bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Optical and Dielectric Features of PVA/CMC/PVP/ZnMn2O4/CuCo2O4/x wt% MWCNTs Blended Polymers for Optoelectronic Applications
Authors: Heiba Zein K. , El-naggar A. M. , Kamal A. M. , Lakshminarayana G. , Mohamed Mohamed Bakr
Published: June 2024

This study is devoted to optimizing the optical and dielectric parameters of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA)/ carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC)/ polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) blended polymer by adding ZnMn2O4/CuCo2O4 nanocomposite and controlling the amounts of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) to engage them in flexible optoelectronics and storage energy capacitors. Herein, 0.9ZnMn2O4/0.1CuCo2O4 was synthesized by co-precipitation and hydrothermal methods and loaded with different ratios of MWCNTs into PVA/CMC/PVP blend to produce films by solution casting procedure. The crystallite size of 0.9ZnMn2O4/0.1CuCo2O4 was determined using transmission electron microscopy. The structures of the filler and doped blends were explored via the X-ray diffraction technique. The optical features of undoped and doped blends were explored by diffused reflectance and fluorescence spectrophotometers. The addition of ZnMn2O4/CuCo2O4 to PVA/CMC/PVP caused a decline of direct and indirect optical band gaps from 5.33 and 5.03 eV to 5.19 and 4.66 eV, respectively. By adding different amounts of MWCNTs, the direct/indirect optical band gap reduced irregularly, and they attained their minimum values (5.07, 4.46) eV as it doped with 0.6 Wt% MWCNTs. The highest values of refractive index, extinction coefficient, optical conductivity and nonlinear optical parameters were achieved in the blend containing ZnMn2O4/CuCo2O4/0.6 Wt% MWCNTs. It is also found that the dielectric constant and ac conductivity rose with the insertion of ZnMn2O4/CuCo2O4/0.6 Wt% MWCNTs. The highest energy density value was found in the polymer blend of PVA/CMC/PVP/ZnMn2O4/CuCo2O4/0.8 Wt% MWCNTs blended polymer. Electrical modulus and Nyquist plots for different blends were also examined. The results recommend the doped blends as a good candidate for optoelectronics and energy storage capacitor applications.
A Review on Pencil Drawn Thermoelectric Devices on Paper
Authors: Shukla Abhishek , Gaur Akshay , Chauhan Vishal Singh , Vaish Rahul
Published: June 2024

Paper and pencil have shown wide applicability in the area of flexible electronics. Devices based on paper and pencil offer distinctive advantages, including rapid, straightforward, and cost-effective fabrication, as well as recyclability and eco-friendly characteristics. There are several concepts that have been demonstrated using paper and pencil including thermoelectric, strain gauges, capacitive sensors, and biomedical devices. This review article summarizes state of art of pencil-based thermoelectric devices on paper and their future potential.
Membranous translocation of murine double minute 2 promotes the increased renal tubular immunogenicity in ischemia-reperfusion-induced acute kidney injury
Authors: Zeng Jieyu , Ye Chen , Zhang Chun , Su Hua
Published: June 2024

Ischemic acute kidney injury (AKI) donors can effectively shorten the waiting time for kidney transplantation but increase immune rejection, especially T cell-mediated rejection (TCMR), the mechanism of which remains to be elucidated. Our study demonstrates that during ischemia-reperfusion injury (IRI), the translocation of tubular murine double minute 2 leads to basolateral programmed death ligand 1 degradation, which ultimately results in the occurrence of TCMR, which may provide a new therapeutic strategy for preventing AKI donor-associated TCMR.
The effect of trunk position and pain location on lumbar extensor muscle recruitment strategies
Authors: Ducas Julien , Pano-Rodriguez Alvaro , Couture Stéphanie , Gallina Alessio , Abboud Jacques
Published: June 2024

Changes in muscle activity amplitude and spatial redistribution of lumbar extensor muscles were observed in different trunk positions, potentially due to changes in their mechanical advantage. The results complement the current pain-adaptation theory by illustrating individual spatial redistributions of activation within lumbar extensor muscles during pain. The study found no clear indication of location-specific pain adaptation and no effect of task-dependent pain adaptation.
Degenerate neuronal and circuit mechanisms important for generating rhythmic motor patterns
Authors: Calabrese Ronald L. , Marder Eve
Published: June 2024

In 1996, we published a review article (Marder E, Calabrese RL. Physiol Rev 76: 687–717, 1996) describing the state of knowledge about the structure and function of the central pattern-generating circuits important for producing rhythmic behaviors. Although many of the core questions persist, much has changed since 1996. Here, we focus on newer studies that reveal ambiguities that complicate understanding circuit dynamics, despite the enormous technical advances of the recent past. In particular, we highlight recent studies of animal-to-animal variability and our understanding that circuit rhythmicity may be supported by multiple state-dependent mechanisms within the same animal and that robustness and resilience in the face of perturbation may depend critically on the presence of modulators and degenerate circuit mechanisms. Additionally, we highlight the use of computational models to ask whether there are generalizable principles about circuit motifs that can be found across rhythmic motor systems in different animal species.
Semigroup Generation Theorems of Anti‐Triangular Operator Matrices and Their Application
Authors: Liu Jie , Huang Junjie , Yu Jiahui , Gao Jingying
Published: June 2024

