bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Validity of movement smoothness metrics for upper limb reaching movements in people with moderate to severe subacute stroke
Authors: CORNEC Gwenaël , LEMPEREUR Mathieu , MENSAH-GOURMEL Johanne , ROBERTSON Johanna , MIRAMAND Ludovic , MEDEE Beatrice , BELLAICHE Soline , GROSS Raphael , GRACIES Jean-Michel , REMY-NERIS Olivier , BAYLE Nicolas 
Published: January 2024

Abstract
Background: Movement smoothness is a potential kinematic biomarker of upper extremity (UE) movement quality and recovery after stroke; however, the validity of available smoothness metrics has not been determined in this group. We aimed to measure the responsiveness to change, reliability, convergent and criterion (concurrent and predictive) validity of several smoothness metrics.
Methods: This ancillary study of the REM-AVC trial included 31 participants with hemiparesis in the subacute phase of stroke (median time since stroke: 38 days). Assessments performed at inclusion (Day 0, D0) and at the end of a rehabilitation program (Day 30, D30) included the UE Fugl Meyer Assessment (UE-FMA), the Action Research Arm Test (ARAT), and 3D motion analysis of the UE during three reach-to-point movements at a self-selected speed to a target located in front at shoulder height and at 90% of arm length. Four smoothness metrics were computed: a frequency domain smoothness metric, spectral arc length metric (SPARC); and three temporal domain smoothness metrics (TDSM): log dimensionless jerk (LDLJ); number of submovements (nSUB); and normalized average rectified jerk (NARJ).
Results: At D30, movements were significantly shorter in duration and trajectory, straighter, faster and smoother (highest effect size for smoothness change: SPARC, 0.76). Intra-subject coefficients of variation were <10% for SPARC and LDLJ, and >30% for nSUB and NARJ. SPARC was strongly correlated with all TDSM, and the TDSM were very strongly correlated with each other. Concurrent validity at D0 was higher for SPARC than TDSM in terms of correlation with proximal UE-FMA, ARAT and index of curvature (r: 0.56, 0.68 and 0.87 respectively, all p<0.01). At D30, concurrent validity was similar between all smoothness metrics. TDSM were very strongly correlated with movement duration at D0 and D30. Finally, SPARC had the highest predictive validity among the four smoothness metrics.
Conclusions: Of the four smoothness metrics, the SPARC had the highest sensitivity to change, reliability, construct and criterion validity for the evaluation of the UE in people with moderate to severe stroke in the subacute phase. Among the TDSM, LDLJ was the most reliable.
Trial Registration: NCT01383512, https://clinicaltrials.gov/, June 27, 2011
Main Clinical Characteristics of Medication Overuse Headache
Authors: Todorovic Stefan , Ljubisavljevic Srdjan , Damjanovic Radomir 
Published: January 2024

Abstract
Introduction: Medication overuse headache (MOH) is a secondary headache that occurs 15 or more days per month in patients with preexisting headache. This can result from the excessive (10 or 15 days/month) use of drugs for acute or symptomatic headache therapy. Aim: To examine the relationships between demographic parameters, illnesses and habits of life, clinical type and length of previous headache and MOH and clinical features of MOH. Materials and methods: This study was conducted at the Clinic of Neurology, Clinical Center of Niš, and included 83 patients (11 men and 72 women) who were first diagnosed with MOH. The mean age of the patients in the study cohort was 40.5 ± 11.6 years. The study was performed in strict accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki after informed consent was obtained from each participant in the study. The study was approved by the local ethics committee. Results: In the study cohort, there were more women (86.7%), nonsmokers (59%), those who did not consume alcohol (95.2%), those who were physically inactive (90.4%), those who consumed caffeinated beverages (89.2%), and those with diseases of the cardiovascular (12%) or osseous joint system (10.8%). MOH was most commonly generated by chronic migraine (64%). The duration of MOH until diagnosis was 5.1 ± 5.5 years. The following MOH characteristics were observed: moderate pain (45.8%), bilateral localization (56.6%), temporal presentation (65.1%), and neck tightness (81.9%). Common (41%) and combination analgesics (48.2%) were used most frequently, 15 to 25 days per month. The impact of MOH on daily life was assessed as significant (HIT − 65.4 ± 5.5), correlating with the duration of earlier chronic headaches (r = 0.327, p = 0.003). Conclusion: MOH can be generated by the transformation of a previous chronic headache due to overuse of analgesic therapy. The MOH significantly affects all aspects of a patient's life. MOH can be prevented by educating patients by limiting the use of analgesic therapy, especially in the at-risk group (middle-aged women with chronic migraines). The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare.
A Study on the Impact of Atmospheric Composite Pollutants on Air Quality and Human Health in Gansu Province under Varying Intensity Dust Storm Conditions
Authors: cao Yaqun , Ju Tianzhen , Li Bingnan , Wang Jiaqi , Li Jiachen 
Published: January 2024

