bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Osteoprotegerin and Vascular Dysfunction in Patients With Stage 3 Chronic Kidney Disease and Those Without Renal Dysfunction: a Case-control Study (Nefrovasc Study)
Authors: Matos Thalita Oliveira , Vitorino Priscila Valverde Oliveira , Orlow Rogério , Melo Átila Oliveira , Amorim Diogo Silva , Sousa Gleidson Junio Oliveira , Jorgetti Vanda , Sousa Ana Luiza Lima , Bezerra Rodrigo , Barroso Weimar Sebba Kunz
Published: July 2023

Background: Osteoprotegerin (OPG) is a marker of vascular calcification and cardiovascular (CV) risk in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). The study aimed to compare OPG values with flow-mediated dilation (FMD) and pulse wave velocity (PWV) and to evaluate the correlation between these measures in patients in stage 3 CKD and those without renal dysfunction.
Methods: This case-control study was conducted in a specialized hypertension clinic in 2022. A total of 79 patients over 18 years of age participated in the study. The case group consisted of 30 patients who had moderate renal dysfunction (CKD stage 3a and 3b) and the control group included 49 individuals with GFR ≥60 ml/min/1.73 m2. For the comparative analysis between patients with and without renal dysfunction, qualitative variables were analyzed using the chi-square test, while quantitative variables were evaluated using the independent t-test or Mann-Whitney test. The linear correlation between OPG and the other variables was analyzed using Pearson's or Spearman's correlation tests.
Results: Central pulse pressure (cPP), PWV, and augmentation index (AIx) were higher in patients with renal dysfunction. The serum OPG level positively correlated with peripheral and central systolic blood pressure (BP), PPc, PWV, and AIx. Conversely, the serum OPG did not correlate with FMD.
Conclusions: OPG and PWV are possible biomarkers of vascular dysfunction that are altered in patients with moderate renal dysfunction. This study is has limitations: is a case-control study conducted at a single center with a small number of patients with CKD.
Rise of post-pandemic resilience across the distrust ecosystem
Authors: Illari Lucia , Restrepo Nicholas J. , Johnson Neil
Published: July 2023

Why is distrust (e.g. of medical expertise) now flourishing online despite the surge in mitigation schemes being implemented? We analyze the changing discourse in the Facebook ecosystem of approximately 100 million users who pre-pandemic were focused on (dis)trust of vaccines. We find that post-pandemic, their discourse strongly entangles multiple non-vaccine topics and geographic scales both within and across communities. This gives the current distrust ecosystem a unique system-level resistance to mitigations that target a specific topic and geographic scale -- which is the case of many current schemes due to their funding focus, e.g. local health not national elections. Backed up by detailed numerical simulations, our results reveal the following counterintuitive solutions for implementing more effective mitigation schemes at scale: shift to 'glocal' messaging by (1) blending particular sets of distinct topics (e.g. combine messaging about specific diseases with climate change) and (2) blending geographic scales.
An explorative single-arm clinical study to assess craving in patients with alcohol use disorder using Virtual Reality exposure (CRAVE) - study protocol
Authors: Lütt Alva , Tsamitros Nikolaos , Wolbers Thomas , Rosenthal Annika , Bröcker Anna-Lena , Schöneck Robert , Bermpohl Felix , Heinz Andreas , Beck Anne , Gutwinski Stefan
Published: July 2023

Background:
Alcohol use disorder (AUD) belongs to the most burdensome clinical disorders worldwide. Current treatment approaches yield unsatisfactory long-term effects with relapse rates up to 85%. Craving for alcohol is a major predictor for relapse and can be intentionally induced via cue exposure in real life as well as in Virtual Reality (VR). The induction and habituation of craving via conditioned cues is used in Cue Exposure Therapy (CET), a long-known but rarely used strategy in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) of AUD. VR scenarios with alcohol related cues offer several advantages over real life scenarios and are within the focus of current efforts to develop new treatment options. As a first step, we aim to analyze if the VR scenarios elicit a transient change in craving levels and if this is measurable via subjective and psychophysiological parameters.
Methods:
A single-arm clinical study will be conducted including n=60 patients with AUD. Data on severity of AUD and craving, comorbidities, demographics, side effects and the feeling of presence in VR will be assessed. Patients will use a head-mounted display (HMD) to immerse themselves into three different scenarios (neutral vs. target situations) while heart rate, heart rate variability, pupillometry and electrodermal activity will be measured continuously. Subjective craving levels will be assessed before, during and after the VR session.
Discussion:
Results of this study will yield insight into the induction of alcohol craving in VR cue exposure paradigms and its measurement via subjective and psychophysiological parameters. This might be an important step in the development of innovative therapeutic approaches in the treatment of patients with AUD.
Trial registration:
This study was approved by the Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin Institutional Review Board (EA1/190/22, 23.05.2023). It was registered on ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT05861843).
Crown-root ratio after orthodontic extrusion and surgical crown lengthening procedures – an ex-vivo study
Authors: Bruhnke Maria , Voß Isabelle , Sterzenbach Guido , Beuer Florian , Naumann Michael
Published: July 2023

