bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A Systematic Survey of Automatic Image Description Generation Systems
Authors: Sreela S. R. , Idicula Sumam Mary
Published: June 2024

Automatic image description generation is an active research area in Computer Vision and Natural Language Processing. Objects, their attributes, actions, and spatial relationships are identified in the image description generation system. Earlier, these systems used classical machine learning approaches. Later majority of these works follow deep learning strategies. The essential goal of these systems is to produce syntactically and semantically correct sentences. This review aims to synthesize the studies conducted from 2010 to 2023 to get a deeper view of various image description generation systems and their applications. The prominent contribution of this review is that it covers the different aspects of image captioning systems, such as the methods used, the various applied domains, evaluation measures, and the datasets used. A single synthesized study directs scholars regarding developing image captioning systems to date utilizing machine learning approaches. It also offers suggestions for researchers in this sector for the future. Image captioning is applied in many fields like natural images, medical images, remote sensing images, videos, etc. This review paper reviews the various taxonomies of image description generation systems. We also analyzed multiple methods used in the architecture of image captioning systems. The datasets and the evaluation metrics used in these systems are discussed. We studied the performance of the system under various circumstances.
Learning Individual Treatment Effects under Heterogeneous Interference in Networks
Authors: Zhao Ziyu , Bai Yuqi , Xiong Ruoxuan , Cao Qingyu , Ma Chao , Jiang Ning , Wu Fei , Kuang Kun
Published: June 2024

Estimating individual treatment effects in networked observational data is a crucial and increasingly recognized problem. One major challenge of this problem is violating the stable unit treatment value assumption (SUTVA), which posits that a unit’s outcome is independent of others’ treatment assignments. However, in network data, a unit’s outcome is influenced not only by its treatment (i.e., direct effect) but also by the treatments of others (i.e., spillover effect) since the presence of interference. Moreover, the interference from other units is always heterogeneous (e.g., friends with similar interests have a different influence than those with different interests). In this article, we focus on the problem of estimating individual treatment effects (including direct effect and spillover effect) under heterogeneous interference in networks. To address this problem, we propose a novel dual weighting regression (DWR) algorithm by simultaneously learning attention weights to capture the heterogeneous interference from neighbors and sample weights to eliminate the complex confounding bias in networks. We formulate the learning process as a bi-level optimization problem. Theoretically, we give a generalization error bound for the expected estimation error of the individual treatment effects. Extensive experiments on four benchmark datasets demonstrate that the proposed DWR algorithm outperforms the state-of-the-art methods in estimating individual treatment effects under heterogeneous network interference.
The Role of Chromatic Aberration in Vision
Authors: Gawne Timothy J. , Banks Martin S.
Published: June 2024

The study of biological optics would be complicated enough if light only came in a single wavelength. However, altering the wavelength (or distribution of wavelengths) of light has multiple effects on optics, including on diffraction, scattering (of various sorts), transmission through and reflection by various media, fluorescence, and waveguiding properties, among others. In this review, we consider just one wavelength-dependent optical effect: longitudinal chromatic aberration (LCA). All vertebrate eyes that have been tested have significant LCA, with shorter (bluer) wavelengths of light focusing closer to the front of the eye than longer (redder) wavelengths. We consider the role of LCA in the visual system in terms of both how it could degrade visual acuity and how biological systems make use of it.
Electrodeposition of Molybdenum from Water-in-Acetate Electrolytes
Authors: Liu Quanhong , Huang Qiang
Published: June 2024

This paper reports a systematic study on the electrodeposition of metallic molybdenum from water-in-salt electrolytes containing superhigh concentrations of acetate. Cyclic voltammetry and DC deposition were carried out on rotating disk electrodes with various concentrations of CH3COOK and CH3COONH4 to determine the effects of NH4
+ and K+ on Mo deposition. A comparison was performed between CH3COOLi, CH3COONa, and CH3COOK to study the effects of different alkali metal cations. A synergistic effect was observed between K+ and NH4
+, where Mo deposition rate is enhanced in the presence of both cations. However, such synergistic effect was not observed between NH4
+ and other alkali cations. In addition, the impact of substrate on Mo deposition was also studied using Pt and Cu electrodes with different activity toward hydrogen evolution reaction. Electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy were used to characterize the surface morphology, crystallographic structure, and metallic state of Mo in the electrodeposited films.
Modeling of Li-Ion Battery Electrodes Accounting for Microstructure Properties: The Newman’s Model Revisited
Authors: Lenne G. , Woillez E. , Chandesris M.
Published: June 2024

The most established lithium-ion battery (LIB) porous-based model is the Newman's pseudo-two-dimensional (P2D) model used as a good trade-off between numerical computational cost and physics precision. However, this model does not resolve the local fluctuations of physical quantities on the microstructure and can give inaccurate results especially at high C-rate. In this work, we revisit the P2D model by applying the method of volume averaging to mass and charge transport equations of LIB microstructure models. The outcome is a non-classical homogenized model where the effective properties do not only depend on geometry, but are shown to be functions of the local current density. The model reduces to the classical P2D at low C-rate, but extends the validity range of the P2D at high C-rate for complex microstructures. Moreover, the new model allows to reconstruct the local fluctuations from the averaged variables, whereas this information is not available from the classical P2D model.
Oleic Acid and Succinic Acid: A Potent Nutritional Supplement in Improving Hepatic Glycaemic Control in Type 2 Diabetic Sprague–Dawley Rats
Authors: Lattibeaudiere Kemmoy G. , Alexander-Lindo Ruby Lisa
Published: June 2024

