bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Aerobic exercise attenuates insulin resistance via restoring branched chain amino acids homeostasis in obese mice
Authors: Cao Wei , Liu Yajin , Wei Hao , Dong Yunfeng , Sun Haipeng , Zhang Xuejiao , Qiu Junqiang
Published: November 2024

Introduction

Emerging evidences suggests that the disrupted branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs) homeostasis and elevated BCAAs promote obesity-related insulin resistance (IR). Exercise improves insulin sensitivity. However, whether BCAAs plays a role in the exercise-attenuated IR remains to be fully investigated.

Methods

In this study, male C57BL/6J mice were induced to become diet-induced obese (DIO) and served as subjects. The initial investigation focused on the impact of exercise on IR and BCAAs. The DIO mice were randomly assigned to either a sedentary group (CON, n = 16) or an exercise group (EX, n = 16). The EX group underwent a 12-week aerobic exercise regimen on a treadmill. After 12-week, plasma BCAAs and branched-chain keto acids (BCKAs) were measured by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry, glucose tolerance test (GTT) and insulin tolerance test (ITT) were performed, and the expression and phosphorylation of BCAAs catabolic proteins, as well as AKT T308 in gastrocnemius muscle and liver tissues, were evaluated using western blotting. Subsequently, the study explored the role of BCAAs in enhancing IR through exercise. Mice were randomly allocated into 4 groups: sedentary group (CON, n = 8), sedentary with BCAAs supplementation group (CON+BCAA, n = 8), exercise group (EX, n = 16), and exercise with BCAAs supplementation group (EX+BCAA, n = 16). The exercise protocol was as above. Mice in the BCAAs supplemented groups received drinking water containing 2% BCAAs. After 12-week, plasma BCAAs and BCKAs were measured, GTT and ITT tests were performed, and the phosphorylation of AKT T308, as well as p70S6K T389 in gastrocnemius muscle and liver, were compared between the EX group and the EX+BCAA group. Additionally, the phosphorylation of AMPKα T172 in both tissues was measured across all four groups.

Results

12-week aerobic exercise improved insulin sensitivity in DIO mice while inducing BCAAs catabolic protein expression in skeletal muscle and liver, and reducing the plasma BCAAs level. Importantly, BCAAs supplementation elevated the plasma level of BCAAs and counteracted the exercise-attenuated IR. In skeletal muscle and liver tissues, BCAAs supplementation impaired the exercise-improved insulin signaling without enhancing mammalian target of rapamycin activity. AMPK activity was enhanced by aerobic exercise, which was abolished by BCAAs supplementation.

Conclusion

Aerobic exercise attenuated insulin resistance via restoring BCAAs homeostasis and AMPK activity. The impacts of BCAAs intake on the metabolic effects of exercise sheds light on the combined exercise and nutrition intervention strategy for diabetes management.
Mediation effects of metabolites and sex hormones on the relationship between body mass index and breast cancer: Mendelian randomization analysis and mediation analysis
Authors: Yang Yanjiang , Chen Min , Yang Wenwen
Published: November 2024

Background

Observational investigations have indicated a notable correlation between body mass index (BMI) and breast cancer (BC). Nevertheless, the precise biological pathways driving this correlation remain ambiguous. Consequently, we utilized Mendelian randomization (MR) techniques to explore the causative link between BMI and genetic predisposition to BC, as well as the potential intermediary influences.

Methods

Utilizing extensive cohorts sourced from publicly accessible genome-wide association studies (GWAS) datasets of European populations, we conducted Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis. The primary method employed was the Inverse Variance Weighted (IVW) model. We evaluated both heterogeneity and horizontal pleiotropy. Our MR analysis unveiled several metabolites and sex hormones as mediators in the association between BMI and BC.

Results

The IVW model indicated significant negative causal correlations between BMI and BC, ER+BC, and ER-BC. Thirty-five metabolites, thirty-three metabolites and sex hormones, and fifteen metabolites respectively mediated the causal effects of BMI on BC, ER+BC, and ER-BC. Furthermore, our study found that BMI influences BC risk through different mediating factors; BMI increases ER+BC risk through the pathway of sex hormones (biologically available testosterone) and decreases the causal relationship of BC risk through multiple metabolite pathways.

Conclusion

This study discovered that BMI increases ER+BC risk through the pathway of sex hormones (biologically available testosterone), and decreases BC risk through multiple metabolite pathways causally. These discoveries could offer insights into the development of preventive strategies and interventions for BC, while further investigations should delve into alternative feasible biological pathways.
Value of radiomics and deep learning feature fusion models based on dce-mri in distinguishing sinonasal squamous cell carcinoma from lymphoma
Authors: Zhang Ziwei , Zhang Duo , Yang Yunze , Liu Yang , Zhang Jianjun
Published: November 2024

Problem

Sinonasal squamous cell carcinoma (SNSCC) and sinonasal lymphoma (SNL) lack distinct clinical manifestations and traditional imaging characteristics, complicating the accurate differentiation between these tumors and the selection of appropriate treatment strategies. Consequently, there is an urgent need for a method that can precisely distinguish between these tumors preoperatively to formulate suitable treatment plans for patients.

