bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Impact of low-voltage Atmospheric Cold Plasma (ACP) on food-grade papain
Authors: Potkule Jayashree B. , Kahar Suraj P. , Kumar Manoj , Annapure Uday S. 
Published: April 2024

Abstract

The influence of pin-to-plate atmospheric cold plasma (ACP) on the enzyme activity and conformation of papain was investigated from 170 V- 230 V for 5–20 min. The maximum activity was obtained at pH 8, 85°C after 60 min by using 3% substrate concentration for both untreated and treated papain. A decrease in residual activity, Vmax, and Km of treated papain in comparison with untread papain was mainly due to the effect of reactive plasma species generated during the exposure of low-voltage ACP. The decrease in the intensity of the amide I, II, and III group of treated papain was observed in Raman spectra, FTIR spectra with increasing voltages. The decrease in α-helix, turns, random coils and an increase in β-sheet alters the secondary structural elements. The change in intrinsic fluorescence and a slight decrease in the surface hydrophobicity of treated papain were mainly due to the oxidation of amino acids leading to breakage of hydrogen bonds, hydrophobic bonds, ionic interaction, electrostatic interactions, and Van der Waal forces by exposure to plasma. In addition, a decrease in the free sulfhydryl group and S-S vibrations of the disulfide bond leads to partial denaturation and misfolding. A low-voltage ACP negatively influences the conformation of papain resulting in loss of activity.
WPS-Dataset: A benchmark for wood plate segmentation in bark removal processing
Authors: Wang Rijun , Zhang Guanghao , Liang Fulong , WANG Bo , Mou Xiangwei , Chen Yesheng , Sun Peng , Wang Canjin 
Published: April 2024

Abstract

Using deep learning methods is a promising approach to improving bark removal efficiency and enhancing the quality of wood products. However, the lack of publicly available datasets for wood plate segmentation in bark removal processing poses challenges for researchers in this field. To address this issue, a benchmark for wood plate segmentation in bark removal processing named WPS-dataset is proposed in this study, which consists of 4863 images. We designed an image acquisition device and assembled it on a bark removal equipment to capture images in real industrial settings. We evaluated the WPS-dataset using six typical segmentation models. The models effectively learn and understand the WPS-dataset characteristics during training, resulting in high performance and accuracy in wood plate segmentation tasks. We believe that our dataset can lay a solid foundation for future research in bark removal processing and contribute to advancements in this field.
Identification and Validation of Hub Differential Genes in Pulmonary Sarcoidosis
Authors: Yao Qian , Min Keting , Zhao Mengmeng , Chen Xianqiu , Zhou Ying 
Published: April 2024

Abstract

Peripheral blood measurement based on tissue biopsy confirmation may facilitate the discovery of new diagnostic and therapeutic biological markers for pulmonary sarcoidosis. The gene expression levels of mediastinal lymph nodes were estimated by RNA immunoprecipitation sequencing. Biopsy samples from three pulmonary sarcoidosis patients were retrieved by mediastinoscopy or thoracoscopy surgery in Shanghai Pulmonary Hospital and three biopsy samples from patients with in situ lung carcinoma were utilized as normal controls. The public transcriptomic dataset GSE34608 was leveraged, in which whole blood gene expression from 18 pulmonary sarcoidosis patients and 18 healthy controls was available. The genes changing in the same direction in two kinds of samples were recognized as common differentially expressed genes (DEGs). Bioinformatics analysis was applied to identify the hub DEGs and to explore the potential mechanism. Ultimately, the validation of hub DEGs’ expression levels was conducted in PBMC samples from 9 patients diagnosed with pulmonary sarcoidosis and a control group consisting of 7 healthy individuals. A total of 138 common DEGs were screened from mediastinal lymph nodes and peripheral whole blood. Among them, 6 hub DEGs including CTSS, CYBB, FPR2, MNDA, TLR1 and TLR8 were identified by PPI network and further verified by qRT-PCR using PBMC samples. The most significant functional pathways were immune response, inflammatory response, plasma membrane and extracellular exosome, with 6 hub genes distributing along these pathways. In conclusion, CTSS, CYBB, FPR2, MNDA, TLR1, and TLR8 could be conducive to improving the diagnostic process and understanding the underlying mechanisms of pulmonary sarcoidosis.
Targeting NRAS Inhibits Cancer Cell Growth and Enhances Paclitaxel Sensitivity in Lung Adenocarcinoma
Authors: Mo Taoming , Zhang Shuang , Wei Qishuang , Zhang Yali , Tong Li , Wang Sichu , Tang Lijuan , Bian Tingting , Liu Ryan , Zhu Jun , Zhang Jianguo , Liu Yifei , Lu Shaolei 
Published: April 2024

