bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Wind Driving Longer Uncontrolled Large Fire Duration in the Western United States
Authors: Wang Sally S.-C. , Leung L. , Qian Yun
Published: March 2024

The mean large fire duration in the western US shows significant increasing trends of 0.76 days yr-1 and 0.55 days yr-1 for the summer and fall, respectively, during 1992-2020. Multiple linear regression models are used to examine the factors contributing to the trends and variability of large fire duration. Notably, the maximum daily wind speed during large fires, which has also increased during the study period, emerges as the primary predictor in both seasons. Comparison of the wind during large fires and on all days shows that the increasing maximum daily wind speed during large fires cannot be explained by the changes in the background wind, except for some small regions. Instead, the prolonged duration and increased extent of large fires may have contributed to the increase in maximum wind speed during fires by generating heat and smoke, and through the fire-wind feedback, we hypothesize that the wind changes may further prolong the fire duration and present challenges for fire control.
Template-free method synthesized NaxCa2.38-xAl2Si57.2O118.59 zeolite particles for enhanced stability
Authors: Xia Yuan , Ma Liuyang , Qin Jishu , Liu Lie , Zhao Wenwen , Xue Yuna , Jia Hongmin , Hai Guojuan , Zhu Jiaming , Wang Beibei , Liu Xiaojie
Published: March 2024

Zeolites have been shown to accelerate hemostasis, improve trauma healing, and provide the resulting multifunctional hemostatic materials, due to their distinctive microporous structure and interfacial properties. However, natural zeolites general contain impurities and it is difficult to produce hemostatic powder of appropriate size using direct crushing methods. Herein, we develop a template free one-step hydrothermal process to synthesized NaxCa2.38−xAl2Si57.2O118.59 zeolite particles with controllable size. The size of NaxCa2.38−xAl2Si57.2O118.59 zeolite particles can be controlled from 1 to 10 µm. The ordered pores in the synthesized NaxCa2.38−xAl2Si57.2O118.59 zeolites exhibit a typical two-dimensional hexagonal structure. The synthesized zeolites exhibit excellent stability in both natural environments and serum. The Na2.38Al2Si57.2O118.59 zeolite particles maintain high stability of morphology and structure after water flow treatment. Those stability results ensure the preservation and use possibility of zeolite hemostatic powder in special environments, such as battlefield, underwater, and extreme weather.
Efficacy and safety of rituximab in patients with PLA2R associated membranous nephropathy and HCV infection
Authors: Li Xiaodan , Hao Yingxuan , Ren Mingjing , Guo Yanhong , Zhao Huayan , Wang Yulin , Tang Lin
Published: March 2024

Background: Rituximab has become one of the first-line therapies for the treatment of phospholipase A2 receptor (PLA2R) associated membranous nephropathy (MN). However, there is a lack of studies to report the effectiveness and safety of rituximab in patients with PLA2R associated MN and Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, which is the aim of this study.
Methods: We performed a single center retrospective review of 8 consecutive PLA2R associated MN patients with HCV infection. We assessed clinical and laboratory indices, remission rates, and adverse events at rituximab infusion, month 6, month 12, and last visit.
Results: A total of 8 patients were enrolled, with a median follow-up period of 19.00 (16.00, 25.25) months. Of the 8 patients, 5 were male, and mean age was 50.13±4.29 years. At last visit, 5 (62.50%) patients achieved complete remission, and 7 (87.50%) patients achieved complete or partial remission. All 8 patients with HCV infection received antiviral agents and the load of HCV virus were undetectable at the time of rituximab treatment. No adverse effect of rituximab on HCV plasma viremia or hepatic transaminase levels was observed during the follow-up.
Conclusions: This study suggested that on the basis of successful eradication of HCV virus with antiviral drugs, rituximab can effectively induce clinical remission of patients with PLA2R associated MN and HCV infection, and does not lead to a significant increase in HCV virus load. However, this finding is based on a very small sample size and should be confirmed in larger clinical trials.
The correlation between KRAS and TP53 gene mutations and early growth of pulmonary nodules
Authors: Zhao Bin , Li Bin , Guo Haoxin , Zhao Qingtao , Zhang Xiaopeng , Zhao Huanfen , Xue Wenfei , Li Wei , Duan Guochen , Xu Shun
Published: March 2024

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to investigate whether gene mutations can lead to the growth of malignant pulmonary nodules.
Methods: Retrospective analysis was conducted on patients with pulmonary nodules at Hebei Provincial People's Hospital, collecting basic clinical information such as gender, age, BMI, and hematological indicators. According to the inclusion and exclusion criteria, 85 patients with malignant pulmonary nodules were selected for screening, and gene mutation testing was performed on all patient tissues to explore the relationship between gene mutations and the growth of malignant pulmonary nodules.
Results: There is a correlation between KRAS and TP53 gene mutations and the growth of pulmonary nodules (P<0.05), while there is a correlation between KRAS and TP53 gene mutations and the growth of pulmonary nodules in the subgroup of invasive malignant pulmonary nodules (P<0.05).
Conclusion: Mutations in the TP53 gene can lead to the growth of malignant pulmonary nodules and are correlated with the degree of invasion of malignant pulmonary nodules.
The southwesternmost record of late Silurian (Pridolian) early land plants of Gondwana.
Authors: Drovandi Juan M. , Conde Osvaldo A. , Lopez Fernando E. , Coturel Eliana P. , Gómez Carlos M. Alarcón , Arnol Jonatan A. , Kaufmann Cintia , Pedernera Fernando A. , Abarca Ulises , Braeckman Alejandro
Published: March 2024

