bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Cellulose Nanoparticles as Controlled Release Nanocarriers for Urea
Authors: Tay Kimberly Wei Wei , Chin Suk Fun , Wasli Mohd Effendi 
Published: December 2024

Abstract

Purpose
Conventional fertilization raises several environmental issues. Utilizing cellulose from paper waste presents a promising opportunity to create biodegradable cellulose nanoparticles, which can serve as controlled-release nanocarriers for urea, contributing to sustainable agriculture.
Methods
Cellulose nanoparticles of various mean particle sizes were synthesized from cellulose fibers derived from paper wastes by using the nanoprecipitation method. The fertilizer release characteristics of cellulose nanoparticles were evaluated using urea as the model fertilizer at room temperature. The release kinetic profiles of urea from cellulose nanoparticles were analyzed in both soil and water environments.
Results
The loading capacity of urea into cellulose nanoparticles was profoundly affected by factors such as mean particle sizes and the conditions of the release media. The highest loading capacity is found in cellulose nanoparticles of 30.54 nm with 173.85 mg/g. The urea loading capacity can be enhanced by optimizing the synthesis conditions of cellulose nanoparticles including cellulose concentrations, the addition of Tween 80 and the volume of precipitating medium. The urea release kinetics from cellulose nanoparticles can be adjusted by using cellulose nanoparticles with varying average particle sizes.
Conclusion
Optimized cellulose nanoparticles made from cellulose derived from paper waste have the potential to serve as cost-effective controlled-release fertilizer nanocarriers.
Graphical Abstract
To explore the effects of baseline HBsAg and end-of-treatment HBsAb levels on relapse after functional cure in chronic hepatitis B patients: a retrospective study
Authors: Han Lianxiu , Wang Zilong , Kang Luyang , Cui Xiaoling , Li Yi , Yin Huafa , Gao Yufeng , Li Jiabin 
Published: December 2024

Abstract

Background
Among the factors influencing relapse after clinical cure of chronic hepatitis B. There is no standardisation of baseline HBsAg levels and end-of-treatment HBsAb levels.
Methods
This multicenter, retrospective study enrolled 136 patients who achieved functional cure from June 2019 to December 2023,and a total of 48 weeks of follow-up was conducted after treatment cessation according to the guidelines of the CHB.Baseline characteristics of patients analyzed using univariates.Multifactorial logistic regression was used to analyse the different levels of HBsAg at baseline and HBsAb at the end of treatment in CHB recurrence. The working characteristic curve of the subject was constructed and observed by the column line graphical prediction model. Our data showed the cumulative recurrence rate using Kaplan-Meier survival analysis.
Results
At baseline, the level of HBsAg was significantly greater in the group with recurrence than in the group without recurrence (P = 0.038). At EOT, HBsAb levels were lower in the relapsed group than in the nonrelapsed group (P = 0.014). Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that a baseline serum HBsAg concentration ≥ 100 IU/mL was a risk factor for recurrence, and an EOT serum HBsAb concentration ≥ 500 mIU/mL was a protective factor for recurrence.Kaplan-Meier survival analysis showed relapse rates of 3.8% and 12.2% for HBsAg ≤ 100 IU/mL at baseline and HBsAb ≥ 500 mIU/mL at the end of treatment, respectively.
Conclusions
Functionally cured patients with CHB when baseline HBsAg ≤ 100 IU/mL and HBsAb ≥ 500 mIU/mL at the end of treatment have a low relapse rate.
Low-level Viremia Increases the Risk of Diabetes Mellitus in People with HIV in China: A 7-Year Retrospective Longitudinal Cohort Study
Authors: Tao Chunxing , Nong Aidan , Aung Minn Thit , Liao Longyu , Wei Liangjia , Huang Li , Huang Rongye , Huang Lijing , Wang Shuixia , Ye Li , Liang Hao , Ning Chuanyi , Gayed Salma , Bao Lijuan , Liang Bingyu , Huang Xiaohuan , Yao Yanbing 
Published: December 2024

