bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Development of an in vitro method to assess the immunogenicity of biologics in the prevention of infectious diseases
Authors: Baran Joanna , Lukasz Kuryk , Mariangela Garofalo , Marta Prygiel , Aleksandra Zasada , Teresa Szczepińska , Anna Staniszewska , Deepak Kala , Piotr Majewski , Radosław Charkiewicz , Staniszewska Monika 
Published: August 2024

Abstract

We present a series of preclinical studies focusing on developing in vitro 2D and 3D models for assessing the immunogenic factors in preventing infectious diseases. Human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) and Calu-3 cell lines (bronchial epithelial cells) were used to develop 2D and 3D models. Peptides: Spike-S1-His, nucleocapsid-His and adjuvants: human adenovirus 5 serotype-based viral vector (AdV-D24-ICOSL-CD40L), armed with inducible co-stimulator (ICOSL) and CD40 ligand (CD40L), and a vector lacking these transgenes (AdV5/3) were used due to their effective initial interaction with antigen-presenting cells (APC).
Studying biologics’ potency in vitro showed a significant increase in the percentage of CD4+ TCM, CD4+TEMRA, and CD4+TEM lymphocyte subpopulations involved in memory cell generation after 24-h treatment. Prolonging the exposure for 7 days significantly increased the number of CD4+ T and CD19+ B lymphocytes. RNA-Seq analysis of PBMC cells in the 3D model demonstrated gene overexpression (including FGFR4) associated with the Rap1 pathway in the sample exposed to AdV1+S-His+N-His. Thus, the proposed platform's impact on lymphocyte differentiation was confirmed, and cytokine profile analysis in this sample revealed elevated levels of IL-10, IL-12p70, and IL-8. All samples exposed to AdV1 showed increased levels of IFN-γ. Safety studies of the vaccine platform demonstrated that a 30-day exposure did not impact mice's survival or organ morphology. The safety and biodistribution of the biologics were confirmed in in vivo studies.
The research resulted in the development of a method providing a reliable assessment of immunogenic factors under in vitro conditions. By establishing a 3D in vitro model using PBMCs and Calu-3 cells, the research shed light on the dynamics of the immune responses to novel adenovirus-based vaccine platforms. The study identifies critical factors influencing immune reactions, including inflammation, immune cell activation, and regulatory responses, providing insights into the virus-host dynamics. Exploring the CD40 pathway notably reveals its significant impact on immune cell populations, suggesting potential therapeutic avenues. The findings underscore the importance of extended culture times and the need for further research into the mechanistic role of the CD40 pathway.
Novel and recurrent genetic variants associated with male and female infertility
Authors: Jankowska Katarzyna K. , Kutkowska-Kazmierczak Anna , Ślusarczyk Klaudia , Domaszewicz Alicja , Duk Katarzyna , Wolski Jan Karol , Kozioł Katarzyna , Sawicka Justyna , Klapecki Jakub , Laudański Piotr , Wertheim-Tysarowska Katarzyna , Rygiel Agnieszka Magdalena 
Published: August 2024

Abstract

Recently, the knowledge of the genetic basis of fertility disorders has expanded enormously, mainly thanks to the use of next generation sequencing (NGS). However, the genetic cause of the infertility in majority patients is still undefined. Aim: The aim was to identify genetic variants associated with infertility disorders using targeting NGS technique and to describe phenotype - genotype correlation. Methods: We have enrolled 41 patients (36 males and 5 females) with infertility problems or delayed puberty including the patients with hypogonadism hypogonadotropic (HH, n = 12), primary hypogonadism (n = 15), abnormal semen parameters or gonadal dysgenesis (n = 11), androgen insensitivity (n = 3). Genetic tests were performed using NGS panel of 35 genes. Results: Overall, 14 pathogenic (P) or likely pathogenic (LP) variants including 3 novel and 11 recurrent variants were identified. Novel variants were found in genes associated with HH (FGF8, FGFR1, SEMA3). The genetic cause of the HH was determined in 58% (7/12) of the cases. Overall, The genetic testing enabled identification of the cause of the clinical phenotype in 26% (11/41) of the patients. Conclusions: Our study expands the knowledge of the genetic basis of the infertility disorders and highlights the importance of genetic testing for proper diagnosis making and genetic counselling.
Identifying Risk Factors and Predicting Long COVID in a Spanish Cohort
Authors: Teruel Antonio Guillén , Andreu Jose Luis Mellina , Reina Gabriel , Billalabeitia Enrique González , Iborra Ramón Rodríguez , Palma José , Botía Juan A. , Cisterna-García Alejandro 
Published: August 2024