This paper deals with the semigroup generation of anti‐triangular operator matrices M with unbounded entries in Hilbert space. Based on the space decomposition, some necessary and sufficient conditions are given for M to generate contraction semigroups. In addition, the anti‐triangular differential system, converted from the damping wave equation, is used to explain our work, and it is proved that the corresponding anti‐triangular operator matrix satisfies the conditions and generates a contraction semigroup.
Intraocular Pressure Changes of Rhegmatogenous Retinal Detachment Patients Following Pars Plana Vitrectomy in Tertiary Hospital
Authors: Wardani Sabrina Indri , Virgana Rova
Published: June 2024

Introduction: Rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD) is one of the leading causes of vision loss worldwide. Retinal reattachment is the main target of RRD management. Pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) is one of the surgical approaches to reattach the retina by removing the vitreous gel and replacing it with tamponades. Several tamponades used in PPV may cause an alteration of intraocular pressure (IOP).
Purpose: To report the IOP changes of RRD patients who underwent pars plana vitrectomy surgery
Methods: A descriptive retrospective study was conducted on all RRD patients who underwent primary PPV with all tamponades at the National Eye Center, Cicendo Eye Hospital. This study has evaluated and observed the range of IOP across all the follow-up timelines post-surgery based on the endo tamponade used for the patients.
Result: A total of 90 patients received intravitreal tamponade. The median IOP at baseline was 12 (4-21) mmHg. Secondary glaucoma mostly occurred in 1st and 3rd months post-PPV, 37.78% and 36.67% respectively. 80% of patients who received silicon oil 1300 centistoke experienced IOP elevation which occurred highly during 1-week and 1-month post PPV. 2.2% of patients underwent glaucoma filtering surgery to further control the IOP elevation.
Conclusion: PPV procedure with several types of tamponades as vitreous substitution is one of the common approaches for patients with RRD. IOP elevation has been observed as one complication of PPV. Multiple factors may be attributable to IOP alteration. Monitoring of IOP before and after the surgery is mandatory to prevent secondary complications
Stress-Induced Autonomic Dysfunction is Associated With Mental Stress–Induced Myocardial Ischemia in Patients With Coronary Artery Disease
Authors: Osei Jeffery , Vaccarino Viola , Wang Maggie , Shah Anish S. , Lampert Rachel , Li Louis Y. , Ko Yi-An , Pearce Brad D. , Kutner Michael , Garcia Ernest V. , Piccinelli Marina , Raggi Paolo , Bremner J. Douglas , Quyyumi Arshed A. , Sun Yan V. , Ahmed Hashir , Haddad George , Daaboul Obada , Roberts Tatum , Stefanos Lewam , Correia Luis , Shah Amit J.
Published: June 2024

BACKGROUND:

Mental stress–induced myocardial ischemia (MSIMI) is associated with adverse cardiovascular outcomes in individuals with coronary artery disease, but the mechanisms underlying this phenomenon are unknown. We examined the relationship between stress-induced autonomic dysfunction, measured by low heart rate variability (HRV) in response to stress, and MSIMI in patients with stable coronary artery disease. We hypothesized that stress-induced autonomic dysfunction is associated with higher odds of MSIMI.

METHODS:

In 735 participants with stable coronary artery disease, we measured high- and low-frequency HRV in 5-minute intervals before and during a standardized laboratory-based speech stressor using Holter monitoring. HRV at rest and stress were categorized into low HRV (first quartile) versus high HRV (second to fourth quartiles); the low category was used as an indicator of autonomic dysfunction. Multivariable logistic regression models were used to examine the association of autonomic dysfunction with MSIMI.

RESULTS:

The mean age was 58 (SD, ±10) years, 35% were women, 44% were Black participants, and 16% developed MSIMI. Compared with high HRV during stress, low HRV during stress (both high and low frequencies) was associated with higher odds of MSIMI after adjusting for demographic and clinical factors (odds ratio for high-frequency HRV, 2.1 [95% CI, 1.3–3.3]; odds ratio for low-frequency HRV, 2.1 [95% CI, 1.3–3.3]). Low-frequency HRV at rest was also associated with MSIMI but with slightly reduced effect estimates.

CONCLUSIONS:

In individuals with coronary artery disease, mental stress-induced autonomic dysfunction may be a mechanism implicated in the causal pathway of MSIMI.
On the Significance of Ageostrophic Meridional Eddy-Induced Heat Flux in the Surface Ocean of the Antarctic Circumpolar Current
Authors: Chen Ruiyi , Luo Yiyong , Zhang Zhiwei , Liu Fukai
Published: June 2024

Eddy-induced heat flux (EHF) convergence plays an important role in balancing the cooling of mean flows in the heat budget of the Southern Ocean. This study investigates the EHF in the Southern Ocean and the surface ocean heat budget over the Antarctic Circumpolar Current (ACC) estimated through a high-resolution ocean assimilation product. In contrast to previous studies in which the estimation of the EHF in the Southern Ocean was based on the assumption that mesoscale eddies are quasigeostrophic turbulence, we find that more than one-third of the total meridional EHF in the surface layer is attributed to ageostrophic currents of eddies and that the ageostrophic component of the EHF convergence is as important as its geostrophic component for the surface ocean heat budget over the ACC. In particular, the ageostrophic meridional EHF convergence accounts for 22% of the warming needed to balance the cooling from the mean flows during winter, equivalent to warming the surface ocean of the ACC by 0.14°C. The ageostrophic meridional EHF is likely caused by the stirring effect of ageostrophic secondary circulations in mesoscale eddies, which are induced by the turbulent thermal wind balance to restore the vertical shear of the upper layer in mesoscale eddies destructed by intense winter winds.
(In)security in subordination: Policing and policework in postcolonial Pakistan
Authors: Waseem Zoha
Published: June 2024

