bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Interaction between HBsAg response and the prognosis of patients with HBV-associated HCC receiving anti-PD-1/PD-L1
Authors: Zhang Xia , Xu Qing , Ma Qin-Xia , Yang Yonglin
Published: December 2023

Background:The use of programmed death receptor-1 (PD-1) and programmed death ligand 1 (PD-L1) inhibitors has become widespread in the treatment of advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, the role of hepatitis B virus( HBV) as a major pathogenic factor in HCC has garnered significant attention regarding the efficacy of anti-PD-1/PD-L1 therapy for HBV-related HCC(HBV-HCC), yet effective predictive biomarkers remain lacking.
Method: The present study retrospectively collected data from 76 patients with HBV-HCC who were diagnosed and treated at Taizhou People's Hospital Affiliated to Nanjing Medical University between January 2015 and August 2023. The collected data included demographic characteristics and blood biochemical parameters, while the levels of hepatitis B surface antigen(HBsAg) during treatment were also recorded. The primary endpoints of this study were progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS), while the secondary endpoints included HBV reactivation and associated hepatitis. Continuous variables were compared using independent sample t-tests, categorical variables were compared using chi-square tests, and overall survival was analyzed using Kaplan-Meier curves and log-rank tests.All patients tested positive for serum HBsAg prior to treatment and had received antiviral therapy. After excluding confounding factors, the patients were categorized into two groups based on their receipt of anti-PD-1/PD-L1 therapy: the experimental group (administered with anti-PD-1/PD-L1) and the control group (not administered with anti-PD-1/PD-L1). The experimental group was further divided into two subgroups: the subgroup exhibiting increasing levels of HBsAg and the subgroup displaying decreasing levels of HBsAg.
Result: A total of 76 patients with HBV-HCC were enrolled in this study. The general information between the two groups was compared, and no statistically significant difference was observed (P>0.05). However, there were significant statistical differences in PFS and OS between the experimental group and the control group (t=5.062, p<0.001; p=0.039<0.05, respectively). The subgroup analysis conducted within the experimental group further revealed a statistically significant difference in OS (p=0.027<0.05). Moreover, HBV reactivation occurred without any significant difference observed in the incidence rates of HBV-associated hepatitis (4.7% vs 9.1% and 4.65% vs 3.03%, respectively).
Conclusion:In patients with HBV-HCC undergoing PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitor treatment, a decline in HBsAg levels can potentially serve as an indicator of enhanced tumor response and prolonged survival, while also not increasing the incidence of HBV reactivation and liver damage, thereby highlighting favorable safety profiles. Our study further suggests that PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors may facilitate the reduction in HBsAg levels; however, additional investigations are warranted to elucidate the underlying mechanisms.
Molecular Mechanism and Therapeutic Effect of Soybean Consumption on Breast Cancer Patients
Authors: Balaei Elham , Kavand Zahra , Hanachi Parichehr , Taleahmad Sara
Published: December 2023

Breast cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in women and is the most common type of cancer among them. Research shows that soybeans contain powerful compounds such as isoflavones and phytoestrogens, which may play an important role in the treatment and prevention of cancer, especially breast cancer. The aim of this study was to investigate the molecular mechanisms underlying the effects of soy on breast cancer treatment using bioinformatics and transcriptomic data analysis. The search resulted in four mRNA microarray datasets (GSE9936, GSE63205, GSE50705, GSE58792). We identified differentially expressed genes (DEGs) by using. Common genes between studies were identified using Venn diagrams, and breast cancer-specific genes were extracted from differentially expressed genes using the GEPIA database. Additionally, GEO analysis and pathway enrichment of DEGs were performed using the DAVID database. In our study, the "cell cycle pathway" was introduced and investigated as an important pathway in this cancer, which is associated with soybean consumption and down-regulated genes such as CDC20, CCNB1, CDC6, MAD2L1, CCNA2, TTK, MCM4, CDC25C, MCM2, and ESPL1. Furthermore, "G2-M checkpoint" and "mutant p53" were from the pathways that have decreased activity with soy consumption. (PI3K)/Akt signaling pathway and epithelial-mesenchymal transition were down-regulated in breast cancer, and in our study up-regulated by soy and its extracts. Overall, the results of this study showed that soy compounds may be an important therapeutic target in the treatment of breast cancer, as they alter the expression of genes effective in this disease.
Age-related Changes in Multitasking Across the Lifespan
Authors: Humbeeck Nathan Van , Wilderode Mira Van , Kliegl Reinhold , Wieringen Astrid van , Krampe Ralf T.
Published: December 2023

We assessed lifespan development of multitasking in a sample of 187 individuals aged 8–82 years. Participants performed a visuo-spatial working memory (VSWM) task together with either postural control or reaction time (RT) tasks. Using criterion-referenced testing we individually adjusted difficulty levels for the VSWM task to control for single-task differences. Age-differences in single-task performances followed U-shaped patterns with young adults outperforming children and older adults. Multitasking manipulations yielded robust performance decrements in all component tasks. Presumably due to our adjustment of VSWM challenges, costs in this task were small and similar across age groups suggesting that age-differential costs found in earlier studies largely reflected differences already present during single-task performance. Age-differences in multitasking costs for concurrent tasks depended on specific combinations. For VSWM and RT task combinations increases in RT were the smallest for children but pronounced in adults highlighting the role of cognitive control processes. Stabilogram diffusion analysis of postural control demonstrated that long-term control mechanisms were affected by concurrent VSWM demands. This interference was pronounced in older adults supporting concepts of compensation or increased cognitive involvement in sensorimotor processes at older age. Our study demonstrates how a lifespan approach can delineate the explanatory scope of models of human multitasking.
Objective Evaluation for Relationship between Visual Fatigue and Tear Film Stability in Smartphone Use
Authors: Watanabe Maki , Hirota Masakazu , Takigawa Ryusei , Kato Kanako , Ikeda Yuka
Published: December 2023