Nutritional supplements are gaining traction for their effects in mitigating the impacts of various health conditions. In particular, many supplements are being proposed to reduce the impacts of type 2 diabetes (T2D), a metabolic condition that has reached global epidemic proportions. Recently, a supplement of oleic acid (OA) and succinic acid (SA; 1 : 1, w/w) was reported to improve glycaemic control in type 2 diabetic (T2D) Sprague–Dawley (S‐D) rats through ameliorating insulin release and sensitivity. Here, we investigate the effects of the supplement (OA and SA) on hepatic and pancreatic function in T2D S‐D rats. Eighteen (18) S‐D rats were rendered diabetic and were divided into three equal groups: diabetic control, diabetic treatment, and diabetic glibenclamide. Another 12 S‐D rats were obtained and served as the normal groups. The animals were treated daily with the vehicle, OA and SA (800 mg/kg body weight (bw); 1 : 1), or glibenclamide (10 mg/kg bw) which served as the positive control. The findings indicated that treatment with the supplement resulted in a 35.69 ± 4.22% reduction (p = 0.006) in blood glucose levels (BGL). Analysis of hepatic enzymes depicted that the nutritional supplement reduced the activity of the gluconeogenesis enzyme, glucose‐6‐phosphatase (G6P) while improved the activity of catabolic enzymes such as glucose‐6‐phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) and pyruvate kinase (PK). Furthermore, the supplement attenuated oxidative stress through restoration of catalase (CAT) and superoxide dismutase (SOD), while reducing malondialdehyde (MDA) levels. Finally, the supplement showed no liver or kidney toxicity and improved the size and number of pancreatic islets of Langerhans, indicating its potential application in treating T2D. The study highlighted that a supplement of the two organic acids may be beneficial in reducing the rate of pathogenesis of type 2 diabetes. Therefore, it may offer therapeutic value as a dietary or nutritional supplement in the approach against diabetes and its complications.
Nutritional Potential of Ziziphus lotus (L.) Lam. Almonds as Compared to Some Oilseeds from Morocco: Evidence from Proximate Composition, Mineral Profiling, and Oil Physicochemical Traits
Authors: Ait Bouzid Hasna , Bijla Laila , Ibourki Mohamed , Asbbane Abderrahim , Sakar El Hassan , Koubachi Jamal , Gharby Said
Published: June 2024

Nowadays, there is a great interest in the search for new sources of vegetable oils, natural bioactive compounds, and essential nutrients for human health. Oleaginous fruits and seeds are a good source of nutrients such as oil, carbohydrates, fatty acids, sterols, tocopherols, fibers, vitamins, minerals, and proteins for the human diet. The main objective of this study was to compare the nutritional composition of Ziziphus lotus almonds (ZLA) with some well‐known seeds (argan kernel, nigella seed, cactus seed, and sesame seed) and to classify them by the mean of principle component analysis (PCA). The samples’ proximate composition, mineral profiling, and some physicochemical parameters of extracted oil were evaluated. Our results revealed that ZLA composition was as follows: oil yield (26.99 ± 1.52 g/100 g), proteins (30.79 ± 0.07 g/100 g), ash (6.5 ± 0.06 g/100 g), and moisture (3.62 ± 0.10 g/100 g). The mineral profile of ZLA consists mainly of P, K, Mg, and Ca. The main fatty acids in ZLA oil were oleic acid (60.73 ± 0.10 g/100 g), linoleic acid (18.75 ± 0.10 g/100 g), and palmitic acid (9.86 ± 0.10 g/100 g). β‐Sitosterol (67.92 ± 0.46 g/100 g) was the major sterol in ZLA, followed by stigmasterol (15.34 ± 0.35%) and campesterol (8.75 ± 0.12%). Total tocopherols were present at 523 ± 9.23 mg/kg in the oil. PCA analysis demonstrated that the ZLA composition was found to be close to that of sesame seeds. In conclusion, ZLA could be considered an alternative source of vegetable oils and protein as well as other various applications.
AKT Inhibition Sensitizes to Polo-Like Kinase 1 Inhibitor Onvansertib in Prostate Cancer
Authors: Nouri Mannan , Varkaris Andreas , Ridinger Maya , Dalrymple Susan L. , Dennehy Christopher M. , Isaacs John T. , Einstein David J. , Brennen W.N. , Balk Steven P.
Published: June 2024

Polo-like kinase 1 (PLK1) inhibitors have had limited antitumor efficacy as single agents, and focus of current efforts is on combination therapies. We initially confirmed that the PLK1-specific inhibitor onvansertib (ONV) could enhance responses to a PARP inhibitor (olaparib) in prostate cancer xenografts. To identify more effective combinations, we screened a library of bioactive compounds for efficacy in combination with ONV in LNCaP prostate cancer cells, which identified a series of compounds including multiple AKT inhibitors. We confirmed in vitro synergy between ONV and the AKT inhibitor ipatasertib (IPA) and found that the combination increased apoptosis. Mechanistic studies showed that ONV increased expression of the antiapoptotic protein SURVIVIN and that this was mitigated by IPA. Studies in three PTEN-deficient prostate cancer xenograft models showed that cotreatment with IPA and ONV led to significant tumor growth inhibition compared with monotherapies. Together, these in vitro and in vivo studies demonstrate that the efficacy of PLK1 antagonists can be enhanced by PARP or AKT inhibition and support further development of these combination therapies.
Abstract PO-012: Gain-of-function small molecules to reprogram oncogenic transcription in lymphoma
Authors: Gourisankar Sai , Sarott Roman , Karim Basel , Nettles Sabin , Yang Haopeng , Dwyer Brendan , Simanauskaite Juste , Tse Jason , Abuzaid Hind , Hinshaw Stephen M , Green Michael R , Crabtree Gerald R , Gray Nathanael S
Published: June 2024

