bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Intrauterine Device Completely Encapsulated by Fibrous Tissue in a Postmenopausal Woman: A Case Report
Authors: Huang Yun , Zhang Yiqun , Qu Shuyan , Chu Yun
Published: September 2024

A 54-year-old woman, who had been menopausal for over two years and had an Intrauterine Device (IUD) in place for over twenty years, requested a removal of the IUD. The IUD was found to be embedded during the removal process. Under ultrasound guidance, a hysteroscopic examination revealed the embedded IUD and additional uterine cavity content. Hysteroscopic removal of the IUD and the foreign body was performed, and the pathology report indicated fibrous tissue with hyaline degeneration. For postmenopausal women with IUDs, early removal is recommended to minimise complications. Hysteroscopic examination should be the first choice for the rare complication of embedded IUDs covered with fibrous tissue, with hysteroscopic removal as the preferred treatment.
The Mediated Impacts of Psychological Capital on Student Burnout through Academic Engagement and Learner Empowerment: A Serial Mediation Model
Authors: Gebregergis Werede Tareke , Csukonyi Csilla
Published: September 2024

Psychological capital (PsyCap) emerges as a pivotal asset for mitigating student burnout in college settings, as it bolsters their learning empowerment and engagement. However, there have been inadequate empirical studies investigating the significance of these resources in promoting engagement and empowerment, ultimately leading to a reduction in students’ burnout within the context of higher education. To bridge this gap, we examined the extent to which PsyCap predicts student burnout through its impacts on academic engagement and learner empowerment. The sample of the study was college students (N = 562) who completed a battery of self-report questionnaires measuring their PsyCap, academic engagement, learner empowerment, and student burnout. We employed hierarchical multiple regression analyses and PROCESS macro to ascertain prediction and serial mediation effects. The results substantiated the hypotheses that PsyCap positively related to learner empowerment and academic engagement while negatively associated with student burnout. Further, students with higher levels of learner empowerment and engagement reported lower levels of burnout in their academic studies. The mediational results also revealed that engagement and learner empowerment acted as significant serial mediators between PsyCap and student burnout. The study’s findings underscore the critical significance of PsyCap within higher education, particularly in nurturing learner empowerment, and engagement, thereby reducing student burnout.
Penetration and Adhesion Strength of Phenol-Tannin-Formaldehyde Resin Adhesives for Bonding Three Tropical Woods
Authors: Hendrik Jessica , Hadi Yusuf Sudo , Massijaya Muh Yusram , Santoso Adi , Park Byung-Dae
Published: September 2024

Phenol-tannin-formaldehyde (PTF) resins were prepared by adding bark tannin extracts from mangium (Acacia mangium) to phenol-formaldehyde (PF) resin adhesive. The resultant resin was used for bonding wood from three fast-growing tropical species, specifically, mangium, jabon (Anthocephalus cadamba), and mindi (Melia azedarach). The impact of the tannin extract content on the penetration and adhesion strength of PTF resin adhesives was studied for two different tannin contents (10% and 20%). The resin penetration into wood tissues of the three species was quantitatively measured at the bond line, using a light microscope. Confocal laser scanning microscopy was also used for detecting the resin penetration into wood tissues. The adhesion strength of the PTF resins was determined by measuring shear strength of three-ply parallel plywood constructed from the three tropical woods. As the amount of tannin increased, the depth of resin penetration increased for mangium and jabon wood but decreased for mindi wood. By contrast, the bond-line thickness decreased with the increasing tannin addition for all three wood species. The adhesion strength of plywood was improved as the amount of tannin increased. All plywood bonded with PTF resins using 20 percent tannin met the requirements of the EN 314‐2 standard. These results suggest that the addition of tannin extract into PF resin improves the adhesion performance and can partially replace phenol in PTF resins.
Time to Failure Testing in Shear of Wood–Adhesive Bonds under Elevated Temperatures*
Authors: Knorz Markus , Schmid Pia , de Kuilen Jan-Willem van , Richter Klaus
Published: September 2024

At present, the evaluation of wood–adhesive bonds lacks a method that is able to predict the long-term load carrying capacity in shear of a bond in a comparatively short testing time. For this reason, a new test approach was investigated to determine the time to failure of wood–adhesive bonds. In our research, lap joint specimens were prepared with a melamine-urea-formaldehyde (MUF) adhesive at two mixing ratios (100/100 and 100/20 [resin/hardener]). The specimens were subjected to tensile shear stresses at load levels between 30 and 90 percent of their mean wet short-term strength while being immersed in water at temperatures of 60°C and 90°C. The time to failure and the wood failure percentage were determined. The analysis showed good correlations between time to failure and load level as well as between time to failure and temperature. The adhesive mixing ratio, however, showed no influence on the failure characteristics. The wood failure percentage highly depended on the test duration. With prolonged test duration, the mode of failure increasingly changed from wood failure to adhesion failure. Overall, the test method proved to be promising for a detailed performance evaluation of wood–adhesive bonds.
Two-Line Spatial Reflection Method for Measuring Wood Grain Direction
Authors: Pan Qi (Patrick) , Schajer Gary S.
Published: September 2024