Abstract

In order to study the impact of different intensity of sandstorm dew on air quality in Gansu Province, this paper selects sandstorm weather, sandy weather and floating dust weather, and combines the OMI data of various pollutants, ground observation data, and BenMAP-CE health modeling analysis, to explore the evolution characteristics of various pollutants under different sandstorms and dusty weather, and the impact on human health. The results indicate that during dust storms, blowing sand, and floating dust weather conditions, the maximum concentrations of PM10 in Gansu Province are 20, 7, and 4 times the threshold for mild pollution, respectively. The maximum concentrations of PM2.5 are 10, 5, and 3 times the threshold for mild pollution. Under dust storm conditions, the NO2, and O3 concentrations are 3.1 and 1.6 times the conventional values, respectively. Under blowing sand conditions, the NO2, and O3 concentrations are 2.7 and 4.1 times the conventional values. Under floating dust conditions, the NO2 and O3 concentrations are 3.1 and 1.9 times the conventional values. This study finds that based on the BenMap-CE model, the exposure-related mortality risks, including overall mortality, cardiovascular diseases, respiratory diseases, and lung cancer deaths, under the influence of dust weather in Gansu in 2021 are consistent. These risks are closely related to high concentrations of pollutants and the local population base. Therefore, paying attention to the assessment of air quality and the health of residents during dust weather is of great significance.
Machine Learning of Speckle Images Assisted Wearable Temperature Skin with Implanted Fiber Optic Sensor
Authors: SHI FANG-FEI , WANG XIN-WEI , DING KUI-HUA , FAN HAI-LONG , JIN GANG , LIANG HU , KONG LING-XIN 
Published: January 2024

Abstract

Machine learning based fiber optic sensing technology is expected to achieve integrated low-cost demodulation solutions in future miniaturized human temperature sensing. In this work, we proposed a machine learning of speckle images assisted wearable temperature skin with implanted fiber optic sensor. The balloon type sensor is sandwiched between two flexible Polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) films and nested on a hard UV polymer cap. The volume of UV polymer cap will change with temperature, thereby driving changes in the radius of balloon shaped optical fiber. This leads to changes in the speckle pattern generated at the end of the optical fiber, which is then demodulated through machine learning. The experiment shows the speckle variation of the sensor every 0.1°C in the temperature range of 36.4°C to 37.4°C. The "SpeckleNet" regression model based on Visual Geometry Group-16 (VGG-16) is proposed, which adopts fewer convolutional and max pooling kernels, and uses fewer fully-connected layers to reduce computational complexity. The prediction accuracy of the model can reach 99.88%. The research content of this article has good application prospects in the field of human wearable temperature sensors.
Application of IUCN Red List Criteria for Regional Assessment of Some Northern Savanna Trees of Nigeria, West Africa
Authors: Nodza George Isaac , Tochukwu Eze , Igbari Aramide Dolapo , Onuminya Temitope Olabisi , Ogundipe Oluwatoyin Temidayo 
Published: January 2024

