bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Identification of pyroptosis-related subtypes and comprehensive analysis of characteristics of the tumor microenvironment infiltration in clear cell renal cell carcinoma
Authors: Zeng Jiayi , Zhu Ping , Tang Yanlin , Zhang Changzheng , Ye Chujin , Cheng Shouyu , Tian Kaiwen , Yang Bowen , Zeng Weinan , Liu Yanjun , Xian Zhiyong , Yu Yuming 
Published: September 2023

AbstractPyroptosis is a kind of programmed cell death triggered by the inflammasome. Growing evidence has revealed the crucial utility of pyroptosis in tumors. However, the potential mechanism of pyroptosis in clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) is still unclear. In this research, we systematically analyze the genetic and transcriptional alterations of pyroptosis-related genes (PRGs) in ccRCC, identify pyroptosis-related subtypes, analyze the clinical and microenvironmental differences among different subtypes, develop a corresponding prognostic model to predict the prognosis of patients, and interpret the effect of pyroptosis on ccRCC microenvironment. This study provides a new perspective for a comprehensive understanding of the role of pyroptosis in ccRCC and its impact on the immune microenvironment, and a reliable scoring system was established to predict patients’ prognosis.
Computerized text and voice analysis of patients with chronic schizophrenia in art therapy
Authors: Sprotte Yvonne 
Published: September 2023

AbstractThis explorative study of patients with chronic schizophrenia aimed to clarify whether group art therapy followed by a therapist-guided picture review could influence patients’ communication behaviour. Data on voice and speech characteristics were obtained via objective technological instruments, and these characteristics were selected as indicators of communication behaviour. Seven patients were recruited to participate in weekly group art therapy over a period of 6 months. Three days after each group meeting, they talked about their last picture during a standardized interview that was digitally recorded. The audio recordings were evaluated using validated computer-assisted procedures, the transcribed texts were evaluated using the German version of the LIWC2015 program, and the voice recordings were evaluated using the audio analysis software VocEmoApI. The dual methodological approach was intended to form an internal control of the study results. An exploratory factor analysis of the complete sets of output parameters was carried out with the expectation of obtaining typical speech and voice characteristics that map barriers to communication in patients with schizophrenia. The parameters of both methods were thus processed into five factors each, i.e., into a quantitative digitized classification of the texts and voices. The factor scores were subjected to a linear regression analysis to capture possible process-related changes. Most patients continued to participate in the study. This resulted in high-quality datasets for statistical analysis. To answer the study question, two results were summarized: First, text analysis factor called Presence proved to be a potential surrogate parameter for positive language development. Second, quantitative changes in vocal emotional factors were detected, demonstrating differentiated activation patterns of emotions. These results can be interpreted as an expression of a cathartic healing process. The methods presented in this study make a potentially significant contribution to quantitative research into the effectiveness and mode of action of art therapy.
Construction of IgG–Fab2 bispecific antibody via intein-mediated protein trans-splicing reaction
Authors: Yamada Risa , Nakahara Ishin , Kumagai Izumi , Asano Ryutaro , Nakanishi Takeshi , Makabe Koki 
Published: September 2023

AbstractA bispecific antibody (bsAb) is a class of engineered antibody molecules that simultaneously binds to two different antigens by having two kinds of antigen-binding domains. One of the major obstacles for the bsAb production is the incorrect chain-pairing problem, wherein each heavy and light chain should form pairings with the correct counterpart’s chains, but the structural similarity of the incorrect partners also forms the incorrect pairings. This study aimed to demonstrate a bsAb construction method using intein-mediated protein trans-splicing to create IgG–Fab2–type bsAbs, which is a modified antibody with a structure in which two additional Fabs are linked to the N-terminus of the heavy chain of an IgG molecule. The chain-paring problem between a heavy chain and a light chain is circumvented by separate expression and purification of the IgG part and the Fab part. We found that the deletion of a possible glycosylation residue improved the reaction yield and side-reaction cleavage in the protein ligation step. The resulting bsAb, IgG–Fab2 (Her2/CD3), demonstrated target binding activity and cytotoxicity mediated by activated T cells. These results indicate that the use of the protein ligation to produce the IgG–Fab2 type bsAb will expand the bsAb production method.
Cecal microbiota composition differs under normal and high ambient temperatures in genetically distinct chicken lines
Authors: Campos Philip M. , Schreier Lori L. , Proszkowiec-Weglarz Monika , Dridi Sami 
Published: September 2023

