bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Early economic evaluation of magnetic resonance imaging for prostate cancer detection in primary care
Authors: Merriel Samuel William David , Buttle Peter , Price Sarah J. , Burns‐Cox Nick , Walter Fiona M. , Hamilton William , Spencer Anne E. 
Published: July 2024

AbstractObjectivesTo explore the potential impacts of incorporating prebiopsy magnetic resonance imaging into primary care as a triage test within the prostate cancer diagnostic pathway.Subjects and methodsDecision analytic modelling with decision trees was utilised for this early economic evaluation. A conceptual model was developed reflecting the common primary care routes to diagnosis for prostate cancer: opportunistic, asymptomatic prostate‐specific antigen (PSA) screening or symptomatic presentation. The use of multiparametric MRI (mpMRI) or biparametric MRI (bpMRI) as a primary care triage test following an elevated PSA result was evaluated. A health system perspective was adopted with a time horizon of 12 months. Health effects were expressed in terms of utilities drawn from the literature. The primary outcome was prostate cancer diagnosis. Evidence used to inform the model was drawn from published primary studies, systematic reviews, and secondary analyses of primary and secondary care datasets.ResultsBase case analysis showed that the PSA pathway was dominated by both mpMRI‐ and bpMRI‐based pathways for patients undergoing opportunistic screening and symptomatic assessment. bpMRI pathways had greater improvement in cost and utility than mpMRI pathways in both clinical scenarios. Significantly more MRI scans would be performed using the modelled approach (66 626 scans vs. 37 456 scans per 100 000 patients per annum), with fewer subsequent urgent suspected cancer referrals for both mpMRI (38% reduction for screening and symptomatic patients) and bpMRI (72% reduction for screening; 71% for symptomatic) pathways, and a small increase in number of missed cancer diagnoses. Deterministic sensitivity analyses, varying each parameter to its upper and lower 95% confidence intervals, showed no significant change in the dominance of the MRI‐based prostate cancer diagnostic pathways.ConclusionUsing prostate MRI as a second‐level triage test for suspected prostate cancer in primary care could reduce health service costs without a detrimental effect on patient utility.
Fast‐track adaptive laboratory evolution of Cupriavidus necator H16 with divalent metal cations
Authors: Sitompul Sepwin Nosten , Diaz Garcia Laura Andrea , Price Joseph , Tee Kang Lan , Wong Tuck Seng 
Published: July 2024

AbstractMicrobial strain improvement through adaptive laboratory evolution (ALE) has been a key strategy in biotechnology for enhancing desired phenotypic traits. In this Biotech Method paper, we present an accelerated ALE (aALE) workflow and its successful implementation in evolving Cupriavidus necator H16 for enhanced tolerance toward elevated glycerol concentrations. The method involves the deliberate induction of genetic diversity through controlled exposure to divalent metal cations, enabling the rapid identification of improved variants. Through this approach, we observed the emergence of robust variants capable of growing in high glycerol concentration environments, demonstrating the efficacy of our aALE workflow. When cultivated in 10% v/v glycerol, the adapted variant Mn‐C2‐B11, selected through aALE, achieved a final OD600 value of 56.0 and a dry cell weight of 15.2 g L−1, compared to the wild type (WT) strain's final OD600 of 39.1 and dry cell weight of 8.4 g L−1. At an even higher glycerol concentration of 15% v/v, Mn‐C2‐B11 reached a final OD600 of 48.9 and a dry cell weight of 12.7 g L−1, in contrast to the WT strain's final OD600 of 9.0 and dry cell weight of 3.1 g L−1. Higher glycerol consumption by Mn‐C2‐B11 was also confirmed by high‐performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis. This adapted variant consumed 34.5 times more glycerol compared to the WT strain at 10% v/v glycerol. Our method offers several advantages over other reported ALE approaches, including its independence from genetically modified strains, specialized genetic tools, and potentially carcinogenic DNA‐modifying agents. By utilizing divalent metal cations as mutagens, we offer a safer, more efficient, and cost‐effective alternative for expansion of genetic diversity. With its ability to foster rapid microbial evolution, aALE serves as a valuable addition to the ALE toolbox, holding significant promise for the advancement of microbial strain engineering and bioprocess optimization.
Human platelet lysate supports SH‐SY5Y neuroblastoma cell proliferation and differentiation into a dopaminergic‐like neuronal phenotype under xenogeneic‐free culture conditions
Authors: Ribeiro Miguel , Campos Jonas , Pinho Tiffany S. , Sampaio‐Marques Belém , Barata‐Antunes Sandra , Cibrão Jorge Ribeiro , Araújo Ricardo , Duarte‐Silva Sara , Moreira Elsa , Sousa Rui A. , Costa Pedro M. , Salgado António J. 
Published: July 2024

