bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
New genetic insights into immunotherapy outcomes in gastric cancer via single-cell RNA sequencing and random forest model
Authors: Yu Dajun , Yang Jie , Wang BinBin , Li Zhixiang , Wang Kai , Li Jing , Zhu Chao 
Published: May 2024

Abstract
Objective
The high mortality rate of gastric cancer, traditionally managed through surgery, underscores the urgent need for advanced therapeutic strategies. Despite advancements in treatment modalities, outcomes remain suboptimal, necessitating the identification of novel biomarkers to predict sensitivity to immunotherapy. This study focuses on utilizing single-cell sequencing for gene identification and developing a random forest model to predict immunotherapy sensitivity in gastric cancer patients.

Methods
Differentially expressed genes were identified using single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) and gene set enrichment analysis (GESA). A random forest model was constructed based on these genes, and its effectiveness was validated through prognostic analysis. Further, analyses of immune cell infiltration, immune checkpoints, and the random forest model provided deeper insights.

Results
High METTL1 expression was found to correlate with improved survival rates in gastric cancer patients (P = 0.042), and the random forest model, based on METTL1 and associated prognostic genes, achieved a significant predictive performance (AUC = 0.863). It showed associations with various immune cell types and negative correlations with CTLA4 and PDCD1 immune checkpoints. Experiments in vitro and in vivo demonstrated that METTL1 enhances gastric cancer cell activity by suppressing T cell proliferation and upregulating CTLA4 and PDCD1.

Conclusion
The random forest model, based on scRNA-seq, shows high predictive value for survival and immunotherapy sensitivity in gastric cancer patients. This study underscores the potential of METTL1 as a biomarker in enhancing the efficacy of gastric cancer immunotherapy.
New dynamic suture material for tendon transfer surgeries in the upper extremity – a biomechanical comparative analysis
Authors: Pastor Tatjana , Zderic Ivan , Dhillon Mehar , Gueorguiev Boyko , Richards R. Geoff , Pastor Torsten , Vögelin Esther 
Published: May 2024

Abstract
Background
Early mobilization after tendon surgery is crucial to avoid commonly observed postoperative soft tissue adhesions. Recently, a new suture was introduced (DYNACORD; DC) with a salt-infused silicone core designed to minimize laxity and preserve consistent tissue approximation in order to avoid gap formation and allow early mobilization.

Aims
To compare the biomechanical competence of DC against a conventional high strength suture (FiberWire; FW) in a human cadaveric tendon transfer model with an early rehabilitation protocol.

Methods
Sixteen tendon transfers (flexor digitorum superficialis (FDS) IV to flexor pollicis longus (FPL)) were performed in 8 pairs human cadaveric forearms using either DC or FW. Markings were set 0.8 cm proximally and 0.7 cm distally to the level of the interweaving zone of the transfer. All specimens underwent repetitive thumb flexion against resistance in 9 intermittent series of 300 cycles each, simulating an aggressive postoperative rehabilitation protocol. After each series, the distance of the proximal marker to the interweaving zone (proximal), the length of the interweaving zone (intermediate) and the distance of the distal marker to the interweaving zone (distal) were measured.

Results
Pooled data over all nine series, normalized to the immediate postoperative status, demonstrated no significant differences between FW and DC (p ≥ 0.355) for the proximal and distal markers. However, at the intermediate zone, DC was associated with significant length shortening (p < 0.001) compared to FW without significant length changes (p = 0.351). Load to catastrophic failure demonstrated significant higher forces in FW (p = 0.011). Nevertheless, due to failure mainly proximal or distal of the transfer zone, these loads are not informative.

Conclusion
From a biomechanical perspective, DC preserved tissue approximation and might be considered as a valid alternative to conventional high-strength sutures in tendon transfer surgery. DC might allow for a shorter interweaving zone and a more aggressive early postoperative rehabilitation program, possibly avoiding commonly observed postoperative soft tissue adhesions and stiffness.
A perspective on tumor radiation resistance following high-LET radiation treatment
Authors: Rajpurohit Yogendra Singh , Sharma Dhirendra Kumar , Lal Mitu , Soni Ishu 
Published: May 2024

AbstractHigh-linear energy transfer (LET) radiation is a promising alternative to conventional low-LET radiation for therapeutic gain against cancer owing to its ability to induce complex and clustered DNA lesions. However, the development of radiation resistance poses a significant barrier. The potential molecular mechanisms that could confer resistance development are translesion synthesis (TLS), replication gap suppression (RGS) mechanisms, autophagy, epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) activation, release of exosomes, and epigenetic changes. This article will discuss various types of complex clustered DNA damage, their repair mechanisms, mutagenic potential, and the development of radiation resistance strategies. Furthermore, it highlights the importance of careful consideration and patient selection when employing high-LET radiotherapy in clinical settings.
The concept of an intelligent mobile application with elements of augmented reality and PLM software for value stream mapping
Authors: Hrehova S. , Husár J. , Lazorík P. , Trojanowski P. 
Published: May 2024