The Silurian constitutes a key period in the evolutionary history of land plants. However, records of Pridolian plants in western Gondwana are scarce, limited to outcrops located in southern Bolivia. In this contribution, an association of fossil plants housed in the Rinconada Formation, San Juan Province,Argentina, is presented. This association corresponds to fossil remains of primitive flora with reproductive structures and sterile axes linked to basal tracheophytes. The fossil assemblage is composed of Salopella marcensis, Hostinella sp, Aberlemnia caledonica, Cooksonia paranensis, C. pertoni, C. cambrensis, Steganoteca striata, Isidrophyton sp, Caia langii, two morphotypes of doubtful taxonomy, and graptolites colonies. The association between flora remains and graptolites, represents a parautochthonous fossil assemblage in an inner marine platform, dominated by gravity flows. This fossil record has paleophytogeographic importance since it allows extending the northwest Gondwana-southern Laurrusia unit to more southern areas of Gondwana. This expansion would have been favoured by the post-glacial climatic improvement of the late Silurian, together with a great radiation capacity and environmental flexibility of the flora. Furthermore, this contribution extends the biocron of three South American taxa (A. caledonica, C. paranensis and Isidrophyton sp) first known from the Lochkovian, to the Pridoli. Keywords: Early land plants, Pridoli, Gondwana, Paleophytogeography, Rinconada Formation.
Both tartaric and pantothenic acids promote Pb-phytoextraction potential of sunflower by regulating calcium and phosphorus uptake
Authors: Ghafoor Asif , Shafiq Fahad , Anwar Sumera , Zhang Lixin , Ashraf Muhammad
Published: March 2024

Phytoextraction of Pb is a challenging task due to its extremely low mobility within soil and plant systems. In this study, we tested the influence of some novel chelating agents for Pb-phytoextraction using sunflowers. The Pb was applied at control (0.0278 mM) and 4.826 mM Pb as Pb(NO3)2 through soil-spiking. After 10 days of Pb addition, four different organic ligands (aspartic, ascorbic, tartaric, and pantothenic acids) were added to the soil at 1 mM concentration respectively. In the absence of any chelate, sunflower plants grown at 4.826 mM Pb level accumulated Pb concentrations up to 104 µg g-1 DW in roots whereas, 64 µg g-1 DW in shoot. By contrast, tartaric acid promoted significant Pb accumulation in root (191 µg g-1 DW; +45.5%) and shoot (131.6 µg g-1 DW; +51.3%). Pantothenic acid also resulted in significant Pb-uptake in sunflower shoots (123 µg g-1 DW; +47.9%) and in roots (177.3 µg g-1 DW; +41.3%). The least effective amongst the chelates tested was ascorbic acid but it still contributed to +39.0 and 45.2% more Pb accumulation in sunflower root and shoots. In addition, plant growth, biochemical, and ionomic parameters were positively regulated by organic chelates. Especially, an increase in the leaf Ca, P, and S was evident in Pb-stressed plants in response to chelates. These results highlight that the use of biocompatible organic chelates positively alters plant physio-biochemical traits contributing to higher Pb-sequestration in sunflower plant parts.
Clinical and Radiological Features of Kimura Disease: A Retrospective Case Series Study
Authors: Zhao Fanfan , Zhou Min , Mao An , Zhang Yingjiao , Chen Yao
Published: March 2024

This study aimed to summarize the clinical and radiologic features of KD and discuss the treatment approaches. The clinical and radiological manifestations of four histologically confirmed KD cases were analyzed. Two neuroradiologists examined the imaging data to determine the location, size, number, margin, computed tomography (CT) density, signal intensity on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), contrast enhancement patterns, and involvement of adjacent structures. The patients consisted of three males and one female (sex ratio 3:1), and a mean age of 43 years (range, 13–71 years). The initial symptom in patients was painless subcutaneous masses with a duration ranging from 1 to 180 months. Peripheral blood eosinophilia absolute count and serum immunoglobulin E (IgE) levels were increased in 3 patients. 3 cases had multiple lesions and 1 case had a solitary lesion, the lesion regions included retroauricular (n = 2), parotid region (n = 1), submandibular gland (n = 1), maxillofacial region (n = 1), and preauricular (n = 1). Most mass margins were ill-defined and presented with diffuse subcutaneous fat atrophy around them, patients tend to present with enlarged lymph nodes with marked enhancement. KD should be considered where patients present with painless subcutaneous masses in the head and neck region, along with peripheral blood eosinophilia and elevated serum IgE levels. Given its propensity for recurrence, prolonged follow-up is required.
Integrating clinical data and ultrasonographic imaging for non-invasive prediction of HER2 status in breast cancer
Authors: Zhao AnLi , Wu JiangFeng , Du YanHong , Hu LiYan , Xu Dong , Wang ZhengPing
Published: March 2024