Conventional pharmacotherapy in oncology centers on target-centric silencing of aberrant protein function through small molecule inhibitors, degraders, or CRISPR/RNAi. In contrast, here we leverage induced proximity to develop pharmacology that activates dominant signaling pathways for a therapeutic effect. To develop this concept, we describe a new class of bivalent small molecules that reprogram cancer-driving gene expression to activate cell death signaling in diffuse large B cell lymphomas (DLBCL). These molecules, called Transcriptional Chemical Inducers of Proximity (TCIPs), operate at fractional occupancy of their protein targets, without genomic modifications to the cell or organism. The first TCIPs transiently re-localized elongation factors such as BRD4 (TCIP1, PMID 37495688) to loci regulated by the transcription factor BCL6, inducing the expression of pro-apoptotic genes regulated by BCL6. In new, unpublished work, CDK-TCIPs have been made to re-direct the activity of transcriptional elongation kinases such as CDK9, CDK12, or CDK13 to induce the expression of pro-apoptotic BCL6-target genes. Profiling in ∼900 barcoded cancer cell lines show that the molecules exhibit potent cell killing potency in a highly DLBCL lineage-restricted manner. Cytotoxicity to healthy lymphocytes is 100- to 10,000-fold lower, although germinal center B cells are ablated in a dose-dependent manner consistent with the role of BCL6 in the germinal center. Biochemical, cell biological, proteomic, and genomic studies demonstrate that CDK-TCIPs operate via a gain-of-function mechanism reliant on the ternary complex formed by the bivalent molecule. Instead of global enzyme inhibition or degradation, CDK-TCIPs borrow and re-localize a fraction of total CDK activity to BCL6-bound chromatin, producing pharmacology from the induction of pro-apoptotic gene transcription. The findings suggest a path to rational design of new gain-of-function chemotherapeutic strategies to rewire cell signaling using induced proximity.

Citation Format: Sai Gourisankar, Roman Sarott, Basel Karim, Sabin Nettles, Haopeng Yang, Brendan Dwyer, Juste Simanauskaite, Jason Tse, Hind Abuzaid, Stephen M Hinshaw, Michael R Green, Gerald R Crabtree, Nathanael S Gray. Gain-of-function small molecules to reprogram oncogenic transcription in lymphoma [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Fourth AACR International Meeting on Advances in Malignant Lymphoma: Maximizing the Basic-Translational Interface for Clinical Application; 2024 Jun 19-22; Philadelphia, PA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Blood Cancer Discov 2024;5(3_Suppl):Abstract nr PO-012.
Abstract PO-019: Ubiquitin E3 ligase OSTM1 regulates the cAMP/PKA/CREB pathway and suppresses B-cell malignancies
Authors: Tariq Muhammad Usama , Shen Julia , Jung Jaeyong , Sheshadri Namratha , Yan Junrong , Li Rongrong , Lu Kevin , Liu Tong , Li Hong , Wang Yue Lynn , Xie Ping , Zong Wei-Xing
Published: June 2024

B-cell malignancies (BCM) often arise from genomic alterations introduced during different stages of B-cell development. Here, we performed a whole genome targeting CRISPR/Cas9 screen in the immortalized yet non-transformed IL-3-dependent Ba/F3 murine pro-B cell line to identify genes whose loss confers IL-3 independence, reasoning that these genes may function as tumor suppressor genes (TSGs) in BCM. One of the candidate genes is osteoporosis-associated transmembrane protein 1 (OSTM1), an E3 ubiquitin ligase whose loss-of-function causes autosomal recessive osteoporosis. Informatics analysis of patient data showed that OSTM1 is frequently deleted across BCM, which co-occurs with the deletion of a well-characterized TSG Cdkn2a. Genetic silencing of OSTM1 in Ba/F3 cells conferred IL-3-independent survival and proliferation, as well as splenomegaly, lymphadenopathy, and abnormal peripheral blood cell count, indicative of transformation in vivo. Using mass spectrometry screens, we identified phosphodiesterase 3B (PDE3B) as an interacting partner of OSTM1. OSTM1 ubiquitylates PDE3B and promotes its proteasomal degradation. The OSTM1-PDE3B interaction and PDE3B degradation are negatively regulated by OSTM1 N-glycosylation. As PDE3B catalyzes the conversion of cAMP to AMP, it negatively regulates the cAMP-dependent PKA/CREB/CREBBP tumor suppressive pathway. Indeed, overexpression of PDE3B accelerated cell proliferation while PDE3B silencing in OSTM1 KO cells reversed the transformation phenotype in cell lines and in mouse allograft tumors. Importantly, a strong correlation between OSTM1 disruption, increased PDE3B stability, and decreased PKA/CREB/CEBBP signaling was observed in cell lines and in BCM patient datasets. Finally, CD19-Cre mediated B-cell specific ablation of OSTM1 cooperated with CDKN2A deletion to drive spontaneous immature B-cell lymphomagenesis in mice. Collectively, these results indicate that OSTM1 is a novel TSG which targets PDE3B for proteasomal degradation. Loss of OSTM1 enhances PDE3B stability and abrogates the tumor-suppressive role of cAMP/CREB/CREBBP pathway which promotes BCM.

