bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
An Approach to Identifying Spatial Variability in Observed Infectious Disease Spread in a Prospective Time-Space Series with Applications to COVID-19 and Dengue Incidence
Authors: Chen Chien-Hsiun , Wang Shann-Rong , Shete Sanjay , Wu Chih-Chieh 
Published: January 2024

Abstract

Most of the growing prospective analytic methods in space-time disease surveillance and intended functions of disease surveillance systems focus on earlier detection of disease outbreaks, disease clusters, or increased incidence. The spread of the virus such as SARS-CoV-2 has not been spatially and temporally uniform in an outbreak. With the identification of an infectious disease outbreak, recognizing and evaluating anomalies (excess and decline) of disease incidence spread at the time of occurrence during the course of an outbreak is a logical next step.
We propose and formulate a hypergeometric probability model that investigates anomalies of infectious disease incidence spread at the time of occurrence in the timeline for many geographically described populations (e.g., hospitals, towns, counties) in an ongoing daily monitoring process. It is structured to determine whether the incidence grows or declines more rapidly in a region on the single current day or the most recent few days compared to the occurrence of the incidence during the previous few days relative to elsewhere in the surveillance period. The new method uses a time-varying baseline risk model, accounting for regularly (e.g., daily) updated information on disease incidence at the time of occurrence, and evaluates the probability of the deviation of particular frequencies to be attributed to sampling fluctuations, accounting for the unequal variances of the rates due to different population bases in geographical units.
We attempt to present and illustrate a new model to advance the investigation of anomalies of infectious disease incidence spread by analyzing subsamples of spatiotemporal disease surveillance data from Taiwan on dengue and COVID-19 incidence which are mosquito-borne and contagious infectious diseases, respectively. Efficient R programs for computation are available to implement the two approximate formulae of the hypergeometric probability model for large numbers of events.
Mutual inhibition of Aspergillus flavus and Auricularia auricula mycelium for the prevention of competing diseases during growth of fungi
Authors: Yang Mengjie , Zhang Haisheng , Burcar Ethan , Winchester William , Witherspoon Erin , El-Bahy Zeinhom , Helal Mohamed , Dang Hui , Amin Mohammed , Zhang Baoshan , Zhao Yu , Bu Xianpan , Wang Zhe 
Published: January 2024

Abstract

Auricularia auricula is one of the main edible fungi widely cultivated in China. Aspergillus flavus that is the most common class of pathogenic bacteria fungi produced the high toxicity of the aflatoxins, which is one of the fungal diseases of A. auricula. Morphological observation of A. flavus mycelium and A. auricula mycelium in plate confrontation, mutual inhibition of growth at different germination times, and the interaction of A. flavus liquid culture solution and A. flavus volatiles with A. auricula mycelium were used to investigate the mechanism of the interaction between A. flavus and A. auricula mycelium. Mycelium of A. auricula and A. flavus had a mutual inhibitory effect, but A. auricula mycelia had stronger inhibitory effect on the growth of A. flavus mycelia, besides that the results of the interaction between A. flavus volatiles and A. auricula volatiles were also the same and the inhibition of A. flavus by volatiles from A. auricula mycelium about 11%. After 240 h, the inhibition rate of A. flavus liquid culture solution on A. auricula mycelium reached up to about 20%. It was analyzed that some antimicrobial substances such as small peptides and organic acids produced in the metabolites of A. flavus liquid culture solution were the main reasons of the growth inhibition of A. auricula mycelium. The main inhibitory substances were 2-Butanone, 2-Butanone dimer, etc. Further study of AFT B1 and AFT B2 revealed that aflatoxins could migrate from the medium to the mycelia and the fruiting body of A. auricula, but the migration rate was basicly lower than 10‱. The mycelia of A. auricula had strong degradation of aflatoxins in the growth process. So the mechanism of antifungal activity of these substances was studied to provide a theoretical basis for future chemical synthesis.
Two Single Lung Transplantations from one Donor: Lung Twinning in the LAS Era
Authors: Langer Frank , Lepper Philipp M. , Weingard Bettina , Aliyev Parviz , Bals Robert , Wilkens Heinrike 
Published: January 2024