Background The most common cancer in the world, breast cancer (BC), poses serious problems to healthcare. Making an accurate diagnosis of these patients' HER2 status is essential for therapy planning.Methods A prospective cohort of patients with BC was enrolled between June 2020 and october 2023. The patient's clinical data and features from their ultrasonography were gathered. Postoperative tumor pathology specimens were subjected to immunohistochemistry and fluorescence in situ hybridization examinations to ascertain the HER2 status. Lasso regression was used to choose characteristic variables. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis were used to find the HER2 status-independent factors. The performance of the nomogram model was then assessed using calibration curves and decision curve analysis (DCA).Result 97 (22.25%) of the 436 BC patients enrolled in the research had positive HER2 results. Progesterone receptor expression, Ki-67 levels, and estrogen receptor expression differed statistically amongst patients with different HER2 statuses. Lasso regression identified six ultrasonographic variables closely associated with HER2 status from a pool of 786 features, leading to the generation of a radiomic score for each patient. Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that PR (OR = 0.15, 95%CI = 0.06–0.36, p < 0.001), Ki-67 (OR = 1.02, 95%CI = 1.00-1.03, p = 0.012), and Radiomic score (OR = 5.89, 95%CI = 2.58–13.45, p < 0.001) were independent predictors of HER2 status. The nomogram model demonstrated areas under the curve (AUC) of 0.823 (95% CI = 0.772–0.874) and 0.812 (95% CI = 0.717–0.906) in the training and validation cohort, respectively.Conclusions A methodology that integrates clinical data, cutting-edge imaging, and machine learning to provide individualized treatment plans is presented for the non-invasive prediction of HER2 status in breast cancer.
Influence of coupled water and thermal treatments on the fracture characteristics of a typical sandstone
Authors: Luo Yi , Zhong Haohong , Ren Li , Li Cunbao
Published: March 2024

Understanding the fracture behavior of rock after coupled water and thermal environment is important for many geotechnical projects. The influence of coupled water and thermal treatments on the mode-I and mode-II fracture toughness and characteristics of sandstone was investigated using notched deep beam specimens. The experimental results indicate a significant reduction in both mode-I and mode-II fracture toughness of sandstone under varying soaking temperatures. As the water temperatures increase, a slightly rising trend is observed in both mode-I and mode-II fracture toughness within the studied soaking temperature range. At lower soaking temperatures, sandstone exhibits typical brittle characteristics, which gradually transition to ductile properties as the temperature increases. Based on the Maximum Tangential Stress (MTS) criterion, the predicted values of mode-II fracture toughness and the fracture process zone were discussed. The results show that both the GMTS and MTS criteria exhibit inaccuracies in predicting the Mode-II fracture toughness of sandstone treated at different soaking temperatures. However, the GMTS criterion, which incorporates T-stress, demonstrates smaller errors compared to the MTS criterion. The study shows that the radius r0 of the fracture process zone is not a constant under both mode-I and mode-II loading conditions. The calculation of the fracture process zone radius r0 in the MTS criterion requires further theoretical and experimental study.
Elimination of apoptotic cells by non-professional embryonic phagocytes can be stimulated or inhibited by external stimuli
Authors: Pisko Jozef , Šefčíková Zuzana , Kovaříková Veronika , Čikoš Štefan , Fabian Dušan
Published: March 2024

In mouse blastocysts, the majority of incidentally occurring apoptotic cells is eliminated by neighbouring embryonic cells. Some apoptotic cells escape phagocytosis, but the frequency of such processes usually does not exceed 10%. The aim of the current study was to evaluate whether the efficiency of embryonic efferocytosis can be modulated by external stimuli. Experiments were performed in vitro on cultured mouse blastocysts with a differentiated trophectoderm and inner cell mass and on the human trophoblast cell line Ac-1M88. Samples were assessed using fluorescence immunostaining: Apoptotic cells (TUNEL) internalised within the cytoplasm of non-professional embryonic phagocytes (phalloidin T membrane staining) were considered ingested; apoptotic cells co-localised with acidified phagosomes (LysoTracker) were considered digested. First, we tested the ability of embryonic phagocytes to respond to elevated incidence of apoptosis induced by actinomycin D (4 nM). The results showed that the increase in apoptosis was accompanied by a significant elevation of the phagocytosis and digestion of dead cells in both mouse blastocysts and human trophoblast cells. We then assessed the effect of selective inhibition of lysosomal acidification in embryonic phagocytes using bafilomycin A1. The results showed that the inhibitor at 0.1 and 0.2 nM was able to negatively affect the execution of both initiative and terminal phases of efferocytosis in mouse blastocysts, although the decrease was not as profound as expected. When compared to mouse trophectoderm cells, human hybrid cells displayed a very low sensitivity to bafilomycin A1. Higher concentrations of bafilomycin A1 had a more harmful impact on overall cell viability than on digestive activity. The results show that the ability of non-professional embryonic phagocytes to successfully execute all stages of efferocytosis is not limited by the frequency of spontaneous apoptosis. The effectiveness of embryonic phagocytes can be partially decreased by selective inhibition of lysosomal acidification conducted via V-ATPase.
Electrocardiogram Abnormalities and CVD Mortality: Prospective Cohort Study of Tehran Lipid and Glucose Study
Authors: Mahmoodian Soma , Khalili Davood , Azizi Fereydoun , Haddizadeh Noushin , Nouri Bijan , Aghaei Abbas
Published: March 2024