Abstract

Background
It is unclear whether low-level viremia (LV) during antiretroviral therapy (ART), increase the incidence of diabetes mellitus (DM). This study aims to assess the association between HIV viremia exposure during ART and DM using retrospective cohort data.
Methods
People with HIV (PWH) who started ART in 2003 or later were identified from the China’s National Free ART Program database. Participants on ART ≥ 6 months without DM at enrolment were included in this study. According to the two consecutive viral load (VL) measurements after 6 months of ART, participants categorized into three groups: viral suppression (VS), transient episode low-level viremia (Blips), and persistent low-level viremia (LLV). Blips and LLV collectively classified as LV group. We analyzed the incidence of DM depending on viremia exposure using Cox proportional hazard models adjusted for age, sex, baseline VL, CD4 count, ART initial regimen, and WHO HIV stage. Heterogeneous linear mixed models identified fast blood glucose (FBG) trajectory patterns during the follow-up.
Results
During 26,097 person-years of follow-up, we observed 1297 cases of DM in 8731 participants, with median follow-up: 2.4 years [IQR:1.2, 4.5]. Two distinct FBG trajectories, labeled as “Stable” and “Rapid increase”, were identified. The LLV group had a significantly higher proportion of FBG in “Rapid increase” trajectory (OR: 2.53, P < 0.001). Both the Blips (cHR: 1.40, P < 0.001) and LLV (cHR: 1.74, P < 0.001) groups increased the incidence of DM than VS group. After propensity score matching, the LV group showed a higher DM risk (HR: 1.27, P = 0.011). When restricted to the 35–49 age group, the risk of DM was even higher in both the LLV (cHR: 2.24, p = 0.006) and Blips (cHR: 1.43, p = 0.011) groups than the VS group.
Conclusions
Low-level viremia (LV) substantially increased the risk of diabetes mellitus (DM), particularly in middle-aged individuals. Monitoring VL and FBG is crucial to prevent the development of DM and to improve life expectancy among ART patients.
Prognostic Prediction of Long-term Survival in Patients with Type A Aortic Dissection Undergoing Surgical Repair: Development of a Novel Prognostic Index
Authors: Cai Hao , Shao Yue , Li Zheng-hao , Liu Xuan-yu , Zhao Xiao-zhao , Li Chang-ying , Ran Hao-yu , Zhou Rui-qin , Shi Hao-ming , Shuangling Sun , Duan Chang-zhu , Wu Qing-chen , Zhang Cheng 
Published: December 2024

Abstract

Background This study developed and investigated the prognostic significance of a comprehensive biomarker for postoperative type A aortic dissection (TAAD) patients.Methods A retrospective cohort of 175 TAAD patients who underwent open surgery at the First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, China,between September 2017 to December 2020, was included in the analysis. The least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) method was employed to select indicators, thereby constructing a comprehensive biomarker, termed the comprehensive physiological response indicator (CPRI). The prognostic significance of the CPRI was assessed employing the Kaplan-Meier method and log-rank test. Univariate and multivariate Cox regression model were applied to identify independent prognostic factors for TAAD. A prognostic nomogram was constructed based on the CPRI and other nine blood and clinical indicators. The predictive performance of prognostic models and individual indicators was evaluated by determining the area under the curve (AUC) of the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis.Results A comprehensive prognostic biomarker (CPRI) was developed, incorporating cardiac troponin T (cTnT), red blood cell count (RBC), white blood cell count (WBC), absolute neutrophil count (ANC), and absolute lymphocyte count (ALC). In the cohort of type A aortic dissection (TAAD) patients who underwent open surgery, those with lower preoperative CPRI values exhibited significantly poorer overall survival (OS), with a HR of 2.325 (95% CI: 1.126–4.802) in a multivariate Cox regression analysis. The CPRI was identified as an independent prognostic factor for TAAD patients. Additionally, a nomogram constructed based on the CPRI demonstrated superior predictive accuracy compared to other models, with an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.874 versus 0.592, 0.514, and 0.577 for the respective models.Conclusion Our study suggested that CPRI may be a useful comprehensive prognostic biomarker for predicting the long-term survival of TAAD patients. The nomogram based on CPRI can be considered a valuable tool to identify high risk TAAD patients with poor prognosis.
AKT1 as a therapeutic target for platinum-resistant SOX2positive ovarian cancer cells
Authors: Xue Mengyang , Kang Li , Zhang Yunfeng , Yuan Xixai , Li Jiwen , Zhang Rong , Wong Jiemin 
Published: December 2024