Abstract

Lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD)poses substantial therapeutic complexities due to its resistance to first-line chemotherapic agents such as paclitaxel. This study investigated the involvement of NRAS in the development of paclitaxel resistance in LUAD. We integrated transcriptome data from TCGA and other databases while conducting in vitro experiments We also used GSEA to identify NRAS-related genes and pathways. Our findings revealed a significant up-regulation of NRAS in LUAD tissue, with higher NRAS expression correlating with adverse patient outcomes and decreased sensitivity to paclitaxel. Pathway enrichment analysis further revealed that NRAS-related genes significantly contributed to cell cycle dysregulation and impaired DNA damage repair mechanisms. Additionally, our experiments demonstrated that NRAS knockdown in LUAD cell lines exhibited increased sensitivity to paclitaxel, suggesting its potential as a viable therapeutic target. Targeting NRAS has the potential to enhance the efficacy of paclitaxel treatment in LUAD patients, offering a hopeful avenue for enhancing patient prognosis.
SAFER: sub-hypergraph attention-based neural network for predicting effective responses to dose combinations
Authors: tang yiching , Li Rongbin , Tang Jing , Zheng W. Jim , Jiang Xiaoqian 
Published: April 2024

Abstract

Background
The potential benefits of drug combination synergy in cancer medicine are significant, yet the risks must be carefully managed due to the possibility of increased toxicity. Although artificial intelligence applications have demonstrated notable success in predicting drug combination synergy, several key challenges persist: (1) Existing models often predict average synergy values across a restricted range of testing dosages, neglecting crucial dose amounts and the mechanisms of action of the drugs involved. (2) Many graph-based models rely on static protein-protein interactions, failing to adapt to dynamic and context-dependent networks. This limitation constrains the applicability of current methods.
Results
We introduced SAFER, a Sub-hypergraph Attention-based graph model, addressing these issues by incorporating complex relationships among biological knowledge networks and considering dosing effects on subject-specific networks. SAFER outperformed previous models on the benchmark and the independent test set. The analysis of subgraph attention weight for the lung cancer cell line highlighted JAK-STAT signaling pathway, PRDM12, ZNF781, and CDC5L that have been implicated in lung fibrosis.
Conclusions
SAFER presents an interpretable framework designed to identify drug-responsive signals. Tailored for comprehending dose effects on subject-specific molecular contexts, our model uniquely captures dose-level drug combination responses. This capability unlocks previously inaccessible avenues of investigation compared to earlier models. Finally, the SAFER framework can be leveraged by future inquiries to investigate molecular networks that uniquely characterize individual patients.
A study on the fine management mode of obstetric pregnancy drugs under the payment of disease diagnosis-related groups (DRG)
Authors: Zhang Qiqin , Zhang Geer , Yang Shuangneng , Zhang Meng , Shu Shujuan , Zhao Mengdan 
Published: April 2024

