bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effect of Partial Organic Fertilizer Substitution on Heavy Metal Accumulation in Wheat Grains and Associated Health Risks
Authors: Liu Yumin , Ma Ronghui , Yang Yan , Wang Jiangnan , Guan Xilin , Wang Mei , Li Ni , Xu Yu , Jiang Lihua
Published: November 2023

The partial substitution of chemical fertilizers with organic manure is an important strategy for improving agricultural sustainability. However, its effect on heavy metal (HM) pollution and its potential risk to human health remain unclear. Therefore, a field study was conducted to evaluate the effects of partial organic fertilizer substitution (0, 10%, 20%, 30%, and 40%) on health risks posed by HMs, including Zn, Cu, Ni, Cd, Pb, As, and Cr. The results showed that organic fertilizer substitution significantly increased Cu, Cd, Pb, and As accumulations in the soil. The Zn, Cu, Pb, and As contents were significantly higher in grains grown under organic fertilizer substitution (40%) conditions. The HM contents in the soil and grains were below the safety threshold limits in all treatments. Furthermore, the health risk caused by the exposure to As, Cu, and Zn accounted for 86% of the hazard index (HI) value. The HI value was significantly greater at a substitution ratio of 40% than in the no-nitrogen fertilizer treatment. Ingestion of the wheat grains grown at substitution ratios ≥ 30%) increased the carcinogenic risk of As and the total carcinogenic risk. In conclusion, organic fertilizer substitution at high ratios significantly increased the non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic risks associated with ingesting wheat grain. The optimal organic fertilizer substitution ratio (20%) maintained crop yields and improved soil fertility without increasing the non-carcinogenic or carcinogenic risks to human health. These findings highlight the importance of understanding the impacts of optimal organic fertilizer management in wheat growing systems.
Transcriptomic Analysis of Cucumis hystrix and the Functional Identification of ChTrxh under NaCl Stress
Authors: Guo Zhaolai , Zeng Senlin , Li Kunzhi , Xu Huini
Published: November 2023

Salinity is a prominent environmental stressor that significantly impacts plant growth and development. Here, we conducted research on the physiological and transcriptomic mechanism of a wild cucumber, Cucumis hystrix Chakr, under NaCl stress. Physiological data showed that contents of malondialdehyde, peroxide (H2O2), proline, soluble sugar, and activities of antioxidant enzymes of superoxide dismutase, peroxidase, ascorbate peroxidase, and glutathione reductase in wild cucumber plants were increased significantly after NaCl treatment. Transcriptomic analysis revealed that 3509 transcripts were differentially expressed in leaves and 5516 transcripts in roots after NaCl treatment. Numerous genes were related to the signal transduction, transcription factor, ion transport, osmotic metabolism, and reactive oxygen species scavenging. Moreover, the thioredoxin H type gene of Cucumis hystrix Chakr (ChTrxh) was isolated and characterized. Our study demonstrated that the transgenic tobacco plants overexpressing ChTrxh exhibited enhanced tolerance to NaCl stress compared to wild-type plants. These findings contribute valuable insights into the functional characteristics of important genes in wild cucumber under NaCl stress.
Application of Different Wavelengths of LED Lights in Antimicrobial Photodynamic Therapy for the Treatment of Periodontal Disease
Authors: Takeuchi Yasuo , Aoki Akira , Hiratsuka Koichi , Chui Chanthoeun , Ichinose Akiko , Aung Nay , Kitanaka Yutaro , Hayashi Sakura , Toyoshima Keita , Iwata Takanori , Arakawa Shinich
Published: November 2023

Therapeutic light has been increasingly used in clinical dentistry for surgical ablation, disinfection, bio-stimulation, reduction in inflammation, and promotion of wound healing. Photodynamic therapy (PDT), a type of phototherapy, has been used to selectively destroy tumor cells. Antimicrobial PDT (a-PDT) is used to inactivate causative bacteria in infectious oral diseases, such as periodontitis. Several studies have reported that this minimally invasive technique has favorable therapeutic outcomes with a low probability of adverse effects. PDT is based on the photochemical reaction between light, a photosensitizer, and oxygen, which affects its efficacy. Low-power lasers have been predominantly used in phototherapy for periodontal treatments, while light-emitting diodes (LEDs) have received considerable attention as a novel light source in recent years. LEDs can emit broad wavelengths of light, from infrared to ultraviolet, and the lower directivity of LED light appears to be suitable for plaque control over large and complex surfaces. In addition, LED devices are small, lightweight, and less expensive than lasers. Although limited evidence exists on LED-based a-PDT for periodontitis, a-PDT using red or blue LED light could be effective in attenuating bacteria associated with periodontal diseases. LEDs have the potential to provide a new direction for light therapy in periodontics.
Silver Nanoparticles (AgNPs) as Enhancers of Everolimus and Radiotherapy Sensitivity on Clear Cell Renal Cell Carcinoma
Authors: Morais Mariana , Machado Vera , Figueiredo Patrícia , Dias Francisca , Craveiro Rogéria , Lencart Joana , Palmeira Carlos , Mikkonen Kirsi S. , Teixeira Ana Luísa , Medeiros Rui
Published: November 2023

