bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Higher Donor Age and Severe Microvascular Inflammation Are Risk Factors for Chronic Rejection After Treatment of Active Antibody-Mediated Rejection
Authors: Banno Taro , Hirai Toshihito , Oki Rikako , Yagisawa Takafumi , Unagami Kohei , Kanzawa Taichi , Omoto Kazuya , Shimizu Tomokazu , Ishida Hideki , Takagi Toshio
Published: February 2024

Recent developments in intensive desensitization protocols have enabled kidney transplantation in human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-sensitized recipients. However, cases of active antibody-mediated rejection (AABMR), when they occur, are difficult to manage, graft failure being the worst-case scenario. We aimed to assess the impact of our desensitization and AABMR treatment regimen and identify risk factors for disease progression. Among 849 patients who underwent living-donor kidney transplantation between 2014 and 2021 at our institution, 59 were diagnosed with AABMR within 1 year after transplantation. All patients received combination therapy consisting of steroid pulse therapy, intravenous immunoglobulin, rituximab, and plasmapheresis. Multivariable analysis revealed unrelated donors and preformed donor-specific antibodies as independent risk factors for AABMR. Five-year death-censored graft survival rate was not significantly different between patients with and without AABMR although 27 of 59 patients with AABMR developed chronic AABMR (CABMR) during the study period. Multivariate Cox proportional hazard regression analysis revealed that a donor age greater than 59 years and microvascular inflammation (MVI) score (g + ptc) ≥4 at AABMR diagnosis were independent risk factors for CABMR. Our combination therapy ameliorated AABMR; however, further treatment options should be considered to prevent CABMR, especially in patients with old donors and severe MVI.
Intelligent Cotton Pest and Disease Detection: Edge Computing Solutions with Transformer Technology and Knowledge Graphs
Authors: Gao Ruicheng , Dong Zhancai , Wang Yuqi , Cui Zhuowen , Ye Muyang , Dong Bowen , Lu Yuchun , Wang Xuaner , Song Yihong , Yan Shuo
Published: February 2024

In this study, a deep-learning-based intelligent detection model was designed and implemented to rapidly detect cotton pests and diseases. The model integrates cutting-edge Transformer technology and knowledge graphs, effectively enhancing pest and disease feature recognition precision. With the application of edge computing technology, efficient data processing and inference analysis on mobile platforms are facilitated. Experimental results indicate that the proposed method achieved an accuracy rate of 0.94, a mean average precision (mAP) of 0.95, and frames per second (FPS) of 49.7. Compared with existing advanced models such as YOLOv8 and RetinaNet, improvements in accuracy range from 3% to 13% and in mAP from 4% to 14%, and a significant increase in processing speed was noted, ensuring rapid response capability in practical applications. Future research directions are committed to expanding the diversity and scale of datasets, optimizing the efficiency of computing resource utilization and enhancing the inference speed of the model across various devices. Furthermore, integrating environmental sensor data, such as temperature and humidity, is being considered to construct a more comprehensive and precise intelligent pest and disease detection system.
Bovine Parainfluenza-3 Virus Detection Methods and Prevalence in Cattle: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Werid Gebremeskel Mamu , Van Thien D. , Miller Darren , Hemmatzadeh Farhid , Fulton Robert W. , Kirkwood Roy , Petrovski Kiro
Published: February 2024

Bovine parainfluenza-3 virus (BPI3V) is an important respiratory pathogen in cattle, contributing to syndromes in the bovine respiratory disease complex (BRDC). Despite its significance, the understanding of its prevalence remains fragmented, especially within the larger framework of BRDC. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to determine the global prevalence of BPI3V in cattle using varied detection methods and to highlight associated risk factors. Of 2187 initially retrieved articles, 71 were selected for analysis, covering 32 countries. Depending on the detection method employed, the meta-analysis revealed significant variations in BPI3V prevalence. In the general cattle population, the highest prevalence was observed using the antibody detection method, with a proportion of 0.64. In contrast, in cattle with BRDC, a prevalence of 0.75 was observed. For the antigen detection method, a prevalence of 0.15 was observed, exclusively in cattle with BRDC. In nucleic acid detection, a prevalence of 0.05 or 0.10 was observed in the general and BRDC cattle populations, respectively. In virus isolation methods, a prevalence of 0.05 or 0.04 was observed in the general and BRDC cattle populations, respectively. These findings highlight the differences in the detection ability of different methods in identifying BPI3V. Other factors, such as country, study year, coinfections, farm size, the presence of respiratory signs, sex, and body weight, may also affect the prevalence. Most studies were anchored within broader BRDC investigations or aimed at detecting other diseases, indicating a potential under-representation of focused BPI3V research. BPI3V plays an important role in BRDC, with its prevalence varying significantly based on the detection methodology. To further understand its unique role within BRDC and pave the way for targeted interventions, there is an evident need for independent, dedicated research on BPI3V.
Comprehensive Analysis of Phylogenetic Relationship and Optimal Codons in Mitochondrial Genomes of the Genus Pseudogastromyzon
Authors: Zhang Cheng , Zhang Shun , Tian Zhe , Wang Yajun , Xu Shanliang , Wang Danli
Published: February 2024

