bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Effect of FLRT3 on epithelial-mesenchymal transition in clear cell renal cell carcinoma
Authors: Wang Jiongming , Xie Zhouzhou , Peng Shansen , Huang Yueting , Chen Baitong , Chen Nanhui 
Published: February 2025

Objective: FLRT3 is a member of the fibronectin leucine-rich transmembrane protein family, which regulates cell-cell adhesion and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). However, the role of FLRT3 in clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) remains unknown; therefore, we explored the potential role of FLRT3 in ccRCC. Methods: We analyzed FLRT3 expression levels in ccRCC tissues across multiple databases. We examined the relationship between FLRT3 expression and EMT through single-cell data and transcriptional regulatory network analyses. Additionally, we investigated the association between FLRT3 expression levels and various clinicopathological indicators, compared the impact of FLRT3 expression on patient prognosis, and constructed a nomogram prognostic model. Furthermore, we performed enrichment analyses on differentially expressed genes to reveal potential biological functions and mechanisms. Results: FLRT3 expression levels were significantly lower in ccRCC tissues compared to normal kidney tissues and progressively decreased with advancing pathological stages and grades. FLRT3 mediated the promotion of EMT by transcription factor ATF4; survival analysis indicated that patients with high FLRT3 expression had significantly better overall survival compared to those with low FLRT3 expression. Enrichment analysis revealed that FLRT3 was associated with epithelial cell differentiation, retinol metabolic processes, and collagen-containing extracellular matrix. Conclusion: FLRT3 expression is downregulated in ccRCC and may promote EMT through transcription factor ATF4. Downregulation of FLRT3 is associated with poor prognosis.
Are M&As with IT Firms More Value Additive than Non-IT Firms? A Paradigm Shift of M&A Puzzle
Authors: Hossain Mohammed Sawkat , Bishwas Prodip Chandra 
Published: February 2025

Mergers and acquisitions (M&As) are common investment tactics for corporate restructuring. They serve as dynamic strategies to improve firm performances by leveraging synergy benefits, economies of scale, acquisition premiums, market strength, positioning of new markets, risk reduction, and management integration, among other factors. Prior scholarly works present inadequate empirical evidence and analysis to examine if firms with strong IT capabilities should be the targets of M&As. To address this fundamental issue, we provide global evidence based on cross-country panel data between January 2002 and December 2021 for M&As with IT and non-IT specialized firms, along with an in-depth meta-analysis. Our results document that the market-based and accounting-based performances of M&As with IT firms are significantly higher than those of M&As with non-IT firms. M&As with IT firms have comparatively better financial stability, creditworthiness, and exposure to higher market value than corresponding M&As with non-IT firms. The study results and inferences are mostly consistent across all possible subsample analyses of cross-countries, group sizes, and crisis periods. Hence, M&As with IT affiliation possess comparatively higher value than M&As with non-IT sectors. This research study explores our understanding of dynamic corporate strategy and investment tactics in international business. JEL Classification G34
Passengers’ seat vibration exposure on turboprop aircraft flights
Authors: Mansfield Neil J , Vink Peter , Vledder Gerbera , Yao Xinhe , Herbig Britta , Reichherzer Anna S , Bellmann Michael 
Published: February 2025

Background Turboprop aircraft offer the possibility of lower emissions for regional travel in comparison to jets. Future low-carbon aircraft concepts include propeller-generated thrust powered from fuel cells, hydrogen, biofuel, battery or hybrid power. The noise and vibration experienced in a turboprop cabin is different to that experienced in a jet, with signals characterised by tonal components related to the propeller blade pass frequency. These components have been associated with noise and vibration discomfort. There are few published studies of aircraft cabin vibration measured on the seat surface according to ISO2631-1; none report data for the whole flight. Objective The objective was to measure and evaluate the vibration experienced by passengers for complete turboprop flights and compare vibration data with standards associated with vibration comfort. Methods Vibration data was measured on the surface of three occupied seats during two turboprop aircraft flights. Measurements were made on full flights, and covered the entire duration from gate-to-gate. Results Data showed that the vibration is highly tonal, and is affected by position and flight phase. Frequency-weighted vibration showed magnitudes below thresholds for health risk. The highest magnitudes of vibration occurred at the blade pass frequency and its harmonics. These frequencies are rejected by standard comfort assessment methods that use frequency weightings. Conclusions Whole-body vibration exposure in the turboprop tested in this study did not approach health risk thresholds using ISO2631-1. Analysis of the vibrational comfort requires use of band-limited vibration assessment methods to include the dominant vibration components in analysis.
Assistive technology provision at mainstream schools—Experiences of Serbian resource centers
Authors: Glumbić Nenad , Đorđević Mirjana , Slavković Sanela , Schembri Sharon Borg , Agius May , Magni Riccardo , Mavrou Katerina , Theodorou Eleni , Mouka Maria , Hoogerwerf Evert-Jan , Desideri Lorenzo 
Published: February 2025