AbstractGrowing demands for variability, reducing losses and increasing production efficiency bring difficult tasks for business management. In order to cope with increasingly demanding tasks, a good knowledge of effective management methods is required, as well as orientation in a wide range of application programs. One of the approaches dealing with reducing losses and streamlining selected processes is the introduction of the Lean philosophy. This philosophy is firmly embedded in the concept of Industry 4.0 and its principles are proving to be highly effective. In the presented contribution, we will focus on the possibilities of reducing losses by implementing selected Lean principles in conjunction with selected program resources and elements of mixed reality. The goal is to create an intelligent mobile application that, based on a simulation model, would enable an in-depth analysis of selected processes from the aspect of material value stream mapping analysis. The model created in this way could serve as a relevant basis for top management in the search for solutions to optimize processes. In the article, we evaluate selected Lean methods, create a workplace simulation model using the PLM simulation tool Tecnomatix Plant Simulation, and the obtained data are presented in an intelligent mobile application based on augmented reality. After the online update, the created application conveys all required relevant information to managers and simplifies their decision-making process.
Untangling the Paradoxical Relationship Between Religion and Business: A Systematic Literature Review of Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Religiosity Research
Authors: Heubeck Tim 
Published: May 2024

AbstractDespite numerous chief executive officers (CEOs) citing their religious convictions as the primary guiding framework for their decision-making, leadership behavior, business philosophy, and motivation to contribute to society, the impact of CEOs’ religious convictions is relatively limited in the business literature. However, the widespread yet potentially ambiguous impact of CEO religiosity, encompassing both a CEO’s religious denomination and level of religiosity, on individual, organizational, economical, and societal levels remains a neglected area of research. This gap is attributed to challenges in conceptualizing and measuring this multifaceted construct, with existing research scattered and predominantly confined to the ethics domain. Notably, this oversight is significant given the pivotal role that CEOs, as primary decision-makers, play in organizational dynamics. This article aims to address this gap by conducting a systematic literature review of 50 articles focused on CEO religiosity, seeking to enhance the understanding of personal religion in the business world. Through an analysis of publication trends, methodological approaches, theoretical frameworks, and empirical findings, the review not only offers insights for future research and theorizing but also proposes a conceptual framework for understanding and advancing CEO religiosity research. Additionally, this review identifies specific areas warranting further investigation, thereby highlighting existing research gaps and providing explicit starting points for future research. Through these contributions, this article provides a blueprint for future research on CEO religiosity and holds significant implications for management practice.
Function and regulation of Rab GTPases in cancers
Authors: Xu Shouying , Cao Bin , Xuan Ge , Xu Shu , An Zihao , Zhu Chongying , Li Lin , Tang Chao 
Published: May 2024

AbstractThe Rab small GTPases are characterized by the distinct intracellular localization and modulate various endocytic, transcytic and exocytic transport pathways. Rab proteins function as scaffolds that connect signaling pathways and intracellular membrane trafficking processes through the recruitment of effectors, such as tethering factors, phosphatases, motors and kinases. In different cancers, Rabs play as either an onco-protein or a tumor suppressor role, highly dependending on the context. The molecular mechanistic research has revealed that Rab proteins are involved in cancer progression through influences on migration, invasion, metabolism, exosome secretion, autophagy, and drug resistance of cancer cells. Therefore, targeting Rab GTPases to recover the dysregulated vesicle transport systems may provide potential strategy to restrain cancer progression. In this review, we discuss the regulation of Rab protein level and activity in modulating pathways involved in tumor progression, and propose that Rab proteins may serve as a prognostic factor in different cancers.
Graphical Abstract
• Rab GTPases together with the cognate effectors coordinates the dynamics of trafficking pathway and ensures the spatiotemporal regulation of vesicle trafficking.
• Functional impairments of the regulatory network of vesicle trafficking are associated with tumorigenesis.
• Rab proteins play oncogenic or tumor suppressor roles in different cancers depending on context.
Gellan gum-gelatin based cardiac models support formation of cellular networks and functional cardiomyocytes
Authors: Vuorenpää Hanna , Valtonen Joona , Penttinen Kirsi , Koskimäki Sanna , Hovinen Emma , Ahola Antti , Gering Christine , Parraga Jenny , Kelloniemi Minna , Hyttinen Jari , Kellomäki Minna , Aalto-Setälä Katriina , Miettinen Susanna , Pekkanen-Mattila Mari 
Published: May 2024