Introduction
For restoration of extensively damaged teeth preprosthetic treatment measures are necessary. Surgical crown lengthening and orthodontic extrusion affect the prospective crown-root ratio (CRR). Evidence on true values of CRR is scarce. The subject of this in-vitro study was to compute CRRs for both treatment approaches.
Methods
120 human maxillary central extracted incisors were measured. Measurements were calculated for five prospective treatment groups: C (control), OE-2mm (orthodontic extrusion of 2mm), OE-4mm (orthodontic extrusion of 4mm), SCL-2mm (surgical crown lengthening of 2mm), and SCL-4mm (surgical crown lengthening of 4mm). Tooth (TL), root (RL), and crown lengths (CL) were measured from mesial (m) and facial (f) cemento-enamel junction (CEJ). Anatomic (CRR) and effective crown-root ratios (eCRR) were calculated.
Results
For control TL was 22.8 ± 1.6mm, CL-m 6.7 ± 1.1mm, CL-f 9.5 ± 1.0mm, RL-m 16.1 ± 1.4mm, and RL-f 13.3 ± 1.3mm. Following CRR values were computed for C: CRR-m = 0.4 ± 0.1, CRR-f = 0.7 ± 0.1. For orthodontic extrusion in comparison to surgical crown lengthening all crown-root-ratios were lower for orthodontic extrusion. Effective CCRs were higher than anatomic CCRs. CRR at mesial CEJ was significantly lower than CRR with facial CEJ as reference.
Conclusions
Prospective crown-root ratios are lower for orthodontic extrusion than for surgical crown lengthening procedures.
Fibroblast Activation Protein identifies progressive bladder cancer and allows peritoneal metastasis detection by 68Ga-FAPI PET/CT imaging
Authors: Viergever Bastiaan J. , Strating Esther , Lam Marnix , Kranenburg Onno , Meijer Richard P.
Published: July 2023

Background: Currently, [18F] FDG-PET/CT scans are used in advanced bladder cancer patients to identify metastatic lesions. Unfortunately, FDG-PET/CT has a relatively low sensitivity for detecting metastatic disease in these patients, resulting in open-and-close operations due to unexpected metastatic disease. Recently a novel radiotracer has emerged using fibroblast activation protein (FAP) targeting [68Ga] FAPI-46, sparking the question if this provides a more accurate alternative to [18F] FDG-PET/CT for detecting metastatic lesions in bladder cancer patients.
Methods: FAP expression was evaluated in primary and metastatic samples of two patients with muscle-invasive bladder cancer using immunohistochemical analysis. Finally, both FDG and FAPI scans were obtained and compared using [18F] FDG-PET/CT and [68Ga] FAPI-46-PET/CT.
Results: FAP protein expression was found to be high in both primary and metastatic tumor lesions. In the primary tumor lesions, FAP expression was mainly see in the fibrotic area adjacent to the tumor bulk. In contrast, peritoneal metastases showed FAP expression closely surrounding small tumor clusters. Finally, metastatic lesions that were undetectable on [18F] FDG-PET/CT were detected using [68Ga] FAPI-46-PET/CT.
FAPI-46-PET/CT findings of peritoneal metastases correlated with lesions found in the open-and-close surgical procedures.
Conclusions: [68Ga] FAPI-46-PET/CT provides a promising alternative to [18F] FDG-PET/CT to identify peritoneal metastatic lesions of bladder cancer in high-risk patients.
Subtrochanteric Fracture After Femoral Neck System of Femoral Neck Fractures: A Report of Four Cases
Authors: Fisher John Clinton , Gerzina Christopher , Rush Kaitlin , Caroom Cyrus
Published: July 2023

Background: The femoral neck system (FNS) is commonly used for internal fixation of femoral neck fractures and has shown promising results. However, we have observed cases of peri-implant subtrochanteric femur fractures associated with the use of FNS at our institution. This case series aims to investigate four cases of peri-implant subtrochanteric fractures in patients treated with the FNS implant for femoral neck fractures.
Case Presentation: We reviewed 35 patients who underwent treatment with FNS for femoral neck fractures between January 2017 and December 2021 at our level 1 trauma institution. Among these patients, four cases of peri-implant subtrochanteric femur fractures were identified. In contrast, no such fractures occurred in patients treated with cannulated screws or dynamic hip screws (DHS). Interestingly, all four cases of peri-implant fractures were seen in patients with incomplete nondisplaced femoral neck fractures. Only one case involved an identifiable technical error.
Conclusions: This case series sheds light on peri-implant subtrochanteric femur fractures as a previously unreported complication associated with the use of FNS for femoral neck fractures. These fractures were observed exclusively in patients with incomplete nondisplaced fractures who received FNS fixation. No similar complications were observed in patients treated with other types of fixation. This finding suggests the need for caution and further investigation when considering FNS as a treatment option for this specific fracture pattern.
The identification of peri-implant subtrochanteric femur fractures as a potential complication of FNS usage in incomplete nondisplaced femoral neck fractures raises important considerations for clinical decision-making and patient management in orthopedic trauma.
The mechanism of LSM2 in the progression of live hepatocellular carcinoma was analyzed based on bioinformatics
Authors: Qin Peifang , Huang Haitao , Wang Jiahui , Jiang Tingting , Zeng Nannan , Wang Qi , He Yulin , Zhou Yali
Published: July 2023