Abstract

Many studies have investigated symptoms, comorbidities, demographic factors, and vaccine effectiveness in relation to long COVID (LC-19) across global populations. However, a number of these studies have shortcomings, such as inadequate LC-19 categorisation, lack of sex disaggregation, or a narrow focus on certain risk factors like symptoms or comorbidities alone. We address these gaps by investigating the demographic factors, comorbidities, and symptoms present during the acute phase of primary COVID-19 infection among patients with LC-19 and those who experienced reinfection, comparing them to typical COVID-19 patients. Additionally, we assess the impact of COVID-19 vaccination on these patients. Drawing on data from the Regional Health System of the Region of Murcia in southeastern Spain, our analysis includes comprehensive information from clinical and hospitalisation records, symptoms, and vaccination details of over 675126 patients across 10 hospitals.We calculated age and sex-adjusted odds ratios (AOR) to identify protective and risk factors for LC-19. Our findings reveal distinct symptomatology, comorbidity patterns, and demographic characteristics among patients with LC-19 versus those with typical COVID-19. Notably, factors such as age, female sex (AOR = 1.39, adjusted p <0.001), symptoms such as chest pain (AOR >1.55, adjusted p <0.001) or hyposmia (AOR >1.5, adjusted p <0.001) and being vaccinated (AOR = 0.10, adjusted p <0.001) significantly influence the risk of LC-19. Interestingly, symptoms and comorbidities show no significant differences when disaggregated by type of LC-19 patient. Vaccination before infection is the most important factor and notably decreases the likelihood of long COVID. Particularly, mRNA vaccines offer more protection against developing LC-19 than viral vector-based vaccines (AOR = 0.48). Additionally, we have developed a model to predict LC-19 that incorporates all studied risk factors, achieving a balanced accuracy of 73% and ROC-AUC of 0.80. This model is available as a free online LC-19 calculator, accessible at (LC-19 Calculator).
Cooperativity and halonium transfer in the ternary NCI···CH 3 I··· - CN halogen-bonded complex: An ab initio gas phase study
Authors: Parra Rubén D. 
Published: August 2024

Abstract

Context The strength and nature of the two halogen bonds in the NCI···CH3I···−CN halogen-bonded ternary complex are studied in the gas phase via ab initio calculations. Different indicators of halogen bond strength were employed to examine the interactions including geometries, complexation energies, NBO Wiberg bond indices, and AIM parameters. The results show that the halogen bond is strong and partly covalent in nature when CH3I donates the halogen bond, but weak and noncovalent in nature when CH3I accepts the halogen bond. Significant halogen bond cooperativity emerges in the ternary complex relative to the corresponding heterodimer complexes, NCI···CH3I and CH3I···−CN, respectively. For example, the CCSD(T) complexation energy of the ternary complex (-18.27 kcal/mol) is about twice the sum of the complexation energies of the component dimers (-9.54 kcal/mol). The halonium transfer reaction that converts the ternary complex into an equivalent one was also investigated. The electronic barrier for the halonium transfer was calculated to be 6.70 kcal/mol at the CCSD(T) level. Although the MP2 level underestimates and the MP3 overestimates the barrier, their calculated MP2.5 average barrier (6.44 kcal/mol) is close to that of the more robust CCSD(T) level. Insights on the halonium ion transfer reaction was obtained by examining the reaction energy and force profiles along the intrinsic reaction coordinate, IRC. The corresponding evolution of other properties such as bond lengths, Wiberg bond indices, and Mulliken charges provides specific insight on the extent of structural rearrangements and electronic redistribution throughout the entire IRC space.Methods The MP2 method was used for geometry optimizations. Energy calculations were performed using the CCSD(T) method. The aug-cc-pVTZ basis set was employed for all atoms other than iodine for which the aug-cc-pVTZ-PP basis set was used instead.
The effect of different types of drugs on balance and reaction ability of female abstainers
Authors: Wang Jingsong 
Published: August 2024

