bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Enhancing First-Line TKI Efficacy in PD-L1-Positive EGFR-Mutated NSCLC: The Role of Antiangiogenic Agents
Authors: Jin Xuanhong , Pan Yang , cheng Cheng , Shen Hangchen , Zhai Chongya , Yin Kailai , Zhu Xinyu , Pan Hongming , You Liangkun
Published: January 2024

Background: In individuals receiving treatment with epidermal growth factor receptor-tyrosine kinase inhibitors (EGFR-TKIs), those exhibiting positive PD-L1 expression might experience reduced progression-free survival (PFS). However, the effects on overall survival (OS) and the determination of efficacious treatment approaches are still not well-defined.
Methods: In our retrospective study, we examined data from 201 NSCLC patients with advanced EGFR mutations, treated at two centers of Shaw Hospital in Zhejiang, China. This analysis covered a period from January 1, 2013, to April 30, 2023.
Results: Patients with PD-L1 positivity exhibited a markedly shorter average PFS (9.2 months compared to 18.0 months, P<0.001) and OS (43.3 months versus 69.1 months, P=0.0011) relative to those without PD-L1 expression. This difference in both PFS and OS remained statistically significant even after adjusting for multiple factors (P<0.001 for PFS and P=0.002 for OS). In the PD-L1-positive cohort, introducing antiangiogenic therapy in the first line of treatment significantly extended both PFS (increasing from 8.6 to 25.7 months, P=0.03) and OS (from 29.7 to 53.5 months, P=0.026). Post-first-line TKI therapy, 39.3% of PD-L1-positive patients and 56.1% of PD-L1-negative patients developed the T790M mutation (P=0.157), with no notable difference in PFS from second-line TKI treatments between the groups (9.3 vs. 14.7 months, P=0.16). Additionally, subsequent immunotherapy markedly prolonged OS in the PD-L1-positive group (from 42 to 68.4 months, P=0.046). However, for PD-L1-negative patients, neither antiangiogenic therapy nor later-line immunotherapy demonstrated significant benefits in PFS or OS.
Conclusion: Individuals exhibiting positive PD-L1 status generally experience reduced PFS and OS. Implementing antiangiogenic treatments or subsequent combined immunotherapy has shown effectiveness in enhancing outcomes for these patients.
Diurnal and Seasonal Variations of Particulate Matter (PM2.5) at a Tailing Storage Facility and Nearby Community
Authors: Thabethe Nomsa Duduzile , Makonese Tafadzwa , Masekameni Daniel , Brouwer Derk
Published: January 2024

Most of the world’s largest gold mines are found in South Africa, contributing mainly to the world’s gold production. Gold mining activities led to the formation of Gold Mine Tailings Storage Facilities (TSF), a potential source of PM2.5 dust emissions impacting air quality and human health. This study selected a TSF in Evander and the eMbalenhle community as the source and receptor, respectively. Many studies have reported ambient daily and seasonal variations of PM2.5. However, the temporal variations of PM2.5 at the source and the receptor are underreported in the literature. The study aimed to analyse the diurnal and seasonal variations of PM2.5 at the TSF and in the community. Ambient PM2.5 concentrations at the two sites were measured for one year (February 2022 to February 2023) using Clarity Node-S low-cost monitors. Meteorological data for the same period were obtained from the South African Air Quality Information System (SAAQIS). The data were analysed using packages in R-Studio. Higher values for PM2.5 concentrations were observed in winter, with lower values recorded in summer and spring. The daily concentration averages at the community site and TSF were 44.5 and 32.2 µg/m3, respectively. The 24-hour averages at the TSF and community site exceeded the PM2.5 National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS) of 40 µg/m3 and the WHO (World Health Organisation) Guideline of 15 µg/m3. Pronounced diurnal variations were observed in the community, displaying a bimodal pattern with peaks in the morning (5 a.m.) and evening (4 p.m.). Higher PM2.5 concentrations were recorded in the community compared to the TSF, indicating other sources of pollution in the receiving environment.
Multimorbidity characteristics in elderly inpatients and their associated factors in complex networks: a cross-sectional study
Authors: Zhang Kai , Xu Jiani , Zhang Haibo , Zhu Yongqian
Published: January 2024

Background Multimorbidity of chronic diseases has become an increasingly serious public health problem. However, the research on the current situation of multimorbidity in the elderly in Jiangsu, China is relatively lacking.
Methods We surveyed a total of 229,926 inpatients aged above 60 and with two or more chronic diseases in the First Affiliated Hospital with Nanjing Medical University from January 1, 2015 to December 31, 2021. The Apriori algorithm was used to analyze the association rules of the multimorbidity patternsin old adults.
Results The mean age of these patients was 72.0±8.7 years, and the male-to-female ratio was 1:1.53. These patients during the COVID-19 period(from 2020 to 2021) displayed younger, higher male rate, shorter median length of hospital stay, higher ≥6 multimorbidities rate and lower median cost than those not during the COVID-19 period (from 2015 to 2019). In all of these patients, the top 5 chronic diseases were "Hypertensive diseases(I10-I15)", "Other forms of heart disease(I30-I52)", "Diabetes mellitus(E10-E14)", "lschaemic heart diseases(I20-I25)" and "Cerebrovascular diseases(I60-I69)". The complex networks of multimorbidity showed that Hypertensive diseases had a higher probability of co-occurrence with multiple diseases in all these patients, followed by Diabetes mellitus, Other forms of heart disease, and lschaemic heart diseases(I20-I25).
Conclusion In conclusion, the patterns of multimorbidity among the aged varied by COVID-19. Our results highlighted the importance of control of hypertensive diseases, diabetes, and heart disease in gerontal patients. More efforts to improve the understanding of multimorbidity patterns would help us develop new clinical and family care models.
Unveiling the Role of SLC2A1 and MPST in Uterine Corpus Endometrial Carcinoma: Diagnostic and Prognostic Insights
Authors: Xi Xiaoyu , Gong Xinxin , Liu Yixi , Cui Boran , Xia Chenchen , Du Jiexian , Qin Shan
Published: January 2024