Wood grain direction is a three-dimensional quantity that is defined by its angles within and into the plane of the measured surface. These are respectively called the surface and dive angles. An interesting method to measure these angles involves measuring the spatial reflection from the wood surface when illuminated by concentrated light. The cellular shape of the wood microstructure causes the light reflection to be greatest perpendicular to the wood grain. This effect allows the surface and dive angles to be determined by analyzing the spatial variation of the reflected light. The conventional method for doing this involves sampling the reflection intensities around a circle above the wood surface. However, this method is effective only for small dive angles. A new method is described here where light reflection intensity variation is measured along two parallel lines on either side of the illuminated area. It is able to measure the ranges of surface and dive angles of interest in strength grading applications. A laboratory device for making the required spatial reflection measurements is described and experimental results are presented.
Effects of Different Drying Methods on Bamboo's Physical and Mechanical Properties
Authors: Lv Huangfei , Chen Meiling , Ma Xinxin , Li Jinghao , Zhang Bo , Fang Changhua , Fei Benhua
Published: September 2024

In this work, a comparative study on microwave–vacuum-drying (MVD) and hot-air-drying (HAD) of bamboo culms was conducted. Related physical and mechanical properties of bamboo culms were investigated. MVD results showed no drying defects of bamboo culms. Compared with that of the HAD method, the drying time of MVD was reduced. The shrinkage of both bamboo culm diameter and wall thickness increased with drying time. The crystallinity was changed with drying time between MVD and HAD. The CIELAB color system (L*, a*, b*) was used for analyzing bamboo color changes. All the values of L*, a*, and b* were increased after MVD, which caused the bamboo culms to become golden yellow. However, after HAD, L*, a*, and b* decreased and samples became brown. The mechanical properties of samples were improved after MVD, and did not show any significant changes after HAD. The pore structure after MVD showed higher adsorption capacity, higher specific surface area, and greater volume compared with HAD. Therefore, taking into consideration the dried product quality and short drying time, MVD provides a potential method for drying bamboo.
Theorising Disablement through the Collective-Materialist Approach to Disabling Capitalism
Authors: Chis Ioana Cerasella
Published: September 2024

This article offers a theory of disablement within contemporary capitalism by complementing and building on the UPIAS-inspired social model of disability. It first explores a variety of divergences between different models of disability, to then propose five tenets for the collective-materialist approach to disablement. These tenets are: considering disablement as both oppression and exploitation; using the “subjects of disablement”
1
as a collective and non-identitarian concept alongside already-existing identity terms; centring the “collective” alongside the “social”; struggling for autonomy and Independent Living, and adopting an anti-productivist politics. The abolition of disabling capitalism and the transformation of the institution of work are the ultimate goals of the collective-materialist approach and its related practice.
Intersectional transformation or ‘gender equality+’? Intersectionality in European Union policies on research and science
Authors: Eigenmann Laura , Guschke Bontu Lucie , Zippel Kathrin
Published: September 2024

This article investigates the emergence of intersectionality in EU policy discourses on gender equality in science and research, focusing on how it transforms existing equality politics. Based on critical policy analysis, we identify both limitations and potentials of this development. First, we find that, while documents often focus on the individual dimension of intersectionality, they do not necessarily neglect the structural dimension, as individuals’ experiences are sometimes used to illustrate structural aspects at work. Second, despite increasing mentions of intersectionality, we find that policy discourses remain dominated by a strong focus on gender. Third, we argue that the emergence of intersectionality reflects a shift from striving for sameness between men and women towards a neoliberal conception of valuing differences equally. This shift, while promising greater inclusivity, also risks depoliticizing and commodifying diversity. Our findings underscore the need for policies that genuinely address intersecting inequalities, advancing beyond individualistic and gender-centric approaches.
"Jewish" Genocidal Villains for Children? Emergent Holocaust Consciousness and Postwar Antisemitism in One Hundred and One Dalmatians and Chitty Chitty Bang Bang
Authors: Moskowitz Golan
Published: September 2024

ABSTRACT: This article studies how two popular 1960s Anglophone children's films projected antisemitic ideas onto genocidal villains. Focusing on Cruella de Vil of Walt Disney's One Hundred and One Dalmatians (1961) and the Child Catcher of Ken Hughes's Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (1968), it analyzes the appearance of ethnically stereotyped, Jewish-suggestive figures presented as enactors of genocidal violence, rather than as victims or survivors of it. Subliminally reversing the resonance of the Holocaust's Jewish victimization by non-Jewish Europeans, these films both touch upon themes of genocidal atrocity that were belatedly emerging in broader Western popular culture of the 1960s, as well as maintain an antisemitic ethnic hierarchy in which implicitly "Jewish," non-white, and queer bodies appear unworthy or dangerous. In these films, villains marked by Jewish, racialized, and queer stereotypes, as well as by antisemitic paradigms, categorically oppose the existence of an entire demographic or seek to confine and/or annihilate that demographic for their own perceived wellbeing. Contextualizing and analyzing this phenomenon, I consider its potential meanings for 1960s American audiences in relation to their shifting social and political realities, including the waning of public antisemitism, as well as the emergence of Second-Wave Feminism and the Gay Liberation movement.
Visual-Textual Encounters with a German Grandfather: The Work of Angela Findlay
Authors: Pettitt Joanne
Published: September 2024