Citation Format: Muhammad Usama Tariq, Julia Shen, Jaeyong Jung, Namratha Sheshadri, Junrong Yan, Rongrong Li, Kevin Lu, Tong Liu, Hong Li, Yue Lynn Wang, Ping Xie, Wei-Xing Zong. Ubiquitin E3 ligase OSTM1 regulates the cAMP/PKA/CREB pathway and suppresses B-cell malignancies [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Fourth AACR International Meeting on Advances in Malignant Lymphoma: Maximizing the Basic-Translational Interface for Clinical Application; 2024 Jun 19-22; Philadelphia, PA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Blood Cancer Discov 2024;5(3_Suppl):Abstract nr PO-019.
Concurrent Use of Abemaciclib and Radiotherapy in Metastatic Breast Cancer Patients: A Single-Center Experience
Authors: Ippolito Edy , Pantano Francesco , Silipigni Sonia , Alaimo Rita , Infante Jessica , Onorati Elena , Talocco Claudia , Greco Carlo , Fiore Michele , Donato Marco , Tonini Giuseppe , D'Angelillo Rolando Maria , Ramella Sara
Published: June 2024

Introduction: There is little evidence regarding the safety and efficacy of the combination of abemaciclib plus radiotherapy (RT). The majority of studies investigated the combination of RT with palbociclib or ribociclib reporting that hematological toxicity is common. Given the unique toxicity profile of abemaciclib with greater gastrointestinal toxicity compared to hematological toxicity, we wanted to evaluate the toxicity of the combination with RT in metastatic breast cancer (BC) patients. Methods: Patients with histologically proven metastatic or locally advanced BC treated with RT and concurrent abemaciclib were selected. Toxicity was assessed according to the NCI-CTCAE V4.0. Results: Thirty-two metastatic sites were treated in 19 patients and analyzed. All patients received abemaciclib during the RT course. A total of 68% of patients received a full dose of abemaciclib during RT. Also, 71.9% of patients received a palliative intent (median dose = 30 Gy, range = 8–30 Gy), and 26.3% were treated for 9 oligo-metastatic or oligo-progressive sites of disease with stereotactic body RT (median dose = 30 Gy, range 21–30 Gy, given in 3–5 fractions). Overall, the rate of G3 toxicity was 15.7%. The rate of G3 hematological toxicity was 10.6% (2/19 patients, one G3 neutropenia and one G3 anemia). No patient presented diarrhea, including those treated for RT sites close to the bowel. One patient developed G3 skin toxicity. Pain significantly improved after RT (mean value NRS pre-RT = 3.9, SD = 3.07; mean value NRS after RT = 0.9, SD = 0.46; p < 0.0001). Conclusion: Abemaciclib and concomitant RT seem well tolerated showing acceptable toxicity.
A new species of Keratodegnathus Pace in Indonesia (Coleoptera, Staphylinidae)
Authors: JAŁOSZYŃSKI PAWEŁ
Published: June 2024

The genus Keratodegnathus Pace includes two species known to occur in Malaysia (Sabah and Pahang). A third species, Keratodegnathus javanicus sp. n. is described, based on a female specimen from Indonesia (West Java Province). As the morphology of Keratodegnathus was previously inadequately described, a detailed scanning electron microscopy examination was carried out to characterize the new species. Keratodegnathus mirabilis Pace, 2014 was transferred by Assing to Orphnebius Motschulsky, resulting in a secondary homonymy with Orphnebius mirabilis (Bernhauer, 1911). Orphnebius mirabilides nom. n. is proposed as a replacement name for Orphnebius mirabilis (Pace).
Cephenniini of the Philippines. Part 6. First record of Cephennomicrus Reitter from Mindanao, with three new species (Coleoptera, Staphylinidae, Scydmaeninae)
Authors: JAŁOSZYŃSKI PAWEŁ
Published: June 2024

Seven nominal species of Cephennomicrus Reitter are currently known to occur in the Philippines: three species have been recorded from Luzon, three from Palawan, and one from Leyte. The occurrence of this genus on Mindanao is reported for the first time, with three new species described: Cm. apoensis sp. n., Cm. candalaganus sp. n., and Cm. talonoensis sp. n. The distribution of Philippine Cephennomicrus species is summarized.
Helpful or Harmful? The Gendered Effect of Virginity Pacts on Later Sexual Victimization
Authors: McKenna Nicole C. , Nedelec Joseph L. , Pierce Kelly , Knox Krysta N.
Published: June 2024

Several factors contribute to sexual victimization, including cultural practices and gendered expectations. The current study considered one aspect of purity culture, adolescent virginity pacts, and their potential effect on sexual victimization in adolescence and adulthood. Using data from all five waves of the Add Health, longitudinal mixed gender and gender-specific analyses were conducted. The results indicated a gendered association between virginity pacts and sexual victimization. Virginity pacts were associated with lower odds of sexual victimization for women, while men who took a virginity pact had higher odds of sexual victimization compared to their counterparts who did not take a virginity pact. Theoretical explanations and practical implications are presented, highlighting the potential importance of gendered socialization in preventing gender-based violence.
A consensus genome of sika deer (Cervus nippon) and transcriptome analysis provided novel insights on the regulation mechanism of transcript factor in antler development
Authors: Wang Qianghui , Han Ruobing , Xing Haihua , Li Heping
Published: June 2024

Background

Sika deer (Cervus nippon) holds significance among cervids, with three genomes recently published. However, these genomes still contain hundreds of gaps and display significant discrepancies in continuity and accuracy. This poses challenges to functional genomics research and the selection of an appropriate reference genome. Thus, obtaining a high-quality reference genome is imperative to delve into functional genomics effectively.