Methods

This study aims to construct and validate ML and DL feature models based on Dynamic Contrast-Enhanced (DCE) imaging and to evaluate the clinical value of a radiomics and deep learning (DL) feature fusion model in differentiating between SNSCC and SNL. This study performed a retrospective analysis on the preoperative axial DCE-T1WI MRI images of 90 patients diagnosed with sinonasal tumors, comprising 50 cases of SNSCC and 40 cases of SNL. Data were randomly divided into a training set and a validation set at a 7:3 ratio, and radiomic features were extracted. Concurrently, deep learning features were derived using the optimally pre-trained DL model and integrated with manually extracted radiomic features. Feature sets were selected through independent samples t-test, Mann-Whitney U-test, Pearson correlation coefficient and LASSO regression. Three conventional machine learning (CML) models and three DL models were established, and all radiomic and DL features were merged to create three pre-fusion machine learning models (DLR). Additionally, a post-fusion model (DLRN) was constructed by combining radiomic scores and DL scores. Quantitative metrics such as area under the curve (AUC), sensitivity, and accuracy were employed to identify the optimal feature set and classifier. Furthermore, a deep learning-radiomics nomogram (DLRN) was developed as a clinical decision-support tool.

Results

The feature fusion model of radiomics and DL has higher accuracy in distinguishing SNSCC from SNL than CML or DL alone. The ExtraTrees model based on DLR fusion features of DCE-T1WI had an AUC value of 0.995 in the training set and 0.939 in the validation set.The DLRN model based on the fusion of predictive scores had an AUC value of 0.995 in the training set and 0.911 in the validation set.The DLRN model based on the fusion of predictive scores had an AUC value of 0.995 in the training set and 0.911 in the validation set.

Conclusion

This study, by constructing a feature integration model combining radiomics and deep learning (DL), has demonstrated strong predictive capabilities in the preoperative non-invasive diagnosis of SNSCC and SNL, offering valuable information for tailoring personalized treatment plans for patients.
Case report: HLA-B35-associated optic neuritis
Authors: Guillot Florian H. , Carey Andrew R.
Published: November 2024

Purpose

To describe a unique presentation of optic neuritis associated with positive HLA-B35.

Observations

A woman presented with unilateral retro-orbital pain, mildly decreased vision, and optic disc edema with new-onset aphthous ulcers. Color vision was preserved, and no visual field deficits were noted. Diagnostic imaging demonstrated retrobulbar optic nerve enhancement, with genetic testing revealing HLA-B35 positivity. Treatment with high-dose oral steroids for 3 days resolved all symptoms, and the patient remained stable for at least 2 months.

Conclusions and importance

In addition to rheumatic conditions and oral lesions, HLA-B35 can be linked to optic neuritis. This relationship highlights the need to further explore genetic risk factors associated with optic neuritis and the potential need for human leukocyte antigen (HLA) testing in unusual cases of optic neuritis.
Trust and mistrust in COVID-19 politics: the shattered hopes of civil society engagement in Burkina Faso
Authors: Guiatin Jean-Baptiste
Published: November 2024

In a democratic setting, civil society is considered to be one of the forces capable of checking on the government especially when it comes to issues that concern the public at large. The political history of Burkina Faso is replete with situations of civil society groupings confronting the governments be they democratic or authoritarian. So, at the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020 in Burkina Faso one expected civil society organizations to live up to the challenges of the day by checking on the actions of President Kabore government. However, this did not happen. Hence, the following research question: Why was the Burkina Faso civil society inactive during the COVID-19 pandemic crisis? Using elite interviewing techniques, I found out that low awareness of the COVID-19 threat within large swaths of the population and among members of civil society organizations accounted for the inaction of the most vocal civil society members during the COVID-19 pandemic crisis since the latter did not consider the COVID-19 pandemic issue as a political question deserving great attention. This has strong implications in terms of public trust. More precisely, it means that in Burkina Faso contrary to what the democracy promotion literature may have said on the virtues of civil society one cannot always trust civil society members to check on the government even in time of emergency such as that of the COVID-19 pandemic crisis. Further research may therefore help to better understand civil society-government relations in Burkina Faso.
Childhood adversity and health: The mediating roles of emotional expression and general trust
Authors: Hirano Hiroki , Ishii Keiko
Published: November 2024

Introduction

This study examined whether adverse childhood experiences, positive emotional expressivity in personal (i.e., expressing positive emotions when good things happened to oneself) and social settings (i.e., expressing positive emotions when good things happened to others such as friends or family), and general trust predict levels of happiness and loneliness among American and Japanese participants. We also explored whether these two types of emotional expression and general trust mediate the relationship between adverse childhood experiences and happiness/loneliness.

Methods

American and Japanese participants who agreed to participate in the current study first completed the Subjective Happiness Scale. Next, they answered the Emotion Expression Questionnaire, the 5-item General Trust Scale, and the revised UCLA Loneliness Scale. They then responded to the Risky Family Questionnaire. Finally, they answered demographic questions (e.g., age, gender). We hypothesized that regardless of culture, adverse childhood experiences would be negatively (positively) associated with happiness (loneliness), while positive emotional expression in personal and social settings and general trust would be positively (negatively) related to happiness (loneliness). We also predicted that positive emotional expression in both personal and social settings, as well as general trust, would mediate the relationships between adverse childhood experiences and happiness/loneliness.

