bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A highly selective and sensitive flavonoid fluorescent probe for the detection of Al3+ in aqueous environments and its application in cellular imaging
Authors: An Chaona , Li Hengyi , liu Cunfang , Liu Di , Wang Wenlong , Zhang Chenyang , Zhao Bailin , Liu Bo , Tian Guanghui
Published: September 2023

Aluminum (Al), which is not an essential element in maintaining the living system could cause chronic toxicity. The specific and sensitive detection of Al3+ is a prerequisite to evaluating its risk to life. We rationally designed and synthesized a novel bromoflavonol-based fluorescent probe IV, which shows a blue shift of the emission and fluorescence enhancement after binding to Al3+, and thus could be used for Al3+ detection. UV-Vis absorption and fluorescence emission spectra show that Ⅳ has high selectivity and sensitivity to Al3+ and exhibits strong immunity to other metal ions. The detection limit(LODs) of Ⅳ to Al3+ is 1.8×10− 8 mol/L as deduced from the fluorescence titration. The binding stoichiometry of Ⅳ to Al3+ is 1:1 as deduced from Job curve and 1H NMR titration. The HOMO and LUMO energy gap difference between Ⅳ and Ⅳ་Al3+ was calculated by DFT (generalized functional theory), and the structure of the complex formed with probe IV and Al3+ is more stable than that of IV. Al3+ was detected in tap water and river water in the middle regions of the Han River with recoveries of more than 96% by using this probe, which can realize the quantitative detection of Al3+ in environmental water samples. In addition, the probe can be successfully used for imaging of Al3+ in the MG63 cells, indicating a potential application of this fluorescence probe in biological imaging.
Sugarcane stem node detection using computer vision and convolutional transfer learning
Authors: Kumar Arun , Saini Abhishek Kumar , Ashok Alaknanda , Mishra Puneet
Published: September 2023

Quantity of seed needed for sugarcane planting can be reduced by employing the single bud planting method. This approach involves utilizing the stem node or bud extracted from harvested sugarcane for replanting. Currently, this process is manually done using traditional planting techniques. To automate node/bud planting, this study developed a computer vision system based on artificial intelligence. The purpose of this system is to automate the recognition of the stem node, where the sugarcane buds are naturally located. By automating the recognition process, this system can facilitate the automation of node cutting equipment and prevent bud damage during the cutting phase. In this study, a transfer learning-based approach was employed, harnessing the capabilities of a pre-trained convolutional neural network to adapt to the specific application of stem node detection. Transfer learning was chosen to avoid the need for developing and training a new model from scratch, thereby saving time in model development, and enhancing accuracy. Transfer learning allows us to leverage the knowledge acquired from a previously trained machine learning model and apply it to a different but related problem. The goal is to exploit the learned knowledge from one task to improve generalization in another. Specifically, the weights learned by a network during "task A" are transferred to a new "task B." Four different transfer learning models were trained and tested in this work: VGG16, ResNet-50, EfficientNetb7, and MobileNet. Practical tests demonstrated that VGG16 exhibited the best performance in stem node detection accuracy, achieving approximately 98%, with an average image processing time of 0.182 seconds per detection. The developed model and methodology hold broad applicability for automating stem node/bud-based sugarcane replanting.
Unraveling the Interplay of Parasitaemia, Cytokines, and Pregnancy Outcomes in Plasmodium bergheiInfection: Insights from a Murine Model
Authors: Manhas Prem Lata , Sehgal Rakesh , Radotra Bishan Dass , Mewara Abhishek , Malhotra Pankaj
Published: September 2023

Malaria infection during pregnancy presents notable risks to both maternal and fetal health. Present study examines the impact of Plasmodium berghei NK-65 strain infection during different stages of pregnancy in mice. The study categorized mice into non-pregnant and pregnant groups (early, mid, and late pregnancy) and induced infection on specific gestation days. Parasitaemia, cytokine profiles, histopathological changes, and pregnancy outcomes were evaluated. Major findings include severe anemia in mid-pregnancy infection, fetal deaths in early and mid-pregnancy infections, stillbirths in mid-pregnancy infections, and premature deliveries in late-pregnancy infections. Cytokine profiles differed between pregnant and non-pregnant mice, indicating varied immune responses. Plasmodium berghei infection in pregnant mice provides valuable insights into understanding placental malaria and its implications for maternal and fetal health.
Methylation of serotonin regulating genes in cord blood cells: modulation by maternal metabolic parameters and correlation with methylation in peripheral blood cells during childhood and adolescence
Authors: Bečeheli Ivona , Horvatiček Marina , Perić Maja , Nikolić Barbara , Holuka Cyrielle , Klasić Marija , Ivanišević Marina , Starčević Mirta , Desoye Gernot , Hranilović Dubravka , Turner Jonathan D. , Štefulj Jasminka
Published: September 2023