Purpose:
To investigate whether tear film instability induces visual fatigue, we used the binocular fusion maintenance (BFM) test and non-invasive tear film break-up time (NI-BUT).
Methods:
Eleven young adult volunteers (age [mean ± standard deviation], 20.7 ± 1.4 years) participated in this study. BFM was assessed by measuring the transmittance of liquid crystals placed in front of the subject’s non-dominant eye when binocular fusion was broken, and non-dominant eye was shifted to heterophoric. The NI-BUT was determined using the distortion of the Meyer ring. The volunteers were administered the BFM, NI-BUT, and subjective symptom questionnaire before and after a 30-minute visual task.
Results:
BFM (pre vs. post: 0.95 ± 0.09 vs. 0.75 ± 0.16) was significantly lower in the post-visual task than in the pre-visual task (P = 0.012). NI-BUT (9.12 ± 1.00 s vs. 5.69 ± 3.11 s) was significantly shorter in the post-visual task than in the pre-visual task (P = 0.011). Total subjective eye symptom (2.91 ± 0.79 vs. 5.45 ± 2.02) was significantly greater in the post-visual task than in the pre-visual task (P = 0.012). The change in BFM (− 0.20 ± 0.18) was significantly and positively correlated with the change in NI-BUT (− 3.43 ± 3.19) (R2 = 0.385, P = 0.042) and was significantly and negatively correlated with the change in total subjective eye symptom score (2.54 ± 2.23) (R2 = 0.470, P = 0.020).
Conclusion:
The findings suggest that tear film instability induces visual fatigue objectively.
Preparation and evaluation of a temperature-sensitive cuelure nano-controlled release agent
Authors: Wang Aqiang , Peng Sihua , Zeng Bei , Lian Yuyang , Yang Shuyan , Jia Jingjing , Wang Bao , Zhang Qiongkuan , Ni Chengcheng , Liu Mingke , Tao Jie , Chen Junyu , Wu Qianxing , Yang Xiaofeng , Liao Jianjun , Zhou Shihao
Published: December 2023

Cuelure (CUE) is an attractant mainly targeting fruit fly pests and is currently widely used for fruit fly monitoring and control. However, the release speed and time of CUE are not controllable, leading to a large amount of it being wasted, which not only reduces its effectiveness but also increases the cost of pest control. In order to prolong the use time of CUE, improve the utilization rate of the bait, and reduce the cost of pest control. Taking Zeugodacus cucurbitae Coquillett as the research object, we develop a temperature-sensitive cuelure nano-controlled release agent, which can control the release rate through the change of environmental temperature. The results show that the temperature-sensitive cuelure nano-controlled release agent not only exhibits good temperature-sensitive controlled release performance, but also shows excellent stability under high-temperature treatment at 60 °C for a week, and the trapping rate of the attractant is 73%-75%. This study not only has great practical significance for the monitoring, early warning, and control of fruit fly pests but also provides a new theoretical basis for the development of insect attractants.
The effect of protein to lipid ratios on growth, digestibility, and feed utilization of striped bass (Morone saxatilis) raised in seawater at 21°C
Authors: Eliasid Nogueda Torres , Lazo Juan Pablo
Published: December 2023

A 12-week feeding trial was conducted to assess the effects of three protein levels (40%, 44%, and 48%) and two lipid levels (12% and 16%) on growth, feed utilization, muscle composition, apparent digestibility, and digestive enzyme activity of juvenile striped bass (Morone saxatilis) raised in seawater at 21°C. The results showed that performance in terms of specific growth rate (SGR), weight gain (g), and feed conversion ratio (FCR) were significantly higher (p < 0.05) for fish fed the 44:12 and 48:12 diets. These treatments also exhibited significantly higher feed intake. In contrast, fish fed the high-lipid diets exhibited significantly lower fed intake, hepatosomatic index (HSI), liposomatic index (LSI) and viscerosomatic index (VSI) compared to the low-lipid diets. Furthermore, significantly higher apparent digestibility coefficients (ADC %) were found for fish fed diets containing 12% lipids. A positive correlation was also observed between feed intake and the activity of trypsin (r = 0.56, p < 0.05) and chymotrypsin (r = 0.50, p < 0.05) in the pyloric caeca of the fish. Lipid content in muscle at the end of the feeding trail was not significantly affected by dietary lipid level. In conclusion, the results indicate that a diet with 48% protein and 12% lipids stimulates growth, increases feed intake, digestibility and enhances feed utilization in juvenile striped bass. Based on the results from the present study we can recommend formulating diets with a E:P ratio of 7.4 kcal/g of crude protein diet and not to exceed 8.2 kcal/ g of protein.
YOLOMH:You Only Look Once for Multi-task Perception Network High-efficiency
Authors: Liu Fang , Miao Jianxi , Sun Bowen , Su Weixing
Published: December 2023