How do elite interests intersect with inequality in postcolonial state institutions and shape the consumption and provision of public services such as policing and security? Drawing upon ethnographic fieldwork in Pakistan, this article explores how subordinate officers experience insecurity within postcolonial policing structures owing to class-based hierarchical divisions, and analyses how these conditions shape their experiences, relationships and performances. I argue that structural inequalities within public institutions, influenced by private interests of external actors, compel subordinates to strategically operationalize informality in policework, deploying it in the service of influential actors and institutions. Furthermore, these subordinates rely upon informal networks and practices to appear indispensable and subvert the hierarchy, securing greater personal and professional gains and steering past class-based constraints. This ‘strategic informality’ enables the rank and file to relationally and procedurally navigate otherwise rigid hierarchical institutional structures that suppress them. In exploring how insecurity and inequality, within and beyond policing institutions, in the context of blurred public–private security divides, necessitates reliance upon informality, and what impacts this has, this article makes a critical contribution to scholarship on security provision in postcolonial contexts.
Association Between Serum Albumin and the Length of Hospital Stay Among Patients With Acute Heart Failure
Authors: Pokhrel Bhattarai Sunita , Dzikowicz Dillon J. , Carey Mary G.
Published: June 2024

Introduction: Albumin plays a vital role in improving osmotic pressure and hemodynamics. A lower serum albumin level may cause pulmonary congestion and edema and contribute to myocardial dysfunction, diuresis resistance, and fluid retention in acute heart failure. Hypothesis: We hypothesized that AHF patients with normal serum albumin have shorter hospital stays. Methods: Using Electronic Medical Records, patients admitted from May 2020 through May 2021 aged >18, ICD-10, and positive Framingham Heart Failure Diagnostic Criteria were included. We excluded patients without albumin records and eGFRs less than 30 mL/min/1.73 m2. Prolonged hospitalization was defined as >8 days of hospitalization. Results: During index emergency department visits, patients were symptomatic (New York Heart Association), aged median of 70 years (Interquartile range (IQR) 18), 59% ( n = 103) were male, predominantly White (73%, n = 128), and had a high Charleston Comorbidity index score [5, IQR (4–7)]. Nearly one-fourth (23%, n = 41) of the patients had <3.5 g/dL albumin levels. The median length of hospital stay was eight days (IQR of 11). Comparing differences between lengths of hospital stays (<8 vs. >8 days), there was different serum albumin (3.9 + 0.48 vs. 3.6 + 0.53, p < .001) and left ventricular ejection fraction (45% (range 26–63) versus 30% (range 24–48), p = .004). An increased serum albumin decreased prolonged hospitalization (odds ratio (OR), 0.28; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.14–0.55, p = <0.001). Patients in the lower albumin group had higher NT-proBNP (median: 8521 (range 2025–9134) versus 5147 (range 2966–14,795) pg/ml, p = .007) and delay in administering intravenous diuretics (391 (167–964) minutes versus 271 (range 157–533) minutes, p = .02). Conclusion: Hypoalbuminemia is strongly associated with prolonged hospitalization. Timely and effective diuretic therapy may reduce hospital stay durations, particularly with albumin supplementation.
Preventing Religion-Based Hate Crime Victimization Among Youth: A Systematic Review of Personal, Collective, and Policy Responses
Authors: Litvak Sophie , Kivivuori Janne , Kaakinen Markus
Published: June 2024

Hate crime victimization targeting the victim’s religious identity poses a serious problem for individuals, communities, and societies. This systematic review describes countermeasures to such victimization, aiming for broad descriptive inclusion by canvassing personal adaptations, collective programs, and institutional-governmental policies. Targeting peer-reviewed articles published between 2002 and 2022, we found 44 articles describing measures related to religion-based victimization prevention. We classified the studied measures into 12 main types. The most salient personal adaptations included camouflage-type blending in to avoid victimization, using religion as a source of resilience, and changing routines to deflect risk. At the collective level, mobilizing community resilience, stereotype reduction, and place-based solutions were often researched. The relatively few institutional-level studies addressed measures to enhance the connection between victims and authorities by various means. The experimental studies heavily concentrated on experiments supporting the efficacy of changing people’s perceptions as a means of prevention. The review concludes with a discussion about research and policy implications.
Flag on the Field: Identifying Epilepsy Surgery Candidates Using Machine Learning
Authors: Englot Dario J.
Published: June 2024

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The Kashmiri diaspora remembers the displacement: Implication and the challenge of healing
Authors: Razdan Aditi
Published: June 2024

