bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Endoplasmic reticulum stress‐mediated autophagy alleviates lipopolysaccharide‐induced nucleus pulposus cell pyroptosis by inhibiting CHOP signaling in vitro
Authors: Chen Lu , Zhu Lei , Shi Hang , Xie Zhi‐Yang , Jiang Zan‐Li , Xu Zheng‐Yuan , Zhang Zi‐Jian , Wu Xiao‐Tao 
Published: September 2023

AbstractPyroptosis, a newly discovered pro‐inflammatory programmed necrosis of cells, serves as an initiating and promoting event that leads to intervertebral disc (IVD) degeneration (IDD). Endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS) and autophagy are vital regulatory mechanisms of cellular homeostasis, which is also closely related to IDD. However, the role and relationship of ERS and autophagy in the pyroptosis of nucleus pulposus cell (NPC) are not well understood. In this research, we aimed to elucidate the role and mechanism of ERS‐C/EBP homologous protein (CHOP) in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)‐induced cell pyroptosis and determine its interaction with autophagy. ERS and autophagy inducers or inhibitors were used or not in the preconditioning of rat NPCs. Cell viability, pyroptosis‐related protein expression, caspase‐1 activity assay, and enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay were performed to observe rat NPC pyroptosis after the treatment of LPS. Activation of the ERS pathway and autophagy were assessed by quantitative real‐time PCR, western blot analyses, and immunofluorescence staining assay to classify the molecular mechanisms. Our results showed that LPS stimulation induced NPC pyroptosis with concomitant activation of the ERS‐CHOP pathway and initiated autophagy. Activation of the ERS‐CHOP pathway exacerbated rat NPC pyroptosis, whereas autophagy inhibited cell pyroptosis. LPS‐induced cell pyroptosis and CHOP upregulation were negatively regulated by autophagy. LPS‐induced autophagy was depressed by the ERS inhibitor but aggravated by the ERS inducer. Taken together, our findings suggested that LPS induced NPC pyroptosis by activating ERS‐CHOP signaling and ERS mediated LPS‐induced autophagy, which in turn alleviated NPC pyroptosis by inhibiting CHOP signaling.
Survey of the training needs of genetic assistants supports the creation of genetic assistant training programs
Authors: Rider Renee A. , Cubano Luis , Madden Ebony B. , Rowley Robb K. , Manolio Teri A. 
Published: September 2023

AbstractDespite the increasing numbers of genetic assistants (GAs) in the genomics workforce, their training needs and how to best prepare GAs for their role have not been well defined. We sought to identify the current educational status of GAs, opinions on their training needs, and attitudes about GA training programs (GATPs). Survey links were emailed to NSGC members, 17 state genetic counseling (GC) professional organizations, and genomic medicine researchers. Respondents (n = 411) included GCs (n = 231) and GAs (n = 136). Like other studies, we found that the GA position is filled by a range of education levels and career aspirations. Most respondents supported the creation of GATPs, with 63% endorsing that GATPs would be helpful and half endorsing a short‐term (3 months or less) program. Most believed GATPs should focus on general knowledge, with almost all practical skills learned on‐the‐job. If more GATPs are created, our survey provides evidence that graduates would be hired. Indeed, of those whose work setting required a bachelor's degree, the number of respondents who favored keeping that requirement was similar to the number who favored hiring a GA without a degree if they attended a GATP. However, there were concerns about GATPs. Many (44%) believed creating GATPs could discourage candidates from becoming GAs. We observed that there are two types of GAs: entry‐level and bachelor's‐level, with the entry‐level being those who do not have and are not working to obtain a bachelor's degree and the bachelor's‐level being those who do/are. GATPs could focus on the education of entry‐level GAs, while gaps in the knowledge base of bachelor's‐level GAs could be addressed by augmenting bachelor's curriculum or providing additional training after hire. Further research on the training needs of GAs and hiring practices of institutions will be vital to understanding their training needs and designing and implementing effective GATPs.
Antigen processing and presentation‐related signature‐derived BNIP3 is a novel oncogene and immunotherapy determinant in osteosarcoma based on machine learning and in vitro validation
Authors: Chen Yang , Cao Yajie , Wu Song , Cao Xu , Cai Ting , Hu Hai 
Published: September 2023

