bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Epithelium/imcDC2 axis facilitates the resistance of neoadjuvant anti-PD-1 in human NSCLC
Authors: Chen Yongyuan , Shao Zheyu , Hao Zhixing , Xin Zhongwei , Chen Xiaoke , Huang Lijian , Chen Di , Lin Mingjie , Liu Qinyuan , Xu Xia , Li Jinfan , Wu Dang , Yan Jun , Chai Ying , Wu Pin
Published: August 2024

Background

Therapeutic resistance is a main obstacle to achieve long-term benefits from immune checkpoint inhibitors. The underlying mechanism of neoadjuvant anti-PD-1 resistance remains unclear.

Methods

Multi-omics analysis, including mass cytometry, single-cell RNA-seq, bulk RNA-seq, and polychromatic flow cytometry, was conducted using the resected tumor samples in a cohort of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients received neoadjuvant anti-PD-1 therapy. Tumor and paired lung samples acquired from treatment-naïve patients were used as a control. In vitro experiments were conducted using primary cells isolated from fresh tissues and lung cancer cell lines. A Lewis-bearing mouse model was used in the in vivo experiment.

Results

The quantity, differentiation status, and clonal expansion of tissue-resident memory CD8+ T cells (CD8+ TRMs) are positively correlated with therapeutic efficacy of neoadjuvant anti-PD-1 therapy in human NSCLC. In contrast, the quantity of immature CD1c+ classical type 2 dendritic cells (imcDC2) and galectin-9+ cancer cells is negatively correlated with therapeutic efficacy. An epithelium/imDC2 suppressive axis that restrains the antitumor response of CD8+ TRMs via galectin-9/TIM-3 was uncovered. The expression level of CD8+ TRMs and galectin-9+ cancer cell-related genes predict the clinical outcome of anti-PD-1 neoadjuvant therapy in human NSCLC patients. Finally, blockade of TIM-3 and PD-1 could improve the survival of tumor-bearing mouse by promoting the antigen presentation of imcDC2 and CD8+ TRMs-mediated tumor-killing.

Conclusion

Galectin-9 expressing tumor cells sustained the primary resistance of neoadjuvant anti-PD-1 therapy in NSCLC through galectin-9/TIM-3-mediated suppression of imcDC2 and CD8+ TRMs. Supplement of anti-TIM-3 could break the epithelium/imcDC2/CD8+ TRMs suppressive loop to overcome anti-PD-1 resistance.

Trial registration number

NCT03732664.
Sexually transmitted infections and migration in Uganda: a population-based study
Authors: Moffa Michelle A , Feng Xinyi , Mpagazi Josephine , Kiboneka Stephen , Ssekubugu Robert , Kereba John Baptiste , Nakayijja Annet , Tukundane Julius , Jackson Jade , Kennedy Caitlin E , Kigozi Godfrey , Galiwango Ronald M , Manabe Yukari C , Gaydos Charlotte A , Chang Larry W , Kalibala Sarah , Reynolds Steven J , Tobian Aaron AR , Quinn Thomas , Grabowski M Kate , Kagayi Joseph
Published: August 2024

Objectives

Migration is associated with increased risk of HIV infection in Africa, but evidence about non-HIV sexually transmitted infection (STI) burden among African migrants is limited.

Methods

We used data from the Sexually Transmitted Infection Prevalence Study, a cross-sectional population-based study of chlamydia, gonorrhoea, trichomoniasis, syphilis and herpes simplex virus type 2 prevalence in southern Uganda, to compare STI prevalence between adults aged 18 and 49 years with and without a recent history of migration. Migration status was determined using household census data, with a recent migration history defined as having moved into one’s community of current residence within the last ~18 months. Unadjusted and adjusted modified Poisson regression models were used to compare individual STI prevalence risk by recent migration status with associations reported as adjusted prevalence risk ratios (adjPRRs) with 95% CIs. Adjusted models included participants’ sex, age, community type, education, occupation and marital status.

Results

Among 1825 participants, 358 (19.6%) had a recent migration history. Overall, migrants exhibited a significantly higher combined prevalence of curable STIs (gonorrhoea, chlamydia, high-titre syphilis (rapid plasma regain ≥1:8) and trichomoniasis) as compared with long-term residents (34.4% vs 24.2%; adjPRR=1.23; 95% CI 1.03 to 1.47). Significant differences in curable STI prevalence by migration status were concentrated among persons living with HIV (49.4% prevalence in migrants vs 32.6% in long-term residents; adjPRR=1.42; 95% CI 1.10 to 1.85) and among women (38.8% in migrants vs 27.8% in long-term residents; adjPRR=1.26; 95% CI 1.01 to 1.58). High-titre syphilis prevalence was especially elevated among male migrants (11.2% in migrants vs 4.9% in long-term residents; adjPRR=1.82; 95% CI 1.06 to 3.13).