Background: The application of electrocardiogram (ECG) abnormalities alongside other clinical indicators can strengthen the hypothesis of improving the diagnosis and increasing the accuracy of screening for cardiovascular diseases. The present study aimed to determine the risk of mortality from cardiovascular diseases (CVD) based on ECG abnormalities, in addition to other known risk factors, within the Tehran Lipid and Glucose Study (TLGS) cohort population.
Methods: In this prospective cohort study conducted within the TLGS framework, a total of 6422 individuals aged 30 years and older, with ECG data and without a history of cardiovascular diseases, were examined over an average follow-up period of approximately 9 years. Logistic regression models (adjusted for age, gender, abdominal obesity, BMI, high blood pressure, LDL cholesterol levels, fasting blood glucose, smoking status, education level) were used to estimate the odds ratios (OR) for factors associated with CVD mortality.
Results: Overall, 233 CVD-related deaths occurred during the follow-up period. Individuals with Q-wave (OR=2.060, 95% CI: 1.327-3.198, P=0.001), and T-wave (OR=1.990, 95% CI: 1.327-3.986, P=0.001) abnormalities had about two times higher risk of CVD mortality compared to those without these abnormalities. However, ECG abnormalities including ST-segment (OR=1.169, 95% CI: 0.728-1.879, P=0.518), QRS duration (OR=0.780, P=0.492, 95% CI: 0.385-1.582), and PR interval (OR=1.406, 95% CI: 0.297-6.662, P=0.668) did not show a significant association with CVD mortality.
Conclusion: Among the ECG abnormalities (ST, T, Q, PR, QRS), Q and T abnormalities are associated with CVD mortality. It can be concluded that ECG abnormalities in asymptomatic adults are related to the risk of CVD mortality and can serve as warning factors for the development of mortality from CVD.
Seed Molecule-Guided Strategy Facilitates the Precise Identification of "Hidden" Polymer Breakdown Products
Authors: FANG MINGLIANG , Shi Changzhi , Chen Xing , Yang Jing , Liu Min , Guo Ao , Zhao Feng , Zhao Ailin , Chen Xiaojia , Wang Mengjing , Wang Fengbang , Song Maoyong , Wang Zimeng , Chen Jianmin
Published: March 2024

Microplastics (MPs) are synthetic polymers that cause severe environmental pollution. However, most studies have primarily focused on the polymers themselves and little information is available regarding their breakdown products during environmental and biological processes. Identifying them is challenging due to structural diversity, especially with variations in both degree of polymerization (DP) and end-group modifications. In this study, we developed a non-targeted platform, named "Oligomer-Finder", which utilizes the liquid chromatography-high resolution mass spectrometry (LC-HRMS) for the screening and annotation of oligomers. Oligomer-Finder is based on the characteristics of oligomers, including repeated neutral losses (rNL), relationship between retention time (RT) and DP, and the mass of end groups (EG). The annotation from mass to structure was aided by custom-built polymer oligomer database (PODB) and oligomer end-group databases (OEGDBs). "Oligomer-Finder" identified dozens of unreported polymer oligomers with various end structures modified by nucleophiles in environmental and biological samples. Additionally, it revealed hundreds of mass spectrometry (MS) features representing unknown polymer breakdown products. Using poly (lactic acid) (PLA) as a model biodegradable plastic, the covalent modification of proteins by oligomers was first discovered, suggesting their biological activity. Our results demonstrate that "Oligomer-Finder" with user-friendly interface can effectively pinpoint oligomers and substantially expand unknown polymer breakdown products, allowing a life-cycle risk assessment.
A New Inverse Lomax Weibull-G Family of Distributions with Application To Carbon Fibre Data
Authors: Falgore Jamilu Yunusa , Yahaya Abubakar , Doguwa Sani Ibrahim , Mohammed Aminu Suleiman , Imam Abdussamad Tanko
Published: March 2024

A new family of distributions called Inverse Lomax Weibull G (ILWG) based on the Inverse Lomax G by [1] and Weibull G by [2] was proposed. Exponential distribution was used as a member of this family to demonstrate the applicability of the new family. Some statistical properties of the Inverse Lomax Weibull exponential distribution (ILWED) were demonstrated. Sample quantiles were presented. A simulation study was also presented. Lastly, an application to Bladder Cancer data was demonstrated based on the ILWED.
Investigation of the Myopic Outcomes of the Newer Intraocular Lens Power Calculation Formulas in Korean Patients with Long Eyes
Authors: Kim Jinchul , Park Joonsung , Jo Yoonjung
Published: March 2024

This study investigated the underlying causes of the myopic outcomes of the optic-based newer formulas (Barrett Universal II, EVO 2.0, Kane, Hoffer-QST and PEARL-DGS) in long Korean eyes with Alcon TFNT intraocular lens (IOL) implantation. Postoperative data from 3,100 randomly selected eyes of 3,100 patients were analyzed to compare the reference back-calculated effective lens positions (ELPs) based on the Haigis formula using conventional axial length (AL) and Cooke-modified AL (CMAL) with the predicted ELP of each single- and triple-optimized Haigis formula applied to AL- and CMAL. Contrary to the AL-applied Haigis formula, the predicted ELP curve of the CMAL-applied, single-optimized Haigis formula, simulating the methods of the newer formulas, exhibited a significant upward deviation from the back-calculated ELP in long eyes. The relationship between the AL and anterior chamber depth in our long-eyed population differed from that in the base population of the PEARL-DGS formula. The myopic outcomes in long eyes appeared to stem from the substantial overestimation of the postoperative IOL position with AL modification, leading to the implantation of inappropriately higher-powered IOLs. This discrepancy may be attributed to the ethnic differences in ocular biometrics, particularly the relatively smaller anterior segment in East Asian patients with long AL.
A Comparison Effectiveness of Teaching via Teach Back Method and Short Message Service on Stress of Mothers of Educable Mentally Retarded Children: A Field Clinical Trial
Authors: Esmaeilpour Nafiseh , Karimi Zohreh , Moghimi Masoud , Zoladl Mohammad , Esmaeilpour Nasim
Published: March 2024

