bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The Correlation Between Cumulative Cigarette Consumption and Infarction-Related Coronary Spasm in Patients with ST-Segment Elevation Acute Myocardial Infarction Across Different Age Groups
Authors: Kuang Zhihui , Lin Lin , Kong Ranran , Wang Zhonghua , Mao Xianjun , Xiang Dingcheng 
Published: September 2024

Abstract

Background: Coronary artery spasm (CAS) is a significant contributor to the pathogenesis of acute ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). Although smoking is a well-established risk factor for CAS, the relationship between cumulative cigarette consumption and infarction-related CAS across different age groups in STEMI patients remains unclear. This study aims to investigate how age modulates this correlation.
Materials and Methods: We conducted a retrospective study of STEMI patients who underwent coronary angiography (CAG) at the General Hospital of Southern Theater Command from December 2014 to March 2018. Inclusion criteria were: patients aged 18 years or older with confirmed STEMI and CAS. Exclusion criteria included absence of CAG, significant comorbidities, and incomplete data. Patients were categorized into CAS and non-CAS groups and further stratified by age into young adults (≤45 years), middle-aged (46-59 years), and elderly (≥60 years). Cumulative cigarette consumption was assessed using the smoking index. Statistical analyses evaluated correlations between smoking and CAS by age group.
The approval for this study was obtained from the Ethics Committee of General Hospital of Southern Theater Command (2018-54). Since data were evaluated retrospectively, anonymously, and solely obtained for the study purposes, a requirement of informed consent was waived by General Hospital of Southern Theater Command ethics committee. All study methods were performed in accordance with Helsinki Declaration.
Ethical approval and consent to participate
This study was approved by the ethics committee of General Hospital of Southern Theater Command (2018-54).
Results: Of 1156 STEMI patients, 80 (6.9%) had CAS. The CAS group had a higher prevalence of young adults (35% vs. 13.8%, P < 0.001) and heavy smokers (62.5% in CAS vs. 46.6% in non-CAS, P < 0.001). Heavy smoking correlated with CAS in young adults (r = 0.321, P < 0.001) and middle-aged patients (r = 0.127, P = 0.006), but not in the elderly. Logistic regression revealed that heavy smoking significantly increased the risk of CAS, with adjusted odds ratios of 6.397 for grade 2 smokers and 6.926 for grade 3 smokers compared to non-smokers. Among heavy smokers, the risk of CAS was 4.912 times higher in young adults and 2.041 times higher in middle-aged patients compared to the elderly.
Conclusion: Cumulative cigarette consumption is positively correlated with infarction-related CAS in STEMI patients. Heavy smoking is a major risk factor for CAS, especially in young and middle-aged individuals. Effective smoking control is essential for preventing and managing STEMI, particularly among younger and middle-aged populations in China.
Bioinformatics analysis combined with experimental validation reveals the biological role of the ILK gene in prostate cancer
Authors: Yu Xiao-xiang , Liu Yi , Luo Rong-jiang , Song Zi-xuan , Chen Wen-kai , Mo Zeng-mi , Wang Feng-jing 
Published: September 2024

