bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
High immunocompetence in chronic hepatitis patients with normal alanine transaminase levels and and negative hepatitis B e‐antigen for the progression of liver fibrosis
Authors: Cheng Bianqiao , Wu Dandan , Zhang Ming , Chen Shiming , Wu Xunyuan , Zhong Jingjing , Wu Meimei , Huo Miaomiao 
Published: January 2024

AbstractIntroductionThis study aimed to investigate the role of immunocompetence in chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients with normal alanine transaminase (ALT) levels and negative hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) in the risk assessments of the progression of liver fibrosis.MethodsWe collected the clinical data of 57 patients with CHB, with normal ALT levels and negative HBeAg from December 2020 to December 2022. With hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA > 20 IU/mL and ALT ≤ 40 U/L, these patients had never undergone antiviral therapy. The levels of CD4+, CD4+CD25+, CD8+, and CD4+CD25+CD127LOW regulatory T cells (Tregs) in the patients were detected using flow cytometry; the liver stiffness measurement (LSM) values of the patients were detected using Fibroscan.ResultsThere was a statistically significant difference between the levels of fibrosis‐4 (FIB‐4) and hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) when the cutoff point was HBsAg ≥ 1500 (p < .001). FIB‐4 was negatively correlated with HBsAg (R = −0.291, p = .028) and positively correlated with age (R = 0.787, p < .001). LSM was negatively correlated with Treg but this correlation was not statistically significant (p > .05). Findings based on the analysis using logistic regression were as follows: (i) age was the independent risk factor when FIB‐4 was used as the indicator for assessing liver fibrosis; (ii) Treg was the independent risk factor when LSM was used as the indicator for assessing liver fibrosis. When Treg was used to predict liver fibrosis, the cutoff value, diagnostic efficacy, area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve, and p value of the ROC curve were 6.875, 0.641, 0.84, and .027, respectively.ConclusionAge and Treg are independent risk factors for progressive liver fibrosis. The cutoff value of Treg > 6.81 indicates the need for timely antiviral treatment and can serve as an indicator for evaluating liver fibrosis.
Accuracy testing of a novel obstetric blood loss quantifying device: A pilot study
Authors: Lutfi Ahmed , Eustace David , Faul Stephen , Greene Richard A. , Higgins John R. 
Published: January 2024

SynopsisThe Stryker® system is accurate in detecting hemoglobin levels in fluid mixtures, which may assist professionals in assessing birth waste and diagnosing postpartum hemorrhage.
Serum Raman spectroscopy: Evaluation of tumour load variations in experimental carcinogenesis
Authors: Jadhav Priyanka A. , Hole Arti , Ingle Arvind , Govekar Rukmini , Noothalapati Hemanth , Krishna C. Murali 
Published: January 2024

AbstractSeveral serum Raman spectroscopy (RS) studies have demonstrated its potential as an oral cancer screening tool. This study investigates influence of low tumour load (LTL) and high tumour load (HTL) on serum RS using hamster buccal pouch model of experimental oral carcinogenesis. Sera of untreated control, LTL, and HTL groups at week intervals during malignant transformation were employed. Serum Raman spectra were subjected to multivariate analyses—principal component analysis, principal component‐based linear discriminant analysis (for stratification of study groups), and multivariate curve resolution‐alternating least squares (MCR‐ALS) (to comprehend biomolecular differences). Multivariate analysis revealed misclassifications between LTL and HTL at all week intervals. MCR‐ALS components showed statistically significant abundances between control versus LTL and control versus HTL, but could not discern LTL and HTL. MCR‐ALS components exhibited spectral mixtures of proteins, lipids, heme and nucleic acids. Thus, these findings support use of serum RS as a screening tool as varying tumour load is not a confounding factor influencing the technique.
Endothelial dysfunction and cardiovascular diseases: The role of human induced pluripotent stem cells and tissue engineering
Authors: Florido Mary H. C. , Ziats Nicholas P. 
Published: January 2024