As indicator organisms for water pollution detection, Pseudogasteromyzon species play a vital role in aquatic environment monitoring. We have successfully sequenced the mitogenomes of P. fasciatus jiulongjiangensis and P. myersi and downloaded the mitogenomes of nine other Pseudogastromyzon fish on GenBank to conduct a detailed comparative analysis of their phylogenetic relationships and evolutionary history. The findings revealed a conservation in both gene composition and gene order. Except for the trnS1 gene lacking dihydrouracil arms, the other 21 tRNAs showed the typical clover-leaf secondary structure. According to the ΔRSCU method, we identified the seven most abundant optimal codons: CUA, GUA, CCA, CAA, GAA, AGC, and GGC. The construction of maximum parsimony, maximum likelihood, and Bayes trees yielded congruent topologies, and the 11 Pseudogastromyzon species were clustered into two major clusters. Among them, one of which was composed of P. fangi, P. changtingensis changtingensis, and P. changtingensis tungpeiensis, while the remaining eight species formed another cluster, further subdivided into five smaller clusters. Distinct clusters formed between P. fasciatus jiulongjiangensis and P. meihuashanensis, P. cheni and P. peristictus, and P. laticeps and P. lianjiangensis, and the remaining two species were clustered separately, thereby enhancing our understanding of them. Furthermore, our analysis results of divergence times revealed that these 11 Pseudogasteromyzon species underwent rapid differentiation in the Pleistocene epochs. Overall, our study sheds light on the phylogenetic relationship and evolutionary history of Pseudogasteromyzon species, providing a necessary knowledge foundation for further understanding the intricacies of an ecosystem health assessment.
Effect of Post-Weaning Concentrate Feeding Prior to Forage Finishing on Intramuscular Fat Deposition
Authors: Duckett Susan K. , Pavan Enrique
Published: February 2024

The objectives of this study were to examine the effects of feeding high-concentrate diets post-weaning (PW) prior to forage finishing on (1) changes in ultrasound intramuscular fat deposition and lipogenic/lipolytic gene expression during the post-weaning phase and (2) carcass characteristics and fatty acid composition after forage finishing to 487 kg. Steers were randomly assigned to one of four treatments (PW0, PW40, PW80, and PW120) at weaning to examine the time of high-concentrate feeding prior to forage finishing. The ultrasound intramuscular fat content was greater (p < 0.05) for PW120 compared to those for PW0, PW40, or PW80 at the end of the post-weaning phase. Feeding high concentrates (PW120) up-regulated (p < 0.01) the mRNA expression of fatty acid transporters and lipogenic genes and down-regulated lipolytic genes in the LM compared to PW0. Carcasses from PW120 were graded 83% Choice (p = 0.025), whereas carcasses from other post-weaning treatments (PW0, 40, or 80) were graded 25, 36, and 54% Choice, respectively, at the final harvest. The total fatty acid content of the muscle at slaughter was greater (p = 0.0004) for PW120 than PW0, PW40, and PW80. Feeding high-concentrate diets to steers post-weaning for 120 day enhanced early intramuscular fat deposition without causing major changes to the fatty acid composition of the longissimus muscle after forage finishing.
Redox Imbalance in Nasal Epithelial Cells of Primary Ciliary Dyskinesia Patients
Authors: Reula Ana , Castillo-Corullón Silvia , Armengot Miguel , Herrera Guadalupe , Escribano Amparo , Dasí Francisco
Published: February 2024

Background: Primary Ciliary Dyskinesia (PCD) represents a rare condition marked by an abnormal mobility pattern of cilia and flagella, resulting in impaired mucociliary clearance. This deficiency leads to recurrent infections and persistent inflammation of the airways. While previous studies have indicated heightened oxidative stress levels in the exhaled breath condensate of pediatric PCD patients, the assessment of oxidative stress within the affected respiratory tissue remains unexplored. Aims: To assess the oxidative status of human nasal epithelial cells (NECs) in PCD patients. Methods: Thirty-five PCD patients and thirty-five healthy control subjects were prospectively included in the study. Levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS), reactive nitrogen species (RNS), glutathione (GSH), intracellular Ca2+, plasma membrane potential, and oxidative damage in lipids and proteins were measured. In addition, apoptosis and mitochondrial function were analyzed by flow cytometry in NECs. Results: NECs from PCD patients showed reduced levels of apoptosis (p = 0.004), superoxide anion (O2−, p = 0.018), peroxynitrite (ONOO−, p = 0.007), nitric oxide (NO, p = 0.007), mitochondrial hydrogen peroxide (mtH2O2, p < 0.0001), and mitochondrial superoxide anion (mtO2−, p = 0.0004) and increased mitochondrial mass (p = 0.009) compared to those from healthy individuals. No significant differences were observed in oxidized proteins (p = 0.137) and the oxidized/reduced lipid ratio (p = 0.7973). The oxidative profile of NEC cells in PCD patients, according to their ciliary motility, recurrent otitis, recurrent pneumonia, atelectasis, bronchiectasis, and situs inversus, showed no statistically significant differences in the parameters studied. Conversely, patients with chronic rhinosinusitis exhibited lower levels of ONOO− than PCD patients without this condition, with no significant differences related to other symptoms. Conclusions: Our findings strongly suggest the presence of a redox imbalance, specifically leaning toward a reductive state, in PCD patients.
Chemical Characterization and Antioxidant Activity of Apilarnil, Royal Jelly, and Propolis Collected in Banat Region, Romania
Authors: Moraru Dragoș , Alexa Ersilia , Cocan Ileana , Obiștioiu Diana , Radulov Isidora , Simiz Eliza , Berbecea Adina , Grozea Adrian , Dragomirescu Monica , Vintilă Teodor , Pătruică Silvia
Published: February 2024