ABSTRACT: In this article, I consider the artistic and literary work of Angela Findlay, the daughter of a German mother and English father, and the granddaughter of a highly decorated Wehrmacht soldier. Working as a visual artist, public speaker and writer, Findlay moves between representational forms in order to express the complexities associated with her dual heritage and the "legacy of shame" that she carries with her. I take Findlay's In My Grandfather's Shadow as a case study that foregrounds new forms of visual-textual witnessing in the descendants of the war generation. I conclude that, by moving between different artistic practices, Findlay is able to encapsulate the complex and transnational experience of being a descendant of both Germany and the Allied nations; in so doing, she challenges the reader to question the conceptual boundaries of testimony, straightforward perceptions of perpetration, and the diluted, but nevertheless affected and affective, experiences of subsequent generations.
Information Photonics: introduction to the feature issue
Authors: Liu Jung-Ping , Luo Yuan , Cheng Chau-Jern , Hayasaki Yoshio , Kujawinska Malgorzata , Poon Ting-Chung
Published: September 2024

This feature issue of Applied Optics is dedicated to the international
meeting of Information Photonics 2023 (IP2023) that was held on the
8th and 9th of September 2023 in New Taipei, Taiwan. IP2023 covers
various topics, including information acquisition, information
processing, metaverse photonics, information display, optical imaging,
and optical metrology.
Assessing a binary quantum channel exploiting a silicon photomultiplier based hybrid receiver
Authors: Sanvito Alberto , Cassina Silvia , Lamperti Marco , Notarnicola Michele N. , Olivares Stefano , Allevi Alessia
Published: September 2024

In quantum communication protocols, the use of photon-number-resolving detectors could open new perspectives by broadening the way to encode and decode information and merging the properties of discrete and continuous variables. In this work, we consider a quantum channel exploiting a silicon-photomultiplier-based receiver and evaluate its performance for quantum communication protocols under three possible configurations, defined by different post-processing of the detection outcomes. We investigate two scenarios: information transmission over the channel, quantified by the mutual information, and continuous-variable quantum key distribution, quantified by the key generation rate. The preliminary results encourage further use of this detection scheme in extended networks.
Performance of microsphere-assisted imaging in bright-field and dark-field microscopy
Authors: Guo Hongmei , Wang Dong , Liu Yong , Jiang Rui , Huang Rong , Cao Yurong , Ye Yong-Hong
Published: September 2024

In this work, we study the imaging performance of microsphere-assisted microscopy (MAM) using microspheres with different refractive indices and immersion conditions under both bright-field illumination (BFI) and dark-field illumination (DFI). The experimental results show that the position of the photonic nanojet of the microsphere plays an important role in MAM imaging. The contrast in imaging is affected by the reflection from the microsphere, the background signal without the microsphere, and the electric field on the substrate surface. In MAM, BaTiO3 glass microspheres achieve better imaging results under BFI when immersed in a polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) film but are challenging to image under DFI. However, SiO2 and polystyrene microspheres exhibit improved imaging performance under both BFI and DFI with PDMS-covered semi-immersion, and the imaging contrast in DFI is superior to that in BFI under the same conditions. Besides, the Talbot effect is observed by MAM under DFI when imaging 300-nm-diameter hexagonally close-packed nanoparticle arrays. This work reveals the advantage of MAM under DFI in improving the contrast.
3D OPC method for GLV parallel scanning lithography microstructure topography control based on SinCUT
Authors: Wang Deming , Cao Hao , Chen Shuo , Shu Yu , Wan Hui , Gui Chengqun
Published: September 2024

A 3D optical proximity correction (OPC) optimization method based on single image contrastive unpaired translation (SinCUT) is proposed for the precise fabrication of 3D microstructures in GLV parallel scanning digital 3D lithography. This method is applied to the optimized fabrication of hyperbolic micro-convex lens arrays. Its fabrication accuracy is demonstrated, showing a significant reduction in the mean square error (MSE) of the morphology. When the lens height is 8.5 µm, the average height error of the lens shape is less than 5%, and the MSE is reduced from 0.727 to 0.0329, resulting in a reduction rate of 92.79%.
Arbitrary two-dimensional particle transport utilizing graphene patterns
Authors: Jiang Min , Li Zhihao , Li Jinfeng , Zuo Guomeng
Published: September 2024

A tunable metal surface composed of periodically arranged graphene nanodisks (GNDs) has been designed to achieve precise regulation of two-dimensional light fields. Since the distribution of hot spots (i.e., locally enhanced light fields) around GND is closely related to the polarization state, it can be reconfigured by rotating the polarization direction to transport trapped particles along the edge of the disk. By adjusting the Fermi level to activate the corresponding GND, the directional transmission of target particles between adjacent GND is realized. The rotation of the polarization direction determines the particle movement trajectory around GND. The target particle can move around GND in any direction by synchronously adjusting the Fermi energy level and the polarization angle. This innovative optical transport mechanism with high structural scalability can be widely used in on-chip optical fluid technology.
Programmable color qubit quantum gates
Authors: Serna Francisco Dominguez , Alvarado Ana Aguayo , Castro-Simanca Ferney , De La Cruz Wencel , Garay-Palmett Karina
Published: September 2024

