bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Characterization of neutrophil extracellular traps related gene pair for predicting prognosis in hepatocellular carcinoma
Authors: Xu Qian , Ying Huiya , Xie Chunming , Lin Rong , Huang Yangjin , Zhu Ruhuang , Liao Yuejuan , Zeng Yuan , Yu Fujun 
Published: July 2023

AbstractBackgroundHepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a malignant disease with a high incidence rate, high mortality and poor prognosis. Neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs), as an extracellular reticular structure, promote the development and progression of cancer in the tumor microenvironment, and have a promising prospect as a prognostic indicator. In the present study, we elucidated the prognostic value of NET‐related genes.MethodsThe NETs gene pair of The Cancer Genome Atlas cohort was constructed by least absolute shrinkage and selection operator analysis. Samples from the International Cancer Genome Consortium were performed to verify its feasibility. Kaplan–Meier analysis was used to compare the overall survival (OS) rate of the two subgroups. The independent predictors of OS were determined by univariate and multivariate Cox analysis. Furthermore, Gene Ontology term and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway were analyzed by gene set enrichment analysis. The single sample gene set enrichment analysis method was performed to deplore the relationship of risk score with tumor immune microenvironment. The GSE149614 dataset was applied as single cell RNA level validation. PCR was performed to the detect mRNA expression profiles of NETs‐related genes.ResultsOur analysis of the NETs‐related model provides a promising prospect as a prognostic indicator. The OS of high‐risk group patients was significantly reduced. The risk score was an important independent predictor of HCC prognosis. The Nomogram model suggested a favorable classification performance. The drug resistance and sensitivity of tumor cells to chemotherapeutics was significantly correlated with the prognostic gene expression. The immune status of the two risk groups showed a marked difference.ConclusionsThe novel prognostic gene pair and immune landscape could predict the prognosis of HCC patients and provide a new understanding of immunotherapy in HCC.
Outside the pattern: Evolution of the genital asymmetry in Saicinae (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Reduviidae)
Authors: Castro‐Huertas Valentina , Melo María Cecilia 
Published: July 2023

AbstractDespite genital structures in insects being consistently important as systematic and taxonomy evidence, within assassin bugs (Heteroptera, Reduviidae) at least, the male and female genitalic structures of several subfamilies are poorly or totally unknown. The genital structure is mostly symmetric within Saicinae genera, but male genital asymmetry has been recorded in Gallobelgicus, Polytoxus, and recently Pseudosaica. The subfamily has been considered as closely related to Emesinae and Visayanocorinae but this hypothesis has never been tested using a comprehensive taxa sampling, being a constraint to test morphological traits changes or exploring characters' evolution hypotheses. Here, we compiled a morphological data set of 170 characters that includes external morphological characters and genitalia of both sexes of Saicinae which was analyzed cladistically including 55 terminals, comprising 16 genera (64% of the generic diversity), 43 species of Saicinae and 12 outgroups. Saicinae was recovered as polyphyletic, Saicireta correntina is recovered as sister‐species of Empicoris armatus + Collartida (Emesinae), Oncerotrachelus, Carayonia (Visayanocorinae), and the Clade Saicinae sensu stricto. Carayonia orientalis is recovered as sister‐species of Saicinae sensu stricto. Ancestral state reconstruction of symmetry of the male genitalia shows an ancestor with symmetric male genitalia, two independent emergences of asymmetrical male genitalia within Saicinae sensu stricto, and the asymmetrical endosomal sclerites appearing before the other asymmetric traits.
Synergistic improvement of quinoa protein heat‐induced gel properties treated by high‐intensity ultrasound combined with transglutaminase
Authors: Cao Hongwei , Wang Xiaoxue , Wang Chong , Huang Kai , Zhang Yu , Song Hongdong , Zhang Ying , Guan Xiao 
Published: July 2023