Aiming at the requirements of high accuracy, lightweight and real-time performance of the panoptic driving perception system, this paper proposes an efficient multi-task network(YOLOMH). The network uses a shared encoder and three independent decoding heads to simultaneously complete the three major panoptic driving perception tasks of traffic object detection, road drivable area segmentation and road lane segmentation. Thanks to our innovative design of the YOLOMH network structure: first, we design an appropriate information input structure based on the differences information requirements between different tasks, and secondly, we propose a Hybrid Deep Atrous Spatial Pyramid Pooling(HDASPP) module to efficiently complete the feature fusion work of the neck network, and finally effective approaches such as anchor-free detection head and Depthwise Separable Convolution(DCN) are introduced into the network, making the network more efficient while being lightweight. Experimental results show that our model achieves competitive results in both accuracy and speed on the challenging BDD100K dataset, especially in terms of inference speed, The model’s inference speed on NVIDIA TESLA V100 is as high as 107 Frames Per Second(FPS), far exceeding the 49 FPS of the YOLOP network under the same experimental settings. The final visualization shows that YOLOMH can excellently complete the panoptic driving perception tasks, which is conducive to the safe and reliable autonomous driving of autonomous vehicles.
Impact of the gut microbiome on skin fibrosis: A Mendelian randomisation study
Authors: Zhao Zirui , Xu Zhongye , Lv Dongming , Rong Yanchao , Hu Zhicheng , Yin Rong , Dong Yunxian , Cao Xiaoling , Tang Bing
Published: December 2023

Objectives
Skin fibrosis is a lesion in the dermis causing to itching, pain, and psychological stress. The gut microbiome plays as an essential role in skin diseases developments. We conducted a Mendelian randomization study to determine the causal association between the gut microbiome and skin fibrosis.
Methods
We retrieved valid instrumental variables from the genome-wide association study (GWAS) files of the gut microbiome (n = 18340) conducted by the MiBioGen consortium. Skin fibrosis-associated data were downloaded from the GWAS Catalog. Subsequently, a two-sample Mendelian randomisation (MR) analysis was performed to determine whether the gut microbiome was related to skin fibrosis. A reverse MR analysis was also performed on the bacterial traits which were causally associated with skin fibrosis in the forward MR analysis. In addition, we performed an MR-Pleiotropy Residual Sum and Outlier analysis to remove outliers and a sensitivity analysis to verify our results.
Results
According to the inverse variance-weighted estimation, we identified that ten bacterial traits (Class Actinobacteria, Class Bacteroidia, family Bifidobacteriaceae, family Rikenellaceae, genus Lachnospiraceae (UCG004 group), genus Ruminococcaceae (UCG013 group), order Bacteroidales, order Bifidobacteriales, genus Peptococcus and genus Victivallis) were negatively correlated with skin fibrosis while five bacterial traits (genus Olsenella, genus Oscillospira, genus Turicibacter, genus Lachnospiraceae (NK4A136group), and genus Sellimonas) were positively correlated. No results were obtained from reverse MR analysis. No significant heterogeneity or horizontal pleiotropy was observed in MR analysis.
Conclusion
There is a causal association between the gut microbiome and skin fibrosis, indicating the existence of a gut–skin axis. This provides a new breakthrough point for mechanistic and clinical studies of skin fibrosis.
The causal association between body mass index and risk of gonarthrosis: A Mendelian randomization study
Authors: Zheng Zhi Xue , Zhao Xin , Bi Jing Tao , Cai Xuan , Liu Ya Qi
Published: December 2023

Objective
The study aimed to investigate the relationship between body mass index (BMI) and knee osteoarthritis, often referred to as gonarthrosis.
Methods
Two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis was performed using genome-wide association study (GWAS) summary data for BMI as the exposure and primary gonarthrosis with knee surgery as the outcome.
Results
Our study identified 106 SNPs significantly associated with primary gonarthrosis with knee surgery. MR-Egger regression revealed a significant causal link between BMI and primary gonarthrosis (MR Egger: p = 0.0001365, odds ratio (OR) 2.2632, 95%CI 1.5108–3.3904; weighted median: p = 6.162e-13, OR 2.4090, 95% CI 1.8959–3.0609). The IVW method provided evidence supporting a causal association between BMI and primary gonarthrosis (IVW: p = 9.475e-12, OR 2.1988, 95% CI 1.8638–2.5940; weighted mode: p = 2.21e-9, OR 2.8519, 95% CI 2.0842–3.9024). Cochran's Q test and the funnel plot indicated no evidence of heterogeneity or asymmetry. There was no evidence to suggest that genetic pleiotropy influenced the outcome (MR-Egger regression intercept = -8e-04, SE = 0.0052, P = 0.878).
Conclusion
The BMI may be a causal factor in the increased risk of primary gonarthrosis with knee surgery. These findings provide an opportunity to further explore the mechanisms underlying the impact of obesity on the risk of knee osteoarthritis.
Causal relationship between insomnia and both socio-economic status and individual behavior: a Mendelian randomization analysis
Authors: Wu Kuilin , Zhang Zongwang
Published: December 2023