We present a novel proposal for the implementation of temporal-modes quantum gates based on the third-order nonlinear process of difference frequency generation in an integrated photonic circuit, which allows switching from one Pauli gate to another by tuning the phase difference between the two pump pulses (in case of the $\sigma_{x}$ and $\sigma_{y}$ Pauli gates) and between the two states comprising the basis of single temporal-modes qubits (in the case of the $\sigma_{z}$ Pauli gate). We demonstrate that our proposal enables the preparation of any single temporal-mode qubit and rotations on the Bloch sphere by changing externally controllable parameters. We also analyze the effects of fabrication errors on the predicted quantum gate fidelity, finding that even if some waveguide parameter deviates from the design, slight tuning of pump wavelengths can lead to recovering high fidelity values.
Associations of e-cigarette advertising exposure with curiosity and susceptibility among U.S. adolescents: National Youth Tobacco Surveys, 2014-2020
Authors: Ma Haijing , Noar Seth M. , Ribisl Kurt M.
Published: September 2024

Introduction

Despite an evolving e-cigarette environment, few studies have looked at adolescent exposure to e-cigarette advertising over time and its associations with curiosity about and susceptibility to using e-cigarettes. We examined e-cigarette advertising exposure and its associations with curiosity and susceptibility across multiple years among adolescents who have never used e-cigarettes.

Methods

We obtained data from the National Youth Tobacco Surveys (NYTSs), 2014-2020 (N = 97,496). The NYTS identified e-cigarette advertising exposure from four channels: Internet, newspapers and magazines, convenience stores, and TV. Logistic regressions explored e-cigarette advertising exposure over time and the associations between exposure from the four channels and both curiosity and susceptibility to using e-cigarettes.

Results

Youth exposure to e-cigarette advertising on the Internet and in convenience stores formed an increase-decrease-increase pattern from 2014 to 2020, whereas exposure in newspapers and magazines and on TV generally decreased over this period. Exposure on the Internet and in convenience stores was consistently associated with curiosity and susceptibility; but exposure in newspapers and magazines and on TV was sporadically associated with the outcomes.

Conclusions

Despite a changing e-cigarette marketplace, youth were consistently exposed to e-cigarette advertising, especially on the Internet and in convenience stores. This pattern is worrisome, as it may increase youth curiosity and susceptibility to using e-cigarettes. Comprehensive tobacco prevention efforts to prevent e-cigarette use in adolescents should continue to restrict e-cigarette advertising and marketing, thereby reducing exposure and discouraging e-cigarette use. Regular efforts should also be made to educate adolescents about the risks of using e-cigarettes to counteract the impact of high e-cigarette advertising exposure.
Revolutionizing pharmaceutical innovation: Unveiling the impact of endogenous knowledge spillover in China
Authors: Li Zhuolin , Guo Lin , Ping Ying
Published: September 2024

Modern medical technology innovation is a critical safeguard for human health, while a significant number of developing nations are confronted with the challenge of biopharmaceutical technological advancement. To investigate the possible routes of technological advancement, we investigated the impact of the endogenous knowledge spillover effect on firm innovation endeavors. Our research involves a theoretical two-stage R&D game model that is built around the characteristics of pharmaceutical organizations. Theoretical studies elucidated the impact as well as the probable mechanism of the spillover effect. To verify the theoretical study, we conducted econometric analysis using data from the pharmaceutical sector of Chinese enterprise listed on the A-share market. The study’s findings indicate that endogenous knowledge spillovers impede organizations’ innovation endeavors. This phenomenon may be attributed to the existence of the patent race paradigm and high concentration of enterprises’ R&D endeavors in specific areas. Additional examination of heterogeneity demonstrates that private firms, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), and non-high-tech enterprises experience a larger adverse impact from the spillover effect. Hence, we suggest implementing "loser’s subsidies", reallocating R&D resources, and making modifications to competition policies as measures to enhance the innovation performance of biopharmaceutical markets. These policies will facilitate the technical advancement of medicines in developing nations.
tRF-BERT: A transformative approach to aspect-based sentiment analysis in the bengali language
Authors: Ahmed Shihab , Samia Moythry Manir , Sayma Maksuda Haider , Kabir Md. Mohsin , Mridha M. F.
Published: September 2024