Bee products have a millennia-old tradition in human apitherapy, thanks to their numerous curative properties. The aim of this study was to perform a physicochemical characterization, including the percentage of water content, dry matter, pH, acidity, impurity content, protein, ash, and macro and micro minerals, and to evaluate the antioxidant activity of apiculture products, including apilarnil, royal jelly, and propolis. Samples were collected from our apiary in the Banat region of Romania in 2022 as well as from the market. Apilarnil and royal jelly were analyzed in pure and freeze-dried form, and propolis in pure and tincture form. Our results show that there is a large variability in the chemical composition and antioxidant activity of the three bee products studied, depending on the form of presentation and source of origin. In the case of commercial bee products, the best results were obtained in terms of chemical composition, including the content of macro and micro nutrients. All the samples analyzed showed acidity, pH, and impurity content values within the limits allowed by the quality standards. Apilarnil from our own apiary recorded the highest values for antioxidant activity, followed by propolis tincture and fresh propolis from own apiary.
Transferability Assessment of OBD-Related Calibration and Validation Activities from the Vehicle to HiL Applications
Authors: Dorscheidt Frank , Pischinger Stefan , Bailly Peter , Düzgün Marc Timur , Krysmon Sascha , Lisse Christoph , Nijs Martin , Görgen Michael
Published: February 2024

With the Euro 7 pollutant emission legislation currently under discussion, advanced and more efficient exhaust aftertreatment systems are being developed. The technologies required for these are leading to an increase in the number of components and control systems requiring diagnoses strategies under the on-board diagnostics (OBD) legislation. With concurrent shorter development times and significant reductions in budgets allocated to conventional powertrain development, challenges in the field of OBD calibration and verification are already rising sharply. In response to these challenges, hardware-in-the-loop (HiL) approaches have been successfully introduced to support and replace conventional development methods. The use of complex simulation models significantly improves the quality of calibrations while minimizing the number of required prototype vehicles and test resources, thus reducing development costs. This paper presents a feasibility study for moving OBD-related calibration and validation tasks from the vehicle to a HiL platform. In this context, the calibration and verification process of an active diagnostic for monitoring the condition of the three-way catalyst (TWC) and the oxygen sensors in the exhaust aftertreatment system is presented. It is shown that all relevant signals are simulated with sufficient accuracy to ensure a robust transfer from the vehicle to a HiL test bench. Special attention is given to the simulation of aged components and their influence on the emission behavior of the system. Furthermore, it is discussed that transferring OBD tasks from the vehicle to the HiL test bench could result in significant savings in development time and a reduction in the number of physical prototype vehicles and test resources required.
Prediction of Water Content in Subgrade Soil in Road Construction Using Hyperspectral Information Obtained through UAV
Authors: Lee Kicheol , Park Jeongjun , Hong Gigwon
Published: February 2024

In road construction, the compaction of the subgrade layer, which is one of the earthwork fields, is an essential procedure to support the pavement layer and traffic load. For the quality control of subgrades, water content must be measured. Currently, the measurement of water content is performed at specific locations in a large area of subgrades and has the disadvantage of taking a long time to derive. Because this is difficult to immediately confirm, inefficiencies arise in terms of construction schedule and quality control. Therefore, in this study, a CCM (Color-Coded Map) was proposed through hyperspectral remote sensing using drones. This method is a range-type water-content measurement method that can acquire data in a short time (about 20 min) and can be easily confirmed visually. For this, a predicted equation that can convert hyperspectral information into water content information is developed. Multivariate linear regression, a machine learning technique, was applied to the database (of actual measured water content and hyperspectral information). The predicted and measured water contents showed a coefficient of determination of 0.888, and it was confirmed that CCMs can also be presented in various ways depending on user settings.
Virtual Commissioning of Linked Cells Using Digital Models in an Industrial Metaverse
Authors: Ullrich Marco , Thalappully Rashik , Heieck Frieder , Lüdemann-Ravit Bernd
Published: February 2024

Various software environments have been developed in the past to create digital twins of single cells or a digital twin of a factory. Each environment has its own strengths and weaknesses and has been designed with a specific focus. The environments that are able to holistically simulate complete factories are limited in terms of the modelling details required for the analysis of single manufacturing cells (e.g., manufacturer-independence of the individual digital twins) and their ability for virtual commissioning. This paper presents three options for realising a virtual commissioning of linked cells using a 3D integration platform with NVIDIA Omniverse, consisting of two different digital models fused into a combined model, also representing material flow. First, with a source/sink solution and unidirectional connector controlled by OPC UA; secondly, with a bidirectional connector, developed in the course of this elaboration, and an extension of the 3D integration platform controlled by Apache Kafka; thirdly, with a bidirectional connector and using only an extension of the 3D integration platform. The research demonstrates that virtually commissioning multiple linked digital twins from different manufacturers in a 3D platform with material flow makes a significant contribution to the industrial metaverse.
Dynamic Acetabular Cup Orientation during Gait: A Study of Fast- and Slow-Walking Total Hip Replacement Patients
Authors: Vasiljeva Ksenija , Lunn David , Chapman Graham , Redmond Anthony , Wang Lin , Thompson Jonathan , Williams Sophie , Wilcox Ruth , Jones Alison
Published: February 2024