Abstract

Background
Prostate cancer (PCa) is a prevalent urological malignancy. The integrin-linked kinase (ILK) gene has been identified as an oncogenic driver in hormonal cancers, including PCa.
Methods
To identify key genes in PCa, we utilized differential gene expression analysis and Weighted Gene Co-expression Network Analysis (WGCNA). The ILK gene was silenced using short interfering RNA (siRNA), and subsequent experiments focusing on cellular functionality were conducted to evaluate its impact on cell proliferation, apoptosis, and cell cycle. We examined the expression of autophagy-related and cell cycle-related proteins, including MAP1LC3A, BECN1, C-MYC, TP53, and MDM2. Moreover, we conducted Mfuzz expression pattern clustering analysis, gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA), immune function analysis, transcription factor (TF) analysis, and drug prediction.
Results
544 significant genes were identified by WGCNA. The protein-protein interaction (PPI) network analysis revealed that MYC was the central regulatory gene, with the intersected genes mainly involved in regulating cell adhesion and drug metabolism in prostate cancer (PCa). Experimental results showed LNCaP cell proliferation was significantly inhibited in the knockdown groups (P < 0.001). Moreover, ILK silencing increased apoptosis in LNCaP cells compared to normal cells and empty vectors, and transfected LNCaP cells were arrested in the S phase of the cell cycle. Notably, C-MYC expression decreased following ILK silencing. Subsequently, we further identified ILK-related regulatory biomarkers.
Conclusions
The ILK is an oncogene mainly through influencing the C-MYC in PCa. Inhibition of ILK expression would be a promising method for treating the development and progression of PCa.
Investigating the Dietary Links to Pancreatic Cancer: Case-Control Study on Dairy, Meat, and Egg Consumption
Authors: Allehdan Sabika , Ibrahim Mohammed O. , AlAwwad Narmeen , Hamdan Aya , Al-jaberi Tareq , Hushki Ahmad , Rayyan Yaser , Tayyem Reema 
Published: September 2024

Abstract

Data from several research showed that consumption of specific foods and nutrients are linked to the risk of pancreatic cancer, but the role of consumption of meats and diary groups in pancreatic carcinogenesis is still controversial. The main objective of this study is to investigate the association between consumption of dairy products and meats and risk of pancreatic cancer. A case-control study was conducted between March 2015 and August 2018 at four main hospitals in Jordan, one of them was an oncology center. Participants in the study were 101 cases with incident and histologically confirmed pancreatic cancer frequency matched with 314 controls. The required information for this study was gathered via questionnaires based on face-to-face interviews. An Arabic food-frequency questionnaire (FFQ) that has been validated was used to gather data on consumption of different food items of dairy and meat groups. Multinomial logistic regression was used to calculate odds ratios (ORs) and their corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs), considering potential confounders. The consumption of different levels and frequencies of yogurt, white cheese, processed cheese, red meats, and chicken was observed to increased risk of pancreatic cancer. The adjusted OR indicated that the risk of pancreatic cancer was positively associated with daily intake of yogurt (OR, 2.88 (95% CI, 1.40–5.91, P value of trend = 0.001)), cooked lamb meat (OR, 2.50 (95% CI, 1.30–4.84, P value of trend = 0.002)) and cooked veal meat (OR, 1.72 (95% CI, 1.11–3.77, P value of trend = 0.011)). Furthermore, daily and weekly consumption of white cheese, processed cheese, and cooked chicken was associated with an increased risk of pancreatic cancer. According to the study's findings, the consumption of yogurt, white cheese, processed cheese, red meat, and chicken was associated with increased risk of developing pancreatic cancer.
Identification, characterization, and expression of Oryza sativa betaine aldehyde dehydrogenase genes associated with the metabolism of oxyfluorfen
Authors: Chen Zhao Jie , Wang Yi Zhuo , Lu Jun Jin , Shi Xu Zhen , Qu Ya Nan , Ai Gan , Zeng Li Qing , Wang Xiao Lu , Cheng Xi Ran , Wang Yan Hui 
Published: September 2024