Abstract
Objectives
The implementation of the Lung Allocation Score (LAS) in the Eurotransplant international collaborative framework decreased waiting list mortality, but organ shortage remains a significant problem. Transplantation of two single lungs from one donor into two recipients (lung twinning) may decrease waiting list mortality. We sought to analyze if this strategy can lead to an acceptable intermediate-term outcome.
Methods
Since the LAS-implementation we performed 32 paired single-lung transplantations from 16 postmortal donors. Data and outcome were analyzed retrospectively comparing recipients receiving the first lung (first twins) with recipients receiving the second lung (second twins), left versus right transplantation and restrictive versus obstructive disease.
Results
Survival at one year was 81% and 54% at five years. Veno-venous ECMO had been successfully used as bridge-to-transplant in three patients with ECMO-explantation immediately after surgery. Bronchial anastomotic complications were not observed in any patient. First twins and second twins exhibited similar survival (p = 0.82) despite higher LAS in first twins (median 45 versus 34, p < 0.001) and longer cold ischemic time in second twins (280 ± 83 vs. 478 ± 125, p < 0.001). Survival of left and right transplantation was similar (p = 0.45) with similar best post-transplant FEV1 (68 ± 15% versus 62 ± 14%, p = 0.26). Survival was similar in restrictive and obstructive disease (p = 0.28) with better post-transplant FEV1 (70 ± 15% versus 57 ± 11%, p = 0.02) in restrictive disease.
Conclusions
Performing two single-lung transplantations from one donor can be performed safely with encouraging intermediate-term outcome and good functional capacity. Lung twinning maximizes the donor pool and may help to overcome severe organ shortage.
Changes in L-phenylalanine concentration is a risk factor for NSCLC patients who received PD-1 Ab treatment: a case-control study
Authors: Liu Yaqing , Ping Yu , Zhang Liubo , Zhao Qitai , Huo Yachang , Li Congcong , Shan Jiqi , Qi Yanwen , Wang Liping , Zhang Yi 
Published: January 2024

Abstract
Background
Chemotherapy combined with checkpoint blockade antibodies that target programmed cell death protein (PD-1) has achieved remarkable success in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). However, only a small percentage of NSCLC patients experience long-term benefits. We aimed to design and validate a clinical predictive indicator based on serum metabolism for chemotherapy in combination with PD-1 treatment.
Methods
Here, we collected serial blood samples from 49 patients with NSCLC who underwent combined chemotherapy and PD-1 treatment and from 34 patients who received only chemotherapy. Samples were collected before treatment initiation (baseline) and after treatment. Non-targeted metabolomics was used to explore the different metabolites in patients.
Results
L-phenylalanine was identified as a predictor in patients with NSCLC during chemotherapy combined with PD-1, which was not found in patients receiving chemotherapy alone. An elevated ratio of L-phenylalanine concentration (two cycles after completion of treatment VS the initiation of treatment) was associated with improved progression-free survival [hazard ratio [HR] = 1.8000, 95% CI, 0.8566–3.7820, p < 0.0001] and overall survival (HR = 1.583, 95% CI, 0.7416–3.3800, p < 0.005). Furthermore, we recruited two validation cohorts (cohort 1:40 patients; cohort 2:30 patients) with blood samples taken at baseline and after one cycle of treatment to validate the sensitivity and specificity of L-phenylalanine prediction. The area under the curve (AUC) values of the L-phenylalanine concentration ratios in validation cohorts 1 and 2 were 0.8650 and 0.8400, respectively. Our results demonstrate that L-phenylalanine is a potential and novel predictive biomarker for chemotherapy combined with PD-1 in patients with NSCLC.
Conclusions
We constructed a serum metabolite prediction model for combined treatment by combining two independent predictors of patient response. This model can assess the risk of response to treatment in patients with NSCLC in the early stages of treatment and may help stratify and optimize clinical decisions.
Assessing the Synergistic Effects of Medetomidine and Meloxicam in Adult Horses: A Comprehensive Study on Clinical, Analgesic, and Sedative Outcome
Authors: Babolmorad Shahrzad , Ozmaie Saeed , Jahandideh Alireza , Asghari Ahmad 
Published: January 2024

