bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
An efficient swarm intelligence approach to the optimization on high-dimensional solutions with cross-dimensional constraints, with applications in supply chain management
Authors: Liu Hsin-Ping , Phoa Frederick Kin Hing , Chen-Burger Yun-Heh , Lin Shau-Ping
Published: January 2024

Introduction

The Swarm Intelligence Based (SIB) method has widely been applied to efficient optimization in many fields with discrete solution domains. E-commerce raises the importance of designing suitable selling strategies, including channel- and direct sales, and the mix of them, but researchers in this field seldom employ advanced metaheuristic techniques in their optimization problem due to the complexities caused by the high-dimensional problems and cross-dimensional constraints.

Method

In this work, we introduce an extension of the SIB method that can simultaneously tackle these two challenges. To pursue faster computing, CPU parallelization techniques are employed for algorithm acceleration.

Results

The performance of the SIB method is examined on the problems of designing selling schemes in different scales. It outperforms the Genetic Algorithm (GA) in terms of both the speed of convergence and the optimized capacity as measured using improvement multipliers.
Influence of food packaging color and foods type on consumer purchase intention: the mediating role of perceived fluency
Authors: Su Jie , Wang Shuqi
Published: January 2024

Packaging color entices and influences consumer perceptions and significantly affects the identification of products. Marketers manipulate the exterior packaging to influence consumer expectations, experiences, and behaviors. Building upon psychological literature on colors and emotions, we explored the influence of food packaging color and food type on consumers’ purchase intentions. Study 1 explored the interaction effects between food packaging color (warm vs. cold) and food type (vice foods vs. virtue foods) on consumers’ purchase intentions. Study 2 examined whether perceived fluency mediates the interaction effect of food packaging color and food type on consumers’ purchase intentions. The results showed that for vice foods, characterized by tastiness but unhealthiness, the utilization of warm-colored food packaging enhances consumer purchase intent. In contrast, for virtue foods that are healthful but lack gustatory appeal, the use of cold food packaging colors will lead to higher consumer purchase intent. Perceived fluency mediates the interaction effect of food packaging color and food type on consumers’ purchase intentions. This study will assist marketers to exploring a range of possibilities for packing color, impacting both the physiological and cognitive dimensions of consumer behavior related to food products, and offering practical implications for market managers.
CT−based radiomics signature for differentiating pyelocaliceal upper urinary tract urothelial carcinoma from infiltrative renal cell carcinoma
Authors: Zhai Xiaoli , Sun Penghui , Yu Xianbo , Wang Shuangkun , Li Xue , Sun Weiqian , Liu Xin , Tian Tian , Zhang Bowen
Published: January 2024

Objectives

To develop a CT-based radiomics model and a combined model for preoperatively discriminating infiltrative renal cell carcinoma (RCC) and pyelocaliceal upper urinary tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC), which invades the renal parenchyma.

Materials and methods

Eighty patients (37 pathologically proven infiltrative RCCs and 43 pathologically proven pyelocaliceal UTUCs) were retrospectively enrolled and randomly divided into a training set (n = 56) and a testing set (n = 24) at a ratio of 7:3. Traditional CT imaging characteristics in the portal venous phase were collected by two radiologists (SPH and ZXL, who have 4 and 30 years of experience in abdominal radiology, respectively). Patient demographics and traditional CT imaging characteristics were used to construct the clinical model. The radiomics score was calculated based on the radiomics features extracted from the portal venous CT images and the random forest (RF) algorithm to construct the radiomics model. The combined model was constructed using the radiomics score and significant clinical factors according to the multivariate logistic regression. The diagnostic efficacy of the models was evaluated using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis and the area under the curve (AUC).

Results

The RF score based on the eight validated features extracted from the portal venous CT images was used to build the radiomics model. Painless hematuria as an independent risk factor was used to build the clinical model. The combined model was constructed using the RF score and the selected clinical factor. Both the radiomics model and combined model showed higher efficacy in differentiating infiltrative RCC and pyelocaliceal UTUC in the training and testing cohorts with AUC values of 0.95 and 0.90, respectively, for the radiomics model and 0.99 and 0.90, respectively, for the combined model. The decision curves of the combined model as well as the radiomics model indicated an overall net benefit over the clinical model. Both the radiomics model and the combined model achieved a notable reduction in false-positive and false-negativerates, resulting in significantly higher accuracy compared to the visual assessments in both the training and testing cohorts.