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: Drug abuse can damage a number of physiological functions of the human body to a certain extent, such as a phenomenon similar to neurasthenia to the nervous system, making the body unresponsive, walking unsteady, etc.; suggesting that drugintake may react to the body. The ability and balance control ability have an impact. This paper aims to compare the balance (dynamic and static) and reaction speeds of Anesthetic drugs, Psychotropic drugs and mixed drugs, and explore the differences in the effects of different types of drugs on the body's nervous control system.
METHODS: This experiment conducted a random sampling test on drug rehabilitation centers in eight provinces across the country to test the abstainers' dynamic balance ability and static balance ability.
RESULTS: The results obtained after the physical fitness test were compared. One-legged standing balance test: the abstainers who took the Psychotropic drugs stood longer than the Anesthetic drugs, but the mixed drugs did not differ. Star Excursion Balance Test: The overall appearance of large, small presents as Anesthetic drugs, mixed drugs and Psychotropic drugs. Reaction time: The overall reaction speed is from fast to slow: people who smoke Psychotropic drugs, those who use mixed drugs, and those who use Anesthetic drugs.
Conclusion: Psychotropic drugs will give priority to destroying the dynamic balance of the human body. Because mixed drugs are a combination of new and Anesthetic drugs, the damage to the dynamic balance of the human body is second only. The Anesthetic drugs have the priority to destroy the static balance of the human body. The reaction rate is the same as above, and the mixing is only second. However, its specific mechanism has yet to be further studied.
Multi-strategy instructional intervention for healthy eating intention among school going adolescents: A quasi-experimental study
Authors: Bhandari Prashamsa , Adhikari Sandip , Bhandari Pratik , Adhikari Shiksha , Adhikari Chiranjivi 
Published: August 2024

Abstract

Background
Adolescence is a unique stage of life characterized by significant physical, psychological, and cognitive development. Maintaining healthy eating behaviors during this period is crucial for preventing various forms of malnutrition and non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and cancer. This study aimed to assess the effect of educational interventions based on the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) on improving healthy eating intention of adolescents in selected schools in Bardiya District.
Methods
A quasi-experimental study was conducted among eighth and ninth grade aged between 12–18 years from two selected public schools in Badhaiyatal Rural Municipality of Nepal, intone as an intervention (IG) and another as a control group (CG), randomly. Data were collected through self-administered questionnaires at baseline and 3 weeks after the intervention. The intervention package consisted interactive lecture, group discussion, poster, educational video, and a song, whereas the students in the control group did not receive any intervention. The educational intervention for the IG consisted of 6 sessions, each of 60 min. Data were entered and analyzed in SPSS V22, using chi-square test, paired t-test, and linear regression.
Results
The educational intervention led to significant improvements in knowledge and TPB constructs with these changes being statistically significant (p < 0.001). The adjusted mean score increase in TPB constructs due to the interaction of time and intervention increased from 0.47 to 5.49. The highest gain (β = 5.49; p = 0.001) was seen in the perceived behavioural control score, while a minor improvement was seen in behaviour (β = 0.47; p = 0.112). After the intervention, the net increase in healthy eating intention score was 14.8% compared to the control group.
Conclusions
The study concluded that educational interventions effectively improved adolescents' healthy eating intentions. Moreover, these interventions successfully encouraged positive changes in their healthy eating attitudes. Model-based and construct-oriented programs can be used in schools to promote healthy eating intentions.
Physical Fitness and Anthropometric Profile Of Young Male and Female Tunisian Handball Players U15
Authors: Samir Krichen , Chirine Aouichaoui , Hamada Chaari , Liwa Masmoudi , Yousri Elghoul , Monia Zaouali , Yassine Trabelsi , Hamdi Chtourou , Mohamed Zouch 
Published: August 2024

