bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Rho family small GTPases control migration of hematopoietic progenitor cells into multicellular spheroids of bone marrow stroma cells
Authors: Bug G , Rossmanith T , Henschler R , Kunz-Schughart L A , Schröder B , Kampfmann M , Kreutz M , Hoelzer D , Ottmann O G 
Published: September 2022

AbstractSeeding of hematopoietic progenitor cells (HPC) into the bone marrow requires a complex interaction between cell membrane and adhesion systems and cell signaling pathways. We established a multicellular, spheroid coculture model to study HPC migration in a three-dimensional stromal environment. Here, entry of primary CD34+ cells into stroma cell spheroids was independent of the integrins very late antigen (VLA)-4, VLA-5, lymphocyte function-associated antigen-1, and the chemokine receptor CXCR4. Experiments using a panel of bacterial toxins selectively targeting key regulators of cellular locomotion, the Rho family small GTPases Rho, Rac, and Cdc42, revealed a considerable reduction or even abrogation of TF-1 cell migration without an increase of apoptosis or impairment of proliferation. Pertussis toxin, an inhibitor of Gαi proteins, showed a similar effect. In some in vitro invasion assays, phosphatidylinositol-3 kinase (PI-3K) was shown to mediate Rac- and Cdc42-induced cell motility and invasion. However, inhibition of the PI-3K pathway by LY294002 did not impair TF-1 cell migration in our three-dimensional model system.
Multiple control of interleukin-8 gene expression
Authors: Hoffmann Elke , Dittrich-Breiholz Oliver , Holtmann Helmut , Kracht Michael 
Published: September 2022

AbstractInterleukin (IL)-8, a prototypic human chemokine, was detected more than a decade ago as the founding member of the chemokine superfamily. One of the most remarkable properties of IL-8 is the variation of its expression levels. In healthy tissues, IL-8 is barely detectable, but it is rapidly induced by ten- to 100-fold in response to proinflammatory cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor or IL-1, bacterial or viral products, and cellular stress. Recently, significant advances in the understanding of signaling pathways, which coordinately regulate IL-8 transcription as well as mRNA stabilization in response to external stimuli, have been made. Maximal IL-8 amounts are generated by a combination of three different mechanisms: first, derepression of the gene promoter; second, transcriptional activation of the gene by nuclear factor-κB and JUN-N-terminal protein kinase pathways; and third, stabilization of the mRNA by the p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway. In that way, cells are able to rapidly increase and at the same time, to fine-tune the amount of IL-8 secreted and thereby control the extent of leukocytes attracted to sites of tissue injury.
WISER Survivor Trial: Combined Effect of Exercise and Weight Loss Interventions on Inflammation in Breast Cancer Survivors
Authors: STURGEON KATHLEEN M. , BROWN JUSTIN C. , SEARS DOROTHY D. , SARWER DAVID B. , SCHMITZ KATHRYN H. 
Published: September 2022

ABSTRACT

Purpose
Physical inactivity and obesity increase risk for breast cancer recurrence and cardiovascular death; inflammation is hypothesized to mediate these associations.

Methods
In a four-arm randomized controlled trial, 318 breast cancer survivors with overweight or obesity were randomized to exercise alone, weight loss alone, exercise plus weight loss, or control for 12 months. Inflammation outcomes included C-reactive protein (CRP), serum amyloid A (SAA), intracellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM-1), and vascular cell adhesion molecule 1 (VCAM-1).

Results
Compared with control, exercise alone increased ICAM-1 (9.3%; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.6–16.9) and VCAM-1 (8.6%; 95% CI = 2.6–14.5) but did not change CRP or SAA. Compared with control, weight loss alone reduced CRP (−35.2%; 95% CI = −49.9 to −20.7), and SAA (−25.6%; 95% CI = −39.8 to −11.9) but did not change ICAM-1 or VCAM-1. Compared with control, exercise plus weight loss reduced CRP (−44.1%; 95% CI = −57.1 to −31.1) and SAA (−26.6%; 95% CI = −40.5 to −12.6) but did not change ICAM-1 or VCAM-1. Among 194 participants with elevated CRP at baseline (e.g., >3 mg·L−1), compared with control, weight loss alone (0.17; 95% CI = 0.04–0.30) and exercise plus weight loss (0.31; 95% CI = 0.16–0.46) increased the probability of achieving normal CRP at month 12. In analyses that consolidated randomized groups, body weight and adiposity reductions, but not change in fitness level, correlated with decreased CRP, SAA, and ICAM-1 levels.