AbstractCardiovascular diseases remain as the most common cause of death worldwide. To reveal the underlying mechanisms in varying cardiovascular diseases, in vitro models with cells and supportive biomaterial can be designed to recapitulate the essential components of human heart. In this study, we analyzed whether 3D co-culture of cardiomyocytes (CM) with vascular network and with adipose tissue-derived mesenchymal stem/stromal cells (ASC) can support CM functionality. CM were cultured with either endothelial cells (EC) and ASC or with only ASC in hydrazide-modified gelatin and oxidized gellan gum hybrid hydrogel to form cardiovascular multiculture and myocardial co-culture, respectively. We studied functional characteristics of CM in two different cellular set-ups and analyzed vascular network formation, cellular morphology and orientation. The results showed that gellan gum-gelatin hydrogel supports formation of two different cellular networks and functional CM. We detected formation of a modest vascular network in cardiovascular multiculture and extensive ASC-derived alpha smooth muscle actin -positive cellular network in multi- and co-culture. iPSC-CM showed elongated morphology, partly aligned orientation with the formed networks and presented normal calcium transients, beating rates, and contraction and relaxation behavior in both setups. These 3D cardiac models provide promising platforms to study (patho) physiological mechanisms of cardiovascular diseases.
Using the online education planned based on anderson’s theory to facilitate the practice learning experiences of nursing students: A phenomenological study
Authors: Bayram Aysun , Bayram Sule Biyik , Özsaban Aysel 
Published: May 2024

AbstractThis study aimed to explore nursing students' practice skills learning experiences in online education based on Anderson's Theory and to investigate and interpret these experiences among students. Besides, this study proposes to evaluate the planned online nursing education based on Anderson's theory. With a phenomenological qualitative design, the study sample included 17 nursing students using purposive sampling. In-depth semi-structured interviews were performed to collect data. The data were analysed using the interpretative phenomenological analysis method. Three major themes were identified as follows: (a)Practice skills learning experiences; (b)Coping process in practice skills learning; (c)Suggestions to improve online practice skills learning process. Students expressed both positive and negative experiences. To cope with the process, they used different learning materials as well as individual ways of coping. They also offered suggestions on the learning process, teaching content and interaction and evaluation for practice skill learning in online education. The findings demonstrated that students perceived inadequacy in these skills but also expressed that they improved their psychomotor, cognitive and affective skills. In addition, Anderson's theory created positive results in the online nursing skill training process.
Can perceived social support influence academic achievement of master’s students? —— Evidence from a University in China
Authors: Zhang Baiju , Yin Xiaotong , Ren Zengyuan 
Published: May 2024

AbstractThe objective of this paper was to explore the impact of social support on the academic achievement of master’s students and the mediating effect of academic emotions in the impact mechanism. This paper collected data from 567 master’s students at J University and analyzed it using SPSS 26.0 and Amos 23.0. The results showed that social support significantly predicted academic achievement. Specifically, all three dimensions of social support (family support, supervisor support and institutional resource support) significantly predicted academic achievement. Positive academic emotions mediated the relationship between social support and academic achievement, with the indirect effect, while negative academic emotions had no significant effect on academic achievement. Therefore, to promote academic achievement of master's students, universities should create a supportive university environment and optimize the mode of postgraduate training and management, and constantly improve the support of supervisors. Additionally, master’s students should cultivate the self-regulation abilities to better stimulate positive academic emotions among them.
Creating equal groups from n items: mathematical creativity in kindergarten
Authors: Levenson Esther S. , Barkai Ruthi , Mahamid Anas , Levy Sigal 
Published: May 2024

AbstractThis study examines the solutions of 34 kindergarten children as they create equal groups from n bottle caps, where n was equal to 8, 9, 22, and 23. For each n, children were asked to find as many different solutions as possible. The number of solutions they found, i.e., children’s fluency, as well as the strategies used to create equal groups, was analyzed. Findings indicated that for large numbers, fluency was greater for an even number of objects than for an odd number of objects. In general, most children reached only one solution. For all four tasks, most children created only two equal groups of caps, even though they could have created three groups or more. A significant association was found between tasks and a preferred strategy. While children employed between one and two strategies when working on a single task, when considering all four tasks, they generally employed between two and three strategies.
Manganese exposure from spring and well waters in the Shenandoah Valley: interplay of aquifer lithology, soil composition, and redox conditions
Authors: Hinkle Margaret A. G. , Ziegler Brady , Culbertson Haley , Goldmann Christopher , Croy Marina E. , Willis Noah , Ling Erin , Reinhart Benjamin , Lyon Eva C. 
Published: May 2024