Conclusion

The radiomics model and combined model had the potential to accurately differentiate infiltrative RCC and pyelocaliceal UTUC, which invades the renal parenchyma, and provide a new potentially non-invasive method to guide surgery strategies.
Safety and effectiveness of CIMAvax-EGF administered in community polyclinics
Authors: Ortiz Carrodeguas Ramón A. , Lorenzo Monteagudo Geidy , Guerra Chaviano Pedro P. , Álvarez Montané Irene , Salomón Saldívar Eva E. , Lobaina Lambert Leonardo , Camacho Sosa Kirenia , Bermúdez Pino Raúl , Blanco Mustelier Poncio , Valdés Rodríguez Elba , González Piloto Shairis , Guerra de la Vega Arelys , Valdés Sánchez Lizet , Montes De Santis Arasay , Parra Zabala Jenelly , Viada González Carmen , Calvo Aguilera Nadia , Saavedra Hernández Danay , Santos Morales Orestes , Crombet Ramos Tania
Published: January 2024

In spite of the advances in immunotherapy and targeted therapies, lung cancer continues to be the leading cause of cancer-related death. The epidermal growth factor receptor is an established target for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), and its overactivation by the ligands can induce accelerated proliferation, angiogenesis, and metastasis as well as proinflammatory or immunosuppressive signals. CIMAvax-EGF is an epidermal growth factor (EGF)-depleting immunotherapy that is approved for the treatment of NSCLC patients in Cuba. The study was designed as a phase IV trial to characterize the safety and effectiveness of CIMAvax-EGF in advanced NSCLC patients treated in 119 community polyclinics and 24 hospitals. CIMAvax-EGF treatment consisted of four bi-weekly doses followed by monthly boosters. Overall, 741 NSCLC patients ineligible for further cancer-specific treatment were enrolled. CIMAvax-EGF was safe, and the most common adverse events consisted of mild-to-moderate injection site reactions, fever, chills, tremors, and headache. For patients completing the loading doses, the median survival was 9.9 months. For individuals achieving at least stable disease to the frontline and completing vaccination induction, the median survival was 12 months. Most of the functional activities and symptoms evaluated through the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) QLQ-C30 questionnaire improved over time. In conclusion, this real-world trial demonstrated that CIMAvax-EGF was safe and effective in patients who were vaccinated in the maintenance scenario. A larger effect was seen in subjects with poor prognosis like those with squamous tumors and high EGF levels. Remarkably, this community-based intervention was very important because it demonstrated the feasibility of treating advanced lung cancer patients with active immunotherapy in primary care institutions. In addition to CIMAvax-EGF, patients received supportive care at the community clinic. Vaccine administration by the family doctors at the polyclinics reduced the patients’ burden on the medical oncology services that continued providing chemotherapy and other complex therapies. We conclude that community polyclinics constitute the optimal scenario for administering those cancer vaccines that are safe and require prolonged maintenance in patients with advanced cancer, despite the continuous deterioration of their general condition.

Clinical trial registration

https://rpcec.sld.cu/trials/RPCEC00000205-En, identifier RPCEC00000205.
Depletion of the m1A writer TRMT6/TRMT61A reduces proliferation and resistance against cellular stress in bladder cancer
Authors: Monshaugen Ida , Luna Luisa , Rhodes Jayden , Kristiansen Felicia Iselin Svensson , Lång Anna , Bøe Stig Ove , Dutta Anindya , Su Zhangli , Klungland Arne , Ougland Rune
Published: January 2024

Background

Bladder cancer (BLCA) is a common and deadly disease that results in a reduced quality of life for the patients and a significant economic burden on society. A better understanding of tumorigenesis is needed to improve clinical outcomes. Recent evidence places the RNA modification m1A and its regulatory proteins TRMT6/TRMT61A and ALKBH3 in BLCA pathogenesis.

Methods

TRMT6/TRMT61A, ALKBH1, and ALKBH3 expression was examined in human BLCA cell lines and a normal urinary tract epithelium cell line through qRT-PCR and western blot analysis. Prestoblue Cell Viability Reagent, wound-healing assay, and live-cell imaging-based cell displacement analysis, were conducted to assess proliferation, migration, and displacement of this BLCA cell line panel. Cell survival was assessed after inducing cellular stress and activating the unfolded protein response (UPR) with tunicamycin. Moreover, siRNA-mediated gene silencing in two BLCA cell lines (5637 and HT1197) was conducted to investigate the biological roles of TRMT6/TRMT61A.

Results

Heterogeneous morphology, proliferation, displacement, tunicamycin sensitivity, and expression levels of m1A regulators were observed among the panel of cell lines examined. In general, TRMT61A expression was increased in BLCA cell lines when compared to SV-HUC-1. Depletion of TRMT6/TRMT61A reduced proliferation capacity in both 5637 and HT1197 cell lines. The average cell displacement of 5637 was also reduced upon TRMT6/TRMT61A depletion. Interestingly, TRMT6/TRMT61A depletion decreased mRNA expression of targets associated with the ATF6-branch of the UPR in 5637 but not in HT1197. Moreover, cell survival after induction of cellular stress was compromised after TRMT6/TRMT61A knockdown in 5637 but not in HT1197 cells.