AbstractModern broilers, selected for high growth rate, are more susceptible to heat stress (HS) as compared to their ancestral jungle fowl (JF). HS affects epithelia barrier integrity, which is associated with gut microbiota. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of HS on the cecal luminal (CeL) and cecal mucosal (CeM) microbiota in JF and three broiler populations: Athens Canadian Random Bred (ACRB), 1995 Random Bred (L1995), and Modern Random Bred (L2015). Broiler chicks were subjected to thermoneutral TN (24 °C) or chronic cyclic HS (8 h/day, 36 °C) condition from day 29 until day 56. HS affected richness in CeL microbiota in a line-dependent manner, decreasing richness in slow-growing JF and ACRB lines, while increasing richness in faster-growing L1995 and L2015. Microbiota were distinct between HS and TN conditions in CeL microbiota of all four lines and in CeM microbiota of L2015. Certain bacterial genera were also affected in a line-dependent manner, with HS tending to increase relative abundance in CeL microbiota of slow-growing lines, while decreases were common in fast-growing lines. Predictive functional analysis suggested a greater impact of HS on metabolic pathways in L2015 compared to other lines.
Towards smart glasses for facial expression recognition using OMG and machine learning
Authors: Kiprijanovska Ivana , Stankoski Simon , Broulidakis M. John , Archer James , Fatoorechi Mohsen , Gjoreski Martin , Nduka Charles , Gjoreski Hristijan 
Published: September 2023

AbstractThis study aimed to evaluate the use of novel optomyography (OMG) based smart glasses, OCOsense, for the monitoring and recognition of facial expressions. Experiments were conducted on data gathered from 27 young adult participants, who performed facial expressions varying in intensity, duration, and head movement. The facial expressions included smiling, frowning, raising the eyebrows, and squeezing the eyes. The statistical analysis demonstrated that: (i) OCO sensors based on the principles of OMG can capture distinct variations in cheek and brow movements with a high degree of accuracy and specificity; (ii) Head movement does not have a significant impact on how well these facial expressions are detected. The collected data were also used to train a machine learning model to recognise the four facial expressions and when the face enters a neutral state. We evaluated this model in conditions intended to simulate real-world use, including variations in expression intensity, head movement and glasses position relative to the face. The model demonstrated an overall accuracy of 93% (0.90 f1-score)—evaluated using a leave-one-subject-out cross-validation technique.
Analysis of heavy metal, rare, precious, and metallic element content in bottom ash from municipal solid waste incineration in Tehran based on particle size
Authors: Beikmohammadi Masoumeh , Yaghmaeian Kamyar , Nabizadeh Ramin , Mahvi Amir Hossein 
Published: September 2023

AbstractWaste incineration is increasingly used worldwide for better municipal solid waste management and energy recovery. However, residues resulting from waste incineration, such as Bottom Ash (BA) and Fly Ash (FA), can pose environmental and human health risks due to their physicochemical properties if not managed appropriately. On the other hand, with proper utilization, these residues can be turned into valuable Municipal metal mines. In this study, BA was granulated in various size ranges (< 0.075 mm, 0.075–0.125 mm, 0.125–0.5 mm, 0.5–1 mm, 1–2 mm, 2–4 mm, 4–16 mm, and > 16 mm). The physicochemical properties, heavy metal elements, environmental hazards, and other rare and precious metal elements in each Granulated Bottom Ash (GBA) group from Tehran's waste incineration were examined using ICP-MASS. Additionally, each GBA group's mineralogical properties and elemental composition were determined using X-ray fluorescence (XRF) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The results showed that the average concentration of heavy metals in GBA, including Zn (1974 mg/kg), Cu, and Ba (790 mg/kg), Pb (145 mg/kg), Cr (106 mg/kg), Ni (25 mg/kg), Sn (24 mg/kg), V (25 mg/kg), As (11 mg/kg), and Sb (29 mg/kg), was higher in particles smaller than 4 mm. Precious metals such as gold (average 0.3 mg/kg) and silver (average 11 mg/kg) were significantly higher in GBA particles smaller than 0.5 mm, making their extraction economically feasible. Moreover, rare metals such as Ce, Nd, La, and Y were detected in GBA, with average concentrations of 24, 8, 11, and 7 mg/kg, respectively. The results of this study indicated that BA contains environmentally concerning metals, as well as rare and precious metals, with high concentrations, especially in particles smaller than 4 mm. This highlights the need for proper pre-treatment before using these materials in civil and municipal applications or even landfilling.
Impact of local delivery of allogeneic chondrocytes on the biological response and healing of the sternum bones after sternotomy
Authors: Krauze Agata , Fus-Kujawa Agnieszka , Bajdak-Rusinek Karolina , Żyła-Uklejewicz Dorota , Fernandez Carlos , Bednarek Ilona , Gałka Sabina , Sieroń Łukasz , Bogunia Edyta , Hermyt Mateusz , Nożyński Jerzy , Milewski Krzysztof , Czekaj Piotr , Wojakowski Wojciech 
Published: September 2023