Results

As expected, adverse childhood experiences were negatively (positively) associated with happiness (loneliness), while positive emotional expression in personal and social settings and general trust were positively (negatively) related to happiness (loneliness). Besides, positive emotional expression in a personal situation mediated the relationships between adverse childhood experiences and happiness/loneliness, such that greater early life adversity was negatively linked to positive emotional expressivity in a personal setting, which, in turn, predicted lower happiness and higher loneliness.

Discussion

The present study advances the understanding of psychological mechanisms linking adverse childhood experiences to happiness and loneliness by highlighting the significant role of positive emotional expression in a personal situation. This result underscores the importance of developing therapeutic practices and public health strategies that foster authentic emotional expression in response to personal achievement or fortune, regardless of cultural background.
Depression and its associated factors among textile factory workers at the Almeda textile factory, North Ethiopia
Authors: Begashaw Tesfaye Derbie , Andualem Fantahun
Published: November 2024

Background

Depression is becoming a significant burden and a potential cause of disability worldwide. According to a World Health Organization (WHO) study conducted in both developed and developing countries, the prevalence of depression is 10.4%. There are differences in the prevalence of depression among the population based on a number of variables, including concomitant medical problems, substance abuse, employment environment, and demographics. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of depression and its associated risk factors among textile industrial workers.

Methods

A cross-sectional study was conducted on 409 workers from the Almeda Textile Factory in Adwa from May to June 2020. The outcome variable was depression, assessed using the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9). Variables with p-values of <0.25 in the bivariate analysis were included in the multivariate analysis. An adjusted odds ratio with a 95% confidence interval was computed. Statistical significance was determined at a p-value of <0.05.

Results

The total prevalence of depression at a PHQ-9 cutoff score of 10, PHQ-9(10+), was 24.4%. At a cutoff score of 5, PHQ-9(5+) was 51.1%. In the multivariate analysis, low social support, working rotating day and night shifts, and having a physical injury at the workplace were significantly associated with depression at both PHQ-9(5+) and PHQ-9(10+). In addition, advanced age of 45 years and above and being diagnosed with chronic medical disease were significantly associated with depression at PHQ-9(10+) (p < 0.05).

Conclusion

The prevalence of depression varied based on the PHQ-9 cutoff score, and it is high at both PHQ-9(5+) and PHQ-9(10+). Low social support, working rotating day and night shifts, physical injury at the workplace, advanced age, and chronic medical disease were significantly associated with depression. Our findings suggest that the workers at the Almeda Textile Factory should be screened and managed accordingly.
Assessment of non-fatal injuries among university students in Hainan: a machine learning approach to exploring key factors
Authors: Lu Kang , Cao Xiaodong , Wang Lixia , Huang Tao , Chen Lanfang , Wang Xiaodan , Li Qiao
Published: November 2024

Background

Injuries constitute a significant global public health concern, particularly among individuals aged 0–34. These injuries are affected by various social, psychological, and physiological factors and are no longer viewed merely as accidental occurrences. Existing research has identified multiple risk factors for injuries; however, they often focus on the cases of children or the older adult, neglecting the university students. Machine learning (ML) can provide advanced analytics and is better suited to complex, nonlinear data compared to traditional methods. That said, ML has been underutilized in injury research despite its great potential. To fill this gap, this study applies ML to analyze injury data among university students in Hainan Province. The purpose is to provide insights into developing effective prevention strategies. To explore the relationship between scores on the self-rating anxiety scale and self-rating depression scale and the risk of non-fatal injuries within 1 year, we categorized these scores into two groups using restricted cubic splines.

Methods

Chi-square tests and LASSO regression analysis were employed to filter factors potentially associated with non-fatal injuries. The Synthetic Minority Over-Sampling Technique (SMOTE) was applied to balance the dataset. Subsequent analyses were conducted using random forest, logistic regression, decision tree, and XGBoost models. Each model underwent 10-fold cross-validation to mitigate overfitting, with hyperparameters being optimized to improve performance. SHAP was utilized to identify the primary factors influencing non-fatal injuries.

Results

The Random Forest model has proved effective in this study. It identified three primary risk factors for predicting non-fatal injuries: being male, favorable household financial situation, and stable relationship. Protective factors include reduced internet time and being an only child in the family.

Conclusion

The study highlighted five key factors influencing non-fatal injuries: sex, household financial situation, relationship stability, internet time, and sibling status. In identifying these factors, the Random Forest, Logistic Regression, Decision Tree, and XGBoost models demonstrated varying effectiveness, with the Random Forest model exhibiting superior performance.
Quantitative analysis of the gaze and the kinetic/kinematic evaluation of expert and novice physical therapists during standing/sitting assistance: a pilot study
Authors: Sekine Satoru , Sakurai Yoshimi , Omori Yoshitsugu , Morio Yuji , Yamamoto Junichi
Published: November 2024

Introduction

In rehabilitation practices, expert therapists are believed to proficiently observe and assist patients. However, limited research has quantified the gaze behaviors of physical therapists during patient support. This study investigated the gaze patterns of expert and novice physical therapists from a first-person perspective during the process of assisting collaborators to stand. The aim was to determine which body parts received prolonged attention and to explore the characteristics of the support provided.