The dynamic orientation of total hip replacement acetabular cups during walking may vary substantially from their assumed position at surgical implantation and may vary between individuals. The scale of this effect is of interest for both pre-clinical device testing and for pre-operative surgical planning. This work aimed to evaluate (1) patient variation in dynamic cup orientation; (2) whether walking speed was a candidate proxy measure for the dynamic cup orientation; and (3) the relationships between dynamic cup orientation angles and planar pelvic angles. Pelvic movement data for patients with fast (20 patients) and slow (19 patients) self-selected walking speeds were used to calculate acetabular cup inclination and version angles through gait. For aim 1, the range and extremes of acetabular cup orientation angles were analysed for all patients. A large patient-to-patient variation was found in the ranges of both inclination angle (1° to 11°) and version angle (4° to 18°). The version angle was typically retroverted in comparison to the implantation position (greatest deviation 27°). This orientation is substantially different to the static, 0° version, simplifying assumptions in pre-clinical ‘edge loading’ testing. For aim 2, the cup orientation angles were compared between the fast- and slow-walking groups using statistical parametric mapping. The only significant differences observed were for cup version angle, during ~12% of the gait cycle before toe-off (p < 0.05). Therefore, self-selected walking speed, in isolation, is not a sufficient proxy measure for dynamic acetabular orientation. For aim 3, correlations were recorded between the acetabular cup orientation angles and the planar pelvic angles. The cup inclination angle during gait was strongly correlated (Spearman’s coefficient −1) with pelvic obliquity alone, indicating that simple planar assessment could be used to anticipate inclination angle range. The cup version angle was correlated with both pelvic rotation and tilt (Spearman’s coefficient 0.8–1), indicating that cup version cannot be predicted directly from any single pelvic movement. This complexity, along with the interaction between inclination angle and range of version angle, supports the use of computational tools to aid clinical understanding.
Dclre1c-Mutation-Induced Immunocompromised Mice Are a Novel Model for Human Xenograft Research
Authors: Bin Yixiao , Wei Sanhua , Chen Ruo , Zhang Haowei , Ren Jing , Liu Peijuan , Xin Zhiqian , Zhang Tianjiao , Yang Haijiao , Wang Ke , Feng Zhuan , Sun Xiuxuan , Chen Zhinan , Zhang Hai
Published: February 2024

Severe combined immunodeficient (SCID) mice serve as a critical model for human xenotransplantation studies, yet they often suffer from low engraftment rates and susceptibility to graft-versus-host disease (GVHD). Moreover, certain SCID strains demonstrate ‘immune leakage’, underscoring the need for novel model development. Here, we introduce an SCID mouse model with a targeted disruption of the dclre1c gene, encoding Artemis, which is essential for V(D)J recombination and DNA repair during T cell receptor (TCR) and B cell receptor (BCR) assembly. Artemis deficiency precipitates a profound immunodeficiency syndrome, marked by radiosensitivity and compromised T and B lymphocyte functionality. Utilizing CRISPR/Cas9-mediated gene editing, we generated dclre1c-deficient mice with an NOD genetic background. These mice exhibited a radiosensitive SCID phenotype, with pronounced DNA damage and defective thymic, splenic and lymph node development, culminating in reduced T and B lymphocyte populations. Notably, both cell lines and patient-derived tumor xenografts were successfully engrafted into these mice. Furthermore, the human immune system was effectively rebuilt following peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) transplantation. The dclre1c-knockout NOD mice described herein represent a promising addition to the armamentarium of models for xenotransplantation, offering a valuable platform for advancing human immunobiological research.
Exosomes-Mediated Signaling Pathway: A New Direction for Treatment of Organ Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury
Authors: Wang Yanying , Xu Ruojiao , Yan Yujia , He Binyu , Miao Chaoyi , Fang Yifeng , Wan Haitong , Zhou Guoying
Published: February 2024

Ischemia reperfusion (I/R) is a common pathological process which occurs mostly in organs like the heart, brain, kidney, and lung. The injury caused by I/R gradually becomes one of the main causes of fatal diseases, which is an urgent clinical problem to be solved. Although great progress has been made in therapeutic methods, including surgical, drug, gene therapy, and transplant therapy for I/R injury, the development of effective methods to cure the injury remains a worldwide challenge. In recent years, exosomes have attracted much attention for their important roles in immune response, antigen presentation, cell migration, cell differentiation, and tumor invasion. Meanwhile, exosomes have been shown to have great potential in the treatment of I/R injury in organs. The study of the exosome-mediated signaling pathway can not only help to reveal the mechanism behind exosomes promoting reperfusion injury recovery, but also provide a theoretical basis for the clinical application of exosomes. Here, we review the research progress in utilizing various exosomes from different cell types to promote the healing of I/R injury, focusing on the classical signaling pathways such as PI3K/Akt, NF-κB, Nrf2, PTEN, Wnt, MAPK, toll-like receptor, and AMPK. The results suggest that exosomes regulate these signaling pathways to reduce oxidative stress, regulate immune responses, decrease the expression of inflammatory cytokines, and promote tissue repair, making exosomes a competitive emerging vector for treating I/R damage in organs.
Oncostatin M Is Related to Polycystic Ovary Syndrome-Case Control Study
Authors: Camili Figen Efe , Akis Merve , Adali Ertan , Hismiogullari Adnan Adil , Taskin Mine Islimye , Guney Gurhan , Afsar Selim
Published: February 2024