Comprehensive analysis the expression and probable function of LSM2 in Live hepatocellular carcinoma (LIHC), and validation via in vitro experiments. Integrated use of database resources like TIMER2.0, GEPIA, LinkedOmics to examine the differential expression, survival prognosis, clinical pathological features, and functional enrichment of LSM2 in LIHC. The expression level of LSM2 in LIHC tissues and adjacent tissues was proven via immunohistochemical staining. Employing shRNA interference techniques to reduce the expression level of LSM2 in LIHC. The biological function of LSM2 in LIHC was detected by cell proliferation, cell cloning, cell scratch, cell migration, and invasion experiments in vitro. TIMER2.0 and GEPIA indicated that LSM2 was highly expressed in various cancers and was strongly associated with survival rates in patients with LIHC, cholangiocarcinoma, breast cancer, and renal clear cell carcinoma. LSM2 was highly expressed in LIHC, which was closely associated to the clinicopathological characteristics of patients, and the overall survival rate and disease-free survival rate of patients with high expression of LSM2 were lower than those with low expression of LSM2. Functional enrichment results revealed that LSM2 was involved to ribosome formation, DNA replication, cell cycle, metabolic processes, JAK-STAT signaling pathways, and FoxO signaling pathways. Compared with the paracancerous tissues, the expression of LSM2 in LIHC tissues was higher. Knockdown of LSM2 inhibited the proliferation, migration, and invasion of LIHC cells in in vitro experiments. LSM2 was highly expressed in LIHC and was related to a poor prognosis. Knockdown of LSM2 could inhibit the proliferation, migration, and invasion of LIHC cells.
Preliminary Effectiveness of a Brief School-Based HERO Intervention: Improving the Wellbeing of Final Year Adolescent Female Students
Authors: Heikkila Reetta , Finch Jules , Waters Allison M , Farrell Lara J
Published: July 2023

Young people face multiple challenges, including appearance dissatisfaction, academic stressors, anxiety and depression. This study examines the preliminary effectiveness of a brief, school-based intervention aimed at enhancing Psychological Capital (PsyCap), consisting of positive resources of hope, self-efficacy, resilience and optimism (HERO), and reducing mental health symptoms among female year 12 students (n = 95, Mage= 16.78, SD = 0.45). Outcomes on measures of HERO and secondary outcomes of flourishing, appearance dissatisfaction, anxiety and depression were measured at pre and post-intervention. In the overall cohort, no significant changes were found on the HERO outcomes or flourishing post-intervention, while symptoms of depression, anxiety and appearance dissatisfaction decreased significantly. For students with higher baseline anxiety, optimism and anxiety symptoms improved significantly at post-intervention. However, students with lower baseline anxiety experienced significant decreases in self-efficacy and optimism, as well as a significant increase in anxiety symptoms post-intervention. Baseline depression levels did not impact intervention outcomes. The findings, although mixed, suggest that a brief intervention grounded in PsyCap theory may improve student wellbeing.
Nondestructive quality assessment and maturity classification of loquat based on hyperspectral imaging
Authors: Feng Shunan , Shang Jing , Tan Tao , Wen Qingchun , Meng Qinglong
Published: July 2023

Hyperspectral imaging technology was used to nondestructively predict and visualise the colour, firmness, and soluble solids content (SSC) of loquats and discriminate maturity. On comparison of the performance of different feature variables selection methods and the calibration models, the results indicated that the multiple linear regression (MLR) models combined with the competitive adaptive reweighting algorithm (CARS) yielded the best prediction performance for loquat quality. Particularly, CARS-MLR models with optimal prediction performance were obtained for the colour (R2P = 0.96, RMSEP = 0.45, RPD = 5.38), firmness (R2P = 0.87, RMSEP = 0.23, RPD = 2.81), and SSC (R2P = 0.84, RMSEP = 0.51, RPD = 2.54). Subsequently, distribution maps of the colour, firmness, and SSC of loquats were obtained based on the optimal CARS-MLR models combined with pseudo-colour technology. Finally, on comparison of different classification models for loquat maturity, the partial least square discrimination analysis model demonstrated the best performance, with classification accuracies of 98.19% and 97.99% for calibration and prediction sets, respectively. This study demonstrated that the hyperspectral imaging technique is promising for loquat quality assessment and maturity classification.
The Impact of Community Environment on Depression Among Elderly Residents: A Perspective from the “Environment-Psychology-Culture” Co-evolution Model
Authors: Li Xiaowen , Chen Shuhu
Published: July 2023

Contrary to much of the existing research on elderly depression that primarily focuses on individual psychology while overlooking the interplay of natural environment and sociocultural factors, this study innovatively integrates the research subject into the "Environment-Psychology-Culture"co-evolution model(EPCCM),seeking a comprehensive understanding of how natural environments and social cultures intersectionally influence depression in elderly individuals.Leveraging questionnaire data from 34 communities in Shanghai, alongside remote sensing and urban POI data, this study employs a multi-level model to decompose the community environment into several endogenous variables, and examine the relationships among community environment, residential satisfaction and elderly depression, and quantifying the varying effects of the community environment on psychological health across different social groups.The study reveals that:① The community environment comprises three endogenous variables: environmental perception, neighborhood effects, and built environment; ②A significant correlation exists between the community environment and the depression levels of elderly residents(DLER), with residential satisfaction serving as a mitigating factor for DLER; ③The impact of the community environment on psychological health significantly varies across different income and residential groups.This study strives to contribute to empirical research on community environments and mental health from an environmental psychology perspective, providing a scientific foundation for enhancing the mental health of elderly residents and fostering healthier communities.
The efficacy of non-anesthesiologist-administered propofol sedation with a target-controlled infusion system during double-balloon endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography
Authors: Miyamoto Kazuya , Matsumoto Kazuyuki , Obata Taisuke , Sato Ryosuke , Matsumi Akihiro , Morimoto Kosaku , Ogawa Taiji , Terasawa Hiroyuki , Fujii Yuki , Yamazaki Tatsuhiro , Uchida Daisuke , Horiguchi Shigeru , Tsutsumi Koichiro , Kato Hironari , Otsuka Motoyuki
Published: July 2023