Nanomedicine’s advent has promised to revolutionize different biomedical fields, including oncology. Silver Nanoparticles (AgNPs) showed promising results in different tumor models. Clear cell Renal Cell Carcinoma (ccRCC) is especially challenging due to its late diagnosis, poor prognosis and treatment resistance. Therefore, defining new therapeutic targets and regimens could improve patient management. This study intends to evaluate AgNPs’ effect in ccRCC cells and explore their potential combinatory effect with Everolimus and Radiotherapy. AgNPs were synthesized, and their effect was evaluated regarding their entering pathway, cellular proliferation capacity, ROS production, mitochondrial membrane depolarization, cell cycle analysis and apoptosis assessment. AgNPs were combined with Everolimus or used to sensitize cells to radiotherapy. AgNPs are cytotoxic to 786-O cells, a ccRCC cell line, entering through endocytosis, increasing ROS, depolarizing mitochondrial membrane, and blocking the cell cycle, leading to a reduction of proliferation capacity and apoptosis. Combined with Everolimus, AgNPs reduce cell viability and inhibit proliferation capacity. Moreover, 786-O is intrinsically resistant to radiation, but after AgNPs’ administration, radiation induces cytotoxicity through mitochondrial membrane depolarization and S phase blockage. These results demonstrate AgNPs’ cytotoxic potential against ccRCC and seem promising regarding the combination with Everolimus and sensitization to radiotherapy, which can, in the future, benefit ccRCC patients’ management.
Targeted Metabolomics Study on the Effect of Vinegar Processing on the Chemical Changes and Antioxidant Activity of Angelica sinensis
Authors: Chen Linlin , Li Long , Wang Fengzhong , Hu Shenghai , Ding Tingting , Wang Yongru , Huang Yulong , Fan Bei , Sun Jing
Published: November 2023

Angelica sinensis (Oliv.) Diels (A. sinensis) has a long processing history. In order to obtain a more valuable composition and higher antioxidant behavior, it is often processed by stir-frying and vinegar treatment. However, the underlying mechanism of chemical changes remains ambiguous. Using UPLC-QQQ-MS/MS alongside targeted metabolomics techniques, this study probed the variances between crude and processed A. sinensis. We identified 1046 chemical components in total, 123 differential components in stir-fried A. sinensis, and 167 in vinegar-treated ones were screened through multivariate statistical analysis. Moreover, 83 significant compounds, encompassing amino acids, phenolic acids, etc., were identified across both processing methods. The in vitro antioxidant activities of these A. sinensis forms were assessed, revealing a positive correlation between most of the unique components emerging after processing and the antioxidant capabilities. Notably, post-processing, the chemical composition undergoes significant alterations, enhancing the antioxidant activity. Specific compounds, including 4-hydroxybenzaldehyde, syringetin-3-O-glucoside, and salicylic acid, greatly influence antioxidant activity during processing.
An Iterative Closest Point Method for Lidar Odometry with Fused Semantic Features
Authors: Cao Qiku , Liao Yongjian , Fu Zhe , Peng Hongxin , Ding Ziquan , Huang Zijie , Huang Nan , Xiong Xiaoming , Cai Shuting
Published: November 2023

Lidar sensors play a pivotal role in a multitude of remote sensing domains, finding extensive applications in various sectors, including robotics, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), autonomous driving, and 3D reconstruction, among others. Their significance and versatility in these areas have made them indispensable tools for a wide range of applications. The accuracy of Lidar odometry (LO), which serves as the front end of SLAM, is crucial. In this paper, we propose a novel iterative closest point (ICP) technique that combines semantic features to improve LO precision. First, the semantic segmentation neural network is used to extract the semantic features from each frame of the point cloud. Then, the obtained semantic features assist in extracting the local geometric features of the point cloud. Also, the residual blocks of the ICP algorithm’s least squares are combined with semantic confidence functions to better predict the exact pose. Compared to LOAM, there is an average improvement of 4 cm in accuracy per 100 m. Experimental results illustrate the superiority of the proposed method and indicate that the fusion of semantic features can robustly improve the precision of LO.
Research on a Grading Evaluation System for Water Inflow in Three-Hole Parallel Subsea Tunnels Considering Inter-Tunnel Influence
Authors: Han Zhiming , Yan Keyu , Zhu Zhengguo , Cui Huimin
Published: November 2023

Water inflow analysis is critical for subsea tunnel construction. However, existing studies largely concentrate on the inflow issues pertaining to single-hole tunnels. To address current practical engineering problems, a three-hole parallel configuration is common for subsea tunnels, which may alter water inflow patterns due to the influence of their seepage fields. Herein, numerical simulations are conducted to investigate the water inflow characteristics of a three-hole parallel subsea tunnel. Specifically, the impact of various factors on the water inflow phenomenon, including the permeability coefficient of the surrounding rock, the depth of the seawater, the depth of the tunnel, the spacing between tunnels, and the relative size of the tunnels, are comprehensively studied. Furthermore, based on the principles of the analytic hierarchy process and fuzzy mathematics, an exhaustive assessment framework is developed to evaluate the water inflow of three-hole parallel subsea tunnels. The results indicate that there is a mutual influence between the three parallel tunnels, differing from the predicted water inflow, which is overestimated in a single-hole tunnel model. Therefore, the water inflow assessment for a three-hole parallel subsea tunnel system should account for the inter-tunnel influences. The findings of this study offer valuable insights for the design of waterproofing and drainage systems in three-hole subsea tunnels.
A Dynamic Urban Mobility Index from Clustering of Vehicle Speeds in a Tourist-Heavy City
Authors: Liponhay Marissa , Valenzuela Jesus Felix , Dorosan Michael , Dailisan Damian , Monterola Christopher
Published: November 2023