AbstractBackgroundIn recent decades, osteosarcoma has remained the most prevalent kind of malignant tumor. An important and crucial factor in immunotherapy is antigen processing and presentation (APP). The specific functions and pathogenic processes of APP in osteosarcoma have not, however, been studied.MethodsPatients with osteosarcoma were divided into groups using APP‐related genes. Machine learning was used to further build the APP‐related score. Investigated in‐depth were the prognostic relevance of the score, mutation features, immunological aspects, and pharmacological prediction performance. Investigations of the prognostic utility, immunological traits, drug prediction effectiveness and immunotherapy prediction of BNIP3 were performed in‐depth.ResultsInvestigations by cell counting kit‐8, Transwell and 5‐ethynyl‐2‐deoxyuridine (EdU) demonstrated that BNIP3 is an osteosarcoma tumor accelerator. The osteosarcoma gene BNIP3 may promote macrophage migration. The APP‐related score shows potential for clinical use.ConclusionsIt was anticipated that more in vitro and in vivo studies would confirm BNIP3’s tumorigenic and immunogenic processes in osteosarcoma.
Three‐Dimensional Fast Spin Echo Pituitary MRI in Treatment‐Naïve Cushing's Disease: Reduced Impact of Reader Experience and Increased Diagnostic Accuracy
Authors: Liu Zeyu , Hou Bo , You Hui , Lu Lin , Duan Lian , Li Mingli , Fan Xiaoyuan , Deng Kan , Yao Yong , Zhu Huijuan , Feng Feng 
Published: September 2023

BackgroundIn patients with Cushing's disease, the preoperative identification of pituitary adenomas is crucial to treatment. However, increasing diagnostic accuracy remains an unresolved issue.PurposeTo evaluate the diagnostic accuracy and the impact of readers' experience regarding high‐resolution contrast‐enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (hrMRI) for identifying pituitary adenomas in comparison with conventional contrast‐enhanced MRI (cMRI) and dynamic contrast‐enhanced MRI (dMRI).Study TypeRetrospective.PopulationSixty‐five patients (median age, 39 years; interquartile range [IQR], 28–53 years; 60% females) with treatment‐naïve Cushing's disease.Field Strength/Sequence3‐T, seven fast spin echo sequences.AssessmentThe diagnostic accuracies of identifying pituitary adenomas on cMRI, dMRI, combined cMRI and dMRI (cdMRI), and hrMRI were independently evaluated by six readers with three experience levels (high: >20 years, modest: 10–20 years, low: <10 years; two readers for each experience level). Readers were asked to localize the lesion, and measure its diameter on the sequence where identified. The reference standard was postoperative histopathology. The impact of readers' experience and interobserver agreement were assessed. Image quality was assessed using a 5‐point Likert scale, including overall image quality, sharpness, and structural conspicuity.Statistical TestsMcNemar's test, Cochran's test, Wilcoxon signed‐rank test, Mann–Whitney U test, and κ statistics for interobserver agreement. A P‐value <0.05 was considered statistically significant.ResultsFor identifying pituitary adenomas (median diameter, 5 mm; IQR, 4–5 mm), hrMRI had significantly higher sensitivity (87.7%–93.8%) than cMRI, dMRI, and cdMRI (52.3%–75.4%) for readers with different experience levels. The interobserver agreement was moderate (κ = 0.461–0.523). The sensitivity for hrMRI was comparable between readers with different experience levels (P = 0.371). All image quality scores on hrMRI were significantly higher than cMRI and dMRI (5.0 vs. 4.0).Data ConclusionFor identifying pituitary adenomas in patients with treatment‐naïve Cushing's disease, hrMRI may show high diagnostic accuracy and seems not to be affected by readers' experience.Level of Evidence3Technical EfficacyStage 2
Fear of sin and fear of God: Scrupulosity predicts women's daily experiences of mental contamination following sexual trauma
Authors: Jones Alyssa C. , Tipsword Jordyn M. , Brake C. Alex , Fenlon Emily E. , Adams Thomas G. , McCann Jesse P. , Badour Christal L. 
Published: September 2023