Background: The sedation method used during double-balloon endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (DB-ERCP) differs among countries and/or facilities, and there is no established method. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of non-anesthesiologist-administered propofol (NAAP) sedation using a target-controlled infusion (TCI) systemduring DB-ERCP.
Methods: This retrospective study was conducted between May 2017 and December 2020 at an academic center. One hundred and fifty-six consecutive patients who underwent DB-ERCP were sedated by gastroenterologists using diazepam (n=77) or propofol with a TCI system (n=79), depending on the period. The primary endpoint was a comparison of poor sedation rates between the two groups. Poor sedation was defined as a condition requiring the use of other sedative agents or discontinuation of the procedure. Secondary endpoints were sedation-related adverse events and risk factors for poor sedation.
Results: Poor sedation occurred significantly more often in the diazepam sedation group (diazepam sedation, n=12 [16%] vs. propofol sedation, n=1 [1%]; P=0.001). Vigorous body movements (3 or 4) (diazepam sedation, n=40 [52%] vs. propofol sedation, n=28 [35%]; P=0.038) and hypoxemia (< 85%) (diazepam sedation, n=7 [9%] vs. propofol sedation, n=1 [1%]; P=0.027) occurred significantly more often in the diazepam sedation group. In the multivariate analysis, age < 70 years old (OR, 10.26; 95% CI, 1.57-66.98; P=0.015), BMI>25 kg/m2 (OR, 11.96; 95% CI, 1.67-85.69; P=0.014), and propofol sedation (OR, 0.06; 95% CI, 0.01-0.58; P=0.015) were associated factors for poor sedation.
Conclusions: NAAP sedation with the TCI system during DB-ERCP was safer and more effective than diazepam sedation.
Preparation and characterization of titanium oxide nanocapsules containing retinoic acid for sustained release
Authors: Yu Xuecheng , Zhao Yunhe , Chen Gang , Yu Jing , Wang Ruolan , Deng Yuhao , Wang Xiaoying , Yuan Xinru , Yu Xue-Feng , He Rui
Published: July 2023

Retinoic acid (RA) has been widely used in cosmetics and medicine. However, high concentrations of RA could cause negative effects, and carcinogenic substances can be generated by light degradation. Herein, a convenient and environmental method was developed to realize the sustained release of RA by TiO2 nanocapsules. The surface morphologies, crystalline properties, and chemical structures were characterized by SEM, XRD, FT-IR, NMR. Moreover, the effects of solubilizer, core material content, shell-forming agent, biological properties, and other factors on the nanocapsules were investigated. The results indicated that low crystallinity of anatase TiO2 shell contributed to sustained release of inner RA. The sustained-release properties were studied through the elution process. It confirmed that the RA was encapsulated in the TiO2 shell with loose structures. Light irradiation experiments proved that inner RA was well protected and released continuously. The RA-TiO2 nanocapsules showed good dispersion, sustained-release properties, long-acting antibacterial property, and photostability.
Erythroderma combined with deeper dermal dermatophytosis due to Trichophyton rubrum in a patient with myasthenia gravis: first case report and literature review
Authors: Si Henan , Li Yang , Huang Zhiyang , Cui Yan , Li Shanshan
Published: July 2023

Background: Dermatophytes are the most common causative pathogens of mycoses worldwide and usually cause superficial infections. However, they can enter deep into the dermis lead to invasive dermatophytosis such as deeper dermal dermatophytosis on rare occasions. Erythroderma is a severe dermatological manifestation of various diseases resulting in generalized skin redness, but erythroderma due to fungi infections is barely reported. In this article, we reported the first case of erythroderma combined with deeper dermal dermatophytosis due to Trichophyton rubrum（T. rubrum） in a patient with myasthenia gravis.
Case presentation: A 48-year-old man was hospitalized because of erythema with scaling and nodules covering his bodyfor a month. The patient had a history of myasthenia graviscontrolled by regularly taking prednisolone for >10 years and accompanied byonychomycosis and tinea pedis lasting >8 years. Based on histopathological examinations, fungal cultures, and DNA sequencing results, the patient was finally diagnosed with dermatophyte-induced erythroderma combined with deeper dermal dermatophytosis caused by T. rubrum. After 2 weeks of antifungal treatment, the patient had recovered well.
Conclusions: This case report shows that immunosuppressed patients with long histories of superficial mycoses tend to have a higher risk of developing invasive dermatophytic infections or disseminated fungal infections. Dermatologists should be alert to this condition and promptly treat the superficial dermatophytosis.
Evaluation of Video Review Tools for Assessing Non-Technical Skills in Emergency Department Resuscitation Teams: A Systematic Review
Authors: ALEXANDER Emily G , DENNY Fraser , GORDON Malcom WG , LOWE David J
Published: July 2023

Background and importance

Use of video review in medicine is established in contexts such as surgery. Although not widely used in the emergency department (ED), some centres use it to evaluate non-technical skills (NTS) to support teaching and quality improvement.

