Sayad , Zaremohzzabieh Zeinab
Published: January 2024

Objectives

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) emphasizes the importance of psychological flexibility in promoting emotional, psychological, and social well-being, while also acknowledging rigidity as a precursor to psychological disorders. Analyzing the psychometric qualities based on the multidimensional Hexaflex model is critical for determining the efficiency of therapeutic interventions. Thus, the purpose of this study is to investigate the psychometric features of the Multidimensional Psychological Flexibility Inventory (MPFI) within the context of the Hexaflex model in a group of Iranian university students.

Methods

Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses were used in this study to evaluate the psychometric features of the flexibility/inflexibility scale (MPFI) in a sample of Iranian university students.

Findings

In the exploratory factor analysis involving a sample of 300 students, six factors were identified for flexibility and six for inflexibility (56.3% males and 43.7% females). In the confirmatory factor analysis with a sample of 388 participants, the results validated 60 items across a total of six flexibility and inflexibility factors. This outcome can serve as a robust estimate for flexibility, inflexibility, the second-order model, and the final model. Cronbach’s alpha values for various components, including acceptance, present-moment awareness (or contact with the present moment), self as context, cognitive defusing, values, committed action, total flexibility, experiential avoidance, lack of present-moment awareness, self as content, fusion, lack of contact with values, inaction, and total inflexibility, were reported as follows: 0.818, 0.869, 0.862, 0.904, 0.935, 0.935, 0.942, 0.895, 0.839, 0.883, 0.904, 0.912, 0.941, and 0.941, respectively.

Conclusions

The Farsi version of the MPFI for university students has great psychometric qualities, making it a reliable assessment instrument for the ACT.
English Cocker Spaniels under primary veterinary care in the UK: disorder predispositions and protections
Authors: Engdahl Karolina S. , Brodbelt Dave C. , Cameron Carla , Church David B. , O’Neill Dan G.
Published: January 2024

Background

The English Cocker Spaniel (ECS) is one of the most popular dog breeds in the UK but information on disorder predisposition and protection is limited. Using anonymised veterinary clinical data from the VetCompass™ Programme, this study aimed to compare disorder predisposition and protection between the ECS and the remaining dogs under primary veterinary care in the UK during 2016. Electronic patient records for random samples of ECS and non-ECS were reviewed. The most common disorders diagnosed during 2016 were extracted and compared using multivariable logistic regression, controlling for confounders.

Results

The analysis included random samples of 2510/10,313 (24.3%) ECS and 7813/326,552 (2.39%) non-ECS. After accounting for confounding by age, sex, bodyweight within breed-sex, insurance status and veterinary practice group, the ECS had increased odds of 21/43 (48.85%) disorders at fine-level precision, with highest odds for aural discharge (odds ratio (OR) 14.66, 95% confidence interval (CI): 7.73–30.90, P <  0.001) and keratoconjunctivitis sicca (OR 7.64, 95% CI: 4.33﻿–14.14, P <  0.001) and lowest odds for atopic dermatitis (OR 0.14, 95% CI: 0.05–0.31, P <  0.001) and allergy (OR 0.14, 95% CI: 0.06–0.28, P <  0.001).

Conclusions

This study provides evidence for strong predisposition to aural and ocular disorders and protection from hypersensitivity disorders in the ECS. These results can aid dog owners, breeders, and veterinarians to better monitor health in ECS, and promote earlier diagnosis with improved prognosis. Further, the results can help breeding organisations establish key priorities the health-based reforms of the ECS.
Intervention mechanism of marine-based chito-oligosaccharide on acute liver injury induced by AFB1 in rats
Authors: Chen Lin , Yan Jiahui , Shi Huijun , Zhang Zhaohuan , Zhao YueLiang , Zhao Yong , Wang Yuan , Ou Jie
Published: January 2024

Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) is extremely hepatotoxic, a causative agent of liver cancer, and can cause symptoms of acute or chronic liver damage. Chito-oligosaccharides (COS), obtained from the degradation of chitosan derived from shrimp and crab shells, is a natural antioxidant substance and its antitumor properties have been widely studied, but less research has been done on the prevention of AFB1-induced acute liver injury. In this study, rats were acutely exposed to 1 mg/kg BW AFB1 and simultaneously gavaged with different doses of COS for 8 days. The results showed that COS attenuated the hepatic histopathological changes and reduced serum biochemical indices (ALT, AST, ALP, and TBIL) in rats. It significantly inhibited MDA content and promoted SOD and GSH-Px activity production. Moreover, it also improved hepatocyte apoptosis. Furthermore, AFB1-vs-HCOS differential genes were enriched with 622 GO entries, and 380 were Biological Processes, 170 were Molecular Functions, 72 were Cellular Components. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) analyzed by KEGG enrichment were more enriched in pathways, such as metabolism, PPAR signaling pathway, and peroxisome. Q-PCR technique verified that Lama5, Egr1, Cyp2b1, and Gadd45g in DEGs were associated with oxidative stress damage and apoptosis. In conclusion, COS intervention reduces the effect of AFB1 on hepatic genes and thus reduces the changes in hepatic gene function.

Graphical abstract
Effect of Hashimoto’s thyroiditis on the dual-energy CT quantitative parameters and performance in diagnosing metastatic cervical lymph nodes in patients with papillary thyroid cancer
Authors: Geng Di , Zhou Yan , Shang Ting , Su Guo-Yi , Lin Shu-shen , Si Yan , Wu Fei-Yun , Xu Xiao-Quan
Published: January 2024

Background

To evaluate the effect of Hashimoto’s thyroiditis (HT) on dual-energy computed tomography (DECT) quantitative parameters of cervical lymph nodes (LNs) in patients with papillary thyroid cancer (PTC), and its effect on the diagnostic performance and threshold of DECT in preoperatively identifying metastatic cervical LNs.

Methods

A total of 479 LNs from 233 PTC patients were classified into four groups: HT+/LN+, HT+/LN−, HT−/LN + and HT−/LN − group. DECT quantitative parameters including iodine concentration (IC), normalized IC (NIC), effective atomic number (Zeff), and slope of the spectral Hounsfield unit curve (λHU) in the arterial phase (AP) and venous phase were compared. Receiver operating characteristic curve analyses were performed to evaluate DECT parameters’ diagnostic performance in differentiating metastatic from nonmetastatic LNs in the HT − and HT + groups.

Results

The HT+/LN + group exhibited lower values of DECT parameters than the HT−/LN + group (all p < 0.05). Conversely, the HT+/LN − group exhibited higher values of DECT parameters than the HT−/LN − group (all p < 0.05). In the HT + group, if an AP-IC of 1.850 mg/mL was used as the threshold value, then the optimal diagnostic performance (area under the curve, 0.757; sensitivity, 69.4%; specificity, 71.0%) could be obtained. The optimal threshold value of AP-IC in the HT − group was 2.050 mg/mL. In contrast, in the HT − group, AP-NIC demonstrated the highest area under the curve of 0.988, when an optimal threshold of 0.243 was used. The optimal threshold value of AP-NIC was 0.188 in the HT + group.

Conclusions

HT affected DECT quantitative parameters of LNs and subsequent the diagnostic thresholds. When using DECT to diagnose metastatic LNs in patients with PTC, whether HT is coexistent should be clarified considering the different diagnostic thresholds.
Diagnostic and prognostic significance of tissue lncRNA HOTAIR and hexokinase 2 mRNA expression in patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma
Authors: Salah Ghada , Obada Manar , Sweed Dina , Salama Ibrahim Abdelkader , Khalil Ashraf , Abdelsattar Shimaa
Published: January 2024

Background

Pancreatic adenocarcinoma, recognized for its aggressive behavior and frequent late-stage diagnosis, imposes significant challenges in early detection and prognosis. This study aimed to evaluate the diagnostic and prognostic potential by measuring the expression levels of long non-coding RNA HOTAIR and the glycolytic enzyme hexokinase 2 (HK2) mRNA in both tumorous and adjacent non-tumorous pancreatic tissue samples (n = 25 each) using RT-qPCR. Results