From 1989 to 1991, the majority of Kashmiri Pandits (Hindus) were displaced from their home in the Muslim-majority Indian-administered Kashmir Valley, in a crisis which I refer to as the displacement. The period that has followed in the Kashmir Valley has been marred by heavy military presence and state violence against Kashmiris – mostly Muslim – who have remained in Kashmir. More than three decades later, Kashmir is still a contested region; memories of the displacement are unreconciled and its diaspora remains divided. This article reveals how memory-work through storytelling can impede reconciliation processes by reinforcing enduring narratives of marginalisation. These enduring narratives frame contemporary memory-making and prevent groups from seeing their implication in oppressive structures. Drawing on Kashmiri conceptual paradigms and oral history interviews with Kashmiri Pandit and Muslim diasporic communities in Australia, I examine both what Kashmiri Pandit and Muslim diaspora share, and why they find it hard to take on the narrative perspective of the other side. While Pandits and Muslims draw on a shared Kashmiri repertoire, they locate themselves very differently within this narrative past. As such, neither Pandits nor Muslims find it easy to see how they are implicated in the direct and structural forms of violence that led to the displacement and subsequent acts of violence. These historical narratives, transmitted through oral stories, may disrupt attempts to institute reparative processes in Kashmir. By analysing this archive of Kashmiri diasporic memory, I argue that this case study complicates our assumptions that personal narratives, particularly in memory-work, are activist vehicles that offer a pathway to healing.
Deciphering Social Commerce: A Quantitative Meta-Analysis Measuring the Social, Technological, and Motivational Dimensions of Consumer Purchase Intentions
Authors: Wang Jian , Shahzad Fakhar
Published: June 2024

Social commerce, as a new business model, is becoming increasingly critical. Even though a large amount of literature examines the determinants of consumer purchase intentions, the evidence needs to be more balanced. Therefore, this quantitative meta-analysis aims to compare and confirm the research results on social commerce from 2010 to 2022 to reconcile the conflicting results. The results indicate that emotional support, relationship quality, and perceived value positively and strongly correlate with purchase intention. In contrast, technical factors (such as Information quality, System quality, and Service quality) exhibited a small influence. Also, we found that culture moderated the relationships between consumer purchase intentions and their causes, except for information support and interactivity. The moderator analysis suggests technical and motivational factors are more important in Eastern than Western culture. For Social factors, the effect size of Western culture is bigger on the relationships of social support, information support, and Emotional support. This study gives insight into the integration factors that affect the breadth and depth of customers’ buying plans, as well as future directions for research that will help management make decisions.
Bohm's theory of orders as a basis for a unified urban theory
Authors: Portugali Juval
Published: June 2024

This paper explores the relations between the notions of order as developed by philosopher and quantum physicist David Bohm, and the study of cities and urbanism. The paper demonstrates that Bohm's notions of order have the potential to lay the foundations to a unified urban theory; a theory that, firstly, will close the century old gap, and dis-communication, between the two cultures of cities – the social theory oriented hermeneutic culture of urban studies versus the quantitative-analytical, exact sciences oriented, culture of urban science. Secondly, will respond to the need for integrative urban theory in face of disintegration tendencies in twenty-first century urban studies. Such a unified urban theory is a pre-condition for addressing humanity's current challenges, ranging from climate change and sustainability, through poverty alleviation to the crisis of democracy.
Algorithmic cosmopolitanism, and platform nationalism: From the paradox of the TikTok ban
Authors: Lin Jian
Published: June 2024

TikTok's short video culture confirms the idea of algorithmic cosmopolitanism (Elkins, 2019). It involves the algorithmic promotion of local identities and place-making practices as a symbolic representation of multi-culturalism, which nonetheless is also constrained by its “flattened, one-dimensional, and consumerist approach” (Elkins, 2019: 385). At the same time, the impending TikTok ban in the US seems to suggest the rise of platform nationalism as an emerging approach to platform governance (Craig et al., 2021). This paradox between algorithmic cosmopolitanism and platform nationalism demonstrates the political nature of today's digitalization and its promised transformation of society. It raises a renewed question about how technological practices and imaginations are prone to state and economic power. In the complex entanglement between the technical and the political, we must first of all be wary of any simplistic discourses of politicization and governance.
Population pharmacokinetics and dose optimization of magnesium sulfate in Chinese preeclampsia population
Authors: Deng Jing , Peng Lan , Wang Yuwei , Li Jingjing , Tang Lian , Yu Yanxia
Published: June 2024

Objective

To establish the population pharmacokinetics (PPK) of magnesium sulfate (MgSO4)in women with preeclampsia (PE), and to determine the key covariates having an effect in magnesium pharmacokinetics in Chinese PE.

Methods

Pregnant women with PE prescribed MgSO4 were enrolled in this prospective study from April 2021 to April 2023. On the initial day of administration, the patients were administered a loading dose of 5 g in conjunction with 10 g of magnesium sulfate as a maintenance dose. On the second day, only the maintenance dose was administration, and maternal blood samples were taken at 0, 4, 5, and 12 h after the second day’s 10 g maintenance dose. The software Phoenix was used to estimate PPK parameters of MgSO4, such as clearance (CL) and volume of distribution (V), and to model PPK models with patient demographic, clinical, and laboratory covariates.

Results

A total of 199 blood samples were collected from 51 women with PE and PPK profiles were analyzed. The PPK of MgSO4 is consistent with to a one-compartment model. The base model adequately described the maternal serum magnesium concentrations after magnesium administration. The population parameter estimates were as follows: CL was 2.98 L/h, V was 25.07 L. The model predictions changed significantly with covariates (BMI, creatinine clearance, and furosemide). Furosemide statistically influences V. The creatinine clearance, BMI and furosemide jointly affects CL. Monte Carlo simulation results showed that a loading dose combined with a maintenance dose would need to be administered daily to achieve the therapeutic blood magnesium concentrations. For the non-furosemide group, the optimal dosing regimen was a 5 g loading dose combined with a 10 g maintenance dose of MgSO4. For the furosemide group, the optimal dosing regimen was a 2.5 g loading dose combined with a 10 g maintenance dose of MgSO4.