Conclusions

The prevalence of non-HIV STIs is higher among migrants. Tailored outreach and service delivery approaches that address the needs of mobile populations are crucial for integrated HIV and STI epidemic control in Uganda to optimise resources and reduce transmission risks.
Redescription and molecular phylogeny of Megalobatrachonema nipponicum Yamaguti, 1941 (Nematoda: Cosmocercoidea: Kathlaniidae)
Authors: Tsuchida Karin , Urabe Misako , Nishikawa Kanto
Published: August 2024

Megalobatrachonema nipponicum Yamaguti, 1941 (Nematoda: Cosmocercoidea: Kathlaniidae), the type species of the genus Megalobatrachonema, had been only once reported from the Japanese giant salamander, Andrias japonicus (Temminck, 1836) (Amphibia: Cryptobranchidae), in the last 80 years. Herein, we reported the present species from A. japonicus and hybrids ( A. japonicus ×  Andrias davidianus (Blanchard, 1871)) following the original description. The examined specimens were morphologically identical to the original description. We showed the phylogenetic position of M. nipponicum among cosmocercoid species as well as among congeneric species, which suggested the polyphyly of the genus. In addition, the phylogenetic analysis did not support the subgenera in this genus. Thus, we considered the presence or absence of an esophageal bulb valve as a key morph to identify species, not subgenus, of Megalobatrachonema.
Exact ground states for pentagon chains with spin–orbit interaction
Authors: Gulacsi Zsolt
Published: August 2024

Exact ground states (GS) are deduced for conducting polymers possessing pentagon type of unit cell. The study is done in the presence of many-body spin–orbit interaction (SOI), local and nearest-neighbor Coulomb repulsion (CR), and presence of external E electric and B magnetic fields (EF). The simultaneous presence of SOI, CR, and EF in the exact conducting polymer GS is a novelty, so the development of the technique for the treatment possibility of such strongly correlated cases is presented in detail. The deduced GS show a broad spectrum of physical characteristics ranging from charge density waves doubling the system periodicity, metal–insulator transitions, to interesting external field-driven effects as, e.g., modification possibility of a static charge distribution by a static EF.

Graphic abstract
Cosmological constraints on a dynamical dark energy model in F(Q) gravity
Authors: Enkhili O. , Dahmani S. , Mhamdi D. , Ouali T. , Errahmani A.
Published: August 2024

Extended teleparallel gravity, characterized by functionF(Q), whereQis the non-metricity scalar, is one of the most promising approaches to general relativity. In this paper, we reexamine a specific dynamical dark energy model, which is indistinguishable from the$$\Lambda $$ΛCDM model at the present time and exhibits a special event in the future, withinF(Q) gravity. To constrain the free parameters of the model, we perform Markov chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) analysis, using the last data from$$\hbox {Pantheon}^{+}$$Pantheon+and the latest measurements of the H(z) parameter, combined. On the basis of this analysis, we find that our dynamical dark energy model, in the context of F(Q) gravity, lies in the quintessence regime rather than in the phantom regime, as in the case of general relativity. Furthermore, this behavior affects the future expansion of the Universe, as it becomes decelerating at a$$1\sigma $$1σconfidence level for$$z<-0.5$$z<-0.5, showing a bounce at$$z_{\text {B}}\approx -0.835$$zB≈-0.835. We support our conclusion with a cosmographic analysis.
Revealing the mystery of the double charm tetraquark in pp collision
Authors: Hua Xue-Li , Li Yi-Yao , Wang Qian , Yang Shuai , Zhao Qiang , Zou Bing-Song
Published: August 2024

A novel approach is proposed to probe the nature of the double charm tetraquark through the prompt production asymmetry between $$T_{\bar{c}\bar{c}}^-$$

T

c

¯

c

¯

-

and $$T_{cc}^+$$

T

cc

+

in pp collisions. When comparing two theoretical pictures, i.e. the compact tetraquark and hadronic molecular pictures, we find that the former one exhibits a significantly larger production asymmetry, enabling the unambiguous determination of the tetraquark’s internal structure. Additionally, distinctive differences in the transverse momentum and rapidity distributions of $$T_{\bar{c}\bar{c}}^-$$

T

c

¯

c

¯

-

and $$T_{cc}^+$$

T

cc

+

cross sections emerge, particularly at $$p_\textrm{T}\approx 2~\textrm{GeV}$$

p
T

≈
2

GeV

and $$y\approx \pm 6$$

y
≈
±
6

at a center-of-mass energy of 14$$~\textrm{TeV}$$

TeV

. The insignificant asymmetry in hadronic molecular picture is because that hadronic molecules are produced in hadronic phase, where the phase space of their constituents needs to be taken into account rigorously. Our work can be extended to the exploration of other double heavy tetraquark candidates, offering a versatile approach to advance our understanding of exotic hadrons.
Comprehensive study of bouncing cosmological models in f(Q, T) theory
Authors: Gul M. Zeeshan , Sharif M. , Shabbir Shamraiza
Published: August 2024

The main objective of this article is to investigate the viability of bouncing cosmological scenarios using different forms of scale factors with perfect matter configuration in the framework of extended symmetric teleparallel theory. This modified proposal is defined by the function f(Q, T), where Q characterizes non-metricity and T denotes the trace of energy-momentum tensor. We investigate the modified field equations of this theory using different parametric values of the Hubble parameter and non-metricity to derive viable solutions. These solutions are relevant in various cosmological bounce models such as symmetric-bounce, super-bounce, oscillatory-bounce, matter-bounce and exponential-bounce models. Furthermore, we examine the behavior of energy density and pressure to analyze the characteristics of dark energy. A comprehensive analysis is also conducted to explore the behavior of the equation of state parameter and deceleration parameter to examine the evolutionary eras of the cosmos. Our findings show that the f(Q, T) gravity describes the cosmic expansion in the vicinity of the bouncing point during the early and late times of cosmic evolution.
Minimally coupled fermion–antifermion pairs via exponentially decaying potential
Authors: Guvendi Abdullah , Dogan Semra Gurtas , Mustafa Omar
Published: August 2024