Conclusion

The findings suggest that TRMT6/TRMT61A plays an oncogenic role in BLCA and is involved in desensitizing BLCA cells against cellular stress. Further investigation into the regulation of TRMT6/TRMT61A expression and its impact on cellular stress tolerance may provide insights for future BLCA treatment.
Survival impact and safety of intrathoracic and abdominopelvic cytoreductive surgery in advanced ovarian cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Wang Jiaxi , Wang Xingyu , Yin Wanjun , Zhang Shiqian
Published: January 2024

Purpose

Achieving no residual disease is essential for increasing overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) in ovarian cancer patients. However, the survival benefit of achieving no residual disease during both intrathoracic and abdominopelvic cytoreductive surgery is still unclear. This meta-analysis aimed to assess the survival benefit and safety of intrathoracic and abdominopelvic cytoreductive surgery in advanced ovarian cancer patients.

Methods

We systematically searched for studies in online databases, including PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science. We used Q statistics and I-squared statistics to evaluate heterogeneity, sensitivity analysis to test the origin of heterogeneity, and Egger’s and Begg’s tests to evaluate publication bias.

Results

We included 4 retrospective cohort studies, including 490 patients, for analysis; these studies were assessed as high-quality studies. The combined hazard ratio (HR) with 95% confidence interval (CI) for OS was 1.92 (95% CI 1.38-2.68), while the combined HR for PFS was 1.91 (95% CI 1.47-2.49). Only 19 patients in the four studies reported major complications, and 4 of these complications were surgery related.

Conclusion

The maximal extent of cytoreduction in the intrathoracic and abdominopelvic tract improves survival outcomes, including OS and PFS, in advanced ovarian cancer patients with acceptable complications.

Systematic Review Registration

PROSPERO, identifier CRD42023468096
One-year follow-up of young people with ME/CFS following infectious mononucleosis by Epstein-Barr virus
Authors: Pricoco Rafael , Meidel Paulina , Hofberger Tim , Zietemann Hannah , Mueller Yvonne , Wiehler Katharina , Michel Kaja , Paulick Johannes , Leone Ariane , Haegele Matthias , Mayer-Huber Sandra , Gerrer Katrin , Mittelstrass Kirstin , Scheibenbogen Carmen , Renz-Polster Herbert , Mihatsch Lorenz , Behrends Uta
Published: January 2024

Background

Infectious mononucleosis after primary infection with Epstein-Barr virus (EBV-IM) has been linked to the development of myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue-syndrome (ME/CFS) in children, adolescents, and young adults. Here, we present clinical phenotypes and follow-up data from a first German cohort of young people with ME/CFS following EBV-IM.

Methods

12 adolescents and 13 young adults were diagnosed with IM-triggered ME/CFS at our specialized tertiary outpatient service by clinical criteria requiring post-exertional malaise (PEM) and a history of confirmed EBV primary infection as triggering event. Demographic information, laboratory findings, frequency and severity of symptoms, physical functioning, and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) were assessed and re-evaluated 6 and 12 months later.

Results

Young adults displayed more severe symptoms as well as worsening of fatigue, physical and mental functioning, and HRQoL throughout the study, compared to adolescents. After one year, 6/12 (54%) adolescents no longer met the diagnostic criteria for ME/CFS while all young adults continued to fulfill the Canadian consensus criteria. Improvement in adolescents was evident in physical functioning, symptom frequency and severity, and HRQoL, while young adults showed little improvement. EBV serology and EBV DNA load did not correlate with distinct clinical features of ME/CFS, and clinical chemistry showed no evidence of inflammation. Remarkably, the median time from symptom onset to ME/CFS diagnosis was 13.8 (IQR: 9.1–34.9) months.

Conclusions

ME/CFS following EBV-IM is a severely debilitating disease often diagnosed late and with limited responses to conventional medical care, especially in adults. Although adolescents may have a better prognosis, their condition can fluctuate and significantly impact their HRQoL. Our data emphasize that biomarkers and effective therapeutic options are also urgently needed to improve medical care and pave the way to recovery.
Approach to hematopoietic cell transplant candidates with respiratory viral detection
Authors: Kim Sara R. , Waghmare Alpana , Hijano Diego R.
Published: January 2024

The management of respiratory viruses prior to hematopoietic cell transplant (HCT) can be controversial and requires special consideration of host factors, transplant parameters, and the specific respiratory virus (RV). In the setting of adenovirus (ADV), human metapneumovirus (HMPV), influenza, parainfluenza virus (PIV), and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) detection prior to hematopoietic cell transplant (HCT), clinical practice guidelines recommend transplant delay when possible; however, there is much more ambiguity when other respiratory viruses, such as seasonal coronaviruses (CoVs), human rhinovirus (HRV), and SARS-CoV-2, are detected. Our aims for this review include detailing clinical practical guidelines and reviewing current literature on pre-transplant respiratory viral infections (RVIs), including antiviral therapies and prevention strategies, when available. We will center our discussion on three representative clinical scenarios, with the goal of providing practical guidance to clinicians.
Rare pediatric synchronous bilateral testicular germ cell tumors of different pathological types: a case report
Authors: Feng Yikun , Qu Yu , Wu Rongde , Liu Wei , Du Guoqiang
Published: January 2024

