bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The predictive role of PD-L1 expression and CD8+ TIL levels in determining the neoadjuvant chemotherapy response in advanced ovarian cancer.
Authors: Aliyeva Turkan , Elvin Chalabiyev , Fatma Gundogdu , Aktas Burak Yasin , Arik Zafer , Usubutun Alp 
Published: March 2024

Abstract

Objective: To analyze how the PD-L1 expression and CD8+ tumor infiltrating lymphocyte (TIL) levels in biopsy samples before neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) can predict chemotherapy response score and survival for advanced high-grade serous ovarian cancer.
Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 45 patients with advanced epithelial ovarian cancer between 2010 and 2018, who had received at least three cycles of neoadjuvant chemotherapy. PD-L1 expression and CD8+ TIL levels were evaluated by immunohistochemical staining in the pre-NAC tumor samples from which the patients had been diagnosed. The post-NACT tissue samples taken during interval debulking surgery (IDS) were used to evaluate the chemotherapy response score (CRS).
Results: Among all the patients, CRS 1 (no response) was found in 8 patients, CRS 2 (partial response) in 28 patients, and CRS 3 (complete response) in 9 patients. A total of 20 (44.4%) patients had high intraepithelial CD8+ TIL levels, and 35(77.8%) patients had high expression stromal CD8 TIL. No statistically significant relationship was found between high and low expression of intratumoral/stromal CD8+ TIL levels with PFS and CRS. The study found that 33(73.3%) patients had high levels of stromal PD-L1 expression and 28(62.2%) patients had high levels of intratumoral PD-L1 expression. In the intratumoral PD-L1 group, patients with low expression had a PFS of 28 months, whereas those with high expression had a PFS of 17 months (p=0.028). Among the patients with high intratumoral PD-L1 expression, 23 (82.1%) patients showed CRS2, 4 (44.4%) showed CRS3, and only 1(3.6%) showed CRS1 (p=0.000). However, high or low expression stromal PD-L1 did not significantly affect PFS and CRS (p=0.928 and p=0.305; respectively).
Conclusions: We found that intraepithelial PD-L1 expression levels in diagnostic biopsy in ovarian cancer can predict the chemotherapy response score in interval debulking surgery.
Quantum-inspired modeling of distributed intelligence systems with artificial intelligent agents self-organization
Authors: Alodjants Alexander , Tsarev Dmitriy , Avdyushina Anna , Boukhanovsky Alexander , Khrennikov Andrei 
Published: March 2024

Abstract
Distributed intelligence systems (DIS) containing natural (NIA) and artificial (AIA) intelligence agents of decision making (DM) belong to interdisciplinary areas of promising studies aimed at digitalization of routine processes in industry, economy, management, and everyday life. In this work, we suggest a novel quantum-inspired approach to study crucial features of DIS consisting of NIAs (users) and AIAs (digital assistants) that possess self-organization within a complex network. We propose a mapping procedure for Russell’s valence-arousal circumplex model onto an effective quantum-like two-level system to characterize a NIA cognitive system in a simple DM process. We demonstrate that conditions for opinion formation and social impact in a DIS are relevant to the second-order (laser-like) phase transition that establishes a nonvanishing average information field in the DIS, which is reminiscent of the social laser phenomenon that may appear in social networks. We demonstrate the complex behavior of social impact in the DIS that implies the hierarchical formation of opinion leaders in the network, which we elucidated using the eigenvector centrality criterion. We introduce a set of cooperativity parameters for the users, which play a significant role in DIS features. Cooperativity parameters reveal how frequently AIAs and NIAs communicate with each other accounting for their facilities in information exchange. We show that at weak AIA -- NIA coupling many uncertainties in the DIS complicate a certain (non-zero) opinion formation for DM agents. We offer an adaptive approach to increase the users' impact by establishing a network-dependent coupling rate with their digital assistants. In this case, the mechanism of AIA control helps resolve the DM process in the presence of some uncertainties evoked by the variety of users' preferences. Our findings open new prospectives in different areas where AIAs represent useful teammates in solving common problems with humans in the framework of network organizations.
MS-GD-P: Priority-Based Service Deployment for Cloud-Edge-End Scenarios
Authors: Jin Honghua , Wang Haiyan , Luo Jian 
Published: March 2024

