bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Alcohol consumption associated with colorectal cancer risk in a community population aged 50-74 years old: A nested case-control study
Authors: Lai Shiming , Zhu Honghong , Gan Zhijuan , Zheng Biyun , Xu Zhaohui , Wang Zhicheng , Liao Xiaofang 
Published: October 2023

Abstract
Objective
Colorectal cancer (CRC) incidence has been increasing in China and worldwide. Alcohol consumption has been going up in China, too. This study was to investigate whether drinking was associated with CRC risk in a community population aged 50–74.
Methods
We designed a case-control study nested in a mass CRC screening program from 2020 to 2022. Cases were defined as newly diagnosed CRC confirmed by histopathological examinations and controls were normal people without any colorectal diseases confirmed by colonoscopy. Logistic regressions were used to estimate OR and 95% confidence interval (CI) of drinking between cases and controls.
Results
Using never drinking in their lifetime as a common reference, the adjusted OR and 95% CI of drinking between cases and controls were 1.45 (0.92, 2.30) in current drinkers, 3.90 (1.47, 10.34) in former drinkers, 1.55 (1.01, 2.38) in drinking 6–7 days/week, and 4.18 (1.41, 12.43) in drinking 1–19 years. When stratifying by gender, all drinking variables in women but not all in men were consistently associated with CRC risk; the adjusted OR and 95% CI were 1.01 (0.59, 1.74) in current drinking men, 2.27 (0.78, 6.64) in former drinking men, and 4.24 (1.61, 11.13) in current drinking women; the adjusted OR and 95% CI of drinking whisky amount were 0.19 (0.04, 0.83), 1.89 (0.86, 4.17), 2.25 (1.05, 4.83), and 1.82 (0.85, 3.92) in men drinking ≤ 10, 11-≤20, 21-≤30, > 30 Liang/week with a Ptrend = 0.011, and 4.03 (1.24, 13.12) and 7.40 (1.88, 29.15) in women drinking 1–4 days/week and 5–7 days/week with a Ptrend < 0.001, respectively.
Conclusion
Alcohol consumption was associated with increase in CRC risk in a community population aged 50–74. There were gender disparities in drinking and its association with CRC risk. Women tended to be more sensitive to alcohol carcinogenesis in CRC than men did and men’s association of drinking whisky with CRC risk tended to be determined by dosage.
A novel disulfidptosis-related lncRNA signature predicts prognosis and therapeutic response in low-grade glioma
Authors: Song Yu-qiao , Wang Xiao-reng 
Published: October 2023

Abstract
Background: Low-grade glioma (LGG) is the most common subtype of glioma, and disulfidptosis is a recently defined form of cell death that plays an important role in the development of several malignant cancers. Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) are key molecules and potential biomarkers for the diagnosis and treatment of various tumors. However, the effects of disulfidptosis-related lncRNAs (DSRLs) on LGG remain unclear. The purpose of this study was to develop a new prognostic DSRLs signature for LGG and investigate its underlying biological mechanisms.
Methods: We downloaded LGG RNA sequencing profiles, clinical data, and tumor mutational burden (TMB) data from the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database. The gene expression profiles of the DSRLs were screened. Univariate Cox regression, least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) regression, and multivariate Cox analyseswere performed to build a prognostic model for DSRLs.Patients with LGGs were divided into high- and low-risk subgroups based on their risk median value. The prognostic model was further validated using Cox regression, Kaplan-Meier (K-M) survival analysis, receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves, nomograms, C-index, and principal component analysis (PCA). Moreover, the relationships between the model and gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA), immunological function, immune infiltration, m6A methylation, TMB, and drug sensitivity were investigated.
Results: In this study, 19 DSRLs were selected to establish a prognostic model. Survival analysis was performed and time-dependent ROC curves were constructed, and the results confirmed the high accuracy of the model in predicting the prognosis of patients with LGG. Univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses revealed that the risk score was an independent prognostic factor. Furthermore, we discovered substantial disparities in tumor immune characteristics, m6A methylation, TMB, and drug sensitivity between the high- and low-risk groups. Patients with high-risk LGG tend to respond better to immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) therapy; however, patients with low-risk LGG were more sensitive to chemotherapeutic drugs.
Conclusion: The prognostic model based on 19 disulfidptosis-related lncRNAs can accurately and effectively predict clinical outcomes in patients with LGG. These may be reliable biomarkers for risk stratification, evaluation of possible immunotherapy, and assessment of chemotherapy sensitivity for LGG.
Danubian loess shows dominance of proximal sediment sources and negligible inputs from the Sahara
Authors: Fenn Kaja , Millar Ian , Bird Anna , Veres Daniel , Wagner Doris 
Published: October 2023