The occurrence of synchronous bilateral testicular germ cell tumors (BTGCTs) of different pathologic histologic types in pediatric patients is rare. We reported a case of a left testicular yolk sac tumor (YST) combined with a right testicular mature teratoma. Left orchiectomy and right testis-sparing surgery were performed. Retroperitoneal recurrence was noted 6 months after surgery. The patient underwent reoperation for the resection of a retroperitoneal mass, which was pathologically diagnosed as a recurrent YST. A full cycle of chemotherapy was then administered. No tumor metastasis or recurrence has yet been detected. We present this new case, and we review the previous literature on synchronous BTGCTs to explore the clinicopathologic features and summarize the diagnostic and therapeutic experience. Radical orchiectomy, as the standard treatment for YSTs, should be considered with caution in patients with bilateral testicular tumors. Rapid intraoperative frozen pathology provides support for timely surgical planning. In patients with intraoperative frozen pathologic specimens suggestive of benign lesions, testis-sparing surgery is the preferred treatment option.
Effect of calcium-channel blockers on the risk of active tuberculosis and mortality: systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Meregildo-Rodriguez Edinson Dante , Asmat-Rubio Martha Genara , Bardales-Zuta Victor Hugo , Vásquez-Tirado Gustavo Adolfo
Published: January 2024

Introduction: Recent studies suggest that calcium channel blockers (CCBs) could reduce the risk of active tuberculosis and improve clinical outcomes. We aimed to synthesize the evidence regarding the effect of CCBs on the risk of developing active tuberculosis and mortality.

Methods: We systematically searched for observational studies and clinical trials published in six databases until 31 August 2023, following a PECO/PICO strategy.

Results: We included eight observational studies, 4,020,830 patients, among whom 241,761 had diabetes mellitus and 30,397 had active tuberculosis. According to our results, CCBs reduce the risk of developing active tuberculosis by 29% (RR 0.71; 95% CI 0.67–0.75) in patients with and without diabetes mellitus. However, CCBs do not show any benefit in terms of tuberculosis-related mortality (RR 1.00; 95% CI 0.98–1.02). For both outcomes, no statistical heterogeneity was found (I2 = 0, p > 0.10). This protective effect of CCBs on the risk of active tuberculosis remained independent of the type of patient (with diabetes mellitus vs. general population) or the class of CCB administered (DHP-CCB vs. non-DHP-CCB) (test for subgroup differences I2 = 0, p > 0.10). However, this beneficial effect was more significant among the general population (RR 0.70; 95% CI 0.66–0.74) compared to patients with diabetes mellitus (RR 0.72; 95% CI 0.61–0.86) and among those patients treated with DHP-CCBs (RR 0.69; 95% CI 0.63–0.74) compared to patients treated with non-DHP-CCBs (RR 0.72; 95% CI 0.67–0.78).

Conclusion: CCBs may reduce the risk of active TB in patients with diabetes and the general population. On the contrary, CCBs do not seem to have a protective effect on tuberculosis-related mortality. However, more evidence is still needed. We recommend developing clinical trials to verify these findings, including more diverse populations.

Systematic Review Registration: [https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?RecordID=352129]
No-wait inversion—a novel model for T1 mapping from inversion recovery measurements without the waiting times
Authors: Bibiano Juliana , Kleineisel Jonas , Schad Oliver , Weng Andreas Max , Köstler Herbert , Slawig Anne
Published: January 2024

Introduction: Quantification of longitudinal relaxation time T1 gained interest as an important MR-inducible tissue property for tissue characterization. Standard inversion recovery (IR) measurements for T1 determination take a prohibitively long time, and signal models assume a perfect inversion. Acceleration is possible by using the Look–Locker (LL) technique or other accelerated, model-based algorithms. However, the calculation of real T1 values from LL acquisitions necessitates the knowledge of equilibrium magnetization M0. Thus, usually, a waiting time to allow for free relaxation between global inversion pulses must be implemented. This study aims to introduce a novel model-based fitting approach for T1 mapping without the need for such waiting times.

Methods: Single-inversion spiral LL spoiled gradient echo acquisitions were performed in a phantom and eight healthy volunteers using a 1.5T magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanner. The measurements comprised two parts, one without magnetization preparation and a second featuring a global inversion pulse preparation before each of the 35 slices. Acquisition was performed without any waiting time in between slices, i.e., before the inversion pulses. T1 maps were calculated based on an iterative model-based reconstruction algorithm which combines the information from these two measurements, with and without inversion.

Results: Accurate T1 maps were obtained in phantom and volunteer measurements. ROI-based mean T1 values differ by an average of 1.5% in the phantom and 5% in vivo between reference measurements and the proposed method. The combined fit benefits from both the information obtained in the inversion prepared and the unprepared measurements. The former provides a large dynamic range for accurate model-based fitting of the relaxation process, while the latter provides equilibrium magnetization M0, necessary to obtain accurate T1 values from a LL-like acquisition.