Background
Serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine, 5-HT) signaling is involved in neurodevelopment, mood regulation, energy metabolism, and other physiological processes. DNA methylation plays a significant role in modulating the expression of genes responsible for maintaining 5-HT balance, such as 5-HT transporter (SLC6A4), monoamine oxidase A (MAOA), and 5-HT receptor type 2A (HTR2A). Maternal metabolic health can influence long-term outcomes in offspring, with DNA methylation mediating these effects. We investigated associations between maternal metabolic parameters – pre-pregnancy body mass index (pBMI), gestational weight gain (GWG), and glucose tolerance status (GTS), i.e., gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) vs. normal glucose tolerance (NGT) – and cord blood methylation of SLC6A4, MAOA, and HTR2A in participants from our PlaNS birth cohort. CpG sites (15, 9, and 2 in each gene, respectively) were selected based on literature and in silico data. Methylation levels were quantified by bisulfite pyrosequencing. We also examined the stability of methylation patterns in these genes in circulating blood cells from birth to adolescence using longitudinal DNA methylation data from the ARIES database.
Results
None of the 203 PlaNS mothers included in this study had preexisting diabetes, 99 were diagnosed with GDM, and 104 had NGT; all neonates were born at full term by planned Cesarean section. Methylation at most CpG sites differed between male and female newborns. SLC6A4 methylation correlated inversely with maternal pBMI and GWG, while methylation at HTR2A site − 1665 correlated positively with GWG. None of the maternal metabolic parameters statistically associated with MAOA methylation. DNA methylation data in cord blood and peripheral blood at ages 7 and 15 years were available for 808 participants from the ARIES database; 4 CpG sites (2 in SLC6A4 and 2 in HTR2A) overlapped between the PlaNS and ARIES cohorts. A positive correlation between methylation levels in cord blood and peripheral blood at 7 and 15 years of age was observed for both SLC6A4 and HTR2A CpG sites.
Conclusions
Methylation of 5-HT regulating genes in cord blood cells is influenced by neonatal sex, with maternal metabolism playing an additional role. Inter-individual variations present in circulating blood cells at birth are still pronounced in childhood and adolescence.
Age-related differences in primary central nervous system lymphomas based on the SEER database
Authors: Wang Ke , Zheng Chuangjie , Liang Jian , Zhang Cuifen , Chen Xinrong , Ren Yingfang , Zhai Linzhu
Published: September 2023

Objective: The aim of this study was to compare prognostic factors and survival outcomes in patients with primary central nervous system lymphoma (PCNSL) stratified according to age (younger vs older than 60 years of age).
Methods: The Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database was queried for all patients diagnosed with PCNSL between 2000 and 2019. Clinical parameters were collected, and patients were stratified and compared according to age.
Results: Between 2000 and 2019, a total of 5812 patients were diagnosed with PCNSL, of whom 2175 (37%) were ≤ 60 years old and 3637 (63%) were > 60 years old, hereafter referred to as “younger” and “older” patients, respectively. The younger patients had a higher rate of being diagnosed with stage I–II PCNSL (64% vs 60%), a higher rate of receiving chemotherapy (68% vs 63%), a higher rate of receiving radiotherapy (34% vs 26%, P < 0.001), a similar rate of receiving surgery, and a longer survival time. The most common histological subtype among PCNSL patients was diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) (PCNS-DLBCL; n = 4458, 77%). Multifactorial Cox regression analysis showed that younger PCNS-DLBCL patients who received surgery and chemotherapy exhibited significantly improved overall survival (OS) and disease-specific mortality (DSM) and that African American patients were associated with poorer OS and DSM. Older patients receiving surgery, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy exhibited significantly improved OS and DSM, and male sex and higher Ann Arbor stage were associated with poorer OS and DSM. We created a nomogram for PCNS-DLBCL to predict OS, with a C-index of 0.6749 (95% confidence interval: 0.6641–0.6857) in the younger cohort and 0.6676 (95% confidence interval: 0.6595–0.6759) in the older cohort, indicating that the nomogram had good predictive value. In the combined therapy analysis, chemotherapy combined with surgical resection had better OS and DSM in all patients.
Conclusions: The two age-stratified cohorts significantly differed in terms of OS and independent influences on OS and DSM. However, chemotherapy combined with surgical resection resulted in better OS and DSM in all patients. Our constructed nomogram exhibited high accuracy in predicting OS in PCNS-DLBCL patients.
Improving the Antibacterial Activity of Tryptophan-Containing Peptide Nanostructures Through Self- Assembly
Authors: Zhao Lei , Liu Zhaoyang , Ji Mingyang
Published: September 2023

Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are frequently distributed in the tissues and organs of animals to exhibit broad-spectrum activities against various pathogens, and thus to constitute the first line of defense in the innate immune system of most living organisms. AMPs commonly exert antibiotic activities through nonreceptor-mediated membrane lysis of pathogenic organisms and the mechanism of this AMP-induced membrane lysis is generally attributed to their amphipathic nature. Although physicochemical attributes of AMPs, such as hydrophobicity and charge, have been demonstrated to govern their affinity toward biological membranes, the dimensional attributes evolving with self-assembly have yet to be elucidated for the design principle of synthetic AMPs. This work demonstrates that self-assembly effectively improves the antibacterial performance of Fmoc-capped, tryptophan (Trp)-containing peptides. Compared with nonassembled peptides in their monomeric state, indole chromophores of Trp, which exhibited a highly ordered spatial arrangement and were induced by self-assembly, resulted in stronger interactions between the resulting peptide nanostructures and model phospholipid membrane vesicles; these interactions led to greater activities against gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria. This work highlights that the spatial organization of peptide nanostructures evolve with self-assembly and strongly contribute to antibacterial activity, which enriches the design principles for novel synthetic short peptides with therapeutic use.
The killing capacity analysis of tumor infiltrating cytotoxic lymphocytes and impact on lymph node metastasis in differentiated papillary carcinoma of thyroid with BRAF V600E mutation
Authors: Liu Xiaogang , Liu Honggang , Wang Lu , Han Yubing , Kong Linghong , Zhang Xinpeng
Published: September 2023