Conclusions

The magnesium PPK model was successfully developed and evaluated in Chinese preeclampsia population, and the dose optimization of MgSO4 was completed through Monte Carlo simulation.
Double entrapment neuropathy of the ulnar nerve at the elbow and the wrist : double crush syndrome?
Authors: Kim Dong Hee , Shin Sung Jin , Park Jun Yong , Lee Sang Hyun
Published: June 2024

Background

Double crush syndrome refers to a nerve in the proximal region being compressed, affecting its proximal segment. Instances of this syndrome involving ulnar and cubital canals during ulnar neuropathy are rare. Diagnosis solely through clinical examination is challenging. Although electromyography (EMG) and nerve conduction studies (NCS) can confirm neuropathy, they do not incorporate inching tests at the wrist, hindering diagnosis confirmation. We recently encountered eight cases of suspected double compression of ulnar nerve, reporting these cases along with a literature review.

Methods

The study included 5 males and 2 females, averaging 45.6 years old. Among them, 4 had trauma history, and preoperative McGowan stages varied. Ulnar neuropathy was confirmed in 7 cases at both cubital and ulnar canal locations. Surgery was performed for 4 cases, while conservative treatment continued for 3 cases.

Results

In 4 cases with wrist involvement, 2 showed ulnar nerve compression by a fibrous band, and 1 had nodular hyperplasia. Another case displayed ulnar nerve swelling with muscle covering. Among the 4 surgery cases, 2 improved from preoperative McGowan stage IIB to postoperative stage 0, with significant improvement in subjective satisfaction. The remaining 2 cases improved from stage IIB to IIA, respectively, with moderate improvement in subjective satisfaction. In the 3 cases receiving conservative treatment, satisfaction was significant in 1 case and moderate in 2 cases. Overall, there was improvement in hand function across all 7 cases.

Conclusion

Typical outpatient examinations make it difficult to clearly differentiate the two sites, and EMG tests may not confirm diagnosis. Therefore, if a surgeon lacks suspicion of this condition, diagnosis becomes even more challenging. In cases with less than expected postoperative improvement in clinical symptoms of cubital tunnel syndrome, consideration of double crush syndrome is warranted. Additional tests and detailed EMG tests, including inching tests at the wrist, may be necessary. We aim to raise awareness double crush syndrome with ulnar nerve, reporting a total of 7 cases to support this concept.
Transforming microbial pigment into therapeutic revelation: extraction and characterization of pyocyanin from Pseudomonas aeruginosa and its therapeutic potential as an antibacterial and anticancer agent
Authors: Marey Moustafa A. , Abozahra Rania , El-Nikhely Nefertiti A. , Kamal Miranda F. , Abdelhamid Sarah M. , El-Kholy Mohammed A.
Published: June 2024

Background

The objectives of the current study were to extract pyocyanin from Pseudomonas aeruginosa clinical isolates, characterize its chemical nature, and assess its biological activity against different bacteria and cancer cells. Due to its diverse bioactive properties, pyocyanin, being one of the virulence factors of P. aeruginosa, holds a promising, safe, and available therapeutic potential.

Methods

30 clinical P. aeruginosa isolates were collected from different sources of infections and identified by routine methods, the VITEK 2 compact system, and 16 S rRNA. The phenazine-modifying genes (phzM, phzS) were identified using polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Pyocyanin chemical characterization included UV-Vis spectrophotometry, Fourier Transform Infra-Red spectroscopy (FTIR), Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS), and Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS). The biological activity of pyocyanin was explored by determining the MIC values against different clinical bacterial strains and assessing its anticancer activity against A549, MDA-MB-231, and Caco-2 cancer cell lines using cytotoxicity, wound healing and colony forming assays.

Results

All identified isolates harboured at least one of the phzM or phzS genes. The co-presence of both genes was demonstrated in 13 isolates. The UV-VIS absorbance peaks were maxima at 215, 265, 385, and 520 nm. FTIR could identify the characteristic pyocyanin functional groups, whereas both GC-MS and LC-MS elucidated the chemical formula C11H18N2O2, with a molecular weight 210. The quadri-technical analytical approaches confirmed the chemical nature of the extracted pyocyanin. The extract showed broad-spectrum antibacterial activity, with the greatest activity against Bacillus, Staphylococcus, and Streptococcus species (MICs 31.25–125 µg/mL), followed by E. coli isolates (MICs 250–1000 µg/mL). Regarding the anticancer activity, the pyocyanin extract showed IC50 values against A549, MDA-MB-231, and Caco-2 cancer cell lines of 130, 105, and 187.9 µg/mL, respectively. Furthermore, pyocyanin has markedly suppressed colony formation and migratory abilities in these cells.

Conclusions

The extracted pyocyanin has demonstrated to be a potentially effective candidate against various bacterial infections and cancers. Hence, the current findings could contribute to producing this natural compound easily through an affordable method. Nonetheless, future studies are required to investigate pyocyanin’s effects in vivo and analyse the results of combining it with other traditional antibiotics or anticancer drugs.
Decoding temporal heterogeneity in NSCLC through machine learning and prognostic model construction
Authors: Cheng Junpeng , Xiao Meizhu , Meng Qingkang , Zhang Min , Zhang Denan , Liu Lei , Jin Qing , Fu Zhijin , Li Yanjiao , Chen Xiujie , Xie Hongbo
Published: June 2024

Background

Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is a prevalent and heterogeneous disease with significant genomic variations between the early and advanced stages. The identification of key genes and pathways driving NSCLC tumor progression is critical for improving the diagnosis and treatment outcomes of this disease.