The rapid urbanization of cities often brings about complex mobility issues, such as traffic congestion that, when unplanned, results in decreased productivity and quality of life. While many cities have adopted smart city initiatives to capture and monitor mobility, applying these in a developing country context remains a challenge when infrastructure and high-resolution spatial and temporal data are lacking. In this work, we use GPS data obtained from probe vehicles (a mix of public and private transport vehicles) within the city of Baguio, The Philippines, to develop and propose the Zone-based Speed Index (ZSI), a mobility index based on the speed clusters observed in this city. The ZSI dynamically infers monthly speed thresholds to classify zones as fast or slow and successfully captures the decrease in vehicle mobility associated with the impact of typhoons and holidays. Thus, it can be used to characterize urban vehicle mobility with high (hourly) resolution. Insights from the use of our dynamic mobility index are useful in the development and optimization of transportation systems, in monitoring the ease of vehicle mobility, and in the performance assessment of smart city initiatives, which are much needed in tourism hotspots.
Analysis and Parameterization of Sports Performance: A Case Study of Soccer
Authors: Román-Gallego Jesús-Ángel , Pérez-Delgado María-Luisa , Cofiño-Gavito Fernando-José , Conde Miguel Á. , Rodríguez-Rodrigo Rubén
Published: November 2023

The importance of Big Data and the analysis of this data in recent years is indisputable, and this boom has spread to all areas of life, including professional sports and, within this, soccer. The significant amounts of money involved in this sport have led to the need for the top clubs to employ these techniques to gain a competitive advantage over their competitors. Despite this, there is very little information on how these tools are used or what parameters they consider. Similarly, there are a multitude of amateur analyses that offer very few conclusions. They simply focus on collecting and presenting the data in the form of a comparison without any analysis or pre-processing. This work describes the implementation of an expert system based on fuzzy logic used to evaluate the talent of a soccer player at all levels, his/her aptitude and attitude, to face his/her individual and collective professional development. For this purpose, the above aspects will be evaluated specifically in the different aspects of the game, which will allow us to evaluate the performance of a soccer team and thus determine the probability of victory, draw, and defeat in a confrontation.
Study on the Ion Mobility Spectrometry Data Classification and Application of Port Container Narcotics Using Machine Learning Algorithm
Authors: Park Saeyong , Kemelbekova Gualnaz , Cho Sungyoon , Kwon Kiwon , Im Taeho
Published: November 2023

Narcotics should be strictly controlled as they can cause great disruption to society. Narcotics mostly flow into ports from major narcotic makers via transit points and through cargo containers. To prevent narcotic entry through smuggling, airports use animals or detect narcotics through X-rays. However, the use of animals in ports is not practical, and the method using X-rays sometimes does not detect substance narcotics with low atomic numbers. In this paper, we aimed to detect and classify narcotics using ion mobility spectrometry (IMS) data generated by inhaling air inside the container. To classify narcotic IMS data consisting of time-series data, the performance was improved using a time-series classification machine learning algorithm instead of the threshold method previously used. To this end, K-nearest neighbor, time-series forest, and random convolutional kernel algorithms were applied to the proposed algorithm considering the features of narcotic IMS data. The results demonstrate that the proposed algorithm outperforms the existing algorithm, and it reduces the classification performance processing time up to 5 s with more than 0.9 accuracy level.
Arabic Emotion Recognition in Low-Resource Settings: A Novel Diverse Model Stacking Ensemble with Self-Training
Authors: Althobaiti Maha Jarallah
Published: November 2023

Emotion recognition is a vital task within Natural Language Processing (NLP) that involves automatically identifying emotions from text. As the need for specialized and nuanced emotion recognition models increases, the challenge of fine-grained emotion recognition with limited labeled data becomes prominent. Moreover, emotion recognition for some languages, such as Arabic, is a challenging task due to the limited availability of labeled data. This scarcity exists in both size and the granularity of emotions. Our research introduces a novel framework for low-resource fine-grained emotion recognition, which uses an iterative process that integrates a stacking ensemble of diverse base models and self-training. The base models employ different learning paradigms, including zero-shot classification, few-shot methods, machine learning algorithms, and transfer learning. Our proposed method eliminates the need for a large labeled dataset to initiate the training process by gradually generating labeled data through iterations. During our experiments, we evaluated the performance of each base model and our proposed method in low-resource scenarios. Our experimental findings indicate our approach outperforms the individual performance of each base model. It also outperforms the state-of-the-art Arabic emotion recognition models in the literature, achieving a weighted average F1-score equal to 83.19% and 72.12% when tested on the AETD and ArPanEmo benchmark datasets, respectively.
Influence of Dipole Orientation of Zwitterionic Materials on Hemodialysis Membrane Interactions with Human Serum Proteins
Authors: Nazari Simin , Abdelrasoul Amira
Published: November 2023