Abstract
This study investigated medetomidine's clinical, analgesic, and sedative effects with meloxicam in adult horses. 20 horses were divided into four groups; healthy control, received 3.5 µg/kg medetomidine and 0.6 mg/kg meloxicam intravenously, received 5 µg/kg and 0.6 mg/kg meloxicam, and received 7 µg/kg medetomidine and 0.6 mg/kg meloxicam. Heart rate, respiratory rate, temperature, electrocardiographs, and sedation scores were monitored before and after the injection. In the fourth group, the heart rate had a statistically significant decrease after (15, 30, and 60 minutes), and the respiratory rate decreased after (1 and 120 minutes) compared to other groups. The body temperature compared to the first group (1, 30, and 120 minutes) and the second group (15, 30, 60, and 120 minutes) after injection showed a decrease. Response to contact stimuli was examined, and only sedation with 7 µg/kg medetomidine had no stimulation. There were no significant changes in the position of the limbs, anal reflex, perineal reflex, ataxia, abdominal auscultation, and abnormal sounds. Meloxicam and medetomidine induced appropriate relaxation and reduced side effects (e.g., respiratory depression and bradycardia) in horses.
Staurosporine as a potential treatment for Acanthamoeba keratitis using mouse cornea as an ex vivo model
Authors: Rodríguez-Expósito Rubén L. , Sifaoui Ines , Salazar-Villatoro Lizbeth , Bethencourt-Estrella Carlos J. , Fernández José J. , Díaz-Marrero Ana R. , Sutak Robert , Omaña-Molina Maritza , Piñero José E. , Lorenzo-Morales Jacob 
Published: January 2024

Abstract
Currently, six different genera were reported to be pathogenic to humans and animals, which the most common being Acanthamoeba genus. Acanthamoeba is a ubiquitous genus of amoebae that can trigger severe and progressive ocular disease kwon as Acanthamoeba Keratitis (AK). Furthermore, actual treatment protocols are based on the combination of different compounds that are not fully effective in eliminating the parasite in ocular infections. Therefore, this leads to an urgent need to develop new compounds to treat Acanthamoeba infections. In the present study, we have evaluated Staurosporine as a potential treatment for Acanthamoeba keratitis using mouse cornea as an ex vivo model, and to investigate its model of action by comparative proteomic analysis. Staurosporine altered the conformation of actin and tubulin cytoskeleton of treated trophozoites of A. castellanii. In addition, proteomic analysis of the effect of Staurosporine on treated trophozoites revelated that this molecule induced an overexpression and a down-regulation of proteins related to functions vital for Acanthamoeba infections. Additionally, obtained results in this study on the ex vivo assay using mouse corneas validate this animal model for the study of the pathogenesis of AK. Finally, Staurosporine eliminated the entire amoebic population and prevented adhesion and infection of amoebae to the epithelium of treated mouse corneas.
Titanate nanotubes coated with Ag nanoparticles: Effects of Annealing Temperature on Crystalline Structure, Morphology, and Photocatalytic Activity
Authors: Salama Tarek M. , El-Gawad Ahmed Abd , El‐Henawy Ahmed A. , Ali Ibraheem O. 
Published: January 2024

Abstract
AgNPs were first introduced into the hydrothermally produced sodium titanate nanotubes using a photoreduction method. By gradually raising the temperature of Ag-doped TNTs samples between 100 and 350 ºC, the impact of the annealing temperature was investigated. XRD, HRTEM, FT-IR and UV-visible spectroscopy were used to characterize the nanotubes. Through the interchange of Ag+ with extra-framework Na+ in TNTs, the XRD demonstrated. The establishment of the Silver Titanate. On the other hand, a partial state transformation from nanotabular Na-TNTs to anatase nanotubes occurred with a rise in temperature. The interaction between Ag and TNT particles was assigned to the FT-IR band that appeared at 1384 cm− 1. The higher particle size was explained by HRTEM, the investigation demonstrated that the process of annealing resulted in the formation of larger clusters by aggregating small particles. UV-Vis and band gap measurements were used to assess how annealed samples affected the liquid phase of MB dye's capacity to photocatalyzed sunlight. Based on the breakdown of MB dye in an aqueous solution under solar conditions, the Ag/NaTNTs nanostructures with annealing temperatures ranging from 70 to 350◦C were assessed for their photocatalytic activities. The degradation rate increased with increasing annealing. The amorphous cluster's HOMO-LUMO gap and singlet-singlet excited state energies are quite like those of a crystalline Ag/TNTs, according to the calculations. Additionally, our calculations demonstrate that Ag/NaTNTs' computed energetic data values and low energy gap demonstrated strong activity against dye removal.
Using a Machine Learning Algorithm to Analyze the Effectiveness of Pre-service Teachers’ Training Throughout the Covid-19 Pandemic
Authors: YİĞİT Murat , KARAL Ömer , ERSOY Esen 
Published: January 2024