AbstractSH‐SY5Y is a human neuroblastoma cell line that can be differentiated into several neuronal phenotypes, depending on culture conditions. For this reason, this cell line has been widely used as an in vitro model of neurodegenerative conditions, such as Parkinson's disease (PD). However, most studies published to date used fetal bovine serum (FBS) as culture medium supplement for SH‐SY5Y cell differentiation. We report on the testing of human platelet lysate (hPL) as a culture medium supplement to support SH‐SY5Y cell culture. Both standard hPL and a fibrinogen‐depleted hPL (FD‐hPL) formulation, which does not require the addition of anticoagulants to culture media, promoted an increase in SH‐SY5Y cell proliferation in comparison to FBS, without compromising metabolic activity. SH‐SY5Y cells cultured in hPL or FD‐hPL also displayed a higher number of neurite extensions and stained positive for MAP2 and synaptophysin, in the absence of differentiation stimuli; reducing hPL or FD‐hPL concentration to 1% v/v did not affect cell proliferation or metabolic activity. Furthermore, following treatment with retinoic acid (RA) and further stimulation with brain‐derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and nerve growth factor beta (NGF‐β), the percentage of SH‐SY5Y cells stained positive for dopaminergic neuronal differentiation markers (tyrosine hydroxylase [TH] and Dopamine Transporter [DAT]) was higher in hPL or FD‐hPL than in FBS, and gene expression of dopaminergic markers TH, DAT, and DR2 was also detected.Overall, the data herein presented supports the use of hPL to differentiate SH‐SY5Y cells into a neuronal phenotype with dopaminergic features, and the adoption of FD‐hPL as a fully xenogeneic free alternative to FBS to support the use of SH‐SY5Y cells as a neurodegeneration model.
Antibiotic resistance: Assessing knowledge and misconceptions among Portuguese students and science teachers
Authors: Azevedo Maria Manuel , Gonçalves Ana , Osório Nuno S. , Baltazar Fátima 
Published: July 2024

AbstractAntimicrobial resistance poses one of the most significant medical challenges for humanity. The current burden is overwhelming and is projected to escalate rapidly, with predictions for 2050 indicating 10 million deaths per year due to antibiotic‐resistant microorganisms. Enhancing public awareness and education on this topic is crucial in efforts to mitigate this issue. In our study, we translated an existing questionnaire on antimicrobial resistance into Portuguese, validated it, and applied it between December 2020 and March 2021 to a group of Portuguese students (n = 112) and science teachers (n = 95). A majority of the students surveyed (65.1%) incorrectly believed that antibiotics could treat colds/flus. As anticipated, the teachers outperformed the students in the questionnaire. However, difficulties with this topic were evident in both groups. Most notably, the misconception that the human body becomes resistant to antibiotics was prevalent among most participants (77.0% of students and 68.4% of teachers). Consistent with previous studies in other populations and geographic locations, our research reveals a worrying lack of knowledge about antimicrobial resistance among Portuguese students and science teachers. Consequently, it is deemed urgent to implement effective measures to raise awareness and educate on this topic.
Common patient‐reported sources of cancer‐related distress in adults with cancer: A systematic review
Authors: Stevens Jennifer M. , Montgomery Kathleen , Miller Megan , Saeidzadeh Seyedehtanaz , Kwekkeboom Kristine L. 
Published: July 2024