In recent years, the surge in reviews and comments on newspapers and social media has made sentiment analysis a focal point of interest for researchers. Sentiment analysis is also gaining popularity in the Bengali language. However, Aspect-Based Sentiment Analysis is considered a difficult task in the Bengali language due to the shortage of perfectly labeled datasets and the complex variations in the Bengali language. This study used two open-source benchmark datasets of the Bengali language, Cricket, and Restaurant, for our Aspect-Based Sentiment Analysis task. The original work was based on the Random Forest, Support Vector Machine, K-Nearest Neighbors, and Convolutional Neural Network models. In this work, we used the Bidirectional Encoder Representations from Transformers, the Robustly Optimized BERT Approach, and our proposed hybrid transformative Random Forest and Bidirectional Encoder Representations from Transformers (tRF-BERT) models to compare the results with the existing work. After comparing the results, we can clearly see that all the models used in our work achieved better results than any of the previous works on the same dataset. Amongst them, our proposed transformative Random Forest and Bidirectional Encoder Representations from Transformers achieved the highest F1 score and accuracy. The accuracy and F1 score of aspect detection for the Cricket dataset were 0.89 and 0.85, respectively, and for the Restaurant dataset were 0.92 and 0.89 respectively.
Association between sanitary toilets and health poverty vulnerability among rural western Chinese adults aged 45 years and older: A cross-sectional study
Authors: Ma Ximin , Hu Qi , He Jiahui , Li Chunsheng , Chen Kexin , Wang Wenlong , Qiao Hui
Published: September 2024

This study aimed to investigate the association between sanitary toilets and health poverty vulnerability among rural western Chinese adults aged 45 years and older. Using data from the ’Rural Household Health Inquiry Survey’ conducted in 2022, a three-stage feasible generalized least squares method was employed to calculate health poverty vulnerability. Propensity score matching (PSM) and mediation effect analysis were used to assess the association between sanitary toilets and health poverty vulnerability among rural western Chinese adults aged 45 years and older and the mechanisms underlying this impact. This study revealed that the use of sanitary toilets was significantly associated with decreased health poverty vulnerability in adults over 45 years of age. Heterogeneity analysis revealed that this effect was more pronounced among males (β = -0.0375, P<0.05), those aged 60–74 years (β = -0.0476, P<0.05), and households with middle income (β = -0.0590, P<0.01). Mediation effect analysis identified total household income (a×b = -0.0233, P<0.05), household size (a×b = -0.0181, P<0.01), number of household laborers (a×b = -0.0107, P<0.01), and registered poor households (a×b = -0.0081, P<0.01) as the mediating factors between sanitary toilets and health poverty vulnerability. The provision of sanitary toilets has been instrumental in mitigating health-related poverty among middle-aged and elderly people residing in rural areas. By improving household livelihood capital, the vulnerability of these individuals to health-related poverty can be significantly reduced.
Forward variable selection enables fast and accurate dynamic system identification with Karhunen-Loève decomposed Gaussian processes
Authors: Hayes Kyle , Fouts Michael W. , Baheri Ali , Mebane David S.
Published: September 2024

A promising approach for scalable Gaussian processes (GPs) is the Karhunen-Loève (KL) decomposition, in which the GP kernel is represented by a set of basis functions which are the eigenfunctions of the kernel operator. Such decomposed kernels have the potential to be very fast, and do not depend on the selection of a reduced set of inducing points. However KL decompositions lead to high dimensionality, and variable selection thus becomes paramount. This paper reports a new method of forward variable selection, enabled by the ordered nature of the basis functions in the KL expansion of the Bayesian Smoothing Spline ANOVA kernel (BSS-ANOVA), coupled with fast Gibbs sampling in a fully Bayesian approach. It quickly and effectively limits the number of terms, yielding a method with competitive accuracies, training and inference times for tabular datasets of low feature set dimensionality. Theoretical computational complexities are O ( N P 2 ) in training and O ( P ) per point in inference, where N is the number of instances and P the number of expansion terms. The inference speed and accuracy makes the method especially useful for dynamic systems identification, by modeling the dynamics in the tangent space as a static problem, then integrating the learned dynamics using a high-order scheme. The methods are demonstrated on two dynamic datasets: a ‘Susceptible, Infected, Recovered’ (SIR) toy problem, along with the experimental ‘Cascaded Tanks’ benchmark dataset. Comparisons on the static prediction of time derivatives are made with a random forest (RF), a residual neural network (ResNet), and the Orthogonal Additive Kernel (OAK) inducing points scalable GP, while for the timeseries prediction comparisons are made with LSTM and GRU recurrent neural networks (RNNs) along with the SINDy package.
Evaluation of a modified quantitative polymerase chain reaction assay for genus Schistosoma detection using stool and urine samples from schistosomiasis endemic areas in Kenya
Authors: Kanyi Henry , Kihoro Richelle W. , Chieng Benard , Araka Sylvie , Emisiko Henry , Ramos Thierry , Nogaro Sarah , Njenga Sammy M.
Published: September 2024

Introduction

The microscopy-based Kato-Katz and urine filtration techniques have traditionally faced challenges in the detection of schistosomiasis in areas with low infection levels. A modified singleplex Schistosoma genus-specific quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) assay was therefore evaluated as a sensitive and confirmatory schistosomiasis diagnostic test.