Background
Uterine corpus endometrial carcinoma (UCEC) represents the prevailing neoplasm affecting the female reproductive system. The early diagnosis of UCEC is crucial for improving the survival rate of patients. In this study, we study the two specific genes: SLC2A1, which encodes the facilitated glucose transporter, and MPST, which encodes 3-mercaptopyruvate sulfurtransferase. SLC2A1 and MPST have been identified as important regulators in cancer. Nevertheless, it is still unknown how SLC2A1 and MPST function and operate within endometrial cancer. The objective of this study is to investigate the potential significance of SLC2A1 and MPST in terms of diagnosis and prognosis for UCEC.
Methods
Using data from the TCGA database, we analyzed the levels of expression for SLC2A1 and MPST in 33 various cancer types. Then we created a protein-protein interaction (PPI) network that incorporated SLC2A1, MPST, and relevant genes.Furthermore, we performed KEGG/GO pathway enrichment analysis on these genes. We utilized Spearman correlation analysis to examine the correlation between SLC2A1 and MPST expression and the infiltration of immune cells, as well as the association between immune checkpoint genes and TP53. We analyzed DNA methylation changes in the SLC2A1 and MPST genes and their impact on survival outcomes. We investigated the correlation between SLC2A1 and MPST expression and clinicopathological features of patients with endometrial cancer Additionally, we evaluated the diagnostic and prognostic predictive capabilities of SLC2A1 and MPST.
Results
In the tumor tissues, MPST and SLC2A1 expression levels increased significantly. Our research revealed a noteworthy association between the levels of expression of SLC2A1 and MPST, and the infiltration of immune cells, the presence of immune checkpoint genes, and TP53 in UCEC tissues. Furthermore, there was a remarkable association between the expression levels of SLC2A1 and MPST and the clinical stage, histological type, and histological grade in UCEC tissues. Our analysis using Kaplan-Meier survival curves and diagnostic subject operating characteristics (ROC) curves revealed that both SLC2A1 and MPST exhibit robust diagnostic and prognostic significance.
Conclusions
The study we conducted emphasizes the diagnostic and prognostic potential of SLC2A1 and MPST as biomarkers for UCEC. These findings offer encouraging prospects for targeted therapies.
Ecology of emergency care in lower-tier healthcare providers in Ghana: an empirical data-driven Bayesian Network analytical approach
Authors: Afrifa-Yamoah Ebenezer , Nunfam Victor Fannam , Kwanin Bernard Agyei , Frimpong Kwasi
Published: January 2024

Introduction: The landscape of health system in Ghana is primarily composed of lower-tier providers, which are mostly the initial point of contact for most medical emergency cases. With the growing incidence of health emergencies, this study sought to provide a realist evaluation of the extent of emergency care preparedness and readiness of primary healthcare providers and empirically quantify the states of the emergency setups.
Method: A multicentre retrospective cross-sectional study design was employed to assess the emergency care preparedness of 460 lower-tier healthcare providers, using a standardised Health Facilities Emergency Preparedness Assessment Tool (HeFEPAT). Data were analysed via Bayesian Belief network using the software product GeNIe 4.0.
Results: Our study found associations between health facilities' emergency preparedness and location, facility type, ownership, and in-charge personnel. Specifically, more than 70% of the 460 facilities lacked specialised emergency/critical care personnel. Of the 460 in-charges surveyed, 297 (65.0%) reported protocol knowledge but only 36 (7.8%) could execute cardio-pulmonary resuscitation (CPR). 414 facilities 90.0% lacked onsite defibrillators. Over 80% of facilities reported no cerebrovascular accident medications available. Protocols for road traffic accidents were largely unavailable, even in public hospitals. The estimated probability that a given health facility would lack road traffic accident protocols was 0.53. Private facilities were more likely than government facilities to lack protocols for road traffic accidents (76% vs 20% probability) and general acute care (62% vs 32%).
Conclusion: Major emergency preparedness gaps were found across health facilities in this study, indicating inability to effectively handle critical situations like cardiac arrests or strokes. To improve public health and safety, urgent investments are needed in emergency medicine training, essential medications/equipment, and evidence-based protocols. Standardised emergency preparedness assessments policy should be formulated and implemented for accreditation and quality improvement. Further research can support developing national guidelines and targeted interventions to strengthen emergency response capacities.
Succinylation participates in the progress of Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis through mitochondrial energy metabolism
Authors: Zhao Yunmulan , Hou Wenyu , Yang Liqing , Guo Lu , Wang Ping , Gao Lingyun , Xu Zuojun , Sun Wei
Published: January 2024