Abstract

Betaine aldehyde dehydrogenase (BADH), a member of family 10 of the aldehyde dehydrogenase superfamily, catalyzes the second oxidation step in the biosynthesis of glycine betaine (GB), which participates in a variety of critical processes that help plants tolerate abiotic stress. Nevertheless, it is still unclear how BADH functions in rice under pesticide stress. To look at the roles that the rice BADH family plays when under pesticide stress, three BADH genes were identified in transcriptome datasets of GB + oxyfluorfen (OFF)-treated rice. Using sequence alignment and phylogenetic analysis, the two subfamilies of the BADH gene family (ALDH10 and ALDH22) among rice, Arabidopsis, soybean, wheat, maize, barley, and sorghum were found. An examination of chromosomal position revealed that segmental duplication had a role in the expansion of OsBADH genes, and that the rice BADH genes were irregularly distributed on 3 of the 12 rice chromosomes. In collinearity analyses, rice BADH genes exhibited collinearity with those of wheat, maize, barley, and sorghum. The genes also showed a variety of conserved domains, cis-elements, motif compositions, and gene architectures that made it possible for them to encode different biotic and abiotic stress response proteins. Compared to the effects of OFF alone, BADH activity in rice roots and shoots increased 1.50-fold and 1.81-fold, respectively, following treatment with GB and 0.15 mg/L OFF. Analysis of protein–protein interaction networks provided more evidence for the involvement of OsBADH proteins in OFF metabolism. Overall, these findings demonstrate that BADH genes respond effectively to OFF-induced stress by producing GB, highlighting their potential roles in regulating pesticide degradation.
SERPING1, a biomarker for colorectal liver metastasis, promotes colorectal cancer cell proliferation, migration, and invasion
Authors: Yu Wenhao , Gu Boyuan , Huang Zhiwei , Liu Cheng , Bai Junjie , Liu Shenglu , Ren BingYu , Wang Pengru , Chen Jiatong , Sun Lei , Tan Peng , Fu Wenguang 
Published: September 2024

Abstract

Colorectal liver metastasis (CRLM) is a major cause of mortality in colorectal cancer (CRC) patients, but its precise etiology remains unclear. Identifying genes associated with CRLM and understanding their molecular mechanisms is crucial. Here, we identified SERPING1 as a hub gene causing CRLM by WGCNA, differentially expressed genes analysis and K-M survival analysis. In addition, we confirmed the high expression of SERPING1 in CRLM using human samples. Furthermore, our in vitro experiments showed that SERPING1 promotes the proliferation, migration and invasion of human CRLM cells and activates the EMT pathway in human CRLM cells. Finally, to explore the role of SERPING1 in tumour microenvironment, we performed single-cell sequencing analysis and found that SERPING1 was enriched in cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) and associated with immune infiltration of CAFs. Collectively, these studies identified SERPING1 as a promising target for the control of CRLM.
Cyclic Performance and Strain Characteristics of a Curved RC Shear Wall
Authors: Abdoos Hatef , Khaloo Ali Reza 
Published: September 2024

Abstract

Curved reinforced concrete shear walls (CRCSWs) not only are capable of offering both the stiffness and strength in any arbitrary horizontal direction, but can also fulfill some of the aesthetic and architectural requirements. Despite these advantages, a paucity of decent and in-depth investigation does exist in the literature that have examined the cyclic response of CRCSWs. Aiming to complement the existing knowledge and to highlight some particularities inherent in the cyclic performance of CRCSWs, an experimental program is established and a new loading apparatus is designed and fabricated capable of concurrently following the in-plane and out-of-plane motions. A large number of instrumentation is employed to capture the full-field measurements. Test results including the global load-deformation, onset and progression of structural damages are delineated. The findings divulge that the tested CRCSW exhibited stable performance with no evident premature strength degradation and the induced warping torsion due to intrinsic eccentricity of the centroid and shear center is largely responsible for the failure mode of the CRCSW. Detailed reconnaissance studies regarding the performance levels, and strain characteristics of the reinforcing bars and concrete surface are presented and the collected strain gauge data confirms the mechanisms of the induced damages. The inevitable effects of the longitudinal bars are highlighted in comparison with transverse bars for the response evaluation of the tested squat CRCSW. Although, the CRCSWs are utilized in practical applications, experimental evidences are scanty and it is believed that the testing program presented herein will contribute into the seismic characterization of the CRCSWs.
Local potential energy density-supramolecular energy (LPED-SME) machine learning prediction – a web application to obtain the local SME from simple inputs
Authors: Firme Caio L. , Boes Elvis S. 
Published: September 2024