Background Over the last 15 years, inclusive education has been formally established in Serbia as a mandatory approach for all students, ensuring equal rights and access to education without discrimination on any grounds. In addition to mainstream schools, Serbia also has special schools for students with developmental challenges and disabilities. Although some special schools in Serbia have been functioning as resource centers (RCs) for a long time now, 13 RCs have only recently been officially established, aiming to support inclusive education through assistive technology (AT) among other things. Objective The research reported in this study was conducted within a project that aims to address challenges in implementing and improving inclusive education in the Republic of Serbia, focusing on the existing capacities and difficulties in how RCs provide AT services to mainstream schools to offer a set of recommendations to inform the development of RCs in the country. Method A SWOT analysis involving 80 respondents was conducted. Fifty-three respondents completed a questionnaire online, while further 27 respondents participated in five focus groups. Groups involved experts working in the RCs, suppliers and manufacturers of AT, parents of persons with disabilities, and expert associates from mainstream schools. The data was analyzed using a SWOT framework. Results The respondents reported that human capacities (e.g., motivation and experience) were the main strength. Weaknesses included lack of specific and modern knowledge about working with children with different conditions, as well as specific knowledge about the AT itself. Intersectoral cooperation was pointed out as the main opportunity, while obstacles were recognized in almost all work segments (lack of finances, lack of staff, lack of adequate legal regulations and communication and cooperation). Conclusion Based on the results achieved, potential solutions for overcoming the existing obstacles in resource centers were proposed.
Integrated Bioinformatic Analyses Reveal Thioredoxin as a Putative Marker of Cancer Stem Cells and Prognosis in Prostate Cancer
Authors: Sugiki Shigeru , Horie Tetsuhiro , Kunii Kenshiro , Sakamoto Takuya , Nakamura Yuka , Chikazawa Ippei , Morita Nobuyo , Ishigaki Yasuhito , Miyazawa Katsuhito 
Published: February 2025

Objectives: Prostate cancer stem cells (CSCs) play an important role in cancer cell survival, proliferation, metastasis, and recurrence; thus, removing CSCs is important for complete cancer removal. However, the mechanisms underlying CSC functions remain largely unknown, making it difficult to develop new anticancer drugs targeting CSCs. Herein, we aimed to identify novel factors that regulate stemness and predict prognosis. Methods: We reanalyzed 2 single-cell RNA sequencing data of prostate cancer (PCa) tissues using Seurat. We used gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) to estimate CSCs and identified common upregulated genes in CSCs between these datasets. To investigate whether its expression levels change over CSC differentiation, we performed a trajectory analysis using monocle 3. In addition, GSEA helped us understand how the identified genes regulate stemness. Finally, to assess their clinical significance, we used the Cancer Genome Atlas database to evaluate their impact on prognosis. Results: The expression of thioredoxin ( TXN), a redox enzyme, was approximately 1.2 times higher in prostate CSCs than in PCa cells ( P < 1 × 10−10), and TXN expression decreased over CSC differentiation. In addition, GSEA suggested that intracellular signaling pathways, including MYC, may be involved in stemness regulation by TXN. Furthermore, TXN expression correlated with poor prognosis (P < .05) in PCa patients with high stemness. Conclusions: Despite the limited sample size in our study and the need for further in vitro and in vivo experiments to demonstrate whether TXN functionally regulates prostate CSCs, our findings suggest that TXN may serve as a novel therapeutic target against CSCs. Moreover, TXN expression in CSCs could be a useful marker for predicting the prognosis of PCa patients.
Single-cell Analysis Highlights Anti-apoptotic Subpopulation Promoting Malignant Progression and Predicting Prognosis in Bladder Cancer
Authors: Chen Linhuan , Hao Yangyang , Zhai Tianzhang , Yang Fan , Chen Shuqiu , Lin Xue , Li Jian 
Published: February 2025