Conclusions
In breast cancer survivors with overweight or obesity, weight loss or exercise plus weight loss reduced measures of inflammation that are associated with breast cancer recurrence and cardiovascular death.
Effects of Broad-Spectrum Antibiotic Treatment or Germ-Free Status on Endurance Performance and Exercise Adaptations in Mice
Authors: HUTCHINSON NOAH T. , WANG SELENA S. , DOKHANCHI JACK , JOHNSON RODNEY W. , BUFORD THOMAS W. , ALLEN JACOB M. , WOODS JEFFREY A. 
Published: September 2022

ABSTRACT

Purpose
Endurance exercise alters the gut microbiome independently of diet. The extent to which gut microbes are responsible for physiologic adaptations to exercise training is unknown. The purpose of these experiments was to determine the role of gut microbes in performance and muscle adaptation to 6 wk of voluntary wheel running (VWR) in mice.

Methods
We depleted microbes with broad-spectrum antibiotic (ABX) treatment and used germ-free (GF) mice to determine effects on adaptations to VWR. Male and female C57Bl/6 mice (n = 56) were assigned to daily VWR or sedentary conditions. After the intervention, treadmill endurance and glucose tolerance were assessed, and gastrocnemius and soleus tissues were harvested and analyzed for citrate synthase (CS) enzyme activity and expression of exercise training–sensitive genes.

Results
ABX treatment and GF status resulted in VWR volumes ~22% and 26% lower than controls, respectively. Analysis of variance revealed that, although VWR increased treadmill endurance, ABX had no effect. GF status significantly reduced treadmill performance in trained GF mice after training. VWR increased gastrocnemius CS enzyme activity in all groups, and ABX and GF status did not reduce the VWR effect. VWR also increased muscle expression of PGC1a, but this was not affected by ABX treatment.

Conclusions
ABX treatment and GF status reduced VWR behavior but did not affect VWR-induced adaptations in endurance capacity, CS activity, or expression of muscle metabolic genes. However, GF status reduced endurance capacity. These data indicated that reducing microbes in adulthood does not inhibit endurance training adaptations in C57Bl/6 mice, but that GF mice possess a reduced responsiveness to endurance exercise training, perhaps because of a developmental defect associated with lack of microbes from birth.
Web-based digital twin online laboratories: Methodologies and implementation
Authors: Lei Zhongcheng , Zhou Hong , Hu Wenshan , Liu Guo-Ping 
Published: September 2022

Background: Online laboratories that provide online experimentation are crucial for education and research in all fields of engineering. As a transformative technology, the digital twin can be potentially applied into online laboratories to enable physical-digital twin interactions and enhance user experience. Methods: In this article, web-based digital twin online laboratories are discussed, the methodologies and implementation of which are presented in detail. The digital twin architecture, three-dimensional twin model, web-based digital twin control algorithm design, and real-time physical-twin control are explored to provide a full picture for the design and implementation of digital twin online laboratory systems. To illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed methodologies, a use case with the Networked Control System Laboratory (a previously developed control and automation laboratory) is provided, which details the design and implementation. Results: A four-tier web architecture has been implemented. With the provided web interface, control algorithms can be designed and employed for real-time digital twin experimentation. The experimental results demonstrated that the physical-digital twin fan speed control system can achieve good control and tracking performance with human-in-the-loop interactions. Conclusions: This article presents the methodologies and implementation of digital twin web-based online laboratories. The use case verified the proposed web architecture, digital twin implementation, control architecture, and human-in-the-loop interactions for a digital twin experimentation system, which can potentially be used for the design and implementation of other digital-twin applications in different fields.
Abnormal CT findings among patients with abdominal pain in the radiology department of a tertiary care center
Authors: Almushayti Ziyad , Alsalhi Abdulmonem , Alsagri Mazen , Alqarzaee Razan , Alsuwaidan Hamad , Alolayan Fahad , Alosaimi Hamed Turki , Alhussain Saud , Almushayqih Ali , Alolayan Shahad , Alghofaily Khalefa 
Published: September 2022