AbstractMedian sternotomy is the surgical method of choice for many procedures where one of the main problems is the long post-operative wound healing process leading to sternal dehiscence and the development of infection. This leads to prolonged hospital stay and increased mortality due to post-operative complications. A promising solution seems to be the use of allogeneic chondrocytes for wound treatment, whose properties in the field of cartilage reconstruction are widely used in medicine, mainly in orthopedics. In the present study, we investigated the effect of local delivery of allogeneic chondrocytes on the biological response and healing of the sternum after sternotomy. We optimized the culture conditions for the isolated chondrocytes, which were then applied to the sternal incision wound. Chondrocytes in the culture were assessed on the basis of the presence of chondrocyte-specific genes: Sox9, Aggrecan and Collagen II. In turn, the histopathological and immunohistochemical evaluation was used to assess the safety of implantation. In our work, we demonstrated the possibility of obtaining a viable culture of chondrocytes, which were successfully introduced into the sternal wound after sternotomy. Importantly, implantation of allogeneic chondrocytes showed no significant side effects. The obtained results open new possibilities for research on the use of allogeneic chondrocytes in the process of accelerating wound healing after median sternotomy.
In vivo label-free optical signatures of chemotherapy response in human pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma patient-derived xenografts
Authors: Park Jaena , Sorrells Janet E. , Chaney Eric J. , Abdelrahman Amro M. , Yonkus Jennifer A. , Leiting Jennifer L. , Nelson Heidi , Harrington Jonathan J. , Aksamitiene Edita , Marjanovic Marina , Groves Peter D. , Bushell Colleen , Truty Mark J. , Boppart Stephen A. 
Published: September 2023

AbstractPancreatic cancer is a devastating disease often detected at later stages, necessitating swift and effective chemotherapy treatment. However, chemoresistance is common and its mechanisms are poorly understood. Here, label-free multi-modal nonlinear optical microscopy was applied to study microstructural and functional features of pancreatic tumors in vivo to monitor inter- and intra-tumor heterogeneity and treatment response. Patient-derived xenografts with human pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma were implanted into mice and characterized over five weeks of intraperitoneal chemotherapy (FIRINOX or Gem/NabP) with known responsiveness/resistance. Resistant and responsive tumors exhibited a similar initial metabolic response, but by week 5 the resistant tumor deviated significantly from the responsive tumor, indicating that a representative response may take up to five weeks to appear. This biphasic metabolic response in a chemoresistant tumor reveals the possibility of intra-tumor spatiotemporal heterogeneity of drug responsiveness. These results, though limited by small sample size, suggest the possibility for further work characterizing chemoresistance mechanisms using nonlinear optical microscopy.
Plastics can be used more sustainably in agriculture
Authors: Hofmann Thilo , Ghoshal Subhasis , Tufenkji Nathalie , Adamowski Jan Franklin , Bayen Stéphane , Chen Qiqing , Demokritou Philip , Flury Markus , Hüffer Thorsten , Ivleva Natalia P. , Ji Rong , Leask Richard L. , Maric Milan , Mitrano Denise M. , Sander Michael , Pahl Sabine , Rillig Matthias C. , Walker Tony R. , White Jason C. , Wilkinson Kevin J. 
Published: September 2023