Background: Caring of mentally retarded children at home is a challenging event and negatively affects family mental health. Therefore, this study aimed to compare the effects of Teach back method and Short Message Service on stress of mothers of educable mentally retard children.
Methods: In this field trial study, 105 mothers with educable mentally retarded children were selected through the convenience sampling method. The participants were assigned to the two intervention and control groups based on block randomization. The teach-back method intervention was developed for at least 8 sessions, and then the faculty members of the research team were asked to approve the content and materials of the intervention. Mothers in SMS group received four text messages each day, totally 180 messages within 1.5 months. The Abidin Short Form Parenting Stress Index were filled out by mothers the groups of interventions and control at baseline and one month after the intervention. Data were analyzed using SPSS21, by descriptive and inferential test, considering the 95% confidence interval.
Results: shows that one month after the completion of education through teach-back and SMS, the level of stress decreased with a steep slope in the intervention 1, intervention 2 groups, while it had an upward trend in the control group which received no intervention one month after the completion of intervention.The level of stress in the intervention 1 group (88.6) and in intervention 2 group (86.09)were significantly more than the control group (135.23) (p<0.001).
Conclusions: since a targeted nurse-client relationship is one of the main issues of nursing care, nurses can benefit from these educational methods to educate clients.
Detailed Comparative Analysis of Transfer Learning Based Ensemble Models for Mushroom Classification
Authors: A Leena Rani , Karegowda Asha Gowda , Bhat Shreetha , Devika G
Published: March 2024

Identifying mushroom species accurately is often challenging due to the vast diversity and visual differences among species at different stages of growth. This study investigates the effectiveness of stacking ensemble technique using a combination of 3–4 transfer learning models as Base classifiers with simple average and weighted average method, to enhance mushroom classification accuracy. Our research focuses on two primary aspects: the performance of individual transfer learning models and the impact of stacking ensemble techniques on transfer learning models for mushroom classification. The results of each ensemble of transfer learning model exhibited strong performance, achieving high accuracy in the range of 90.54% − 98.42% for Weighted Average models, with the best performance using three transfer learning modes: ResNet50V2-MobileNet–VGG16. The weighted average approach assigned weights to each model based on their class wise performance during model construction and henceforth results in better accuracy compared to simple average method.
Soundscape to Explore Local Communities Land Use in a Key Biodiversity Area, Sierra Nevada De Santa Marta, Colombia
Authors: PÉREZ-GONZÁLEZ JOSÉ LUIS , TORRES LUCELLY , BOULLHESEN MARTÍN , AKMENTINS MAURICIO SEBASTIÁN , RUEDA-SOLANO LUIS ALBERTO
Published: March 2024

Soundscape ecology allows us to assess the impacts generated by human activities on biodiversity. Through the implementation of participatory community mapping combined with passive acoustic monitoring (PAM), this study identified and characterized the soundscape, using a set of acoustic diversity indices, of four Arhuaca indigenous communities along an altitudinal gradient in the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, Colombia. Our results show a marked difference in the soundscape among the studied localities. We found that mid-altitude and high-altitude areas have more complex and diverse soundscapes, while low-altitude areas showed higher human disturbance. This contrasts with mid-altitude and high-altitude areas, where the good preservation of the forests and species diversity may contribute to high levels of biophony in the soundscape. This study pioneered the use of acoustic indices to better understand the different land-use practices by local communities. Thus, these findings provide important information about soundscape conservation and habitat configuration in terms of acoustic diversity, according to the land management systems. The results of the soundscape recorded are valuable for enhancing and strengthening conservation strategies and actions implemented by indigenous communities in protected areas.
DNA Damage Repair Gene Mutations and Correlations with Immune Regulatory Gene Expression in Pancancer
Authors: Yadav Kanchana , Das Trishala , Lynn Andrew M.
Published: March 2024

DNA damage is the root cause of many human disorders, including chronic inflammatory diseases, cancer, and early ageing. The DDR can also help the immune system by boosting the production of antimicrobial peptides and ligands for immune cell receptors. Different immunological signals are activated by various DDR components, including DNA damage sensors, transducer kinases, and effectors. A tight functional link and coordination between DDR and immune defence protect against harmful microorganisms and control tumours. Although DNA damage repair gene mutations are frequently found in cancer, very little is understood about how DDR mutations influence immunological traits. We explored the response of immune regulatory genes, including known stimulators, inhibitors and MHC pathway-related genes, to mutations in genes related to DNA damage repair mechanisms. In this study, we used pancancer gene expression data from the TCGA database and gene mutation data uploaded to the cBioPortal. A total of 275 genes related to DDR and 67 genes related to immune regulatory functions were clustered and categorised into different groups and validated through the literature. The dataset was segregated on the basis of mutations in known DDR genes, and changes in the relative expression of immune regulatory genes were scored to identify immune stimulators, inhibitors, and MHC pathway-related genes that were differentially regulated in response to a DDR mutation. We found positive correlations between DNA damage repair, gene mutations, immune stimulators, inhibitors, and MHC pathway-related gene expression. This study will lead to the identification of important building blocks for any future cancer treatment based on biomarkers and immunotherapy.
Luteolin attenuates LPS-induced damage in IPEC-J2 cells by enhancing mitophagy via AMPK signaling pathway activation
Authors: Yang Lingling , Zhang Ke , Cheng Xinyi , Chen Jinyan , Guo Xiaoquan , Cao Huabin , Zhang Caiying , Xing Chenghong , Hu Guoliang , Zhuang Yu
Published: March 2024