Abstract

We developed a Flask web application that uses supervised machine learning (ML) to predict the local potential energy density (LPED) based on intermolecular and intramolecular interactions. The predictions are made from simple inputs, specifically the atomic charges of interacting atoms (using MK, ChelpG, or RESP schemes) and the interatomic distances between them. This application streamlines the process by avoiding the more complex calculations required by QTAIM topology. We optimized the size of our dataset to 53 samples, being a simple dataset with only three numerical features and no categorical features. We tested five different ML models and found that Linear Regression performed the best, achieving an R² score of 0.88, a mean absolute error (MAE) of 0.72 kcal/mol·Bohr³, a mean squared error (MSE) of 0.82 kcal²/mol²·Bohr⁶, and a root mean squared error (RMSE) of 0.91 kcal/mol·Bohr³. To ensure the reliability of our model, we conducted a secondary validation using a different set of input data with known LPED values. The predicted values closely matched the actual values, and the metrics from this secondary validation were similar to those from the primary testing. With this double validation, our web application is a reliable tool for obtaining LPED and local supramolecular energy (SME) from straightforward inputs. The major physical insight is the capability of the machine learning model to obtain a topologically derived information such as LPED using non-topological data.
Agroforestry's potential to buffer climate change impacts on maize yields in Dodoma, Tanzania
Authors: Siebenlist Johanna , Hampf Anna , Gornott Christoph 
Published: September 2024

Abstract

Agricultural productivity in the semi-arid region of central Tanzania is low and projected to further decrease due to climate change, exacerbating the already high levels of food insecurity among the population of Tanzania. Agroforestry has been suggested as an adaptation strategy due to its multiple biophysical and socio-economic benefits, but its effectiveness is site- and context specific. Therefore, the objective of this study was to investigate the impact of climate change and agroforestry on maize yields in Dodoma, Tanzania. The process-based crop model APSIMX is used to quantify climate change impacts on maize yields at six sites in Dodoma considering different shared socio-economic pathways and periods. In addition, the effects of different levels of shading, temperature reductions from shading and the addition of biomass from trees on maize yields were analyzed. Four different indicators (climate change impact, agroforestry impact, agroforestry adaptation effect and climate change impact with adaptation) were calculated to provide a comprehensive evaluation. The simulation results indicate that climate change is likely to decrease maize yields by 23–33%, but agroforestry is found to partially mitigate this decline. The benefits of implementing agroforestry will increase in the future, providing a positive adaptation effect. A shading level of 20% was found to be most effective at reducing yield losses. However, under the high-emission scenario, the effectiveness of agroforestry in mitigating climate change impacts is simulated to decrease over time. These results highlight the urgency of climate change adaptation and demonstrate the possible benefits but also the limitations of agroforestry as an adaptation strategy under present and future climate conditions.
Multi-omics reveals the mechanism of Trimethylamine N-oxide derived from gut microbiota inducing liver fatty of dairy cows
Authors: Li Chenlei , Wang Feifei , Mao Yongxia , Ma Yanfen , Guo Yansheng 
Published: September 2024

Abstract

Background
Trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO) is a metabolite produced by gut microbiota, and its potential impact on lipid metabolism in mammals has garnered widespread attention in the scientific community. Bovine fatty liver disease, a metabolic disorder that severely affects the health and productivity of dairy cows, poses a significant economic burden on the global dairy industry. However, the specific role and pathogenesis of TMAO in bovine fatty liver disease remain unclear, limiting our understanding and treatment of the condition. This study aims to construct a bovine fatty liver cell model and utilize an integrated approach combining transcriptomic, proteomic, and metabolomic data to investigate the molecular-level impact of TMAO on lipid metabolism and its potential regulatory mechanisms.
Results
We established an in vitro bovine fatty liver cell model and conducted a comprehensive analysis of cells treated with TMAO using high-throughput omics sequencing technologies. Bioinformatics methods were employed to delve into the regulatory effects on lipid metabolism, and several key genes were validated through RT-qPCR. Treatment with TMAO significantly affected 4,912 genes, 397 proteins, and 137 metabolites. KEGG enrichment analysis revealed that the significantly altered molecules were primarily involved in pathways related to the pathology of fatty liver disease, such as metabolic pathways, insulin resistance, hepatitis B, and the AMPK signaling pathway. Moreover, through joint analysis, we further uncovered that the interaction between TMAO-mediated AMPK signaling and oxidative phosphorylation pathways might be a key mechanism promoting lipid accumulation in the liver.
Conclusions
Our study provides new insights into the role of TMAO in the pathogenesis of bovine fatty liver disease and offers a scientific basis for developing more effective treatment strategies.
The effects of different governance regimes on the social and economic growth of Pakistan
Authors: Rasool Mubashir , Hussain Zawar , Rashid Muhammad , Srithi Khaysy 
Published: September 2024