Background: The relationship between socioeconomic status and individual behavior (SES/IB) and insomnia is receiving increasing attention. However, the causal relationship is still unclear.
Objective: To provide evidence for establishing feasible strategies for disease screening and prevention, we used Mendelian randomization (MR) design to evaluate the causal relationship between SES/IB and insomnia.
Method: We conducted a two-sample MR study to evaluate the causal effects of SES and IB on insomnia. The main analysis uses inverse variance weighting, while other MR methods include MR egger and weighted median. And various tests were conducted, including heterogenicity test, pleiotropy test, and leave-one-out test.
Result: The MR analysis results showed：Maternal smoking around birth (odds ratio(OR)=1.22;95% confidence interval (CI), 1.03-1.45; p =0.021)、Time spent watching television(OR=1.17;95%CI,1.11-1.24;P=1.21E-09) and Smoking status(OR=1.10;95%CI,1.04-1.17;P=0.0018 were positively correlated with the risk of insomnia. In addition, Educational attainment(OR=0.98;95%CI,0.97-0.99;P=5.68E-11), Average total household income before tax (OR=0.87;95%CI,0.83-0.91;P=4.90E-08), Fresh fruit consumption (OR=0.83;95%CI,0.70-1.00;P=0.047) and Age at first birth (OR=0.97;95%CI, 0.96-0.99; P =3.00E-05)were negatively correlated with the risk of insomnia.
Conclusion: Some SES/IB-related phenotypes have an impact on insomnia.
Prediction of ovarian cancer using artificial intelligence tools
Authors: Ayyoubzadeh Seyed Mohammad , Ahmadi Marjan , Yazdipour Alireza Banaye , Ghorbani-Bidkorpeh Fatemeh , Ahmadi Mahnaz
Published: December 2023

Purpose
Ovarian cancer is a common type of cancer and a leading cause of death in women. Therefore, accurate and fast prediction of ovarian tumors is crucial. One of the appropriate and precise methods for predicting and diagnosing this cancer is to build a model based on artificial intelligence methods. These methods provide a tool for predicting ovarian cancer according to the characteristics and conditions of each person.
Method
In this study, a dataset included records related to 171 cases of benign ovarian tumors and 178 records related to cases of ovarian cancer were analyzed. The dataset contains the records of blood test results and tumor markers of the patients. After data pre-processing, including removing outliers and replacing missing values, the weight of the effective factors was determined using information gain indices and the Gini index. In the next step, predictive models were created using Decision Trees, Support Vector Machine, Random Forest, and Artificial Neural Network models. The performance of these models was evaluated using the 10-fold cross-validation method using the indicators of accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, and the area under the ROC (Receiver operating characteristic) curve. Finally, by comparing the performance of the models, the best predictive model of ovarian cancer was selected.
Results
The most important predictive factors were HE4, CA125, and NEU. The Random Forest model was identified as the best predictive model with an accuracy of more than 86%. The predictive accuracy of Decision Tree, Support Vector Machine, and Artificial Neural Network models was estimated as 82.91%, 85.25%, and 79.35%, respectively. Various AI tools can be used with high accuracy and sensitivity in predicting ovarian cancer.
Conclusion
Therefore, the use of these tools can help specialists and patients with early, easier, and less expensive diagnosis of ovarian cancer. Future research can use AI by combining image data with serum biological indicators to develop new models and promote the diagnosis and treatment of ovarian cancer.
Internet addiction, perceived sleep quality and its determinants in a sample of Iranian medical university students
Authors: Jalilian Mohsen , Pakzad Reaz , Mirzaei Amin , Saeedfiroozabadi Malihe , Maleki Hadis , Shahbazi Parisa , Khorshidi Ali , Chenary Roghayeh
Published: December 2023

Background: Today, using the Internet is an integral part of daily life activities. Increasing of Internet use has occurred in different age groups, but it is more obvious among teenagers and young adults. The purpose of this study was to study of association between internet addiction and sleep quality in medical university students.
Methods: 400 students of Ilam University of Medical Sciences participated in this descriptive analytical study. Students were selected using simple random sampling method and according to the study entry criteria. Data were collected using Young's Internet Addiction test (AIT) and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). Simple linear regression and multiple regression tests were used to analyze the data. A significance level was considered as α = 0.05.
Results: The findings of study showed that 80% of students have mild, moderate and sever internet addiction. The average total sleep quality of students was in poor range (6.30±2.51). The mean of subjective sleep quality was in poor range (2.03 ±0.662) compared to other dimensions (p>0.05). Based on the results of simple linear regression, compared to normal people, mild (b:1.03;p:0.002) and moderate (b: 2.05; p<0.001) internet addiction had a significant association with poor total sleep quality. Also, graduate students had better sleep quality compared to undergraduate students (b:-1.03; p: 0.016). In addition, based on the multiple linear regression model adjusted for educational level compared to normal people, mild (b: 0.98; p: 0.003) and moderate (b: 1.97; p<0.001) addiction to the Internet has a significant association with poor total sleep quality.
Conclusions: Internet addiction is associated with poor sleep quality in college students. This disorder is more common in undergraduate students. Therefore, it seems necessary for this group of students to implement interventions related to modification of excessive Internet use behaviors.
Directly measured homogeneous HDL-Cholesterol in dyslipidaemic specimens: Is variability a cause for concern?
Authors: Sarkar Rajarshi
Published: December 2023