AbstractBackgroundCancer‐related distress (CRD) is widely experienced by people with cancer and is associated with poor outcomes. CRD screening is a recommended practice; however, CRD remains under‐treated due to limited resources targeting unique sources (problems) contributing to CRD. Understanding which sources of CRD are most commonly reported will allow allocation of resources including equipping healthcare providers for intervention.MethodsWe conducted a systematic review to describe the frequency of patient‐reported sources of CRD and to identify relationships with CRD severity, demographics, and clinical characteristics. We included empirical studies that screened adults with cancer using the NCCN or similar problem list. Most and least common sources of CRD were identified using weighted proportions computed across studies. Relationships between sources of CRD and CRD severity, demographics, and clinical characteristics were summarized narratively.ResultsForty‐eight studies were included. The most frequent sources of CRD were worry (55%), fatigue (54%), fears (45%), sadness (44%), pain (41%), and sleep disturbance (40%). Having enough food (0%), substance abuse (3%), childbearing ability (5%), fevers (5%), and spiritual concerns (5%) were infrequently reported. Sources of CRD were related to CRD severity, sex, age, race, marital status, income, education, rurality, treatment type, cancer grade, performance status, and timing of screening.ConclusionsSources of CRD were most frequently emotional and physical, and resources should be targeted to these sources. Relationships between sources of CRD and demographic and clinical variables may suggest profiles of patient subgroups that share similar sources of CRD. Further investigation is necessary to direct intervention development and testing.
Meaningful nomograms based on systemic immune inflammation index predicted survival in metastatic pancreatic cancer patients receiving chemotherapy
Authors: Sun Yanan , Hu Jiahe , Wang Rongfang , Du Xinlian , Zhang Xiaoling , E Jiaoting , Zheng Shaoyue , Zhou Yuxin , Mou Ruishu , Li Xuedong , Zhang Hanbo , Xu Ying , Liao Yuan , Jiang Wenjie , Liu Lijia , Wang Ruitao , Zhu Jiuxin , Xie Rui 
Published: July 2024

AbstractObjectiveThe purpose of the study is to construct meaningful nomogram models according to the independent prognostic factor for metastatic pancreatic cancer receiving chemotherapy.MethodsThis study is retrospective and consecutively included 143 patients from January 2013 to June 2021. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve with the area under the curve (AUC) is utilized to determine the optimal cut‐off value. The Kaplan–Meier survival analysis, univariate and multivariable Cox regression analysis are exploited to identify the correlation of inflammatory biomarkers and clinicopathological features with survival. R software are run to construct nomograms based on independent risk factors to visualize survival. Nomogram model is examined using calibration curve and decision curve analysis (DCA).ResultsThe best cut‐off values of 966.71, 0.257, and 2.54 for the systemic immunological inflammation index (SII), monocyte‐to‐lymphocyte ratio (MLR), and neutrophil‐to‐lymphocyte ratio (NLR) were obtained by ROC analysis. Cox proportional‐hazards model revealed that baseline SII, history of drinking and metastasis sites were independent prognostic indices for survival. We established prognostic nomograms for primary endpoints of this study. The nomograms' predictive potential and clinical efficacy have been evaluated by calibration curves and DCA.ConclusionWe constructed nomograms based on independent prognostic factors, these models have promising applications in clinical practice to assist clinicians in personalizing the management of patients.
LC–MS and GC‐MS Analyses on Green Algae Penicillus Capitatus: Cytotoxic, Antimicrobial and Anticholinesterase Activity Screening Enhanced by Molecular Docking & Dynamics and ADME Studies
Authors: Toraman Gülbahar Özge Alim , Atasoy Sezen , Şenol Halil , Şükran Okudan Emine , Öykü Dinç Harika , Topçu Gülaçtı 
Published: July 2024