Background: Cytotoxic lymphocytes(CLs) express potent toxins,including the perforin(P) and granzyme-B(G),which brings about target cell death.The purpose of this study was to evaluate the killing capacity of tumor infiltrating CLs by means of perforin and granzyme-B analysis,and explore the association with lymph node metastasis in papillary carcinoma of thyroid (PTC) without Hashimoto's Thyroiditis(HT).
Methods: Infiltration of lymphocyts in PTC were observed by frozen section.Both fresh tumor tissues and paracancerous tissues with lymphocytes infiltration were respectively collected and made into signal cell suspension. Flow cytomtry was used to detect the percentage of CD3+P+,CD3+G+,CD8+P+,CD8+G+ T lymphocytes(TLs),and CD16-CD56+P+,CD16-CD56+G+ natural killer(NK) cells.Finally we investigated the differential expression of perforin and granzyme B of NK cells and cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) in paired tumor tissues (group T,n=44) and paracancerous tissues(group N,n=44) from patients of PTC with BRAF V600E mutation . Further more patients were divided into two groups according to whether exist cervical central lymph node metastasis(CCLNM):group A (with lymph node metastases, n=27) and group B(with non-lymph node metastases,n=17).Patients were divided into three groups according to the total number of positive CCLNM: group B,group C(with low-level lymph node metastases,less than 5,n=17) and group D (with high-level lymph node metastases,no less than 5,n=10).
Results:The percentage of CD3+P+ CTLs was significantly higher in the group N than that of group T(P<0.05). The percentage of CD8+G+ CTLs was significantly higher in the group T than that of group N(P<0.05). The percentage of CD3+G+,CD8+P+CTLs, CD16-CD56+P+and CD16-CD56+G+ NK cells showed no significant difference in both group T and group N(P>0.05).The percentage of CD3+P+ CTLs in group A and group C were significantly higher in the paracancerous tissue than that of tumor tissue(P<0.05).The percentage of CD8+G+ CTLs in group A and group C were significantly higher in the tumor tissues than that of paracancerous tissues(P<0.05).The percentage of CD16-CD56+G+ NK cells in group D was significantly higher in the tumor tissues than that of paracancerous tissues(P<0.05).
Conclusions:The killing capacity of infiltrating CLs in PTC differed between tumor tissues and paracancerous tissues.In cases with CCLNM, higher expression of CD16-CD56+G+ NK cells in tumor tissues may associate with high risk of lymph node metastasis.
A Novel Interpretable Machine Learning Model Approach for the Prediction of TiO 2 Photocatalytic Degradation of Air Contaminants
Authors: Schossler Rodrigo Teixeira , Ojo Samuel , Jiang Zhuoying , Hu Jiajie , Yu Xiong
Published: September 2023

Air contaminants lead to various environmental and health issues. Titanium dioxide (TiO2) features the benefits of autogenous photocatalytic degradation of air contaminants. To evaluate its performance, laboratory experiments are commonly used to determine the kinetics of the photocatalytic-degradation rate, which is labor intensive, time-consuming, and costly. In this study, Machine Learning (ML) models were developed to predict the photo-degradation rate constants of air-borne organic contaminants with TiO2 nanoparticles and ultraviolet irradiation. The hyperparameters of the ML models were optimized, which included Artificial Neural Network (ANN) with Bayesian optimization, gradient booster regressor (GBR) with Bayesian optimization, Extreme Gradient Boosting (XGBoost) with optimization using Hyperopt, and Catboost combined with Adaboost. The organic contaminant was encoded through Molecular fingerprints (MF). A data collection protocol was developed to collect data from published papers to analyze the effects of a variety of contributing factors on the photo-catalytic degradation performance. A large portion of data was found missing values. Imputation methods were used to estimate the missing values that allow the dataset to be fully utilized. Furthermore, a generative ML model Vanilla Gan model was utilized to create synthetic data to further augment the size of available dataset. The results indicated that data imputation allowed to fully utilize the limited amount of available dataset to achieve good ML prediction performance and prevent problems such as overfitting common with small-sized data. Besides, augmentation of experimental data with synthetic data significantly improved the ML prediction accuracy and reduced considerably the overfitting problems. The SHapley Additive exPlanations (SHAP) was employed for ML model interpretability. The results ranked the feature importance and assessed the impacts of different experimental variables on the rate of photo-degradation, which were consistent with physico-chemical laws. Interpretable ML models allows to shed light on the mechanism and present a promising tool in the prediction and assessment of the major contributing factors on the TiO2 photo-degradation rate of air contaminants. Besides direct findings on the potentials of ensembled ML models for TiO2 photocatalytic performance prediction, this study showed that imputation processes in data pre-processing to fill missing values and generative ML model for data augmentation allow to fully utilize the value of data, which is important for successful application of ML model for small and imperfect dataset commonly seen in engineering and science domains.
Machine learning prediction of pathological complete response and overall survival of breast cancer patients in the Montefiore Health System in the Bronx
Authors: Dell’Aquila Kevin , Vadlamani Abhinav , Maldjian Takouhie , Fineberg Susan , Eligulashvili Anna , Chung Julie , Adam Richard , Hodges Laura , Hou Wei , Makower Della , Duong Tim Q
Published: September 2023