Abstract

Nigeria is one of the most floristic rich countries on the continent of Africa due to the variation in climate, which favors the growth of several species. Sadly, its biodiversity is one of the most threatened in the world mainly due to deforestation and various forms of unsustainable land use patterns, which are human activities. However, these anthropogenic activities are more prevalent in Nigeria's northern savanna zone (NSZ). In this study, we present the first regional Conservation assessments and Red Listing of tree species of the Northern Savanna Zone (NSZ) of Nigeria according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) criteria and categories. We recorded 31 tree species as the most utilized in the region in the region. For the assessments, we provided the fundamental taxonomic information of each species, their local names, and uses. This study provided the extent of occurrence, area of occupancy, population size and trend, a description of habitats, ecological requirements; discussion of the threats affecting each species and their habitats. We further also inform conservation actions and research activities needed to ensure the future of the tree species and their sustainable uses. Overall, about 97% of the taxa were evaluated as threatened (41% as Endangered, 31% as critically endangered, 24% as Vulnerable, and 4% as Least Concerned). Based on this, we recommend the adoption of the risk status of the species to develop sound conservation strategies and measures for the management of flora in this inundated region
Therapeutic implementation of single-cell sequencing for dissecting colorectal cancer immune microenvironment
Authors: Li Liqi , Zhou Xiaoshu 
Published: January 2024

Abstract

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a highly prevalent malignancy in the digestive system around the globe that is characterized by intricate pathogenesis, progression and poor prognosis. Recent studies indicate that tumor immune microenvironment (TIME) is a crucial mediator of tumorigenesis and progression with substantial diagnostic and prognostic value, which is a complex network of malignant cells, immune cells, endothelial cells, extracellular matrix, interstitial components and various molecular factors. Therefore, comprehensive profiling of CRC-associated TIME may substantially contribute to the research on CRC pathology while accelerating pharmaceutical development for effective CRC immunotherapy. However, CRC tissues tend to exhibit high cell heterogeneity, which severely compromises the accuracy of the TIME profiling data acquired through conventional sequencing methods as they are incapable of discriminating different cell populations. Single-cell sequencing (SCS) is a novel sequencing technology capable of comprehensively characterizating individual cells at a high resolution, thereby preserving heterogeneous tissue information and the transcriptional data of rare cell populations. SCS technology-enabled profiling of CRC-associated TIME offers emerging opportunities for elucidating the pathogenesis and progression mechanisms of CRC. This work provides a comprehensive summary on the unique merits and potential breakthroughs of SCS technology in the context of CRC-associated TIME characterization, which may facilitate the development and optimization of intervention strategies for CRC in the clinics.
ALKBH5 promotes Liver hepatocellular carcinoma cell proliferation, migration and invasion by regulating TTI1 expression
Authors: Chang Qimeng , Zhou Xiang , Mao Huarong , Feng Jinfeng , Wu Xubo , Zhang Ziping , Hu Zhiqiu 
Published: January 2024

Abstract
Purpose
The objective of this research was to investigate the potential mechanisms of ALKBH5 in Liver Hepatocellular Carcinoma (LIHC).
Methods
We examined the expression of ALKBH5 in pan-cancer and its correlation with clinical factors of LIHC. In vitro experiments were conducted to verify ALKBH5 expression in LIHC and its effect on LIHC cell proficiency. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were screened from LIHC patients associated with ALKBH5, and downstream genes associated with ALKBH5 were identified by bioinformatics analysis. We further examined the expression of the downstream genes and constructed a prognostic nomogram. Lastly, we analyzed the exact functions of ALKBH5 and TTI1 in LIHC cells.
Results
We found that ALKBH5 is significantly overexpressed in most pan-cancer types. In vitro experiments confirmed ALKBH5 as an oncogene in LIHC, with its knockdown suppressing the proliferation, migration, and invasion of LIHC cells. Bioinformatics analyses revealed that TTI1 is significantly positively correlated with ALKBH5. TTI1 was highly expressed in LIHC cells and has good prognostic ability for LIHC patients. Further experimental evidence confirmed that the suppression of TTI1 impeded cell proliferation, migration, and invasion, an impact partially offset by the overexpression of ALKBH5. In contrast, the promotion of these cellular progressions was observed with TTI1 overexpression but was tempered by a decrease in ALKBH5 expression.
Conclusion
In conclusion, our findings indicate that ALKBH5 may influence the proliferation, migration and invasion of LIHC by modulating TTI1 expression, providing a new direction for the treatment of LIHC.
Breaking the association between gametocidal gene(s) and leaf rust resistance gene (LrS2427) in Triticum aestivum-Aegilops speltoides derivative by gamma irradiation
Authors: R Ragini , Murukan Niranjana , Sekhon Navpreet Kaur , Chugh Chetna , Yadav Prachi , Mallick Niharika , Jha Shailendra Kumar , Tandon Gitanjali , Verma Aakriti , Agarwal Priyanka , Singh Bhupinder , Jacob Sherry Rachel , Iquebal Mir Asif , K Raghunandan , Prabhu Kumble Vinod , Tomar Shivmangal Singh , Vinod . 
Published: January 2024