Hemodialysis is a lifesaving treatment for end-stage renal disease (ESRD) that exploits semipermeable membranes to remove fluids and uremic toxins from ESRD patients. Polyethersulfone (PES) is the most common membrane that is currently used in Canadian hospitals and represents 93% of the market. Nevertheless, PES membranes have limited hemocompatibility, which triggers blood activation cascades, as the rate of morbidity and mortality in ESRD patients is still unacceptably high. Surface modification with zwitterionic (ZW) materials, which are well known for their strong dipole–dipole interactions and exceptional antifouling properties, has recently received increased attention in improving PES characteristics like roughness, wettability, and biocompatibility, which are crucial factors in dialysis efficiency. The hydration structures, dynamics, and interactions of ZWs are significantly dependent on the backbone structures, such as differences in carbon space length [CSL], conformation, functional groups, pendant groups, and charge distributions, and even minor changes in ZW structure can drastically alter their behavior. However, a systematic investigation of the impact of dipole orientation of ZW on the hemocompatibility of the membranes has not yet been investigated. This study offers a comprehensive exploration of the interactions between hemodialysis membranes and human serum proteins, emphasizing the pivotal role of the zwitterion dipole orientation. We utilize molecular docking techniques to predict protein–ligand interactions, offering insights into the binding sites and binding energy of these complexes. The effect of dipole orientation on the hemocompatibility of various ZW-modified PES membranes compared to the pristine PES has been investigated using 2-methacryloyloxyethyl phosphorylcholine (MPC), 2-((2-(methacryloyloxy)ethyl)dimethylammonio)ethyl methyl phosphate (MMP), and butyl (2-((2-(methacryloyloxy)ethyl)dimethylammonio)ethyl) phosphate (MBP) zwitterions with opposite dipole orientations. Results showed that the protein–ligand interactions and affinity energies displayed by the reverse dipole moment structures are remarkably different. It was demonstrated that the MBP–PES ligand had the lowest affinity energy to interact with all examined human serum proteins compared to the structure, which had an opposite dipole moment. As a result, this membrane surface has better antifouling properties and, thus, higher hemocompatibility, which directly correlates with greater efficiency of hemodialysis in patients.
Transmission Removal from a Single OSN-Shared Glass Mixture Image
Authors: Yao Heng , Li Zhen , Qin Chuan
Published: November 2023

Photographs taken through glass often reflect the photographer or the surroundings, which is very helpful in uncovering information about the photograph. Various lossy operations performed on images over online social networks (OSNs), such as compression and resampling, pose a great challenge for transmission layer removal. This paper proposes a self-attention-based architecture for image enhancement over OSNs, to ensure that the downloaded glass mixture image can show more information about the reflection layer than the original image. Transmission layer removal is then achieved using a two-stage generative adversarial network. We also add attention to the transmission layer in the mixture image and use the gradient and color block information in the next stage to extract the reflection layer. This method yielded a gain of 0.46 dB in PSNR, 0.016 in SSIM, and 0.057 in LPIPS, resulting in an effective improvement in the visual quality of the final extracted reflection layer images.
Quantitative Assessment of Organic Mass Fluxes and Natural Attenuation Processes in a Petroleum-Contaminated Subsurface Environment
Authors: Xia Yubo , Wang Bing , Yang Yuesuo , Du Xinqiang , Yang Mingxing
Published: November 2023

We perceived a trend in the study and practice of petroleum-contaminate sites. Monitored natural attenuation (MNA) can reduce the contaminant concentrations in the soil and groundwater, and it is a method that can remediate the petroleum-contaminated site effectively. MNA is becoming a research focus. This study evaluated MNA using a series of lab-based bench-scale experiments and a large amount of monitoring data from field samplings. Based on the in-site total petroleum hydrocarbon (TPH) results, we used statistical methods, the Mann-Kendall test, and mass fluxes in order to evaluate the MNA of petroleum-contaminated sites in groundwater. The results showed that the TPH concentrations were decreasing, and the plume became smaller. The attenuation rate was from 0.00876 mg/d to 0.10095 mg/d; remediating the petroleum contamination site would cost 1.3 years to 10.6 years. The plume reached a quasi-steady state, and mass flux declined. The most essential process of MNA was biodegradation, and the second was sorption. During the monitoring period, 393 g of TPH was attenuated, including 355 g of TPH gradated by microbes. Biodegradation upstream of the plume was more serious. Iron(Ⅲ) and manganese were the main electron acceptors utilized by microbes during the monitored period. MNA was in progress, and it can be an effective method to remediate the petroleum-contaminated site. Lab-based bench-scale experiments were performed with much monitoring data from the field samplings in order to understand the fate and transport mechanism of the petroleum contamination from the land surface to shallow groundwater according to site conditions.
Experimental Study on Dynamic Exhaust Law for Ventilation System of Gas Tunnel
Authors: Zhang Ping , Lan Hui-Qing
Published: November 2023