Abstract

Combining disease diagnosis-related grouping (DRG) with drug management index, the rational drug application management model of patients in a certain disease group was explored to promote rational drug use in obstetric care. The DRG data of obstetric patients discharged from the hospital from January 2020 to December 2022 were obtained. The target disease groups were identified based on the principle of Boston matrix analysis. The correlation between hospitalization costs and medical expenses details was studied using Spearman correlation analysis. The occurrence times and amounts of drug categories in prescriptions were counted using descriptive analysis. Drug management indicators were used to conduct cross-sectional and longitudinal cross-sectional analyses of drug use in the DRG disease group. A total of 67281 obstetric cases were included in this study, involving 32 DRG disease groups, and the overall status of the departments was overspent. The OZ13 disease group was taken as an example for follow-up analysis. The results of the correlation analysis showed that the hospitalization cost had the highest correlation with drug cost, and the use of anti-preterm drugs was the most frequent and the highest amount. Horizontal analysis of different doctors’ indicators in the OZ13 disease group found that there was a relatively large difference in drug use among different doctors, and reasonable comments were made on the abnormal medical groups. The longitudinal analysis found that the combined use of anti-preterm drugs needs further management with the aim of improving the level of clinical rational drug use.
Multi-Response Optimization of Process Parameters in Friction Stir Welding of AA 8011-H14 / AA 5052-H34 using Taguchi Grey Relational Analysis
Authors: Radj B. Magamai , Natarajan Sendhil Kumar , Vasudevan Gopi 
Published: April 2024

Abstract

Friction stir welding (FSW) offers a distinct advantage in its ability to effectively join dissimilar metals and alloys. This study focuses on the butt welding of AA 8011-H14 and AA5052-H34 through FSW, aiming to explore the influence of process parameters on crucial mechanical properties such as ultimate tensile strength, yield strength, percentage elongation, and hardness. The examination of the welded cross-section revealed variations in both grain orientation and size across different zones. Notably, most failures were identified at the base of AA8011-H14 on the Advancing side. Furthermore, the hardness of the nugget zone exhibited variability based on the material ratio mix, with the maximum hardness observed on the AA5052-H34 side. Comparisons of optimal joint efficiencies were made to assess the overall effectiveness of the welded joints. This investigation contributes valuable insights into the intricacies of FSW when applied to dissimilar metal combinations, shedding light on the impact of process parameters on the mechanical characteristics of the joints.
Virtual Assessment of Physical Activity-Related Built Environment in Soweto, South Africa: What is the Role of Contextual Familiarity?
Authors: Godongwana Motlatso , Gama Khulu , Maluleke Vongani , Micklesfield Lisa , Odekunle Damilola , Wasnyo Yves Florent , Elouna Boris , Ngwa Edwin , Lopes Adalberto , Balarabe Muhammed Rabiu , Coringrato Eva , McGushin Alice , Oni Tolullah , Foley Louise , Canelas Tiago 
Published: April 2024

Abstract

Understanding how urban environments shape physical activity is critical in rapidly urbanizing countries such as South Africa. We assessed the reliability of virtual audits for characterizing urban features related to physical activity in Soweto, South Africa. We used the Microscale Audit of Pedestrian Streetscapes Global tool to characterize pedestrian-related features from Google Street View images in four neighborhoods of Soweto. Neighborhoods were selected to represent different levels of deprivation. Inter-rater reliability was analyzed according to the rater’s familiarity with the local area. The results show a higher inter-rater reliability was observed among auditors with greater contextual familiarity. Many measurements however, generated inconclusive results due to either low variability in the raters’ responses or the absence of the features in the streets. It is evident from our findings that virtual audits are efficient tools that can be used to assess the built environment. However, to ensure meaningful use of these tools in diverse settings, we recommend that auditors comprise of people with contextual familiarity.
Real-world effectiveness of molnupiravir, azvudine and paxlovid against mortality and viral clearance among hospitalized patients with COVID-19 infection during the omicron wave in China: a retrospective cohort study
Authors: Chen Yingsha , Lin Yushi , Lu Huidan , Wu Xiaocui , Pan Ying , Xia Anyue , Pang Lantian , Xu Feng 
Published: April 2024