Abstract
In cloud-edge-end scenarios, how to achieve rational resource allocation, implement effective service deployment, and ensure high service quality has become a hot research topic in academic domains. Service providers usually deploy services by considering the characteristics of different geographical regions, which helps to meet the diverse needs of users in different regions and optimize resource allocation and utilization. However, due to the widespread distribution of users and limited server resources, providing all types of services to users in every geographical region is not feasible. In addition, edge servers are prone to operational failures caused by software anomalies, hardware malfunctions, and malicious attacks, which will decrease service reliability. To address the problems above, this paper proposes a metric for service priorities based on user demands and regional characteristics for different geographical regions. Building upon this foundation, a Multi-Service Geographic region Deployment based on Priority (MS-GD-P) is proposed. This method takes user coverage and service reliability into consideration, which facilitates users' needs for multiple services in different geographical regions. Experimental results on real datasets demonstrate that MS-GD-P outperforms baseline methods in user coverage and service reliability.
The superiority trial of Baduanjin training on patients Chronic Low back pain: a study protocol for a randomized controlled trial
Authors: Tan Tianyang , Cao Bing yan , Liang Wen ming , Lou Shuang , Han Zheng , Ji Yu xuan , Xiao Jing 
Published: March 2024

Abstract
Background
CNSLBP accounts for 85% of all LBP cases and impairs physical health, quality of life, and work productivity, posing a significant health and economic burden. Baduanjin (BDJ) exercises are traditional Chinese Qi Gong mind-body exercises that have been practiced for over 1,000 years. However, the standard BDJ protocol established by the State Sports General Administration does not stimulate core muscles, limiting the effectiveness of low back pain rehabilitation. Therefore, it is necessary to improve the original BDJ protocol.
Methods:
This 24-week single‐center, single-blind, parallel-group randomized control superiority trial will allocate 100 patients into two groups (control and intervention) at a 1:1 ratio. The patients in the control group will perform the standard BDJ protocol established by the State Sports General Administration. The patients in the patients in the control group will perform the standard BDJ protocol established by the State Sports General Administration. The intervention group will perform intervention. The primary outcomes will be Quebec back pain disability scale. Secondary outcomes will include visual analog scale pain scores, Surface electromyography. The assessments of the tests will be performed at four time points. Adverse events will be recorded faithfully during the study.
Discussion:
This randomized control trial is the first to compare a standard BDJ protocol and an optimized protocol in patients with CNSLBP. This study can help guide rehabilitation programs.
Trial registration:
Chinese Clinical Trial Registry, ChiCTR2200065618, Registered on 10 Nov. 2022
Identification and validation of inflammatory subtypes in Intrahepatic Cholangiocellular Carcinoma
Authors: Gao Biao , Wang Yafei , Zhang Xianzhou , Jiang Hao , Han Feng , Li Chonghui , Lu Shichun 
Published: March 2024