AbstractBACKGROUNDQuinoa protein is enriched with a wide range of amino acids, including all nine essential amino acids necessary for the human body, and in appropriate proportions. However, as the main ingredient of gluten‐free food, it is difficult for quinoa to form a certain network structure for lack of gluten protein. The aim of this work was to enhance the gel properties of quinoa protein. Therefore, the texture characteristics of quinoa protein treated with different ultrasound intensities coupled with transglutaminase (TGase) were investigated.RESULTSThe gel strength of quinoa protein gel increased markedly by 94.12% with 600 W ultrasonic treatment, and the water holding capacity increased from 56.6% to 68.33%. The gel solubility was reduced and free amino content increased the apparent viscosity and the consistency index. Changes in the free sulfhydryl group and hydrophobicity indicated that ultrasound stretched protein molecules and exposed active sites. The enhanced intrinsic fluorescence intensity at 600 W demonstrated that ultrasonic treatment affected the conformation of quinoa protein. New bands emerged in sodium dodecylsulfate–polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis indicating that high‐molecular‐weight polymers were generated through TGase‐mediated isopeptide bonds. Furthermore, scanning electron microscopy showed that the gel network structure of TGase‐catalyzed quinoa protein was more uniform and denser, thereby improving the gel quality of quinoa protein.CONCLUSIONThe results suggested that high‐intensity ultrasound combined with TGase would be an effective way to develop higher‐quality quinoa protein gel. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry.
Feasibility and Utility of Routine Point‐of‐Care Gastric Ultrasonography in Patients Undergoing Upper Gastrointestinal Endoscopy Procedures: A Prospective Cohort Study
Authors: Kalagara Hari , Sondekoppam Rakesh V. , Ahmed Ali M. , Venkata Krishna , Pierce Albert , Roth Kaehler J. , Mitchell Rachel , Redden David , Kyanam Kabir Baig Kondal R. , Peter Shajan 
Published: July 2023

ObjectivesPrevious studies have indicated that point‐of‐care ultrasonography (POCUS) of the gastric antrum can predict the adequacy of fasting before surgery and anesthesia. The aim of this study was to evaluate the utility of gastric POCUS in patients undergoing upper gastrointestinal (GI) endoscopy procedures.MethodsWe performed a single‐center cohort study in patients undergoing upper GI endoscopy. Consenting patient's gastric antrum was scanned before anesthetic care for endoscopy to determine the cross‐sectional area (CSA) and qualitatively determine safe and unsafe contents. Further, an estimate of residual gastric volume was determined using the formula and the nomogram methods. Subsequently, gastric secretions aspirated during endoscopy were quantified and further correlated with nomogram and formula‐based assessments. No patient required a change in the primary anesthetic plan except for using rapid sequence induction in those with unsafe contents on POCUS scans.ResultsQualitative ultrasound measurements consistently determined safe and unsafe gastric residual contents in 83 patients enrolled in the study. Unsafe contents were determined by qualitative scans in 4 out of 83 cases (5%) despite adequate fasting status. Quantitatively, only a moderate correlation was demonstrated between measured gastric volumes and nomogram (r = .40, 95% CI: 0.20, 0.57; P = .0002) or formula‐based (r = .38, 95% CI: 0.17, 0.55; P = .0004) determinations of residual gastric volumes.ConclusionIn daily clinical practice, qualitative POCUS determination of residual gastric content is a feasible and useful technique to identify patients at risk of aspiration before upper GI endoscopy procedures.
Introducing Dynamicity: Engineering Stress Relaxation Into Hydrogels Via Thiol‐Ene Modified Alginate for Mechanobiological in vitro Modeling of the Cornea
Authors: Feliciano Antonio. J. , Grant Rhiannon , Fernández‐Pérez Julia , Giselbrecht Stefan , Baker Matthew. B. 
Published: July 2023

AbstractDeveloping biomaterials for corneal repair and regeneration is crucial for maintaining clear vision. The cornea, a specialized tissue, relies on corneal keratocytes, that respond to their mechanical environment. Altering stiffness affects keratocyte behavior, but static stiffness alone cannot capture the dynamic properties of in vivo tissue. This study proposes that the cornea exhibits time‐dependent mechanical properties, similar to other tissues, and aims to replicate these properties in potential therapeutic matrices. First, the cornea's stress relaxation properties are investigated using nanoindentation, revealing 15% relaxation within 10 seconds. Hydrogel dynamicity is then modulated using a specially formulated alginate‐PEG and alginate‐norbornene mixture. The tuning of the hydrogel's dynamicity is achieved through a photoinitiated norbornene‐norbornene dimerization reaction, resulting in relaxation times ranging from 30 seconds to 10 minutes. Human primary corneal keratocytes are cultured on these hydrogels, demonstrating reduced αSMA (alpha smooth muscle actin) expression and increased filopodia formation on slower relaxing hydrogels, resembling their native phenotype. This in vitro model can enable the optimization of stress relaxation for various cell types, including corneal keratocytes, to control tissue formation. Combining stress relaxation optimization with stiffness assessment provides a more accurate tool for studying cell behavior and reduces mechanical mismatch with native tissues in implanted constructs.
Spatial attention modulates auditory dominance in audiovisual order judgment
Authors: Cai Mengtong , Bao Yan 
Published: July 2023