Abstract

Ovarian cancer remains the most lethal gynecological malignancy, largely owing to its chemotherapy resistance and high recurrence rate. Emerging evidence has linked aberrant SOX2 expression with chemoresistance and poor prognosis of ovarian cancer patients. In this study, we aimed to elucidate the mechanisms that drive aberrant SOX2 expression in ovarian cancer cells. By examining multiple ovarian cancer cell lines and a panel of clinical tumor samples, we observed a broad overexpression of SOX2 in ovarian cancer cell lines and tumors. To identify signaling pathway(s) that drives to SOX2 overexpression in ovarian cancer cells, we screened a set of small-molecule kinase inhibitors that target 30 major cellular kinases. Among the top hits identified are AKT inhibitors. We demonstrated that inhibition or knockdown of AKT1 can drastically downregulate SOX2 protein level, impairs the growth and stemness of SOX2-positive ovarian cancer cells, and markedly sensitize SOX2-positive ovarian cancer cells to platinum drugs. Mechanically, we found that AKT1 drives SOX2 overexpression primarily by enhancing its protein stability and does so by phosphorylating SOX2 at T116. Altogether, our study reveals an underlying mechanism that drives SOX2 overexpression in ovarian cancer and underscores pharmacological inhibition of AKT1 as a potential therapeutic strategy to sensitize SOX2-postive ovarian cancer to platinum drugs.
Applying A-PTV to RBC Suspension Flows
Authors: Sun Ang , Werner Till , Knüppel Finn , Wurm Frank-Hendrik , Torner Benjamin , Hussong Jeanette 
Published: December 2024

Abstract

In strongly confined flow geometries, red blood cells migrate normal to the flow direction, thereby altering the flow rheology of blood. Direct optical measurements can help to gain an improved understanding of these migration processes. In the present study we demonstrate, that Astigmatism Particle Tracking Velocimetry is a suitable 3D-Particle Tracking method that allows to directly measure both 3D concentration and velocity distributions of red blood cells in a flow.Red blood cells assume a non-spherical shape, therefore the influence of their orientation on the reconstruction of the out-of-plane particle position is evaluated through a ray tracing approach of synthetic, astigmatic images. While for noise-free images, the resulting absolute out-of-plane reconstruction error σz is small for different red blood cell orientations (σz = 0.98 μm), it triples for experimentally relevant signal-to-noise ratios (SNR = 1.2). Reconstruction errors are compared to those of spherical particles. Overall, both the red blood cell orientation and the increase in signal-to-noise ratio induce similar out-of-plane reconstruction error values.Experimental analyzes are also performed using both a red blood cell suspension system and a refractive index-matched suspension system of identical volume fraction (1.5 %). Comparing results from the red blood cell suspension flow with those of the particulate suspension under identical parameters for volume fraction, particle Reynolds number, and bulk Reynolds number, a similarity in lateral migration behavior is observed under the given conditions. The results indicate that the absolute out-of-plane reconstruction error in the red blood cell suspension system (σz = 4.50 μm) is approximately 1.5 times larger compared to the refractive index-matched system.
Prognostic impact of left ventricular myocardial work in patients undergoing surgery for primary mitral regurgitation
Authors: Nabeta Takeru , Peters Ferande , Wu Hoi W , Chua Aileen Paula , Palmen Meindert , Tomšič Anton , Marsan Nina Ajmone , Bax Jeroen J , Bijl Pieter van der 
Published: December 2024

Abstract

Purpose: Echocardiography-based, left ventricular myocardial work (LVMW) can assess LV function by incorporating LV afterload. This study aims to evaluate the prognostic value of LVMW indices in patients with primary mitral regurgitation (MR) undergoing mitral valve surgery.
Methods and Results: A total of 309 patients (mean age 63 ± 12 years, 68% male) with severe, primary MR who underwent surgery, were included. All patients underwent transthoracic echocardiography and LVMW indices were assessed with commercially available ultrasound equipment before surgery. The mean LV global work index (LVGWI) was 1977 ± 537 mmHg% and 132 (43%) patients had impaired LVGWI (≤ 1900 mmHg%). During a median follow-up of 5.0 years (interquartile range, 2.5-8.9), 27 (8.7%) patients died after mitral valve surgery. Patients with impaired LVGWI or LV global longitudinal strain (LVGLS) (≤ 20%) had lower survival rates compared to the group with preserved LVGWI (p <0.01) or LVGLS (p = 0.02). Furthermore, LVGWI ≤ 1900 mmHg% demonstrated incremental prognostic value over LV global longitudinal strain (p = 0.040) for all-cause mortality.
Conclusions: In patients with severe, primary MR who underwent surgery, impaired pre-operative LVGWI was associated with a higher mortality risk. In addition, impaired LVGWI had incremental prognostic value over LVGLS. LVMW therefore holds promise for predicting postoperative outcome.
Differential PML localization in tumor-associated macrophages reflects the inflammatory state and the prognosis of triple-negative breast cancer patients
Authors: Vezzani Bianca , Missiroli Sonia , Pedriali Massimo , Querzoli Patrizia , Carcoforo Paolo , Lanza Giovanni , Gafà Roberta , Pinton Paolo , Giorgi Carlotta 
Published: December 2024