Methodology

The qPCR assay utilized primers and probe targeting internal transcribed spacer– 2 (ITS2) sequence of S. mansoni, S. haematobium and S. intercalatum. A plasmid (pDMD801, 100pg/ul) was used as an internal amplification control and its qPCR assays were run in parallel to the Schistosoma assays. This assay utilized samples collected from 774 participants and microscopically examined for three consecutive days. A total of 699 day-one samples (urine and stools) from two schistosomiasis endemic sites were analyzed. Similarly, 75 persons from a non-endemic control site provided both urine and stool samples that were also analyzed.

Results

Using microscopy, the proportion of positives in the two endemic regions altogether was 289/699 (41.3%). Using qPCR, 50.4% of the samples (352/699) were found to be positive for schistosome infection. The percentage of positive samples was slightly higher at 57.8% (203/351) in the S. mansoni endemic site compared with the S. haematobium site at 42.8% (149/348). Majority of the microscopy results were light infections at 26.8% (n = 94) and 26.1% (n = 91) while qPCR majority of the infections were high at 41.6% (n = 146) and 31.3% (n = 109) for the S. mansoni and S. haematobium sites, respectively. There were no positives detected by either microscopy or qPCR in the non-endemic site. Using Bayesian Latent Class Model, which does not use any technique as a gold standard, qPCR showed higher sensitivity (86.4% (PCI: 82.1–90.3)) compared to microscopy (75.6% (PCI: 71.1–80.0)).

Conclusions

This study documents a single day-one sample modified Schistosoma qPCR assay as a powerful improved molecular assay for the detection of schistosomiasis infection that utilize either stool or urine samples. The assay is therefore recommended for monitoring in areas with low infection levels to enable accurate determination of the disease’s control endpoint.
Cetylpyridinium chloride inhibits hepatocellular carcinoma growth and metastasis through regulating epithelial-mesenchymal transition and apoptosis
Authors: Cai Kundi , Fang Yihui , Zhang Yanan , Liu Jie , Ye Qinong , Ding Lihua , Cai Xianfeng
Published: September 2024

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is characterized by a lack of obvious clinical features in the early stages and is likely to progress to advanced HCC. Advanced HCC is a highly malignant tumor. However, there are few treatment options for advanced HCC. Therefore, screening for new drugs that target HCC will provide a new approach to the treatment of HCC. The CCK8 assay was performed to screen compounds inhibiting HCC cell proliferation and to evaluate the IC50 (half-maximal inhibitory concentration) of compounds on cell lines. Colony formation assay was used to determine HCC cell proliferation. The effect of compounds on HCC cell migration and invasion were analyzed using wound healing and transwell assays, respectively. Tumor growth and metastasis were assessed in vivo in a xenograft mouse model. Flow cytometry was carried out to measure apoptotic cells. Reverse transcription and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT‒qPCR) and Western blot were performed to examine the expression of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT)- and apoptosis-related genes. Through large-scale screening, we have discovered the anti-tumor activity of cetylpyridinium chloride (CPC) against HCC cells. CPC inhibited the proliferation, invasion and metastasis of HCC cells. Cancer cells are more sensitive to CPC than normal cells. CPC suppressed HCC tumor growth and metastasis in vivo. Mechanistically, CPC promoted apoptosis of HCC cells by affecting the expression of apoptosis-related genes, and inhibited HCC invasion and metastasis by suppressing EMT and expression of EMT markers. Our investigation showed that CPC significantly inhibited HCC cell proliferation, invasion and metastasis in vivo and in vitro, by inducing the expression of apoptosis-related genes and inhibiting expression of EMT markers, suggesting that CPC is a potential agent for HCC treatment.
Optimization based data enrichment using stochastic dynamical system models
Authors: Kearney Griffin M. , Fardad Makan
Published: September 2024

We develop a general framework for state estimation in systems modeled with noise-polluted continuous time dynamics and discrete time noisy measurements. Our approach is based on maximum likelihood estimation and employs the calculus of variations to derive optimality conditions for continuous time functions. We make no prior assumptions on the form of the mapping from measurements to state-estimate or on the distributions of the noise terms, making the framework more general than Kalman filtering/smoothing where this mapping is assumed to be linear and the noises Gaussian. The optimal solution that arises is interpreted as a continuous time spline, the structure and temporal dependency of which is determined by the system dynamics and the distributions of the process and measurement noise. Similar to Kalman smoothing, the optimal spline yields increased data accuracy at instants when measurements are taken, in addition to providing continuous time estimates outside the measurement instances. We demonstrate the utility and generality of our approach via illustrative examples that render both linear and nonlinear data filters depending on the particular system. Application of the proposed approach to a Monte Carlo simulation exhibits significant performance improvement in comparison to a common existing method.
Exploring angiogenic pathways in breast cancer: Clinicopathologic correlations and prognostic implications based on gene expression profiles from a large-scale genomic dataset
Authors: Ayoub Nehad M. , Sardiah Salam , Al-Share Qusai Y. , Alkader Mohammad S.
Published: September 2024

Background

Angiogenesis inhibitors targeting VEGF, or its receptors have consistently produced disappointing clinical outcomes in breast cancer. Therefore, there is an urgent need to explore alternative angiogenic pathways in breast cancer. This study aimed to describe the gene expression of pivotal pro-angiogenic genes in breast cancer and to further analyze the associations with the clinicopathologic tumor features, prognostic factors, and overall survival. Such findings would expand the understanding of the role of different angiogenic pathways in breast cancer pathogenesis and identify patients at risk of more aggressive disease who could be eligible for intense treatment regimens. Additionally, exploring angiogenic pathways helps identify new potential drug targets for breast cancer.