The ventilation system is the only channel for gas exchange inside and outside the gas tunnel, which determines whether the high-risk gas in the tunnel can be exhausted in time after a gas leakage accident; thus, it is essential to study the dynamic ventilation characteristics. A fire-retarding division of the gas tunnel in Songjiang District of Shanghai is taken as the study object, and, based on the similarity theory, a similarity experiment platform is built. The simulation experiments of exhaust are carried out under different exhaust velocities, ventilation equivalent diameters and initial gas concentrations by using the control variable method. The changes in ventilation duration and gas concentration are analyzed in detail. The conclusions are as follows: (1) Time–concentration curves at all positions in the gas tunnel exhibit an “asymptote” distribution. (2) Average gas concentration has a linear relationship with time at the beginning and becomes an exponential relationship after a certain time. (3) When the exhaust velocity is 5 m/s, the initial gas concentration is 15%VOL; when the equivalent diameter of the vent in the model is 0.2 m, the ventilation duration is 100.2 s. A calculation model of ventilation duration for the standard gas tunnel is established, and the application limits of the model are 1 ≤ v ≤ 5, 0.5 ≤ d ≤ 1.5, and 5 ≤ φo ≤ 25. (4) In practical engineering, an exhaust velocity of 5 m/s and an equivalent ventilation diameter of 1 m are relatively optimal ventilation parameters.
On the Monotonic and Asymptotic Properties of Positive Solutions to Third-Order Neutral Differential Equations and Their Effect on Oscillation Criteria
Authors: Essam Amira , Moaaz Osama , Ramadan Moutaz , AlNemer Ghada , Hanafy Ibrahim M.
Published: November 2023

The monotonic properties of positive solutions to functional differential equations of the third order are examined in this paper. It is generally known that by optimizing the relationships between a solution and its corresponding function, as well as its derivatives, one can improve the oscillation criterion for neutral differential equations. Based on this, we obtain new relationships and inequalities and test their effect on the oscillation parameters of the studied equation. To obtain the oscillation parameters, we used Riccati techniques and comparison with lower-order equations. Finally, the progress achieved in oscillation theory for third-order equations was measured by comparing our results with previous relevant results.
Battery Impedance Spectroscopy Embedded Measurement System
Authors: Cicioni Gabriele , De Angelis Alessio , Janeiro Fernando M. , Ramos Pedro M. , Carbone Paolo
Published: November 2023

The evolution of rechargeable battery characteristics have led to their use in almost every device in our everyday life. This importance has also increased the relevance of estimating the remaining battery charge (state of charge, SOC) and their health (state of health, SOH). One of the methods for the estimation of these parameters is based on the impedance spectroscopy obtained from the battery output impedance measured at multiple frequencies. This paper proposes an embedded measurement system capable of measuring the battery output impedance while in operation (either charging or supplying power to the intended device). The developed system generates a small amplitude stimulus that is added to the battery current. The system then measures the battery voltage and current to estimate the impedance at the stimulus frequencies. Three batteries were measured at different SOC levels, demonstrating the system principle of operation. Complementarily, a battery impedance equivalent circuit was used, together with genetic algorithms, to estimate the circuit parameters and assess their dependence on the battery SOC.
SoC Estimation in Lithium-Ion Batteries with Noisy Measurements and Absence of Excitation
Authors: Martí-Florences Miquel , Piñol Andreu Cecilia , Clemente Alejandro , Costa-Castelló Ramon
Published: November 2023

Accurate State-of-Charge estimation is crucial for applications that utilise lithium-ion batteries. In real-time scenarios, battery models tend to present significant uncertainty, making it desirable to jointly estimate both the State of Charge and relevant unknown model parameters. However, parameter estimation typically necessitates that the battery input signals induce a persistence of excitation property, a need which is often not met in practical operations. This document introduces a joint state of charge/parameter estimator that relaxes this stringent requirement. This estimator is based on the Generalized Parameter Estimation-Based Observer framework. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first time it has been applied in the context of lithium-ion batteries. Its advantages are demonstrated through simulations.
Diagnostic Accuracy and Performance Analysis of a Scanner-Integrated Artificial Intelligence Model for the Detection of Intracranial Hemorrhages in a Traumatology Emergency Department
Authors: Kiefer Jonas , Kopp Markus , Ruettinger Theresa , Heiss Rafael , Wuest Wolfgang , Amarteifio Patrick , Stroebel Armin , Uder Michael , May Matthias Stefan
Published: November 2023

Intracranial hemorrhages require an immediate diagnosis to optimize patient management and outcomes, and CT is the modality of choice in the emergency setting. We aimed to evaluate the performance of the first scanner-integrated artificial intelligence algorithm to detect brain hemorrhages in a routine clinical setting. This retrospective study includes 435 consecutive non-contrast head CT scans. Automatic brain hemorrhage detection was calculated as a separate reconstruction job in all cases. The radiological report (RR) was always conducted by a radiology resident and finalized by a senior radiologist. Additionally, a team of two radiologists reviewed the datasets retrospectively, taking additional information like the clinical record, course, and final diagnosis into account. This consensus reading served as a reference. Statistics were carried out for diagnostic accuracy. Brain hemorrhage detection was executed successfully in 432/435 (99%) of patient cases. The AI algorithm and reference standard were consistent in 392 (90.7%) cases. One false-negative case was identified within the 52 positive cases. However, 39 positive detections turned out to be false positives. The diagnostic performance was calculated as a sensitivity of 98.1%, specificity of 89.7%, positive predictive value of 56.7%, and negative predictive value (NPV) of 99.7%. The execution of scanner-integrated AI detection of brain hemorrhages is feasible and robust. The diagnostic accuracy has a high specificity and a very high negative predictive value and sensitivity. However, many false-positive findings resulted in a relatively moderate positive predictive value.
Multipotent Mesenchymal Cells Homing and Differentiation on Poly(ε-caprolactone) Blended with 20% Tricalcium Phosphate and Polylactic Acid Incorporating 10% Hydroxyapatite 3D-Printed Scaffolds via a Commercial Fused Deposition Modeling 3D Device
Authors: De Angelis Nicola , Amaroli Andrea , Lagazzo Alberto , Barberis Fabrizio , Zarro Pier Raffaele , Cappelli Alessia , Sabbieti Maria Giovanna , Agas Dimitrios
Published: November 2023