Background A new pathogenic role for mitochondrial dysfunction has been associated with aging and correlated with the development of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). The latest study found that the lysine succinylation (Ksucc) is involved in many energy metabolism pathways and affects the metabolic process in mitochondria, making this modification highly valuable for studying IPF related to mitochondrial dysfunction. We speculate Ksucc participate in IPF progression through mitochondrial energy metabolism pathway.
Methods We used liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) to perform the first global profiling of Ksucc in lung tissues with IPF patients. The changes of candidate key proteins and Ksucc sites related to energy metabolism in IPF lung tissues were analyzed by using the clusters of orthologous groups of proteins (COG), Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) and Gene ontology (GO). We then compared these proteins with those reported in the literature in normal lung tissues by parallel reaction monitoring (PRM).
Results We identified 1964 Ksucc sites in 628 proteins. 675 Ksucc sites in 124 proteins closely related to mitochondrial metabolism. We compared these proteins with those reported in the literature in normal lung tissues to identify differences in 119 proteins and Ksucc sites in mitochondria. 43 Ksucc sites in 27 proteins were associated with energy metabolism. There were differences in the expression of 4 Ksucc sites in 4 proteins between normal and IPF lung tissues.
Conclusion Our work expands the Ksucc database in IPF lung and suggested that mitochondrial energy metabolism is involved in the progression of IPF. Ksucc sites of proteins associated with mitochondrial energy metabolism can also serve as candidate molecules for future mechanism exploration and drug target selection in IPF.
Vibration simulation and analysis of high-speed railways sound barriers under different conditions of bolts loosening
Authors: Hu Shihui , Zhao Qian , Jiang Bolong , Tan Zhao , Qi Chunyu
Published: January 2024

The structural instability caused by the loosening of bolts of the sound barrier of high-speed railways has become an important reason affecting its safe use, but there is still a lack of basic research on the possible structural vibration of the sound barrier when the bolts are loosened. In this study, a finite element model of the sound barrier of high-speed railway was constructed, and the vibration mode simulation analysis under different bolt loosening conditions was carried out. The results show that the loosening of the bolts between the column and the concrete foundation will cause the vibration frequency of the overall structure of the sound barrier to change, induce new local mode shapes, and lead to the increase of vibration displacement at the top of the column. The results of this study will provide a reference for the structural health detection method of high-speed railway sound barrier in the future.
Safety and effectiveness of using Disposable Ultrasonic Shears to coagulate 5-7mm blood vessels: protocol for a prospective, multicenter, randomized, parallel controlled, non-inferiority clinical trial
Authors: Wang Xipeng , Li Chengqiang , Fan Junqiang , Hu Jian , Wang Mingsong , Li Hecheng
Published: January 2024

Background:
The ultrasonic scalpel is widely used during surgery. It is safe and effective to close the pulmonary artery branch vessels of 7 mm or below with an ultrasonic energy device as reported. However, there have been no multicenter randomized clinical trial to assess the safety and effectiveness of using ultrasonic scalpel to coagulate 5-7mm blood vessels in thoracic surgery.
Methods:
This is a prospective, multicenter, randomized, parallel controlled, non-inferiority clinical trial. A total of 144 eligible patients planning to undergo lung or esophageal surgery will be randomly allocated to the experimental group and the control group. The investigational product (Disposable Ultrasonic Shears manufactured by Reach Surgical, Inc.) and the control product (Harmonic Ace+7, 5mm Diameter Shears with Advanced Hemostasis) will be used in each group. The primary endpoint is the success rate of coagulating target blood vessels during surgery. Secondary endpoints include postoperative rebleeding, intraoperative bleeding volume, drainage volume, surgical duration, etc. Postoperative follow-up before and after discharge will be performed.
Discussion:
This clinical trial aims to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of using the investigational product (Disposable Ultrasonic Shears manufactured by Reach Surgical, Inc.) and that of the control product (Harmonic Ace+7, 5mm Diameter Shears with Advanced Hemostasis) to coagulate 5-7mm blood vessels in thoracic surgery.
Trial registration:
ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT06002737. The trial was prospectively registered on 16 August 2023, https://www.clinicaltrials.gov /study/NCT06002737.
Optimization of Dynamic Task Allocation forMulti-UAV Systems: Search and Rescue Scenario
Authors: Qamar Rahim Ali , Sarfraz Mubashar , Ghauri Sajjad Ahmed , Baig Noman Anwar , Cheema Tanweer Ahmad
Published: January 2024

Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) are becomingincreasingly popular due to their versatility and cost-effectivenessand are used in various scenarios, such as sea exploration andsearch and rescue missions. Urban search and rescue requires aprompt and effective response to unforeseen events like faultsin UAVs, changes in task duration and deadline, new UAVarrivals, and task deletions. This paper extends the compromiseddynamic performance impact (CDPI) algorithm and introducesan enhanced CDPI (ECDPI) that can effectively handle dynamicevents during task execution. For dynamic event handling inthe ECDPI algorithm, the communication and conflict resolutionphase uses the time cost vector of each UAV for its assignedtask, as well as improvements in the detect dynamic activity function. In addition, limitations and cases against dynamicevents are discussed to exploit the proposed scheme effectively.The simulation results demonstrate that ECDPI is highly effectiveat handling dynamic events during the task execution phase
Light-chain Amyloidosis with Concomitant Symptomatic Myeloma (CRAB-SLiM Features): Clinical Characteristics, Cytogenetic Abnormalities, and Outcomes
Authors: Liu Peng , Yu Chenqi , Li Jing , Xu Tianhong , Wang Wenjing , Yang Yang , Zhou Chi , Wang Pu
Published: January 2024