Abstract

Utilization of crop wild relatives of wheat can be very effective in building the genetic diversity to cater to the evolving strains of disease pathogens. Aegilops speltoides is a rich source of rust resistance genes however transferring those to wheat genome can be tedious due to co-transfer and preferential transmission of undesirable genes causing gametocidal activity. Such an unholy association was observed in Triticum aestivum-Ae. speltoides derivative line Sel. 2427 which possess the broad-spectrum leaf rust seedling resistance gene (LrS2427). In situ hybridization studies revealed the presence of S genome in Sel. 2427, showing translocations to six telomeric regions involving four chromosomes. This confirms the presence of genes associated with gametocidal activity along with the beneficial LrS2427. QTLs associated with the component traits of gametocidal activity have been localized to 2A, 2D, 3D chromosomes however candidate genes for fertility were identified only in 2A and 2D chromosomes. This is in accordance with the reports of gametocidal genes mapped to 2S chromosomes in Ae. speltoides. To break the inadvertent association, F1(Agra Local X Sel. 2427) seeds were irradiated with gamma rays and leaf rust resistant mutants lacking gametocidal activity were developed. These mutants showed resistance to different races of leaf rust pathogen and showed superior agronomic performance as well. These mutants could be a great resource in wheat improvement for utilization of the leaf rust resistance gene LrS2427 without any yield penalty.
The Role of Hexokinases in Epigenetic Regulation: Altered Hexokinase Expression and Chromatin Stability in Yeast
Authors: Karri Srinivasu , Dickinson Quinn , Jia Jing , Gan Haiyun , Wang Zhiquan , Deng Yibin , Yu Chuanhe 
Published: January 2024

Abstract

Background. Human hexokinase 2 (HK2) plays an important role in regulating Warburg effect, which metabolizes glucose to lactate acid even in the presence of ample oxygen and provides intermediate metabolites to support cancer cell proliferation and tumor growth. HK2 overexpression has been observed in various types of cancers and targeting HK2-driven Warburg effect has been suggested as a potential cancer therapeutic strategy. Given that epigenetic enzymes utilize metabolic intermediates as substrates or co-factors to carry out post-translational modification of DNA and histones in cells, we hypothesized that altering HK2 expression-mediated cellular glycolysis rates could impact the epigenome and, consequently, genome stability in yeast. To test this hypothesis, we established genetic models with different yeast hexokinase 2 (HXK2) expression in Saccharomyces cerevisiae yeast cells and investigated the effect of HXK2-dependent metabolism on parental nucleosome transfer, a key DNA replication–coupled epigenetic inheritance process, and chromatin stability.
Results. By comparing the growth of mutant yeast cells carrying single deletion of hxk1Δ, hxk2Δ, or double-loss of hxk1Δ hxk2Δ to wild-type cells, we demonstrated that HXK2 is the dominant HXK in yeast cell growth. Surprisingly, manipulating HXK2 expression in yeast, whether through overexpression or deletion, had only a marginal impact on parental nucleosome assembly, but a noticeable trend with decrease chromatin instability. However, targeting yeast cells with 2-deoxy-D-glucose (2-DG), a HK2 inhibitor that has been proposed as an anti-cancer treatment, significantly increased chromatin instability.
Conclusion. Our findings suggest that in yeast cells lacking HXK2, alternative HXKs such as HXK1 or glucokinase 1 (GLK1) play a role in supporting glycolysis at a level that adequately maintain epigenomic stability. While our study demonstrated an increase in epigenetic instability with 2-DG treatment, the observed effect seemed to occur independently of Hxk2-mediated glycolysis inhibition. Thus, additional research is needed to identify the molecular mechanism through which 2-DG influences chromatin stability.
CYB5D2 inhibits the malignant progression of hepatocellular carcinoma by inhibiting TGF-β expression and epithelial-mesenchymal transition
Authors: Jiang Dong , Qi Zhi , Xu Zhi-ying , Li Yi-ran 
Published: January 2024