Background: Oncostatin M, a novel adipokine, plays a role in oogenesis, lipogenesis, and inflammation and may contribute to polycystic ovary syndrome pathogenesis and related metabolic problems. Adipokines are believed to contribute to developing polycystic ovary syndrome and its accompanying metabolic parameters, such as dyslipidemia, insulin resistance, and cardiovascular diseases. Methods: In this case–control study, the patients were grouped in a 1:1 ratio into either the polycystic ovary syndrome (n = 32) or the control group (n = 32). Serum levels of fasting glucose, insulin, C-reactive protein, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, triglyceride, white blood cell count, thyroid-stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone, follicle-stimulating hormone, total testosterone, prolactin, estradiol, homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance, and oncostatin M were analyzed. Results: Oncostatin M levels were significantly lower, but C-reactive protein levels were substantially higher in the polycystic ovary syndrome group than in the control group (p = 0.002, p = 0.001, respectively). Oncostatin M was inversely correlated with total cholesterol, non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, fasting glucose, and the luteinizing hormone/follicle-stimulating hormone ratio (ρ = −0.329, p =0.017; ρ = −0.386, p = 0.005; ρ = −0.440, p = 0.001; ρ = −0.316, p = 0.023, respectively). Conversely, there was no correlation between oncostatin M and total testosterone level (ρ = 0.220; p = 0.118). In the context of inflammation and metabolic parameters, oncostatin M was inversely correlated with C-reactive protein, homeostatic model assessment for insulin resistance score, and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (ρ = −0.353, p = 0.019; ρ = −0.275, p = 0.048; ρ = −0.470, p < 0.001, respectively). Conclusions: Plasma oncostatin M levels were considerably lower in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome than in the control group, and this was inversely correlated with the hormonal and metabolic parameters of polycystic ovary syndrome. Thus, oncostatin M may be a novel therapeutic target for polycystic ovary syndrome and its metabolic parameters.
Internet Gaming Disorder in Children and Adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
Authors: Simonelli Valerio , Narzisi Antonio , Sesso Gianluca , Salvati Andrea , Milone Annarita , Viglione Valentina , Tolomei Greta , Masi Gabriele , Berloffa Stefano
Published: February 2024

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and autism spectrum disorder (ASD) have been related to an increased risk for behavioral addictions including online gaming. However, the relationship between these two conditions and Internet gaming disorder (IGD) is still debated. The aim of this study is to address this topic by exploring the prevalence of IGD in a consecutive sample of ASD youth and ADHD youth, compared with a normal control group, and by assessing selected psychopathological and neuropsychological features in ASD and ADHD patients with and without IGD. This study included 77 ASD patients (67 males, mean age 13.58 ± 2.75 years), 94 ADHD patients (79 males, mean age 11.46 ± 2.47 years), and 147 normal controls (NC) (mean age 13.9 ± 3.0 years, 114 males) that received structured measures for IGD (IAT, IGDS9-SF, and UADI). In the ADHD group, 72.34% of the sample were above the IGD cut-off, compared with 45.45% in the ASD group and 9.5% in the NC group. ASD patients with IGD presented with greater severity and more severe attention problems, with no difference in the ASD core symptoms between patients with and without IGD. In the comparison between the ASD and ADHD groups according to the presence of IGD, ASD patients with IGD were the most severe group according to the CGI (Clinical Global Impression) scale. The follow-up, conducted on 45 patients affected by ASD, showed an improvement in CGI and CGAS (Children’s Global Assessment Scale) scores, but not in the IGD symptoms. These findings could place the diagnosis of ASD as a negative prognostic factor in the follow-up of aspects of video game addiction compared with ADHD.
Cellular and Molecular Mechanisms Underlying Synaptic Subcellular Specificity
Authors: Wang Mengqing , Fan Jiale , Shao Zhiyong
Published: February 2024

Chemical synapses are essential for neuronal information storage and relay. The synaptic signal received or sent from spatially distinct subcellular compartments often generates different outcomes due to the distance or physical property difference. Therefore, the final output of postsynaptic neurons is determined not only by the type and intensity of synaptic inputs but also by the synaptic subcellular location. How synaptic subcellular specificity is determined has long been the focus of study in the neurodevelopment field. Genetic studies from invertebrates such as Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans) have uncovered important molecular and cellular mechanisms required for subcellular specificity. Interestingly, similar molecular mechanisms were found in the mammalian cerebellum, hippocampus, and cerebral cortex. This review summarizes the comprehensive advances in the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying synaptic subcellular specificity, focusing on studies from C. elegans and rodents.
Strength and Microstructural Evolution of Magnesium Phosphate Cement Mortar in Plateau Environment
Authors: Ren Zhiping , Qin Jihui , Gao Zhiyang , Huang Pengyu , Kong Yaning , Gu Xiaowei
Published: February 2024