In this study, we explore how a fermion–antifermion ($$f\overline{f}$$

f

f
¯

) pair interacts via an exponentially decaying potential. Using a covariant one-time two-body Dirac equation, we examine their relative motion in a three-dimensional flat background. Our approach leads to coupled equations governing their behavior, resulting in a general second-order wave equation. Through this, we derive analytical solutions by establishing quantization conditions for pair formation, providing insights into their dynamics. Notably, we find that such interacting $$f\overline{f}$$

f

f
¯

systems are unstable and decay over time, with the decay time depending on the Compton wavelength of the fermions.
Electrically charged black holes in gravity with a background Kalb–Ramond field
Authors: Duan Zheng-Qiao , Zhao Ju-Ying , Yang Ke
Published: August 2024

We derive the exact solutions for electrically charged black holes both in the absence and presence of a cosmological constant in the gravitational theory with Lorentz violation induced by a background Kalb–Ramond (KR) field. The corresponding thermodynamic properties are investigated. It is found that the standard first law of thermodynamics and the Smarr formula remain valid for the charged KR black holes. Nevertheless, the Lorentz-violating effect influences their ranges of local thermodynamic stability and the first- and second-order phase transition points. Furthermore, to examine the impact of Lorentz violation on the motion of test particles in the spacetime, we analyze the shadow and the innermost stable circular orbit (ISCO) of these black holes. Our results reveal that both the shadow and ISCO radii exhibit a high sensitivity to the Lorentz-violating parameter $$\ell $$
ℓ
, with a decrease observed as $$\ell $$
ℓ
increases.
Subscriptions
Authors: Denning Peter J.
Published: August 2024

Dek :

You no longer have control over digital objects you create. That may not be a bad thing.
A Text-Inception-Based Natural Language Processing Model for Sentiment Analysis of Drug Experiences
Authors: Swaileh A. Alzaidi Muhammad , Alshammari Alya , Almanea Manar , Al-khawaja Haneen A. , Al Sultan Hanan , Alotaibi Shoayee , Almukadi Wafa
Published: August 2024

The study of sentiment in Natural Language Processing (NLP) is among the most successful research areas because of the availability of millions of user opinions online since the turn of the century. The economic, political, and medical fields are just some of the many that have benefited from studies of sentiment research. While numerous studies have examined more mainstream topics like consumer electronics, movies, and restaurants, relatively few have examined health and medical concerns. Considerable insight into where to direct efforts to improve public health might be gained by a study of how people feel about healthcare as a whole and of individual drug experiences in particular. When it comes to medicine, automatic analysis of online user evaluations paves the way for sifting through massive amounts of user feedback to find information regarding medications' efficacy and side effects that might be used to enhance pharmacovigilance programs. Simple rules-based methods have given way to more complex machine learning approaches like deep learning, which is developing as a technology for many natural language processing jobs. The opensource datasets have been analyzed with models that use word embeddings and term frequency-inverse document frequency (TF-IDF). A feature-enhanced text-inception model for sentiment classification was presented to work in tandem with this approach. The model first employed a cutting-edge text-inception module to glean useful shallow features from the text. K-MaxPooling was subsequently employed to reduce the dimensionality of its shallow and deep includes as well as enhance the generalization of characteristics, and a deep feature extraction module was formed using the bidirectional gated recurrent unit (Bi-GRU) and the capsule neural network to comprehend the text's semantic data. By combining traditional methods with cutting-edge artificial intelligence techniques, this hybrid approach can revolutionize public health initiatives, decision-making, and pharmacovigilance in the healthcare industry. This model achieved an exceptional accuracy rate of 99%, underscoring its effectiveness in sentiment classification and demonstrating its potential to significantly contribute to advancing healthcare and medical research.
Neural-Symbolic Methods for Knowledge Graph Reasoning: A Survey
Authors: Cheng Kewei , Ahmed Nesreen K. , Rossi Ryan A. , Willke Theodore , Sun Yizhou
Published: August 2024

Neural symbolic knowledge graph (KG) reasoning offers a promising approach that combines the expressive power of symbolic reasoning with the learning capabilities inherent in neural networks. This survey provides a comprehensive overview of advancements, techniques, and challenges in the field of neural symbolic KG reasoning. The survey introduces the fundamental concepts of KGs and symbolic logic, followed by an exploration of three significant KG reasoning tasks: KG completion, complex query answering, and logical rule learning. For each task, we thoroughly discuss three distinct categories of methods: pure symbolic methods, pure neural approaches, and the integration of neural networks and symbolic reasoning methods known as neural-symbolic. We carefully analyze and compare the strengths and limitations of each category of methods to provide a comprehensive understanding. By synthesizing recent research contributions and identifying open research directions, this survey aims to equip researchers and practitioners with a comprehensive understanding of the state-of-the-art in neural symbolic KG reasoning, fostering future advancements in this interdisciplinary domain.
5-Aminoimidazole-4-carboxamide ribonucleotide formyltransferase/inosine monophosphate cyclohydrolase promotes pulmonary arterial smooth muscle cell proliferation via the Ras signaling pathway
Authors: Shi Xiaofan , Ma Qian , Huo Yuqing , Su Yunchao
Published: August 2024

