bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Circulating tumor cells are a good predictor of tumor recurrence in clinical patients with gastric cancer
Authors: Li Wenxing , Zhang Xin , Yang Yanqi , Lin Jinhe , Zhou Kai , Sun Ruifang , Dang Chengxue , Diao Dongmei 
Published: June 2024

AbstractCirculating tumor cells (CTCs) as a liquid biopsy have great potential in clinical applications and basic cancer research, but their clinical use in gastric cancer remains unclear. This study investigated whether CTCs could be used as a potential prognosis predictor in patients with gastric cancer. A total of 120 patients with pathologically confirmed gastric cancer were enrolled from January 1, 2015, to December 1, 2019. All patients were initially diagnosed without previous treatment, and then the number of CTCs was detected using the NEimFISH method before radical surgical resection. Regular follow-up was performed in all patients, and the correlations between the number of CTCs and clinical endpoints, such as disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS), were evaluated. The univariate and multivariate hazard ratios were calculated using the Cox proportional hazard model. Based on the number of CTCs, we defined CTCs ≥ 2 per 7.5 mL of whole blood as the positive group and CTCs < 2 as the negative group. Among the 120 patients who underwent CTC detection before surgery, the rate of CTC-positive patients was 64.17% (77/120) of which stage I and II patients accounted for 22.50% and stage III patients accounted for 41.67% (P = 0.014). By detecting CTCs before surgery and at the time of recurrence, the number of CTCs tends to increase concomitantly with disease progression (median: 2 VS 5 per 7.5 mL). Multivariate analysis showed that age (HR, 0.259; 95% CI, 0.101–0.662; P = 0.005), D-dimer (HR, 3.146; 95% CI, 1.169–8.461; P = 0.023), and lymph node metastasis (HR, 0.207; 95% CI, 0.0071–0.603; P = 0.004) were factors correlated with CTCs. In addition, the median follow-up of all the patients was 38.0 months (range of 28–80 months); the DFS in CTC-positive patients was significantly shorter than that of the CTC-negative patients, and a significant difference was found based on the Cox proportional hazard regression model analysis (44.52 ± 2.83 m vs. 74.99 ± 2.78 m, HR = 4.550, P = 0.018). The OS was shorter in the CTC-positive group than in the CTC-negative group before the operation, but the result was not significant based on the Cox proportional hazard regression model analysis (47.58 ± 2.46 m vs. 70.68 ± 3.53 m, HR = 2.261, P = 0.083). The number of CTCs tends to increase concomitantly with disease progression. In addition, the detection of CTCs was an independent predictor of shorter DFS in gastric cancer. However, the relationship between CTCs and OS needs to be determined in future studies.
Representations of imaginary scenes and their properties in cortical alpha activity
Authors: Stecher Rico , Kaiser Daniel 
Published: June 2024

AbstractImagining natural scenes enables us to engage with a myriad of simulated environments. How do our brains generate such complex mental images? Recent research suggests that cortical alpha activity carries information about individual objects during visual imagery. However, it remains unclear if more complex imagined contents such as natural scenes are similarly represented in alpha activity. Here, we answer this question by decoding the contents of imagined scenes from rhythmic cortical activity patterns. In an EEG experiment, participants imagined natural scenes based on detailed written descriptions, which conveyed four complementary scene properties: openness, naturalness, clutter level and brightness. By conducting classification analyses on EEG power patterns across neural frequencies, we were able to decode both individual imagined scenes as well as their properties from the alpha band, showing that also the contents of complex visual images are represented in alpha rhythms. A cross-classification analysis between alpha power patterns during the imagery task and during a perception task, in which participants were presented images of the described scenes, showed that scene representations in the alpha band are partly shared between imagery and late stages of perception. This suggests that alpha activity mediates the top-down re-activation of scene-related visual contents during imagery.
Environmental and structural factors associated with bacterial diversity in household dust across the Arizona-Sonora border
Authors: Benton Lauren D. , Lopez-Galvez Nicolas , Herman Chloe , Caporaso J. Gregory , Cope Emily K. , Rosales Cecilia , Gameros Mercedes , Lothrop Nathan , Martínez Fernando D. , Wright Anne L. , Carr Tara F. , Beamer Paloma I. 
Published: June 2024