Abstract
The Pannonian Basin, especially areas in proximity to the Danube River, provides a record of long-term Quaternary dust (loess) deposition in central-eastern Europe. Here, Sr-Nd isotopic data from 47 samples (four profiles) from loess-palaeosol deposits spanning the last two-glacial-interglacial cycles is presented. This geochemical data is compared with a large number of bedrock and sedimentary samples from across the region to decipher the sources of sediment and transport pathways. The results counter the hypothesis that the Sahara was a major sediment contributor to loess in central-eastern Europe. Instead North African contributions are shown to have been negligible over the late Pleistocene, which suggests suppressed southerly wind direction and supports westerly and northwesterly wind systems. The isotopic results point to alluvial plains (which are themselves sourced from surrounding mountain belts) as an immediate geomorphic source of material and consequently relatively short distance transport.
Adulteration detection and quantification in olive oil using excitation-emission matrix fluorescence spectroscopy and chemometrics
Authors: Lujun Zhang , Nuo Cai , Xiaodong Huang , Xinmin Fan , Juanjuan Gao , Jin Gao , Sensen Li , Yan Wang , Chunyan Wang 
Published: October 2023

Abstract
This study explores the application of excitation-emission matrix fluorescence (EEMF) in conjunction with chemometric techniques for the rapid identification and quantification of adulteration in olive oil, particularly in cases where sample quantities are limited. Soybean oil, peanut oil, and linseed oil are introduced into olive oils to simulate various adulterated samples. Our approach involves the application of parallel factor analysis (PARAFAC) for data decomposition, with a following focus on establishing correlations between the decomposed components and the actual adulterated components. This is accomplished through a thorough comparison of the spectral characteristics and score results of the decomposed components, allowing us to attribute them to the actual adulterated components and thereby ultimately enabling us to quantify the levels of actual adulteration. The results proves that EEMF spectroscopy combined with the proposed analysis methods serves as a powerful tool for the rapid detection and quantification of adulteration in olive oil. We also utilize principal component analysis (PCA) to cluster adulterated samples and identify efficient excitation wavelengths, and conduct a comparative analysis between PCA and PARAFAC methods. This study offers a novel perspective and method for quantitatively analyzing adulterants in olive oil through spectral detection, holding the promise of practical application in real-world detection scenarios.
Longer Term Time Dynamics of Bit Error Rates
Authors: Chikatmarla Jaya Chandra , Bhayanka Narasimha Anirudh Srinivas Prativadi , Beard Cory 
Published: October 2023

Abstract
In this paper an analysis is conducted to study the properties of indoor and outdoor wireless channel conditions over long time scales (several minutes). It shows that long term time dynamics exist in many different situations even when transmitters and receivers are stationary and the distance between them is only a few meters. We use software-defined radio (SDR) that implements radio communication functionalities in software. Transmissions have been achieved using the Universal Software Radio Peripheral (USRP), with the signal processing and time synchronization occurring in the GNU Radio environment on the LINUX (Ubuntu 14.04 LTS) platform. The work has been implemented in a typical school environment i.e., indoor conditions including a lab environment along with a hallway and outdoor conditions comprising a quadrangle environment. We used the benchmarking tool in the GNU Radio that defines and modifies modulation schemes, transmitter and receiver gains, operating frequencies, and other channel properties. Per-packet bit error rate is computed, visualized, and compared across multiple scenarios. We find a series of interesting time dynamics of the BER over several minutes that are not commonly studied in the literature.
The diagnostic role of arginine-stimulated copeptin in the differential diagnosis of polyuria-polydipsia syndrome (PPS) in pediatric age
Authors: Tuli Gerdi , Munarin Jessica , De Sanctis Luisa 
Published: October 2023