AbstractMental contamination refers to feelings of dirtiness in response to thoughts, images, or memories. Mental contamination is frequently reported after sexual trauma and is associated with symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Differences in individuals’ views about morality and purity may influence the severity of mental contamination, though this has been studied primarily outside of samples assessed for trauma and/or PTSD. The present study addressed this gap by investigating scrupulosity as a prospective predictor of daily sexual trauma–related mental contamination and PTSD symptoms. Participants included 40 adult women with a history of sexual trauma and current sexual trauma–related mental contamination who completed baseline diagnostic interviews and questionnaires followed by two assessments every day for 2 weeks. The results indicate that scrupulosity was positively correlated with PTSD symptom severity and sexual trauma–related mental contamination at baseline. Scrupulosity was also a prospective predictor of increased daily sexual trauma–related mental contamination, B = 0.19, SE = 0.07, p = .010, but not daily PTSD symptoms, B = −0.10, SE = .08, p = .198. The findings indicate that scrupulosity may be an important factor in understanding recovery from sexual assault.
Publication and collaboration anomalies in academic papers originating from a paper mill: Evidence from a Russia‐based paper mill
Authors: Abalkina Anna 
Published: September 2023

AbstractThis study attempts to detect papers originating from the Russia‐based paper mill ‘International Publisher’ LLC. A total of 1,063 offers to purchase co‐authorship on a fraudulent papers published from 2019 to mid‐2022 on the 123mi.ru website were analysed. This study identifies at least 451 papers that are potentially linked to the paper mill, including one preprint, a duplication paper and 16 republications of papers erroneously published in hijacked journals. Evidence of suspicious provenance from the paper mill is provided: matches in title, number of co‐authorship slots, year of publication, country of the journal, country of a co‐authors and similarities of abstracts. These problematic papers are co‐authored by scholars from at least 39 countries and are submitted to both predatory and reputable journals. This study also demonstrates collaboration anomalies in questionable papers and examines indicators of the Russia‐based paper mill. The value of co‐authorship slots offered by ‘International Publisher’ LLC from 2019 to 2021 is estimated at $6.5 million. Since this study only analysed a single paper mill, it is likely that the number of papers with forged authorship is much higher.
Evaluation of Animal Fats and Vegetable Oils as Comonomers in Polymer Composite Synthesis: Effects of Plant/Animal Sources and Comonomer Composition on Composite Properties
Authors: Lopez Claudia V. , Smith Ashlyn D. , Smith Rhett C. 
Published: September 2023

AbstractRancid animal fats unsuitable for human or animal food production represent low‐value and abundant, yet underexploited organic chemical precursors. The current work describes a strategy to synthesize high sulfur‐content materials (HSMs) that directly utilizes a blend of partially hydrolyzed chicken fat and plant oils as the organic comonomers, following up on analogous reactions using brown grease in place of chicken fat. The reaction of sulfur and chicken fat with either canola or sunflower oil yielded crosslinked polymer composites CFSx or GFSx, respectively (x = wt% sulfur, varied from 85%–90%). The composites exhibited compressive strengths of 24.7–31.7 MPa, and flexural strengths of 4.1–5.7 MPa, exceeding the value of established construction materials like ordinary Portland cement (compressive strength ≥17 MPa required for residential building, flexural strength 2–5 MPa). The composites also exhibited thermal stability up to 215–224 °C. The simple single‐step protocol described herein represents a way to upcycle an affordable and previously unexploited animal fat resource to form structural composites via the atom economical inverse vulcanization mechanism.
Highly Inductive Coil Spring Strain/Compress Sensors Integrated with Shape Memory Alloy and Shape Memory Polymers‐CNTs
Authors: Truong TranThuyNga , Yun Hayeong , Kim Jooyong 
Published: September 2023

AbstractFuture wearable electronic gadgets offer great potential for using stretchable, strain‐sensitive materials to instantly detect human motion and record physiological information. This paper presens a strain/compress sensor made from a Shape memory alloy (SMA) coil spring covered with silver pastes and the composite of carbon nanotubes and Shape memory polymer (SMP). The combination of the shape memory materials that expand or contract automatically by temperature improved the mechanics of the sensor. First, the proposed sensors showed an excellent ability to broad‐range strain of 250% and compress of 50% with a relative inductance (∆L/L0) range from ‐35% to 50%, respectively. Durability during 1000 loading and unloading cycles at 200% strain is included. Secondly, by monitoring changes in resistance, inductance, and time, it is determined how many silver layers appropriate for transformation should be in order to improve the recovery time of the SMA coil spring. Moreover, the presence of CNTs in the composite‐covered outer of sensors helps to reduce the influence of the relation between resistance and temperature in the range from 30 °C to 110 °C. Finally, a device is suggested for monitoring arm and triceps brachii muscle movements based on the stretchable area as a key parameter.
Design of single‐layer bandstop fractal frequency selective surface based on WLAN applications
Authors: Chen Xiaojia , Liu Tao , Zhang Wangwei , Guo Dongming , Zhu Huaxin 
Published: September 2023