Background: Calculated low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL) is being increasingly reported by clinical laboratories even for dyslipidaemic subjects. Since every such calculation entails the estimation of high densitylipoprotein cholesterol (HDL), inaccuracy in HDL estimation can cause erroneous LDL results. This study aims to show if variability of directly measured HDL (D-HDL) on dyslipidaemic specimens is significant enough to cause misdiagnosis and mistreatment.
Methods:Newly diagnosed dyslipidaemic subjects were categorized as per Fredrickson’s classification, their D-HDL measured on three popular platforms, viz. AU5800, Alinity ci and Cobas Pure, then repeat tested after saline dilution. Mean of the three readings after saline dilution (C-LDL) was designated as the representative measurement.
Results: Mean Absolute Percent Variation (MAPV) between D-HDL and C-HDL for each class interval was found to increase with increasing Cholesterol and Triglycerides concentrations, most significantly for AU5800. Passing-Bablok regression, Bland-Altman plot and Receiver Operating Characteristic curves constructed for each dyslipidaemia phenotype revealed that increasing lipaemia affects the performance of all three platforms, which gets corrected after dilution in Type IV specimens, but not in the cases of Type I or Type V.
Conclusion: Variation in test results of D-HDL in dyslipidaemic specimens on most widely used platforms is a matter of concern as it might lead to misclassifications in diagnosis and treatment monitoring.
A Novel in-situ Dynamic Mechanical Analysis for Human Plantar Soft Tissue: The Device Design, Definition of Characteristics, Test Protocol, and Preliminary Results
Authors: Huang Ran , Wu Longyan , Tang Lisheng , Ning Xinyi , Zhu Jun , Ma Xin
Published: December 2023

The in-situ mechanical characterization of elastomers is not highly regarded due to the existence of a well-established set of sample-based standard tests for research and industry. However, there are certain situations or materials, like biological soft tissue, where an in-situ approach is necessary due to the impossibility of sampling from a living body. We have developed a dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA)-like device to approach in-vivo and in-situ multidimensional stress-strain properties of human plantar soft tissues. This work elucidates the operational mechanism of the novel measurement, with the definition of a new set of moduli, test standardization and protocol. Exploratory results of a volunteer’s living plantar, silica rubber samples are presented with well preciseness and consistence as expected.
Visual guidance technology of flying cars based on multilevel markers and depth
Authors: Chen Tanjie , SHAO JIARU , Zheng Zijun
Published: December 2023

Split-type flying car will play an important role in the future transportation. This paper adopts a guidance method that couples visual information and depth information, and improves the docking accuracy through the mutual cooperation of the drone and the vehicle. Firstly, a multi-level docking marker is designed to achieve adaptive target matching within different distances during the docking process. The marker has strong robustness and can adapt to complex scenes such as occlusion, strong light, and large angle tilting, providing the redundant corner points required for machine vision detection pose information accurately. Secondly, a three-dimensional pose estimation algorithm is proposed, which can introduce depth information to correct the homography matrix. The algorithm combines the advantages of strong robustness to multi-level marker detection and high accuracy of depth information, and can output millimeter-level precision pose information in different environments, different inclination angles, and different occlusions. Finally, a flying car model experiment was carried out, and the results showed that the guidance technology can obtain millimeter-level precise pose information during the entire process of long distance-near distance-completion of docking, thus realizing precise docking.
Excitation of tunable terahertz radiation from a mixture of nanoparticles in static magnetic field
Authors: Simon Moses , Chauhan Prashant
Published: December 2023

This communication deals with the analytical study of terahertz (THz) generation via beat-wave mechanism of two circularly symmetric Gaussian laser beams with frequencies \({\omega }_{1}\) and \({\omega }_{2}\) and wave vectors \({\overrightarrow{k}}_{1}\) and \({\overrightarrow{k}}_{2}\)simultaneously propagating through a mixture of spatially corrugated noble-metal nanoparticles (NPs). The mixture, consisting of spherical and cylindrical nanoparticles, is placed in argon gas under the influence of a static magnetic field. The two co-propagating laser beams impart a nonlinear ponderomotive force on electrons of the NPs, causing them to experience nonlinear oscillatory velocity. Further, the consequent nonlinear current density excites terahertz radiation at the beat frequency \(\omega (={\omega }_{1}-{\omega }_{2})\). Magnetic field influences the surface plasmon resonance condition associated with electrons of the nanoparticles due to enhancement in ponderomotive nonlinearities, thereby causing an increment in the amplitude of generated THz field. It is observed that the generated THz radiation has a strong dependence on the shape and size of the NPs in addition to the magnetic field strength. Cylindrical nanoparticles provide greater THz amplitude than spherical nanoparticles due to additional resonance modes, and combining both kinds of nanostructures further enhance the amplitude. THz radiations play an important role in biomedical and pharmaceutical fields, communications, security and THz spectroscopy.
Exploring the underlying factors influencing students’ choice of private education providers in Nigeria using PLS-SEM
Authors: Manishimwe Theoneste , Raimi Lukman , Bamiro Nurudeen Babatunde
Published: December 2023