AbstractWe previously reported that asthma prevalence was higher in the United States (US) compared to Mexico (MX) (25.8% vs. 8.4%). This investigation assessed differences in microbial dust composition in relation to demographic and housing characteristics on both sides of the US–MX Border. Forty homes were recruited in the US and MX. Home visits collected floor dust and documented occupants’ demographics, asthma prevalence, housing structure, and use characteristics. US households were more likely to have inhabitants who reported asthma when compared with MX households (30% vs. 5%) and had significantly different flooring types. The percentage of households on paved roads, with flushing toilets, with piped water and with air conditioning was higher in the US, while dust load was higher in MX. Significant differences exist between countries in the microbial composition of the floor dust. Dust from Mexican homes was enriched with Alishewanella, Paracoccus, Rheinheimera genera and Intrasporangiaceae family. A predictive metagenomics analysis identified 68 significantly differentially abundant functional pathways between US and MX. This study documented multiple structural, environmental, and demographic differences between homes in the US and MX that may contribute to significantly different microbial composition of dust observed in these two countries.
Risk of diabetes mellitus based on the interactive association between G6PD rs72554664 polymorphism and sex in Taiwan Biobank individuals
Authors: Chang Yen-Lin , Nfor Oswald Ndi , Chou Ying-Hsiang , Hsiao Chih-Hsuan , Zhong Ji-Han , Huang Chien-Ning , Liaw Yung-Po 
Published: June 2024

AbstractThe presence of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency may increase the risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), with differing prevalence between males and females. Although G6PD deficiency is an X-linked genetic condition, its interaction with sex regarding T2DM risk among the Taiwanese population has not been fully explored. This study aimed to investigate the association between G6PD deficiency and T2DM risk in the Taiwanese population, focusing on the potential influence of sex. Data were obtained from the Taiwan Biobank (TWB) database, involving 85,334 participants aged 30 to 70 years. We used multiple logistic regression analysis to assess the interaction between G6PD rs72554664 and sex in relation to T2DM risk. The T2DM cohort comprised 55.35% females and 44.65% males (p < 0.001). The TC + TT genotype of rs72554664 was associated with an increased risk of T2DM, with an odds ratio (OR) of 1.95 (95% CI: 1.39–2.75), and males showed an OR of 1.31 (95% CI: 1.19–1.44). Notably, the G6PD rs72554664-T allelic variant in hemizygous males significantly elevated the T2DM risk (OR), 4.57; p < 0.001) compared to females with the CC genotype. Our findings suggest that the G6PD rs72554664 variant, in conjunction with sex, significantly affects T2DM risk, particularly increasing susceptibility in males. The association of the G6PD rs72554664-T allelic variant with a higher risk of T2DM highlights the importance of sex-specific mechanisms in the interplay between G6PD deficiency and T2DM.
Improved image contrast in nonlinear light-sheet fluorescence microscopy using i$$^2$$PIE Pulse compression
Authors: Badrodien Imraan , Neethling Pieter H. , Bosman Gurthwin W. 
Published: June 2024

AbstractNonlinear microscopy has become an invaluable tool for biological imaging, offering high-resolution visualization of biological specimens. In this manuscript, we present the application of a spectral phase measurement technique, i$$^2$$

2

PIE, to compress broad-bandwidth supercontinuum pulses for two-photon excitation fluorescence light-sheet fluorescence microscopy. The results demonstrated a significant improvement in the two-photon excitation response achieved. We also showed that the implementation of i$$^2$$

2

PIE allowed for enhanced image contrasts when compared to conventional compression techniques, with i$$^2$$

2

PIE producing an image contrast improvement over conventional methods by over 50%.
Comparative analysis of sandy beach and foredune geomorphic change measurements from Apple lidar and small-unoccupied aerial systems
Authors: Burchi Brendan M. J. , Theuerkauf Ethan J. 
Published: June 2024