Conclusion: The proposed model of a combined fit of an inversion-prepared and an unprepared measurement allows for robust fast T1 mapping, even in cases of imperfect inversion due to skipped waiting times for magnetization recovery. Thus, it can render long waiting times in between inversion pulses redundant.
Recent development of fully kinetic particle-in-cell method and its application to fusion plasma instability study
Authors: Ren Jincai , Lapenta Giovanni
Published: January 2024

This paper reviews the recent advancements of the algorithm and application to fusion plasma instability study of the fully kinetic Particle-in-Cell (PIC) method. The strengths and limitations of both explicit and implicit PIC methods are described and compared. Additionally, the semi-implicit PIC method and the code ECsim used in our research are introduced. Furthermore, the application of PIC methods in fusion plasma instabilities is delved into. A detailed account of the recent progress achieved in the realm of tokamak plasma simulation through fully kinetic PIC simulations is also provided. Finally the prospective future development and application of PIC methods are discussed as well.
Effect of different postures and loads on joint motion and muscle activity in older adults during overhead retrieval
Authors: Zhou Chengmin , Xu Xue , Huang Ting , Kaner Jake
Published: January 2024

Introduction: Pain is a common health problem among older adults worldwide. Older adults tend to suffer from arm, lumbar, and back pain when using hanging cabinets.

Methods: This study used surface electromyography to record muscle activity and a motion capture system to record joint motion to research effects of different loads and retrieval postures on muscle activity and joint range of motion when older adults retrieve objects from a high place, to provide optimised feedback for the design of hanging cabinet furniture.

Results: We found that: 1) The activity of BB (Biceps brachii) on the side of the body interacting with the cabinet door was greater than that of UT (Upper trapezius) and BR (Brachial radius) when retrieving objects from a high place, the activity of UT on the side of the body interacting with a heavy object was greater than that of BB and BR. 2) The activity of UT decreases when the shoulder joint angle is greater than 90°, but the activity of BB increases as the angle increases. In contrast, increasing the object’s mass causes the maximum load on the shoulder joint. 3) Among the different postures for overhead retrieval, alternating between the right and left hand is preferable for the overhead retrieval task. 4) Age had the most significant effect on overhead retrieval, followed by height (of person), and load changes were significantly different only at the experiment’s left elbow joint and the L.BR. 5) Older adults took longer and exerted more effort to complete the task than younger adults, and static exercise in older adults may be more demanding on muscle activity in old age than powered exercise.

Conclusion: These results help to optimise the design of hanging cabinet furniture. Regarding the height of hanging cabinets, 180 cm or less is required for regular retrieval movements if the human height is less than 150 cm. Concerning the depth of the hanging cabinets, different heights chose different comfort distances, which translated into the depth of the hanging cabinets; the greater the height, the greater the depth of the hanging cabinets to use.
Differential eco-physiological performance to declining groundwater depth in Central Asian C3 and C4 shrubs in the Gurbantunggut Desert
Authors: Tiemuerbieke Bahejiayinaer , Ma Jian-Ying , Sun Wei
Published: January 2024

Resources in water-limited ecosystems are highly variable and unpredictable, and the maintenance of functional diversity among coexisting species is a crucial ecological strategy through which plants mitigate environmental stress. The comparison of differential eco-physiological responses among co-occurring plants in harsh environments could help provide deep insights into the coexistence mechanisms of competing species. Two coexisting desert shrubs with different photosynthetic pathways (Haloxylon ammodendron and Tamarix ramosissima) were selected in the Gurbantunggut Desert located in northwest China. This study detected variations in the water sources, photosynthetic parameters, stem water status, and non-structural carbohydrates of the two shrubs at three sites with different groundwater table depths during the growing seasons of 2015 and 2016 to identify distinct eco-physiological performances in coexisting plants with different functional types under fluctuating water conditions. The water sources of H. ammodendron shifted from soil water to groundwater, while T. ramosissima extracted water mainly from deep soil layers at both sites. Significant reductions in carbon assimilation and stomatal conductance in H. ammodendron with deeper groundwater table depth were detected during most drought periods, but no significant decreases in transpiration rate were detected with declining groundwater table depth. For T. ramosissima, all of these gas exchange parameters decreased with the progression of summer drought, and their relative reduction rates were larger compared with those of H. ammodendron. The stem water status of H. ammodendron deteriorated, and the relative reduction rates of water potential increased with deeper groundwater, whereas those of T. ramosissima did not differ with greater groundwater depth. These findings indicated that prolonged drought would intensify the impact of declining groundwater depth on the eco-physiology of both shrubs, but the extent to which the shrubs would respond differed. The two shrubs were segregated along the water–carbon balance continuum: the C3 shrub T. ramosissima maximized its carbon fixation at an enormous cost of water, while greater carbon fixation was achieved with far greater water economy for H. ammodendron. These results demonstrated that the two shrubs prioritized carbon gain and water loss differently when faced with limited water sources. These mechanisms might mitigate competitive stress and enable their coexistence.
Comparative transcriptome profiling reveals differential defense responses among Alternaria brassicicola resistant Sinapis alba and susceptible Brassica rapa
Authors: Ahmed Reshma , Dey Kuntal Kumar , Senthil-Kumar Muthappa , Modi Mahendra Kumar , Sarmah Bidyut Kumar , Bhorali Priyadarshini
Published: January 2024