Abstract
Aim
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a common liver malignancy. In this study, our goal was to investigate how TGF-β and CYB5D2 function in the etiology of HCC and their potential as prognostic biomarkers.
Methods
Gene co-expression network and prognostic analysis were executed on the GSE101685 dataset, and CYB5D2 was determined to be a hub gene. Then the expression of CYB5D2 and TGF-β in HCC and their correlation were detected. In vitro experiments analyzed the effects of CYB5D2 and TGF-β on the progression of HCC. Tumor xenograft experiments were performed to detect the regulation of CYB5D2 overexpression on tumor growth.
Results
Immunohistochemistry (IHC) and expression analysis results showed that CYB5D2 can serve as a tumor suppressor in HCC. In contrast, TGF-β, which is inversely correlated with CYB5D2, was overexpressed in liver hepatocellular carcinoma (LIHC) and linked to poor patient prognosis. In vitro experiments confirmed that CYB5D2 expression was upregulated in HCC cell lines, while TGF-β expression was upregulated, and results from the Human Protein Atlas (HPA) database confirmed these findings. Functional analysis showed that CYB5D2 overexpression inhibited the proliferation, migration, and invasion of HCC cells and induced G1 phase arrest. Furthermore, TGF-β treatment counteracted CYB5D2-mediated epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) marker expression and tumor progression. Finally, in vivo studies showed that CYB5D2 overexpression significantly reduced tumor growth, suggesting its potential anticancer activity against HCC.
Conclusion
Overall, the tumor suppressor function of CYB5D2 in HCC and its interaction with TGF-β offer fresh information on the molecular pathophysiology of HCC and possible treatment avenues.
Synthesis of silica aerogels by sol-gel method and its use as pharmaceutical carriers
Authors: Mirjalili Fatemeh , Manafi Sahebali , Kiahosseini Seyed Rahim 
Published: January 2024

Abstract
Today, researchers are looking for non-toxic matrices that provide preferential release, or specifically controlled release, by loading drugs in these areas. For this reason, areas such as high specific surface silica aerogels are considered, which can increase the absorption by up to 5 times and as a result, one-fifth of the usual amount of drugs can be used as a drug dose. In this research, it was tried to obtain the most desirable method of silica aerogel production with the most available and economical process by examining the sol-gel method. The results of the scanning electron microscope confirmed the production of silica aerogel with nano porosities. X-ray results showed that the produced silica aerogel had an amorphous or amorphous structure and did not have a crystalline structure. In addition, to replace anti-inflammatory which improved the solubility of drugs in the body. As a result, during this study, silica aerogel was produced by sol-gel method with nano porous porosity, and after loading in the pharmaceutical field, the structural and morphological properties were changed in the drugs that could improve the solubility process.
Green Synthesis of Silver Nanoparticles and Comprehensive Characterization for Biomedical Applications
Authors: Doğan Sema Yiyit , Kaya Seçil , Solak Ebru Kondolot 
Published: January 2024

Abstract
This study details the preparation and extraction process of Origanum onites plant extract collected from Denizli, Turkey. The leaves were meticulously cleaned, dried, and ground before undergoing extraction in a water-ethanol solution using a Soxhlet Apparatus at 100 ºC for 6 h. The resulting extract was evaporated and stored for future use at + 4°C. Afterwards, the extract was utilized in the green synthesis of silver nanoparticles by adding it to a solution of silver nitrate. The impact of temperature on the synthesis of silver nanoparticles was explored across various temperature values (30 ºC, 60 ºC, and 90 ºC). Furthermore, the influence of reaction time on silver nanoparticle formation was investigated at the determined optimum temperature, with examination periods set at 60, 120, and 180 minutes. The influence of temperature on the antioxidant activity and cytotoxicity of the synthesized nanoparticles has been explored across three distinct temperature values. Characterization of the Silver Nanoparticles (AgNPs) included UV–Vis Spectrophotometry for surface plasmon resonance, Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) for morphological analysis, Energy Dispersive X-ray analysis (EDX) for elemental composition, Particle size distribution and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) spectroscopy for interpreting chemical bonds and functional groups.