Background. Predicting response to treatment and survival in breast cancer patients remains a crucial challenge. This study employed four machine-learning models to predict pathological complete response (pCR) and overall survival (OS) up to 7.5 years. Methods. Demographics, staging, tumor subtypes, income, insurance status, and data from radiology reports were obtained from 475 breast cancer patients on neoadjuvant chemotherapy from 01/01/2017 to 12/31/2021 in the Montefiore Health System in the Bronx. Logistic regression, Neural Network, Random Forest, and Gradient Boosted Regression models were used to predict outcomes (pCR and OS) with five-fold cross validation. Results. pCR was not associated with age, race, ethnicity, differentiation, income, and insurance status (p > 0.05). ER-/HER2 + showed the highest pCR rate, followed by triple negative, ER+/HER2+, and ER+/HER2- (p < 0.05), tumor staging (p = 0.011), tumor size (p < 0.003) and background parenchymal enhancement (BPE) (p < 0.03) were associated with pCR. Machine-learning models ranked ER+/HER2-, ER-/HER2+, tumor size, and BPE as top predictors of pCR (AUC = 0.74–0.76). OS was associated with race, pCR status, tumor subtype, and insurance status (p < 0.05), but not ethnicity and incomes (p > 0.05). Machine-learning models ranked tumor stage, pCR, nodal stage, and triple negative subtype as top predictors of OS (AUC = 0.83–0.85). When grouping race and ethnicity by tumor subtypes, neither OS nor pCR were different due to race and ethnicity for each tumor subtype (p > 0.05). Conclusion. Tumor subtypes and imaging characteristics were top predictors of pCR. Insurance status, race, tumor subtypes and pCR were associated with OS. Machine-learning models accurately predicted pCR and OS using clinicopathological and radiological data.
Under organic farming conditions, response of different cow-based enhancer on chickpea and fenugreek
Authors: Chaudhary M. M. , Patel C. K. , Bawa J. D. , Patel Brijal R. , Makwana J. J. , Patel Foram B.
Published: September 2023

At present, there is little information on the effects of organic amendments on Chickpea and fenugreek particularly in Gujarat, India. The objective was to study the effect of cow-based bio-enhancers on organic cultivation of Chickpea and fenugreek, and executed during the Rabi seasons of 2019-20, 2020-21 and 2021-22 at Organic Farm of CNRM, SDAU, Sardarkrushinagar (Gujarat), India. The experiment was laid out in randomized block design with ten different treatments. The application of vermicompost 1.5 t/ha gave significantly higher grain and Stover yields of Chickpea and fenugreek. It is evident from the data that the highest net realization of 58685 ₹/ha, 70939 ₹/ha with the benefit: cost ratio (BCR) of 1.72, 3.06 for chickpea and fenugreek, respectively was obtained under treatment T1 (panchgavya 3% as foliar spray at 30, 45, 60 DAS). However, treatment T8 (Vermicompost 1.5 t/ha) recorded the highest gross realization.
Validating the definition of lumbar instability –a cross-sectional study with 420 healthy volunteers–
Authors: Suzuki Manabu , Tanaka Yasuhisa , Hashimoto Ko , Tsubakino Takumi , Hoshikawa Takeshi , Takahashi Kohei , Latt Myo , Aizawa Toshimi
Published: September 2023

Lower back pain is thought to be caused by lumbar instability. To date, multiple definitions of radiological lumbar instability have been used without verifying the “normal range” of the lumbar segmental mobility. In addition, normative data for lumbar mobility in healthy individuals are required to establish an acceptable threshold for lumbar instability. This study aims to elucidate i) the prevalence of so-called radiological lumbar instability at each lumbar spine level in conventional criteria and ii) a practical radiological threshold for lumbar instability in healthy individuals. This study included participants who filled out a detailed questionnaire and underwent standard active dynamic radiography of the lumbar spine in the standing position. Participants with an Oswestry Disability Index of ≥ 20% and Roland–Morris Disability Questionnaire score of ≥ 14 points were excluded from the study. Intervertebral range of motion (IROM) and sagittal translation distance (ΔST) were measured at each intervertebral level. Nachemson’s criteria of radiological lumbar instability were applied. This study enrolled 420 participants (249 males and 171 females); 76% (320/420) met the criteria for radiological lumbar instability. The definition of lumbar instability based on IROM and ΔST was achieved by 0.2% and 1.7% of participants at the L5–S level, respectively.
Comparing Charge Dynamics in Organo-Inorganic Halide Perovskite: Solid-State vs Solid-Liquid Junctions
Authors: Lv Wenjing , Zhan Kaidong , Ren Xuecheng , Chen Lu , Wu Fan
Published: September 2023

The photoelectrochemical cell based on the perovskite-electrolyte solid-liquid junction has potential applications in electrolyte gated field effect transistors, photoelectrochemical and photocatalytic cells for water-splitting, supercapacitors, and CO2 capture and reduction devices. While hybrid perovskite materials face challenges due to their instability when in contact with aqueous electrolytes, there have been recent advancements in achieving stability of organo-inorganic halide perovskite films by utilizing specific liquid electrolyte solutions that involve the dissolution of tetrabutylammoniumperchlorate in dichloromethane. Currently, there is limited understanding of the differences in charge and ion kinetics at the perovskite/liquid electrolyte interface compared to the perovskite/solid charge transport layer interface. This study utilizes IMPS, OCVD, and C-F techniques to investigate and compare charge dynamics in perovskite/electrolyte-based and perovskite/solid devices. Additionally, the research explores the disparities between solid-liquid junctions and solid-state junctions, considering mobile ions, electric fields, and electron-hole transport. Furthermore, the study delves into changes in recombination resistance and the charging of the ionic double layer in perovskite-based devices, aiming to provide fundamental insights into the operation mechanisms of perovskite/liquid electrolyte devices and shed light on the underlying kinetics at the hybrid perovskite/electrolyte interface.
Incidence and risk factors during ascent to Hoh Xil and the physiological responses before and after acclimatization: a cross-sectional study
Authors: Ouyang Qing , Yang Yuting , Zou Dongbo , Peng Yuping , Zhang Wenxin , Yang Yongjian , Ma Yuan
Published: September 2023