Methods

Seven experienced physical therapists were recruited as expert participants, and 17 physical therapy students served as novice participants. We also recruited additional students as collaborators and asked them to behave as if they were patients. Both expert and novice participants wore a wearable eye tracker while assisting the collaborators to stand. We analyzed the gaze focus on specific body parts and the center of mass sway of the collaborators.

Results

Experts spent 10.75% of the total time gazing at the head area, compared to 4.06% for novices, with experts displaying significantly longer gaze durations (p < .05). Furthermore, there was a significant difference in the number of gaze fixations, with experts averaging 25.71 fixations and novices 8.65 (p < .05). Experts also facilitated a slower sway in the collaborator's center of mass (0.44 m/s for experts vs. 0.49 m/s for novices; p < .01) and positioned the collaborator with a more pronounced trunk flexion during sitting and standing transitions (41.0 degrees for experts vs. 37.8 degrees for novices; p < .01).

Discussion

The findings suggest that experts may monitor the collaborator's center of mass position by focusing on the head area. Properly positioning the head forward may allow for optimal forward movement of the center of mass, potentially reducing the effort required by the collaborator to stand. This study is the first to explore differences in support strategies through the measurement of physical therapists’ gaze during assistance.
A systematic review of motivated system justification among youth
Authors: Biedron Henry Winslow , Reimer Nils Karl , Balcetis Emily
Published: November 2024

Introduction

Redressing social inequities requires people to fight for social change and upend the status quo. However, beliefs that the current state of affairs operates in a just and fair way, referred to as system justifying tendencies, stand as obstacles to social change. With this investigation, we asked if there is evidence to suggest that youth hold system justifying beliefs.

Methods

Using PRISMA guidelines for a systematic review, we identified studies that measured system justifying beliefs among children [ages 6-12] and adolescents [ages 13-18].

Results

This review synthesizes evidence that, first, both cohorts of youth hold beliefs that the status quo operates in a just and fair manner and that, second, system justification theory and its predictions extend to youth demographics. We note antecedents to system justifying tendencies in youth including demographic and situational factors. Moreover, we find evidence of the palliative consequences of system justifying tendencies in youth.

Discussion

We offer recommendations for future research into system justification among youth demographics.
Research on Speed Control Strategies for Explosion-Proof Diesel Engine Monorail Cranes
Authors: Jiang Hai , Wang Dongjie , Cheng Jiameng , Li Penghui , Ji Xiaodong , Shen Yang , Wu Miao
Published: November 2024

This paper introduces a control method tailored for the speed regulation of monorail cranes in coal mines. Initially, an analysis of the structure and load conditions of the monorail crane drive components is conducted to calculate the traction force, clamping force, and target travel speed across varying operational scenarios. Subsequently, the hydraulic system schematic of the monorail crane is analyzed to develop a mathematical model for speed control, enabling the assessment of system stability using transfer functions. A simulation model of the monorail crane speed control loop is then created in AMESim, where fuzzy adaptive PID controllers and MPC controllers are optimized in a collaborative simulation with Simulink. Experimental findings reveal that in a single acceleration condition, both controllers demonstrate superior dynamic response compared to a traditional PID controller, with the MPC controller exhibiting an overshoot of merely 8.9%. In speed variation conditions, the MPC controller achieved a settling time in the range of 0.26–0.3 s. Notably, the MPC controller displays a maximum overshoot of 11%, substantially enhancing the dynamic response performance of speed regulation in monorail cranes.
Glutathione and Ascorbic Acid Accumulation in Mango Pulp Under Enhanced UV-B Based on Transcriptome
Authors: Tahir Hassam , Sajjad Muhammad , Qian Minjie , Zeeshan Ul Haq Muhammad , Tahir Ashar , Farooq Muhammad Aamir , Wei Ling , Shi Shaopu , Zhou Kaibing , Yao Quansheng
Published: November 2024

Mango (Mangifera indica), a nutritionally rich tropical fruit, is significantly impacted by UV-B radiation, which induces oxidative stress and disrupts physiological processes. This study aimed to investigate mango pulp’s molecular and biochemical responses to UV-B stress (96 kJ/mol) from the unripe to mature stages over three consecutive years, with samples collected at 10-day intervals. UV-B stress affected both non-enzymatic parameters, such as maturity index, reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels, membrane permeability, and key enzymatic components of the ascorbate-glutathione (AsA-GSH) cycle. These enzymes included glutathione reductase (GR), gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT), glutathione S-transferases (GST), glutathione peroxidase (GPX), glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PDH), galactono-1,4-lactone dehydrogenase (GalLDH), ascorbate peroxidase (APX), ascorbate oxidase (AAO), and monodehydroascorbate reductase (MDHAR). Transcriptomic analysis revealed 18 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) related to the AsA-GSH cycle, including MiGR, MiGGT1, MiGGT2, MiGPX1, MiGPX2, MiGST1, MiGST2, MiGST3, MiG6PDH1, MiG6PDH2, MiGalLDH, MiAPX1, MiAPX2, MiAAO1, MiAAO2, MiAAO3, MiAAO4, and MiMDHAR, validated through qRT-PCR. The findings suggest that UV-B stress activates a complex regulatory network in mango pulp to optimize ROS detoxification and conserve antioxidants, offering insights for enhancing the resilience of tropical fruit trees to environmental stressors.
Initial Glutathione Depletion During Short-Term Bed Rest: Pinpointing Synthesis and Degradation Checkpoints in the γ-Glutamyl Cycle
Authors: Di Girolamo Filippo Giorgio , Mearelli Filippo , Sturma Mariella , Fiotti Nicola , Teraž Kaja , Ivetac Alja , Nunnari Alessio , Vinci Pierandrea , Šimunič Boštjan , Pišot Rado , Biolo Gianni
Published: November 2024