AbstractIn this comprehensive screening study, the chemical composition, and cytotoxic, antimicrobial, and anticholinergic activities of the green algae Penicillus capitatus, collected from Antalya‐Türkiye, were determined as in vitro and in silico. GC‐MS analysis of the hexane extract revealed a high content of fatty acids, with hexadecanoic acid constituting half of the total fatty acid content. LC‐HRMS analysis of the DCM:MeOH extract identified ascorbic acid as the most abundant compound, followed by (−)‐epigallocatechin and salicylic acid. The DCM:MeOH extract exhibited potent cytotoxicity against MDA‐MB‐231 and MCF7 breast cancer cell lines, outperforming doxorubicin with lower IC50 values and a higher selectivity index. Additionally, the extract demonstrated significant antimicrobial activity against Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, and Candida albicans, along with selective inhibition of acetylcholinesterase (hAChE) over butyrylcholinesterase (hBChE). Molecular docking and dynamics studies revealed that apigenin‐7‐O‐glucoside and epigallocatechin form stable interactions with estrogen receptor alpha (ERα) and hAChE, suggesting their potential as inhibitors. In silico ADME studies indicated favorable pharmacokinetic profiles for the detected compounds, supporting their potential as drug candidates. The promising cytotoxic activity of the P. capitatus extracts, coupled with significant antimicrobial properties and selective hAChE inhibition, highlights their therapeutic potential for breast cancer treatment, infection management, and neurodegenerative disease intervention.
Benzoic Acid Serves as Precursor of Catalytic HAT Reagent in a Two‐Molecule Photoredox System
Authors: Hirose Masami , Sakaguchi Hina , Hashimoto Ryoga , Furutani Toshiki , Yamawaki Mugen , Suzuki Hirotsugu , Yoshimi Yasuharu 
Published: July 2024

AbstractThe photoinduced regioselective HAT reactions of acetals, ethers, and alcohols using benzoic acids in a two‐molecule photoredox system led to the formation of new C−C bonds with alkenes under mild conditions. Aryl carboxy radicals generated from benzoic acids in a two‐molecule photoredox system can function as catalytic HAT reagents, even though an excess amount of a hydrogen donor substrate is required. Various acetals, ethers, alcohols, and alkenes can be employed in the photoreaction to provide both high yields of adducts and high recoveries of benzoic acids.
A non‐ionic green surfactant extracted from the Anabasis setifera plant for improving bulk properties of CO2‐foam in the process of enhanced oil recovery from carbonate reservoirs
Authors: Nowrouzi Iman , Mohammadi Amir H. , Khaksar Manshad Abbas 
Published: July 2024

AbstractFoam, as a gas‐in‐liquid colloid, has a higher appearance viscosity than the one of both gas and liquid that form it. Adjusting the mobility ratio of the injected fluid–oil system and increasing gas diffusion in the foam injection process increase oil production. With these properties, foam as an injection fluid in fractured reservoirs has a major effect on oil production from the matrixes and prevents premature production of injection fluid. Surfactants are common foaming agents in injection water. Saponins are known as plant‐derived surfactants for forming stable foam. This feature, along with its cheap price and availability, can make them candidates for enhanced oil recovery (EOR) by the foam injection method. However, the utilization of CO2 as the gaseous phase in foam introduces additional machanisms of CO2 injection to the oil recovery operations. In this assessment, a non‐ionic green surfactant derived from the Anabasis setifera plant was used as a foaming agent, while CO2 served as the gas phase. A series of surface tension tests in CO2 environment were performed to determine the optimal concentration of the surfactant. Foaming tests were performed by a designed foam generator. The produced CO2‐foam was then injected into a fractured carbonate plug with six matrixes (with one horizontal and two vertical fractures). Based on the results, the water–CO2 surface tension was reduced to 20.549 mN/m. The optimum salinity based on the foam stability was 10,000 ppm. The half‐life of the foam was determined to be 40 min. Also, the foam characterization showed that the foamability of the surfactant was favourable for increasing oil production so that by secondary flooding, an oil recovery of more than 66% was achieved from the fractured carbonate plug.
Effect of observer age and stimulus size on the color matching performance
Authors: Shen Yuetong , Huang Min , Gao Xinyuan , Wei Minchen , Gong Xuping , Wang Dan 
Published: July 2024

AbstractThe performance of color matching functions (CMFs) is important to color specification and calibration. In comparison to the great number of studies focusing on the effect of primary set, few studies focused on how observer age and field of view (FOV) jointly affected the performance of CMFs. In this study, a color matching experiment with three different primary sets, which were carefully selected based on our previous study, was carried out by two observer age groups under four FOVs (i.e., 2°, 4°, 8°, and 13°). The results suggested that the observer age had a more significant effect than the FOV, and the change of the FOV did not introduce a systematic trend to the color matching results. Neither the CIE 1931 2° nor 1964 10° CMFs were found to accurately characterize the color matches. The CIE 2006 CMFs with the FOV set to the experiment setup also did not have good performance. On average, the CIE 2006 2° CMFs were found to have the best performance, without considering the effects of the observer age and FOV.
Leveraging generative adversarial networks for enhanced cryptographic key generation
Authors: Singh Purushottam , Pranav Prashant , Anwar Shamama , Dutta Sandip 
Published: July 2024