Backgrounds: Bladder cancer (BLCA) has a high degree of intratumor heterogeneity, which significantly affects patient prognosis. We performed single-cell analysis of BLCA tumors and organoids to elucidate the underlying mechanisms. Methods: Single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) data of BLCA samples were analyzed using Seurat, harmony, and infercnv for quality control, batch correction, and identification of malignant epithelial cells. Gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA), cell trajectory analysis, cell cycle analysis, and single-cell regulatory network inference and clustering (SCENIC) analysis explored the functional heterogeneity between malignant epithelial cell subpopulations. Cellchat was used to infer intercellular communication patterns. Co-expression analysis identified co-expression modules of the anti-apoptotic subpopulation. A prognostic model was constructed using hub genes and Cox regression, and nomogram analysis was performed. The tumor immune dysfunction and exclusion (TIDE) algorithm was applied to predict immunotherapy response. Results: Organoids recapitulated the cellular and mutational landscape of the parent tumor. BLCA progression was characterized by mesenchymal features, epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), immune microenvironment remodeling, and metabolic reprograming. An anti-apoptotic tumor subpopulation was identified, characterized by aberrant gene expression, transcriptional instability, and a high mutational burden. Key regulators of this subpopulation included CEBPB, EGR1, ELF3, and EZH2. This subpopulation interacted with immune and stromal cells through signaling pathways such as FGF, CXCL, and VEGF to promote tumor progression. Myofibroblast cancer-associated fibroblasts (mCAFs) and inflammatory cancer-associated fibroblasts (iCAFs) differentially contributed to metastasis. Protein-protein interaction (PPI) network analysis identified functional modules related to apoptosis, proliferation, and metabolism in the anti-apoptotic subpopulation. A 5-gene risk model was developed to predict patient prognosis, which was significantly associated with immune checkpoint gene expression, suggesting potential implications for immunotherapy. Conclusions: We identified a distinct anti-apoptotic tumor subpopulation as a key driver of tumor progression with prognostic significance, laying the foundation for the development of new therapeutic strategies to improve patient outcomes.
Downregulation of DNAJC12 Expression Predicts Worse Survival for ER-Positive Breast Cancer Patients
Authors: Gatti Pedro Henrique Fernandes , Mangone Flavia Regina Rotea , Pavanelli Ana Carolina , Nonogaki Suely , Osorio Cynthia Aparecida Bueno de Toledo , Capelozzi Vera Luiza , Nagai Maria Aparecida 
Published: February 2025

Background: DNAJC12 (DnaJ heat shock protein family (Hsp40) member C12) encodes a member of the molecular chaperone Hsp40/DnaJ family, which are important protein folding and proteostasis regulators. Its role as a biomarker has been studied for a limited number of cancer types. Objectives: Here, we sought to investigate the potential of DNAJC12 mRNA and protein expression as a prognostic and predictive biomarker for breast cancer (BC). Methods: Using in silico analysis and data from immunohistochemistry analysis (IHC) of 292 samples from patients with primary BC, we determined the expression pattern and prognostic value of DNAJC12 mRNA and protein expression. Results: From online publicly available data, we were able to identify the transcripts of DNAJC12 as differentially expressed in patients with different clinicopathological characteristics, such as ER status ( P < .001), PR status ( P < .001), HER2 status ( P < .010) and molecular subtype ( P ⩽ .001). We also found DNAJC12 to be a potential prognostic predictor for overall survival, disease-free survival, and responsiveness to treatment; a low DNAJC12 mRNA expression is commonly associated with a worse prognosis. Using IHC analysis, we showed that low DNAJC12 protein-level expression is also associated with a worse prognosis in patients with all subtypes of BC and patients with Luminal BC, and its expression is significantly different between patients with different tumor size classifications (T1/T2 vs T3/T4; P = .013) or with different lymph node involvement (N0 vs N+; P = .005). Conclusion: Our findings suggested a potential role for DNAJC12 as a prognostic and predictive biomarker for BC.
A National Mobile Medical Unit (MMU) Program to Address the Healthcare Needs of Veterans Experiencing Homelessness: An Evaluation Protocol
Authors: J Weber Jillian , Kinney Rebecca L , Roncarati Jill S , Bruemmer Kenneth , Diaz Monica , Albanese Jill 
Published: February 2025

Background: Homelessness remains a public health concern in the United States (U.S.) and ending veteran homelessness has been a significant priority for the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) for over a decade. However, veterans experiencing homelessness (VEH) have unmet healthcare needs and face numerous barriers to accessing and engaging in healthcare. Objectives: The Veterans Health Administration’s (VHA) Homeless Programs Office (HPO) implemented mobile medical units (MMUs) within the tailored primary care model established in 2011 called the Homeless Patient Aligned Care Team (HPACT) program to expand access to care for hard-to-reach VEH. This article outlines the evaluation protocol for the HPACT MMU program to examine the impact of MMUs on engaging and retaining homeless veterans in VA primary care and other supportive services. Design: Using the Reach, Effectiveness, Adoption, Implementation, and Maintenance (RE-AIM) framework, we will assess how mobile services engage VEH in VA primary care and preventive care. This 4-year program evaluation includes a plan to collect individual and organizational level quantitative and qualitative data. Discussion: The first stages of program adoption and implementation have been completed resulting in 25 MMUs being deployed across the U.S. that are fully operational and ready to serve VEH. Early outcomes demonstrate the significant impact of the ability MMUs in reducing barriers such as transportation for VEH, while increasing positive veteran health outcomes. Conclusion: This evaluation will provide insight on the innovative ways in which mobile medical units (MMUs) may expand the boundaries of the VA and external health care systems in efforts to improve health equity and access among our most vulnerable populations. Preliminary outcomes show significant engagement with VEH in the community and interest in the model of care. The program has the potential to play an essential role in achieving VA’s goal of ending veteran homelessness.
Social motor synchrony and interactive rapport in autistic, non-autistic, and mixed-neurotype dyads
Authors: Efthimiou Themis N , Wilks Charlotte EH , Foster Sarah , Dodd Michelle , Sasson Noah J , Ropar Danielle , Lages Martin , Fletcher-Watson Sue , Crompton Catherine J 
Published: February 2025