Objective

There is no consensus on assessment of NTS using video review in the ED and the purpose of this review was to identify tools used in this context.

Design, setting and participants

Studies were identified using Embase, Medline and CINAHL. Inclusion criterion for the review was NTS of resuscitation teams working within the ED were assessed using video review. A systematic search method was used, and results were synthesised after search criteria was checked by three independent reviewers. All authors settled on the same 7 studies eligible for inclusion.

Outcome measures and analysis

Reliability and validity of tools identified for use in this context. Due to the heterogeneity of studies, no meta-analysis occurred.

Main results

There are 7 studies included in the review. The systematic review was registered with PROSPERO (Ref No: CRD42022306129). Three unique tools were identified – 5 studies used T-NOTECHS, 1 used CALM and 1 used the Communication tool. T-NOTECHS has the highest reliability score and is validated in the literature for use in this context.

Conclusion

T-NOTECHS is the tool of choice for assessing ED teams in this context.
Compressed Models for Co-reference Resolution: Enhancing Efficiency with Debiased Word Embeddings
Authors: Ioannides Georgios , Jadhav Aishwarya , Sharma Aditi , Navali Samarth , Black Alan W.
Published: July 2023

This work presents a comprehensive approach to reduce bias in word embedding vectors and evaluate the impact on various Natural Language Processing (NLP) tasks. Two GloVe variations (840B and 50) are debiased by identifying the gender direction in the word embedding space and then removing or reducing the gender component from the embeddings of target words, while preserving useful semantic information. Their gender bias is assessed through the Word Embedding Association Test. The performance of co-reference resolution and sentiment analysis models trained on both original and debiased embeddings is evaluated in terms of accuracy. A compressed co-reference resolution model is examined to gauge the effectiveness of debiasing techniques on resource-efficient models. To the best of the authors' knowledge, this is the first attempt to apply compression techniques to debiased models. By analyzing the context preservation of debiased embeddings using a Twitter misinformation dataset, this study contributes valuable insights into the practical implications of debiasing methods for real-world applications such as human profiling.
Identification of pyroptosis-related gene signature in nonalcoholic steatohepatitis
Authors: Mao Fei , Wang E , Fu Li , Fan Wenhua , Zhou Jing , Yan Guofeng , Liu Tiemin , Li Yao
Published: July 2023

Background: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has emerged as one of the major causes of liver-related morbidity and mortality globally. It ranges fromsimple steatosis to non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) characterized by ballooning and hepatic inflammation. In the past few years, pyroptosis has been shown as a type of programmed cell death that triggers inflammation and plays a role in the development of NASH. However, the roles of pyroptosis-related genes (PRGs) in NASH remained unclear.
Methods: In this study, we studied the expression level of pyroptosis-related genes (PRGs) in NASH and healthy controls, developed a diagnostic model of NASH based on PRGs and explored the pathological mechanisms associated with pyroptosis. We further compared immune status between NASH and healthy controls, analyzed immune status in different subtypes of NASH.
Results: We identified altogether twentyPRGs that were differentially expressed between NASH and normal liver tissues. Then, a novel diagnostic model consisting of seven PRGs including CASP3, ELANE, GZMA, CASP4, CASP9, IL6 andTP63 for NASH was constructed with an area under the ROC curve (AUC) of 0.978(CI 0.965-0.99). Obvious variations in immune status between healthy controls and NASH cases were detected. Subsequently, the consensus clustering method based on differentially expressed PRGs was constructed to divide all NASH cases into two distinct pyroptosis subtypes with different immune and biological characteristics. Further combined with screening drug targets by using DGIdb database, we explored possible drugs targets of NASH including Oltipraz, Metaproterenol, Fingolimod.
Conclusion: Pyroptosis-related genes may play an important role in NASH and can provide new insights into the diagnosis and underlying mechanisms of NASH.
Diversity of biomass usage pathways to achieve emissions targets in the European energy system
Authors: Millinger Markus , Hedenus Fredrik , Reichenberg Lina , Zeyen Elisabeth , Neumann Fabian , Berndes Göran
Published: July 2023

Biomass is a versatile renewable energy source that can be used in all parts of the energy system, but it is a limited resource and usage needs prioritisation. Here we use a sector-coupled European energy system model to explore the range of cost-effective near-optimal solutions for achieving stringent emissions targets. We show that provision of biogenic carbon rather than energy is the main value of biomass, with the energy system cost increasing by 20% if biomass is excluded. It is not crucial in which sector biomass is used if it is combined with carbon capture to enable negative emissions and e-fuel production. A shortage of renewable electricity or hydrogen primarily increases the value of biomass for fuel production, which appears as the marginal abatement option and is most sensitive to uncertainties. Biomass usage is significantly affected if the biomass is associated with upstream emissions.
Analysis of CNT and rGO mediation for an efficient super-capacitive response in Cr-doped Co3O4 based composites
Authors: Faryad Umar , Imran Muhammad , Yaqub Muhammad Atif , Zawar Sidra , Murtaza Ghulam , Ramay Shahid M. , Atiq Shahid
Published: July 2023