Abstract
The research was carried out in a state university located in the Turkey. For the purposes of the research, data were collected using a semi-structured interview form consisting of 18 questions, 16 of which were input data to the OCSVM algorithm, and two which were designed for content analysis. The current findings were finalized by analyzing the data obtained from the pre-service teachers who had received Writing Education (WE) course in both formal education and through distance education with the OCSVM algorithm, and, second in accordance with the content analysis. The results of the ML-based OCSVM analysis, with an accuracy value of 98.11%, highlighted the preference that the WE course be provided only in the formal education environment.
Timing of fracture fixation in ankle fracture-dislocations
Authors: Penning Diederick , Tausendfreund Jasper , Naryapragi Azad , Reisinger Kostan , Tanis Erik , Joosse Pieter , Schepers Tim 
Published: January 2024

Abstract
Purpose
Ankle fracture-dislocations are the result of high energy trauma with concomitant soft tissue damage and may require delayed internal fixation. Our aim was to compare the use of acute ORIF with delayed ORIF, using external fixation or cast splint in ankle fracture-dislocations. We identify which factors affect the rates of re-operation and SSI.
Methods
In this retrospective cohort study, we included patients with open and closed ankle fracture-dislocations treated with ORIF from two large peripheral hospitals and one academic centre in the Netherlands. We used binary logistic regression for univariate and multivariate analyses to calculate which factors influence outcome.
Results
We included 447 patients with an ankle fracture-dislocation. In the multivariate analysis, the difference between surgery <48 hours compared to bridging with cast or external fixation had no significant influence on unscheduled re-operation or SSI. Higher Body Mass Index (BMI) and open fractures had a significant positive correlation with re-operation and diabetes mellitus (DM) and open fractures correlated with SSI. In patients with open fractures, there was also no significant difference in outcome between acute or delayed internal fixation.
Conclusion
We suggest that it is safe to perform primary ORIF on all dislocated ankle fractures if the soft tissue injury allows surgery within 48 hours. When significant swelling is present, temporary immobilization is a safe option to allow for surgery. Patients with well-reduced fractures and with no soft tissue injury could be treated safely with a cast until delayed ORIF is possible.
Personalized Therapies in Hepatocellular Carcinoma: Insights from a Disulfidptosis-Related Signature
Authors: Wan Yi , Xu Dan , Zhou Zhiyong , Ouyang Yi , Zhang Zugui , Zhang Li , Chen Tao , Gong Zheng 
Published: January 2024

Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the predominant pathological type of liver cancer with an unfavorable prognosis. Disulfidptosis is the newest cell death form and plays a vital role in tumorigenesis. However, the role of disulfidptosis-related genes (DRGs) in HCC remains unknown. The RNA-seq and clinical data of HCC patients were obtained from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and International Cancer Genome Consortium (ICGC) databases. Based on DRGs in TCGA cohort, the predictive model was established via regression analysis of the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) and subsequently validated using ICGC cohort. Moreover, we investigated the relationship between predictive model and clinical features, somatic mutations, molecular mechanism, immune microenvironment and drug response. This study created an eight-gene signature. Here, we noticed a higher level of those eight genes in HCC patients in both RNA and protein levels. The patients in the high-risk group had a poor prognosis. It was found the predictive model was an independent prognostic factor by Multivariate Cox analyses. Pathways involved in cancer, cell membrane, and metabolism was significantly enriched. In addition, tumor mutation burden (TMB) and immune checkpoint genes expression were higher in the high-risk group. Furthermore, the high-risk group was more sensitive to immunotherapy and some targeted therapy. We comprehensively and systematically identified a new disulfidptosis-related signature, which could serve as a valuable tool for predicting prognosis, immune cell infiltration and therapy response of HCC patients. Thus, these discoveries could have potentially clinical value in directing personalized therapies in the future.
Ampelopsin (AMP) preserves glutamate homeostasis between astrocyte and neuron against cerebral ischemia injury
Authors: Li Zhen , Li Fang , Song Wang , Long Chun-mei , Zeng Xin , Guo Wen-Kai , Chen Xuan-yi , Lu Li 
Published: January 2024