AbstractAuditory dominance in audiovisual temporal order judgment is shown here to be modulated by exogenous orienting of attention to a spatial cue independent of the cue modality. The visual stimulus has to lead the auditory one further in advance for cued relative to uncued locations in order for the two to be perceived simultaneously, possibly suggesting an inhibitory function of spatial attention on temporal processing.
Impact of model‐informed precision dosing on achievement of vancomycin exposure targets in pediatric patients with cystic fibrosis
Authors: Frymoyer Adam , Schwenk Hayden T. , Brockmeyer Jake M. , Bio Laura 
Published: July 2023

AbstractBackgroundVancomycin is commonly used to treat acute pulmonary exacerbations in pediatric patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) and a history of methicillin‐resistant Staphylococcus aureus. Optimizing vancomycin exposure during therapy is essential and area under‐the‐curve (AUC)‐guided dosing is now recommended. Model‐informed precision dosing (MIPD) utilizing Bayesian forecasting is a powerful approach that can support AUC‐guided dose individualization. The objective of the current study was to examine the impact of implementing an AUC‐guided dose individualization approach supported via a MIPD clinical decision support (CDS) tool on vancomycin exposure, target attainment rate, and safety in pediatric patients with CF treated with vancomycin during clinical care.MethodsA retrospective chart review was performed in patients with CF at a single children's hospital comparing pre‐ and post‐implementation of a MIPD approach for vancomycin supported by a cloud‐based, CDS tool integrated into the electronic health record (EHR). In the pre‐MIPD period, vancomycin starting doses of 60 mg/kg/day (<13 years) or 45 mg/kg/day (≥13 years) were used. Dose adjustment was guided by therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) with a target trough 10–20 mg/L. In the post‐MIPD period, starting dose and dose adjustment were based on the MIPD CDS tool predictions with a target 24 h AUC (AUC24) 400–600 mg*h/L. Exposure and target achievement rates were retrospectively calculated and compared. Rates of acute kidney injury (AKI) were also compared.ResultsOverall, 23 patient courses were included in the pre‐MIPD period and 21 patient courses in the post‐MIPD period. In the post‐MIPD period, an individualized MIPD starting dose resulted in 71% of patients achieving target AUC24 compared to 39% in the pre‐MIPD period (p < 0.05). After the first TDM and dose adjustment, target AUC24 achievement was also higher post‐MIPD versus pre‐MIPD (86% vs. 57%; p < 0.05). AKI rates were low and similar between periods (pre‐MIPD 8.7% vs. post‐MIPD 9.5%; p = 0.9).ConclusionAn MIPD approach implemented within a cloud‐based, EHR‐integrated CDS tool safely supported vancomycin AUC‐guided dosing and resulted in high rates of target achievement.
Psychometric properties of classroom creativity climate scale (CCCS): Evidence from confirmatory factor analysis in the Pakistani context
Authors: Kamran Muhammad , Ameer Iqra , Saleh Warda , Aslam Sarfraz , Benyo Ahmed 
Published: July 2023