AbstractSandy beach and foredune environments are common throughout coastlines globally. Coastal landscapes are dynamic and vulnerable to water level fluctuations, storm events, and human disturbances. Standard methods for measuring geomorphic changes include small-unoccupied aircraft systems paired with structure-from-motion photogrammetry (sUAS-SfM), but this can be costly and logistically challenging. We evaluated the accuracy of Apple lidar in comparison to high precision sUAS-SfM and RTK-GPS to map sandy beach and foredune geomorphic change. Checkpoint elevations were measured via RTK-GPS and both the sUAS-SfM and Apple lidar surveyed elevations were compared against these checkpoints to evaluate the performance of both methods for measuring elevations. The sUAS-SfM elevation data were on average around 0.004 m above/below the checkpoint elevations while the Apple Lidar elevations were around 0.039 m. Apple lidar and sUAS-SfM-derived volumetric measurements and spatial patterns of erosion and accretion were compared to evaluate the Apple lidar’s ability to detect geomorphic change over time. The geomorphic changes documented from these two methods were similar though the Apple lidar appeared to capture finer-scale erosion and accretion patterns. Our findings indicate that the Apple lidar can capture sandy beach and foredune geomorphic changes rapidly and accurately, which can promote proactive and resilient coastal management.
Exploring the impact of nonverbal social behavior on learning outcomes in instructional video design
Authors: Frenkel Jonas , Cajar Anke , Engbert Ralf , Lazarides Rebecca 
Published: June 2024

AbstractOnline education has become increasingly popular in recent years, and video lectures have emerged as a common instructional format. While the importance of instructors’ nonverbal social cues such as gaze, facial expression, and gestures for learning progress in face-to-face teaching is well-established, their impact on instructional videos is not fully understood. Most studies on nonverbal social cues in instructional videos focus on isolated cues rather than considering multimodal nonverbal behavior patterns and their effects on the learning progress. This study examines the role of instructors’ nonverbal immediacy (a construct capturing multimodal nonverbal behaviors that reduce psychological distance) in video lectures with respect to learners’ cognitive, affective, and motivational outcomes. We carried out an eye-tracking experiment with 87 participants (Mage = 24.11, SD = 4.80). Results of multilevel path analyses indicate that high nonverbal immediacy substantially increases learners’ state motivation and enjoyment, but does not affect cognitive learning. Analyses of learners’ eye movements show that learners allocate more attention to the instructor than to the learning material with increasing levels of nonverbal immediacy displayed by the instructor. The study highlights the importance of considering the role of multimodal nonverbal behavior patterns in online education and provides insights for effective video lecture design.
Influence of heterochirality on the structure, dynamics, biological properties of cyclic(PFPF) tetrapeptides obtained by solvent-free ball mill mechanosynthesis
Authors: Bak-Sypien Irena , Pawlak Tomasz , Paluch Piotr , Wroblewska Aneta , Dolot Rafał , Pawlowicz Aleksandra , Szczesio Małgorzata , Wielgus Ewelina , Kaźmierski Sławomir , Górecki Marcin , Pawlowska Roza , Chworos Arkadiusz , Potrzebowski Marek J. 
Published: June 2024

AbstractCyclic tetrapeptides c(Pro-Phe-Pro-Phe) obtained by the mechanosynthetic method using a ball mill were isolated in a pure stereochemical form as a homochiral system (all L-amino acids, sample A) and as a heterochiral system with D configuration at one of the stereogenic centers of Phe (sample B). The structure and stereochemistry of both samples were determined by X-ray diffraction studies of single crystals. In DMSO and acetonitrile, sample A exists as an equimolar mixture of two conformers, while only one is monitored for sample B. The conformational space and energetic preferences for possible conformers were calculated using DFT methods. The distinctly different conformational flexibility of the two samples was experimentally proven by Variable Temperature (VT) and 2D EXSY NMR measurements. Both samples were docked to histone deacetylase HDAC8. Cytotoxic studies proved that none of the tested cyclic peptide is toxic.
EMCMDA: predicting miRNA-disease associations via efficient matrix completion
Authors: Qin Chao , Zhang Jiancheng , Ma Lingyu 
Published: June 2024