In non-autistic populations, social motor synchrony during interactions is linked to increased interpersonal rapport – a friendly connection marked by mutual understanding and ease of communication. Previous research indicates autistic individuals show lower social motor synchrony in interactions with both autistic and non-autistic partners. However, it is unclear if this affects rapport, as synchrony’s role in social communication may differ for autistic individuals. The study had three aims: to replicate and extend previous findings of reduced social motor synchrony in dyads with at least one autistic person; second, to examine the relationship between synchrony and rapport in autistic ( n = 12), non-autistic ( n = 17), and mixed dyads ( n = 14); and third, to investigate reliance on motor synchrony for achieving rapport among autistic and non-autistic participants. We found no evidence that dyads with at least one autistic person have less social motor synchrony than dyads without an autistic person. However, we found that social motor synchrony positively affects rapport more in non-autistic dyads than in autistic dyads. Participant-level analysis indicated that non-autistic individuals require higher social motor synchrony levels to achieve high rapport levels than autistic individuals. These results suggest that non-autistic individuals may emphasise movement synchrony as a key component of successful social interaction. Lay abstract During social interactions, people often mirror each other’s movements and gestures, a process called synchrony. This synchrony helps foster a sense of connection, understanding, and ease in communication. While research suggests that autistic people may show less synchrony in their movements compared to non-autistic people, the implications of this difference for building rapport remain unclear. Specifically, it is unknown whether synchrony plays a similar role in rapport-building for autistic individuals as it does for non-autistic individuals, particularly in interactions with autistic versus non-autistic partners. This study had three goals to investigate whether synchrony is lower in conversations involving at least one autistic person; to explore the relationship between synchrony and rapport; and to compare how much autistic and non-autistic people rely on synchrony to feel connected. The findings suggest that while synchrony positively influences rapport more strongly in non-autistic interactions, autistic individuals may rely less on synchrony for rapport. These results highlight differences in how social connection is built, offering deeper insight into social interactions for autistic and non-autistic people.
Time-domain virtual tapping machine method for numerical evaluation of transient acoustic performance in cruise cabins
Authors: Zuo Yingying , Yang Deqing , Xiao Jian 
Published: February 2025

The transient vibration and noise of cabins are crucial contents in cruise comfort design. At present, there is no general calculation method or evaluation standard for transient acoustic performance of cruise cabins. The frequency response analysis method, based on harmonic unit force excitation, cannot sufficiently consider the initial state and damping effect stage of various transient problems, making it difficult to evaluate the performance of transient vibration and noise. In this paper, a general time-domain virtual tapping machine method for numerical evaluation of transient acoustic performance in cruise cabins is proposed. Firstly, a rigid-flexible coupling numerical model between the virtual tapping machine and cruise cabins is established, and the time-domain virtual transient force with a broadband spectrum is obtained. Secondly, the transient vibration and noise of typical cruise cabins are numerically analyzed based on the coupled time-domain finite element method and boundary element method (TDFEM/BEM) and virtual mode synthesis and simulation (VMSS). The low-frequency results are obtained based on the coupled TDFEM/BEM, while the high-frequency results are obtained using the VMSS. Finally, a standard based on single-number quantities (SNQs) is proposed to evaluate the transient acoustic performance of cruise cabins. The effectiveness of the time-domain virtual tapping machine method is verified by real ship tests. The numerical results are consistent with the trend of the test results, and the total level error of the cabin transient noise is within 3 dB. The results demonstrate that the time-domain virtual tapping machine method can accurately calculate the transient response of cabins and quickly evaluate their transient acoustic performance. This paper presents a method for predicting the transient vibration and noise performance in the cabin of cruise ships during the design stage. This approach addresses the gap in the prediction and evaluation of transient noise performance in large cruise ships and provides essential technical support for the acoustic comfort design of luxury cruise ships.