Luteolin (LUT), a flavonoid compound widely presenting in natural plants, has been extensively studied for its diverse biological properties, involving anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anti-apoptosis and other properties. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of LUT on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced IPEC-J2 cell damage and its underlying mechanism. Results showed that LPS treatment induced injury in IPEC-J2 cells, leading to tight junction disruption, ROS accumulation, and cell apoptosis. Remarkably, LUT attenuated LPS-induced IPEC-J2 cells damage by the up-regulation of ZO-1, Occludin, and Claudin-1 protein expression levels. Besides, LUT increased the activities of CAT, and SOD and prevented LPS-induced MDA and ROS production. LUT suppressed NF-κB activation in LPS-induced IPEC-J2 cells, reducing IL-1β, IL-6 and TNF-α expression. Moreover, LUT attenuated LPS-induced apoptosis in IPEC-J2 cells by up-regulating expression of Bcl-2 and down-regulating expression of Caspase-3, Caspase-9 and Bax. Furthermore, LUT upregulated AMPK/ULK signaling pathway and Parkin/PINK1 mediated-mitophagy in dose-dependent manner. While knockdown of AMPK by short-hairpin RNA (shRNA) weakens the protect effects of LUT against LPS-induced IPEC-J2 cells damage, as evidenced by the accumulation of excessive ROS and impaired mitophagy. In summary, LUT exhibits the ability to protect against LPS-induced damage to intestinal tight junctions by enhancing mitophagy through via AMPK activation.
High Temperatures Enhance Tolerance to Abamectin and Thiamethoxam in Bemisia tabaci (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae)
Authors: Liu Yuncai , Bai Jing , Wang Yucheng , Song Haixia , Chang Yawen , Wu Qing-Jun , Du Yu-Zhou
Published: March 2024

Cytochrome P450 functions in detoxification by participating in the activation and degradation of exogenous compounds and the metabolism and transformation of endogenous compounds. The insect Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius) transmits multiple plant viruses and feeds on the phloem of ornamentals, vegetables, and cotton. In this report, five new CYP450 genes from B. tabaci MED were cloned, including two CYP4 family genes (BtCYP4c1 and BtCYP4g15), two CYP6 family genes (BtCYP6dz3vQ and BtCYP6ep1) and one Halloween family gene (BtCYP302a1). Gene expression patterns and CYP450 enzyme activity in B. tabaci were evaluated in response to insecticides and thermal stress. Several genes encoding CYP450 were induced in B. tabaci during exposure to insecticides after high temperature stress, and these results were consistent with enzyme activity and RNAi results. Our results indicate that some CYP450 genes in B. tabaci are induced during high temperature stress, and these genes participate in the regulation of physiological and metabolic processes. Our results help clarify the role of temperature on insecticide tolerance in B. tabaci and provide a foundation for improving insecticide efficiency, which will decrease insecticide use and reduce the exposure of nontarget organisms to toxic compounds.
Potential role of SIRT-1 and SIRT-3 as biomarkers for the diagnosis and prognosis of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis
Authors: Perrotta Fabio , D’Agnano Vito , Mariniello Domenica Francesca , Castaldo Giuseppe , Vitale Maria , Cazzola Mario , Bianco Andrea , Scialò Filippo
Published: March 2024

Background: Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a debilitating and progressive lung disease of unknown aetiology, characterized by the relentless deposition of fibrotic tissue. Biomarkers may play a pivotal role as indicators of disease presence, progression, and treatment response. Sirtuins, a family of enzymes with ADP ribosyltransferase or deacetylase activity, have been implicated in several diseases, including pulmonary fibrosis.
Methods: A cross-sectional, prospective, observational single-center study was conducted to investigate the potential role of serum SIRTs levels as biomarkers in patients with IPF. Demographic, clinical, and functional data and serological samples were collected from 34 patients with IPF followed at the Interstital Lung and Rare Diseases Outpatient Clinic of the Vanvitelli Pneumology Clinic, Monaldi Hospital, Naples, Italy and from 19 age-matched controls.
Results: Serum SIRT-1 levels were significantly reduced in IPF patients compared to controls (median IPF 667 [435-858] pg/mL versus controls 925 [794-1173] pg/mL; p<.001 ). In contrast, serum SIRT-3 levels were significantly increased in IPF patients compared to controls (median IPF 338 [230-500] pg/mL versus controls 154 [99.8-246] pg/mL; p<.001). There were no statistically significant differences in serum SIRT-6 and SIRT-7 levels between IPF and controls. In addition, we found a significant positive correlation between SIRT-1 and lung function parameters such as FEV1% (ϱ=0.417;p=0.016), FVC% (ϱ=0.449;p=0.009) and DLCO% (ϱ=0.393;p=0.024), while a significant negative correlation was demonstrated between SIR-1 and GAP score, demonstrating a significant reduction in SIRT-1 in advanced Gender-Age-Physiology (GAP) stages 2-3 compared to GAP stage 1 (p=0.008).
Conclusions: This prospective, cross-sectional study showed that SIRT-1 was associated with lung function and IPF severity and that both SIRT-1 and SIRT-3 could be considered as potential biomarkers of IPF, whereas SIRT-6 and SIRT-7 were not associated with IPF.
Stigma and Discrimination Faced by Adolescents Living with HIV and Experiencing Depression in Malawi
Authors: Faidas Maria , Stockton Melissa A. , Mphonda Steven M. , Sansbury Griffin , Hedrick Haley , Devadas Jackson , Phanga Twambilile , Ruegsegger Laura , Kramer Jack , Mortensen Hillary , Kulisewa Kazione , Pence Brian W. , Bhushan Nivedita L. , Gaynes Bradley N.
Published: March 2024