Climatic conditions in plateau areas can enormously affect the properties and microstructure of cement-based materials. This research investigates the strength development and microstructural changes in magnesium phosphate cement (MPC) mortars in a plateau environment. Experiments were conducted in parallel in a plateau area (Lhasa) and a plain area (Chengdu) to evaluate the effects of the water-to-binder ratio (w/b = 0.12, 0.14 and 0.16) and sand-to-binder ratio (s/b = 0.5, 0.75 and 1) on the compressive and flexural strength of MPC mortars. At the same time, hydration products were characterized via XRD, TGA, and SEM/EDX micro-analyses, and the porosity of the materials was also analyzed via MIP. The results demonstrated that curing in a plateau environment resulted in a decrease in workability and yielded higher strength at an early age (before 1 day) but degraded the long-term (180-day) strength of MPC mortars when compared with curing in a plain environment, irrespective of w/b and s/b ratios. Unlike the plain group, the plateau group revealed the deterioration of microstructures over time, including the decrease in struvite content, the morphology change in struvite crystals, and the increase in porosity, which resulted in the degradation of mechanical properties between 1 and 180 days. The strength loss can be effectively alleviated at lower w/b and s/b ratios.
Alternative Polyadenylation Characterizes Epithelial and Fibroblast Phenotypic Heterogeneity in Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma
Authors: Venkat Swati , Feigin Michael E.
Published: February 2024

Human tumors are characterized by extensive intratumoral transcriptional variability within the cancer cell and stromal compartments. This variation drives phenotypic heterogeneity, producing cell states with differential pro- and anti-tumorigenic properties. While bulk RNA sequencing cannot achieve cell-type-specific transcriptional granularity, single-cell sequencing has permitted an unprecedented view of these cell states. Despite this knowledge, we lack an understanding of the mechanistic drivers of this transcriptional and phenotypic heterogeneity. 3′ untranslated region alternative polyadenylation (3′ UTR-APA) drives gene expression alterations through regulation of 3′ UTR length. These 3′ UTR alterations modulate mRNA stability, protein expression and protein localization, resulting in cellular phenotypes including differentiation, cell proliferation, and migration. Therefore, we sought to determine whether 3′ UTR-APA events could characterize phenotypic heterogeneity of tumor cell states. Here, we analyze the largest single-cell human pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) dataset and resolve 3′ UTR-APA patterns across PDAC cell states. We find that increased proximal 3′ UTR-APA is associated with PDAC progression and characterizes a metastatic ductal epithelial subpopulation and an inflammatory fibroblast population. Furthermore, we find significant 3′ UTR shortening events in cell-state-specific marker genes associated with increased expression. Therefore, we propose that 3′ UTR-APA drives phenotypic heterogeneity in cancer.
Keeping Pathologists in the Loop and an Adaptive F1-Score Threshold Method for Mitosis Detection in Canine Perivascular Wall Tumours
Authors: Rai Taranpreet , Morisi Ambra , Bacci Barbara , Bacon Nicholas James , Dark Michael J. , Aboellail Tawfik , Thomas Spencer A. , La Ragione Roberto M. , Wells Kevin
Published: February 2024

Performing a mitosis count (MC) is the diagnostic task of histologically grading canine Soft Tissue Sarcoma (cSTS). However, mitosis count is subject to inter- and intra-observer variability. Deep learning models can offer a standardisation in the process of MC used to histologically grade canine Soft Tissue Sarcomas. Subsequently, the focus of this study was mitosis detection in canine Perivascular Wall Tumours (cPWTs). Generating mitosis annotations is a long and arduous process open to inter-observer variability. Therefore, by keeping pathologists in the loop, a two-step annotation process was performed where a pre-trained Faster R-CNN model was trained on initial annotations provided by veterinary pathologists. The pathologists reviewed the output false positive mitosis candidates and determined whether these were overlooked candidates, thus updating the dataset. Faster R-CNN was then trained on this updated dataset. An optimal decision threshold was applied to maximise the F1-score predetermined using the validation set and produced our best F1-score of 0.75, which is competitive with the state of the art in the canine mitosis domain.
Moving towards Biofuels and High-Value Products through Phytoremediation and Biocatalytic Processes
Authors: Ionata Elena , Caputo Emilia , Mandrich Luigi , Marcolongo Loredana
Published: February 2024

Phytoremediation is an eco-friendly technology that utilizes plants and plant–microbe interactions to remove a wide spectrum of organic and inorganic pollutants from contaminated environments such as soils, waters and sediments. This low-impact, environmentally sustainable and cost-effective methodology represents a valuable alternative to expensive physical and chemical approaches, characterized by secondary pollution risks, and is gaining increasing attention from researchers and popular acceptance. In this review, the main mechanisms underlying the decontamination activity of plants have been clarified, highlighting the environmental remediation in fertility and soil health. Studies have illustrated the high potential of phytoremediation coupled with green and sustainable biocatalytic processes, which together represent a non-polluting alternative for the conversion of plant biomass into renewable resources. The convenience of this technology also lies in the valorization of the bio-wastes towards biofuels, energy purposes and value-added products, contributing to an effective and sustainable circular approach to phyto-management. The strategy proposed in this work allows, with the use of totally green technologies, the recovery and valorization of contaminated soil and, at the same time, the production of bioenergy with high efficiency, within the framework of international programs for the development of the circular economy and the reduction of greenhouse carbon emissions.
Table Olive Manufacturing Wastewater Treatment Using the Peroxymonosulfate/Fe(III) System
Authors: Rivas Francisco Javier , Beltrán Fernando J. , Gimeno Olga
Published: February 2024