Abstract

Background: Inflammation plays an important role in tumor development, and inflammatory cell infiltration and inflammatory mediator production cause changes in the tumour microenvironment(TME), especially in intrahepatic cholangiocellular carcinoma(ICC). However, determining the inflammatory state of patients based on reliable biomarkers is still being explored.
Method: RNA sequencing, gene mutations, and corresponding clinical of 244 ICC patients were derived from previous studies. Consensus clustering was performed to identify molecular subtypes associated with inflammation. Prognosis, clinical features, somatic mutation profiles and immune cell infiltration were compared across inflammatory subtypes. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction(qRT-PCR) and immunohistochemistry(IHC) were used to confirm gene overexpression.Logistic regression analyses were used to construct nomogram predicting inflammatory status of patients with ICC.
Results: Our results confirm that ICC can be categorised into inflammation-high subtype(IHS) and inflammation-high subtype(ILS), a and that both groups have different prognosis, clinical features and TME composition. The IHS has a poorer prognosis due to the immunosuppressive microenvironment and high frequency of KRAS and TP53 gene mutations.Cancer-associated fibroblast(CAF)-derived COLEC11 reduces myeloid inflammatory cell infiltration and attenuates the inflammatory response. qRT-PCR and IHC confirm that tumor tissue promotes tumor cell progression by downregulating COLEC11 expression. The IHS was more likely to be responsive to immune checkpoint inhibitors(ICIs) attributed to higher tumor mutational load scores, tumor neoantigen scores, neoantigen counts and immune checkpoint expression levels. Finally, we developed a nomogram that can effectively predict inflammatory status in patients with ICC based on clinical features and inflammatory gene expression levels. The calibration, discrimination and clinical utility of the nomogram were evaluated.
Conclusion: The inflammatory response of the IHS is mainly induced by myeloid cells, and COLEC11 can reduce the infiltration level of this group of cells, and targeting myeloid inflammatory cells is expected to be a new target for ICC treatment. We have created a novel nomogram that can effectively predict the inflammatory state of ICC patients, which is useful for guiding the individualised treatment plan.
The SPECTRA study: using co-design to develop a new memory training program for older adults based on the Episodic Specificity Induction
Authors: PURKART Rudy , MELLAH Samira , BELLEVILLE Sylvie 
Published: March 2024

Abstract

Background. Normal aging impacts episodic memory retrieval. Given the crucial role of retrieval for abilities such as future thinking and social problem-solving, the potential of cognitive interventions targeting retrieval extends beyond memory enhancement. Yet only a limited number of such interventions exist. This article outlines the design process of a novel memory training program targeting episodic retrieval.
Methods. Using an Intervention Mapping approach, a general outline of the training program was created by leveraging the knowledge base on older adults’ retrieval performance and the principles of the Episodic Specificity Induction (ESI) technique. Two in-person 2-hour co-creation sessions with a focus group of six healthy older adults were conducted in Montréal (Québec, Canada) to develop guidelines for adapting the ESI technique into a training format and to determine tailored user-relevant content. Session recordings and notes were qualitatively analyzed. Training format and content proposed by the focus group were reviewed and approved by the research team.
Results. The co-designed training program consisted in six 2-hour sessions provided in small groups of 4 participants. Sessions included supervised ESI administration, complemented by unsupervised ESI self-administration at home.
Conclusion. A new program was co-designed to enhance memory retrieval in older adults using the ESI technique. Co-designing the program increases the likelihood that its content and structure respond to users’ challenges and needs, thereby enhancing relevance, engagement, and retention. It holds the potential to generate lasting improvements in retrieval and transfer to crucial cognitive and social abilities.
The Mystery of Black Rice: food, medicinal and spiritual use of Oryza glaberrima by Maroons in Suriname and French Guyana
Authors: Pinas Nicholaas , Jackson John , Mosis Noeki André , Andel Tinde 
Published: March 2024

Abstract

During plantation slavery, African rice (Oryza glaberrima Steud.) was widely cultivated in the Americas but it was soon replaced by Asian rice (Oryza sativa L.). Maroons, descendants of Africans who escaped slavery in Suriname, are nowadays the only ones who cultivate African rice. They claim that their ancestors found it growing wild in a swamp owned by a forest spirit, but its specific use remained unclear. Genomic research linked this rice to an O. glaberrima variety in the Ivory Coast, but how did a fully domesticated African crop end up wild in an Amazonian swamp? Based on interviews with 99 Maroon farmers, of which 20% cultivated black rice, we describe its diverse uses in (ceremonial) food, offerings, spiritual medicine, and its role during funerals. Maroon's oral history accounts on the origin of black rice differ between and within communities: enslaved women brought it from Africa or plantations, runaways found it in the savanna during their escape, and ancestors encountered it in interior swamps. The ability of black rice to compete with weeds, grow on poor soil, its shattering seeds, and its visibility to birds explains how this African domesticate could become wild in the Amazonian forest. Migration to cities, gold mining, and evangelization may lead to the loss of black rice knowledge and practices. The multiple and sometimes contradicting stories about black rice have to do with the diverse ethnic and geographical backgrounds of the Africans who were brought to Suriname and their different histories with the crop after marronnage.
Reliability and Quality of Online Multiple Mini interviews for Admissions in an MBBS program
Authors: Iftikhar Sundus , Shoaib Syed Hasan , Sarfaraz Shaur , Ali Syed Kauser 
Published: March 2024