As highlighted by the ‘Global Burden of Disease Study 2019’ conducted by the World Health Organization, ensuring fair access to medical care through affordable and targeted treatments remains crucial for an ethical global healthcare system. Given the escalating demand for advanced and urgently needed solutions in regenerative bone procedures, the critical role of biopolymers emerges as a paramount necessity, offering a groundbreaking avenue to address pressing medical needs and revolutionize the landscape of bone regeneration therapies. Polymers emerge as excellent solutions due to their versatility, making them reliable materials for 3D printing. The development and widespread adoption of this technology would impact production costs and enhance access to related healthcare services. For instance, in dentistry, the use of commercial polymers blended with β-tricalcium phosphate (TCP) is driven by the need to print a standardized product with osteoconductive features. However, modernization is required to bridge the gap between biomaterial innovation and the ability to print them through commercial printing devices. Here we showed, for the first time, the metabolic behavior and the lineage commitment of bone marrow-derived multipotent mesenchymal cells (MSCs) on the 3D-printed substrates poly(e-caprolactone) combined with 20% tricalcium phosphate (PCL + 20% β-TCP) and L-polylactic acid (PLLA) combined with 10% hydroxyapatite (PLLA + 10% HA). Although there are limitations in printing additive-enriched polymers with a predictable and short half-life, the tested 3D-printed biomaterials were highly efficient in supporting osteoinductivity. Indeed, considering different temporal sequences, both 3D-printed biomaterials resulted as optimal scaffolds for MSCs’ commitment toward mature bone cells. Of interest, PLLA + 10% HA substrates hold the confirmation as the finest material for osteoinduction of MSCs.
Comprehensive Analysis of WUSCEL-Related Homeobox Gene Family in Ramie (Boehmeria nivea) Indicates Its Potential Role in Adventitious Root Development
Authors: Abubakar Aminu Shehu , Wu Yongmei , Chen Fengming , Zhu Aiguo , Chen Ping , Chen Kunmei , Qiu Xiaojun , Huang Xiaoyu , Zhao Haohan , Chen Jikang , Gao Gang
Published: November 2023

A WUSCHEL-related homeobox (WOX) gene family has been implicated in promoting vegetative organs to embryonic transition and maintaining plant embryonic stem cell identity. Using genome-wide analysis, we identified 17 candidates, WOX genes in ramie (Boehmeria nivea). The genes (BnWOX) showed highly conserved homeodomain regions typical of WOX. Based on phylogenetic analysis, they were classified into three distinct groups: modern, intermediate, and ancient clades. The genes displayed 65% and 35% collinearities with their Arabidopsis thaliana and Oryza sativa ortholog, respectively, and exhibited similar motifs, suggesting similar functions. Furthermore, four segmental duplications (BnWOX10/14, BnWOX13A/13B, BnWOX9A/9B, and BnWOX6A/Maker00021031) and a tandem-duplicated pair (BnWOX5/7) among the putative ramie WOX genes were obtained, suggesting that whole-genome duplication (WGD) played a role in WOX gene expansion. Expression profiling analysis of the genes in the bud, leaf, stem, and root of the stem cuttings revealed higher expression levels of BnWOX10 and BnWOX14 in the stem and root and lower in the leaf consistent with the qRT-PCR analysis, suggesting their direct roles in ramie root formation. Analysis of the rooting characteristics and expression in the stem cuttings of sixty-seven different ramie genetic resources showed a possible involvement of BnWOX14 in the adventitious rooting of ramie. Thus, this study provides valuable information on ramie WOX genes and lays the foundation for further research.
Caspase-Linked Programmed Cell Death in Prostate Cancer: From Apoptosis, Necroptosis, and Pyroptosis to PANoptosis
Authors: Zhu Minggang , Liu Di , Liu Guoqiang , Zhang Mingrui , Pan Feng
Published: November 2023

Prostate cancer (PCa) is a complex disease and the cause of one of the highest cancer-related mortalities in men worldwide. Annually, more than 1.2 million new cases are diagnosed globally, accounting for 7% of newly diagnosed cancers in men. Programmed cell death (PCD) plays an essential role in removing infected, functionally dispensable, or potentially neoplastic cells. Apoptosis is the canonical form of PCD with no inflammatory responses elicited, and the close relationship between apoptosis and PCa has been well studied. Necroptosis and pyroptosis are two lytic forms of PCD that result in the release of intracellular contents, which induce inflammatory responses. An increasing number of studies have confirmed that necroptosis and pyroptosis are also closely related to the occurrence and progression of PCa. Recently, a novel form of PCD named PANoptosis, which is a combination of apoptosis, necroptosis, and pyroptosis, revealed the attached connection among them and may be a promising target for PCa. Apoptosis, necroptosis, pyroptosis, and PANoptosis are good examples to better understand the mechanism underlying PCD in PCa. This review aims to summarize the emerging roles and therapeutic potential of apoptosis, necroptosis, pyroptosis, and PANoptosis in PCa.
The Anti-Virulence Activities of the Antihypertensive Drug Propranolol in Light of Its Anti-Quorum Sensing Effects against Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Serratia marcescens
Authors: Alotaibi Hadil Faris , Alotaibi Haifa , Darwish Khaled M. , Khafagy El-Sayed , Abu Lila Amr S. , Ali Mohamed A. M. , Hegazy Wael A. H. , Alshawwa Samar Zuhair
Published: November 2023