Methods

The mRNA expression levels for eight pro-angiogenic genes [VEGFA, HGF, FGF1, FGF2, ANGPT1, ANGPT2, PDGFA, and PDGFB] were obtained from the METABRIC (Molecular Taxonomy of Breast Cancer International Consortium) dataset available at cBioPortal public domain. Pertinent demographic and tumor information were retrieved.

Results

VEGFA and ANGPT2 genes had the highest expression levels with average mRNA log intensities of 7.18±0.7 and 7.11±0.53, respectively. VEGFA expression was not correlated with the expression of other pro-angiogenic genes, the clinicopathologic tumor features, and the overall survival of patients. FGF1, ANGPT1, and PDGFA mRNA levels were negatively correlated with the age of patients at diagnosis. The expression of FGF1 and FGF2 correlated inversely with tumor size and the Nottingham Prognostic Index (p = 0.03 and p = 0.002, respectively). Expression of HGF was significantly associated with advanced tumor stage (p<0.05). Expression of ANGPT1 and ANGPT2 was associated with hormone receptor-negative status and the non-luminal subtypes. PDGFB expression was significantly higher in patients with high-grade disease and HER2-positive status. Patients with high expression status of ANGPT2 and PDGFB had significantly reduced overall survival compared to those with low expression levels of these genes (p = 0.004 and p = 0.0001, respectively).

Conclusions

In this dataset of patients with breast cancer, the expression levels of 8 different pro-angiogenic genes revealed remarkable differences in terms of their association with clinicopathologic tumor characteristics and prognosis. The expression of ANGPTs and PDGFs was associated with adverse tumor features, worse prognosis, and reduced survival in patients. Targeting ANGPTs and PDGF pathways could provide new insights for effective anti-angiogenic drugs in breast cancer.
Factors predicting participation in organised sports during adolescence: A two-year longitudinal perspective
Authors: Spruijtenburg Gwennyth E. , van Abswoude Femke , Bekhuis Hidde , Steenbergen Bert
Published: September 2024

Background

Participation in youth sports is a major determinant of current and future health, yet participation rates are declining. It is of great importance to examine the factors that potentially influence adolescents’ levels of participation in organised sports.

Aim

First, we examined change in participation over two years from the start of secondary education. Second, we examined whether a combination of factors (i.e. motives, barriers, perceived competence, encouragement and motor skills) based on the Youth Physical Activity Promotion model was associated with participation after one year. Third, we examined whether the associations between each of the factors and participation in organised sports changed over time.

Methods

Data were collected on three occasions between October 2020 and November 2022 using questionnaires, motor skill test items and anthropometric measurements. We analysed data from 204 Dutch adolescents (11 to 14 years) using dependent t tests, Cochran’s Q test and multilevel linear fixed effects regression models.

Results

First, participation in organised sports was stable during the first years of secondary education. Second, adolescents who reported higher motives, higher perceptions of competence and more encouragement spent more time in organised sports one year later. Barriers and motor skills did not predict participation. Third, relationships of each of the six factors with participation remained stable over time.

Conclusion

Although participation in organised sports is often considered to decline during the first years of secondary education, it can be stable for a significant portion of the population. Motives, perceived competence, and encouragement seem crucial to stimulate adolescents’ participation in organised sports.
Enhanced quantitation of pathological α-synuclein in patient biospecimens by RT-QuIC seed amplification assays
Authors: Srivastava Ankit , Wang Qinlu , Orrù Christina D. , Fernandez Manel , Compta Yaroslau , Ghetti Bernardino , Zanusso Gianluigi , Zou Wen-Quan , Caughey Byron , Beauchemin Catherine A. A.
Published: September 2024