Abstract
Background: MMI is a widely used method for assessing the non-cognitive skills of students, but the logistics and costs associated with organizing in-person MMI can be substantial. Virtual MMI, such as those conducted through platforms like WhatsApp Video calls, offer increased convenience, yet their reliability and quality remain uncertain. The objective of the study is to determine the reliability and quality (difficulty and discrimination indices) metrics of MMI scores conducted through WhatsApp Video call.
Methods: Six MMI stations were used to assess the non-cognitive attributes of the students. In this descriptive study, the scores obtained by 678 students in MMI, F.Sc (equivalent of high school) and MDCAT were used to analyze the data. Item analysis was employed to assess quality of MMI stations. The reliability was calculated using Cronbach’s alpha and Pearson correlation (r) was performed between MDCAT scores, F.Sc. Scores and MMI scores to assess significant correlation.
Results: The overall reliability of MMI in this study was 0.87 while the reliability for each interview station ranged between 0.92 - 0.95. The difficulty level of MMI stations ranged from easy (0.57) to moderately difficult (0.77). The discrimination index was found to be in the range of 0.53-0.78.
Conclusion: The psychometric analysis of MMI scores demonstrated good reliability and quality (discrimination and difficulty index) with the stations showing acceptable discrimination and moderate difficulty. Hence, online multiple mini-interviews were found useful to assess non-cognitive skills for admission in MBBS program.
Hydrogen-rich water enhanced salt tolerance in tomato seedlings by regulating strigolactone biosynthesis genes SlMAX1 and SlD27
Authors: Ye Fujin , Fang Hua , Feng Li , Shi Meimei , Yang Ruirui , Liao Weibiao 
Published: March 2024

Abstract
Background
Hydrogen gas (H2) and strigolactones (SLs) are involved in various biotic and abiotic stress response in plants. However, the crosstalk between H2 and SLs has not been investigated.
Methods
Using pharmacological methods and virus-induced gene-silencing, the regulatory roles of H2 and SLs and their interaction in tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L. ‘Micro-Tom’) under salt stress were investigated.
Results
Both GR24 (a SLs synthetic analog) and hydrogen rich water (HRW, a H2 donor) significantly reversed salt-induced growth retardation as evidenced by promoted root morphological parameters and root activity. SLs might be involved in H2-enhanced salt stress tolerance in tomato seedling roots. Additionally, HRW treatment increased endogenous SLs content in tomato seedling roots under salt stress However, the positive roles of HRW were blocked by TIS108 (a specific SLs synthesis). In addition, HRW and GR24 could effectively maintain the integrity of the internal anatomical structure in roots under salt stress; while TIS108 also inhibited the positive roles of HRW. Thus,. Simultaneously, HRW treatment significantly up-regulated the expression levels of SL biosynthesis-related genes SlCCD7, SlCCD8, SlD27 and SlMAX1 and SL signal transduction genes SlD14 and SlMAX2 under salt stress. Further, after silencing SlD27 and SlMAX1 genes, the alleviation effect of HRW on tomato roots under salt stress was basically eliminated. HRW did not increase the content of endogenous SLs in SlD27 and SlMAX1 silenced seedlings.
Conclusion
SLs biosynthesis genes SlMAX1 and SlD27 may be involved in H2-alleviated salt stress in tomato seedlings.
The inhibitory effect of isavuconazole on almonertinib metabolism and its underlying mechanism
Authors: Chen Zhe , Liu Ya-nan , Xia Hailun , Yu Yige , Xu Ren-ai 
Published: March 2024