Alternaria blight is a devastating disease that causes significant crop losses in oilseed Brassicas every year. Adoption of conventional breeding to generate disease-resistant varieties has so far been unsuccessful due to the lack of suitable resistant source germplasms of cultivated Brassica spp. A thorough understanding of the molecular basis of resistance, as well as the identification of defense-related genes involved in resistance responses in closely related wild germplasms, would substantially aid in disease management. In the current study, a comparative transcriptome profiling was performed using Illumina based RNA-seq to detect differentially expressed genes (DEGs) specifically modulated in response to Alternaria brassicicola infection in resistant Sinapis alba, a close relative of Brassicas, and the highly susceptible Brassica rapa. The analysis revealed that, at 48 hpi (hours post inoculation), 3396 genes were upregulated and 23239 were downregulated, whereas at 72 hpi, 4023 genes were upregulated and 21116 were downregulated. Furthermore, a large number of defense response genes were detected to be specifically regulated as a result of Alternaria infection. The transcriptome data was validated using qPCR-based expression profiling for selected defense-related DEGs, that revealed significantly higher fold change in gene expression in S. alba when compared to B. rapa. Expression of most of the selected genes was elevated across all the time points under study with significantly higher expression towards the later time point of 72 hpi in the resistant germplasm. S. alba activates a stronger defense response reaction against the disease by deploying an array of genes and transcription factors involved in a wide range of biological processes such as pathogen recognition, signal transduction, cell wall modification, antioxidation, transcription regulation, etc. Overall, the study provides new insights on resistance of S. alba against A. brassicicola, which will aid in devising strategies for breeding resistant varieties of oilseed Brassica.
Why critical psychology and the neurodiversity movement need each other
Authors: Thomas Eleanor
Published: January 2024

Critical psychology is a discipline that can be defined in a variety of ways, though common themes include critiquing mainstream psychology as well as critiquing society at large and engaging in social change to respond to those critiques. The neurodiversity movement is a political movement that emerged in response to the dehumanizing treatment of Autistic and other neurodivergent individuals by society in general and by mainstream psychology specifically. In this article, I describe five ways in which critical psychology and the neurodiversity movement can and have begun to benefit from each other: (a) by critical psychologists embracing neurodivergent epistemologies in the way they embrace other diverse epistemologies; (b) by resisting attempts within mainstream psychology to pathologize difference or “treat” these so-called psychopathologies by modifying behavior; (c) by practitioners developing cultural competency around neurodivergent culture within the psychotherapeutic practice; (d) by challenging the homogenization and whitewashing within the neurodiversity movement through leveraging lessons from within various critical psychologies; and (e) by researchers and practitioners recognizing and combatting instances of ableism embedded in other forms of oppression and within the field of critical psychology itself.
Association of perceived stress and sleep quality among medical students: the mediating role of anxiety and depression symptoms during COVID-19
Authors: Huang Wanmin , Wen Xueke , Li Yunjia , Luo Chunliu
Published: January 2024

COVID-19 has intensified the influence on medical students by changing the lifestyle, online study and clinical practice which bring out series of stress, sleep disturbance and mental health problems. This cross-sectional study aim to explore the association between perceived stress and sleep quality among medical students and investigated whether anxiety and depression mediated this association during pandemic. A total of 1,021 medical students in two universities who were from Guangdong Province, China participated this study and from January to September 2020 through the online question are, with 28.80% reporting sleep disturbances. The medical students were finished various self-reported questionnaires, including the Perceived Stress Scale-10, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 Scale, and Patient Health Questionnaire-9, the study found positive correlations among sleep quality, perceived stress, anxiety, and depression. The data was analyzed with The Amos 26.0 system. Result demonstrated that perceived stress was associated with poor sleep quality. Anxiety and depression partially mediated the association between perceived stress and poor sleep quality, explaining 73.08% of the association. This study’s structural equation model offers a useful framework for assessing mechanisms mediating associations between perceived stress and sleep quality. The findings emphases the importance of addressing psychological factors in high-pressure situations, which can exacerbate sleep disturbances among medical students. It is important to screen the level of stress, mental health problems and investigate the risk factors of sleep quality among medical students during emergency public health events.
Innovative integration: optimizing performance through warm-up and photobiomodulation in high-intensity test
Authors: Santos Izabela A. , Lemos Marina Paiva , Puggina Enrico Fuini , Mota Gustavo R.
Published: January 2024