Abstract

Background
Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) stands out as a particularly aggressive and metastatic subtype, defined by its absence of estrogen receptor, progesterone receptor, and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2. It's important to note that outcomes for TNBC patients vary widely, suggesting this classification encompasses various cancers with different histological, genomic, and immunological profiles, leading to distinct prognoses. Our prior research revealed that the tumor microenvironment, especially the expression and localization of promyelocytic leukemia protein (PML) within tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs), can influence patient outcomes by affecting the inflammatory environment. The beneficial prognostic role of increased tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) in TNBC is also well-established.
Methods
This is a retrospective cohort study composed of a total of 20 female patients affected by TNBCS, divided into two groups according to the observed outcome in a 10-year follow-up: 10 TNBC patients showing complete remission of the disease and 10 TNBC patients experiencing tumor recurrence and death within the follow-up. The collected histological tumor samples were stained to evaluate TILs and TAMs presence and PML expression.
Results
We found that PML expression in tumor cells is inversely related to the presence of TILs and is associated with worse patient outcomes. Furthermore, we discovered that patients with disease recurrence exhibited a higher number of TAMs with predominantly nuclear-localized PML, unlike what was observed in patients with complete disease recovery. This accumulation of PML in the nucleus reduces its presence at ER-mitochondria contact sites, thereby impairing its interaction with the NLRP3 inflammasome and leading to increased IL-1β secretion. This promotes a pro-inflammatory tumor microenvironment, as seen in patients with adverse outcomes.
Conclusions
Our findings suggest that both PML expression in cancer cells and its localization in TAMs can serve as additional prognostic factors, alongside TIL abundance, indicating the potential of PML as a target for TNBC therapy.
Freshwater non-native species' population dynamics are synchronized with functionally similar natives
Authors: Rocha Barbbara , Rodrigues Amanda , Granzotti Rafaela 
Published: December 2024

Abstract

Invasive non-native fish species can profoundly disrupt ecosystems. In invasion ecology, using the functional similarity with native species to help predict demographic rates of non-native species and infer the ecological processes underlying it remains largely unexplored. Utilizing a comprehensive analysis of 2,903 species pairs across 153 sampling sites in rivers distributed in different continents, we evaluated interspecific synchrony patterns among populations of native and non-native fish species (response variable) and explored their relationship with functional and phylogenetic dissimilarities using a linear mixed model. Our results indicate that non-native fish exhibit higher synchrony with native species that share similar ecological and morphological traits. This finding corroborates our hypothesis that co-occurring non-native and native species that are more functionally similar are more synchronized and highlights the importance of environmental filtering significantly shaping population dynamics between native communities and coexisting non-native species. Compensatory dynamics was not important explaining non-native species coexistence with native species. We highlight the potential of widespread non-native species in increasing synchronous patterns and consequently decreasing community stability. In addition, life history and phylogenetic distances could not predict the synchrony patterns observed. By elucidating which type of dissimilarities (ecological, life history, morphological, and phylogenetic) can predict synchrony and which ecological mechanisms facilitate the coexistence of native and non-native species, this research underscores the ecological implications of invasion dynamics in the long term and help to guide conservation efforts. Understanding these dynamics at the population level using temporal patterns is essential for preserving biodiversity in the face of ongoing environmental changes.
IoT Security: A Critical Evaluation and Improvement of ChatGPT-Generated Authentication Protocols Using Bilinear Pairing
Authors: Hsieh WenBin 
Published: December 2024