Patients with light chain (AL) amyloidosis and concomitant symptomatic multiple myeloma (MM) are known to have a worse prognosis, while the prognostic implication of cytogenetic abnormalities (CA) and optimal treatment schemes are not well-established. This study retrospectively evaluated the clinical characteristics, CA, and outcomes of 106 patients with AL amyloidosis and concomitant symptomatic MM (MM-AL) by comparing with patients with MM (n=658) or primary AL amyloidosis (pAL, n=151) alone. The prevalence of t(11;14) was significantly higher in the pAL-alone group than in MM-AL and MM-alone group (40.7 % vs. 25.7% vs. 16.6%, p<0.001), and the prevalence of del13q, gain1q21 and high-risk CA (HRCA) decrease in turn in MM-alone, MM-AL and pAL-alone group. The progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) of MM-AL patients (median, 12.8 and 25.2 months) were significantly inferior to patients with MM-alone and pAL-alone. No significant difference in PFS and OS was found between MM-AL patients with and without HRCA. When stratified by the type of plasma cell disease and status of t(11;14), patients with MM-AL and t(11;14) presented the worst OS (median, 8.2 months, p<0.001). Regarding the management of MM-AL, extended cycles of induction therapy and the use of maintenance therapy contributed to a better prognosis.
Raman spectroscopy analysis of 752 urinary stones comparison to Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy
Authors: LV Jianlin
Published: January 2024

Purpose. we employed Raman spectroscopy to analyze kidney stones compared the results with those obtained through FTIR spectroscopy to assess the reliability and accuracy of both techniques.
Material and methods February2019 to October 2023, a series of 752 stone samples was received at our center. The stones were obtained from spontaneous passage, SWL, URS and PCNL All stones were washed and dried. The stones were washed with deionized water to remove debris such as blood, mucus and gypsum. All samples were analyzed by 1064-nm Raman spectroscopy and IR. spectroscopy.
Results A total of 752 stone analyses were performed in this study. Most the stone samples have been found to be mixtures of two or three mineral components . 4.9% (n = 37) were pure stones, 47.2% (n =355) were composed of two components and 47.9% (n = 360) of three or more components. Besides, calcium salts were found in 86.4% (n = 650) of these stones, compared with 13.6% (n = 102) for non-calcium stones. Stones containing CaOx dominated in the whole series, with a proportion of 57.4%, followed by CA (28.9%), UA (6.3%), MAP (6.8%), Cystine (0.4%), and other stone constituents (0.2%).
Conclusions The findings of our study demonstrate the effectiveness of Raman spectroscopy in diagnosing kidney stones, making it a promising tool for future clinical applications. Raman spectroscopy offers easier operability, a better signal-to-noise ratio, and lower background, which enables results to be obtained quickly via automated analyses.
Emergence of the ocean CO2 uptake hole under global warming
Authors: Shin Yechul , Lee Huiji , Oh Ji-Hoon , Park So-Won , Kug Jong-Seong , Noh Kyung Min
Published: January 2024

Understanding the carbon cycle is crucial for an accurate assessment of emission allowances, which requires to mitigate climate change within the limits of human tolerance. The oceanic carbon system is an important reservoir for anthropogenic CO2 emissions, yet uncertainties persist regarding its future changes. Here, we employ the state-of-the-art model with different CO2 emission rates to systematically investigate the response of ocean CO2 uptake. We reveal the possibility of a pronounced weakening of the uptake–CO2 uptake hole–in the Subpolar North Atlantic (SPNA), where it is currently one of the most effective oceanic carbon sinks. Explosive accumulation of the surface dissolved inorganic carbon initiates the uptake hole, resulting from the collapse of local deep convection. The emergence of the uptake hole underscores the role of dynamical feedback in the carbon cycle, hence worthy of consideration in regional strategies for carbon dioxide removal.
Causal relationships between neuropsychiatric disorders and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease: A bidirectional Mendelian randomization study
Authors: Wang Shisong , Gao Hui , Lin Pengyao , Qian Tianchen , Xu Lei
Published: January 2024

Background and Aims
: Increasing evidences suggest that nonalcoholic fatty liver disease is associated with neuropsychiatric disorders. Nevertheless, whether there were causal associations between them remained vague. A causal association between neuropsychiatric disorders and NAFLD was investigated in this study.
Methods
We assessed the published genome-wide association study summary statistics for NAFLD, seven mental disorder-related diseases and five central nervous system dysfunction-related diseases. The causal relationship was first assessed using two-sample Mendelian randomization. Then, sensitivity analyses were performed, followed by a reverse MR analysis to determine whether reverse causality is possible. Finally, we performed replication analyses and combined the findings from the above studies.
Results
Our results showed NAFLD significantly increased the risk of anxiety disorders (OR = 1.016, 95% CI = 1.010–1.021, P value <0.0001). In addition, Major Depressive Disorder was the potential risk factor for NAFLD (OR = 1.233, 95% CI = 1.063–1.430, P value = 0.006). Furthermore, other neuropsychiatric disorders and NAFLD were not found to be causally related.
Conclusion
These results implied causal relationships of NAFLD with anxiety disorders and Major Depressive Disorder. This study highlighted the need to recognize and understand the connection between neuropsychiatric disorders and NAFLD to prevent the development of related diseases.
Utilizing daily excessive concentration hours to estimate small for gestational age infants attributable to fine particulate matter in Wuhan, China
Authors: Zhang Xiaowei , Zhu Shijie , Zhang Faxue , Zhao Gaichan , Zhang Xupeng , Zhu Wei , Li Dejia
Published: January 2024