Hypokinesia triggers oxidative stress and accelerates the turnover of the glutathione system via the γ-glutamyl cycle. Our study aimed to identify the regulatory checkpoints controlling intracellular glutathione levels. We measured the intermediate substrates of the γ-glutamyl cycle in erythrocytes from 19 healthy young male volunteers before and during a 10-day experimental bed rest. Additionally, we tracked changes in glutathione levels and specific metabolite ratios up to 21 days of bed rest. Using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry and the internal standard technique, we observed a 9 ± 9% decrease in glutathione levels during the first 5 days of bed rest, followed by an 11 ± 9% increase from the 5th to the 10th day, nearly returning to baseline ambulatory levels. The cysteinyl-glycine-to-glutathione ratio, reflecting γ-glutamyl cyclotransferase activity (a key enzyme in glutathione breakdown), rose by 14 ± 22% in the first 5 days and then fell by 10 ± 14% over the subsequent 5 days, again approaching baseline levels. Additionally, the γ-glutamyl cysteine-to-cysteine ratio, indicative of γ-glutamyl cysteine synthetase activity (crucial for glutathione synthesis), increased by 12 ± 30% on day 5 and by 29 ± 41% on day 10 of bed rest. The results observed on day 21 of bed rest confirm those seen on day 10. By calculating the ratio of product concentration to precursor concentration, we assessed the efficiency of these key enzymes in glutathione turnover. These results were corroborated by directly measuring glutathione synthesis and degradation rates in vivo using stable isotope techniques. Our findings reveal significant changes in glutathione kinetics during the initial days of bed rest and identify potential therapeutic targets for maintaining glutathione levels.
Thiol-Based Redox Molecules: Potential Antidotes for Acrylamide Toxicity
Authors: Martin Valeria , Trus Michael , Atlas Daphne
Published: November 2024

Acrylamide (ACR) is a low-molecular weight, non-aromatic reagent, widely used in industry, such as in the manufacture of paper, textiles, plastics, cosmetics, and dyes. ACR is formed during the cooking of starchy food and its toxicity results mainly by conferring oxidative stress by elevating reactive oxygen species (ROS). To identify potential antidotes for ACR toxicity, we evaluated the efficacy of several thiol-based molecules known for ROS-scavenging, disulfide-reducing properties, and inhibition of oxidative stress-induced activation of the mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs): the extracellular-signal-regulated-kinases (ERK1/2), p38-mitogen-activated-protein-kinases (p38MAPK), and c-Jun-N-terminal-kinases (JNKs). We established a reproducible assay testing N-acetylcysteine (NAC), AD4/NACA, and the N-and C-blocked tri- and tetra-thioredoxin-mimetic (TXM) peptides, in PC12 cells. Our results demonstrate that these compounds exhibited high efficacy in suppressing ACR-induced MAPK activation, either prior to or subsequent to ACR exposure. The inhibition by single cysteine (Cys) residue, NAC and AD4/NACA (NAC-amide), 2 Cys peptides TXM-CB30, AcDCys-Gly-DCysNH2, TXM-CB20, AcCys-Gly-CysNH2, SuperDopa (SD, Ac-CysL-Levodopa-CysNH2, TXM-CB13, AcCys-Met-Lys-CysNH2, and a 3-Cys peptide, TXM-CB16, AcCys-γGlu-Cys-CysNH2 was dose-dependent and potency displayed a direct correlation with the number of Cys residues. Cellular proteolysis of SD, which consists of levodopa flanked by two Cys, may suppress the manifestation of Parkinson’s disease (PD)-like symptoms mediated by chronic ACR exposure not only through lowering oxidative stress but also by replenishing cellular levels of dopamine. Overall, these results could advance the clinical application of TXM peptides as potential treatments for acute and/or chronic exposure to ACR and show promise as antidotes for preventing ACR-triggered PD-like neurotoxic symptoms.
Few Adjustable Parameters Prediction Model Based on Lightweight Prefix-Tuning: Learning Session Dropout Prediction Model Based on Parameter-Efficient Prefix-Tuning
Authors: Lu Yuantong , Wang Zhanquan
Published: November 2024