Abstract
Purpose:
in recent years, copeptin stimulation through arginine administration has been evaluated as a new potential tool in the differential diagnosis of polyuria-polydipsia syndrome (PPS) in adults; to date very few data, all retrospective, exist in pediatric age. The aim of this prospective study is to evaluate the diagnostic performance of the arginine-stimulation test for copeptin in a cohort of pediatric patients affected by PPS.
Methods:
all children (<18 years) referred to the Department of Pediatric Endocrinology of the Regina Margherita Children Hospital for polyuria-polydipsia in the period January 2021-June 2023 were enrolled. The Arginine-stimulation test for copeptin was performed in all patients presenting PPS after water deprivation test (WDT). Patients with polyuria-polydipsia were then classified as having primary polyuria (PP), complete and partial central diabetes insipidus (CDI), according to the standardized interpretation. Arginine-stimulation test for copeptin was also performed in a control cohort.
Results:
A significant difference in arginine-stimulated copeptin values was observed at baseline (p = 0.005), at 60 minutes (p= 0.01), and at 90 minutes (p = 0.005) in 7 subjects presenting PP, 6 patients affected by CDI and 50 subjects of the control cohort. Plasma osmolality values remained stable at all measurements. The arginine-stimulated copeptin test demonstrated sensitivity and specificity of 100%, whereas the sensitivity of the WDT test was 83.3% and the specificity was 85.7%.
Conclusion
given the reliability and the minor adverse effects and costs, the copeptin level after arginine administration could replace the WDT in the diagnostic workup of these in pediatric age.
Serum Amino Acids Changes in adolescent Diagnosed with Kashin-Beck Disease: A Study of Target Metabolomics
Authors: Sun Liyan , Li Qiang , Zhou Xin , Xue Hongmei , Wang Jianling , Li Jiquan , Zhao Yanmei , Zhao Zhijun , Wang Lihua 
Published: October 2023

Abstract

Background
Kashin-Beck disease ( KBD ) is a chronic degenerative osteoarthropathy with uncertain etiology. This study aims to identify variations in serum amino acids (AAs) between KBD adolescent and control adolescent and to investigate the pathogenesis of the KBD.
Method
Standard criteria for the diagnosis of KBD (WS/T207-2010) were used to screen children affected by the disease. The study included 31 KBD adolescent and 91 control subjects. The control group consisted of 50 external and 41 internal controls. The serum samples were obtained from the study population and analyzed using Ultra-performance liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole time-of-flight tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-QTOF-MS). Data were analyzed using the SPSS Statistics 23.0 software.
Results
Changes in the serum concentrations of 12 different AAs and their metabolites between the KBD children and the control group were detected. Among them, the concentration of 5 AAs (Glutamic acid, Cholamine, Cysteine, Taurine and Asparaginic acid) and their metabolites was either significanlty higher or significanlty lower in the serum of KBD children as compared with the controls (p < 0.05). The serum concentrations of Hydroxyproline, Isoleucine, and Tryptophan between internal and external controls were significanlty different (p < 0.05). The concentrations of Histidine, Threoine, Proline, and 5- hydroxytryptamine among the three groups were significanly different (p < 0.05).
Conclusion
AAs metabolism changed during the onset of KBD. These findings provide clues into the molecular pathogenesis of KBD.
Comparative Analysis of Laparoscopic Appendiceal Stump Closure Techniques in South Punjab Tertiary Care Hospital, Pakistan
Authors: Anwar Shoaib , Akhtar Naveed , Javed Sadia , Hassan Syed Shams ul , Bandesha Faisal Naeem 
Published: October 2023