Our findings highlight the important role of ATIC in the PASMC proliferation of pulmonary vascular remodeling through its modulation of the Ras signaling pathway and its regulation by transcription factors MYC, EGR1, and SP1. ATIC’s modulation of Ras signal pathway represents a novel mechanism contributing to PAH development.
Liraglutide ameliorates inflammation and fibrosis by downregulating the TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB pathway in diabetic kidney disease
Authors: Huang Linjing , Lin Tingting , Shi Meizhen , Wu Peiwen
Published: August 2024

Liraglutide, a glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist (GLP-1RA), has renoprotective effect in diabetic kidney disease (DKD). In DKD, TLR4/MYD88/NF-κB signaling is involved in the regulation of inflammatory responses and extracellular matrix (ECM) protein proliferation. Liraglutide attenuates renal inflammation and overexpression of ECM proteins by inhibiting TLR4/MYD88/NF-κB signaling pathway. Therefore, we have identified a new mechanism that contributes to the renal protection of GLP-1RA, thus helping to design innovative treatment strategies for diabetic patients with various complications.
Antimicrobial, Antiradical Activity, and X‐Ray Fluorescence Spectroscopy Analysis of Aloe otallensis Plant Used in Traditional Medicine in Southern Ethiopia
Authors: Syraji Yonas , Kebebew Mulugeta , Techane Yohannis , Albene Dawit
Published: August 2024

Medicinal plants have a long history of treating diseases in animals and humans in Ethiopia. Nevertheless, not enough research has been done on the antibacterial properties and possible bioactive components of the majority of medicinal plants. Therefore, this study was concerned with the evaluation of the percentage yield, phytochemical, antimicrobial, antifungal, MIC, antiradical activities, phenolic content, and X‐ray fluorescence spectroscopy (XRF) analysis of A. otallensis plant extracts. The mean values of antimicrobial, antifungal, MIC, antiradical, phenolic content, and XRF analysis were reported as mean ± standard deviation. The solvent methanol showed a higher degree of yield in leaf and root extract which was 8.45 (22.27%) and 3.12 g (15.58%), respectively, while distilled water extract of leaf and root showed less degree of yield which was 0.22 g (1.10%) and 0.42 g (2.1%), respectively. Qualitative phytochemical analyses of the plant parts have revealed the presence of various components of metabolites like alkaloids, flavonoids, phenol, saponins, tannins, steroids, steroids, terpenoids, triterpenoids, glycosides, anthraquinones, diterpenes, phytosterols, and phlobatannals. A. otallensis gel extracts had shown significant antibacterial and antifungal activity against the test bacterial and fungus, respectively. Moreover, the methanolic gel extracts of A. otallensis demonstrated notable antiradical activity than the leaf and the root. The highest value of phenolic content was obtained in A. otallensis; gel, leaf, and root extract which was 61.9 ± 0.5 mg/g, 53.6 ± 0.3 mg/g, and 51.6 ± 0.6 mg/g, respectively. In this study, twelve elements in the plant parts of A. otallensis were determined using XRF spectroscopy. Overall, this research contributes to the understanding of the pharmacological potential of A. otallensis and highlights the importance of further research into its medicinal properties. The results provide valuable insights into the use of medicinal plants to treat diseases and support the development of natural therapeutics.
Optimal Trade‐In and Pricing Strategy under Strategic Consumers and Sequential Innovation
Authors: Yang Xue , Liu Xiaofeng
Published: August 2024

With the growing emphasis on the advancement of the circular economy, companies are investigating various approaches, such as trade‐in strategies, to stimulate consumption and support the circular economy. Although there is a substantial amount of research on trade‐ins, there is a scarcity of multistrategy studies on upgrade programs. In order to address this deficiency, we created four two‐period dynamic game models that utilize strategic consumer and product sequential innovation as the basis for examining company pricing and strategic decision‐making. Our research shows that a single rollover upgrade program can generate significant revenues when there is a high level of product innovation and consumers are strategic in their decision‐making. On the other hand, a dual rollover upgrade program can target a bigger range of customers who are looking to replace their current products. If the product is not highly innovative or strategically important for consumers, the profit advantage of the upgrade program with a single rollover is lost. In such cases, the upgrade program with a dual rollover not only ensures revenue but also helps to increase the size of the customer group who are more willing to replace their products.
Enhancing Refuge Space Safety: Tape Application to Reduce Door Leakage during Fires
Authors: Hung Hsuan-Yu , Chuang Ying-Ji , Lin Ching-Yuan
Published: August 2024

As global climate change intensifies, the frequency and severity of wildfires affecting communities worldwide are on the rise. Therefore, the issue of residential safety for people is becoming increasingly crucial. During a fire, smoke particles and toxic emissions could infiltrate the refuge space through gaps in doors, making it a primary risk factor for casualties. It is worth conducting in‐depth research and investigation on how to effectively utilize available tools and facilities to enhance the probability of survival while waiting for rescue behind closed doors. This study uses iron, aluminum, and wooden doors as experimental samples. Thirty participants conducted a total of 1,620 experiments using six different qualities of tape to investigate the impact of applying different layers of tape on improving door leakage and the time required for tape application. This study proposes that in situations when people are waiting for rescue in refuge spaces, the most efficient course of action would involve the fastest available tape. The rationale behind this is that while different types of tape may vary in their smoke‐shielding effectiveness, using three layers of tape can meet the leakage effectiveness standards, specifically less than 25 m3/hr at a differential pressure of 25 Pa.
Diversity, Abundance, and Foraging Behaviour of Insect Pollinators in Litchi (Litchi chinensis Sonn.) under Hot and Subhumid Conditions
Authors: Kumari Pooja , Choudhary Jaipal Singh , Dey Debjani , Dhakar Mahesh Kumar
Published: August 2024