In our work, we present structural, morphological, and electrochemical analysis of Cr-doped Co3O4 nanostructures and their CNT/rGO based composites. Hydrothermal and solvothermal routes are followed to prepare the samples. The active material is prepared via a polymer-based binder and is used as electrode in a three-electrode electrochemical system. X-ray diffraction confirms the spinel-type cubic crystal structure, while the stoichiometric elemental contents are verified using an energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. Well-shaped layered growth of the nanocomposites is revealed by field emission scanning electron microscopy. The electrochemical analysis is performed using a 2M KOH electrolyte solution and a three-electrode electrochemical setup. The pure and Cr-doped nanocomposite samples reveal a pseudo capacitive behavior in all the samples. The systematic capacitive and resistive response of the samples has also been presented in this report. Aforementioned attributes make the synthesized specimen a potential candidate for an electrode material.
Radiomics features from whole thyroid gland tissue for prediction of cervical lymph node metastasis in the patients with papillary thyroid carcinoma
Authors: Lu Siyuan , Ren Yongzhen , Lu Chao , Qian Xiaoqin , Liu Yingzhao , Shan Xiuhong , Sun Eryi
Published: July 2023

Objective: We were aimed to develop a clinical-radiomics nomogram that could predict the cervical lymph node metastasis (CLNM) of patients with papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) using clinical characteristics as well as radiomics features of dualenergy computed tomography (DECT).
Method: Patients from our hospital with suspected PTC who underwent DECT for preoperative assessment between January 2021 and February 2022 were retrospectively recruited. Clinical characteristics, were obtained from the medical record system. Clinical characteristics and rad-scores were examined by univariate and multivariate logistic regression. All features were incorporated into the LASSO regression model, with penalty parameter tuning performed using 10-fold cross-validation, to screen risk factors for CLNM. An easily accessible radiomics nomogram was constructed. Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curve together with Area Under the Curve (AUC) analysis was conducted to evaluate the discrimination performance of the model. Calibration curves were employed to assess the calibration performance of the clinical-radiomics nomogram, followed by goodness-of-fit testing. Decision curve analysis (DCA) was performed to determine the clinical utility of the established models by estimating net benefits at varying threshold probabilities for training and testing groups.
Results: A total of 461 patients were retrospectively recruited. The rates of CLNM were 49.3% (70 /142) in the training cohort and 53.3% (32 / 60) in the testing cohort. Out of the 960 extracted radiomics features, 192 were significantly different in positive and negative groups (p < 0.05). On the basis of the training cohort, 12 stable features with nonzero coefficients were selected using LASSO regression. LASSO regression identified 7 risk factors for CLNM, including male gender, maximum tumor size > 10 mm, multifocality, CT-reported central CLN status, US-reported central CLN status, rad-score, and TGAb. A nomogram was developed using these factors to predict the risk of CLNM. The AUC values in each cohort were 0.85 and 0.797, respectively. The calibration curve together with Hosmer-Lemeshow test for the nomogram indicated good agreement between predicted and pathological CLN statuses in the training and testing cohorts. Results of DCA proved that the nomogram offers a superior net benefit for predicting CLNM compared to the "treat all or none" strategy across the majority of risk thresholds.
Conclusion: A nomogram comprising the clinical characteristics as well as radiomics features of DECT and US was constructed for the prediction of CLNM for patients with PTC.
Additive Manufacturing of Hierarchically Porous Silicon-based Ceramics: 3D Printing Black Glass with Unimodal, Bimodal, and Trimodal Porosity.
Authors: Gupta Vipul , Norouzi Ahmad , Paull Brett
Published: July 2023

Silicon-based ceramics offer unique chemical and mechanical properties, gaining their hierarchically porous structures considerable attention over the years to advance various fields. Hence, a new resin system has been developed to precisely control the size and distribution of pores in silicon-based ceramics while allowing their high-resolution photopolymerisation-based 3D printing. The ability to control pore size and distribution of 3D printed ceramics by simply incorporating one or more of the above-mentioned resin components was explored by 3D printing silicon oxycarbide micro-structures, such as microneedles, with unimodal (micropores), bimodal (micro- and mesopores), and trimodal (micro-, meso-, and macropores) porosity. The resin system allowed precise modulation of pore sizes ranging from 1 nm to 200 nm and their three-dimensional distribution. Their elemental analysis suggested a total carbon content of 24.7% and an empirical formula of SiO2.05C1.06S0.04. The structures were found to be amorphous as per their X-ray diffraction.
Embryonic and adult synaptic proteome perturbations after maternal immune activation: Identification of persistent changes relevant for early intervention
Authors: Yotova Anna , Li Li-Li , O'Leary Aet , Tegeder Irmgard , Reif Andreas , Courtney Michael , Slattery David , Freudenberg Florian
Published: July 2023