The development of bacterial resistance is an increasing global concern that requires discovering new antibacterial agents and strategies. Bacterial quorum sensing (QS) systems play important roles in controlling bacterial virulence, and their targeting could lead to diminishing bacterial pathogenesis. In this context, targeting QS systems without significant influence on bacterial growth is assumed as a promising strategy to overcome resistance development. This study aimed at evaluating the anti-QS and anti-virulence activities of the β-adrenoreceptor antagonist propranolol at sub-minimal inhibitory concentrations (sub-MIC) against two Gram-negative bacterial models Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Serratia marcescens. The effect of propranolol on the expression of QS-encoding genes was evaluated. Additionally, the affinity of propranolol to QS receptors was virtually attested. The influence of propranolol at sub-MIC on biofilm formation, motility, and production of virulent factors was conducted. The outcomes of the propranolol combination with different antibiotics were assessed. Finally, the in vivo protection assay in mice was performed to assess propranolol’s effect on lessening the bacterial pathogenesis. The current findings emphasized the significant ability of propranolol at sub-MIC to reduce the formation of biofilms, motility, and production of virulence factors. In addition, propranolol at sub-MIC decreased the capacity of tested bacteria to induce pathogenesis in mice. Furthermore, propranolol significantly downregulated the QS-encoding genes and showed significant affinity to QS receptors. Finally, propranolol at sub-MIC synergistically decreased the MICs of different antibiotics against tested bacteria. In conclusion, propranolol might serve as a plausible adjuvant therapy with antibiotics for the treatment of serious bacterial infections after further pharmacological and pharmaceutical studies.
Comparison of Targeted Biopsy and Combined Biopsy to Avoid Unnecessary Systematic Biopsy in Patients with PI-RADS 5 Lesions
Authors: Yuan Changwei , Li Derun , Wu Jingyun , Shen Qi , Wang Xiaoying , Xiao Jiangxi , He Zhisong , Zhou Liqun , Li Xuesong , Liu Yi , Zhao Zheng
Published: November 2023

Purpose: To evaluate the detection rates of prostate cancer (PCa) and clinically significant prostate cancer (CSPCa) detection via target biopsy (TB), systematic biopsy (SB), and combined biopsy (CB) in patients with PI-RADS 5 lesions. Methods: Patients with at least one PI-RADS 5 lesion were retrospectively enrolled in a prospectively collected database. The patients underwent multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging (mpMRI) followed by transrectal TB of PI-RADS 5 lesions and SB. The PCa and CSPCa detection rates and cores of TB and SB were compared with those of CB. Results: In 585 patients, prostate biopsy revealed PCa in 560 cases (95.73%) and CSPCa in 549 cases (93.85%). PCa was detected in T2 patients (93.13%, 217/233) and in T3/4 patients (97.44%, 343/352). CSPCa was detected in T2 patients (89.27%, 208/233) and in T3/4 patients (96.87%, 341/352). The positive rates of TB for T2/3/4, T3/4, and T2 were 94.02%, 96.21%, and 90.56%, respectively. SB added 1.71% (10/585) PCa and 1.37% (8/585) CSPCa detection to TB. There was no difference between TB and SB in detecting different stages of cancer (p > 0.05). In the biopsy core analysis, TB had fewer biopsy cores and a higher detection rate than SB (all p < 0.05). Conclusions: In patients with PI-RADS score 5 lesions, TB can achieve the same detection rate as, with fewer biopsy cores than, CB. SB adds minimal clinical value and can be omitted for these patients.
Dexamethasone Suppression Testing in a Contemporary Cohort with Adrenal Incidentalomas in Two U.S. Integrated Healthcare Systems
Authors: Crawford Mackenzie , McDonald Bennett , Chen Wansu , Chowdhry Hina , Contreras Richard , Reyes Iris Anne C. , Dhakal Eleena , Villanueva Tish , Barzilay Joshua I. , Vaughn Candace F. , Czerwiec Frank S. , Katz David A. , Adams Annette L. , Gander Jennifer C.
Published: November 2023

Autonomous cortisol secretion (ACS) from an adrenal adenoma can increase the risk for comorbidities and mortality. The dexamethasone suppression test (DST) is the standard method to diagnose ACS. A multi-site, retrospective cohort of adults with diagnosed adrenal tumors was used to understand patient characteristics associated with DST completion and ACS. Time to DST completion was defined using the lab value and result date; follow-up time was from the adrenal adenoma diagnosis to the time of completion or censoring. ACS was defined by a DST > 1.8 µg/dL (50 nmol/L). The Cox proportional hazards regression model assessed associations between DST completion and patient characteristics. In patients completing a DST, a logistic regression model evaluated relationships between elevated ACS and covariates. We included 24,259 adults, with a mean age of 63.1 years, 48.1% obese, and 28.7% with a Charlson comorbidity index ≥ 4. Approximately 7% (n = 1768) completed a DST with a completion rate of 2.36 (95% CI 2.35, 2.37) per 100 person-years. Fully adjusted models reported that male sex and an increased Charlson comorbidity index were associated with a lower likelihood of DST completion. Current or former smoking status and an increased Charlson comorbidity index had higher odds of a DST > 1.8 μg/dL. In conclusion, clinical policies are needed to improve DST completion and the management of adrenal adenomas.
Deep Learning-Based Knee MRI Classification for Common Peroneal Nerve Palsy with Foot Drop
Authors: Chung Kyung Min , Yu Hyunjae , Kim Jong-Ho , Lee Jae Jun , Sohn Jong-Hee , Lee Sang-Hwa , Sung Joo Hye , Han Sang-Won , Yang Jin Seo , Kim Chulho
Published: November 2023