AbstractAbundant researches have consistently illustrated the crucial role of microRNAs (miRNAs) in a wide array of essential biological processes. Furthermore, miRNAs have been validated as promising therapeutic targets for addressing complex diseases. Given the costly and time-consuming nature of traditional biological experimental validation methods, it is imperative to develop computational methods. In the work, we developed a novel approach named efficient matrix completion (EMCMDA) for predicting miRNA-disease associations. First, we calculated the similarities across multiple sources for miRNA/disease pairs and combined this information to create a holistic miRNA/disease similarity measure. Second, we utilized this biological information to create a heterogeneous network and established a target matrix derived from this network. Lastly, we framed the miRNA-disease association prediction issue as a low-rank matrix-complete issue that was addressed via minimizing matrix truncated schatten p-norm. Notably, we improved the conventional singular value contraction algorithm through using a weighted singular value contraction technique. This technique dynamically adjusts the degree of contraction based on the significance of each singular value, ensuring that the physical meaning of these singular values is fully considered. We evaluated the performance of EMCMDA by applying two distinct cross-validation experiments on two diverse databases, and the outcomes were statistically significant. In addition, we executed comprehensive case studies on two prevalent human diseases, namely lung cancer and breast cancer. Following prediction and multiple validations, it was evident that EMCMDA proficiently forecasts previously undisclosed disease-related miRNAs. These results underscore the robustness and efficacy of EMCMDA in miRNA-disease association prediction.
Evolutionary and phylogenetic insights from the mitochondrial genomic analysis of Diceraeus melacanthus and D. furcatus (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae)
Authors: Dallagnol Lilian Cris , Cônsoli Fernando Luís 
Published: June 2024

AbstractThe mitochondrial genomes of D. melacanthus and D. furcatus were sequenced and used to investigate the phylogenetic relationships with 54 species of Pentatomidae. Their mitogenomes are 17,197 and 15,444 bp-long, respectively, including 13 protein-coding genes (PCGs), 2 ribosomal RNA genes, and 22/21 transfer RNA genes, with conserved gene arrangement. Leu, Lys, and Ser were the most common amino acids in their PCGs. PCGs evolutionary analysis indicated their mitogenomes are under purifying selection, and the most conserved genes are from the cytochrome complex, reinforcing their suitability as markers for molecular taxonomy. We identified 490 mtSSRs in 56 Pentatomidae species, with large variation and a positive correlation between mtSSR number and genome size. Three mtSSRs were identified in each Diceraeus species. Only the mtSSR in the nad6 (D. melacanthus) and nad4 (D. furcatus) appear to have application as molecular markers for species characterization. Phylogenetic analysis confirmed the monophyly of Pentatomidae. However, our analysis challenged the monophyly of Pentatominae and Podopinae. We also detected unexpected relationships among some tribes and genera, highlighting the complexity of the internal taxonomic structure of Pentatomidae. Both Diceraeus species were grouped in the same clade with the remaining Carpocorini analyzed.
Transcriptional profiling links unique human macrophage phenotypes to the growth of intracellular Salmonella enterica serovar Typhi
Authors: Schade Ruth , Butler Daniel S. C. , McKenna Joy A. , Di Luccia Blanda , Shokoohi Vida , Hamblin Meagan , Pham Trung H. M. , Monack Denise M. 
Published: June 2024

AbstractMacrophages provide a crucial environment for Salmonella enterica serovar Typhi (S. Typhi) to multiply during typhoid fever, yet our understanding of how human macrophages and S. Typhi interact remains limited. In this study, we delve into the dynamics of S. Typhi replication within human macrophages and the resulting heterogeneous transcriptomic responses of macrophages during infection. Our study reveals key factors that influence macrophage diversity, uncovering distinct immune and metabolic pathways associated with different stages of S. Typhi intracellular replication in macrophages. Of note, we found that macrophages harboring replicating S. Typhi are skewed towards an M1 pro-inflammatory state, whereas macrophages containing non-replicating S. Typhi exhibit neither a distinct M1 pro-inflammatory nor M2 anti-inflammatory state. Additionally, macrophages with replicating S. Typhi were characterized by the increased expression of genes associated with STAT3 phosphorylation and the activation of the STAT3 transcription factor. Our results shed light on transcriptomic pathways involved in the susceptibility of human macrophages to intracellular S. Typhi replication, thereby providing crucial insight into host phenotypes that restrict and support S. Typhi infection.
Adaptive soft sensor using stacking approximate kernel based BLS for batch processes
Authors: Zhao Jinlong , Yang Mingyi , Xu Zhigang , Wang Junyi , Yang Xiao , Wu Xinguang 
Published: June 2024