Abstract

Objectives:
In this retrospective cohort study, we aimed to assess clinical effectiveness and viral clearance following the use of molnupiravir, azvudine and paxlovid in hospitalised patients with COVID-19 in China dominated by the omicron BA.5.2 and BF.7 subvariant of SARS-CoV-2.
Methods:
Enrolled patients were assigned to the molnupiravir group or the azvudine group or the paxlovid group or the control group (not taking any antiviral drugs). The primary outcome of the cohort study was viral clearance and viral burden rebound after treatment and the secondary outcome was 28-day all-cause mortality. The four groupswere propensity score-matched (1:1). We plotted viral load trends for each antiviral drug intervention using locally weighted regression (LOWESS) smoothed data.
Multivariate logistic regression (stepwise algorithm) models were used to determine any risk factors for 28-day mortality.
Results:
Of the 1537 patients receiving any treatment, 886 (57.6%) received molnupiravir, 390 (25.4%) received azvudine, 94 (6.1%) received paxlovid, and 167 (10.9%) did not use any antiviral drugs. Our data analysis showed that age (OR = 1.05, 95% CI: 1.03-1.07, p<0.001), Charlson comorbidty index (OR = 1.32, 95% CI: 1.18-1.48, p<0.001), severity of COVID-19 (p<0.001), gamma globulin (OR = 2.04, 95% CI: 1.03-3.99, p=0.039) and corticosteroids use (OR = 2.3, 95% CI: 1.19-4.69, p=0.017) were independent prognostic factors for 28-day mortality in COVID-19 patients. After
propensity score matching (PSM), the paxlovid recipients (OR=0.22, 95% CI: 0.05-0.83, p=0.036) or azvudine recipients (OR=0.27, 95% CI: 0.07-0.91, p=0.046) had lower 28-day mortality compared to their matched controls. Viral rebound occurred in the control group around days 9-16, while no viral rebound was found in any of the three oral antiviral groups. We found that molnupiravir group performed comparably in terms of the rate of nucleic acid conversion negative compared with the paxlovid group, while azvudine group performed slightly worse compared with the paxlovid group or molnupiravir group.
Conclusions:
In our retrospective cohort of hospitalised patients with COVID-19 during the wave of omicron strain, the molnupiravir, paxlovid and azvudine recipients showed a faster and more stable decrease in viral load and rare virus rebound in response to antiviral treatments when compared to the controls. The study supported that initiation treatment with paxlovid and azvudine was associated with significantly lower risk of all-cause death within 28 days.
Causal association between rheumatoid arthritis and stroke: Insights from a two-sample Mendelian randomization study and Bioinformatics Analyses
Authors: Zhu Shu-lai , Zhao Zhi-heng , Pan Xin-xin 
Published: April 2024

Abstract

Background: Previous studies have reported on the relationship between rheumatoid arthritis and ischemic stroke, but it remains unclear whether there is a causal association between rheumatoid arthritis and stroke subtypes.
Methods: In this study, we utilized two-sample Mendelian randomization to investigate the impact of rheumatoid arthritis on stroke and its subtypes. The inverse variance weighted (IVW) method was employed as the primary analysis, while MR-Egger regression, weighted median, simple mode, and weighted mode were used as supplementary analyses to ensure result robustness. We obtained RNA sequencing datasets GSE56649 and GSE58294 from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database to identify differentially expressed genes (DEGs) associated with both rheumatoid arthritis and cardioembolic stroke. By taking their intersection, we identified common genes for further bioinformatics analyses including gene ontology enrichment analysis, pathway enrichment analysis, and protein-protein interaction (PPI) analysis.
Results: The Mendelian randomization analysis, weighted by inverse variance, demonstrated no significant association between rheumatoid arthritis and ischemic stroke (OR 1.000, 95% CI 0.956-1.042, p=0.921), including its subtypes: small vessel stroke (OR 1.0164, 95% CI 0.922-1.120, p=0.744) and large vessel stroke (OR 0.986, 95% CI 0.891-1.090,p=0.784). However, a positive relationship was observed with cardioembolic stroke (OR 1.094, 95% CI 1.027-1.167,p=0 .006). We identified a total of forty-eight common genes shared between rheumatoid arthritis and cardioembolic stroke and conducted comprehensive enrichment analysis to gain insights into their biological functions and signaling pathways.
Conclusions: The findings of this study provide genetic evidence supporting the association between rheumatoid arthritis and an increased risk of cardioembolic stroke, while no significant relationship was observed with other subtypes of stroke. Through bioinformatics analyses, we identified common gene interaction networks shared by rheumatoid arthritis and cardioembolic stroke, which may offer potential therapeutic targets for clinical applications. However, further laboratory investigations and multicenter studies are warranted to gain a deeper mechanistic understanding in the future.
Contrasting behavioural response to concurrent stressors in an aquatic snail: importance of stress type and combination
Authors: Alonso Alvaro , Llandres-Díez M Celeste , Cruces-Estepa Paula 
Published: April 2024