Background
In Malawi, approximately 25% of adolescents living with HIV (ALWH) also suffer from depression. Not only is HIV stigma a major contributor to depression, but it also adversely impacts HIV care engagement. ALWH can experience HIV stigma as stereotyping, social exclusion, low social support, and abuse; and these experiences are associated with poor mental health. Despite recognition of the deleterious effects of HIV stigma, we have limited knowledge of how stigma is experienced by depressed ALWH. Guided by the Health Stigma and Discrimination Framework, we describe stigma faced by depressed ALWH in Malawi, and its implications for future interventions.
Methods
As part of a larger formative study to adapt a mental health counseling intervention, we conducted in-depth interviews, social support mapping sessions, and focus group discussions with 25 ALWH, 4 caregivers of ALWH, 3 HIV providers, and 5 participants and 5 staff of a prior mental health counseling intervention. After analyzing the stigma codes, we used the Health Stigma and Discrimination Framework to organize the data into four key domains: drivers, manifestations, outcomes, and health and social impacts.
Results
Major drivers of HIV stigma included fear of HIV transmission, negative effects of antiretroviral therapy (ART), association with death, inaccurate knowledge, and negative attitudes towards ALWH. The most common manifestations of HIV stigma were gossip, insults and mocking, and physical and social distancing. Decreased ART adherence and missed HIV appointments were commonly cited outcomes of HIV stigma. Broader health impacts of HIV stigma were notable for mental health comorbidities including depression, anxiety, substance use, and suicidality. Identified resilience strategies included support for HIV care engagement and psychosocial support from family and friends.
Conclusions
This study is the first to specifically describe the stigmatization process faced by depressed ALWH in Malawi. Notably, HIV stigma continues to disrupt HIV care and detrimentally impacts mental health during adolescent development. Further studies focused specifically on stigma are needed to better characterize this process and identify additional resilience factors. Investment in stigma-reduction interventions for ALWH is needed to avert poor mental health and HIV outcomes.
Trial registration: NCT06173544
WITHDRAWN: Pneumonia in children with complex chronic conditions with tracheostomy: An emerging challenge
Authors: García-Boyano Miguel , Alcalá Francisco José Climent , Alonso Aroa Rodríguez , de Villalta Marta García Fernández , Alonso Ohiane Zubiaur , Retolaza Ignacio Rabanal , Melero Inmaculada Quiles , Calvo Cristina , García Luis Escosa
Published: March 2024

Purpose: Despite respiratory infections being a leading cause of hospitalization in children with tracheostomy tubes, there are no published guidelines for their diagnosis and management. This study aims to outline the clinical, laboratory, and microbiological aspects of pneumonia in these children, along with the antibiotics used and outcomes. Additionally, it seeks to determine pneumonia incidence and associated risk factors.
Methods: We conducted a retrospective study using medical records of tracheostomized children at La Paz University Hospital in Madrid from 2010 to 2021.
Results: Thirty-three pneumonia cases were observed in 25 tracheostomized children. Pseudomonas aeruginosa was the predominant bacterium (52%), followed by E. coli, S. aureus, and S. marcescens. The same microorganism isolated in the tracheal aspirate culture during pneumonia was previously isolated in 83% of cases that had a similar culture with some growth obtained within 7 to 30 days prior. Multiplex respiratory PCR detected respiratory viruses in 73% of cases tested. Antibiotic treatment was administered in all cases except one, mostly intravenously (81%), with piperacillin/tazobactam and meropenem being commonly used. Only one of the described episodes had a fatal outcome.
Conclusions: It is advisable to include coverage for P. aeruginosa, E. coli, S. aureus, and S. marcescens in the empirical antibiotic treatment for pneumonia in tracheostomized children, along with the microorganisms identified in tracheal cultures obtained within 7 to 30 days prior, if available. A positive PCR for respiratory viruses is often discovered in bacterial pneumonia in tracheostomized children.
Correlations between substrate stocks of P, N, and C, stoichiometry, and varying categories of flora rehabilitation in the Karst area of South-west China
Authors: Gong Xianghuan , Shu Yingge , Wang Changmin , Cai Hua , Luo Xiulong , Liao Yuanhang , Long Hui , Li Xuemei
Published: March 2024

Flora rehabilitation can effectively restore degraded terrestrial ecosystems in fragile areas. This study aimed to investigate dynamic relations in nutrients of substrate and stoichiometry under varying categories of flora rehabilitation in karst areas. The disseminations of soil organic carbon (SOC) in substrate , total phosphorus (TP), and total nitrogen (TN) in the 0 to 40 cm profile of substrate over set intervals (5, 10, 15, and 20 a) were analyzed under flora rehabilitation in grassland, shrub, and orchard substrates of the karst region. Adjacent farmland was used as a control. The outcomes showed rises in mean SOC concentration of grassland, shrubland and orchard 63.11%, 104.78%, 59.38%, correspondingly compared to the control; SOC storage was raised by 48.67%, 76.79%, and 38.28%, correspondingly; mean TN concentration was raised by 6.25%, 25.00%, and 21.63%, correspondingly; mean TN storage was raised by 8.29%, 19.69%, and 17.10%, correspondingly. There was an absence of significant changes in TP concentration and stock. SOC and OC: TN of the three flora categories tended to rise and then fall with increasing years of rehabilitation in the 0 to 10 cm layer of substrate, whereas changes in the 20 to 40 cm layer were insignificant. The rank of the varying flora rehabilitation categories according to SOC and TN concentration and stock was: shrubland > orchard > grassland. SOC, TN, and TP concentration of each flora type fell with increasing layer of substrate depth, and while there was a significant surface aggregation consequence, changes in ratios of stoichiometry were insignificant. Redundancy analyses identified substrate texture, moisture, density, porosity, microbial biomass nitrogen, and pH to be the main aspects affecting SOC, TN, and TP stoichiometry in the South-west karst region.
Dry pyroclouds promote longer-lasting extreme wildfire events intensification.
Authors: Ribau Marc Castellnou , Bachfischer Mercedes , Bover Marta Miralles , de Arellano Jordi Vila-Guerau
Published: March 2024