AbstractCardiovascular disease (CVD) remains to be the leading cause of death globally today and therefore the need for the development of novel therapies has become increasingly important in the cardiovascular field. The mechanism(s) behind the pathophysiology of CVD have been laboriously investigated in both stem cell and bioengineering laboratories. Scientific breakthroughs have paved the way to better mimic cell types of interest in recent years, with the ability to generate any cell type from reprogrammed human pluripotent stem cells. Mimicking the native extracellular matrix using both organic and inorganic biomaterials has allowed full organs to be recapitulated in vitro. In this paper, we will review techniques from both stem cell biology and bioengineering which have been fruitfully combined and have fueled advances in the cardiovascular disease field. We will provide a brief introduction to CVD, reviewing some of the recent studies as related to the role of endothelial cells and endothelial cell dysfunction. Recent advances and the techniques widely used in both bioengineering and stem cell biology will be discussed, providing a broad overview of the collaboration between these two fields and their overall impact on tissue engineering in the cardiovascular devices and implications for treatment of cardiovascular disease.
Chitosan‐nanoclay embolic material for catheter‐directed arterial embolization
Authors: P.J. George Varghese , Zhao Keren , Chen Peng , Hu Jingjie 
Published: January 2024

AbstractMinimally invasive transcatheter embolization is a common nonsurgical procedure in interventional radiology. It is used for the deliberate occlusion of blood vessels for the treatment of disease or injured vasculature, including vascular malformation and malignant/benign tumors. Here, we introduce a gel embolic agent comprising chitosan nanofibers and nanoclay with excellent catheter injectability and tunable mechanical properties for embolization. The properties of the gel were optimized by varying the ratio between each individual component and also adjusting the total solid content. The rheological studies confirm the shear thinning property and gel nature of the developed gel as well as their recoverability. Injection force was measured to record the force required to pass the embolic gel through a clinically relevant catheter, evaluating for practicality of hand‐injection. Theoretical predicted injection force was calculated to reduce the development time and to enhance the physician's experience. The stability of occlusion was also tested in vitro by monitoring the pressure required to displace the gel. The engineered gels exhibited sterility, hemocompatibility and cell biocompatibility, highlighting their potential for transcatheter embolization.
The effect of Galilean magnification loupes on the visual acuity and working distance of dental students
Authors: Pazos Júlia M. , dos Santos Carla G. , Dovigo Lívia N. , Garcia Patrícia P. N. S. 
Published: January 2024

AbstractObjectiveThis study aimed to evaluate the visual acuity and working distance of dental students using Galilean loupes at different magnification levels.MethodsThe participants included 50 undergraduate dentistry students selected from each class in the second to fifth years (N = 200) of São Paulo State University, School of Dentistry, Araraquara. The response variables were (i) the working distance between the operator's eyes and the mouth of the dental phantom head, and (ii) visual acuity. The independent variables were the five levels of the Galilean magnification system (naked eye, Galilean loupe simulator without magnification, and Galilean loupes with 2.5×, 3.0×, or 3.5× magnification) and academic year. Visual acuity was measured using a miniature Snellen eye chart inserted into the Class I cavities of the maxillary molars. After verifying the assumptions of normality and sphericity, a mixed repeated measures analysis was performed (α = 0.05).ResultsStatistical significance was found between the “magnification system” and “academic year” for visual acuity (p < 0.001). For the second‐, fourth‐, and fifth‐year participants, there were no significant differences in visual acuity between the naked eye and different magnifications of the Galilean loupes, which were superior to and significantly different from that of the loupe simulator. For the working distance, statistical significance was observed in the interaction between “magnification system” and “academic year” (p = 0.008). For the third‐, fourth‐, and fifth‐year participants, there was no significant difference in the working distance between the naked eye and different magnifications of the Galilean loupes, which were superior to and significantly different from that of the simulator.ConclusionIt was concluded that the different magnification levels of the Galilean loupes did not influence the visual acuity or distance between the eyes of the operator and the mouth of the dental phantom head in the evaluated students.
Classification of cancer types based on microRNA expression using a hybrid radial basis function and particle swarm optimization algorithm
Authors: Soleimani Masoumeh , Harooni Aryan , Erfani Nasim , Khan Amjad Rehman , Saba Tanzila , Bahaj Saeed Ali 
Published: January 2024