Abstract

Aims
The purpose of the present study was to determine differences in anthropometric characteristics and physical performance between adolescent handball players across age categories, and to determine which anthropometric and maturity variables have the greatest relative importance.
Methods
The sample consisted young handball players. Testing consisted of anthropometric and physical measures of body height, body mass, body mass index (BMI), arm span, hand length, 5-20m sprint, repeated sprint ability, change of direction speed and aerobic shuttle run test. Two different sets of analysis were undertaken according to their age at peak height velocity (APHV). Full and stepwise regression models were used to identify which anthropometric parameters significantly contributed to performance variables.
Results
All anthropometric parameters increased with age. According to gender we observed a non-significant difference between all levels. The 20m speed test, change of direction speed and aerobic shuttle run test reported a statistically significant gender difference with best performance values for boys. Physical tests were the best predictors of performance based on the results of the multiple regressions.
Conclusion
Young handball players' anthropometric parameters and physical performance can be used to detect and identify talent, whereas maturation is a crucial factor in choosing the most appropriate variables.
Seroprevalence of Bovine Viral Diarrhea Virus infection and its Associated Risk Factors in Dairy Cattle in and Around Sebeta sub city, Ethiopia
Authors: Tura Teferi , Tamiru Yobsan , Dima Chala , Garoma Abebe , Kebede Abraham , Abdeta Debela 
Published: August 2024

Abstract

Background: Bovine viral diarrhea (BVD) is a highly infectious disease affecting cattle, leading to significant economic losses in many countries engaged in cattle production.
Methods: From February 2022 to October 2022, a study was conducted to determine the seroprevalence and associated risk factors of Bovine Viral Diarrhea Virus (BVDV) in the Sebeta subcity area of Sheger city, Ethiopia. The study utilized a semi-structured questionnaire to gather information on herd management practices from dairy farm owners. Serum samples from 170 individual cattle across 34 herds were collected and tested for BVDV antibodies using the indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The prevalence of BVD antibodies at both the animal and herd levels was analyzed, and potential risk factors were identified using Chi-square analysis and logistic regression.
Results: The study found that 19.41% of individual cattle (33 out of 170) and 44.12% of herds were positive for BVDV antibodies. Multiple logistic regression analysis identified several significant risk factors associated with BVDV infection. Multiparous dairy cows were found to be 2.3 times more likely to be seropositive compared to primiparous and nulliparous cows. Crossbreed dairy cattle had double the odds of being seropositive compared to pure breeds. Additionally, cattle from larger herds were 5.01 times more likely to be seropositive than those from smaller herds. Farms that introduced new animals had triple the odds of seropositivity compared to those that did not.
Conclusion: The study indicates a high exposure rate of cattle to BVDV infection in and around Sebeta sub-city. Further research is recommended to explore the molecular epidemiology of BVDV in the region.
Analyzing COVID-19 Trends in Canada, Mexico, and the Netherlands Using the Harris Extended Inverted Kumaraswamy Distribution
Authors: Bengalath Jabir , Punathumparambath Bindu 
Published: August 2024

Abstract

Statistical probability distributions are frequently used in real-world data analysis. However, data from fields such as environmental science, finance, and biomedical sciences may not always fit in classical distributions. This usually requires the development of new distributions that better reflect data behavior in a variety of situations. In this paper, we introduce a new four-parameter distribution termed the Harris extended inverted Kumaraswamy(HEIK) distribution, is proposed and analyzed in detail. This generalization accommodates well-known submodels including MOEIK, IK, Lomax, MOL, Beta Type II, and others, as observed in this study. The study includes the basic properties of the observed probabilistic model. Explicit expressions for major mathematical properties of this distribution such as quantile function, complete moments, incomplete moments, conditional moments, and inverted moments. The entropy measure and order statistics are derived. The maximum likelihood estimation method is used to estimate the parameters. Simulation studies are conducted for different parameter values and compare the performance of the HEIK distribution. Real-life COVID-19 data from three countries are provided to demonstrate the potentiality and reliability of the extended distribution model have wider applications in many fields.
A local-global Transformer-based model for Person Re-Identification
Authors: Liu Guangjie , Xu Ke , Zhu Jinlong , Ge Yu , Li Meng , Chen Xiaoyang 
Published: August 2024