AbstractCreativity has long been emphasized as an essential skill identified and developed in classrooms by eminent psychologists. A high level of creativity is required to adapt to the changing world of innovation. University‐level students are privileged as they get multiple opportunities to learn creative skills. They are facilitated with autonomy and a creative environment. This study aimed to investigate the Psychometric Properties of the classroom creativity climate scale (CCCS) through confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) in the Pakistani context. The study involved 711 (males = 359, females = 352) Pakistani university students pursuing BS, MS/MPhil, and PhD degrees. Based on CFA, the proposed structure of the scale was confirmed, consisting of 22 items with a Likert‐type response set loaded on four variables: Teacher Support for the Expression of Student Ideas, Student Self‐perception about Creativity, Student Interest in Learning, and Student Autonomy. Alpha reliability coefficients range from .61 to .82 for the full scale. A comparison of demographics among different age groups and degree levels has been conducted. This scale is useful when investigating Pakistanis University students' perception of creativity, diagnosing the creative climate in the classroom, or asking the teachers for a creative environment inside the classrooms.
Validation of a new tool to predict the weed emergence in Spain
Authors: Sousa‐Ortega Carlos , Alcantara Maria Cristina 
Published: July 2023

AbstractBackgroundThe seedling stage is the most vulnerable period of growth and development for annual weeds and an important target for weed management operations. To address this, several weed emergence models have been developed, but none are commercially available. Therefore, this study aims to develop a web application that implements predictive weed emergence models for eight different weed species, utilizing weather data sourced from public weather stations.ResultsLolium rigidum Gaudin presented a mean root mean squared error (RMSE) value of 8.9, achieving an RMSE value below 15 (success rate) in 84.5% of cases. This result may be attributed to the use of a water potential base, set at −0.4 MPa, to evaluate water availability. Centaurea diluta Aiton achieved an RMSE value below 15 in all situations, with an average value of 9.0. This weed showed higher accuracy at southern sites than northern sites. Conversely, Avena sterilis ssp. ludoviciana (Durieu) Gillet & Magne achieved higher precision at northern sites where no dry periods occurred. The newly developed model for Bromus diandrus Roth. achieved an average RMSE value of 7.7 and a 100% success rate. Papaver rhoeas L. and the three Phalaris species exhibited lower accuracy in this study than in previous ones. Nonetheless, the success rates for Papaver rhoeas and Phalaris paradoxa L. were still above 70%.ConclusionModels for C. diluta, B. diandrus, L. rigidum, Papaver rhoeas and Phalaris paradoxa have demonstrated potential for adoption in commercial production, while Phalaris minor and Phalaris brachystachys models require refinement. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry.
Therapeutic efficacy of gentle endometrial curettage on antibiotic‐resistant chronic endometritis in infertile women
Authors: Kuroda Keiji , Ishiyama Shunsuke , Shiobara Keisuke , Nakao Kazuki , Moriyama Azusa , Kataoka Hisayo , Horikawa Takashi , Ojiro Yuko , Takamizawa Satoru , Nakagawa Koji , Sugiyama Rikikazu 
Published: July 2023

AbstractPurposeTo identify the efficacy of endometrial curettage on antibiotic‐resistant chronic endometritis (CE) in infertile women.MethodsOf 1580 women with CE, 87 with antibiotic‐resistant CE after two to five cycles of antibiotic treatment were recruited between 2019 and 2021. The women who underwent endometrial curettage without applying any force and, in the subsequent menstrual cycle, endometrial sampling for CD138 immunostaining without antibiotic use. Pregnancy outcomes after in vitro fertilization treatment were analyzed in women who did not desire endometrial curettage and in those with cured and persistent CE after endometrial curettage.ResultsIn 64 women who underwent endometrial curettage, the number of CD138‐positive cells decreased from 28.0 ± 35.3 to 7.7 ± 14.0 (p < 0.0001), and CE in 41 women (64.1%) was cured (<5 CD138‐positive cells). The pathological findings detected 3.1% of endometrial hyperplasia and 1.6% of endometrial cancer. The ongoing pregnancy rates in women aged ≤42 without endometrial curettage were significantly lower than those of women with cured and persistent CE (26.7%, 67.6%, and 57.1%, respectively, p = 0.03).ConclusionsGentle endometrial curettage for antibiotic‐resistant CE significantly decreased the number of CD138‐positive cells, resulting in improved pregnancy outcomes regardless of remaining CE. Endometrial curettage is also important as a screening for endometrial malignancy.
Comparing multivariable uncertain model structures for data‐driven robust control: Visualization and application to a continuously variable transmission
Authors: Tacx Paul , Oomen Tom 
Published: July 2023