Objectives
In China, there have been limited studies on the correlation between PM2.5 (fine particulate matter) and the occurrence of small for gestational age infants (SGA), and the majority of these studies have used the daily average concentration of PM2.5 as an exposure indicator. This study used daily excessive concentration hours (DECH) as a novel exposure measure to gauge the impact of PM2.5 on SGA in Wuhan.
Methods
Air pollutants and gravidae data are collected from the Wuhan Municipal Ecology and Environmental Bureau and Wuhan Children's Hospital, respectively. A logistic regression model was employed to evaluate the contributory impacts of PM2.5-DECH and PM2.5-mean on SGA.
Results
In this study, the notable correlations between PM2.5-mean and SGA were found during the second trimester [OR = 1.23 (95% CI: 1.14–1.32)] and the entire pregnancy [OR = 1.15 (95% CI: 1.07–1.24)]. This correlation was also observed between PM2.5-DECH and SGA in the second trimester [OR = 1.24 (95% CI: 1.16–1.34)] and the entire pregnancy [OR = 1.14 (95% CI: 1.06–1.22)]. No statistically meaningful disparities were observed among different subgroups in the analysis stratified by age, employment status, and education attainment. Through attribution analysis, we observed an approximate disease burden caused by PM2.5-mean and PM2.5-DECH.
Conclusions
Our study indicates that elevated levels of PM2.5 exposure are correlated with an elevated likelihood of SGA. In addition, this study indicates that DECH may be used as a prospective substitute indicator for daily average concentration to study the connection between PM2.5 and detrimental health impacts.
Cardiac Arrest During Liver Resection: two cases report
Authors: Shang Ziqing , Wang Yan , Weng Yan , Zhong Qing
Published: January 2024

Background
Patients with liver diseases often require surgery, and liver resection is a common surgical procedure. Intermittent Pringle Maneuver (IPM) is always used to control blood loss during liver resection surgery, but ischemia-reperfusion injury reduced by IPM will lead rapid change of internal environment, which will increase patients’ perioperative risk.
Case presentation
We reported a 59-year-old male and a 44-year-old male who underwent liver resection surgery for liver cancer and hepatolithiasis respectively. Cardiac arrest occurred during the procedure. Luckily, with high quality of cardiopulmonary resuscitation and electrical defibrillation, acidosis correction, as well as the treatment of lowering K+ and increasing Ca2+, they were rescued. The two patients recovered well without complication in 1-month followed-up.
Conclusion
In liver resection, the anesthesiologists need to pay close attention to the electrocardiography changes, especially at the moment of vascular opening during IPM. In addition, how to ensure the stability of patients’ internal environment during liver resection is an important clinical research work, which will provide evidence-based medical reference for anesthesiologists.
On B † - Splitting of Bounded Linear Operators on Ordered Hilbert space
Authors: Archana B. , Kurmayya T.
Published: January 2024

We discuss a subclass of a positive splitting called B † −splitting of bounded linear operator over ordered Hilbert spaces. The necessary conditions for the existence of such splitting is discussed by assuming the nonnegativity of Moore-Penrose inverse of operators. We refor-mulate a method to construct B † − splitting.
Mathematics subject classification(2020). 47B02, 47B65
A Multiobjective Evolutionary Approach to Solving Single-Allocation Hub Median Problem
Authors: Bhattacharjee Arup Kumar , Mukhopadhyay Anirban
Published: January 2024

This article presents a multiobjective formulation for the well-known Single-Allocation Hub Median Problem (MO-SA-H-MP). The objective of MO-SA-H-MP is to develop a three-level architecture consisting of demand nodes, hubs, and central hubs, for reducing transportation costs among nodes, while considering two objectives. The first objective is focused on reducing the overheads associated with hubs and central hubs, while the second objective is aimed at reducing transportation costs among nodes. The paper uses two approaches to solve MO-SA-H-MP. The first approach is based on the NSGA-II algorithm, while the second approach uses a Genetic Algorithm (GA) with a local refinement-based technique to solve each objective separately. The resultant network obtained from GA is applied to the other objective, and the solutions of both approaches are compared. The NSGA-II-based approach is found to perform equivalently to the exact method in 48.32% of cases, perform better than the indirect approach of solving each objective separately in more than 81.67% of cases, and have a deviation of less than 10% in 67.50% of cases from the direct approach for solving each objective separately using the Refined GA-based technique.
Supervillin-mediated ZO-1 downregulation facilitates migration of cisplatin-resistant HCT116 colorectal cancer cells
Authors: Hong Yali , Li Xu , Mao Rongchen , Zhou Feier , Jin Lai , Zhu Chao , Li Shengnan
Published: January 2024