Findings

Here we report a high-quality consensus genome of male sika deer. All 34 chromosomes are assembled into single-contig pseudomolecules without any gaps, which is the most complete assembly. The genome size is 2.7G with 23,284 protein-coding genes. Comparative genomics analysis found that the genomes of sika deer and red deer are highly conserved, an approximately 2.4G collinear regions with up to 99% sequence similarity. Meanwhile, we observed the fusion of red deer's Chr23 and Chr4 during evolution, forming sika deer's Chr1. Additionally, we identified 607 transcription factors (TFs) that are involved in the regulation of antler development, including RUNX2, SOX6, SOX8, SOX9, PAX8, SIX2, SIX4, SIX6, SPI1, NFAC1, KLHL8, ZN710, JDP2, and TWST2, based on this consensus reference genome.

Conclusions

Our results indicated that we acquired a high-quality consensus reference genome. That provided valuable resources for understanding functional genomics. In addition, discovered the genetic basis of sika-red hybrid fertility and identified 607 significant TFs that impact antler development.
Autism spectrum disorders detection based on multi-task transformer neural network
Authors: Gao Le , Wang Zhimin , Long Yun , Zhang Xin , Su Hexing , Yu Yong , Hong Jin
Published: June 2024

Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) are neurodevelopmental disorders that cause people difficulties in social interaction and communication. Identifying ASD patients based on resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI) data is a promising diagnostic tool, but challenging due to the complex and unclear etiology of autism. And it is difficult to effectively identify ASD patients with a single data source (single task). Therefore, to address this challenge, we propose a novel multi-task learning framework for ASD identification based on rs-fMRI data, which can leverage useful information from multiple related tasks to improve the generalization performance of the model. Meanwhile, we adopt an attention mechanism to extract ASD-related features from each rs-fMRI dataset, which can enhance the feature representation and interpretability of the model. The results show that our method outperforms state-of-the-art methods in terms of accuracy, sensitivity and specificity. This work provides a new perspective and solution for ASD identification based on rs-fMRI data using multi-task learning. It also demonstrates the potential and value of machine learning for advancing neuroscience research and clinical practice.
COVID-19 in patients with thymic epithelial tumors with or without Good’s syndrome: a single-center retrospective study
Authors: Pietroluongo Erica , Peddio Annarita , De Placido Pietro , Tortora Marianna , Ottaviano Margaret , Gelzo Monica , Cernera Gustavo , Foggia Maria , Buonomo Antonio Riccardo , Pinchera Biagio , Zappulo Emanuela , Mercinelli Simona , Cattaneo Letizia , Sardanelli Alessia , Viceconte Giulio , Scotto Riccardo , Schiano Moriello Nicola , Servetto Alberto , De Angelis Carmine , Arpino Grazia , Palmieri Giovannella , De Placido Sabino , Bianco Roberto , Castaldo Giuseppe , Gentile Ivan , Giuliano Mario
Published: June 2024

Introduction

Thymic epithelial tumors (TETs) are rare neoplasms often associated with immune-related disorders. Patients with Good’s syndrome (GS), an adult-acquired TET-related immunodeficiency, are at a high risk of mortality due to infectious diseases. This study aims to examine COVID-19 occurrence and severity in TET patients, with or without GS.

Methods

Clinical records of TET patients referred to the Regional Coordinating Center for Rare Tumors of Campania Region were retrospectively collected. During the observation period, elapsing from March 2020 to April 2023, the following data were collected: occurrence of SARS-CoV-2 infection; COVID-19 severity, according to the National Institute of Health (NIH) illness categories; COVID-19 treatment. COVID-19 occurrence and severity were assessed in the overall population and correlated with the presence of GS and/or other immune-related dysregulations.

Results

Overall, 47 TET patients were included in the study; 27 of these (57.4%) had GS. All participants had received a full cycle of mRNA vaccine for SARS-CoV2., Thirty-one patients (66.0%) experienced COVID-19, of whom 18 (58.0%) had previously received a diagnosis of GS. No significant association of GS and/or other immune-related dysregulations with SARS-CoV-2 infection occurrence was detected (Fisher’s exact test p = 1 and p = 0.3587, respectively). Among patients with GS, 8 (45.0%) reported a COVID-19 severity score of ≥ 3; whereas, only 1 of the 13 patients without GS (7.7%) had a severity score of ≥ 3. The correlation between presence of GS and COVID-19 severity (score 1 or 2 vs. ≥ 3) was statistically significant (p = 0.0448). No statistically significant association between COVID-19 severity and other immune-related syndromes were found (p = 1). Of note, all the hospitalized patients for NIH 4 and 5 COVID-19 had GS.

Conclusions

Our data suggest that TET patients, especially those with GS, require a careful multidisciplinary monitoring for SARS-CoV-2 infection, in order to establish tailored treatments and prophylactic protocols.
Paraproteinaemic keratopathy simulating a crystalline keratopathy
Authors: Aramburu-González Andrea , López-Plandolit Antolin Silvia , Márquez-Navarro Jose Antonio
Published: June 2024

Background

Paraproteinemic keratopathy is a rare disorder characterized by the bilateral accumulation of polychromatic deposits diffusely in all corneal layers together or not with diffuse or patchy pseudo lipid deposits. We present an atypical case of paraproteinemic keratopathy which lead to an initial misdiagnosis of infectious crystalline keratopathy.