AbstractThe diagnosis and treatment of cancer is one of the most challenging aspects of the medical profession, despite advances in disease diagnosis. MicroRNAs are small noncoding RNA molecules involved in regulating gene expression and are associated with several cancer types. Therefore, the analysis of microRNA data has become one of the most important areas of cancer research in recent years. This paper presents an improved method for cancer‐type classification based on microRNA expression data using a hybrid radial basis function (RBF) and particle swarm optimization (PSO) algorithm. Two datasets containing microRNA information were used, and preprocessing and normalization operations were performed on the raw data. Feature selection was carried out by using the PSO algorithm, which can identify the most relevant and informative features in the data along with helping to prioritize them. Using a PSO algorithm for feature selection is an effective approach to microRNA analysis. This enhances the accuracy and reliability of cancer‐type classifications based on microRNA expression data. In the proposed method, we, respectively, achieved an accuracy of 0.95% and 0.91% on both datasets, with an average of 0.93%, using an improved RBF neural network classifier. These results demonstrate that the proposed method outperforms previous works.Research Highlights
To enhance the accuracy of cancer‐type classifications based on microRNA expression data.
We present a minimal feature selection method using particle swarm optimization to reduce computational load & radial basis function to improve accuracy.
Intracellular localisation and extracellular release of Y RNA and Y RNA binding proteins
Authors: Driedonks Tom A. P. , Ressel Sarah , Tran Ngoc Minh Thi , Buck Amy H. , Nolte‐‘t Hoen Esther N. M. 
Published: January 2024

AbstractCells can communicate via the release and uptake of extracellular vesicles (EVs), which are nano‐sized membrane vesicles that can transfer protein and RNA cargo between cells. EVs contain microRNAs and various other types of non‐coding RNA, of which Y RNA is among the most abundant types. Studies on how RNAs and their binding proteins are sorted into EVs have mainly focused on comparing intracellular (cytoplasmic) levels of these RNAs to the extracellular levels in EVs. Besides overall transcriptional levels that may regulate sorting of RNAs into EVs, the process may also be driven by local intracellular changes in RNA/RBP concentrations. Changes in extracellular Y RNA have been linked to cancer and cardiovascular diseases. Although the loading of RNA cargo into EVs is generally thought to be influenced by cellular stimuli and regulated by RNA binding proteins (RBP), little is known about Y RNA shuttling into EVs. We previously reported that immune stimulation alters the levels of Y RNA in EVs independently of cytosolic Y RNA levels. This suggests that Y RNA binding proteins, and/or changes in the local Y RNA concentration at EV biogenesis sites, may affect Y RNA incorporation into EVs. Here, we investigated the subcellular distribution of Y RNA and Y RNA binding proteins in activated and non‐activated THP1 macrophages. We demonstrate that Y RNA and its main binding protein Ro60 abundantly co‐fractionate in organelles involved in EV biogenesis and in EVs. Cellular activation led to an increase in Y RNA concentration at EV biogenesis sites and this correlated with increased EV‐associated levels of Y RNA and Ro60. These results suggest that Y RNA incorporation into EVs may be controlled by local intracellular changes in the concentration of Y RNA and their protein binding partners.
Immunoglobulin G4‐related disease: Multiple organ occupation on CT
Authors: Ma Luyao , Zhang Qian , Zhang Mengyao , Hao Junjie , Jin Zhenjing 
Published: January 2024

AbstractOne case involved a 61‐year‐old woman who was admitted to hospital with liver occupation, subsequently found multiple organ occupation, and was eventually pathologically identified as having immunoglobulin G4‐related disease.
Whose interests matter? The role of participation in inclusive organizational behavior
Authors: Ressi Elena , Weiss Silvana , Ortlieb Renate 
Published: January 2024