SummaryIn this research, we present an innovative cryptographic key generation method utilizing a Generative Adversarial Network (GAN), enhanced by Merkel tree verification, marking a significant advancement in cryptographic security. Our approach successfully generates a large 6272‐bit key, rigorously tested for randomness and reliability using the Dieharder and NIST test suites. This groundbreaking method harmoniously blends cutting‐edge machine learning techniques with traditional cryptographic verification, setting a new standard in data encryption and security. Our findings not only demonstrate the efficacy of GANs in producing highly secure cryptographic keys but also highlight the effectiveness of Merkel tree verification in ensuring the integrity of these keys. The integration of merkel tree in our method provides a means to efficiently verify the authenticity of the large generated key sets. This research has broad implications for the future of secure communications, providing a robust solution in a world increasingly reliant on digital security. The integration of machine learning and cryptographic principles opens up new avenues for research and development, promising to bolster security measures in an era where digital threats are constantly evolving. This work contributes significantly to the field of cryptography, offering a novel perspective and robust solutions to the challenges of digital data protection.
Sustainability‐Driven Accelerated Shear‐Mediated Immunoassay for Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Detection
Authors: Luo Xuan , Heydari Amir , Renfrey Danielle , Gardner Zoe , He Shan , Tang Youhong , Weiss Gregory A. , Rogers Mary‐Louise , Raston Colin L. 
Published: July 2024

AbstractHealthcare facilities produce millions of tons of waste annually, with a significant portion consisting of diagnostic plasticware. Here, we introduce a new detection platform that completely replaces traditional assay plates with a piece of membrane, offering a much greener and more sustainable alternative. The membrane, integrated within the portable vortex fluidic device (P‐VFD), enables rapid detection of a clinically relevant protein biomarker, urinary p75ECD. This biomarker is utilized to evaluate the prognosis, disease severity, and progression of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). This assay has a limit‐of‐detection (LOD) of 4.03 pg, which is comparable to the plate‐based assay (2.24 pg) and has been optimised through a full factorial design of experiments (DOE) and response surface methodology (RSM). P‐VFD has great potential in quantifying p75ECD in human biofluids and can significantly reduce the assay time to 5 min compared to the current plate‐based p75ECD ELISA assay (3 days), with at least a 4.4‐fold reduction in the usage of the detection antibody.
Inclusion Strategy for Constructing S/N Orbital Hybridization‐Regulated sp3/sp2 Carbon toward Boost Electrocatalysis
Authors: Qi Defeng , Zhang Hao , Su Ke , Li Wenqiang , Yuan Yifei , Xiao Yin , Xu Jie 
Published: July 2024

AbstractMetal‐free carbon‐based electrocatalysts have gained significant attention in the field of zinc‐air batteries (ZABs) due to their affordability, good conductivity and chemical stability. However, unmodified carbon materials typically fall short in adsorbing and activating the substrates and intermediates involved in oxygen reduction reactions (ORR). Here, a metal‐free carbon‐based electrocatalyst with S atom p orbital hybrid modified N‐sp3/sp2 carbon structure (C/NS) were prepared by cyclodextrins inclusion. The catalyst demonstrates impressive ORR activity (E1/2=0.885 V vs. RHE) and robust ZABs performance with a power density of 171.3 mW cm−2 and a specific capacity of 781.2 mAh g−1. Density functional theory (DFT) calculation reveals that S atom effectively regulates the charge distribution and p‐band center of active site carbon atom in the N‐sp3/sp2 carbon structure. This modification prompts the adsorption and dissociation of O2 and intermediates, resulting in higher reactive activity. This work provides a valuable and practical strategy for preparing cost‐effective metal‐free carbon‐based electrocatalysts for ORR with high performance.