Methods

In this study, we conducted single-cell transcriptome analysis on 93,406 cells from 22 NSCLC patients to characterize malignant NSCLC cancer cells. Utilizing cNMF, we classified these cells into distinct modules, thus identifying the diverse molecular profiles within NSCLC. Through pseudotime analysis, we delineated temporal gene expression changes during NSCLC evolution, thus demonstrating genes associated with disease progression. Using the XGBoost model, we assessed the significance of these genes in the pseudotime trajectory. Our findings were validated by using transcriptome sequencing data from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA), supplemented via LASSO regression to refine the selection of characteristic genes. Subsequently, we established a risk score model based on these genes, thus providing a potential tool for cancer risk assessment and personalized treatment strategies.

Results

We used cNMF to classify malignant NSCLC cells into three functional modules, including the metabolic reprogramming module, cell cycle module, and cell stemness module, which can be used for the functional classification of malignant tumor cells in NSCLC. These findings also indicate that metabolism, the cell cycle, and tumor stemness play important driving roles in the malignant evolution of NSCLC. We integrated cNMF and XGBoost to select marker genes that are indicative of both early and advanced NSCLC stages. The expression of genes such as CHCHD2, GAPDH, and CD24 was strongly correlated with the malignant evolution of NSCLC at the single-cell data level. These genes have been validated via histological data. The risk score model that we established (represented by eight genes) was ultimately validated with GEO data.

Conclusion

In summary, our study contributes to the identification of temporal heterogeneous biomarkers in NSCLC, thus offering insights into disease progression mechanisms and potential therapeutic targets. The developed workflow demonstrates promise for future applications in clinical practice.
An innovative visual approach to the simultaneous study of two dimensions of progress in longevity: an application to French and German regions
Authors: Bonnet Florian , Klüsener Sebastian , Meslé France , Mühlichen Michael , Grigoriev Pavel
Published: June 2024

Background

Both enhancing life expectancy and decreasing inequalities in lifespan between social groups are significant goals for public policy. To date, however, methodological tools to study progress in both dimensions simultaneously have been lacking. There is also a consensus that absolute and relative inequalities in lifespan must be studied together.

Methods

We introduce a novel graphical representation that combines national mortality rates with both absolute and relative measures of social inequality in mortality. To illustrate our approach, we analyze French and German data stratified by place of residence.

Results

For all-age mortality, in France we find a steady pace of decline in both mortality and in regional inequalities in mortality over recent decades. In Germany, substantial progress was made in the 1990s, mostly driven by convergence between eastern and western Germany, followed by a period of slower progress. Age-specific analyses for Germany reveal a worrying divergence in regional trends at ages 35–74 in recent years, which is particularly pronounced among women.

Conclusion

Our novel visual approach offers a way to simultaneously examine two dimensions of progress in longevity, and facilitates meaningful comparisons between populations, even when their current mortality rates differ. The applied methods can be easily reproduced in any country for which long-term mortality series stratified by region, or any relevant socioeconomic characteristic, are available. It is useful for both scientific analysis and policy advice.
Humoral immunity to SARS-CoV-2 in kidney transplant recipients and dialysis patients: IgA and IgG patterns unraveled after SARS-CoV-2 infection and vaccination
Authors: De Bouver Caroline , Bouziotis Jason , Wijtvliet Veerle P. W. M. , Ariën Kevin K. , Mariën Joachim , Heyndrickx Leo , Couttenye Marie M. , de Fijter Hans J. W. , Mestrez Fabienne , Treille Serge , Mat Olivier , Collart Frederic , Allard Sabine D. , Vingerhoets Lies , Moons Pieter , Abramowicz Daniel , De Winter Benedicte Y. , Pipeleers Lissa , Wissing Karl Martin , Ledeganck Kristien J.
Published: June 2024

Background

Infection with SARS-CoV-2 in high-risk groups such as kidney transplant and dialysis patients is shown to be associated with a more serious course of the disease. Four years after the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, crucial knowledge on the immune responses in these patient groups is still lacking. Therefore, this study aimed at investigating the humoral immune response after a SARS-CoV-2 infection compared to vaccination as well as the evolution of immunoglobulins over time.

Methods

Kidney transplant recipients, patients on haemodialysis or on peritoneal dialysis and healthy controls were included in this longitudinal multicenter study. SARS-CoV-2 anti-RBD, anti-NP and anti-S1S2 immunoglobulin G (IgG) and A (IgA) as well as the neutralizing antibody capacity were measured.

Results

Kidney transplant recipients had a significantly better humoral response to SARS-CoV-2 after infection (86.4%) than after a two-dose mRNA vaccination (55.8%) while seroconversion was comparable in patients on haemodialysis after infection (95.8%) versus vaccination (89.4%). In individuals without prior COVID-19, the IgG levels after vaccination were significantly lower in kidney transplant recipients when compared to all other groups. However, the IgA titres remained the highest in this patient group at each time point, both after infection and vaccination. A history COVID-19 was associated with higher antibody levels after double-dose vaccination in all patient categories and, while decreasing, titres remained high six months after double-dose vaccination.