Background
Ascending to altitudes > 2,500 meters may lead to acute mountain sickness (AMS). This study determines the incidence, symptoms and risk factors of AMS, anthropometric data before and after hypoxia acclimatization, and the effect of oxygen therapy in a cohort of travelers to Hoh Xil (4,200 meters).
Method
This study considered 104 healthy Chinese people, data on their demographics, height, weight, body mass index (BMI), smoking and drinking status were collected in Chengdu (500 meters). Heart rate (HR), saturation of pulse oxygen (SpO2), and AMS-related symptoms were collected in Hoh Xil (4,200 meters). Participants with headache and a score ≥ 3 was considered to have AMS.
Results
The incidence of AMS was 60.58%. AMS group had a lower SpO2 (84.67% vs. 90.66%, p<0.001) and higher HR (96.16 vs. 87.39 bp/min, p<0.001) than non-AMS group. Drinking seemed a risk factor for AMS. However, there was no difference in the BMI, age, height, weight, and smoking between AMS and non-AMS groups. The most common AMS symptom was headache, followed by dyspnea, insomnia, dizziness, lassitude, and anorexia. Women were prone to suffer from dizziness (p<0.001). The value of SpO2 and HR were improved both in AMS and non-AMS groups after hypoxia acclimatization (p<0.001), and the value showed greater improvement in AMS group (p<0.001). Oxygen therapy decreased the AMS-induced tachycardia (p = 0.018), which had no any effect on SpO2 and symptom alleviating time.
Conclusions
Lower SpO2 value and higher HR value were associated with increased risk for AMS. The anthropometric data of non-AMS group was better than AMS group before and after hypoxia acclimatization, however, AMS group showed a bigger improvement than non-AMS group. Oxygen therapy was effective in relieving AMS-induced tachycardia, but not the SpO2 value and duration of AMS.
The efficacy and safety of Multi-loop traction device for gastric endoscopic submucosal dissection: a single center prospective study
Authors: Kitahara Gen , Kaneko Toru , Ishido Kenji , Furue Yasuaki , Wada Takuya , Watanabe Akinori , Tanabe Satoshi , Kusano Chika
Published: September 2023

Although gastric endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) is widely used, the degree of difficulty varies greatly depending on the lesion. Since the multi-loop traction device (MLTD®) has been suggested to shorten the procedure time in colorectal ESD, we examined the efficacy and safety of using the MLTD in gastric ESD. Thirty patients with gastric neoplasms were prospectively enrolled from February 2022 to December 2022, and the outcomes of ESD with the MLTD were evaluated. The primary outcomes were procedure time and dissection speed. The secondary outcomes were en bloc and R0 resection rates, MLTD attachment time, and complications of ESD with the MLTD. After excluding 1 patient, 29 patients (29 lesions) were treated by ESD with the MLTD. The median procedure time was 26 min (range, 9-210 min), and the median submucosal dissection speed was 39.9 mm2/min (12.4-102.7 mm2/min). The rate of en bloc resection was 100%, median MLTD attachment time was 3 min (1-7 min), and none of the patients showed intraoperative or postoperative perforations. Thus, gastric ESD with the MLTD showed a favorable procedure time and dissection speed and an acceptable complication rate. Hence, MLTDs may be effective for gastric ESD.
Is age discrimination a risk factor for frailty progression and frailty development among older adults? A prospective cohort analysis of the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing
Authors: Aminu Abodunrin Quadri , Torrance Nicola , Grant Aileen , Kydd Angela
Published: September 2023

Background:
With the increasing global burden of frailty on healthcare resources, it is important to understand the modifiable risk factors of frailty. This study examined perceived age discrimination as a potential risk factor for frailty progression and frailty development among older adults.
Methods:
Prospective cohort study using data from Waves 5 to 9 of the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing (ELSA). Data on perceived age discrimination was collected only in Wave 5 of ELSA and analysed as baseline data in this study. Frailty was defined using the Frailty Index (FI) scores (0 to 1), calculated using the multidimensional deficits (scores ≥ 0.25 were considered frail). Binomial generalised estimating equation models (GEE) were fitted in R studio using perceived age discrimination as the main predictor with age, gender, long-standing illness, cognition, socioeconomic status (SES) as covariates. Odd ratios were reported with 95% confidence intervals (CI).
Results:
A total sample of 2,385 ELSA participants were included in the analysis. 55.8% (n = 1312) were female, mean age 71.9 (SD ± 5.27) years and baseline frailty prevalence was 12.1% (n = 288). Perceived age discrimination was reported by 38.4% (n = 916) of the participants. Both frailty progression (OR 1.50, CI [1.26–1.78]) and frailty development (OR 1.39, CI [1.13–1.69]) were significantly associated with perceived age discrimination in the fully adjusted models. Age (80 + years) and long-standing illness had the strongest association with respondents’ frailty outcome; odds ratios (OR 3.67, CI [2.81–4.80]) and (OR 5.61, CI [4.55–6.92]) respectively.
Conclusion:
Perceived age discrimination significantly increased the risk of frailty progression and frailty development among ELSA participants.
Metagenomics analysis of therapeutical peats samples mined from the deposits of the “Puścizna Wielka” peat bog in Poland
Authors: Łukasz Mąka , Marta Bartosik , Mazańska Małgorzata , Szynal Tomasz , Jolanta Solecka
Published: September 2023