Abstract

Person re-identification (ReID) aims to recognize a specific individual across various camera views. State-of-the-art methods have shown that both Transformer-based and CNN-based methods deliver competitive performance. However, Transformer-based methods tend to overlook local features, as they primarily process input sequences holistically, rather than focusing on individual elements or small groups within the sequence. To address this limitation, we introduce an innovative Transformer-based person ReID model that effectively integrates local and global features. The Local Attention Module is added to capture fine-grained features, which are then combined with global features to enhance the model's recognition accuracy. Given the importance of positional information in image data, relative position encoding is incorporated within the Local Attention Module. This encoding method better captures the relative positional relationships between different tokens in an image, thereby improving the model's comprehension of the structural information of the image. Experimental results indicate that our model shows enhanced performance on the Market-1501 and DukeMTMC-reID benchmark datasets for person ReID.
An Improved Density Peak Clustering with Flexible Manifold Distance and Natural Nearest Neighbors for Network Intrusion Detection
Authors: Wang Hongbo , Zhang Jinyu , Shen Yu 
Published: August 2024

Abstract

Recently, the field of density peak clustering (DPC) has garnered attention for its ability to intuitively determine the number of classes, identify arbitrarily shaped classes, and automatically detect and exclude anomalies. However, DPC faces challenges in considering only global distribution, resulting in difficulties with group density, and its point allocation strategy may lead to a domino phenomenon. In order to give DPC a broader scope to showcase its talents, this paper suggests a Density Peak Clustering algorithm based on Manifold Distance and Natural Nearest Neighbors (abbreviated as DPC-MDNN), which constructs a nearest neighbor relationship based on manifold distance and introduces representative points using local density to segment the distribution. It adopts an assignment strategy based on representatives and candidates, reducing the domino effect through micro cluster merging. Extensive comparisons with five competing methods on both artificial and real datasets demonstrate that DPC-MDNN can identify clustering centers more accurately and achieve better clustering results. Furthermore, application experiments on two sub-datasets have confirmed that DPC-MDNN can improve the accuracy of network intrusion detection and has high practicality.
Multichannel bioelectronic sensing using engineered Escherichia coli
Authors: Ajo-Franklin Caroline , ZHANG XU , Charrier Marimikel 
Published: August 2024

Abstract

To advance environmental health and hazard detection, researchers have developed whole-cell bioelectronic sensors by engineering extracellular electron transfer to be dependent on an analyte1. However, these sensors regulate a single electron transfer pathway as an electrochemical channel, limiting the sensing information to a single analyte. We have developed a multichannel bioelectronic sensor where different chemicals regulate distinct extracellular electron transfer pathways within a single Escherichia coli cell. One channel utilizes the flavin synthesis pathway from Bacillus subtilis2 and is controlled by a cadmium-responsive promoter. Another channel, the Mtr pathway from Shewanella oneidensis3, is controlled by an arsenite-responsive promoter and activates cytochrome CymA expression4, 5. We exploit the differing redox potentials of the two extracellular electron transfer pathways6 to develop a redox-potential-dependent algorithm that efficiently converts biological signals into 2-bit binary outputs. This enables our bioelectronic sensor to detect and differentiate heavy metals at EPA limits. When deployed in complex environmental water samples with lower electroactivities, our sensor effectively and accurately encodes 2-bit binary signals across various analyte conditions. Thus, our multichannel bioelectronic sensor advances the field through simultaneous detection of different chemicals by a single cell, significantly expanding information transmission and helping to safeguard human and environmental health.