This paper empirically explores the underlying factors influencing students' choice of private education providers in a developing country. The study employed a survey research design to collect primary data from 190 respondents selected from a prominent private university in Nigeria. The university was chosen due to the increasing demand for American curriculum-based institutions in Nigeria. Data analysis was conducted using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM), which facilitates the examination of relationships within a model and enables the simultaneous testing of theoretically hypothesized connections among constructs. The study's results indicated that both marketer-controlled and marketer non-controlled factors have direct and positive effects on university attributes. Additionally, marketer-controlled factors positively influenced both satisfaction and student loyalty towards their chosen university. However, this study did not confirm a direct relationship between marketer non-controlled factors and satisfaction or loyalty. Practical implications suggest that private education providers should focus on refining university attributes and enhancing identification through effective communication. Sustained investment in student activities, university reputation, academics, and other crucial aspects of the university system are necessary. Leveraging influential alumni referrals for admissions can attract applicants among other strategies.
The APOD+DCN+LUM+ cell population and its fibroblastic differentiation in aggressive carcinomas
Authors: Cai Lingyi , Kolonin Mikhail , Anastassiou Dimitris
Published: December 2023

We have identified a cell population highly enriched in samples from invasive and chemo-resistant carcinomas characterized by a well-defined multigene co-expression signature. The same signature characterizes naturally occurring fibro‑adipogenic progenitors (FAPs) as well as stromal cells abundant in normal adipose tissue. Our analysis of human gene expression databases provides evidence that adipose stromal cells are recruited by tumors and undergo differentiation into cancer-associated fibroblasts during cancer progression to invasive and chemotherapy-resistant stages.
Isolation and Morpho-Molecular Characterization of Alternaria spp. Causing Grey Leaf Blight of Mustard in Different Regions of Bangladesh
Authors: Kabir Md. Humayun , Fakir Oli Ahmed , Millat Nasrul , Ahmed Iqbal , Hossain Md. Belal
Published: December 2023

Mustard (Brassica spp.) is the most important oil seed crop in Bangladesh and the major constraint is grey blight disease which caused significant yield losses. The prime aim of the study was to characterize the Alternaria species on the basis of morpho-molecular variation responsible for grey blight disease of mustard in different regions of Bangladesh. The experiment was conducted in Molecular Biology and Plant Virology Laboratory, Department of Plant Pathology, Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University, Dhaka and Plant Pathology Laboratory, Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute (BARI), Joydebpur, Gazipur. Diseased mustard leaves displaying characteristic symptoms were collected from eight distinct mustard-growing districts in Bangladesh, namely Jashore, Khulna, Satkhira, Dhaka, Manikganj, Tangail, Sirajganj, and Dinajpur. Fungal DNA was extracted from pure cultures of Alternaria, and PCR amplification was conducted using ITS primers designed to yield 700 bp fragments. Morphological characterization revealed considerable variations among Alternaria species, including differences in radial mycelial growth, colony color, shape, texture, subsurface color, zonation, conidia production, and sporulation time. Pathogenicity tests confirmed the pathogenic nature of all Alternaria isolates. Molecular analysis using ITS regions demonstrated a 99% similarity of the nucleotide sequences with existing sequences in the NCBI database, closely related to Alternaria brassicae, Alternaria brassicicola, and Alternaria alternata. Three species of Alternaria (A. brassicae, A. brassicicola, and A. alternata) were identified from grey blight-infected mustard leaves. Additionally, variations were observed in the number of conidia, longitudinal septation, transverse septation, conidial length, and breadth among the different isolates. The study highlighted the close genetic relationship among the Alternaria isolates and their association with grey blight disease in mustard. These findings contribute valuable insights into the genetic diversity and pathogenicity of Alternaria species in Bangladesh's mustard-growing regions. Such knowledge can be instrumental in developing effective disease management strategies to mitigate yield losses in this crucial oilseed crop.
Mendelian randomization analyses explore the relationship between cathepsins and stroke
Authors: Chen Jiajun , Jiang Xiaofeng , Shen Yaya , Fu Xianzhao
Published: December 2023

Background：Our current understanding of cathepsins' role in stroke is limited. To delve deeper, we're using R software for bidirectional and multivariate Mendelian Randomization (MR) studies.
Method：We used public Genome-Wide Association Studies (GWAS). Data on cathepsins (n=3,301) came from the INTERVAL study; stroke data (n=446,696) from the MEGASTROKE consortium, including ischemic stroke (IS) (n=440,328) and its subtypes, and intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) (n=3,026). Our main analytical method was Inverse Variance Weighting (IVW). Supplementary methods included Weighted Median, MR-Egger, Simple Mode, and Weighted Mode. Heterogeneity was assessed via Cochran Q test, and pleiotropy through MR-Egger intercept and MR-PRESSO analysis. Leave-one-out analysis ensured result stability.
Results：We detected that Cathepsin S acts as a protective factor against cardioembolic IS(IVW: p=0.014, odds ratio (OR) = 0.918, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.857-0.983).In the reverse causation analysis, we found a positive correlation between overall stroke and Cathepsin S (IVW: p=0.006, OR=1.509, 95%CI=1.128-2.019), IS and Cathepsin S (IVW: p=0.015, OR=1.368, 95%CI=1.063-1.762), and large artery IS and Cathepsin S (IVW: p=0.034, OR=1.225, 95%CI=1.015-1.479). Multivariable MR indicated a negative correlation between Cathepsin S and both cardioembolic IS (IVW: p=0.002, OR=0.889, 95%CI=0.825-0.958) and IS (IVW: p=0.032, OR=0.964, 95%CI=0.932-0.997), and between Cathepsin F and IS (IVW: p=0.040, OR=0.946, 95%CI=0.898-0.998). Conversely, Cathepsin E showed a positive correlation with small vessel IS (IVW: p=0.022, OR=1.155, 95%CI=1.021-1.307).
Conclusion：This study provides genetic evidence that Cathepsin S may be a potential protective factor against cardioembolic IS. Further studies are required to elucidate the underlying mechanisms of this causal relationship.
Tracking the biogeography of the Asian Citrus Psyllid Diaphorina citri spread in China using mitogenomes and endosymbionts
Authors: Wu Fengnian , Dai Zehan , Shi Min , Huang Jianjian , Zhu Hui , Zheng Yuzhong , Chen Zikai , Li Xiuhong , Deng Xiaoling , Fox Eduardo G. P.
Published: December 2023