In response to the challenge of low predictive accuracy in scenarios with limited data, we propose a few adjustable parameters prediction model based on lightweight prefix-tuning (FAP-Prefix). Prefix-tuning is an efficient fine-tuning method that only adjusts prefix vectors while keeping the model’s original parameters frozen. In each transformer layer, the prefix vectors are connected with the internal key-value pair of the transformer structure. By training on the synthesized sequence of the prefix and original input with masked learning, the transformer model learns the features of individual learning behaviors. In addition, it can also discover hidden connections of continuous learning behaviors. During fine-tuning, all parameters of the pre-trained model are frozen, and downstream task learning is accomplished by adjusting the prefix parameters. Continuous trainable prefix vectors can influence subsequent vector representations, leading to the generation of session dropout prediction results. The experiments show that FAP-Prefix significantly outperforms traditional methods in data-limited settings, with AUC improvements of +4.58%, +3.53%, and +8.49% under 30%, 10%, and 1% data conditions, respectively. It also surpasses state-of-the-art models in prediction performance (AUC +5.42%, ACC +5.3%, F1 score +5.68%).
Fine-Tuning Retrieval-Augmented Generation with an Auto-Regressive Language Model for Sentiment Analysis in Financial Reviews
Authors: Mathebula Miehleketo , Modupe Abiodun , Marivate Vukosi
Published: November 2024

Sentiment analysis is a well-known task that has been used to analyse customer feedback reviews and media headlines to detect the sentimental personality or polarisation of a given text. With the growth of social media and other online platforms, like Twitter (now branded as X), Facebook, blogs, and others, it has been used in the investment community to monitor customer feedback, reviews, and news headlines about financial institutions’ products and services to ensure business success and prioritise aspects of customer relationship management. Supervised learning algorithms have been popularly employed for this task, but the performance of these models has been compromised due to the brevity of the content and the presence of idiomatic expressions, sound imitations, and abbreviations. Additionally, the pre-training of a larger language model (PTLM) struggles to capture bidirectional contextual knowledge learnt through word dependency because the sentence-level representation fails to take broad features into account. We develop a novel structure called language feature extraction and adaptation for reviews (LFEAR), an advanced natural language model that amalgamates retrieval-augmented generation (RAG) with a conversation format for an auto-regressive fine-tuning model (ARFT). This helps to overcome the limitations of lexicon-based tools and the reliance on pre-defined sentiment lexicons, which may not fully capture the range of sentiments in natural language and address questions on various topics and tasks. LFEAR is fine-tuned on Hellopeter reviews that incorporate industry-specific contextual information retrieval to show resilience and flexibility for various tasks, including analysing sentiments in reviews of restaurants, movies, politics, and financial products. The proposed model achieved an average precision score of 98.45%, answer correctness of 93.85%, and context precision of 97.69% based on Retrieval-Augmented Generation Assessment (RAGAS) metrics. The LFEAR model is effective in conducting sentiment analysis across various domains due to its adaptability and scalable inference mechanism. It considers unique language characteristics and patterns in specific domains to ensure accurate sentiment annotation. This is particularly beneficial for individuals in the financial sector, such as investors and institutions, including those listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE), which is the primary stock exchange in South Africa and plays a significant role in the country’s financial market. Future initiatives will focus on incorporating a wider range of data sources and improving the system’s ability to express nuanced sentiments effectively, enhancing its usefulness in diverse real-world scenarios.
Sustainable Extraction of Bioactive Compounds and Nutrients from Agri-Food Wastes: Potential Reutilization of Berry, Honey, and Chicory Byproducts
Authors: Peron Gregorio , Ferrarese Irene , Carmo Dos Santos Nadia , Rizzo Filippo , Gargari Giorgio , Bertoli Noemi , Gobbi Emanuela , Perosa Alvise , Selva Maurizio , Dall’Acqua Stefano
Published: November 2024

Several agri-food byproducts represent valuable sources of compounds to be reutilized for nutritional, nutraceutical, and cosmetic purposes. Examples especially comprise byproducts from the processing of fruits such as pomace, because of their richness in nutrients (e.g., fibers) and bioactive compounds (e.g., polyphenols) that can be destined for animal and human use. However, in agreement with the principles of circular economy that are being promoted during the most recent years, other understudied agri-food byproducts of both plant and animal origin are being evaluated to assess their possible reutilization and valorization. In this review, we aim at summarizing the most recent research dealing with the extraction of nutrients and bioactive compounds from agri-food byproducts using innovative and sustainable approaches. Specifically, the review is focused on byproducts generated in large amounts (tons/year) by the food industry of Northeast Italy, namely, honey, red fruits (grapes and berries), and chicory, which are especially of interest for their content in phenolic acids, flavonoids, anthocyanins, and dietary fiber. The potential applications of these byproducts and extracts in cosmetic, nutraceutical, and nutritional fields are also discussed, referring to the published literature, as well as their potential utilization as sources of novel bioactive compounds with pharmacological applications.
New Cases of Teratology, Albinism, Abnormal Pigmentation, Gynandromorphism, and Injury Healing in Scorpions (Arachnida: Scorpiones)
Authors: Sherwood Danniella , Tang Victoria , Tchilinguirian Julien , Lamare Ludivine , Croffy Seth , Stockmann Mark , Keller Jay , Gerace Valerio
Published: November 2024