Therapeutic values of therapeutical peats have been appreciated for centuries. Although microbiological criteria for therapeutical peats used in therapies exists in Poland, this source is still “terra incognita” in terms of microbiological diversity. Many authors studying peats indicate that microorganisms inhabiting this niches possess abilities allowing their application in biotechnology and various fields of industry, economy, and medicine. The aim of this research was to explore this ecosystem and reveal microbiological potential for commercial use.
Samples of peats were collected from protected deposits of the Czarny Dunajec in Poland to perform metagenomics analysis. Moreover, for better samples characteristics, physicochemical properties were performed.
In all testes samples, the most abundant phylum was Acidobacteriota, its percentage ranged from 46.42% to 60.02%. Second the most predominant phylum was Proteobacteria, present in all samples in the range of 20.75% to 35.34%. Proteobacteriais a large group of Gram-negative bacilli and cocci. This phylum is divided into five classes, among which the OTUs of Alphaproteobacteria and Gammaproteobacteriawere identified in tested samples.
Other phyla present in each tested sample were Verrucomicrobiota (1.97% – 7.72%), Desulfobacterota (0.83% - 6.04%) and Actinobacteriota (1.97% - 3.38%).
“Puścizna Wielka” peat bog possess a great microbiological potential and can be a source of bacteria that could be used in industry or biotechnology. Many articles published over the past few years describe isolates of new species and their individual features. In next step authors plan to isolate and test strains using various media and conditions.
Thyroid hormone levels in patients with bipolar disorder: A systematic review and meta- analysis
Authors: Liu Shanshan , Chen Xiaoai , Li Xiaotao , Tian Limin
Published: September 2023

Purpose
To investigate the difference of serum thyroid hormone (TH) levels in bipolar disorder (BD) during different mood episodes (depression and mania) compared with healthy control (HC) and among different mood episodes.
Methods
We systematically searched the electronic databases for studies on the relationship between BD and TH levels. The random effects model and the standardized mean difference were used to combine the effect sizes.
Results
Serum T3 (standard mean difference [SMD]: -0.52, 95% confidence interval [CI]: -0.86 to -0.18, P = 0.00), FT3 (SMD: -0.55, 95%CI: -1.06 to -0.04, P = 0.04) decreased significantly in BD-depression compared with HC. Serum TSH(SMD: 0.20, 95%CI: 0.04 to 0.36, P = 0.02), FT4 (SMD: 0.42, 95%CI: 0.17 to 0.66, P = 0.00) increased significantly and T3 (SMD: −0.73, 95%CI: −1.37 to -0.08, P = 0.03) decreased significantly in BD-mania compared with HC; FT4 (SMD: 0.85, 95%CI: 0.56 to 1.13, P = 0.00) increased significantly in males; TSH (SMD: 0.49, 95%CI: 0.21 to 0.78, P = 0.00) increased significantly, T3 (SMD: -0.57, 95%CI: -0.86 to -0.29, P = 0.00) and T4 (SMD: -0.68, 95%CI: -1.34 to -0.01, P = 0.05) decreased significantly in females. Serum T3 (SMD: 0.29, 95%CI: 0.12 to 0.46, P = 0.00), FT3(SMD: 0.55, 95%CI: 0.28 to 0.81, P = 0.00) increased significantly in BD-mania than in BD-depression.
Conclusion
Serum T3 and FT3 levels decreased significantly in BD-depression compared with HC. Serum TSH, FT4 levels increased significantly and T3 level decreased significantly in BD-mania compared with HC. Serum T3, FT3 levels increased significantly in BD-mania than in BD-depression. The fascinating thing was that gender differences may affect the compensatory secretion of BD-mania anterior pituitary hormone.
Trial registration number and date of registration for prospectively registered trials No. CRD42022378530 (4 December 2022)
Proteomic analysis of signaling pathways modulated by FABP5 in macrophages
Authors: Doswell Faniya , Haley John D. , Kaczocha Martin
Published: September 2023