Case presentation

a 69-year-old woman with an asymptomatic keratopathy detected during a cataract intervention. Slit-lamp examination revealed several hyper refringent subepithelial foci with fern-shaped branches, resembling crystalline keratopathy, in her left eye. Anterior segment optical coherence tomography revealed exclusively subepithelial hyperreflective lesions limited to the anterior stroma. The progressive bilateralization and progression of the condition prompted us to include other entities with crystalline corneal deposits in our differential diagnosis. Hematological analysis showed a high number of free Kappa light chains. Despite the typical clinical appearance of crystalline keratopathy, the atypical evolution and test results led us to consider that monoclonal gammopathy could be the cause of this entity.

Conclusions

Paraproteinemic keratopathy may present in its early stages as a unilateral subepithelial crystalline keratopathy. Thus, it must always be taken into account in the differential diagnosis of any crystalline keratopathy, particularly when there are no predisposing factors for an infectious crystalline keratopathy. Early recognition of this rare entity is important to address the associated potentially serious systemic disease.
Associations between eating alone, its transition and depressive symptoms among Chinese middle-aged and older adults: evidence from two national cohorts
Authors: Qiu Baohua , Zhu Rongyu , Huang Xinlu , Qi Zhijuan , Zhang Lijuan
Published: June 2024

Background

Few studies have explored the longitudinal association between eating alone and depressive symptoms, and have focused on the effect of eating alone transition. This study aims to explore the longitudinal association between eating alone, its transition and depressive symptoms among two national surveys using a cohort study design.

Methods

The participants aged ≥ 45 years were recruited for the 2016 to 2018 waves China Family Panel Data (CFPS) and 2015 to 2018 waves China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS). Eating alone was assessed by self-reported. Depressive symptoms were evaluated by Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale. Cox hazard regression was used to explore the associations between eating alone, its transition and depressive symptoms after adjusting for covariates.

Results

A total of 21,476 participants were included in this study. The Cox model showed that compared with commensality, eating alone was associated with a higher risk of depressive symptoms, both in the CFPS, CHARLS and pooled analysis. In addition, compared with commensality consistently, the transition from commensality to alone and eating alone consistently were associated with a higher risk of depressive symptoms. The sensitivity analyses showed that the association remained robust.

Conclusions

Eating alone and a change from commensality to eating alone were associated with higher risks of depressive symptoms among Chinese middle-aged and older adults in two cohorts. This study suggested that providing eating partners may be an effective intervention method to prevent depressive symptoms in middle-aged and older adults.
Neonatal mortality and associated factors among newborns in Mogadishu, Somalia: a multicenter hospital-based cross-sectional study
Authors: Ali Ikran Abdulkadir , Inchon Pamornsri , Suwannaporn Sirinan , Achalapong Jullapong
Published: June 2024

Introduction

Neonatal mortality is a significant public health problem in Sub-Saharan Africa, particularly in Somalia, where limited data exists about this. Mogadishu, the densely populated capital, faces a high rate of neonatal mortality, but this has not been widely studied on a national level. Healthcare providers and policymakers are working to reduce newborn deaths, but a comprehensive understanding of the contributing factors is crucial for effective strategies. Therefore, this study aims to determine the magnitude of neonatal death and identify factors associated with it in Mogadishu, Somalia.

Method

A multicenter hospital-based cross-sectional study was conducted to collect data from participants at 5 purposively selected hospitals in Mogadishu, Somalia. A well-structured, reliable, self-developed, validated questionnaire containing socio-demographic, maternal, and neonatal characteristics was used as a research tool. Descriptive statistics were used for categorical and continuous variables presented. Chi-square and logistic regression were used to identify factors associated with neonatal mortality at a significant level of α = 0.05.

Results

A total of 513 participants were recruited for the study. The prevalence of neonatal mortality was 26.5% [95%CI = 22.6–30.2]. In a multivariable model, 9 variables were found: female newborns (AOR = 1.98, 95%CI = 1.22–3.19), those their mothers who did not attend ANC visits (AOR = 2.59, 95%CI = 1.05–6.45), those their mothers who did not take tetanus toxoid vaccination (AOR = 1.82, 95%CI = 1.01–3.28), those their mothers who delivered in instrumental assistant mode (AOR = 3.01, 95%CI = 1.38–6.56), those who had neonatal sepsis (AOR = 2.24, (95%CI = 1.26–3.98), neonatal tetanus (AOR = 16.03, 95%CI = 3.69–69.49), and pneumonia (AOR = 4.06, 95%CI = 1.60–10.31) diseases during hospitalization, premature (AOR = 1.99, 95%CI = 1.00–3.94) and postmature (AOR = 4.82, 95%CI = 1.64–14.16) neonates, those with a birth weight of less than 2500 gr (AOR = 4.82, 95%CI = 2.34–9.95), those who needed resuscitation after delivery (AOR = 2.78, 95%CI = 1.51–5.13), and those who did not initiate early breastfeeding (AOR = 2.28, 95%CI = 1.12–4.66), were significantly associated with neonatal mortality compared to their counterparts.

Conclusion

In this study, neonatal mortality was high prevalence. Therefore, the intervention efforts should focus on strategies to reduce maternal and neonatal factors related to neonatal mortality. Healthcare workers and health institutions should provide appropriate antenatal, postnatal, and newborn care.
Association between fluoride intake from drinking water and severity of dental fluorosis in Northern and Western Mexico: systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Gamarra José , Álvarez-Ordaz David , Molina-Frechero Nelly , Sánchez-Pérez Leonor , Pierdant-Rodriguez Alberto , Isiordia-Espinoza Mario Alberto , Espinosa-Cristóbal León Francisco , Gómez Palacio-Gastelum Marcelo , González-González Rogelio , Salas-Pacheco José , Bologna-Molina Ronell
Published: June 2024

Background

Dental fluorosis (DF) is caused by excessive exposure to fluoride during odontogenesis and leads to various changes in the development of tooth enamel. Some regions in Mexico are considered endemic fluorosis zones due to the high fluoride content in drinking water. The objective of this study was to perform a systematic review and meta-analysis to identify the association between the concentration of fluoride in drinking water and the severity of dental fluorosis in northern and western Mexico.