Insect pollinators and flowering plants have a long‐standing, coevolutionary, mutualistic relationship. One such example is the litchi tree (Litchi chinensis Sonn.), a fruit crop that relies on insect pollination. Litchi flowers are hermaphroditic, but they cannot self‐pollinate due to self‐sterility, unlike self‐pollinating plants. Therefore, insect pollinators are crucial to successful fruit development. To understand the pollinator’s foraging behaviour and diversity associated with litchi under hot and subhumid conditions, the present study was conducted on the Shahi variety of litchi at the ICAR‐Research Complex for Eastern Region, Farming System Research Centre for Hill and Plateau, Ranchi (Jharkhand), India. During the flowering period, a total of 19 species of insect pollinators from the orders Hymenoptera, Diptera, Lepidoptera, and Coleoptera were observed visiting litchi inflorescences. Apis mellifera and Apis dorsata were the most dominant pollinator species. Each species displayed distinct characteristics in terms of abundance and diversity. Varied foraging speeds (stay times) were also noted, with A. dorsata (6.94 s) being the fastest and Musca domestica (2.88 s) being the slowest. Pollinator activity was highest in the eastern direction, between 8:00 a.m. and 10:00 a.m. Apis florea had the highest foraging rate (visitation rate) (14.02 flowers visited per minute), followed by Apis mellifera, while Episyrphus taeniops​ had the lowest. Apis species were identified as the most abundant and frequent visitors in litchi orchards.
Umbilical Cord Blood‐Derived Cells Can Reconstruct Hematopoiesis in an Aplastic Anemia Animal Model
Authors: Chen Zesong , Yang Chen , Ji Jiang , Chen Miao , Han Bing
Published: August 2024

Objectives. To explore the efficacy and the mechanism of the umbilical cord‐derived cells combined with cyclosporine A (CsA) in treating aplastic anemia (AA) in mice. Methods. Immune‐mediated AA model mice were treated with CsA + UC mesenchymal stem cells (UC‐MSC), CsA + umbilical cord blood regulatory T cells (UCB‐Treg), UC‐MSC, UCB‐Treg, CsA alone, or blank control, respectively (n = 9 mice/group). CsA and the cell infusion was administered on d0. Routine peripheral blood testing was performed once weekly; bone marrow colony culture, bone marrow cell flow cytometry, peripheral blood T cell subsets, and serum inflammatory cytokines tests were performed on d14. Transcriptome sequencing was performed for cells from CsA + UC‐MSC, CsA + UCB‐Treg, and CsA groups to detect the possible related genes. Gene function cluster and signal pathway enrichment analysis were also performed. Results. Blank control mice died due to pancytopenia within 21 days, whereas mice in other groups survived for >28 days. On d14, the CsA + UC‐MSC and CsA + UCB‐Treg groups had higher white blood cell (WBC) counts than the other groups (p < 0.05), along with higher burst‐forming unit (BFU) and colony‐forming unit‐granulocyte, macrophage (CFU‐GM) counts (p < 0.01). The CsA + UC‐MSC group had the highest BFU count (p < 0.01). The CsA + UC‐MSC and CsA + UCB‐Treg groups exhibited the highest bone marrow CD34+ cell proportion (9.68% ± 1.35% and 8.17% ± 0.53%, respectively; p < 0.01). Tumor necrosis factor (TNF)‐α and interleukin (IL)‐2 levels in the CsA + UC‐MSC group (p < 0.05) and TNF‐α, interleukin‐2, and interferon (INF)‐γ levels in the CsA + UC‐Treg group (p < 0.01) were lower than those in the CsA group. Compared with CsA treatment, CsA + UC‐MSC significantly downregulated the histone methylation pathway (p < 0.05), whereas CsA + UCB‐Treg significantly upregulated energy metabolism processes (p < 0.05). Treatment with CsA + UC‐MSC upregulated superoxide dismutase activity compared with CsA + UCB‐Treg treatment. Conclusions. Adding UC‐MSC or UCB‐Treg to CsA markedly enhanced the reconstruction of hematopoiesis in AA mice, with UC‐MSC eliciting greater efficiency than UCB‐Treg. Accordingly, the addition of these cells could further improve immune abnormalities.
Study of Treatment and Patient Factors of Hemoporfin‐Photodynamic Therapy for Port‐Wine Stains
Authors: Mao Xiaofei , Feng Hao , Liu Xiaohan , Jin Hongzhong
Published: August 2024