Eighteen new cases of teratology and other abnormalities within scorpions are presented, representing new cases of metasomal duplication, mesosomal anomaly, telson anomaly, albinism, and abnormal pigmentation. Furthermore, recently published literature on other scorpion anomalies are tabulated to update the recent 2023 checklist of scorpion teratology which charted all known literature up to the aforementioned work.
Emotions and the Manifestation of Ancient Egyptian Royal Power: A Consideration of the Twin Stelae at Abu Simbel
Authors: Prakash Tara
Published: November 2024

Drawing on methods and theories from the history of emotions, this paper examines the Twin Stelae that flank the entrance into Ramses II’s Great Temple at Abu Simbel in order to investigate the feelings associated with ancient Egyptian kingship from an ideological perspective. As the ruler, what was the king himself supposed to feel, and what feelings was he meant to elicit in his subjects? How did the feelings of the king differ from those of his subjects, and how did all these feelings reinforce and reify the institution of kingship and royal power? In order to propose some answers to these complex questions, I offer a close reading of key words and passages on the Stelae, considering the choice of hieroglyphic signs that the artists used to write them, the ways in which the artists depicted these signs, and the context of the words and passages within the inscriptions. I then use the Stelae’s text to consider how ancient viewers were meant to see and experience the monumental façade of the Great Temple.
Convergent Evolution of Armor: Thermal Resistance in Deep-Sea Hydrothermal Vent Crustaceans
Authors: Cho Boongho , Jang Sook-Jin , Hwang Hee-seung , Kim Taewon
Published: November 2024

Organisms occupy diverse ecological niches worldwide, each with characteristics finely evolved for their environments. Crustaceans residing in deep-sea hydrothermal vents, recognized as one of Earth’s extreme environments, may have adapted to withstand severe conditions, including elevated temperatures and pressure. This study compares the exoskeletons of two vent crustaceans (bythograeid crab Austinograea sp. and squat lobster Munidopsis lauensis) with four coastal species (Asian paddle crabs, blue crab, hermit crab, and mantis shrimp) to identify traits influenced by vent environments. The goal was to identify distinctive exoskeletal characteristics commonly observed in vent crustaceans, resulting from their exposure to severe abiotic factors, including elevated temperatures and pressures, found in vent environments. Results show that the exoskeletons of vent crustaceans demonstrated significantly enhanced thermal stability compared to coastal species. These vent crustaceans consistently featured exoskeletons characterized by a reduced proportion of volatile components, such as water, and an increased proportion of CaCO3, compared with coastal crustaceans. Furthermore, vent crustaceans lacked carotenoid pigments that had low heat resistance. However, no apparent differences were observed in the mechanical properties. Our findings suggest that the similar composition of exoskeletons in vent crustaceans evolved convergently to withstand high temperatures.
Anti-Diabetic Therapies and Cancer: From Bench to Bedside
Authors: Kounatidis Dimitris , Vallianou Natalia G. , Karampela Irene , Rebelos Eleni , Kouveletsou Marina , Dalopoulos Vasileios , Koufopoulos Petros , Diakoumopoulou Evanthia , Tentolouris Nikolaos , Dalamaga Maria
Published: November 2024

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a significant risk factor for various cancers, with the impact of anti-diabetic therapies on cancer progression differing across malignancies. Among these therapies, metformin has gained attention for its potential anti-cancer effects, primarily through modulation of the AMP-activated protein kinase/mammalian target of rapamycin (AMPK/mTOR) pathway and the induction of autophagy. Beyond metformin, other conventional anti-diabetic treatments, such as insulin, sulfonylureas (SUs), pioglitazone, and dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) inhibitors, have also been examined for their roles in cancer biology, though findings are often inconclusive. More recently, novel medications, like glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists, dual GLP-1/glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) agonists, and sodium-glucose co-transporter-2 (SGLT-2) inhibitors, have revolutionized DM management by not only improving glycemic control but also delivering substantial cardiovascular and renal benefits. Given their diverse metabolic effects, including anti-obesogenic properties, these novel agents are now under meticulous investigation for their potential influence on tumorigenesis and cancer advancement. This review aims to offer a comprehensive exploration of the evolving landscape of glucose-lowering treatments and their implications in cancer biology. It critically evaluates experimental evidence surrounding the molecular mechanisms by which these medications may modulate oncogenic signaling pathways and reshape the tumor microenvironment (TME). Furthermore, it assesses translational research and clinical trials to gauge the practical relevance of these findings in real-world settings. Finally, it explores the potential of anti-diabetic medications as adjuncts in cancer treatment, particularly in enhancing the efficacy of chemotherapy, minimizing toxicity, and addressing resistance within the framework of immunotherapy.
Differential Effects of Biomimetic Thymine Dimers and Corresponding Photo-Adducts in Primary Human Keratinocytes and Fibroblasts
Authors: Monetta Rosanna , Campagna Denise , Bartolocci Valeria , Capone Alessio , Teson Massimo , Filippi Silvia , Gabellone Sofia , Piccinino Davide , Saladino Raffaele , Dellambra Elena
Published: November 2024