Abstract

The glutamate-glutamine(Glu-Gln) cycle between astrocytes and neurons is an essential component in balancing extracellular Glu levels during excitatory neurotoxicity. Glutamine synthetase (GS) and glutaminase (GLS) are the key mediators in keeping Glu balance. Ampelopsin (AMP) has an inhibitory effect on peripheral GLS. It is uncertain whether this effect of AMP could produce neuroprotective effects and affect glutamate balance. The middle cerebral artery occlusion/ reperfusion (MCAO/R) model was constructed to investigate the effect of AMP and CB-839 on glutamate-induced ischemic injury in vivo. The protein expression of GLS, GS, glutamate transporter-1 (GLT-1), and N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) was detected, and the distribution of GLS and GS in brain astrocytes and neurons was analyzed by immunofluorescence staining. Glu is the active molecule that mediates the upstream and downstream excitotoxic responses. The levels of Glu and Gln in the Glu-Gln metabolic cycle were also assayed. Our studies demonstrated that either AMP or CB-839 showed neuroprotective effects on MCAO/R mice through alleviating cerebral infarction area, relieving brain edema and neurological deficit function. They also reduced the necrosis of nerve tissue, rescued the damage of neurons and Nissl bodies undergoing ischemia. In addition, both AMP and CB-839 enhanced GS-mediated conversion of Glu to Gln on astrocytes by increasing ischemic brain GS activity and reducing Glu accumulation via facilitating GLT-1 expression and promoting Glu uptake. On neurons, the GLS-mediated hydrolysis of Gln to Glu is hindered by AMP and CB-839 through reducing the expression of GLS, which results in elevated Gln content and downregulated Glu levels in cerebral ischemia. At the same time, the expression of NMDAR was decreased to prevent the excitatory neurotoxicity caused by Glu's excessive activation. AMP exhibited neuroprotection in mice subjected transient focal cerebral ischemia via its ability to promote the dynamic balance of the glutamate concentration.
Hypoxia promotes temozolomide resistance in glioblastoma cells via ROS- mediated up-regulation of TRPM2
Authors: Zhao yibo , peng dan , zhu xiang feng , Cai Yongqing , Wang Kai-Yang , li ziwei , li li , jiang li ning , Chen Jian-Hong 
Published: January 2024

Abstract
Background: Hypoxia, an essential feature of gliomas, is thought to promote chemo-resistance by regulating reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels. Transient receptor potential melastatin 2 (TRPM2) is one of the ion transport proteins and is involved in the regulation of oxidative stress. However, relationship between ROS and TRPM2 expression in hypoxia-induced temozolomide (TMZ) resistance of glioblastoma cells remains unclear.
Methods: U87MG cells were cultured with different concentrations of TMZ for the indicated times under normoxia (21% O2) or hypoxia (2.5% O2). Cell viability was detected with WST-1 test and observed by a neurite outgrowth assay. The intracellular ROS scavenging activity was detected according to the H2DCF-DA method. The cells were also treated with the scavenger of ROS NAC and the inhibitor of TRPM2 2-APB. Impaired mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨm) and intensity of intracellular Ca2+ were measured under fluorescence microscope. Online database was used to assess the relationship between MGMT and TRPM2 expression level. Western blot was used to analyze the protein levels of TRPM2, MGMT, MSH3 and APNG.
Results: Compared with the normoxia group, hypoxia significantly promoted glioma cells survival after treatment by TMZ (200µM) for 24 h or 48 h, accompanied with reduction of mitochondrial dysfunction and intracellular ROS. However, the baseline levels of ROS were mildly increased under hypoxia, which had no impact on mitochondrial function in glioma cells. Additional, TRPM2 expression was obviously increased under hypoxia and inhibited by NAC in glioma cells. We found that the expression levels of TRPM2 were positively correlated with MGMT both in online database (rho=0.165, P < 0.05) and GBM cancer tissues (r=0.9302, P < 0.05). Over-expression of TRPM2 participated in the up-regulation of APNG and MGMT, but down-regulation of MSH3 in glioma cells under hypoxia. Our findings also demonstrated that the treatment group during NAC or 2-APB add-on could significantly attenuate calcium influx, followed by increasing mitochondrial dysfunction and cytotoxicity in glioma cells, in comparison with TMZ alone.
Conclusion: The hypoxia-induced up-regulation of baseline ROS levels contributes to the decrease in the sensitivity of glioma cells to TMZ via promoting demethylation and inhibiting DNA mismatch repair. Moreover, TRPM2-mediated Ca2+ influx attenuates mitochondria dysfunction and then protects glioma cells against TMZ damage. TRPM2 may be a potential target in adjuvant treatment with TMZ for glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) patients.