Wastewater generated in table olive manufacturing processes (WWTOMP) is a seasonal waste difficult to manage due to the high salinity content. The treatment of WWTOMP has been accomplished by including a precoagulation stage with aluminum sulfate, oxidation using the peroxymonosulfate/Fe(III) system, and a final aerobic biological stage. The optimum conditions of precoagulation led to a chemical oxygen demand removal rate of roughly 30–35% without the need for pH adjustment. The peroxymonosulfate(PMS)/Fe(III) system was thereafter applied to the effluent after coagulation. The addition of PMS lowered the initial pH to acidic conditions (pH = 1.5–2.0). Under these operating conditions, the initial PMS concentration and the initial Fe(III) dose showed optimum values. An excess of the oxidant and/or the catalyst partially inhibited the process efficiency, and pH exerted a significant influence. COD removal was substantially increased as the pH of the solution was moved toward circumneutral values in the interval 5–4. Moreover, at pH values of 5 and 7, PMS was capable of reducing COD without the need for Fe(III) presence. The direct oxidation of organics by PMS or the generation of chloride-based oxidants (Cl2 or HClO) is suggested to occur in parallel to the radical attack from PMS decomposition. An attempt to biologically reduce the final COD to discharge limits failed, mainly due to the high salinity content; however, the 1:2 dilution led to the reduction in COD from 6 to 2 g L−1. Acclimated sludges or saline content reduction should be first considered.
Clinical Relevance and Interplay between miRNAs in Influencing Glioblastoma Multiforme Prognosis
Authors: Epistolio Samantha , Dazio Giulia , Zaed Ismail , Sahnane Nora , Cipriani Debora , Polinelli Francesco , Barizzi Jessica , Spina Paolo , Stefanini Federico Mattia , Cerati Michele , Balbi Sergio , Mazzucchelli Luca , Sessa Fausto , Pesce Gianfranco Angelo , Reinert Michael , Cardia Andrea , Marchi Francesco , Frattini Milo
Published: February 2024

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is usually treated with surgery followed by adjuvant partial radiotherapy combined with temozolomide (TMZ) chemotherapy. Recent studies demonstrated a better survival and good response to TMZ in methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase (MGMT)-methylated GBM cases. However, approximately 20% of patients with MGMT-unmethylated GBM display an unexpectedly favorable outcome. Therefore, additional mechanisms related to the TMZ response need to be investigated. As such, we decided to investigate the clinical relevance of six miRNAs involved in brain tumorigenesis (miR-181c, miR-181d, miR-21, miR-195, miR-196b, miR-648) as additional markers of response and survival in patients receiving TMZ for GBM. We evaluated miRNA expression and the interplay between miRNAs in 112 IDH wt GBMs by applying commercial assays. Then, we correlated the miRNA expression with patients’ clinical outcomes. Upon bivariate analyses, we found a significant association between the expression levels of the miRNAs analyzed, but, more interestingly, the OS curves show that the combination of low miR-648 and miR-181c or miR-181d expressions is associated with a worse prognosis than cases with other low-expression miRNA pairs. To conclude, we found how specific miRNA pairs can influence survival in GBM cases treated with TMZ.
Herbarium Apenninicum (APP): An Archive of Vascular Plants from Central Italy
Authors: Conti Fabio , Cangelmi Giacomo , Da Valle Jamila , Bartolucci Fabrizio
Published: February 2024

The Herbarium Apenninicum (international code: APP), hosted in the Floristic Research Center of the Apennines (Abruzzo, central Italy), is approximately composed of about 80,000 specimens of vascular plants; 66,352 of them are mounted with data labels and entered in a database. The specimens from the Abruzzo administrative region (central Italy) correspond to more than half of the collection (57.8% of the specimens), while immediately afterwards, other neighboring provinces of central Italy follow. Outside of Italy, the most represented areas are Morocco and southern European countries. Most of the specimens were collected between 2001 and 2020; nevertheless, the herbarium also contains two historical collections from the end of the nineteenth century to the beginning of the twentieth century. The herbarium houses 146 types.
Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography as a Diagnostic Tool for Diabetic Retinopathy
Authors: Wijesingha Naomi , Tsai Wei-Shan , Keskin Ayse Merve , Holmes Christopher , Kazantzis Dimitrios , Chandak Swati , Kubravi Heena , Sivaprasad Sobha
Published: February 2024

Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is the most common microvascular complication of diabetes mellitus, leading to visual impairment if left untreated. This review discusses the use of optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) as a diagnostic tool for the early detection and management of DR. OCTA is a fast, non-invasive, non-contact test that enables the detailed visualisation of the macular microvasculature in different plexuses. OCTA offers several advantages over fundus fluorescein angiography (FFA), notably offering quantitative data. OCTA is not without limitations, including the requirement for careful interpretation of artefacts and the limited region of interest that can be captured currently. We explore how OCTA has been instrumental in detecting early microvascular changes that precede clinical signs of DR. We also discuss the application of OCTA in the diagnosis and management of various stages of DR, including non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy (NPDR), proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR), diabetic macular oedema (DMO), diabetic macular ischaemia (DMI), and pre-diabetes. Finally, we discuss the future role of OCTA and how it may be used to enhance the clinical outcomes of DR.
Psoriatic Arthritis Involving TMJ: A Review on Pathogenesis and Consideration on Eventual Gender Differences
Authors: Bernardi Sara , Memè Lucia , Belfioretti Chiara , Bambini Fabrizio , Gerardi Davide , Macchiarelli Guido , Bianchi Serena , Mummolo Stefano
Published: February 2024

Psoriatic arthritis is defined as chronic inflammatory arthritis associated with psoriasis. The current data regarding gender differences in clinical manifestation and therapeutic outcomes of psoriatic arthritis are limited. Generally, men show a peripheral disease manifestation, while women have an axial distribution of the lesions. If we look at temporomandibular joint (TMJ) involvement, epidemiological data on the involvement of the TMJ are hard to find. Few studies on therapeutic management and the related impact on the quality of life are reported in the literature. Given the morpho-functional peculiarities of the TMJ and the different pain burdens between male and female genders, when manifestation of psoriatic arthritis occurs, clinicians should face it using a multidisciplinary approach for a correct diagnosis and successful treatment. This review aims to examine the diagnostic signs of psoriatic arthritis in the TMJ, the eventual variations of this disease in male and female patients, and the therapeutical strategies. The coordination of different specialties is fundamental to the remission of clinical symptoms and lesion regression.
Effect of Duplication Techniques on the Fitting Accuracy of CAD-CAM Milled, 3D-Printed, and Injection-Molded Mandibular Complete Denture Bases
Authors: Emam Abdel-Naser M. , El-Esawy Ahmed Ayman , Alyami Mohammed Hamad , Baraka Yasser , Gad Mohammed M. , Helal Mohamed Ahmed
Published: February 2024

Background: Digital technology has been introduced in prosthodontics, and it has been widely used in denture duplication instead of a conventional denture duplication technique. However, research comparing different denture duplication techniques and how they affect the fitting accuracy of the denture base is scarce. Objectives: The aim was to assess the impact of duplication techniques on the accuracy of the fitting surface of computer-aided design and manufacturing (CAD-CAM) milled, 3D-printed, and injection-molded complete denture bases (CDBs). Methodology: This study involved fabricating a mandibular complete denture base with three marked dimples as reference marks (A, B, and C at the incisive papilla, right molar, and left molar areas) using a conventional compression molded technique. This denture was then scanned to generate a standard tessellation language (STL) file; after that, it was duplicated using three different techniques (milling, 3D printing, and injection molding) and five denture base resin materials—two milled CAD-CAM materials (AvaDent and IvoBase), two 3D-printed materials (NextDent and HARZ Labs), and one injection-molded material (iFlextm). Based on the denture base type, the study divided them into five groups (each with n = 10). An evaluation of duplication accuracy was conducted on the fitting surface of each complete denture base (CDB) using two assessment methods. The first method was a two-dimensional evaluation, which entailed linear measurements of the distances (A–B, A–C, and B–C) between reference points on both the scanned reference mandibular denture and the duplicated dentures. Additionally, a three-dimensional superimposition technique was employed, involving the overlay of the STL files of the dentures onto the reference denture’s STL file. The collected data underwent statistical analysis using a one-way analysis of variance and Tukey’s pairwise post hoc tests. Results: Both evaluation techniques showed significant differences in fitting surface accuracy between the tested CDBs (p ˂ 0.001), as indicated by one-way ANOVA. In addition, the milled CDBs (AvaDent and IvoBase) had significantly higher fitting surface accuracy than the other groups (p ˂ 0.001) and were followed by 3D-printed CDBs (NextDent and HARZ Labs), while the injection-molded (iFlextm) CDBs had the lowest accuracy (p ˂ 0.001). Conclusions: The duplication technique of complete dentures using a CAD-CAM milling system produced superior fitting surface accuracy compared to the 3D-printing and injection-molded techniques.
Forgiveness Education from an Aristotelian Realist Perspective: Can We Determine a Good Forgiveness Education Program?
Authors: Kim Jichan J. , Enright Robert D.
Published: February 2024

If there is no Essence of forgiveness that cuts across many religious and philosophical traditions, forgiveness psychology becomes a cultural product with no implications beyond our confined time and space. In this article, we discuss forgiveness as a moral virtue from an Aristotelian realist perspective. We first attempt to define the Essence of forgiveness that centers on beneficence that develops within and flows to others for their good. We also discuss essential components of forgiveness that should be well captured in a good forgiveness education program. Then, we present two approaches to forgiveness education, the process- and story-based approaches, and show how they provide good applications of the Essence of forgiveness with specific qualities that cannot be reduced to its parts or confused with its Accidents or Properties. Finally, we provide practical implications with a focus on how cultural applications of the approaches presented are compatible with an Aristotelian realist view of forgiveness and, in fact, enrich the practice of forgiveness.