SummaryIn the context of working from home triggered by the COVID‐19 pandemic, we theorize on inclusive organizational behavior (IOB) as a participatory practice to use diverse interests as a resource for developing a long‐term working mode. We adopt a mixed‐methods design to examine qualitative data from four companies and quantitative data from a company survey. In the qualitative study, we identify four IOB approaches (blighting, silencing, balancing, and harmonizing) employed by various organizational actors (HR/managers, employees, and their representatives). These practices concern organizational culture, structures, and everyday interactions in dealing with diverse interests. In the quantitative study, we examine the relationship between heterogeneity of interests, participation, and organizational experiences with working from home. We integrate our findings in an IOB model and show that a higher degree of participation fosters positive experiences with working from home, as well as opportunities for learning. Addressing diverse interests through participatory practices may involve challenges and lengthy negotiations yet offers the potential to learn from diversity for future working modes. Our research contributes to the conceptualization and practical implementation of IOB by emphasizing the importance of participation in co‐creating opportunities for learning from given and potentially emerging interests in a constantly changing world of work.
Interactive effects of salinity and straw on the soil aggregate stability and organic carbon sequestration in saline soils in the Hetao area, China
Authors: Li Wenxiu , Yang Jingsong , Yao Rongjiang , Wang Xiangping , Xie Wenping , Xiao Ping 
Published: January 2024

AbstractSoil organic carbon (SOC) and aggregate stability are the critical factors in evaluate soil quality and carbon sinks in agricultural soils. Especially in complex saline soils containing larges amount of sodium and calcium ions. To quantitatively estimate the importance of salinity factors, SOC fractions, and soil aggregate fractions on SOC contents and the mean weight diameter (MWD), as well as to reveal the transformation mechanism of SOC under the interactions between salinity and straw, a laboratory experiment was conducted on three soils with different salinity, with and without straw addition. The results showed that straw and salinity interactions significantly increased the proportion of large macro‐aggregate fractions and the MWD, decreased micro‐aggregate fractions, but promoted the conversion of SOC fractions to mineral‐associated organic carbon (MAOC) of micro‐aggregates in moderately saline soils. The responses of SOC contents and MWD to electrical conductivity (EC1:5) were nonlinear. The exchangeable sodium to calcium ions ratio (E‐Na/E‐Ca) (%IncMSE = 11.4, p < 0.01), and MAOC contents (%IncMSE = 17.0, p < 0.01) provided the best explanations of SOC contents, while the MWD was more explained by calcium carbonate (CaCO3) contents (%IncMSE = 9.6, p < 0.01), and MAOC/SOC (%IncMSE = 10.5, p < 0.01). The proportion of micro‐aggregate fractions was significant drivers of both SOC contents and MWD. The increased MAOC contents was mainly caused by improving the binding sensitivity of aliphatic compounds to salt‐related compounds, and the contents of C–C/C–H and C=O functional groups. The findings offer new perspectives into the mechanism of SOC sequestration and sustainable development of moderately saline soils under straw returning in the Hetao area.
Preclinical evidence using synthetic compounds and natural products indicates that AMPK represents a potential pharmacological target for the therapy of pulmonary diseases
Authors: Yang Chao , Rubin Limor , Yu Xiyong , Lazarovici Philip , Zheng Wenhua 
Published: January 2024

AbstractAdenosine 5′‐monophosphate (AMP)‐activated protein kinase (AMPK) is a highly conserved eukaryotic enzyme discovered as a key regulator of cellular energy homeostasis, with anti‐inflammation, antioxidative stress, anticancer, and antifibrosis beneficial effects. AMPK is dysregulated in human pulmonary diseases such as acute lung injury, nonsmall cell lung cancer, pulmonary fibrosis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and asthma. This review provides an overview of the beneficial role of natural, synthetic, and Chinese traditional medicines AMPK modulators in pulmonary diseases, and highlights the role of the AMPK signaling pathway in the lung, emphasizing the importance of finding lead compounds and drugs that can target and modulate AMPK to treat the lung diseases.
Carbon‐13 chemical shift tensor measurements for nitrogen‐dense compounds
Authors: Holmes Sean T. , Boley Cameron M. , Dewicki Angelika , Gardner Zachary T. , Vojvodin Cameron S. , Iuliucci Robbie J. , Schurko Robert W. 
Published: January 2024