AbstractThe selection of uncertainty structures is an important aspect of system identification for robust control. The aim of this paper is to provide insight into uncertain multivariable systems for robust control. A unified method for visualizing model sets is developed by generating Bode plots of multivariable uncertain systems, both in magnitude and phase. In addition, these model sets are compared from the viewpoint of the control objective, allowing a quantitative analysis as well. An experimental case study on an automotive transmission application demonstrates these connections and confirms the importance of the developed framework for control applications. In addition, the experimental results provide new insights into the shape of associated model sets by using the presented visualization procedure. Both the theoretical and experimental results confirm that a recently developed robust‐control‐relevant uncertainty structure outperforms general dual‐Youla‐Kučera uncertainty, which in turn outperforms traditional uncertainty structures, including additive uncertainty.
Recent Advances in MXene‐Based Fibers: Fabrication, Performance, and Application
Authors: Yang Mengdan , Lou Huiqing , Kong Xiaobing , Pang Rui , Zhang Ding , Meng Weixue , Li Meng , Huang Xinguang , Zhang Shipeng , Shang Yuanyuan , Cao Anyuan 
Published: July 2023

AbstractTwo‐dimensional transition metal carbide/nitrides (MXenes) have recently received extensive attention due to their diverse material types and versatile structures, large‐scale production, and excellent properties. MXene sheets possess abundant hydrophilic functional groups on their surface, which enable them to be assembled into macroscopic fibers or compounded with other functional materials to produce composite fibers. This review aims to provide a comprehensive analysis of MXene fibers in terms of their fabrication, structure, properties, and recent applications as flexible and wearable electronics. The review will discuss the principles of different methods used to synthesize MXene fibers and analyze the characteristics of the as‐synthesized fibers, with a particular focus on the wet spinning method. The fundamental relationships between the microstructure of MXene fibers and their resulting mechanical and electrical properties will be explored. Furthermore, the review will elaborate on the progress made in MXene‐based fibers in the rapidly growing field of wearable electronics applications, provide insights into future development of MXene fiber materials and propose solutions to the challenges facing practical applications.
Programmable‐Modulated Ultrasonic Transducer Array for Contactless Detection of Viral RNAs
Authors: Luo Yong , Zhou Mengyun , Wang Lirong , Fan Chuan , Xu Tailin , Zhang Xueji 
Published: July 2023

AbstractThe current polymerase chain reactions‐based nucleic acid tests for large‐scale infectious disease diagnosis are always lab‐dependent and generate large amounts of highly infectious plastic waste. Direct non‐linear acoustic driven of microdroplets provide an ideal platform for contactless spatial and temporal manipulation of liquid samples. Here, a strategy to programmable‐manipulate microdroplets using potential pressure well for contactless trace detection is conceptualized and designed. On such contactless modulation platform, up to seventy‐two piezoelectric transducers are precisely self‐focusing single‐axis arranged and controlled, which can generate dynamic pressure nodes for effectively contact‐free manipulating microdroplets without vessel contamination. In addition, the patterned microdroplet array can act as contactless microreactor and allow multiple trace samples (1–5 µL) biochemical analysis, and the ultrasonic vortex can also accelerate non‐equilibrium chemical reactions such as recombinase polymerase amplification (RPA). The results of fluorescence detection indicated that such programmable modulated microdroplet achieved contactless trace nucleic acid detection with a sensitivity of 0.21 copy µL−1 in only 6–14 min, which is 30.3–43.3% shorter than the conventional RPA approach. Such a programmable containerless microdroplet platform can be used for toxic, hazardous, or infectious samples sensing, opening up new avenues for developing future fully automated detection systems.
What is variety engineering and why do we need it?
Authors: Schwaninger Markus , Ott Stefan 
Published: July 2023

AbstractManagement in systemic terms means to cope with complexity. Ross Ashby's law of requisite variety shows the way—maintaining the varieties of interacting systems in balance. To denote that process, we use the cybernetic concept of ‘variety engineering’, which we also formalize. It refers to processes of mutual complexity amplification and attenuation by interacting agents. The purpose of this contribution is to elicit ways of coping with complexity by means of variety engineering. The abstract concepts are illustrated by examples from ecological, social and economic contexts.