Supervillin (SVIL), the biggest member of the villin/gelsolin superfamily, has recently been reported to promote the metastasis of hepatocellular carcinoma by stimulating epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). However, data about the role of SVIL in the migration of colorectal cancer cells are scarce. We investigated the effects of SVIL on the migration of cisplatin-resistant colorectal cancer cells. The model of cisplatin-resistant HCT116 cells (HCT116/DDP) was established. SVIL-knockdown HCT116/DDP cells with virus infection were also used. Migration was assessed by transwell assay and wound healing assay, tumor metastasis was assessed using a mouse model with tail vein injection of colorectal cancer cells. The results showed that the expression of SVIL was upregulated in HCT116/DDP cells compared to their parental cells. Also, the HCT116/DDP cells showed increased cell migration, stemness and lung metastasis. Furthermore, we revealed that the up-regulated SVIL was associated with the induction of migration of HCT116/DDP cells. Reduced SVIL expression reversed the enhanced migration and lung metastasis in cisplatin-resistant colorectal cancer cells. Further work showed that SVIL silencing reduced cell migration by targeting zona occludens (ZO)-1 mediated tight-junction remodeling. The expression of ZO-1, but not occludin and cludin5, was down-regulated after SVIL knock-down. Fluorescence detection indicated that the linear ZO-1 expression was interrupted in HCT116/DDP cells while the SVIL silencing reversed the interruption. This study firstly displayed the relationship between SVIL and ZO-1 in cisplatin-resistant colon cancer cells, providing a new insight into the mechanism of colorectal cancer migration.
Effect of Social and Behavioral Change interventions on improving minimum dietary diversity among pregnant women and associated socio-economic inequality to improve nutrition outcomes in Rajasthan, India.
Authors: Sharma Anshita , Chanda Srei , Porwal Akash , Wadhwa Namita , Santhanam Divya , Ranjan Raghwesh , Shah Hemang , Adyanthaya Shachi , Meena Ramavatar
Published: January 2024

Background: Maternal dietary diversity is a key to improving the birth and child health outcomes. Besides socio-economic factors, the nutrition specific program- Social and Behavioural Change Communication (SBCC) interventions aimed to improve maternal dietary diversity has varied levels of impact on the socio-economic groups in poor resource setups.
Objective: To measure the factors associated with the minimum dietary diversity (MDD) among pregnant women in selected districts of Rajasthan with special emphasis on the SBCC components. Additionally, it measures the socio-economic gaps in the behaviour of consumption of diversified diet during pregnancy.
Methods: Data from a cross sectional survey of 6848 pregnant women, who have received a continuous SBCC counselling and registered under a state introduced conditional cash transfer program, during May to June, 2023, in five intervention districts -Banswara, Baran, Dunagrpur, Pratapgarh and Udaipur in Rajasthan was used. A 24 hour recall based food consumption behaviour has been gathered to measure the MDD of pregnant women. Study has used descriptive statistics, multivariate regressions, and multivariate decomposition analysis to address the research objectives.
Results:
Study finds that only 55.2% of pregnant women are consuming diverse diet in the study duration with mean dietary diversity score is 4.8 (+/- 1.5). Logistic regression finds that SBCC components such as frontline workers (aOR= 1.3, CI: 1.1-1.4), community motivators (aOR= 1.9, CI: 1.7-2.1), and participation in MCHND (aOR= 1.0, CI: .9-1.2) have significant and higher likelihood on consumption of MDD food on previous day. A higher education and belonging from richer wealth quintile also show higher association for consumption of MDD. Multivariate decomposition shows, among richest and poorest wealth categories there is 19 percentage point difference (58% Difference due to coefficient vs. 42% difference due to composition) in MDD consumption. This is positively contributed by the caste and educational categories of women.
Conclusion:
Despite a predominant vegetarian diet consuming population, better maternal dietary diversity was observed among those exposed to higher dose of SBCC intervention package. Educational status and caste of the respondent were significantly associated with minimum dietary diversity and contributed to the socio-economic inequality highlighting the importance of tailored and sustained SBCC interventions.
Metaphorical Analysis of Medical School Students' Perceptions of Schizophrenia: A Case Study in Türkiye
Authors: Aker Servet , Böke Ömer , KAHVE Aybeniz Civan , Aker Arzu Alptekin
Published: January 2024

Purpose: It is widely recognized that the attitudes of physicians toward mental disorders have a significant impact on the prevention, early diagnosis, and treatment of these conditions. This study aimed to evaluate the perceptions of first and sixth-year medical school students regarding schizophrenia through metaphors.
Methods: The research utilized a phenomenological design, one of the basic qualitative research designs. The study was conducted among the students of Ondokuz Mayıs University Faculty of Medicine. First and sixth-year medical school students were included in the study. The "metaphorical perceptions data collection form," developed by the researchers, was used. The form consisted of two parts: the first part included students' demographic characteristics, and the second part aimed to determine students' metaphors for schizophrenia through the sentence "Schizophrenia is like ..., because ... (In your opinion, what does schizophrenia resemble? Why?)." The metaphors developed by 144 medical school students about schizophrenia were evaluated within the scope of the study.
Results: Approximately half of the metaphors developed by medical school students about schizophrenia were related to the symptomatology of schizophrenia, which constitutes the diagnostic criteria of disorder. The other half of the metaphors developed by students reflected their views that schizophrenia is uncontrollable, a harmful element, or in need of care and attention. There was no categorical difference between first and sixth-year medical school students in terms of the metaphors they developed.
Conclusions: Implementing more contemporary and innovative educational models is essential to reduce negative attitudes towards mental disorders in faculties of medicine.
The prenatal nicotine exposure leads to epigenetic alterations in nervous system signaling genes in the rat
Authors: Muriel Jose Antonio Muriel , Dali Ouzna , Baco Ana Vargas , Tevosian Sergei , Hayward Linda F. , Zubcevic Jasenka , Smagulova Fatima
Published: January 2024