Diaphorina citri is the vector of “Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus” (CLas), a bacterium associated with the citrus disease as Huanglongbing (HLB). Previous mitochondrial genome (i.e. mitogenome) analyses revealed the prevalence of two major mitochondrial groups (MGs) of D. citri in China, geographically distributed by elevation gradients. We estimated the population diversity of D. citrifrom sampling 54 major citrus-producing areas within 11 provinces/regions of China, through comparing assembled de novo mitogenomes. Additionally, endosymbiont genomes were recovered for “Ca. Carsonella ruddii” (CaCr) and “Ca. Profftella armature” (CaPa) from full-DNA next generation sequencing of 31 samples from the same pool. Most of quantified D. citri diversity came from single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in five genes: nad3, cox2, rrnL, cob, and atp6. Nine SNPs clustered the analysed D. citri mitogenomes into two major mitochondrial groups (MG) comprising seven subgroups. Independent phylogenetic trees were generated for the endosymbionts CaCr and CaPa, and a CaPa plasmid, supporting patterns obtained for D. citri mitogenomes while adding complexity layers. Additional information from 64 CaCr, 58 CaPa, and 6 CaPa plasmids provided 38 SNPs and two gaps that converged with the independent results of mitogenomes analyses. Furthermore, subgroups within the original MG clusters were revealed by 87 SNPs and one gap. Thus, combined analyses of D. citri mitogenomes and associated endosymbionts proved useful in uncovering layers of population diversity, pointing to patterns in the natural history of an invasive species. Further understanding of D. citri and endosymbionts can aid D. citri HLB management protocols and forecast territorial expansion events.
Effect of Irradiation Insecticidal Technology on Micro-ecology, Physical and Chemical Properties of Strong-flavor Baijiu Daqu
Authors: Wang Yu , Xue Jiahao , Qiu Yue , Zhang Xiaopeng , Wang Dan , Chen Xiaoming , Gao Peng , Du Liquan , Xie Fei , Xia Xiaojun , Liu Qiang , Zeng Yu
Published: December 2023

In this paper, the influence of high-energy electron beam irradiation technology on the microecology of strong-flavor Baijiu Daqu (SBD) was studied. The effects of different irradiation doses (0-3.55 kGy) on the microecology and physicochemical properties of SBD were determined. The interaction between bacteria, fungi, and physicochemical factors in SBD was examined. The potential of 0-1.40 kGy irradiation for pests eradication was analyzed. Under the irradiation dose range of 0.27–1.40 kGy, the micro-ecology of SBD could almost return to the level observed in non-irradiated samples within 3 months, ensuring a storage period of up to 120 d without infestation. Liquefying Power, Saccharifying Power, Acidity and Moisture all meet the industry standards of SBD and can be used for liquor making. The total bacterial count in SBD was approximately 1.4 x 104 CFU/g, while the count of fungi and yeast was about 4.4 x 104 CFU/g. This study provides an experimental reference for the application of electron beam irradiation technology in the insecticidal treatment of SBD.
An extended w-test for outlier diagnostics in linear models
Authors: Yu Yangkang , Yang Ling , Shen Yunzhong
Published: December 2023

The issue of dealing with outliers has been a research focus in the field of geodesy. Based on the statistical testing method known as the w-test, data snooping along with its iterative form, iterative data snooping (IDS), is commonly used to diagnose outliers in linear models. However, in the case of multiple outliers, these methods may suffer from the masking and swamping effects, thereby limiting their detection and identification capabilities. This contribution is to investigate the cause of masking and swamping effects and to propose a new method to mitigate these phenomena. First, based on the data division, an extended form of the w-test with its reliability measure is proposed, and a theoretical reinterpretation of data snooping and IDS is provided. Then, to alleviate the effects of masking and swamping, a new outlier diagnostic method and its iterative form are presented, namely data refining and iterative data refining (IDR). In general, if the total observations are initially divided into an inlying set and an outlying set, data snooping can be considered a process of selecting outliers from a preset inlying set to the outlying set. In contrast, data refining is then a reverse process to transfer inliers from an outlying set to the inlying one. Both theoretical analysis and actual application examples show that IDR would keep stronger robustness than IDS due to the alleviation of masking and swamping effect, although it may pose a higher risk of accuracy loss when dealing with insufficient data.
Perceived Control Attitude Among Heart Failure Patients in Oman: A Multicenter Study
Authors: Alharrasi Maryam , Al-Noumani Huda , Al-Ghassani Amal , Al-Jadidi Saleha , Al-Maskari Mohammed , Al-Zakwani Ibrahim
Published: December 2023