Abstract
Purpose: The study aimed to compare the efficacy of metallic endo-clips and extracorporeal knotting techniques for closing the appendiceal stump in laparoscopic appendectomy. The primary objectives were to assess the impact on surgery duration, hospital stay, and postoperative complications, focusing on identifying the potential benefits of using metallic endo-clips.
Methods: A retrospective comparative study was conducted at Nishtar Medical University, Multan. Patients were divided into two groups: Group A received metallic endo-clips, while Group B underwent extracorporeal knotting. Data were collected from surgical notes and discharge forms, and statistical analysis was performed using SPSS version 25.
Results: Among the 70 patients, 62.9% were male, and 37.1% were female. The male-to-female ratio was 2:1. Most patients (81.4%) were aged up to 35 years, with 68.6% from urban areas. Using metallic endo-clips, Group A had a significantly shorter mean surgery duration (28.89 minutes) than Group B (34.23 minutes). Hospital stay duration showed no significant difference between the two groups. Only 4.3% of patients experienced complications, with a slightly higher incidence in Group B (66.7%).
Conclusion: The study suggests that using metallic endo-clips for laparoscopic appendiceal stump closure offers potential benefits, including shorter surgery duration and lower rates of complications. This technique may enhance surgical efficiency and reduce the risk of prolonged anaesthesia and surgery. Although this study had some limitations, it highlights the promise of metallic endo-clips as a viable alternative for appendiceal stump closure in laparoscopic appendectomy.
Effects of different colors of plastic-film mulching on soil temperature, yield, and metabolites in Platostoma palustre
Authors: Huang Suhua , Chen Hao , Quan Changqian , Chen Zhining , Xu Meihua , Wei Fan , Tang Danfeng 
Published: October 2023

Abstract
Platostoma palustre is an annual herb and an important medicinal and edible plant in southern China. Plastic-film mulching is an effective agronomic practice in the cultivation system of P. palustre, of which the black film mulching is the most common. However, fewer researches have been focused on the use of the other colors of plastic films in P. palustre cultivation. In this study, different colors (white, black, red, and green) of plastic-film were adopted, and the effects of different colors of plastic-film mulching on the soil temperature, yield, and metabolites of P. palustre were investigated. The results showed that the fresh weight of single plant of the green film treatment was significantly higher than that of the white film treatment (n = top 28). Based on the results of three temperature measurements, the soil temperature was almost the highest in the red film treatment and lowest in the white film treatment. The metabolomic analysis revealed that a total of 103 differential metabolites were identified. Among these, the gluconic acid, deoxyribose, and N-Acetylmannosamine in the red film treatment presented the highest abundance compared with the other treatments, meanwhile, the abundances of the five monosaccharides in the red film treatment were significantly higher than those of the green film treatment. Moreover, the sucrose, trehalose, and D-(+)-trehalose in the green film treatment exhibited the highest abundance, and the abundances of eight different amino acids in red film treatment were almost the lowest while those in black film treatment were almost the highest. Further analysis of the membership function values indicated that the black and red film treatments might be more suitable for the cultivation and quality production of P. palustre in comparison with the other two treatments. This study will provide a theoretical basis for improving the efficient cultivation technology of P. palustre and forming a theoretical system of P. palustre film mulching cultivation.
Lacto-ovo vegetarian diet mitigated the risk of chronic kidney disease in overweight individuals
Authors: Hou Yi-Chou , Tzeng I-Shinag , Tsai Wen-Hsin , Liu Hao-Wen , Liu Jia-Sin , Kuo Kuan-Cheng , Lai Yen-Chun , Lu Kuo-Cheng , Kuo Ko-Lin 
Published: October 2023

Abstract
Introduction
Being overweight, with a body mass index > 25, is associated with multiple comorbidities, including chronic kidney disease (CKD). A plant-based diet, such as a vegetarian or lacto-ovo vegetarian diet, serves as a preventive strategy for CKD in patients. The aim of this study was to investigate whether a vegetarian diet lowers the occurrence of CKD in overweight subjects.
Materials and Methods
The retrospective study was performed in Taipei Tzu Chi Hospital. The incidence of chronic kidney disease (CKD) was evaluated according to the self-reported eating habits (vegetarians, lacto-ovo vegetarians, or omnivores), overweight(with a BMI ≥ 25 or higher abdominal circumference (> 90 cm in male or > 80 cm in female )) or not, or other biochemical or hematologic parameters. The interaction between different factors for the development of CKD were analyzed by Structural equation modeling.
Results
Among these 6,567 subjects, the subjects with lacto-ovo vegetarians (n = 1933) had lower incidence of CKD than dietary habits as vegans (n = 357) and omnivores (n = 4277) [26.2% vs. 32.8% (vegans) and 30.7% (omnivore group), p < 0.001]. The incidence of overweight was the highest in omnivore group. The lacto-ovo vegetarian group [OR:0.79, 95% confidence interval [CI):0.70–0.90) lower the risk of CKD occurrence than the omnivore group. After adjusting for age and sex in SEM model, the lacto-ovo diet lowered the risk for CKD from being with a high BMI (OR:0.82, p < 0.001) or a higher triglyceride(TG)/high-density lipoprotein(HDL) ratio (OR:0.76, p < 0.001; OR:0.55, p < 0.001).
Conclusion
Lacto-ovo vegetarian dietary habits are associated with a lower occurrence of CKD in obese patients. The mitigating effect of the lacto-ovo vegetarian diet was due to the hazard of a higher BMI and TG/HDL ratio.
Enhancing music rhythmic perception and performance with a VR game
Authors: Pesek Matevž , Hirci Nejc , Žnideršič Klara , Marolt Matija 
Published: October 2023