AbstractThis paper reports the principal values of the 13C chemical shift tensors for five nitrogen‐dense compounds (i.e., cytosine, uracil, imidazole, guanidine hydrochloride, and aminoguanidine hydrochloride). Although these are all fundamentally important compounds, the majority do not have 13C chemical shift tensors reported in the literature. The chemical shift tensors are obtained from 1H→13C cross‐polarization magic‐angle spinning (CP/MAS) experiments that were conducted at a high field of 18.8 T to suppress the effects of 14N‐13C residual dipolar coupling. Quantum chemical calculations using density functional theory are used to obtain the 13C magnetic shielding tensors for these compounds. The best agreement with experiment arises from calculations using the hybrid functional PBE0 or the double‐hybrid functional PBE0‐DH, along with the triple‐zeta basis sets TZ2P or pc‐3, respectively, and intermolecular effects modeled using large clusters of molecules with electrostatic embedding through the COSMO approach. These measurements are part of an ongoing effort to expand the catalog of accurate 13C chemical shift tensor measurements, with the aim of creating a database that may be useful for benchmarking the accuracy of quantum chemical calculations, developing nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) crystallography protocols, or aiding in applications involving machine learning or data mining. This work was conducted at the National High Magnetic Field Laboratory as part of a 2‐week school for introducing undergraduate students to practical laboratory experience that will prepare them for scientific careers or postgraduate studies.
Brewing alcohol 101: An undergraduate experiment utilizing benchtop NMR for quantification and process monitoring
Authors: Jenne Amy , Soong Ronald , Downey Katelyn , Biswas Rajshree Ghosh , Decker Venita , Busse Falko , Goerling Benjamin , Haber Agnes , Simpson Myrna J. , Simpson Andre J. 
Published: January 2024

AbstractIn recent years there has been a renewed interest in benchtop NMR. Given their lower cost of ownership, smaller footprint, and ease of use, they are especially suited as an educational tool. Here, a new experiment targeted at upper‐year undergraduates and first‐year graduate students follows the conversion of D‐glucose into ethanol at low‐field. First, high and low‐field data on D‐glucose are compared and students learn both the Hz and ppm scales and how J‐coupling is field‐independent. The students then acquire their own quantitative NMR datasets and perform the quantification using an Electronic Reference To Access In Vivo Concentration (ERETIC) technique. To our knowledge ERETIC is not currently taught at the undergraduate level, but has an advantage in that internal standards are not required; ideal for following processes or with future use in flow‐based benchtop monitoring. Using this quantitative data, students can relate a simple chemical process (fermentation) back to more complex topics such as reaction kinetics, bridging the gaps between analytical and physical chemistry. When asked to reflect on the experiment, students had an overwhelmingly positive experience, citing agreement with learning objectives, ease of understanding the protocol, and enjoyment. Each of the respondents recommended this experiment as a learning tool for others. This experiment has been outlined for other instructors to utilize in their own courses across institutions, with the hope that a continued expansion of low‐field NMR will increase accessibility and learning opportunities at the undergraduate level.
Impaired plasma glucose clearance is a key determinant of fasting hyperglycemia in people with obesity
Authors: Mittendorfer Bettina , van Vliet Stephan , Smith Gordon I. , Petersen Max C. , Patterson Bruce W. , Klein Samuel 
Published: January 2024

AbstractObjectiveThe objective of this study was to evaluate the relative importance of the basal rate of glucose appearance (Ra) in the circulation and the basal rate of plasma glucose clearance in determining fasting plasma glucose concentration in people with obesity and different fasting glycemic statuses.MethodsThe authors evaluated basal glucose kinetics in 33 lean people with normal fasting glucose (<100 mg/dL; Lean < 100 group) and 206 people with obesity and normal fasting glucose (Ob < 100 group, n = 118), impaired fasting glucose (100–125 mg/dL; Ob 100–125 group, n = 66), or fasting glucose diagnostic of diabetes (≥126 mg/dL; Ob ≥ 126 group, n = 22).ResultsAlthough there was a large (up to three‐fold) range in glucose Ra within each group, the ranges in glucose concentration in the Lean < 100, Ob < 100, and Ob 100–125 groups were small because of a close relationship between glucose Ra and clearance rate. However, the glucose clearance rate at any Ra value was lower in the hyperglycemic than the normoglycemic groups. In the Ob ≥ 126 group, plasma glucose concentration was primarily determined by glucose Ra, because glucose clearance was markedly attenuated.ConclusionsFasting hyperglycemia in people with obesity represents a disruption of the precisely regulated integration of glucose production and clearance rates.image