Both lncRNA HOTAIR and HK2 expression levels significantly increased in tumorous pancreatic tissues compared to non-tumorous tissue (P = 0.001). However, their levels in stage T2 and T3 showed no statistically significant difference (P = 0.01). lncRNA HOTAIR and HK2 expression levels positively correlated with each other (P = 0.001; r = 0.95); however, no significant associations were found with serum tumor markers CA19-9 and CEA (P = 0.01; r = 005; p = 0.1, r = 0.2). ROC analysis demonstrated the significant abilities of both lncRNA HOTAIR and HK2 expression levels to discriminate between tumorous and non-tumorous pancreatic tissues (AUC = 0.92 and 0.84, respectively) with 96% and 88% sensitivity, and 72% and 40% specificity, respectively, at optimal cut-off values of 1.12 and 0.84 relative expression units. Patients with elevated lncRNA HOTAIR and HK2 expression had shorter median survival (8 and 7 months, respectively), increasing the risk of adverse outcomes or recurrence 4–4.8 times (HR = 4.08, p = 0.07; HR = 4.8, p = 0.01), thus emphasizing their prognostic potential in pancreatic cancer.

Conclusion

lncRNA HOTAIR and HK2 expression levels exhibit diagnostic potential in pancreatic tumors. Elevated levels of both markers correlate strongly with adverse outcomes, underscoring their prognostic value.
The ℓ1−2-norm-regularized basis pursuit seismic inversion based on the exact Zoeppritz equation
Authors: Huang Guangtan , Wei Shuying , Gei Davide , Wang Tongtao
Published: January 2024

Sparsity constraints have been widely adopted in the regularization of ill-posed problems to obtain subsurface properties with sparseness features. However, the target parameters are generally not sparsely distributed, and sparsity constraints lead to results that are missing information. Smooth constraints (e.g., [Formula: see text] norm) lead to the insufficient resolution of the inversion results. To overcome this issue, an effective solution is to convert the target parameters to a sparse representation, which can then be solved with sparsity constraints. For the estimation of elastic parameters, a high-resolution and reliable seismic basis pursuit inversion is developed based on the exact Zoeppritz equation. Furthermore, the [Formula: see text] norm is developed as a constraint, wherein a regularized function is minimized with the alternating direction method of the multipliers algorithm. Numerical examples and real data applications demonstrate that our method can not only improve the accuracy of the inversion results, especially the S-wave velocity and density information but also increase the resolution of the inversion results. Furthermore, the [Formula: see text]-norm constraint has better noise suppression demonstrating great potential in practical applications.
MAU-net: A multibranch attention U-net for full-waveform inversion
Authors: Li Hanyang , Li Jiahui , Li Xuegui , Dong Hongli , Xu Gang , Zhang Mi
Published: January 2024

Data-driven velocity inversion has emerged as a prominent and challenging problem in seismic exploration. The complexity of the inversion problem and the limited data set make it difficult to ensure the stability and generalization of neural networks. To address these concerns, a novel approach called multibranch attention U-net (MAU-net) is proposed for velocity inversion. The key distinction of MAU-net from previous data-driven approaches lies in its ability to not only learn information from the data domain but also incorporate prior model domain information. MAU-net consists of two branches: one branch uses seismic records as input to effectively learn the mapping relationship between the data and model domains, whereas the other branch uses a prior geologic model as input to extract features from the model domain, thereby guiding MAU-net’s learning process. In addition, three major improvements are made to the model to enhance MAU-net’s utilization of seismic data and handle redundant information. The effectiveness of the improvements is verified through ablation experiments. The performance of MAU-net is demonstrated with the Marmousi model and the 2004 BP model, and it also can be combined with full-waveform inversion to further improve the quality of the inversion result. MAU-net exhibits robust performance on field data through the use of transfer learning techniques, further confirming its reliability and applicability.
Seismic amplitude inversion based on a new PP-wave reflection coefficient approximation equation for vertical transversely isotropic media
Authors: Fu Xin
Published: January 2024