Foot drop can have a variety of causes, including the common peroneal nerve (CPN) injuries, and is often difficult to diagnose. We aimed to develop a deep learning-based algorithm that can classify foot drop with CPN injury in patients with knee MRI axial images only. In this retrospective study, we included 945 MR image data from foot drop patients confirmed with CPN injury in electrophysiologic tests (n = 42), and 1341 MR image data with non-traumatic knee pain (n = 107). Data were split into training, validation, and test datasets using a 8:1:1 ratio. We used a convolution neural network-based algorithm (EfficientNet-B5, ResNet152, VGG19) for the classification between the CPN injury group and the others. Performance of each classification algorithm used the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC). In classifying CPN MR images and non-CPN MR images, EfficientNet-B5 had the highest performance (AUC = 0.946), followed by the ResNet152 and the VGG19 algorithms. On comparison of other performance metrics including precision, recall, accuracy, and F1 score, EfficientNet-B5 had the best performance of the three algorithms. In a saliency map, the EfficientNet-B5 algorithm focused on the nerve area to detect CPN injury. In conclusion, deep learning-based analysis of knee MR images can successfully differentiate CPN injury from other etiologies in patients with foot drop.
Clinical Implication of Concurrent Amplification of MET and FGFR2 in Metastatic Gastric Cancer
Authors: Byeon Seonggyu , Jung Jaeyun , Kim Seung , Kim Kyoung-Mee , Lee Jeeyun
Published: November 2023

Background: c-mesenchymal epithelial transition factor receptor (c-MET) and fibroblast growth factor receptor 2 (FGFR2) amplification have been identified as factors associated with advanced stage and poor prognosis in gastric cancer (GC). While they are typically considered mutually exclusive, concurrent amplifications have been reported in a small subset of GC patients. Methods: in this retrospective study, we analyzed the clinical outcomes of GC patients with MET and FGFR2 amplification using the next-generation sequencing (NGS) database cohort at Samsung Medical Center, which included a total of 2119 patients between October 2019 and April 2021. Results: Of 2119 cancer patients surveyed, the number of GC patients was 614 (29.0%). Out of 614 GC patients, 39 (6.4%) had FGFR2 amplification alone, 22 (3.6%) had MET amplification, and 2 GC patients (0.3%) had concurrent FGFR2 and MET amplification. Two patients with concurrent FGFR2 and MET amplification did not respond to first-line chemotherapy. These two patients had significantly shorter overall survival (3.6 months) compared to patients with FGFR2 or MET amplification alone (13.6 months and 8.4 months, respectively) (p = 0.004). Lastly, we tested the existence of FGFR2 and MET in tumor specimens from different organ sites. Initially, the NGS was tested in a primary tumor specimen from stomach cancer, where the MET copy number was 14.1 and the FGFR2 copy number was 5.3. We confirmed that both MET and FGFR2 were highly amplified in the primary tumor using FISH (MET–CEP7 ratio = 5 and FGFR2–CEP7 ratio = 3). However, although the MET copy number was normal in peritoneal seeding using FISH, FGFR2 remained amplified using FISH (FGFR2–CEP7 ratio = 7) with high FGFR2 protein overexpression. Hence, there was intra-patient molecular heterogeneity. Conclusions: our findings suggest that concurrent amplification of FGFR2 and MET in GC patients is associated with clinical aggressiveness and may contribute to non-responsiveness to chemotherapy or targeted therapy.
A Four-Item Questionnaire to Measure Problematic Social Media Use: The Social Media Disorder Test
Authors: Wartberg Lutz , Spindler Carolin , Berber Sophia , Potzel Katrin , Kammerl Rudolf
Published: November 2023

While the use of video games and social media is an enjoyable recreational activity for most users, a minority develop problematic patterns of use. In the ICD-11, for the first time, there is a category of “disorders due to addictive behaviors” (including gaming disorder). The scientific literature also suggests a potential for the problematic use of social media. Economic screening tools for this are still needed. A very economical questionnaire to record gaming disorder is the ICD-11-based Gaming Disorder Test (GDT). The purpose of the present survey was to investigate the psychometric properties of an adapted questionnaire (Social Media Disorder Test, SMDT) to assess problematic social media use (PSMU). Therefore, 443 youths (mean age: 20.11 years) were examined with the SMDT and other measures regarding PSMU, self-control, and psychopathology. A confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) and reliability and correlation analyses were conducted. For the SMDT, we observed very good fit indices in the CFA, suggesting a one-factor structure; the reliability coefficient was 0.90, and we found the first indications for criterion validity. If the results can be confirmed, the SMDT, with its four questions, would be a very economical instrument to measure PSMU based on the ICD-11 criteria for behavioral addictions.