AbstractIn this letter, we present a new frequency selective surface (FSS) for shielding 2.4–2.5 and 4.98–5.825 GHz wireless local area network (WLAN) bands. This FSS structure is based on the traditional Sierpinski octagon and we improve it. Compared with the traditional structure, the improved one has a smaller element size and better angular stability. The design is realized on float glass with a relative permittivity () of 8, and the unit cell size is 0.1152λ0 × 0.1152λ0 (λ0 is the free space wavelength at the first resonant frequency). Wide rejection bandwidths (−10 dB) of 910 and 1630 MHz are obtained at 2.4–2.5 and 4.98–5.825 GHz, respectively. The surface current distribution and the equivalent circuit model are illustrated to explain the resonance behavior of the proposed FSS. Furthermore, this FSS exhibits stable frequency response to incident angles of 0°–80° under transverse electric and transverse magnetic polarizations. Finally, this FSS structure was fabricated and measured. The measured results demonstrate that this FSS structure has good performance in WLAN applications.
Technical note: Evaluation of the dose enhancement effect for a novel transmission‐type x‐ray tube using the Monte Carlo method
Authors: Lin Chin‐Hsiung , Wu Chin‐Hui , Lai Yuan‐Chun , Chuang Ho‐Da , Hsiao Ching‐Yu , Wu Ni‐Shan , Tseng Shao‐Chun , Feng Chen‐Ju , Hsu Shih‐Ming 
Published: September 2023

AbstractPurposeTransmission‐target x‐ray tubes generate more x‐rays than reflection thick‐target x‐ray tubes. A transmission x‐ray tube combined with radiosensitizers has a better radiation enhancement effect. This study investigated the feasibility of using a transmission x‐ray tube with radiosensitizers in clinical radiotherapy and its effect on radiation dose enhancement.MethodsThis study used MCNP6.2 to simulate the model of a transmission x‐ray tube and Co‐60 beam. The radiation enhancement effect of radiosensitizers was examined with iodine‐127 (I‐127), radioiodinated iododeoxyuridine (IUdR), and gold nanoparticles (GNPs).ResultsThe study results showed that the dose enhancement factor (DEF) of the transmission x‐ray tube with GNPs was 10.27, which was higher than that of I‐127 (6.46) and IUdR (3.08). The DEF of the Co‐60 beam with GNPs, I‐127, and IUdR was 1.23, 1.19, and 1.2, respectively. The Auger electron flux of the transmission x‐ray tube with GNPs was 1.19E+05 particles/cm2.ConclusionsThis study found that a transmission x‐ray tube with appropriate radiosensitizers could produce a high rate of Auger electrons to fulfill the radiation enhancement effect, and this procedure has the potential to become a radiotherapy modality.
Quality assessment of routine brain imaging at 0.55 T: initial experience in a clinical workflow
Authors: Lavrova Anna , Mishra Shruti , Richardson Jacob , Masotti Maria , Kurokawa Ryo , Kurokawa Mariko , Itriago‐Leon Pedro , Gulani Vikas , McCracken Brendan , Wright Katherine , Hussain Hero K. , Moritani Toshio , Seiberlich Nicole 
Published: September 2023

AbstractThe purpose of this study was to assess the quality of clinical brain imaging in healthy subjects and patients on an FDA‐approved commercial 0.55 T MRI scanner, and to provide information about the feasibility of using this scanner in a clinical workflow. In this IRB‐approved study, brain examinations on the scanner were prospectively performed in 10 healthy subjects (February–April 2022) and retrospectively derived from 44 patients (February–July 2022). Images collected using the following pulse sequences were available for assessment: axial DWI (diffusion‐weighted imaging), apparent diffusion coefficient maps, 2D axial fluid‐attenuated inversion recovery images, axial susceptibility‐weighted images (both magnitude and phase), sagittal T1‐weighted (T1w) Sampling Perfection with Application Optimized Contrast images, sagittal T1w MPRAGE (magnetization prepared rapid gradient echo) with contrast enhancement, axial T1w turbo spin echo (TSE) with and without contrast enhancement, and axial T2‐weighted TSE. Two readers retrospectively and independently evaluated image quality and specific anatomical features in a blinded fashion on a four‐point Likert scale, with a score of 1 being unacceptable and 4 being excellent, and determined the ability to answer the clinical question in patients. For each category of image sequences, the mean, standard deviation, and percentage of unacceptable quality images (<2) were calculated. Acceptable (rating ≥ 2) image quality was achieved at 0.55 T in all sequences for patients and 85% of the sequences for healthy subjects. Radiologists were able to answer the clinical question in all patients scanned. In total, 50% of the sequences used in patients and about 60% of the sequences used in healthy subjects exhibited good (rating ≥ 3) image quality. Based on these findings, we conclude that diagnostic quality clinical brain images can be successfully collected on this commercial 0.55 T scanner, indicating that the routine brain imaging protocol may be deployed on this system in the clinical workflow.
The impact of variations in subject geometry, respiration and coil repositioning on the specific absorption rate in parallel transmit abdominal imaging at 7 T
Authors: Doran Emma , Naim Iyad , Bowtell Richard , Gowland Penny A. , Glover Paul M. , Bawden Stephen 
Published: September 2023