We develop a method for the simultaneous amplitude-variation-with-offset or -angle inversion of anisotropic parameters for transversely isotropic media with vertical axis of symmetry (VTI media). First, we introduce a nonlinear PP-wave reflection coefficient approximation equation in terms of only P- and S-wave impedances for isotropic elastic media. Then, by replacing the isotropic part of Rüger’s equation with this equation, we obtain a new PP-wave reflection coefficient approximation equation called the ASI Rüger equation for VTI media. To invert the parameters for VTI media based on the ASI Rüger equation, we adopt the Bayesian generalized linear inversion (GLI) method, a combination of GLI and Bayesian linear inversion, in which the noise and model perturbation are assumed to conform to the zero-mean Gaussian distribution. Compared with Rüger’s equation, the ASI Rüger equation decreases the trade-off between the parameters and reduces the ill-posedness of the inverse problem. The synthetic and field data tests demonstrate the feasibility of our method for inverting VTI media parameters (the vertical P-wave impedance, the vertical S-wave impedance, and Thomsen’s parameters [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text]).
Gradient-based surface nuclear magnetic resonance for groundwater investigation
Authors: Morozov Darya , McLaughlin Cristina , Grunewald Elliot D. , Irons Trevor , Walsh David O.
Published: January 2024

In medical magnetic resonance imaging, spatial localization (imaging) is based upon the application of controlled magnetic field gradients on top of the main magnetic field to spatially modulate the frequency and/or phase of the nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) signal across the volume of investigation. In this work, we have applied similar physical principles to produce controlled magnetic field gradients during surface NMR-based groundwater investigations. In this approach, a gradient pulse of variable amplitude or duration is applied immediately after the excitation pulse to cause predictable phase encoding of the NMR signal as a function of depth. This approach is also applicable to emerging surface NMR detection methods that use a prepolarization field with fast nonadiabatic turn-off to generate detectable NMR signals from the shallow subsurface. In this case, the gradient pulse is applied after terminating the prepolarization field and provides a heretofore unavailable means of localizing the NMR response as a function of depth. The application of gradients can also be combined with tip-angle-based modulation to yield higher imaging resolution than can be achieved through either gradient- or tip-angle-based imaging alone. We implemented this new gradient-based capability into a surface NMR gradient generation accessory that is compatible with the GMR-Flex instrument and developed surface NMR-specific forward modeling and linear inverse models. We validated the accuracy of this novel gradient-based sNMR technology using computer simulations, experiments using a small pool filled with a discrete layer of bulk water, and field experiments at well-characterized groundwater test sites along Ebey Island, WA, and Larned, KS. The gradient-based sNMR imaging observations were compared with high-resolution direct push NMR results observed at these sites. The results of computer simulations and field experiments indicate improvements in both the detection (signal-to-noise ratio) and spatial resolution of shallow subsurface water content using gradient-based surface NMR, compared with traditional surface NMR imaging methods.
Tumor-Informed Circulating Tumor DNA for Minimal Residual Disease Detection in the Management of Colorectal Cancer
Authors: Emiloju Oluwadunni E. , Storandt Michael , Zemla Tyler , Tran Nguyen , Jethwa Krishan , Mahipal Amit , Mitchell Jessica , Thiels Cornelius , Mathis Kellie , McWilliams Robert , Hubbard Joleen , Sinicrope Frank , Shi Qian , Jin Zhaohui
Published: January 2024

PURPOSE

Recurrence after curative-intent treatment occurs in 20%-50% of patients with stage II-IV colorectal cancer (CRC), underscoring the need for early detection of minimal residual disease (MRD) using circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA). Here, we examined the pattern of use of a tumor-informed ctDNA assay in CRC MRD monitoring in routine clinical practice at Mayo Clinic, Rochester.

METHODS

We conducted a retrospective analysis of health records of patients with CRC who had at least one tumor-informed ctDNA assay from May 2019 through July 1, 2022. Recurrence was defined as radiographic evidence of disease. Descriptive characteristics of the cohort, ctDNA results, and subsequent interventions were recorded.

RESULTS

Of the 120 patients included, the median age at diagnosis was 67 years, 46% were female, and 94% were White. At diagnosis, 10 patients had stage I, 23 stage II, 60 stage III, and 25 stage IV disease. Of 476 ctDNA assays performed, 70% were performed in patients who had recurrent disease most commonly to monitor the effectiveness of therapeutic interventions and 16% resulted in a change in clinical decision making. There were 110 recurrences identified in 62 patients, as some patients experienced more than one recurrence over time. Compared with serum carcinoembryonic antigen levels, ctDNA results correlated better with radiologic imaging.

CONCLUSION

Routine ctDNA monitoring for MRD detection has been adopted in clinical practice; however, 84% of ctDNA assays performed did not result in a change in clinical management. This suggests the need for further clinical research data to guide routine clinical use of ctDNA MRD testing in CRC.