Methods

This protocol was registered in the PROSPERO database (ID: CRD42023401519). The search for information was carried out in the PubMed/Medline, Scopus, SpringerLink, and Google Scholar databases between January 2015 and October 2023. The overall relative risk was calculated using the inverse of variance approach with the random effects method. The RoB 2.0 tool was used to construct risk plots.

Results

Eleven articles were analyzed qualitatively, and most of the included studies presented at least one level of DF severity; six articles were analyzed quantitatively, dividing them into two regions. In North region it was observed a higher prevalence of severe TF cases, corresponding to ≥ TF 5 category (4.78) [3.55, 6.42]. In the West region, most of the included studies presented a higher prevalence of less severe cases, corresponding to ≤ TF 4, in comparison with the North region (0.01) [0.00, 0.52], interpreted as a protective effect.

Conclusion

The concentrations of fluorides in drinking water are reportedly high in these regions and are directly related to the severity of dental fluorosis experienced by the inhabitants. In the Northern region exists a major concentration of fluoride in drinking water compared with the Western region as well as a prevalence of higher severity cases of dental fluorosis.
Spatial distribution patterns of human resources allocation in maternal and child healthcare institutions in China from 2016 to 2021
Authors: Li Xiaohui , Su Mei , He Li , Yang Jianjun , Wu Fangyuan
Published: June 2024

Background

In China, economic, urbanization, and policy differences between the eastern and western regions lead to uneven healthcare resources. This disparity is more pronounced in the west due to fewer healthcare personnel per thousand individuals and imbalanced doctor-to-nurse ratios, which exacerbates healthcare challenges. This study examines the spatial distribution of human resources in maternal and child healthcare from 2016 to 2021, highlighting regional disparities and offering insights for future policy development.

Methods

The data were sourced from the “China Health and Family Planning Statistical Yearbook” (2017) and the “China Health and Health Statistics Yearbook” (2018–2022). This study utilized GeoDa 1.8.6 software to conduct both global and local spatial autocorrelation analyses, using China’s administrative map as the base dataset.

Results

From 2016 to 2021, there was an upward trend in the number of health personnel and various types of health technical personnel in Chinese maternal and child healthcare institutions. The spatial distribution of these personnel from 2016 to 2021 revealed clusters characterized as high-high, low-low, high-low and low-high. Specifically, high-high clusters were identified in Guangxi, Hunan, Jiangxi, and Guangdong provinces; low-low in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region and Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region; high-low in Sichuan province; and low-high in Fujian and Anhui provinces.

Conclusions

From 2016 to 2021, there was evident spatial clustering of health personnel and various health technical personnel in Chinese maternal and child healthcare institutions, indicating regional imbalances.
The prognostic significance of ubiquitination-related genes in multiple myeloma by bioinformatics analysis
Authors: zhang Feng , Chen Xiao-Lei , Wang Hong-Fang , Guo Tao , Yao Jin , Jiang Zong-Sheng , Pei Qiang
Published: June 2024

Background

Immunoregulatory drugs regulate the ubiquitin-proteasome system, which is the main treatment for multiple myeloma (MM) at present. In this study, bioinformatics analysis was used to construct the risk model and evaluate the prognostic value of ubiquitination-related genes in MM.

Methods and results

The data on ubiquitination-related genes and MM samples were downloaded from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) databases. The consistent cluster analysis and ESTIMATE algorithm were used to create distinct clusters. The MM prognostic risk model was constructed through single-factor and multiple-factor analysis. The ROC curve was plotted to compare the survival difference between high- and low-risk groups. The nomogram was used to validate the predictive capability of the risk model. A total of 87 ubiquitination-related genes were obtained, with 47 genes showing high expression in the MM group. According to the consistent cluster analysis, 4 clusters were determined. The immune infiltration, survival, and prognosis differed significantly among the 4 clusters. The tumor purity was higher in clusters 1 and 3 than in clusters 2 and 4, while the immune score and stromal score were lower in clusters 1 and 3. The proportion of B cells memory, plasma cells, and T cells CD4 naïve was the lowest in cluster 4. The model genes KLHL24, HERC6, USP3, TNIP1, and CISH were highly expressed in the high-risk group. AICAr and BMS.754,807 exhibited higher drug sensitivity in the low-risk group, whereas Bleomycin showed higher drug sensitivity in the high-risk group. The nomogram of the risk model demonstrated good efficacy in predicting the survival of MM patients using TCGA and GEO datasets.