AbstractParallel transmit MRI at 7 T has increasingly been adopted in research projects and provides increased signal‐to‐noise ratios and novel contrasts. However, the interactions of fields in the body need to be carefully considered to ensure safe scanning. Recent advances in physically flexible body coils have allowed for high‐field abdominal imaging, but the effects of increased variability on energy deposition need further exploration. The aim of this study was to assess the impact of subject geometry, respiration phase and coil positioning on the specific absorption rate (SAR). Ten healthy subjects (body mass index [BMI] = 25 ± 5 kg m−2) were scanned (at 3 T) during exhale breath‐hold and images used to generate body models. Seven of these subjects were also scanned during inhale. Simplifications of the coil and body models were first explored, and then finite‐difference time‐domain simulations were run with a typical eight‐channel parallel transmit coil positioned over the abdomen. Simulations were used to generate 10 g averaged SAR (SAR10g) maps across 100,000 phase settings, and the worst‐case scenario 10 g averaged SAR (wocSAR10g) was identified using trigonometric maximisation. The average maximum SAR10g across the 10 subjects with 1 W input power per channel was 1.77 W kg−1. Hotspots were always close to the body surface near the muscle wall boundary. The wocSAR10g across the 10 subjects ranged from 2.3 to 3.2 W kg−1 and was inversely correlated to fat volume percentage (R = 8) and BMI (R = 0.6). The coefficient of variation values in SAR10g due to variations in subject geometry, respiration phase and realistic coil repositioning were 12%, 4% and 12%, respectively. This study found that the variability due to realistic coil repositioning was similar to the variability due to differing healthy subject geometries for abdominal imaging. This is important as it suggests that population‐based modelling is likely to be more useful than individual modelling in setting safe thresholds for abdominal imaging.
A micromechanical mean‐field homogenization surrogate for the stochastic multiscale analysis of composite materials failure
Authors: Calleja Vázquez Juan Manuel , Wu Ling , Nguyen Van‐Dung , Noels Ludovic 
Published: September 2023

SummaryThis paper presents the construction of a mean‐field homogenization (MFH) surrogate for nonlinear stochastic multiscale analyses of two‐phase composites that allows the material response to be studied up to its failure. The homogenized stochastic behavior of the studied unidirectional composite material is first characterized through full‐field simulations on stochastic volume elements (SVEs) of the material microstructure, permitting to capture the effect of the microstructural geometric uncertainties on the material response. Then, in order to conduct the stochastic nonlinear multiscale simulations, the microscale problem is substituted by a pressure‐dependent MFH reduced order micromechanical model, that is, a MF‐ROM, whose properties are identified by an inverse process from the full‐field SVE realizations. Homogenized stress‐strain curves can be used for the identification process of the nonlinear range, however, a loss of size objectivity is encountered once the strain softening onset is reached. This work addresses this problematic introducing a calibration of the energy release rate obtained with a nonlocal MFH micromechanical model, allowing to scale the variability found on each SVE failure characteristics to the macroscale. The obtained random effective properties are then used as input of a data‐driven stochastic model to generate the complete random fields used to feed the stochastic MF‐ROM. To show the consistency of the methodology, two MF‐ROM constructed from SVEs of two different sizes are successively considered. The performance of the MF‐ROM is then verified against an experimental transverse‐compression test and against full‐field simulations through nonlocal Stochastic Finite Element Method (SFEM) simulations. The implementation of the energy release rate calibration allows to conduct stochastic studies on the failure characteristics of material samples without the need for costly experimental campaigns, paving the way for more complete and affordable virtual testing.