Abstract

Authentication in Internet of Things (IoT) is critical to protect devices, ensure data integrity, prevent unauthorized access, and protect against cyber threats in interconnected systems. It maintains trust and privacy in the IoT ecosystem. ChatGPT, which is a Generative Pre-trained Transformer, is a powerful tool that can provide a variety of knowledge, including the principles and common practices involved in designing network protocols. In this paper, we use interactive interrogation to let ChatGPT design the authentication protocols required for IoT and explore the security of the resulting protocol. A fatal flaw was discovered in the protocol created by ChatGPT during the security analysis process. In addition, we examine the pros and cons of the generated protocol, provide considerations necessary to protect IoT communications, and further propose an identity-based, enhanced and scalable authentication protocol for IoT devices using bilinear pairing. We also compared the performance of the improved protocol with the original. Research results can be fed back to ChatGPT to improve its knowledge of designing protocols and the improved protocol is more secure, efficient and practical. Moreover, this paper proposes a future research motif aimed at stimulating researchers to enhance artificial intelligence by proposing counterarguments to suggested perspectives on artificial intelligence.
Electronic Medical Record application with Artificial Intelligence in supporting the clinical learning of professional doctoral students: findings of a mixed-method approach
Authors: Darsono Kinik , Emilia Ova , Widyandana Doni 
Published: December 2024

Abstract

In this study, we evaluated the benefits of an Electronic Medical Record application with Artificial Intelligence (EMRAI) in supporting the clinical learning of professional doctor students (co-assistants) at Gadjah Mada University. The EMRAI was designed to overcome the limitations of filling in medical records and improve diagnosing accuracy. We used mixed methods in this study: a quasi-experimental design for quantitative analysis and focus group discussions (FGD) for qualitative analysis. The research participants included 60 students divided into experimental (30 students) and control (30 students) groups using the EMRAI and paper medical records, respectively. The results showed that the experimental group had a significantly higher average post-test score than the control group (91.80 vs. 71.42, respectively; P < 0.05). FGDs revealed that EMRAI helps in diagnosis enforcement, critical thinking, and medical documentation and improves the clinical reasoning and professionalism of students. Students provided feedback for the further development of the EMRAI, including improved user interfaces and interactive features. In conclusion, the EMRAI had a positive effect on improving students’ clinical competence; however, it requires additional development to improve functionality and accessibility. Its implementation can help address students’ challenges in completing medical records, enhancing clinical skills, promoting technological learning innovations, and reducing medical errors while improving the quality of healthcare services. Therefore, research recommendations include assessing the effect of the EMRAI on other aspects of clinical learning, involving a more diverse population, and a longer duration of research for long-term observation.
Virus-free meristem culture, calli induction, and regeneration optimization of cultivated and unreleased potatoes of Nepal
Authors: Mishra Kunjan , Rijal Anuja , Shrestha Roshan , Rajbahak Sabari , Joshi Jarina , Pradhan Pragati , Giri Richa , Dangol Sarbesh Das 
Published: December 2024

Abstract

In Nepal in terms of cultivated area, potato ranks as the fourth imperative crop and the first in case of productivity. In such a crucial crop of Nepal, it is inevitable to develop virus-free potatoes and optimize their callus induction and regeneration protocols for further genetic manipulation studies. In this study, we used various plant growth hormones such as gibberellic acid (GA3), kinetin, and 6-benzyl amino purine (BAP) for meristem culture optimization of eleven different cultivated and unreleased Nepali potatoes. The presence of virus in the plantlets was tested using the Double Antibody Sandwiched-Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (DAS-ELISA) method. Similarly, internode explants from five different cultivars were used to induce calli using 2,4 diphenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D), kinetin, naphthalene acetic acid (NAA), and BAP, and subsequently regeneration using GA3. We found the best regeneration results from meristem culture using 0.25 mg/L GA3 for cvs. Rosita, Halka Nilo, Purple, Desiree, and unreleased 226. Virus-free plantlets tested for the six viruses common in local potato cultivars of Nepal were observed using the DAS-ELISA method. The combination of BAP and NAA induced the highest calli in cvs. MS42.3, Panauti Local, Purple, and Khumal Upahar. The highest regeneration frequency using 0.25 mg/L GA3 was obtained from the calli incubated for MS42.3 and Panauti Local. We have successfully optimized the meristem, calli induction, and regeneration protocol for the agronomically important crops of Nepal which can further be used in microtuberization, generation of pre-basic seeds, and genome manipulation studies.