We investigated whether the application of photobiomodulation therapy (PBMT) immediately after a standardized warm-up (WU + PBMT) or traditional PBMT (no pre-warming) would influence performance in intermittent testing and intensity variables. In a counterbalanced randomized crossover design, twelve female futsal players (mean age: 23.9 ± 3.8 years) attended four sessions. Each session involved either a standardized warm-up or maintaining seated rest for five minutes. Subsequently, PBMT or placebo (with the PBMT device turned off) was applied, followed by the YoYo Intermittent Recovery Level 1 test (YYIR1) during which we assessed heart rate, rating of perceived exertion, and blood lactate levels. The performance in YYIIR1 was superior (p = 0.02) in the WU + PBMT condition (440.0 ± 59.0 m) compared to the WU + Placebo (353.3 ± 94.7 m), and placebo alone (no warm-up) (325.0 ± 67.2 m). We conclude that a combination of a specific warm-up before PBMT application improves high-intensity intermittent performance in amateur female futsal players without affecting intensity variables.
Metastatic Pancreatic Cancer: Where Are We?
Authors: Hernández-Blanquisett Abraham , Quintero-Carreño Valeria , Martínez-Ávila María Cristina , Porto María , Manzur-Barbur María Carolina , Buendía Emiro
Published: January 2024

Pancreatic cancer is one of the most lethal neoplasms worldwide; it is aggressive in nature and has a poor prognosis. The overall survival rate for pancreatic cancer is low. Most patients present non-specific symptoms in the advanced stages, which generally leads to late diagnosis, at which point there is no option for curative surgery. The treatment of metastatic pancreatic cancer includes systemic therapy, in some cases radiotherapy, and more recently, molecular targeted therapies, which can positively impact cancer control and improve quality of life. This review provides an overview of the molecular landscape of pancreatic cancer based on the most recent literature, as well as current treatment options for patients with metastatic pancreatic cancer.
Numerical Simulation of Heat Pipe Thermal Performance for Aerospace Cooling System Applications
Authors: Scigliano Roberto , De Simone Valeria , Fusaro Roberta , Ferretto Davide , Viola Nicole
Published: January 2024

The design of integrated and highly efficient solutions for thermal management is a key capability for different aerospace products, ranging from civil aircraft using hydrogen on board to miniaturized satellites. In particular, this paper discloses a novel numerical tool for the design and thermal performance assessment of heat pipes. To achieve this goal, a numerical Ansys Parametric Design Language code is set up to verify the effective subtractive heat flux guaranteed by the selected heat pipe arrangement. The methodology and related tool show their ability to provide good thermal performance estimates for different heat pipe designs and operating conditions. Specifically, the paper reports two very different test cases: (1) solid metal heat pipes to cool down the crotch leading-edge area of the air intake of a Mach 8 civil passenger aircraft, and (2) a copper-water heat pipe to cool down a Printed Circuit Board of a generic small LEO satellite. The successful application of the methodology and numerical code confirms the achievement of the ambitious goal of developing in-house tools to support heat pipe thermal performance prediction for the entire aerospace domain.
Charging Stations for Large-Scale Deployment of Electric Vehicles
Authors: Benmouna Amel , Borderiou Laurence , Becherif Mohamed
Published: January 2024

The large-scale adoption of electric vehicles will require a charging infrastructure that meets the new needs that will arise. Currently, the charging infrastructure for electric vehicles is still in the early stages of development, not least because of the low number of electric vehicles in use. However, there are still many questions to be answered when it comes to standardization in terms of connectors, DC or AC charging, and power, as well as both operational and economic issues. Although this topic has been the subject of numerous studies over the last ten years, there are still gaps to be filled, particularly with regard to the mix of different recharging strategies (normal, accelerated, fast, induction-track, etc.), as well as the economic and operational aspects. Moreover, the relationship between users and private cars is changing rapidly, and charging behaviors are not yet well established.
Biophysical Control of the Glioblastoma Immunosuppressive Microenvironment: Opportunities for Immunotherapy
Authors: Teer Landon , Yaddanapudi Kavitha , Chen Joseph
Published: January 2024

GBM is the most aggressive and common form of primary brain cancer with a dismal prognosis. Current GBM treatments have not improved patient survival, due to the propensity for tumor cell adaptation and immune evasion, leading to a persistent progression of the disease. In recent years, the tumor microenvironment (TME) has been identified as a critical regulator of these pro-tumorigenic changes, providing a complex array of biomolecular and biophysical signals that facilitate evasion strategies by modulating tumor cells, stromal cells, and immune populations. Efforts to unravel these complex TME interactions are necessary to improve GBM therapy. Immunotherapy is a promising treatment strategy that utilizes a patient’s own immune system for tumor eradication and has exhibited exciting results in many cancer types; however, the highly immunosuppressive interactions between the immune cell populations and the GBM TME continue to present challenges. In order to elucidate these interactions, novel bioengineering models are being employed to decipher the mechanisms of immunologically “cold” GBMs. Additionally, these data are being leveraged to develop cell engineering strategies to bolster immunotherapy efficacy. This review presents an in-depth analysis of the biophysical interactions of the GBM TME and immune cell populations as well as the systems used to elucidate the underlying immunosuppressive mechanisms for improving current therapies.
Influence of Body Mass Index, Physical Fitness, and Physical Activity on Energy Expenditure during Recess
Authors: Ayán-Pérez Carlos , González-Devesa Daniel , Diz-Gómez José Carlos , Varela Silvia
Published: January 2024