Global occurrence of pyroclouds leads to an accelerated wildfire rate-of-spread (ROS), creating extreme wildfire events (EWE). Pyroclouds form during wildfires under unstable atmospheres. Recent EWEs unexpectedly created deep moist pyrocloud and accelerated ROS through the night, beyond the unstable atmosphere’s daily cycle. Here, we analyzed the dependence of the ROS acceleration on pyroclouds and atmospheric instability. We used 190 EWEs observed worldwide, supporting their analysis with a coupled fire‒atmosphere model. We find that accelerated ROS depends on dry pyroclouds processes driven by atmospheric instability, particularly that of the free troposphere (FT). Dry pyroclouds form when plume deepening reaches the transition layer between the atmospheric boundary layer (ABL) top and the lifting condensation level (LCL). The depth of dry pyrocloud turbulence, modulated by the FT stability, plays a leading role in further enhancing the downward entrainment of warm and dry air. This entrainment process mixes ABL to form a deeper fireABL, optimizing conditions for moist pyrocloud events. A novel finding is the role of the dry pyrocloud entrainment process in maintaining a decoupled fireABL from surface conditions during the day-to-night transition. This dynamical transition explains the recently observed nocturnal extreme fire events that lasted up to 17 hours, a phenomenon present in 40.2% of observed EWEs worldwide. We argue that during wildfires, the dry pyrocloud persistence shifts the turbulent driving conditions from surface to atmosphere, disrupts the daily cycle of the lower atmosphere, and increases the number of longer-lasting pyroconvective EWEs.
Improved socioeconomic status, as indicated by education and income, enhances the prognosis of central nervous system tumours
Authors: Lyu Boqiang , Wang Biyuan , Tian Yunze , Zhang Yongfeng , Yu Beibei , Chen Huangtao , Fu Longhui , Ren Pengyu , Li Jianzhong , Gong Shouping
Published: March 2024

Purpose
Patients with CNS tumors is affected by many characteristics. Socioeconomic status (SES) has been found to affect many tumors’ survival. This study focuses on the influence of SES in CNS tumor.
Methods
Patient data were extracted from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results database. Supervised optimal binning and information value (IV) were used for SES assessment. Kaplan-Meier, Cox regression, area under curve (AUC) and net reclassification improvement (NRI) were used to assess the predictive performance.
Results
Median household income (MHI) and at least bachelor's degree (ALBD) were found have proper IV and ability to make a statistically significant classification of overall survival. Both MHI and ALBD have been found to have the ability to further subdivide categories of gender, age, grade, metastasis, histology, surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy. Higher MHI and ALBD are associated with better prognosis. Cox regressions with different survival functions and survival time revealed higher MHI and ALBD, younger, married, insured, low grade, local metastasis, perform surgery and chemotherapy are correlate with better survival. ALBD may play an important role than MHI, and MHI might be able to decrease misclassified poor prognosis.
Conclusion
MHI and ALBD are two of the most important SES in CNS tumor. Higher MHI and ALBD are correlated with better survival. MHI and ALBD could further subdivide categories of other characteristics, and associated with the perform of treatments, which could provide new strategy for personalized treatment.
The Risk Signature of Pyroptosis-Related Long Noncoding RNAs Predicts Prognosis and Indicates Immunotherapeutic Efficiency in Hepatocellular carcinoma
Authors: Zhang Wenjie , Xu Chen , Meng Qiang , Yuan Juzheng , Peng Wei , Liu Zhengcai , Wang Huimin , Li Haimin , Qu Shibin , Tao Kaishan
Published: March 2024

Pyroptosis can cause inflammasome activation through Caspase-1/NOD-like receptor 3 (NLRP3) pathways, which is closely related to hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The immunotherapy of HCC has a good overall effect and has been widely used in clinical, but the exact effect varies from person to person. Dysregulation of lncRNA can lead to inflammatory and abnormal immune microenvironment in HCC. However, few studies have reported the role for pyroptosis-related lncRNAs (PRlncRNAs) in HCC. In this study, we constructed and validated a risk model based on 8 PRlncRNAs to predict the prognosis of patients and immune cell infiltration in HCC using bioinformatics approaches and experiments. Our risk model showed that patients in a high-risk group exhibited a poor prognosis and risk score is an independent prognostic factor. AUC analysis proved that our risk signature more accurately predicted the prognosis of patients than traditional clinicopathological indexes. The results of GSEA and (ss)GSEA showed that high-risk group genes were mainly enriched in immune pathways and that their executive function depended on inhibitory immune checkpoints. Furthermore, downregulation of AC009283.1 expression accelerated the HCC cells progression, reduced NLRP3/Caspase-1 expression and infiltration of CD3. While si-LINC00942 got the opposite results. Overall, the novel signature has a high credibility in predicting the patient prognosis and evaluating the immune status, which has important significance for guiding immunotherapy and developing precise treatments to benefit HCC patients.