AbstractPlastics have become an integral component in agricultural production as mulch films, nets, storage bins and in many other applications, but their widespread use has led to the accumulation of large quantities in soils. Rational use and reduction, collection, reuse, and innovative recycling are key measures to curb plastic pollution from agriculture. Plastics that cannot be collected after use must be biodegradable in an environmentally benign manner. Harmful plastic additives must be replaced with safer alternatives to reduce toxicity burdens and included in the ongoing negotiations surrounding the United Nations Plastics Treaty. Although full substitution of plastics is currently not possible without increasing the overall environmental footprint and jeopardizing food security, alternatives with smaller environmental impacts should be used and endorsed within a clear socio-economic framework. Better monitoring and reporting, technical innovation, education and training, and social and economic incentives are imperative to promote more sustainable use of plastics in agriculture.
Flexible direct synthesis of phosphorus-rich CoP3 on carbon black and its examination in hydrogen evolution electrocatalysis
Authors: Liyanage Ishanka A. , Barmore Hannah , Gillan Edward G. 
Published: September 2023

The reaction of CoCl2 on carbon black with phosphorus yields crystalline CoP3 particles on a carbon. Low CoP3 (5–25 mol%) content is distributed on the carbon support and shows electrocatalytic hydrogen evolution activity similar to bulk CoP3.
Recovery From Idiopathic Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss: Association With Cardiovascular Disease Risk
Authors: Lemons Katherine , Archambault Emily , Anderson Melinda , Kaizer Alexander , Baiduc Rachael R. 
Published: September 2023

Purpose:
The purpose of this study is to investigate the association between cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors and idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss (ISSNHL) disease severity and recovery.

Method:

A retrospective medical chart review was performed on 90 patients (
n
= 48 men;
M
age
= 59.8 years,
SD
= 15.8) evaluated for ISSNHL. Major CVD risk factors (current tobacco smoking, diabetes, total cholesterol ≥ 240 mg/dl or treatment, and hypertension [systolic blood pressure [BP]/diastolic BP ≥ 140/ ≥ 90 mmHg or treatment]) determined two CVD risk groups: lower (no major risk factors) and higher (one or more risk factors). Two pure-tone averages (PTAs) were computed: PTA
0.5,1,2
and PTA
3,4,6,8
. Complete recovery of ISSNHL was defined as PTA
initial
– PTA
follow-up
≥ 10 dB. Logistic regression estimated the odds of ISSNHL recovery by CVD risk status adjusting for age, sex, body mass index, noise exposure, and treatment.

Results:

Most patients (67.8%) had one or more CVD risk factors. Severity of initial low- and high-frequency hearing loss was similar between CVD risk groups. Recovery was 53.2% for PTA
0.5,1,2
and 32.9% for PTA
3,4,6,8
. With multivariable adjustment, current/former smoking was associated with lower odds of PTA
0.5,1,2
recovery (
OR
= 0.27; 95% CI [0.08, 0.92]). Neither higher CVD risk status nor individual CVD risk factors had a significant association with recovery. For every one-unit increase in Framingham Risk Score, odds of PTA
3,4,6,8
recovery were 0.95 times lower (95% CI [0.90, 1.00]) after accounting for age, sex, body mass index, noise exposure, and treatment/time-to-treatment grouping (
p
= .056).

Conclusions:
The prognosis of low-frequency ISSNHL recovery is worse among current/former smokers than nonsmokers. Other CVD risk factors and aggregate risk are not significantly related to recovery.
Minding the Gap: Using Implementation Science to Improve Clinical Practice in Schools
Authors: Komesidou Rouzana , Hogan Tiffany P. 
Published: September 2023

Purpose:

This purpose of this prologue is to introduce readers to the
Language, Speech, and Hearing Services in Schools
Forum: Minding the Gap: Using Implementation Science to Improve Clinical Practice in Schools. Ten articles comprise this forum presenting a variety of topics, such as the use of implementation science frameworks and methods, program adaptation, de-implementation, and interprofessional collaboration.

Conclusion:
As showcased in this forum, implementation science offers many ways to bridge the gap between research and practice and improve school-based services for children with communication disorders.
Characterizing the line emission from molecular clouds
Authors: Tafalla M. , Usero A. , Hacar A. 
Published: September 2023