Background. Port‐wine stains (PWS) affect a substantial number of people, and despite the use of pulsed dye laser as the gold standard therapy, some patients fail to respond, and new modalities are needed. Recently, hemoporfin‐photodynamic therapy (hemoporfin‐PDT) has shown good efficacy and safety in treating PWS, with increasing evidence. Objectives. To evaluate the efficacy and safety of hemoporfin‐PDT in the treatment of PWS and to analyze the factors that influence efficacy. Methods. The clinical data of 215 patients (79 men and 136 women aged 3–71 years) from a single center were retrospectively analyzed, out of which 173 were valid for efficacy analysis and 129 for safety analysis. Efficacy was rated as excellent (≥75% improvement), good (≥50% to <75% improvement), fair (≥25% to <50%), and poor (<25% improvement) by two blinded dermatologists. The patient‐assessed efficacy was collected based on the aforementioned criteria using an electronic questionnaire. The association of efficacy with possible influential factors was investigated, namely, age, sex, history of previous treatment, combined scars caused by previous treatments, lesion site, lesion type, lesion size, degree of lip involvement, and number of hemoporfin‐PDT sessions. Adverse events were investigated to evaluate the safety profile. Results. Excellent, good, fair, and poor efficacy was achieved in 78 (45.1%), 38 (22.0%), 36 (20.8%), and 21 (12.1%) patients, respectively, after a variable number of sessions of hemoporfin‐PDT. More treatment sessions (p < 0.001), age ≥18 years (p = 0.037), no previous treatments (p = 0.020), and head/neck location (p = 0.009) were associated with better outcomes. Pain, edema, exudation/crusting, and hyperpigmentation were common adverse events, with satisfactory recovery. Scarring occurred in 2.3% of the patients. Conclusions. For treating PWS with hemoporfin‐PDT, more treatment sessions and head/neck location are predictors of better outcomes, whereas previous treatment history is a predictor of poorer outcomes.
Evaluation of Small‐Scale Irrigation Scheme Performance and Proposed Alternative Mitigation for Improved Water Management on Wezeqa and Gatto Irrigation Schemes, Southern, Ethiopia
Authors: Ketsela Yohannes Smeneh , Reta Birara Gebeyhu , Muche Amare Tadesse
Published: August 2024

The performance of irrigation schemes in Ethiopia is too low due to a lack of proper system management, water control structure, and strong water user association. This study aimed to assess small‐scale irrigation scheme’s performance and proposed alternative mitigation for improved water management. Direct measurement, laboratory analysis, field observation, and stakeholder interviews were used to collect the primary data. The average conveyance efficiency, water surface elevation ratio, canal delivery capacity, adequacy, and equity of the Wezeqa and Gatto irrigation schemes were 86.37% and 75.4%, 55% and 60.3%, 71% and 55.8%, 0.68 and 0.67, and 0.4 and 0.43, respectively. The mean value of application and storage efficiencies of the Wezeqa and Gatto irrigation schemes were 59.8% and 49.4% and 94.3% and 92.2%, respectively. The effectiveness of infrastructure and weir sediment ratio in the Wezeqa irrigation scheme was 24.4% and 78.5%, respectively, and almost all infrastructures in the Gatto irrigation scheme were not functional. To solve the water shortage for both systems, water‐harvesting technology was proposed having a net volume of harvesting water during the night storage of 13,093.7 and 15,897.6 m3 for Wezeka and Gatto, respectively. Therefore, adopting water‐harvesting technology and establishing strong water user associations are recommended to minimize the water scarcity problem to improve water management and sustainability.
Rail Corrugation Characteristics Deduced from a Wavelet Analysis of High‐Speed Train Interior Noise and Vibration
Authors: Gu Xiaohan Phrain , Han Yajing , Shi Junming , Wang Anbin
Published: August 2024

A method to deduce the characteristics of rail corrugation was developed and presented in this paper. It has been found that noise and vibration in the train vehicle were primarily contributed by rail corrugation and wheel polygonalisation. As the characteristics of wheel sets of a particular train can be assumed to be unchanged during a trip, rail corrugation along the tracks of the trip can be identified. Wavelet analysis was employed in analysing interior noise and vibration data collected inside a high‐speed train vehicle traveling on a typical high‐speed line in China. Noise and vibration data corresponding to increasing, decreasing, and unchanged train speeds were grouped and examined using time‐frequency domain analysis. For both acceleration and deceleration speed conditions, the characteristic frequency of interior noise and vibration changes as the train speed changes, in a discontinuous pattern, and with a fixed speed‐frequency ratio, which can be deducted as the pinned‐pinned frequency of rail vibration and wavelength of rail corrugation in corresponding rail track sections. This method enables accurate restoration of rail corrugation characteristics, without having to apply for railway possession for rail corrugation tests onsite, which is an inexpensive yet reliable method to provide a basis for the formulation of line maintenance and rail grinding plans.
Implementation of Robotic Coronary Surgery after Established Mitral Robotic Program
Authors: Grazioli Valentina , Pettinari Matteo , Personeni Davide , Graniero Ascanio , Giroletti Laura , Albano Giovanni , Parrinello Matteo , Roscitano Claudio , Torregrossa Gianluca , Agnino Alfonso
Published: August 2024

Aims. We described our advancement in the field of robotic cardiac surgery, particularly in the context of coronary revascularization. We will outline how the application of the Da Vinci® X Surgical System in coronary surgery is safe, feasible, and reproducible after an adequate familiarization with the docking system, that could come from a previous mitral valve robotic program, and after a sufficient learning time period. Methods. Between February 2021 and December 2023, a cohort of 33 patients underwent coronary artery revascularization surgery, involving robotic harvesting of the left mammary artery and off‐pump hand‐direct bypass to the left descending coronary artery or marginal coronary artery. In cases of hybrid revascularization, percutaneous coronary intervention with drug‐eluting stent placement was performed either before or after surgery. Results. There were no mortalities within 30 days and at 1 year of follow‐up after surgery. Notably, 70% of patients were extubated in the operating room immediately following the surgical procedure. The median postoperative mechanical ventilation time was 0 [0–4] hours, and the median length of stay in the intensive care unit was 21 [20–48] hours. A progressive reduction of the console and instrumental Da Vinci® X Surgical System was underling after the 21st patient. Conclusion. The promising outcomes observed in this series highlight that robotic‐assisted coronary artery bypass represents a well‐established technique that could be reproducible, especially when integrated into a hybrid strategy. Initiating a program in robotic‐assisted coronary artery bypass surgery can be effectively attained in particularly when a well‐established background in Da Vinci® X Surgical System utilization is achieved.
A Farnesyl Pyrophosphate Synthase from Apostichopus japonicus Is Involved in Saponin Biosynthesis and Regulated by Immune Processes
Authors: Jiang Pingzhe , Chen Zhong , Gao Shan , Zhang Feifei , Li Li , Liu Yujun , Li Peipei , Xiao Yao , Dong Ying , Liu Guiying , Jiang Jingwei , Zhou Zunchun
Published: August 2024