AbstractTo deal with the highly nonlinear and time-varying characteristics of Batch Process, a model named adaptive stacking approximate kernel based broad learning system is proposed in this paper. This model innovatively introduces the approximate kernel based broad learning system (AKBLS) algorithm and the Adaptive Stacking framework, giving it strong nonlinear fitting ability, excellent generalization ability, and adaptive ability. The Broad Learning System (BLS) is known for its shorter training time for effective nonlinear processing, but the uncertainty brought by its double random mapping results in poor resistance to noisy data and unpredictable impact on performance. To address this issue, this paper proposes an AKBLS algorithm that reduces uncertainty, eliminates redundant features, and improves prediction accuracy by projecting feature nodes into the kernel space. It also significantly reduces the computation time of the kernel matrix by searching for approximate kernels to enhance its ability in industrial online applications. Extensive comparative experiments on various public datasets of different sizes validate this. The Adaptive Stacking framework utilizes the Stacking ensemble learning method, which integrates predictions from multiple AKBLS models using a meta-learner to improve generalization. Additionally, by employing the moving window method—where a fixed-length window slides through the database over time—the model gains adaptive ability, allowing it to better respond to gradual changes in industrial Batch Process. Experiments on a substantial dataset of penicillin simulations demonstrate that the proposed model significantly improves predictive accuracy compared to other common algorithms.
Theoretical study of adsorption properties and CO oxidation reaction on surfaces of higher tungsten boride
Authors: Radina Aleksandra D. , Baidyshev Viktor S. , Chepkasov Ilya V. , Matsokin Nikita A. , Altalhi Tariq , Yakobson Boris I. , Kvashnin Alexander G. 
Published: June 2024

AbstractMost modern catalysts are based on precious metals and rear-earth elements, making some of organic synthesis reactions economically insolvent. Density functional theory calculations are used here to describe several differently oriented surfaces of the higher tungsten boride WB5-x, together with their catalytic activity for the CO oxidation reaction. Based on our findings, WB5-x appears to be an efficient alternative catalyst for CO oxidation. Calculated surface energies allow the use of the Wulff construction to determine the equilibrium shape of WB5-x particles. It is found that the (010) and (101) facets terminated by boron and tungsten, respectively, are the most exposed surfaces for which the adsorption of different gaseous agents (CO, CO2, H2, N2, O2, NO, NO2, H2O, NH3, SO2) is evaluated to reveal promising prospects for applications. CO oxidation on B-rich (010) and W-rich (101) surfaces is further investigated by analyzing the charge redistribution during the adsorption of CO and O2 molecules. It is found that CO oxidation has relatively low energy barriers. The implications of the present results, the effects of WB5-x on CO oxidation and potential application in the automotive, chemical, and mining industries are discussed.
Impact of different fibrin glue application methods on inguinal hernia mesh fixation capability
Authors: Takegawa Yoshitaka , Tsutsumi Norifumi , Yamanaka Kazunori , Koga Yuki 
Published: June 2024

AbstractThe use of fibrin glue for inguinal hernia mesh fixation has been suggested to be effective in preventing hematomas and reducing postoperative pain compared to tacks and sutures.. The effect of fibrin glue can vary significantly based on the device used. This study assessed the efficacy of fibrin glue based on the type of devices used in an ex vivo system. The rabbit’s abdominal wall was trimmed to a size of 3.0 × 6.0 cm and was secured at the edges with metal fixtures. To measure the maximum tensile strength at the point of adhesion failure, the hernia mesh was fixed to the rabbit’s abdominal wall using fibrin glue in a 2 cm square area, left for 3 min, and then pulled at a speed of 50 cm/min. The test was conducted 10 times for each group. The median (minimum–maximum) tensile strength values using the spraying, two-liquid mixing, and sequential layering methods were 3.58 (1.99–4.95), 0.51 (0.27–1.89), and 1.32 (0.63–1.66) N, respectively. The spraying method had predominantly higher tensile strength values than the two-liquid mixing and sequential layering methods (P < 0.01). In conclusion, in hernia mesh fixation, the spraying method can be adopted to achieve appropriate adhesive effects.