Abstract

Through the historical records, it is proven that the democratic system fosters public interests while the dictatorship regime mends for a single man. Both regimes have their socio-economic advantages and disadvantages in society. The social as well as economic aspects remain a matter of business for the prevailing government setup. The main objective of this research is a comparative analysis of Pakistan’s socio-economic performance in democratic as well as dictatorial regimes (1947–2012). Some economic performance measures, including life expectancy, population growth, and literacy rates, as well as GDP growth, inflation, and head count ratio (HCR), have been taken for comparative analysis to check the performance. Statistical tests assist in this comparison. Our findings show that, in general, dictatorship regimes are better democratic governments in every aspect.
A New Implementation of a Fourth-Order CESE Scheme for 3D MHD Simulations
Authors: Jiang Chaowei , Zhang Ling 
Published: September 2024

Abstract

This paper is devoted to the description and validation of a new implementation of a fourth-order space-time conservation-element and solution-element (CESE) scheme to numerically solve the time-dependent, three-dimensional (3D) magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) equations. The core of the scheme is that, with the aid of a grid staggered in space and time, the conservative variables are advanced by integration of the controlling equation in the space-time four-dimensional domain by utilizing Taylor expansion, and their spatial derivatives are computed by finite difference with $p$ order derivatives from $p-1$ order ones. The new scheme achieves fourth-order accuracy in both space and time simultaneously, using a compact stencil identical to that in the second-order CESE scheme. We provide a general framework for convenience of programming such that the scheme can be easily extended to arbitrarily higher order by including higher-order terms in the Taylor series. A suite of 3D MHD tests demonstrate that the fourth-order CESE scheme at relatively low grid resolutions can obtain reliable solution comparable to the second-order CESE scheme at four-times high resolution, and showing a very high efficiency in computing by using only around $5\%$ of the computing resources.
Inhibition of CHI3L1 decreases N-cadherin and VCAM-1 levels in glioblastoma
Authors: Rusak Agnieszka , Gąsior-Głogowska Marlena , Sargenti Azzurra , Krzyżak Edward , Kotowski Krzysztof , Mrozowska Monika , Górnicki Tomasz , Kujawa Krzysztof , Dzięgiel Piotr 
Published: September 2024

Abstract

(1) Background: The protein CHI3L1 supports cancer development in several ways, including stimulation of angiogenesis and invasion as well as immunomodulatory effects. These properties make it a potential target for the development of targeted therapies in precision medicine. In this context, the particular potential of CHI3L1 inhibition could be considered in glioblastoma multiforme (GBM), whose tumors exhibit high levels of angiogenesis and increased CHI3L1 expression. This study aims to investigate whether inhibition of CHI3L1 in spheroids used as a GBM model affects the mechanisms of invasiveness;
(2) Methods: We analyzed the interactions between CHI3L1 and the inhibitor G721-0282 in molecular docking (in silico) and infrared spectroscopy. Uptake of G721-0282 in GBM spheroids was measured using a label-free physical cytometer. Changes in E-, N- and VE-cadherins, VCAM-1 and EGFR were analyzed by immunohistochemical reactions, Western blot and ddPCR methods in U-87 MG cells and GBM spheroids consisting of U-87 MG glioblastoma cells, HMEC-1 endothelial cells and macrophages;
(3) Results: A direct interaction between CHI3L1 and G721-0282 was observed. G721-0282 decreased N-cadherins and VCAM-1 in GBM spheroids, but the changes in the 2D model of U-87 MG glioblastoma cells were different;
(4) Conclusion: Inhibition of CHI3L1 has the potential to reduce the invasiveness of GBM tumors. The proposed 3D model of GBM spheroids is of great significance for investigating changes in membrane proteins and the tumor microenvironment.