Background.
Prenatal nicotine exposure (PNE) has been documented to impose numerous deleterious effects on fetal development. However, the epigenetic changes promoted by nicotine exposure on germ cell are still not well understood.
Objectives.
In this study, we focused on elucidating the impact of prenatal nicotine exposure on regulatory epigenetic mechanisms important for germ cells development.
Methods.
Sprague-Dawley rats were exposed to nicotine during pregnancy and male progeny was analyzed at 11 weeks of age. Testis morphology was analyzed using frozen testis sections and expression of germ cell markers was examined by RT-qPCR; regulatory histone modifications were assessed by Western Blot (WB). A genome-wide DNA methylation was analyzed using Methylated DNA immunoprecipitation (MeDIP)-seq. We also carried out transcriptomics analysis in pituitary gland with RNA-seq.
Results.
We show that gestational exposure to nicotine reduces germ cell numbers, perturbs meiosis, affects the expression of germ line reprogramming responsive genes and impacts the DNA methylation at nervous system genes in the testis. Besides that, PNE leads to perturbation of gene expression in the pituitary gland.
Conclusions.
Our data demonstrate that PNE leads to perturbation of male spermatogenesis and the observed effects are associated with peripheral nervous system signaling pathway changes. Alterations in the expression of genes associated with diverse roster of biological activities such as cell migration, cell adhesion and GABA signaling in the pituitary gland suggest that effects of nicotine exposure are complex and initiated via alterations in the central nervous system.
Microscopic insight into evaporation and condensation of binary system ammonia-water with the effect of hydrogen bond
Authors: Tan Wei Jian , Kim Kek Seong , Siwayanan Parthiban , Choong Thomas Shean Yaw , Lock Serene Sow Mun , Tan Peng Chee , Ban Zhen Hong
Published: January 2024

Ammonia recovery for fertilizer and energy production faces a critical bottleneck: inaccurate prediction of evaporation and condensation rates in dilute solutions due to strong hydrogen bonds between ammonia and water. The presence of these bonds deviates the thermodynamics properties of ammonia water from standard laws like Henry's Law and Raoult's Law, hampering process optimization. As results, many of the ammonia water separation studies were conducted using specifically designed apparatus, and the results are bounded to said apparatus. This study introduces a novel method using Molecular Dynamics Simulations to tackle this challenge. We developed a simulation framework accounting for hydrogen bond interactions in low-concentration (20% wt%) ammonia-water mixtures. By systematically varying temperature under constant pressure, our approach tracks evaporation and condensation rates, revealing an efficient recovery strategy. At 140°C, ammonia evaporates at a rate of 609.22 kg·m-2·s-1 while condensate at 9.18 kg·m-2·s-1 under 20°C with, both at 0.4 MPa. Importantly, this strategy minimizes water loss, maximizing ammonia separation. These findings highlight the limitations of traditional models and demonstrate the power of molecular simulations in overcoming hydrogen bond challenges. Future work includes further validation against experimental data and exploring more complex mixtures for broader applicability. By unlocking accurate rate predictions, this work paves the way for optimizing ammonia recovery processes, boosting efficiency and sustainability in diverse fields.
Mathematics Subject Classification 65Z05, 76T06, 76T10, 80-10.
Extreme hydroclimatic events based on standardized precipitation (SPI) and streamflow drought (SDI) indices in the headwater region of the Paraíba do Sul River, Southeast Brazil: trends and climate variability
Authors: Coelho Andre Luis Souza , Lyra Gustavo Bastos , Herms Friedrich Wilhelm , Abreu Marcel Carvalho , Souza Lúcio Silva , Fraga Micael Souza , Cecílio Roberto Avelino
Published: January 2024

The aim of this work were to i) assess the trends and climate variability of the Standardized Precipitation Index (SPI) and Streamflow Drought Index (SDI); ii) identify the relationship between SPI and SDI vs the modes of climate variability ruled by the SST of the Pacific (Tropical and North) and Atlantic (North and South) and, iii) evaluate the ability of the SPI to characterize hydrological extremes (dry/wet) compared to the SDI in the headwaters of the Paraíba do Sul river, southeast Brazil. Long-time monthly rainfall and streamflow series from 1972 to 2016 (45 years) were used. No significant trend (modified Mann-Kendall) was observed for the SPI and SDI annual series. The series showed a higher frequency of positive SPI and SDI between 1972 and 1993 (period 1) and negative ones between 1994 and 2016 (period 2). These decadal patterns were related to the occurrence of the warm Pacific Decadal Oscillation (PDO), with a greater frequency of El-Niño in period 1, and more significant occurrence and intensity of La-Niña in period 2. In the case of the extremes of the SPI and SDI, the most remarkable event of dry (wet) years coincided with years with a negative (neutral or positive) Atlantic Interhemispheric SST Gradient (AITG). Significant correlations exist between the SPI and SDI series at seasonal, semi-annual, and annual scales. However, years with extreme SPI did not necessarily coincide with the SDI, with the opposite also being observed. Therefore, the SPI should be used cautiously for monitoring dry/wet hydrological events.
Diagnostic Value of Hyperbilirubinemia and Basic Laboratory Tests in Simple and Complicated Appendicitis
Authors: KAPTAN Elif İpek , BARUT Dursun , TATLI Faik
Published: January 2024