Background
While acute inflammation serves essential functions in maintaining tissue homeostasis, chronic inflammation is causally linked to many diseases. Macrophages are a major cell-type that orchestrates inflammatory processes. During inflammation, macrophages undergo polarization and activation, thereby mobilizing pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory transcriptional programs that regulate ensuing macrophage functions. Fatty acid binding protein 5 (FABP5) is a lipid chaperone that is highly expressed in macrophages. FABP5 deletion is implicated in driving macrophages towards an anti-inflammatory phenotype, yet the signaling pathways regulated by macrophage FABP5 have not been systematically profiled. Herein, we leveraged proteomic and phosphoproteomic approaches to characterize pathways modulated by FABP5 in M1 and M2 polarized bone marrow derived macrophages (BMDMs).
Results
Stable isotope labeling by amino acids (SILAC) based analysis of M1 and M2 polarized wild-type (WT) and FABP5 knockout (KO) BMDMs revealed numerous differentially regulated proteins and phosphoproteins. FABP5 deletion impacted several downstream pathways associated with inflammation, cytokine production, oxidative stress, and kinase activity. Kinase enrichment analysis based on phosphorylated sites revealed key kinases, including members of the GRK family, that were altered in FABP5 KO BMDMs. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels were elevated in M1 polarized KO macrophages, consistent with the differential protein expression profiles.
Conclusions
This study represents a comprehensive characterization of the impact of FABP5 deletion upon the proteomic and phosphoproteomic landscape of M1 and M2 polarized BMDMs. Loss of FABP5 altered multiple pathways implicated in inflammatory responses and macrophage function. This work provides a foundation for future studies seeking to investigate the therapeutic potential of FABP5 inhibition in pathophysiological states resulting from dysregulated inflammatory signaling.
Feasibility and safety of integrating mass drug administration for helminth control with seasonal malaria chemoprevention among Senegalese children: a randomized controlled, observer-blind trial
Authors: Afolabi Muhammed O. , Sow Doudou , Agbla Schadrac , Fall El Hadji Babacar , Sall Fatimata Bintou , Seck Amadou , Manga Isaac Akhénaton , Mbaye Ibrahima , Loum Mor Absa , Camara Baba , Niang Diatou , Gueye Babacar , Sene Doudou , Kane Ndéye M’backé , Diop Boubacar , Diouf Awa , Gaye Ndéye Aida , Diouf Marie Pierre , Lo Aminata Colle , Greenwood Brian , Ndiaye Jean Louis A.
Published: September 2023

Background
The overlap in the epidemiology of malaria and helminths has been identified as a potential area to exploit for the development of an integrated control strategy that may help to achieve elimination of malaria and helminths. We conducted a randomised, controlled, observer-blind trial to assess the feasibility and safety of combining mass drug administration (MDA) for schistosomiasis and soil transmitted helminths (STH) with seasonal malaria chemoprevention (SMC) among children living in Senegal.
Methods
Female and male children aged 1–14 years were randomised 1:1:1, to receive Vitamin A and Zinc on Day 0, followed by SMC drugs (SPAQ) on Days 1–3 (control group); or praziquantel and Vitamin A on Day 0, followed by SMC drugs on Days 1–3 (treatment group 1); or albendazole and praziquantel on Day 0, followed by SMC drugs on Days 1–3 (treatment group 2). Safety assessment was performed by collecting adverse events from all children for six subsequent days following administration of the study drugs. Pre- and post-intervention, blood samples were collected for determination of haemoglobin concentration, malaria microscopy, and PCR assays. Stool samples were analysed using Kato-Katz, Merthiolate-iodine-formalin and PCR methods. Urine filtration, PCR and Circulating Cathodic Antigen tests were also performed.
Results
From 9–22 June 2022, we randomised 627 children aged 1–14 years into the three treatment groups described above. Mild, transient vomiting was observed in 12.6% (26/206) of children in treatment group 2, in 10.6% (22/207) in group 1, and in 4.2% (9/214) in the control group (p = 0.005). Pre-intervention, the geometric mean value of P.falciparum parasite density was highest among children who received albendazole, praziquantel with SMC drugs. Post-intervention, the parasite density was highest among children who received SMC drugs only. Children who received praziquantel and SMC drugs had a lower risk of developing severe anaemia than their counterparts who received SMC drugs alone (OR = 0.81, 95% CI: 0.13-5.00, p = 0.63).
Conclusions
Integration of MDA for helminths with SMC drugs was safe and feasible among Senegalese children. These findings support further evaluation of the integrated control model.
Trial registration
The study is registered at Clinical Trial.gov NCT05354258
Cannabinoid Type 1 Receptor Antagonist Impaired Spatial Memory and Increased the Tau Gene Expression in Animal Model of the Alzheimer's disease
Authors: Tavakoli-Far Bahareh , Zeraati Maryam , Choopani Samira , Fallah Parviz , Darabi Parisa , Mazloom Roham , Bayat Gholamreza , Hosseini Marjan , Goudarzvand Mahdi
Published: September 2023

Alzheimer's disease is a neurodegenerative disease characterized by the accumulation of two different proteins, β-amyloid and tau. The present study aimed to scrutinize the effects of bilateral administration of the cannabinoid receptor antagonist (AM251) in the hippocampus on spatial memory and tau gene expression in an Alzheimer's disease model. β-amyloid toxin was injected bilaterally into the hippocampus of Wistar male rats to induce Alzheimer's disease, and the rats were then categorized into the control group (receiving distilled water), lesion group (receiving β-amyloid), β-amyloid + DMSO group (as antagonist solvent), and AM251 antagonist receiving groups. During the training course of the Morris water maze test, the antagonist AM251 was injected bilaterally into the hippocampus for four days at doses of 5, 25, and 100 ng. To assess the spatial memory of the animals, the distance traveled, latency time, speed of the animals, and mRNA expression of tau were analyzed. The spatial memory indices increased after the injection of β-amyloid toxin, and the AM251 antagonist relatively elevated the level of memory impairment. The evaluation of the mRNA expression of tau protein revealed an increase in its level following injection of β-amyloid toxin, but there was no significant difference between the cannabinoid antagonist and β-amyloid groups. The results of this study indicate the destructive effect of beta-amyloid toxin on spatial memory as well as the positive role of the cannabinoid system in memory formation and consolidation, although further studies are warranted in this regard.
Design and emotional responses: is there coherence between what is said and what is felt? A study using biofeedback and virtual reality
Authors: Tavares Ademario Santos , Soares Marcelo M. , Marçal Marcio A.
Published: September 2023