Conclusion

Kidney transplant recipients had a more robust humoral response to SARS-CoV-2 following infection compared to a two-dose mRNA vaccination, while patients on haemodialysis exhibited comparable seroconversion rates. Notably, individuals with prior COVID-19 exhibited higher IgG levels in response to vaccination. Hybrid immunity is thus the best possible defence against severe COVID-19 disease and seems also to hold up for these populations. Next, it is not clear whether the higher IgA levels in the kidney transplant recipients is beneficial for neutralizing SARS-CoV-2 or if it is a sign of disease severity.
The potential impact of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership on Thailand’s hepatitis C treatment program
Authors: Tenni Brigitte , Lexchin Joel , Akaleephan Chutima , Kittitrakul Chalermsak , Gleeson Deborah
Published: June 2024

Background

Thailand has expressed interest in joining the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), a twelve-country plurilateral trade agreement whose original incarnation included the United States of America (USA). When the USA withdrew from this agreement, key intellectual property clauses relevant to pharmaceuticals were suspended. These could be reinstated should the CPTPP Parties decide to do so.

Methods

This study uses two scenarios to cost the impact the CPTPP would have had on Thailand’s 2020 hepatitis C treatment regime if Thailand joined the CPTPP and suspended clauses were reinstated.

Results

Joining the CPTPP could have increased the cost more than tenfold if suspended CPTPP clauses were reinstated and Thailand was not willing or able to issue compulsory licenses. Based on the 2020 budget, the price for this possible scenario could have reduced hepatitis C treatment coverage by 90%.

Conclusions

Acceding to trade agreements such as the CPTPP that require increasing intellectual property protection, could compromise Thailand’s hepatitis C program and other national treatment programs reliant on affordable generic medicines. The CPTPP could also prevent Thailand from relying on its own pharmaceutical capabilities to manufacture medicines needed to sustain its treatment programs.
Clinical and genetic characterization of patients with eye diseases included in the Spanish Rare Diseases Patient Registry
Authors: Lopez-de la Rosa Alberto , Telleria Juan J. , Posada de la Paz Manuel , Hermosilla-Gimeno Isabel M. , Rivas Miren Agurtzane , Gilabert Raúl , Coco-Martín Rosa M.
Published: June 2024

Background

The low prevalence of rare diseases poses a significant challenge in advancing their understanding. This study aims to delineate the clinical and genetic characteristics of patients with rare eye diseases (RED) enrolled in the Spanish Rare Diseases Patient Registry.

Methods

A total of 864 patients from the registry database were included. Diseases were categorized into inherited retinal dystrophies (n=688); anterior segment diseases (n=48); congenital malformations (n=27); and syndromic diseases with ocular involvement including muscular (n=46), neurological (n=34), or metabolic (n=13); inflammatory diseases (n=4); and tumors (n=4). Data on visual acuity (VA) and/or visual field (VF), symptoms and signs, concurrent diseases in syndromic cases, age of onset and at diagnosis, affected genes, disability rating, inability to work and dependency grade recognition were collected.

Results

A mean diagnostic delay of 7 years from symptom onset was observed. Commonly reported symptoms included photophobia, night blindness, and progressive vision loss (≥57% of patients). Cataract was the most prevalent secondary disease (46%), with pseudophakia being the most common ocular surgery (26%). Hearing loss and cardiovascular diseases were the most prevalent concurrent systemic diseases (≥13%). Certificates of disability, incapacity for work, and dependency were held by 87%, 42%, and 19% of patients, respectively. Among the 719 patients with available VA data, 193 (27%) were blind, and 188 (26%) had moderate to severe visual impairment. Over half of the patients (54%) exhibited VF defects, and 216 (25%) had concentric contraction ≤5° or abolished VF. Most had genetic diseases with autosomal recessive (55%), autosomal dominant (30%), X-linked (9%), and mitochondrial (6%) patterns. One patient had mutations in both recessive USH2A and dominant RHO genes simultaneously. Of the 656 patients (75.7%) who underwent genetic testing, only 461 (70.3%) received a positive result (pathogenic or likely pathogenic mutations explaining the phenotype). We found 62 new gene variants related to RED not previously reported in databases of genetic variants related to specific phenotypes.

Conclusions

This study delineates the clinical and genotypic profiles of RED in Spain. Genetic diseases, particularly retinal disorders, predominate, but a significant proportion of affected patients remain genetically undiagnosed, hindering potential gene therapy endeavors. Despite notable improvements in reducing diagnosis delays, it is still remarkable. RED frequently lead to disability and blindness among young populations.
Experimental and theoretical quantum chemical studies of 2-(2-acetamidophenyl)-2-oxo-N-(pyridin-2-ylmethyl)acetamide and its copper(II) complex: molecular docking simulation of the designed coordinated ligand with insulin-like growth factor-1 receptor (IGF-1R)
Authors: El-Sayed Doaa S. , Sinha Leena , Soayed Amina A.
Published: June 2024