Maternal infections during pregnancy pose an increased risk for neurodevelopmental psychiatric disorders (NPDs) in the offspring. Here, we examined age- and sex-dependent dynamic changes of the hippocampal synaptic proteome after maternal immune activation (MIA) in embryonic and adult mice. Adult male and female MIA offspring exhibited social deficits and sex-specific depression-like behaviours, among others, validating the model. Furthermore, we observed dose-, age-, and sex-dependent synaptic proteome differences. Analysis of the embryonic synaptic proteome implicates sphingolipid and ketoacid metabolism pathway disruptions during neurodevelopment for NPD-pertinent sequelae. In the embryonic hippocampus, prenatal immune activation also led to changes in neuronal guidance, glycosphingolipid metabolism important for signalling and myelination, and post-translational modification of proteins that regulate intercellular interaction and developmental timing. In adulthood, the observed changes in synaptoneurosomes revealed a dynamic shift toward transmembrane trafficking, intracellular signalling cascades, and hormone-mediated metabolism. Importantly, 68 of the proteins with differential abundance in the embryonic brains of MIA offspring were also altered in adulthood, 75% of which retained their directionality. These proteins are involved in synaptic organisation, neurotransmitter receptor regulation, and the vesicle cycle. A cluster of persistently upregulated proteins, including AKT3, PAK1/3, PPP3CA, formed a functional network enriched in the embryonic brain that is involved in cellular responses to environmental stimuli. To infer a link between the overlapping protein alterations and cognitive and psychiatric traits, we probed human phenome-wise association study data for cognitive and psychiatric phenotypes and all, but PORCN were significantly associated with the investigated domains. Our data provide insights into the dynamic effects of an early prenatal immune activation on developing and mature hippocampi and highlights targets for early intervention in individuals exposed to such immune challenges.
Pupillometry to show stress release during equine sports massage therapy
Authors: Wild Karen Nicola , Skiba Stephan , Räsänen Suvi , Richter Claus-Peter
Published: July 2023

Anecdotal reports state that wellness treatment for horses, such as massage therapy, relaxes the treated animal. Massage therapists and horse owners typically report an ”improvement” without verifying or quantifying the treatment results. This paper shows that the effect of wellness treatment and stress release can be measured. One of the horse’s pupils was photographed at the experiment's beginning and end. Horses were randomly assigned to two experimental groups, animals receiving a massage (N=18) and horses standing for the time of a massage in the stable lane (N=10). We opened the images of the pupil with Fiji (ImageJ) and used the elliptical selection tool to measure the pupils’ and iris’ areas. The ratio between the pupils’ aperture and the iris’ area was a normalized measure for pupil size. At the end of the experiment, we compared the normalized size of the pupils with a two-tailed paired t-test within groups and a two-tailed t-test between groups. For the experimental group, it was before and after the treatment, and for the control group, before and after the horse was placed in the stable lane. Comparisons between the experimental and control groups were made at the procedure's beginning and end. The treatment decreased the normalized pupil area in the experimental group, on average, by a factor of 0.78 ± 0.15. The change was statistically significant. For the horses in the control group, the pupil size increased, on average, by a factor of 1.14 ± 018. The differences are not statistically different. The initial pupil size of the horses in the experimental group was 1.88-times larger than that in the control group. After the treatment, the difference was reduced to a factor of 1.25. In conclusion, massage therapy decreases the pupil area in horses. At the beginning of the experiment, the horses in the experimental group had larger pupil sizes than the horses in the control group, indicating that the horses in the experimental group were more stressed before the treatment compared to the control animals. The observed changes in pupil size in the experimental group likely resulted from enhanced parasympathetic and diminished sympathetic activity resulting from the treatment. Observed changes in pupil size agree with the anecdotal horse owner reports and the therapist’s treatment notes.
Hyaluronic acid production by Klebsiella pneumoniae strain H15 (OP354286) under different fermentation conditions
Authors: Ahmed Rania M. , Enan Gamal , Saed Safaa , Askora Ahmed
Published: July 2023

Background
Hyaluronic acid (HA) has gained significant attention due to its unique physical, chemical, and biological properties, making it widely used in various industries. This study aimed to screen bacterial isolates for HA production, characterize favorable fermentation conditions, and evaluate the inhibitory effect of bacterial HA on cancer cell lines.
Results
A total of 108 bacterial isolates from diverse sources were screened for HA production using HPLC, turbidity, and carbazole determination methods. Among the HA-producing isolates, Klebsiella pneumoniae H15 isolated from an animal feces sample, was superior in HA production. The strain was characterized based on morphological, cultural, and VITEK MS methods. Molecular identification using 16S rDNA sequencing and phylogenetic analysis confirmed its identity. Fermentation conditions, including pH, temperature, time, and agitation rate, were figured out to maximize HA production. The basal medium, comprising sucrose (7.0%) as the carbon source and yeast extract + peptone (1.25% each) as nitrogen substrates, favored the highest HA production at pH 8.0, for 30 h, at 30°C, and 180 rpm agitation. The average maximized HA concentration reached 1.5 g L− 1. Furthermore, bacterial HA exhibited a significant inhibitory effect on three cancer cell lines, with the lowest concentration ranging from 0.98–3.91 µg mL− 1.
Conclusions
K. pneumoniae H15 isolated from animal feces demonstrated promising potential for HA production. The most favorable fermentation conditions led to a high HA yield. The inhibitory effect of bacterial HA on cancer cell lines highlights its potential therapeutic applications. These findings contribute to the understanding and utilization of HA in various industries and therapeutic applications.
WITHDRAWN: Effect of modified Baduanjin exercise on nutritional status in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma: A randomized controlled trial
Authors: Zhou Shufen , zhang yanxin , Yang Guirong , Huang Xiaojun , Li Wei , Lu Jiamei
Published: July 2023