Identifying users' experience when using products is one of the major challenges for design. Analyzing users’ psychophysiological reactions to an experience using biofeedback can be more reliable than using subjective evaluations, such as structured interviews and questionnaires. Two case studies were conducted to identify emotions users actually felt and to correlate these to what they reported after using two computational systems. The first system investigated users’ emotions during training on a vehicle driving simulator and the second analyzed the emotions experienced during a car racing game, both in a Virtual Reality environment. Their opinions about their emotional state were obtained using self-report techniques (using the Geneva Emotions Wheel-GEW and Positive, and Negative Affective Schedule-PANAS questionnaires) and applying EEG (brain activity with Frontal Alpha Asymmetry Index – FAAI) and infrared thermography (facial thermograms). The training experiment presented the greater correlation between the psychophysiological and the self-report responses. Results evidenced the importance of undertaking multimodal studies in design research to determine users’ emotional experiences in a virtual reality context.
Exploring the Cause of Survival Disparities in EGFR-mutated Lung Cancer Subtypes: Unraveling Distinctive Genomic and Phenotypic Features of 19Del and L858R Mutation Subtypes
Authors: Cai Yongguang , Cai Jiayi , Lu Wei , Liang Haiyan , Chen Sixian , Chen Yongfeng , Zha Qiayi , Li Yuanyuan , Hong Shuiqiang , Zhou Suli , Lu Yuan
Published: September 2023

Differences in the efficacy of epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitors (EGFR-TKI) have been observed between lung cancer patients with 19 exon deletion (19Del) and L858R mutation. We investigate the multi-omics information from the TCGA LUAD dataset and validate it using the GEO (GSE190139, GSE147377) and MSK datasets. Somatic loss-of-function alteration of RBM10 and altered Immune infiltration profile correlated with L858R decreased survival. Meanwhile, in the L858R mutation group, 9p21.3 loss and CDKN2B methylation, increased cell cycle-related gene expression, and the enrichment in cell cycle pathways were associated with poor survival. Comprehensive genomic and phenotypic analysis of the EGFR-mutated lung cancer subtypes reveals distinctive features of each subtype, laying the groundwork for subtype-specific treatment and care options for lung cancer patients.
Thermal Stability Enhancement of Separators by Ceramic/Carboxymethyl Cellulose Nanofiber Coating
Authors: Qureshi Yusra , Jung Byung Oh , Min Young Hwan , Park Jungjae , Park Ko Un , Noh Namgyu , Chae Boknam , Shin Hui-Youn , Joo Minho , Kang Eun Seck , Yuk Jong Min
Published: September 2023

In the quest to develop endurable and long-lasting separators for lithium-ion batteries, recent studies have been focused on the development of polyolefins-based separators that provide good mechanical strength but undergo high expansion at elevated temperatures. In this research, we have developed carboxymethyl cellulose nanofiber/ceramic composites as a coating layer of separators. Compared to the pure ceramic-coated separator, the developed composite-coated separator exhibits excellent thermal stability up to 200°C and negligible change in electrolyte uptake performance. We have demonstrated that the combination of Al2O3 nanoparticles and carboxymethyl cellulose nanofibers can enhance thermal shrinkage properties by providing a more thermally stable structure.
Preserving Data Distribution in Sampling and Instance Selection with Renyi's Divergence
Authors: Sadoghi-Yazdi Hadi , Ashkezari-Toussi Soheila , Ramezanzadeh-Yazdi Abolfazl
Published: September 2023

This paper presents a novel method for sampling based on a distribution function. By leveraging Renyi's divergence criterion, a recursive formulation is directly derived from the disparity between the original and estimated distributions. The Gradient descent algorithm is employed to achieve this recursive equation, and then new samples are derived. Since this method uses the distribution of the original data, it has the ability to preserve the data distribution in the sampled dataset. In instances where the original distribution is unknown, Kernel Density Estimation is employed for estimation. Experimental results demonstrate that the proposed method effectively preserves the data distribution and prevents any alteration in the data concept while maintaining the predictability of the model over selected instances. More precisely, this method has successfully reduced the dataset size by approximately $70\%$, while the accuracy of the learning algorithm has remained unaffected.
Tree trait-mediated differences in soil moisture regimes: A comparative study of Beech, Spruce, and Larch in a drought-prone area of Central Europe
Authors: Kuželková Marta , Jačka Lukáš , Kovář Martin , Hradilek Václav , Máca Petr
Published: September 2023

Species-specific tree traits substantially impact precipitation partitioning, soil infiltration, retention, and overall water management. With the changing climate, the evidence of drought-induced tree mortality is increasing, indicating the need for a shift to more resilient species. Therefore, the knowledge of tree species' effect on soil-water management is needed. We used a total of 54 stations for monitoring the soil moisture regimes of silt loam soil in Central Bohemia under three common and different tree species (spruce, larch, and beech). For the dry and warm part of the year 2022, the soil moisture in winter and early spring was significantly lowered by high canopy interception and gradually depleted by early spring transpiration of evergreen spruce, where mean values were more than 15% lower than for beech. Since March, the soil moisture under spruce was already below the limit of easily available water. In contrast, the deciduous beech and larch did not show a significant decrease until the foliage emergence in early May. The beech stands showed the highest soil moisture levels, which we attributed to a more effective water recharge mechanism induced by its structural traits. This adaptive strategy is vital as soil-water storage is critical for coping with climate change. In general, the results show a distinct advantage in the water recharge ability of deciduous trees and that the selection of tree species can distinctly affect soil moisture conditions, especially during drought periods in areas characterized by tight hydrological balance.