Purpose We aimed to investigate the effectiveness of total serum bilirubin and basic laboratory tests (white blood cell (WBC), C-reactive protein (CRP), Neutrophile Lymphocyte ratio (NLR), Platelet count, Platelet Lymphocyte ratio (PLR), Mean Platelet Volume (MPV), Platelet Distribution Width (PDW)) preoperatively in determining the severity of AA in patients operated for AA and reported as AA (complicated-simple) as a result of pathology.Method The medical records of over the age of 18 who underwent appendectomy with the diagnosis of AA between January 2015 and December 2019 in the General Surgery Clinic of Harran University Faculty of Medicine were evaluated retrospectively. The patients were divided into two groups based on the pathology result as simple or complicated appendicitis. Demographic characteristics of all patients, preoperative laboratory tests values were evaluated.Results The mean age of 386 patients included in the study was 35.3 (18–88) years. Based on the pathology result, 296 (76.7%) patients were evaluated as simple; 90 (23.3%) patients were evaluated as complicated AA. According to the pathology result, the mean age of the complicated patients (p = 0.001), the mean length of hospital stay (p < 0.001), the mean NLR (p = 0.008), the mean PLR (p = 0.036), the mean total bilirubin (p = 0.002), and the mean preoperative CRP (p < 0.001) were significantly higher.Conclusion Although total bilirubin and CRP appear to be the most important diagnostic parameters in the differentiation of simple and complicated appendicitis in the preoperative period, no single parameter with high specificity has been detected.
Loss of β-arrestin2 aggravated condylar cartilage degeneration at the early stage of temporomandibular joint osteoarthritis
Authors: Zhu Mengjiao , Huang Ziwei , Qin Jing , Jiang Jiafeng , Fan Mingyue
Published: January 2024

Objective
To investigate the role of β-arrestin2 in the development of temporomandibular joint osteoarthritis (TMJOA) at the early stage and the underlying mechanism.
Methods
A unilateral anterior crossbite (UAC) model was established on eight-week-old wild-type (WT) and β-arrestin2 deficiency mice to simulate the progression of TMJOA. Hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining and microcomputed tomography (micro-CT) analysis were used for histological and radiographic assessment. Immunohistochemistry was performed to detect the expression of inflammatory and degradative cytokines, as well as autophagy related factors. Terminal-deoxynucleotidyl transferase mediated nick end labeling (TUNEL) assay was carried out to assess chondrocyte apoptosis.
Results
The loss of β-arrestin2 aggravated cartilage degeneration and subchondral bone destruction in the model of TMJOA at the early stage. Furthermore, in UAC groups, the expressions of degradative (Col-X) and inflammatory (TNF-α and IL-1β) factors in condylar cartilage were increased in β-arrestin2 null mice compared with WT mice. Moreover, the loss of β-arrestin2 promoted apoptosis and autophagic process of chondrocytes at the early stage of TMJOA.
Conclusion
In conclusion, we demonstrated for the first time that β-arrestin2 plays a protective role in the development of TMJOA at the early stage, probably by inhibiting apoptosis and autophagic process of chondrocytes. Therefore, β-arrestin2 might be a potential therapeutic target for TMJOA, providing a new insight for the treatment of TMJOA at the early stage.
Prediction accuracy and heritability of UAV based biomass estimation in wheat variety trials as affected by variable type, modelling strategy and sampling location
Authors: Smith Daniel T.L , Chen Qiaomin , Potgieter Andries B , Chapman Scott C
Published: January 2024

Background
This study explores the use of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) for estimating wheat biomass, focusing on the impact of phenotyping and analytical protocols. It emphasizes the importance of variable selection, model specificity, and sampling location within the experimental plot in predicting biomass, aiming to refine UAV-based estimation techniques for enhanced selection accuracy and throughput in variety testing and breeding programs.
Results
The research uncovered that integrating geometric and spectral traits with a partial least squares regression (PLSR) based variable selection workflow notably enhanced biomass prediction accuracy. A key finding was that models, tailored to specific maturity stages (vegetative, flowering, and grain-fill) were more accurate than those modelling the entire growth season for estimation of biomass at corresponding stages. However, experiment specific models did not significantly increase accuracy. The comparison between a permanent and a precise region of interest (ROI) within the plot showed negligible differences in biomass prediction accuracy, indicating the robustness of the approach across different sampling locations within the plot. Significant differences in the broad-sense heritability (H2) of biomass predictions across different experiments highlighted the need for further investigation into the optimal timing of measurement for prediction.
Conclusions
The study highlights the promising potential of UAV technology in biomass prediction for wheat at a small plot scale. It suggests that the accuracy of biomass predictions can be significantly improved through optimizing analytical and modelling protocols (i.e., variable selection, algorithm selection, stage-specific model development). Future work should focus on exploring the applicability of these findings under a wider variety of conditions and from a more diverse set of genotypes.