Abstract

This study analyzes the effect of using a virtual reality (VR) game as a complementary tool to improve users' rhythmic performance and perception in a remote and self-learning environment. In recent years, remote learning has gained importance due to various everyday situations; however, the effects of using VR in such situations for individual and self-learning have yet to be evaluated. In music education, learning processes are usually heavily dependent on face-to-face communication with a teacher and are based on a formal or informal curriculum. The aim of this study is to investigate the potential of gamified VR learning and its influence on users' rhythmic sensory and perceptual abilities. We developed a drum-playing game based on a tower defense scenario designed to improve four aspects of rhythmic perceptual skills in elementary school children with various levels of music learning experience. In this study, 14 elementary school children received Meta Quest 2 headsets for individual use in a 14-day individual training session. The results showed a significant increase in their rhythmical skills through an analysis of their rhythmic performance before and after the test. In addition, the experience of playing the VR game and using the HMD setup was also assessed, highlighting some of the challenges of currently available affordable headsets for gamified learning scenarios.
Construct lactylation-related genes prognostic model to effectively predict the disease-free survival and treatment responsiveness in prostate cancer based on machine learning
Authors: Pan Jinyou , Zhang Jianpeng , Lin Jingwei , Cai Yinxin , Wang Zuomin , Ma Yuxiang , Liu Yangzhou , Zhao Zhigang 
Published: October 2023

Abstract
Background
More and more studies have revealed that protein lactylation is an important mechanism for lactate to fulfill its duties and participate in important biological processes, which can regulate gene expressions through histone lactation, thereby promoting tumor spread, metastasis and immunosuppression. However, protein lactylation has been poorly studied in prostate cancer.
Methods
This study aimed to identify potential novel lactylation biomarkers of prostate cancer by biomarker analysis and to explore immune cell infiltration and treatment responsiveness. By downloading mRNA-Seq data of TCGA prostate cancer data for differential analysis, we obtained the differential genes related to Lactylation in prostate cancer. Five machine learning algorithms were used to screen for lactylation-related key genes for prostate cancer. The five overlapping key genes screened by five machine learning algorithms were used to construct a survival prognostic model by lasso cox regression analysis. Further, the relationships between the model and related pathways, tumor mutation and immune cell subpopulations and drug sensitivity were explored. Then, two risk groups were established according to the risk score calculated by the five lactylation-related genes (LRGs). Subsequently, a nomogram scoring system was established to predict disease-free survival (DFS) of patients by combining clinicopathological features and lactylation-related risk scores. Besides, the mRNA expression levels of five genes were verified in prostate cancer cell lines by qPCR.
Results
We identified 5 key LRGs (ALDOA, DDX39A, H2AX, KIF2C, RACGAP1) and constructed the LRGs prognostic model. The AUC values for 1 -, 3 -, and 5-year DFS in the TCGA dataset were 0.762, 0.745, and 0.709. The risk score was a better predictor of disease-free survival than traditional clinicopathological features in prostate cancer. The prostate cancer patients in the high-risk group have a higher proportion of regulatory T cells and M2 macrophage, a higher tumor mutation burden, and a worse prognosis. The high-risk group had a lower IC50 for certain chemotherapeutic drugs, such as Docetaxel, Paclitaxel.
Conclusions
The lactylation-related genes prognostic model can effectively predict the disease-free survival and therapeutic responses in prostate patients.