AbstractManganese (Mn) is of particular concern in groundwater, as low-level chronic exposure to aqueous Mn concentrations in drinking water can result in a variety of health and neurodevelopmental effects. Much of the global population relies on drinking water sourced from karst aquifers. Thus, we seek to assess the relative risk of Mn contamination in karst by investigating the Shenandoah Valley, VA region, as it is underlain by both karst and non-karst aquifers and much of the population relies on water wells and spring water. Water and soil samples were collected throughout the Shenandoah Valley, to supplement pre-existing well water and spring data from the National Water Information System and the Virginia Household Water Quality Program, totaling 1815 wells and 119 springs. Soils were analyzed using X-ray fluorescence and Mn K-Edge X-ray absorption near-edge structure spectroscopy. Factors such as soil type, soil geochemistry, and aquifer lithology were linked with each location to determine if correlations exist with aqueous Mn concentrations. Analyzing the distribution of Mn in drinking water sources suggests that water wells and springs within karst aquifers are preferable with respect to chronic Mn exposure, with < 4.9% of wells and springs in dolostone and limestone aquifers exceeding 100 ppb Mn, while sandstone and shale aquifers have a heightened risk, with > 20% of wells exceeding 100 ppb Mn. The geochemistry of associated soils and spatial relationships to various hydrologic and geologic features indicates that water interactions with aquifer lithology and soils contribute to aqueous Mn concentrations. Relationships between aqueous Mn in spring waters and Mn in soils indicate that increasing aqueous Mn is correlated with decreasing soil Mn(IV). These results point to redox conditions exerting a dominant control on Mn in this region.
Composting and fermentation: mitigating hop latent viroid infection risk in hop residues
Authors: Hagemann Michael Helmut , Treiber Charlotte , Sprich Elke , Born Ute , Lutz Kathrin , Stampfl Johannes , Radišek Sebastjan 
Published: May 2024

AbstractHop cultivation, integral to the brewing industry, faces challenges from viroids, especially the citrus bark cracking viroid (CBCVd) but also the hop latent viroid (HLVd) influences hop cone quality. We focused on the degradation kinetics of HLVd thereby covering compost, silage, and digestate made from hop residues. In this study, HLVd serves as a model for understanding CBCVd, which causes significant stunting and yield losses in European hop crops. Composting experiments revealed that although composting significantly lowers HLVd levels, complete degradation within 7 weeks is not guaranteed, with loose compost showing a more rapid reduction than compacted variants. Infectivity experiments conducted using inocula obtained from HLVd-infected hop plant residues exposed to composting, ensiling, and biogas digestate did not result in the transmission of HLVd to viroid-free plants. Also extracting and analyzing the soil-root mixture of plants inoculated with HLVd-infected hop residues did not show evidence for viroid persistence. Degradation experiments further differentiated between the physiochemical and biological influences on viroid and viroid-like random RNA stability, showing that higher temperatures of 50 °C enhance degradation over 40 °C, and pH levels of 5 or 7 are slowing degradation. In contrast deionized water or a pH of 4 or 9 enhances viroid degradation. Adding extracts from digestate accelerated the process indicating a role of biological activity. Interestingly, a viroid-like random RNA with similar physiochemical properties, showed to degrade faster compared to HLVd, suggesting high robustness of the actual viroid secondary structure. These findings offer valuable insights into managing HLVd in hops and potentially other crops, highlighting effective strategies to mitigate viroid spread, and contributing to broader understanding of RNA degradation in agriculture.
An empirical study into the effects of transpilation on quantum circuit smells
Authors: Stefano Manuel De , Nucci Dario Di , Palomba Fabio , Lucia Andrea De 
Published: May 2024

AbstractQuantum computing is a promising field that can solve complex problems beyond traditional computers’ capabilities. Developing high-quality quantum software applications, called quantum software engineering, has recently gained attention. However, quantum software development faces challenges related to code quality. A recent study found that many open-source quantum programs are affected by quantum-specific code smells, with long circuit being the most common. While the study provided relevant insights into the prevalence of code smells in quantum circuits, it did not explore the potential effect of transpilation, a necessary step for executing quantum computer programs, on the emergence of code smells. Indeed, transpilation might alter those characteristics employed to detect the presence of a smell on a circuit. To address this limitation, we present a new study investigating the impact of transpilation on quantum-specific code smells and how different target gate sets affect the results. We conducted experiments on 17 open-source quantum programs alongside a set of 100 synthetic circuits. We found that transpilation can significantly alter the metrics that are used to detect code smells, even into previously smell-free circuits, with the long circuit smell being the most susceptible to transpilation. Furthermore, the choice of the gate set significantly influences the presence and severity of code smells in transpiled circuits, highlighting the need for careful gate set selection to mitigate their impact. These findings have implications for circuit optimization and high-quality quantum software development. Further research is needed to understand the consequences of code smells and their potential impact on quantum computations, considering the characteristics and constraints of different gate sets and hardware platforms.