Apostichopus japonicus is one of the few animals that can synthesize saponins. Present understanding of saponin biosynthesis is often limited to genome analysis, leaving the precise mechanism still unclear. This study examined the potential role of a gene annotated as farnesyl pyrophosphate synthase (FPS) in saponin biosynthesis of A. japonicus. We amplified its complete cDNA (denoted as AjFPS) and produced its recombinant protein (rAjFPS) through rapid amplification of cDNA ends (RACE) and Escherichia coli expression system, respectively. RNA interference and correlation analysis of AjFPS transcriptional expression level and saponin content were conducted to evaluate the role of AjFPS in saponin biosynthesis. A pull‐down assay was used to preliminarily explore its regulatory role in saponin biosynthesis. The complete cDNA sequence of AjFPS was shown to be 3,006 bp in length. The inferred amino acid sequence harbored two conserved aspartate‐rich sites (DDXXD). Analysis of the amino acid sequence using phylogenetics showed that AjFPS was more similar to FPSs found in saponin‐producing marine organisms rather than those in non‐saponin‐producing ones or plants. The knockdown of AjFPS resulted in a remarkable decline in saponin content. The temporal expression of AjFPS was significantly correlated with the variation in saponin content after Vibrio splendidus challenge. The pull‐down analysis illustrated that AjFPS interacted directly or indirectly with diverse immune‐related factors associated with pathogen recognition and destruction and protection against oxidative stress. Combined, these results suggested that AjFPS is involved in saponin synthesis, and this process in A. japonicus is likely modulated by immune processes, with AjFPS serving as a regulatory node. These findings will promote a deeper understanding of saponin synthesis and immune regulation as well as contribute to the improvement of saponin quality traits in cultured A. japonicus.
Calculating Comfort Indexes and Applying Comfort Models to Predict Thermal Sensation Vote in Sports Centres
Authors: Borghero Luca , Escudero Santiago , Ortiz Joana , Salom Jaume
Published: August 2024

Predicting the indoor thermal comfort of people while doing sports might pose challenges, as the combination of high metabolic rate, increased humidity of the space due to physical exercise, and the alternate of more and less intense tasks influence perception. This paper is aimed at comparing environmental data (temperature and relative humidity) and calculating comfort indexes (heat index) and two comfort models (Fanger’s predicted mean value and the adaptive thermal comfort model) with people’s perceptions of the environment. Indoor environmental data for the analysis were collected by monitoring several rooms in eight sports centres in a Mediterranean climate. The thermal sensation votes (TSVs) of the occupants were obtained through an online survey. A detailed explanation of the methodology of the monitoring, creation, and management of the survey and the tools used to analyse the data is provided. Results compare the relation between the TSV and the parameters or indexes calculated. Fanger’s predicted mean vote (PMV) model is not able to correctly predict people’s sensations, neither for low nor for high metabolic rates. Finally, the neutral temperature of the adaptive model for the studied conditions is calculated. Among the studied parameters and indices, temperature exhibits the strongest correlation with the thermal sensation of the occupants. However, occupants did not report a significant sensation regarding humidity in accordance with the objective conditions of the rooms. The heat index also did not show any significant correlation with the TSV. Nevertheless, across a wide range of conditions, including variations in metabolic activities, temperature, and relative humidity, the percentage of thermal dissatisfaction (indicated by “very hot” responses) remains consistently high. Notably, the temperature at which a peak in neutral sensation can be achieved is less than 21° for low metabolic rate activities.
Disseminated Infection Caused by Nocardia cyriacigeorgica in Immunocompromised Patient Confirmed by Whole Genome Sequencing
Authors: Varda Brkić Dijana , Babel Jakša , Budimir Ana , Butić Iva , Gužvinec Marija , Jurić Dragan , Ferenčak Ivana , Bošnjak Selma , Mareković Ivana
Published: August 2024