UVB radiation induces DNA damage generating several thymine photo-adducts (TDPs), which can lead to mutations and cellular transformation. The DNA repair pathways preserve genomic stability by recognizing and removing photodamage. These DNA repair side products may affect cellular processes. We previously synthesized novel thymine biomimetic thymine dimers (BTDs) bearing different alkane spacers between nucleobases. Thus, the present study investigates whether novel BTDs and their TDPs can modulate DNA damage safeguard pathways of primary keratinocytes and fibroblasts using 2D and 3D models. We found that the p53/p21waf1 pathway is activated by BTDs and TDPs in primary cells similar to UVB exposure. Compound 1b can also induce the p53/p21waf1 pathway in a 3D skin model. However, BTDs and TDPs exhibit distinct effects on cell survival. They have a protective action in keratinocytes, which maintain their clonogenic ability following treatments. Conversely, compounds induce pro-apoptotic pathways in fibroblasts that exhibit reduced clonogenicity. Moreover, compounds induce inflammatory cytokines mainly in keratinocytes rather than fibroblasts. Matrix metalloproteinase 1 is up-regulated in both cell types after treatments. Therefore, BTDs and TDPs can act in the short term as safeguard mechanisms helping DNA damage response. Furthermore, they have distinct biological effects depending on photodamage form and cell type.
An Insight into the Cosmetic and Dermatologic Applications of the Molecules of Palmyra Palm
Authors: Sayanhika Sunehra , Selvakumar Paulraj Mosae
Published: November 2024

Palmyra palm is a resourceful plant species that can be put to use in superabundance. Its extensive range of use stretches in all directions—making it useful for consumption in countless forms, and the cosmetic industry is not a deviation from this. In accordance with the beneficial molecules generated in it, such as polyphenols, flavonoids, carotenoids and others, the addition of Palmyra raises incentives like reduction and microbe prevention when developed into therapeutic products. Therefore, the virtues of Palmyra fruit, sap, leaves, pulp, bark, haustoria and other parts are being diversely exploited in the beauty and health industry at present. To summarise the compass of Palmyra palm and its products in cosmetology and dermatology, an overview is drafted exploring the extant literature on the topic. Following the description of the available molecules, their adoption into skincare products and in vivo effects was analysed in this study. Aiming to highlight the prospects of Palmyra in skin and personal care formulations, this article discusses the span of its potential in light of its physicochemical attributes.
Early Detection of Parkinson’s Disease Using AI Techniques and Image Analysis
Authors: Ianculescu Marilena , Petean Corina , Sandulescu Virginia , Alexandru Adriana , Vasilevschi Ana-Mihaela
Published: November 2024

Background: Parkinson’s disease (PD) diagnosis benefits significantly from advancements in artificial intelligence (AI) and image processing techniques. This paper explores various approaches for processing hand-drawn Archimedean spirals in order to detect signs of PD. Methods: The best approach is selected to be integrated in a neurodegenerative disease management platform called NeuroPredict. The most innovative aspects of the presented approaches are related to the employed feature extraction techniques that convert hand-drawn spirals into a frequency spectra, so that frequency features may be extracted and utilized as inputs for various classification algorithms. A second category of extracted features contains information related to the thickness and pressure of drawings. Results: The selected approach achieves an overall accuracy of 95.24% and allows acquiring new test data using only a pencil and paper, without requiring a specialized device like a graphic tablet or a digital pen. Conclusions: This study underscores the clinical relevance of AI in enhancing diagnostic precision for neurodegenerative diseases.
Bilateral Symmetry in the Aesthetic Area Achieved by Digital Smile Design on 3D Virtual Patient and Conventional Diagnostic Wax-Up—A Comparative Study
Authors: Hristozova Maria , Dimitrova Mariya , Zlatev Stefan
Published: November 2024

Background: Digital diagnostic waxing is a contemporary alternative to the conventional wax-up method. This study aims to evaluate the impact of both techniques on the perceived frontal symmetry in aesthetic treatment planning. Dental symmetry significantly influences smile perception and, consequently, the acceptance of treatment outcomes, highlighting its clinical importance in restorative dentistry. Materials and Methods: A total of 100 teeth were measured, with 50 (n = 50) waxed up using traditional modeling techniques and 50 using a face-guided digital approach. The study involved ten patients requiring fixed restorations in the aesthetic zone. Both digital and conventional wax-ups were performed for each participant. Gypsum models with wax-ups were digitized and superimposed onto the digital diagnostic design using 3Shape Dental Designer Studio software, Version 2023 (3Shape, Copenhagen, Denmark). Screenshots of the frontal view were captured, and the width of each morphologically altered tooth was measured using ImageJ software Version 1.54 (National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA). Results: The results indicated no statistically significant difference in symmetry between the right and left sides achieved by the two diagnostic approaches (t-value = −1.89, p-value = 0.07). The perceived symmetry of morphologically modified frontal teeth, as achieved by digital and conventional waxing, was found to be comparable. Conclusions: Digital diagnostic planning is validated as a reliable alternative to the conventional wax-up method, offering comparable accuracy in achieving dental symmetry while potentially enhancing efficiency and precision in the aesthetic treatment planning process. This result underscores the potential of digital technologies to streamline clinical workflows and improve patient outcomes. Clinically, achieving symmetry in the aesthetic zone is crucial for patient satisfaction and acceptance of restorative procedures, emphasizing the need for continued integration of digital tools in dental practice.