Abstract

As a third-generation epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor (EGFR-TKI), almonertinib is effective for the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), and there is not much interaction research on its combination with other drugs. Here, an ultra performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS) was validated and enabled stable and rapid determination of plasma concentrations of almonertinib and its main metabolite HAS-719. In human liver microsomes (HLMs), rat liver microsomes (RLMs) and recombinant human CYP3A4 (rCYP3A4), we found that isavuconazole as an inhibitor was able to inhibit almonertinib metabolism at medium inhibitory effect with IC50 of 5.26 µM, 1.59 µM and 1.14 µM, respectively. In addition, we further investigated the mechanism of inhibition of almonertinib by isavuconazole in HLMs and RLMs in vitro as the mixed inhibitory mechanism and in rCYP3A4 with the competitive inhibition. Almonertinib's pharmacokinetic parameters, such as AUC(0−t), CLz/F, and Cmax, were significantly altered by isavuconazole in pharmacokinetic experiments in rats, but did not affect the metabolism of HAS-719. The above results showed that isavuconazole inhibited the metabolism of almonertinib in vivo and in vitro, which will alert the plasma concentration of almonertinib in clinic. Thus, the interaction between almonertinib and isavuconazole should be taken into consideration when almonertinib is used in the clinic.
Physiological Vital Time Series Forecasting using Fractional Calculus and Deep Neural Network
Authors: Nemati Sama , Jafari Seyed Amin Seyed , Fakhri Mostafa , Seraji Kosar , Vosoughi-Motlagh Farzane , Hajihasani Mojtaba 
Published: March 2024

Abstract

Continuous physiological monitoring integrated with time series analysis and multi-step forecasting is vital when encountering postoperative cases either hospitalized in intensive care units (ICU) or given home health care will experience adverse cardiac events. The low-cost common vital signs, i.e., heart rate and arterial blood pressure are captured and predicted with adjustable horizons up to 30 minutes in advance to achieve punctual clinical decision-making to prevent the events of bradycardia, tachycardia, hypo-tension, and hypertension. Scaling properties of physiological stationary/non-stationary signals are necessarily determined and drastically affected by the selection and architecture design of time series forecasting models. In contrast to integer-order difference that achieves stationary memory-erased series, fractional order difference ensures the stationary of the data while preserving as much memory as possible. The deep learning architecture for multi-step forecasting is the combination of two direct and iterative methods which utilizes the concepts of U-Net convolutional networks and multi-layer bi-directional long short-term memories (Bi-LSTMs). Various scenarios of observe-target windows e.g. (20, 30, 60, or 120) - (7, 15, 20, or 30) minutes are trained using hyper-parameter tuning and evaluated by mean absolute percentage error (MAPE). The results of the proposed method indicate that crucial vital signs such as heart rate, systolic blood pressure and mean arterial blood pressure will be predictable in an adjustable observe-target window size from 20 − 7 to 120 − 30 minutes with narrow ranges of MAPE values between [2.78%, 4.17%], [4.69%, 6.47%] and [4.45%, 6.86%], respectively.
State and Disturbance Observer based Robust Disturbance Rejection Control for Friction Electro-Hydraulic Load Simulator
Authors: Jing Chenghu , Zhang Hui , Yan Bingsheng , Hui Yanbo , Xu Hongguang 
Published: March 2024

Abstract

Friction electro-hydraulic load simulator (FEHLS) classified as an electro-hydraulic torque servo mechanism, encounters significant challenges in the form of parameter uncertainties, external disturbances, and unmodeled dynamics, all of which notably degrade the system's capacity for accurate tracking. This study introduces the design of a state-and-disturbance estimation observer (SDEO) aimed at approximating unobservable states and nonconforming perturbations. A specifically tailored nonlinear disturbance observer (NDO) is constructed for the purpose of estimating such mismatched disturbances. Using backstepping designed method with prescribed performance, robust disturbance rejection control (RDRC) is proposed, ingeniously integrating SDEO, NDO, and a continuous sliding mode control. The stability of the proposed RDRC is systematically scrutinized utilizing the principles of Lyapunov stability method. The practical efficacy and robustness of the devised control scheme have been convincingly validated through meticulous experimental execution and analysis.