Introduction: Nocardia spp. is an opportunistic pathogen capable of causing localized and disseminated infections in immunocompromised hosts. It is critical for serious infections to have an early and accurate identification of this pathogen in order to enable timely and focused combination antimicrobial treatment. Case Presentation: We describe the case of an 87-year-old patient previously treated for myasthenia gravis with corticosteroids and azathioprine. Patient was admitted at the emergency department with clinical signs of sepsis with cellulitis of right hand associated with injury acquired after gardening and trimming roses and did not respond to empirical antimicrobial treatment. Computerized tomography revealed pulmonary infiltrates with inflammatory etiology. Nocardia cyriacigeorgica was cultivated from blood culture, skin swab, abscess aspirate, and endotracheal aspirate and identified by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS), 16S rRNA sequencing, and whole genome sequencing (WGS). Susceptibility testing was performed with E-test (bioMerieux, Marcy-l’Étoile, France), and corresponding resistance genes were detected by WGS. Resistance to amoxicillin-clavulanate, azithromycin, ciprofloxacin, and vancomycin was detected by both methods. Despite all interventions and the patient receiving antimicrobial treatment including imipenem-cilastatin, amikacin, and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, the course and outcome of infection were unfavorable. Conclusion: We would like to emphasize the need to consider the possibility of disseminated Nocardia infection in immunocompromised patients, especially in patients receiving long-term corticosteroid treatment with skin infections and/or cavitary lung lesions, especially if these do not improve with standard antimicrobial treatment. Precise species identity provides a critical guide for physicians in the choice of targeted treatment. Thanks to MALDI-TOF MS, Nocardia spp. identification is now available in routine lab work. WGS is still inevitable for the identification of uncommon and novel species due to the high sequence similarities between closely related species and the genetic diversity of that genus.
The Impact of TP53-Induced Glycolysis and Apoptosis Regulator on Prognosis in Hepatocellular Carcinoma: Association with Tumor Microenvironment and Ferroptosis
Authors: Toshida Katsuya , Itoh Shinji , Iseda Norifumi , Tanaka Shugo , Nakazono Kensuke , Tomiyama Takahiro , Yoshiya Shohei , Toshima Takeo , Harada Noboru , Kohashi Kenichi , Taniguchi Koji , Oda Yoshinao , Yoshizumi Tomoharu
Published: August 2024

Introduction: TP53-induced glycolysis and apoptosis regulator (TIGAR) is a p53 target protein that has critical roles in glycolysis and redox balance. The reports about the effect of TIGAR on prognosis and its biological role in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) are limited. Methods: A total of 386 patients with HCC who had undergone hepatic resection were enrolled. Immunohistochemical staining for TIGAR was performed. Additionally, the regulation of malignant activity and ferroptosis by TIGAR was investigated in vitro. Results: Patients were divided into TIGAR-positive (n = 80, 20.7%) and -negative (n = 306, 79.3%) groups. TIGAR positivity was significantly correlated with lower albumin, higher α-fetoprotein/ des-gamma-carboxyprothrombin, larger tumor size/number of tumors, and greater proportions of BCLC staging C/single nodular type/poor differentiation/microscopic vascular invasion/microscopic intrahepatic metastasis. In multivariate analysis, TIGAR positivity was an independent prognostic factor (p < 0.0001). In addition, TIGAR positivity was significantly associated with a smaller number of cluster of differentiation (CD) 8-positive T cells (p = 0.0450), larger number of CD68-positive macrophages (p = 0.0058), larger number of programmed death-ligand 1-positive cases (p = 0.0002), and larger number of vessels that encapsulate tumor cluster-positive cases (p = 0.0004). In vitro, TIGAR knockdown decreased cell motility and induced ferroptosis. TIGAR knockdown inhibited the phosphorylation of adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase and acetyl-CoA carboxylase. Ferroptosis induced by TIGAR knockdown was inhibited by liproxstatin and baicalein treatment. The combination of TIGAR knockdown and lenvatinib further induced ferroptosis. Conclusion: High expression of TIGAR impacted the clinical outcome of HCC patients and TIGAR was associated not only with tumor microenvironment but also with resistance to ferroptosis.
Patient-Centered Care Model’s Effectiveness in Reducing Patient Waiting Time in the Emergency Department: A Systematic Literature Review
Authors: Alhabib Anod , Almutairi Maram , Alqurashi Heba
Published: August 2024

Introduction: The emergency department (ED) is an essential component of any hospital that offers round-the-clock urgent treatment to patients in critical condition. However, lengthy waiting times are expected, which may negatively affect the patient’s health and overall experiences. This systematic review aims to assess the effectiveness of patient-centered care (PCC) models in reducing the time patients spend waiting in the emergency room by synthesizing the available evidence. This was conducted by following the following three research objectives: (i) to identify patient-centered care models implementation in hospital settings, (ii) to assess the effectiveness of patient-centered care models in improving patient outcomes in hospital settings, and(iii) to investigate the impact of prolonged waiting time on healthcare utilization in the ED. Methods: In this systematic review design to be included, an article had to be: full text, in English, peer-reviewed, address the evaluation of the effectiveness of the PCC model in reducing ED wait times, and the ED. Studies were excluded if they were abstracts, not fully available, published in any language other than English, were not peer-reviewed, did not meet the date of search, and were systematic reviews. The study was conducted by computerized databases which included PubMed, MEDLINE, Embase, Scopus, Web of Science, and CINHAL were searched between April 1, 2023–April 17, 2023. The study used the updated Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA 2020) statement which has been updated to PRISMA 2020, a reporting guideline designed to address the issue of inadequate systematic review reporting. All the articles that satisfied the predefined inclusion criteria were independently assessed for risk of bias by two independent reviewer. Results: A systematic review design searched the literature on ED context with PCC as the intervention to reduce the waiting time. Two independent reviewers screened the articles (3,114) using the PRISMA and 27 articles were included. Conclusion: Long waiting times resulted in many adverse events for patients, such as delayed treatment and poorer clinical outcomes. PCC can exert a very impressive role contribution to EDs as patients should be integrated with health care providers in their health issues and treated from all perspectives.