Newly synthesized ligand 2-(2- acetamidophenyl)-2-oxo-N-(pyridin-2-ylmethyl)acetamide and its copper(II) complex were characterized by elemental analyses, FT-IR, UV–Vis., ESR, 1H-NMR, and thermal analysis along with the theoretical quantum chemical studies. Combined experimental and theoretical DFT (density functional theory) studies showed the ligand to be a tridentate ligand with three coordinate bonds. The complex was suggested to be in a distorted octahedral structure with dx2-y2 ground state. The activation energy, ΔE*; entropy ΔS*; enthalpy ΔH* and order of reaction has been derived from differential thermogravimetric (DTA) curve, using Horowitz–Metzeger method. The nujol mull electronic spectrum of the ligand and Cu(II) complex have been recorded and the difference of the excited and ground state densities has also been theoretically calculated and plotted to investigate the movement of electrons on excitation. The Cu(II) complex was evaluated for its antibacterial activity against two bacterial species, namely Escherichia coli (E. coli) and Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus). Antifungal screening was performed against two species (Condida albicans and Aspergillus flavus). The complex under investigation was found to possess notable biological activity. Molecular docking investigation predicted different types of non-covalent interactions of the synthesized ligand towards Insulin-like growth factor 1 receptor (ID: 5FXR).
Qualitative and quantitative MRI analysis of alveolar soft part sarcoma: correlation with histological grade and Ki-67 expression
Authors: Yuan Junhui , Xie Deshun , Fang Shaobo , Meng Fan , Wu Yue , Shan Dongqiu , Shao Nannan , Wang Bangmin , Tian Zhichao , Wang Yuanyuan , Xu Chunmiao , Chen Xuejun
Published: June 2024

Objective

To investigate the correlation between MRI findings and histological features for preoperative prediction of histological grading and Ki-67 expression level in alveolar soft part sarcoma (ASPS).

Methods

A retrospective analysis was conducted on 63 ASPS patients (Jan 2017–May 2023). All patients underwent 3.0-T MRI examinations, including conventional sequences, dynamic contrast-enhanced scans with time-intensity curve analysis, and diffusion-weighted imaging with apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) measurements. Patients were divided into low-grade (histological Grade I) and high-grade (histological Grade II/III) groups based on pathology. Immunohistochemistry was used to assess Ki-67 expression levels in ASPS. Statistical analysis included chi-square tests, Wilcoxon rank-sum test, binary logistic regression analysis, Spearman correlation analysis, and receiver operating characteristic curve analysis of various observational data.

Results

There were 29 low-grade and 34 high-grade patients (26 males and 37 females) and a wide age range (5–68 years). Distant metastasis, tumor enhancement characteristics, and ADC values were independent predictors of high-grade ASPS. High-grade ASPS had lower ADC values (p = 0.002), with an area under the curve (AUC), sensitivity, and specificity of 0.723, 79.4%, and 58.6%, respectively, for high-grade prediction. There was a negative correlation between ADC values and Ki-67 expression (r = −0.526; p < 0.001). When the cut-off value of ADC was 0.997 × 10−3 mm²/s, the AUC, sensitivity, and specificity for predicting high Ki-67 expression were 0.805, 65.6%, and 83.9%, respectively.

Conclusion

Qualitative and quantitative MRI parameters are valuable for predicting histological grading and Ki-67 expression levels in ASPS.

Critical relevance statement

This study will help provide a more nuanced understanding of ASPS and guide personalized treatment strategies.

Key Points

There is limited research on assessing ASPS prognosis through MRI.

Metastasis, enhancement, and ADC correlated with histological grade; ADC related to Ki-67 expression.

MRI provides clinicians with valuable information on ASPS grading and proliferation activity.

Graphical Abstract
Next-generation sequencing profiling of miRNAs in individuals with 22q11.2 deletion syndrome revealed altered expression of miR-185-5p
Authors: Dantas Anelisa Gollo , Nunes Beatriz Carvalho , Nunes Natália , Galante Pedro , Asprino Paula Fontes , Ota Vanessa Kiyomi , Melaragno Maria Isabel
Published: June 2024

Background

The 22q11.2 deletion syndrome (22q11.2DS) is a microdeletion syndrome with highly variable phenotypic manifestations, even though most patients present the typical 3 Mb microdeletion, usually affecting the same ~ 106 genes. One of the genes affected by this deletion is DGCR8, which plays a crucial role in miRNA biogenesis. Therefore, the haploinsufficiency of DGCR8 due to this microdeletion can alter the modulation of the expression of several miRNAs involved in a range of biological processes.

Results

In this study, we used next-generation sequencing to evaluate the miRNAs profiles in the peripheral blood of 12 individuals with typical 22q11DS compared to 12 healthy matched controls. We used the DESeq2 package for differential gene expression analysis and the DIANA-miTED dataset to verify the expression of differentially expressed miRNAs in other tissues. We used miRWalk to predict the target genes of differentially expressed miRNAs. Here, we described two differentially expressed miRNAs in patients compared to controls: hsa-miR-1304-3p, located outside the 22q11.2 region, upregulated in patients, and hsa-miR-185-5p, located in the 22q11.2 region, which showed downregulation. Expression of miR-185-5p is observed in tissues frequently affected in patients with 22q11DS, and previous studies have reported its downregulation in individuals with 22q11DS. hsa-miR-1304-3p has low expression in blood and, thus, needs more validation, though using a sensitive technology allowed us to identify differences in expression between patients and controls.

Conclusions

Thus, lower expression of miR-185-5p can be related to the 22q11.2 deletion and DGCR8 haploinsufficiency, leading to phenotypic consequences in 22q11.2DS patients, while higher expression of hsa-miR-1304-3p might be related to individual genomic variances due to the heterogeneous background of the Brazilian population.