Abstract

Behaviour is a fundamental parameter for understanding the animal fitness, serving as an indicator of exposure to stressors. In ecosystems, animals often face multiple stressors simultaneously. Their behavioural responses may vary when exposed to each stressor individually, as synergistic, additive, or antagonistic effects can result from the interaction of multiple stressors. Therefore, it is imperative to conduct studies that take into account the common occurrence of multi-stress scenarios in aquatic ecosystems. We tested the effects of three sources of stress (low water pH, toxicity (acetone) and conspecific chemical cues) on the behaviour of the aquatic nail Potamopyrgus antipodarum (Tateidae, Mollusca). We evaluated the impact of each stressor, as well as in combinations of two or three stressors simultaneously. The highest time to start movement was shown by the animals of the low water pH (acid treatment-A) followed by A plus toxic treatment (AT). The linear models showed an increase in the cumulative differences in time to start movement for the snails of A, AT, and T treatments over time. This indicates that snails in these treatments took longer to begin sliding movements compared to the control animals. On the contrary, animals of the conspecific chemical cues (S) and ST treatments showed an increased in the time to start sliding with time in comparison with control snails. It is conclude that behaviour was altered depending on the source and combination of stress, with antagonistic effects when simultaneously exposing the animals to an acidic environment and conspecific signals.
Learning ballet technique modulates the stretch reflex in students with cerebral palsy: Case series
Authors: López-Ortiz Citlali , He Maxine , Gaebler-Spira Deborah , Levin Mindy F. 
Published: April 2024

Abstract

Background: Cerebral palsy (CP) is considered the most prevalent developmental motor disorder in children. There is a need for training programs that enhance motor abilities and normalize function from an early age. Previous studies report improved motor outcomes in dance interventions for CP. Investigating the neurophysiological mechanisms underlying such improvements is necessary for efficient and safe intervention design. This study reports changes in stretch reflex responses as the primary neurophysiological motor outcome of a targeted ballet class intervention.
Results: A case series of participants with mixed spastic and dyskinetic CP (n = 4, mean age = 12.5 years, SD = 6.9S years, three female, one male) who learned ballet technique in a course of one-hour classes twice per week for six weeks is presented. Changes in stretch reflex responses and in clinical motor tests as secondary outcomes were observed after the course and at one-month follow-up. Quantitative measures of elbow or ankle stretch reflex were obtained using electromyography and electrogoniometry. The joint angle of the stretch reflex onset varied across velocities of stretch, and its variability decreased after the intervention. Within-subject tests of the central tendency of stretch reflex angle coefficients of variation and frequency distribution demonstrated significant changes (p-values< 0.05). Secondary outcomes included the Quality of Upper Extremity Skills Test (QUEST), Pediatric Balance Scale (PBS), Modified Tardieu Scale (MTS), Dyskinesia Impairment Scale (DIS), and Selective Control Assessment of the Lower Extremity (SCALE). All the participants demonstrated improvements larger than the minimal clinical important difference (MCID) or the smallest detectable difference (SDD), as applicable.
Conclusions: Evidence of changes in the stretch reflex responses in these four cases of mixed CP was observed. The observed variability in the stretch reflex responses may be due to the dyskinetic component of the mixed CP presentations. More studies with a larger sample size and longer duration of learning and practice of ballet technique are necessary to establish the extent of possible modulation and adaptation of the stretch reflex response as a neurophysiological basis for observed improvements in clinical measures. This study was registered in the Clinical Trials Protocol Registration and Results System (NCT04237506, January 17, 2020).