Conclusions

The risk model constructed by ubiquitination-related genes can be effectively used to predict the prognosis of MM patients. KLHL24, HERC6, USP3, TNIP1, and CISH genes in MM warrant further investigation as therapeutic targets and to combat drug resistance.
Photosensitive and dual-targeted chromium nanoparticle delivering small interfering RNA YTHDF1 for molecular-targeted immunotherapy in liver cancer
Authors: Chen Shang , He Yan , Huang Xin , Shen Yao , Zou Qingshuang , Yang Gun , Fu Li , Liu Quan , Luo Dixian
Published: June 2024

Tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) are a promising target for cancer immunotherapy, but delivering therapeutic agents to TAMs within the tumor microenvironment (TME) is challenging. In this study, a photosensitive, dual-targeting nanoparticle system (M.RGD@Cr-CTS-siYTHDF1 NPs) was developed. The structure includes a shell of DSPE-modified RGD peptides targeting integrin receptors on tumor cells and carboxymethyl mannose targeting CD206 receptors on macrophages, with a core of chitosan adsorbing m6A reading protein YTHDF1 siRNA and chromium nanoparticles (Cr NPs). The approach is specifically designed to target TAM and cancer cells, utilizing the photothermal effect of Cr NPs to disrupt the TME and deliver siYTHDF1 to TAM. In experiments with tumor-bearing mice, M.RGD@Cr-CTS-siYTHDF1 NPs, when exposed to laser irradiation, effectively killed tumor cells, disrupted the TME, delivered siYTHDF1 to TAMs, silenced the YTHDF1 gene, and shifted the STAT3-STAT1 equilibrium by reducing STAT3 and enhancing STAT1 expression. This reprogramming of TAMs towards an anti-tumor phenotype led to a pro-immunogenic TME state. The strategy also suppressed immunosuppressive IL-10 production, increased expression of immunostimulatory factors (IL-12 and IFN-γ), boosted CD8 + T cell infiltration and M1-type TAMs, and reduced Tregs and M2-type TAMs within the TME. In conclusion, the dual-targeting M.RGD@Cr-CTS-siYTHDF1 NPs, integrating dual-targeting capabilities with photothermal therapy (PTT) and RNA interference, offer a promising approach for molecular targeted cancer immunotherapy with potential for clinical application.

Graphical Abstract
FBS-based cryoprotective compositions for effective cryopreservation of gut microbiota and key intestinal microorganisms
Authors: Zalomova Lyubov V. , Fesenko Eugeny E.
Published: June 2024

Objective

The need for innovative techniques to preserve microbiota for extended periods, while maintaining the species composition and quantitative balance of the bacterial community, is becoming increasingly important. To address this need, we propose an efficient approach to cryopreserve human gut microbiota using a two-component cryoprotective composition comprising fetal bovine serum (FBS) and 5% dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO). Fetal serum is a commonly utilized component in the freezing media for eukaryotic cells, however, its effects on prokaryotic cells have not been extensively researched.

Results

In our study, we demonstrated the high efficiency of using a two-component cryoprotective medium, FBS + 5% DMSO, for cryopreservation of human gut microbiota using three different methods. According to the obtained results, the intact donor microbiota was preserved at a level of 85 ± 4% of the initial composition based on fluorescent analysis using the LIVE/DEAD test. No differences in survival were observed when comparing with pure DMSO and FBS media. The photometric measurement method for growth of aerobic bacteria (A. johnsoni), facultative anaerobes (E. coli, E. faecalis), microaerophilic (L. plantarum), and obligate anaerobic bacterial cultures (E. barkeri, B. breve) also demonstrated high viability rates of 94–98% in the two-component protective medium, reaching intact control levels. However, for anaerobic microflora representatives, serum proved to be a more suitable cryoprotectant. Also, we demonstrated that using cryoprotective media with 50–75% FBS content is enough to preserve a significant level of bacterial cell viability, from an economic standpoint.
A BERT-based pretraining model for extracting molecular structural information from a SMILES sequence
Authors: Zheng Xiaofan , Tomiura Yoichi
Published: June 2024

Among the various molecular properties and their combinations, it is a costly process to obtain the desired molecular properties through theory or experiment. Using machine learning to analyze molecular structure features and to predict molecular properties is a potentially efficient alternative for accelerating the prediction of molecular properties. In this study, we analyze molecular properties through the molecular structure from the perspective of machine learning. We use SMILES sequences as inputs to an artificial neural network in extracting molecular structural features and predicting molecular properties. A SMILES sequence comprises symbols representing molecular structures. To address the problem that a SMILES sequence is different from actual molecular structural data, we propose a pretraining model for a SMILES sequence based on the BERT model, which is widely used in natural language processing, such that the model learns to extract the molecular structural information contained in the SMILES sequence. In an experiment, we first pretrain the proposed model with 100,000 SMILES sequences and then use the pretrained model to predict molecular properties on 22 data sets and the odor characteristics of molecules (98 types of odor descriptor). The experimental results show that our proposed pretraining model effectively improves the performance of molecular property prediction

Scientific contribution

The 2-encoder pretraining is proposed by focusing on the lower dependency of symbols to the contextual environment in a SMILES than one in a natural language sentence and the corresponding of one compound to multiple SMILES sequences. The model pretrained with 2-encoder shows higher robustness in tasks of molecular properties prediction compared to BERT which is adept at natural language.
gravity with spacetime torsion
Authors: Kumar Hitender , Paul Tanmoy , SenGupta Soumitra
Published: June 2024

The duality between a higher-curvature f(R) gravity model and a scalar-tensor theory helps to bring out the role of the additional degree of freedom originating from the higher-derivative terms in the gravity action. Such a degree of freedom which appears as a scalar field has been shown to have multiple implications in the cosmological/astrophysical scenario. The present work proposes a novel generalization to this correspondence between f(R) gravity and a dual scalar-tensor theory when the affine connection is considered to have an antisymmetric part. It turns out that the f(R) action in the presence of spacetime torsion can be recast to a

coupled scalar-tensor theory with a 2-rank massless antisymmetric tensor field in the Einstein frame, where the scalar field gets coupled with the antisymmetric field through derivative coupling(s).