Disease associated pathological aggregates of alpha-synuclein (αSynD) exhibit prion-like spreading in synucleinopathies such as Parkinson’s disease (PD) and dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB). Seed amplification assays (SAAs) such as real-time quaking-induced conversion (RT-QuIC) have shown high diagnostic sensitivity and specificity for detecting proteopathic αSynD seeds in a variety of biospecimens from PD and DLB patients. However, the extent to which relative proteopathic seed concentrations are useful as indices of a patient’s disease stage or prognosis remains unresolved. One feature of current SAAs that complicates attempts to correlate SAA results with patients’ clinical and other laboratory findings is their quantitative imprecision, which has typically been limited to discriminating large differences (e.g. 5–10 fold) in seed concentration. We used end-point dilution (ED) RT-QuIC assays to determine αSynD seed concentrations in patient biospecimens and tested the influence of various assay variables such as serial dilution factor, replicate number and data processing methods. The use of 2-fold versus 10-fold dilution factors and 12 versus 4 replicate reactions per dilution reduced ED-RT-QuIC assay error by as much as 70%. This enhanced assay format discriminated as little as 2-fold differences in αSynD seed concentration besides detecting ~2-16-fold seed reductions caused by inactivation treatments. In some scenarios, analysis of the data using Poisson and midSIN algorithms provided more consistent and statistically significant discrimination of different seed concentrations. We applied our improved assay strategies to multiple diagnostically relevant PD and DLB antemortem patient biospecimens, including cerebrospinal fluid, skin, and brushings of the olfactory mucosa. Using ED αSyn RT-QuIC as a model SAA, we show how to markedly improve the inter-assay reproducibility and quantitative accuracy. Enhanced quantitative SAA accuracy should facilitate assessments of pathological seeding activities as biomarkers in proteinopathy diagnostics and prognostics, as well as in patient cohort selection and assessments of pharmacodynamics and target engagement in drug trials.
House cricket protein hydrolysates alleviate hypertension, vascular dysfunction, and oxidative stress in nitric oxide-deficient hypertensive rats
Authors: Sangartit Weerapon , Suwannachot Pisit , Thawornchinsombut Supawan , Jan-On Gulladawan , Boonla Orachorn , Senaphan Ketmanee
Published: September 2024

Background and Aim: Edible insects with high protein content and bioactive peptides with health promotion against chronic disease. Deficiency of nitric oxide (NO) contributes to hypertension, a leading cause of cardiovascular diseases and death worldwide. This study assessed the antihypertensive effects of house cricket protein hydrolysates (HCPH) in NO-deficient hypertensive rats.

Materials and Methods: Male Sprague-Dawley rats (n = 12/group) were hypertensive after the administration of Nω-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME) at a dose of 50 mg/kg body weight (BW)/day in drinking water for 7 weeks. The animals were then treated with HCPH (250 or 500 mg/kg BW/day) or lisinopril (Lis) (1 mg/kg BW/day) for the last 4 weeks of L-NAME administration. Blood pressure (BP), vascular function, and structural changes, endothelial NO synthase (eNOS), and p47phox nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) oxidase protein expression in aortic tissues, plasma nitrate/nitrite, plasma angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) activity, and oxidative stress markers in blood and tissues were evaluated.

Results: Induction of hypertension resulted in significantly elevated BP, decreased plasma nitrate/nitrite concentration, abolished vascular function, and increased vascular wall thickness. Overproduction of carotid and mesenteric superoxide, increased plasma, heart, and kidney malondialdehyde, and protein carbonyl levels, and increased plasma ACE activity were observed. Down-expression of eNOS with overexpression of p47phox NADPH oxidase subunit was also found in L-NAME hypertensive rats. Oral treatment with HCPH, particularly at a dose of 500 mg/kg BW/day, significantly alleviated these alterations in a manner comparable to that of Lis.

Conclusion: HCPH improved vascular function and exerted antihypertensive effects, mainly due to the improvement of NO bioavailability, reduction of oxidative stress, and inhibition of ACE.

Keywords: angiotensin-converting enzyme activity, house cricket protein hydrolysates, hypertension, nitric oxide deficiency, oxidative stress, vascular dysfunction.
Assessment of health impacts in retired antisera-producing horses: Blood biochemistry and serum amyloid A analysis
Authors: Arifianto Dinar , Esfandiari Anita , Wibawan I Wayan Teguh , Amrozi Amrozi , Maharani Maharani , Darsono Darsono , Setiadi Hirawan , Setiyono Agus
Published: September 2024

Background and Aim: Horses used for antisera production are repeatedly hyperimmunized to produce high levels of specific antibodies. This prolonged process can lead to various health issues, including amyloidosis, which involves the accumulation of amyloid proteins in organs and tissues, potentially causing organ dysfunction and failure. These horses are often retired when they no longer produce adequate antibody levels. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of prolonged antisera production on the health of retired horses by examining their blood biochemistry and serum amyloid A (SAA) levels, which are indicators of systemic inflammation and organ damage.

Materials and Methods: Blood samples were collected from 12 horses for this study. Nine horses were retired antisera-producing horses that had been discontinued for 2 years, while three healthy non-antisera-producing horses were used as controls. These twelve horses were divided into four groups based on the duration of their active period as antisera producers (never been used, 2–3 years, 4–5 years, and 6–7 years). We measured key blood biochemistry parameters and SAA levels to evaluate the health status of the horses.

Results: Total protein, fibrinogen, and globulin levels were elevated, whereas other parameters remained normal. The findings indicate that despite normal SAA levels, the horses exhibited signs of ongoing health issues related to their previous use in antisera production, such as increased total plasma protein, fibrinogen, and globulin levels, as well as the presence of amyloid deposits in vital organs such as the liver and kidneys, as observed in post-mortem examinations.

Conclusion: Despite normal SAA levels, retired antisera-producing horses showed elevated total protein, fibrinogen, and globulin levels, indicating ongoing health issues.

Keywords: antisera, blood biochemistry, horse, hyperimmune, serum amyloid A.