Background
As a traditional Chinese fitness technique, Baduanjin is a low to medium intensity aerobic exercise that has a common regulatory effect on both body and mind, and is also an important means of disease prevention and treatment. However, the role of Baduanjin in improving patients' nutritional status and promoting tumor recovery remains to be confirmed.
Objective
This study aims to investigate the effectiveness of modified Baduanjin exercise on the nutritional status of patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma.
Design:
A randomized controlled trial.
Setting(s):
The participants were recruited from inpatients in the Radiotherapy Department of the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University in China.
Participants:
A total of 121 nasopharyngeal carcinoma patients were randomly divided into the control group and the Baduanjin group. Finally, 106 patients completed the study (53 cases each in the control group and the Baduanjin group) with the intervention time from the beginning to the end of tradiotherapy.
Methods
The control group received conventional care guidance, and the Baduanjin exercise group had regular improved Baduanjin exercise on conventional care basis, with the intervention time from the beginning of radiotherapy to the end of the treatment. PG-SGA was evaluated before, during (15 times), and at the end of radiotherapy as the main evaluation index to compare nutritional status between the two groups.
Results
From August 2022 to December 2022, 121 patients with nasopharyngeal cancer were randomly divided into control group and Baduanjin exercise group. During the intervention, 15 patients withdrew from the study, leading to 53 of 59 patients in the control group and 53 of 62 patients in the Baduanjin group. After the intervention, the PG-SGA score, radioactive oral mucosal response, oropharyngeal pain score, and anorexia scores were lower (P < 0.05), whereas the levels of hemoglobin, albumin, prealbumin, and total protein were higher than those in the control group (P < 0.05).
Conclusions
Modified Baduanjin exercise can improve the nutritional status of patients with NPC and deserves further clinical application.
Trial registration:
This study was registered in the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry under the registration number ChiCTR2200064519,Registered on August 27, 2022. The public research topic is the construction and intervention research based on Internet + nasopharyngeal cancer.
WITHDRAWN: Hybrid BSO+BMO: An Optimal Routing of Adaptive Deep Learning Approach with Attention Mechanism for Link Failure Detection in Elastic Optical Network
Authors: Sahana Sharma , Sairam K.V.S.S.S.S
Published: July 2023

Because of the enhancement in the data center services, the “Elastic Optical Network (EON)” is a very successive framework to interlink the information centers. The EON can elastically provide a spectrum tailored for multiple needs of bandwidths. In the link failure case, confirming the high stage “Quality of Service (QoS)” for candidate requests after the fault leads to an experiment focus. With the help of the modern digital signal processing approaches and developments in the integrated circuits and the coherent receivers in EON is able to estimate the link failures in the present time. The high-speed network survivability is highly important. When the sizes of the network get enhanced, the likelihood of the node and link impairment is also enhanced. Therefore, to predict the link impairment in EON, an adaptive technique is necessary. To accomplish this objective, a novel methodology is proposed using hybrid heuristic improvement. In the first stage, the required data is gathered and fed into the link failure detection model. The novel method is named an Atrous Spatial Pyramid Pooling – 1 Dimensional Convolution Neural Network with Attention mechanism (ASPP-1DCNN-AM), in which some of the hyper-parameters are tuned by proposing the hybrid algorithm as Iteration-aided Position of Beetle and Barnacles Mating (IPBBM). After forecasting the failure link, the model is in need of finding the optimal routing for better communication. Here, the optimal path is identified by using the IPBBM algorithm. Finally, the validation is done using divergent measurements and in contrast with traditional models. Hence, the designed system demonstrates that it achieves the higher detection results to make the data transmission effectively.
The recombinant L-Lysine α-oxidase from the fungus Trichoderma harzianum promotes apoptosis and necrosis of leukemia CD34+ hematopoietic cells
Authors: Costa Nascimento , Silva Thiago Aparecido , Guimarães Dimitrius Simões Fróes , Ricci-Azevedo Rafael , Teixeira Felipe Roberti , Silveira Leonardo Reis , Gomes Marcelo Damário , Faça Vítor Marcel , Oliveira Eduardo Brandt , Calado Rodrigo T. , Silva Roberto N.
Published: July 2023

Background
In hematologic cancers, including leukemia, cells depend on amino acids for rapid growth. Anti-metabolites that prevent their synthesis or promote their degradation are considered potential cancer treatment agents. Amino acid deprivation triggers proliferation inhibition, autophagy, and programmed cell death. Lysine, an essential amino acid, is required for tumor growth and has been investigated for its potential as a target for cancer treatment. L-lysine-α-oxidase, a flavoenzyme that degrades lysine, has been studied for its ability to induce apoptosis and prevent cancer cell proliferation. In this study, we describe the use of L-lysine oxidase (LO) from the filamentous fungus Trichoderma harzianum for cancer treatment.
Results
The study identified and characterized a novel LO from T. harzianum and demonstrated that the recombinant protein (rLO) has potent and selective cytotoxic effects on leukemic cells by triggering the apoptotic cascade through mitochondrial dysfunction.
Conclusions
The results support future translational studies using the recombinant LO as a potential drug for the treatment of leukemia.