Aims. We aim to characterize and compare the molecular-line emission of three clouds whose star-formation rates span one order of magnitude: California, Perseus, and Orion A.
Methods. We used stratified random sampling to select positions representing the different column density regimes of each cloud and observed them with the IRAM 30 m telescope. We covered the 3 mm wavelength band and focused our analysis on CO, HCN, CS, HCO+, HNC, and N2H+.
Results. We find that the line intensities depend most strongly on the H2 column density, with which they are tightly correlated. A secondary effect, especially visible in Orion A, is a dependence of the line intensities on the gas temperature. We explored a method that corrects for temperature variations and show that, when it is applied, the emission from the three clouds behaves very similarly. CO intensities vary weakly with column density, while the intensity of traditional dense-gas tracers such as HCN, CS, and HCO+ varies almost linearly with column density. N2H+ differs from all other species in that it traces only cold dense gas. The intensity of the rare HCN and CS isotopologs reveals additional temperature-dependent abundance variations. Overall, the clouds have similar chemical compositions that, as the depth increases, are sequentially dominated by photodissociation, gas-phase reactions, molecular freeze-out, and stellar feedback in the densest parts of Orion A. Our observations also allowed us to calculate line luminosities for each cloud, and a comparison with literature values shows good agreement. We used our HCN(1–0) data to explore the behavior of the HCN conversion factor, finding that it is dominated by the emission from the outermost cloud layers. It also depends strongly on the gas kinetic temperature. Finally, we show that the HCN/CO ratio provides a gas volume density estimate, and that its correlation with the column density resembles that found in extragalactic observations.
Forecasting the power of higher order weak-lensing statistics with automatically differentiable simulations
Authors: Lanzieri Denise , Lanusse François , Modi Chirag , Horowitz Benjamin , Harnois-Déraps Joachim , Starck Jean-Luc ,   The LSST Dark Energy Science Collaboration (LSST DESC)
Published: September 2023

Aims. We present the fully differentiable physical Differentiable Lensing Lightcone (DLL) model, designed for use as a forward model in Bayesian inference algorithms that require access to derivatives of lensing observables with respect to cosmological parameters.
Methods. We extended the public FlowPM N-body code, a particle-mesh N-body solver, while simulating the lensing lightcones and implementing the Born approximation in the Tensorflow framework. Furthermore, DLL is aimed at achieving high accuracy with low computational costs. As such, it integrates a novel hybrid physical-neural (HPN) parameterization that is able to compensate for the small-scale approximations resulting from particle-mesh schemes for cosmological N-body simulations. We validated our simulations in the context of the Vera C. Rubin Observatory’s Legacy Survey of Space and Time (LSST) against high-resolution κTNG-Dark simulations by comparing both the lensing angular power spectrum and multiscale peak counts. We demonstrated its ability to recover lensing Cℓ up to a 10% accuracy at ℓ = 1000 for sources at a redshift of 1, with as few as ∼0.6 particles per Mpc h−1. As a first-use case, we applied this tool to an investigation of the relative constraining power of the angular power spectrum and peak counts statistic in an LSST setting. Such comparisons are typically very costly as they require a large number of simulations and do not scale appropriately with an increasing number of cosmological parameters. As opposed to forecasts based on finite differences, these statistics can be analytically differentiated with respect to cosmology or any systematics included in the simulations at the same computational cost of the forward simulation.
Results. We find that the peak counts outperform the power spectrum in terms of the cold dark matter parameter, Ωc, as well as on the amplitude of density fluctuations, σ8, and the amplitude of the intrinsic alignment signal, AIA.
Uses of Sepa Flap in Reconstruction of Defects of Hand-A Review of 25 Cases
Authors: Sinha Dr. V.B. , Sharma Dr. B.K. , Verma Dr. P.K. 
Published: September 2023

AbstractThe SEPA flap based on superficial External Pudendal Artery, raised from lower abdomen is used to cover defects of hand. A series of 25 cases is done, out of which 5 cases were dealt in the emergency whereas 20 cases were dealt in elective operations. Both unilateral and bilateral flaps were used. The results are encouraging but vary significantly upon the severity of injury.
Cleft Lip Residual Deformity Correction
Authors: Bhiwapurkar Dr. Rajan 
Published: September 2023

AbstractCleft lip residual deformities need a Careful assessment of disfigurement and distortion related defects.Lip and nose both develop them after the successful primary repair. That of nose are related to collumela, alar cartilages, septum both bony as well as cartilagenous and vestibules. Surgical correction of each and every one of the defects present is expected to give a functionally and aesthetically acceptable result. Proper understanding of skeletal structural support of nose and that of certain other elements on which nose skin is draped is necessary. This artical deals with finer aspects of deformities that develop in cleft lip noses and describes ways and means of correcting them.