Heart failure (HF) is a global epidemic with a prevalence of over 64.3 million cases worldwide. Several factors account for the increase in the prevalence of HF. The most significant factor is the growing population of older adults. Other factors include improved treatment and survival after myocardial infarction, poorly controlled hypertension (HTN), and diabetes mellitus (DM). As a modifiable construct, perceived control can be improved to promote healthier lifestyle choices, such as self-care, and consequently better health outcomes. A person's perception of control is their conviction that they have the power to deal with adverse circumstances, like receiving an HF diagnosis, and produce favorable results, such an improvement in symptom status. The aim of this study is to assess the determinants of perceived control attitude among HF patients in Oman. In this sample of HF patients (N = 180), the mean perceived control attitude in this sample was 16.97 ± 2.25. Females (p = 0.006), old age (p < 0.001), smokers (p < 0.001), current health compared to one year back (p < 0.001), higher ejection fraction (p = 0.008) and comorbidities (p = 0.026) have significant relationship with perceived control attitude. The perceived control attitude in this sample was found to be adequate. Female gender, old age, smoking, current health, higher EF and comorbidities were the determinants of control attitude. Thus, interventions targeting attitudes, barriers, and social support may improve perceived control. Clinicians should assess and manage perceived control to maintain or improve good health-related quality of life.
Visceral adiposity index is associated with the development of increased urinary albumin excretion and chronic kidney disease: A population-based study
Authors: Yu Junyan , Huang Chulin , Lin Jiabin , Lin Diaozhu , Li Feng , Qi Yiqin , Liang Ying , Wang Chuan , Cai Leiqin , Feng Wanting , Li Na , Lao Guojuan , Xiao Huisheng , Yang Chuan , Yan Li , Ren Meng , Sun Kan
Published: December 2023

Background: In recent years, the impact of visceral fat accumulation on renal damage has garnered significant attention. However, whether visceral fat accumulation contributes to the incidence of both albuminuria and chronic kidney disease (CKD) is still uncertain. Our objective is to look into the possible correlation between visceral adiposity accumulation and incident increased urinary albumin excretion and CKD.
Methods: We analyzed data from a cohort of 9,916 subjects aged 40 years. As an innovative and convenient biomarker of visceral adiposity distribution, visceral adiposity index (VAI) was calculated in accordance with a gender-specific equation using measurement of blood lipids and anthropometric parameters of obesity. Albuminuria was determined by urine albumin-to-creatinine ratio (UACR) ≥ 30 mg/g. CKD was determined by establishment of either of the following: 1. glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) 60 mL/min per 1.73 m2 or less; 2. UACR ≥ 30 mg/g.
Results: During an average follow-up period of 3.6 ± 0.7 years, 245 (4.7%) subjects developed albuminuria and 332 (6.3%) participants developed CKD. Incidence of albuminuria and CKD had a tendency to advance along with ascending VAI levels in both genders. According to multiple stepwise linear regression analysis, γ-glutamyltransferase (γ-GGT), fasting insulin, fasting plasma glucose (FPG), low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), and systolic blood pressure (SBP) were independent determinants for VAI. Multivariate-adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) of albuminuria with 95% confidence intervals (CI) in Cox regression analysis were 1 (reference), 0.82 (0.53 – 1.29), 1.50 (1.01 – 2.23), and 1.52 (1.02 – 2.26) in ascending quartiles of VAI. Similarly, the HRs with 95% CI of CKD in ascending quartiles of VAI, were 1 (reference), 0.96 (0.66 – 1.41), 1.51 (1.07 – 2.15), and 1.56 (1.10 – 2.20). For subgroup analyses, VAI significantly correlated with risk of both albuminuria and CKD in older subjects (age ≥ 58 years), non-diabetes subjects and non-ASCVD subjects (all P < 0.05).
Conclusions: The greater deposition of visceral fat assessed by VAI is independently associated with risk of increased urinary albumin excretion and CKD in middle-aged and aged Chinese.
3D spheroid model of adipose-derived stem cell and breast cancer cell co- culture for mimicking cell migration and the cancer environment
Authors: Kim Dongwoo , Kim Changheon , Bae Chaewon , Hong Changgi , Lee Gyubok , Ryu Suhyun , Lee Yejin , Song Boa , Lee Kangwon , Park Min Hee
Published: December 2023

Traditional two-dimensional (2D) cell culture methodologies exhibit significant limitations, notably their failure to replicate the intricate three-dimensional (3D) milieu of human tissue architecture. This discrepancy has catalyzed the exploration of advanced drug screening platforms that more faithfully mimic the complex 3D biological environment. To this end, precision medicine research has increasingly used 3D in vitro models that emulate the tissue microenvironment of the human body. In this study, breast cancer cell lines (MDA-MB-231 and SK-BR-3) were co-cultured with adipose-derived stem cells (ADSCs), mimicking the in vitro 3D tumor microenvironment with the multicellular and heterogeneous nature of solid tumors compared to a 2D cancer cell only system. Additionally, collagen type I was used to replicate the microenvironment within a 3D spheroid platform, enhancing the accuracy of the platform in mimicking human tissue characteristics. Significantly, the interactions between the ADSCs and two breast cancer lines markedly influenced factors such as cell elongation, molecular expression, migration patterns, and drug sensitivity. The integration of ADSCs was pivotal in simulating the cancer microenvironment, highlighting that even within the same cancer cell line, varying microenvironmental contexts can lead to vastly different experimental results. Thus, this study provides insights into the role of factors such as cellular substrates and stem cells in simulating a 3D tumor microenvironment more akin to the human body when constructing a 3D in vitro system based on breast cancer cells.