This study aims to investigate the potential relationship between energy expenditure, physical fitness level, physical activity, and body mass index among children taking part in a 30 min school recess. A total of 259 participants from three schools were included in this study. Data on energy expenditure during recess, age, gender, anthropometric measurements, global physical fitness, and physical activity index were recorded. The evaluation sessions occurred twice a week on alternate days over two weeks. A significant gender difference was observed in energy expenditure during recess, favoring boys (p < 0.01). The participants classified as very active exhibited significantly higher scores compared to those categorized as sedentary and moderately active, respectively (p < 0.01), with a poor but significant correlation (rho: 0.208; p < 0.001). There were significant differences between energy expenditure and cardiorespiratory fitness and energy expenditure and global physical fitness (p < 0.01) with fair (rho: 0.289; p < 0.001) and poor (rho: 0.196, p = 0.001) correlation, respectively. In contrast, there were no significant differences by body mass index categories (p = 0.571). These results suggest that gender, physical activity index, and global physical fitness were found to influence energy expenditure during a 30 min recess. However, no significant relationships were found with the body mass index.
The Baget Karstic System and the Interstitial Environment of Lachein, a Hotspot of Subterranean Biodiversity in the Pyrenees (France)
Authors: Bréhier Franck , Defaye Danielle , Faille Arnaud , Bedos Anne
Published: January 2024

Located in Lestelas-Balaguères massif, central northern Pyrenees, France, the Baget catchment covers 13.25 km2 and is highly karstified: so far, more than 80 caves have been recorded. The main outlet of the system, the exsurgence de Las Hountas, has an average flow of 550 L/s. Downstream, it is connected with the hyporheic of the Lachein stream. The Baget system, formed by both the karstic system and the hyporheic, has been intensively investigated by cave biologists and is known to be a hotspot for subterranean biodiversity. The synthesis provided here lists no less than 17 troglobionts and 40 stygobionts, with 3 single site endemics, making the Baget system the richest subterranean hotspot in the Pyrenees. This is notably due to the diversity of subterranean habitats and to the comprehensive knowledge of the stygofauna, likely unmatched at the European scale. Considering the significant speleological findings of the last 15 years that have not been yet biologically investigated, we can expect new discoveries, especially for the troglofauna.
Exploring Physiological Differences in Brain Areas Using Statistical Complexity Analysis of BOLD Signals
Authors: Morales-Rojas Catalina , Panerai Ronney B. , Jara José Luis
Published: January 2024

The brain is a fundamental organ for the human body to function properly, for which it needs to receive a continuous flow of blood, which explains the existence of control mechanisms that act to maintain this flow as constant as possible in a process known as cerebral autoregulation. One way to obtain information on how the levels of oxygen supplied to the brain vary is through of BOLD (Magnetic Resonance) images, which have the advantage of greater spatial resolution than other forms of measurement, such as transcranial Doppler. However, they do not provide good temporal resolution nor allow for continuous prolonged examination. Thus, it is of great importance to find a method to detect regional differences from short BOLD signals. One of the existing alternatives is complexity measures that can detect changes in the variability and temporal organisation of a signal that could reflect different physiological states. The so-called statistical complexity, created to overcome the shortcomings of entropy alone to explain the concept of complexity, has shown potential with haemodynamic signals. The aim of this study is to determine by using statistical complexity whether it is possible to find differences between physiologically distinct brain areas in healthy individuals. The data set includes BOLD images of 10 people obtained at the University Hospital of Leicester NHS Trust with a 1.5 Tesla magnetic resonance imaging scanner. The data were captured for 180 s at a frequency of 1 Hz. Using various combinations of statistical complexities, no differences were found between hemispheres. However, differences were detected between grey matter and white matter, indicating that these measurements are sensitive to differences in brain tissues.
Slope Entropy Characterisation: An Asymmetric Approach to Threshold Parameters Role Analysis
Authors: Kouka Mahdy , Cuesta-Frau David , Moltó-Gallego Vicent
Published: January 2024

Slope Entropy (SlpEn) is a novel method recently proposed in the field of time series entropy estimation. In addition to the well-known embedded dimension parameter, m, used in other methods, it applies two additional thresholds, denoted as δ and γ, to derive a symbolic representation of a data subsequence. The original paper introducing SlpEn provided some guidelines for recommended specific values of these two parameters, which have been successfully followed in subsequent studies. However, a deeper understanding of the role of these thresholds is necessary to explore the potential for further SlpEn optimisations. Some works have already addressed the role of δ, but in this paper, we extend this investigation to include the role of γ and explore the impact of using an asymmetric scheme to select threshold values. We conduct a comparative analysis between the standard SlpEn method as initially proposed and an optimised version obtained through a grid search to maximise signal classification performance based on SlpEn. The results confirm that the optimised version achieves higher time series classification accuracy, albeit at the cost of significantly increased computational complexity.