Background: Abdominal pain is a common symptom in people of different ages due to various benign and life-threatening causes. Imaging studies, including computerized tomography (CT) scans, explore the clinical reasons behind this pain to prevent delayed diagnosis. Owing to abnormal findings, timely identification of the exact cause of abdominal pain is important in most diseases so treatment can be started earlier, but it has not yet been studied, making this research novel. This study was conducted to identify the prevalence of abnormal CT scan findings among referred patients with abdominal pain and to confirm or determine other diagnoses compared to other imaging modalities in the Emergency Department (ED). Methods: This observational retrospective study was conducted at the King Fahad Hospital, a tertiary hospital in Qassim. We included 2,144 patients who visited the ED and underwent abdominal CT scans between January 2021 and January 2022. Data on age, sex, CT findings, and results from other imaging modalities were collected from the Radiology Department. Results: We found that 2,144 patients referred from the ED to the Radiology Department complained of acute abdominal pain in 2021 for CT diagnosis. Approximately 28.2% of these patients had normal CT diagnoses. The average age at normal CT diagnosis was 38.6 years old. While 52% of CT diagnoses were abnormal, including obstructive ureteric stone (435, 20.3%), appendicitis (205, 9.6%), bowel obstruction (51, 2.4%), renal cancer (27, 1.3%), ovarian cancer (25, 1.2%), and obstructive bladder stone (25, 1.2%), with an average age of 40.4 years old, and 19% with accidental findings. Conclusions: Most of the cases with abdominal pain showed abnormal results in the CT scan. These results demonstrate the sole inefficiency of CT scan for the diagnosis of abdominal pain. So, clinical evaluations should be used together with abdominal ultrasonography to perform a timely and exact diagnosis.
Investigation of knowledge management and firm competitiveness: core competence as a mediator
Authors: Aziz Iffat , Shafiq Muhammad , Fatima Iram 
Published: September 2022

Background: The objective of the current study is to empirically investigate interrelationships among three variables; knowledge management (KM), core competence (CC), and firm competitiveness (FC), and to develop a framework based on empirical evidence for developing countries in South Asia. Methods: This is a cross-sectional quantitative study using the Pakistan stock exchange (PSX) enlisted manufacturing and service organizations having a sample size of 136 companies. A questionnaire was self-administered to the respondents by executing a comprehensive strategy to get a high response rate. A total of 201 valid and complete responses from four manufacturing (automobiles, food & cosmetics, textile, and pharmaceutical) and one service organization (banks) were received using a Likert scale of five points in the questionnaire to examine the subject agreement level against statements. All hypothesized relationships were analyzed by employing SEM using AMOS ver. 20. Results: Results of the study confirmed the positive and significant influence of four constructs of knowledge management processes on four constructs of firm competitiveness (innovation, delivery, quality, and financial performance). Further, knowledge management significantly impacts the firm's competitiveness through the mediation of technology, organization and people (TOP) core competence. The findings also supported that managing the intangible resource of the organization can influence the firm's competitiveness and resource-based TOP competence. Conclusions: The SEM analysis confirmed all hypothetical relationships and supported the knowledge management's direct and indirect effects through core competence on firm competitiveness. The findings showed that the effectiveness of knowledge management will increase the organizations' competitiveness in developing countries' research perspective.
Medication-related burden among patients with diabetes mellitus and its relation to diabetic control parameters: an observational study
Authors: Jamal Noori Ayman , Jabbar Kadhim Dheyaa , Abdulhasan Al-Hilal Muqdad 
Published: September 2022

Background: Diabetes mellitus (DM) refers to a group of metabolic abnormalities that are linked with significant morbidity, death, and health-care costs. Management options for patients with chronic illnesses such as diabetes are growing more complicated, which may result in a therapeutic burden for patients. The purpose of this research was to quantify the forms of concerns diabetic individuals have with medication that influence overall burden, as well as to examine the sociodemographic and clinical factors linked with negative medication use experiences and increased levels of burden. Methods: The present research was a cross-sectional study of diagnosed diabetes patients who attended the Specialized Center for Endocrinology and Diabetes between 1st of December 2021 and 30th April 2022 in Baghdad, Iraq. The Living with Medicines Questionnaire (LMQ) was used to assess medication-related burden (MRB). Results: The study recruited 193 patients with diabetes mellitus. The participants were adults with an average age of 50±15 years. More than half (52.8%) of the participating patients were women, and more than half (51.3%) also had one or more other chronic diseases. Additionally, 23.3% of patients had polypharmacy (≥ 5 medications). More than one-third had diabetes complications: neuropathy (45.6%) or retinopathy (38.9%). The mean LMQ score was (122.8±15.5). The research revealed that most of the DM patients experienced a moderate degree of medication burden (72.5%), followed by high burden (14.5%), minimum burden (12.4%), and no burden at all (0.5%) with no patient experiencing extremely high burden (0.0 %). Patients with uncontrolled blood glucose (high HbA1c), neuropathy, or retinopathy had a significantly higher medication burden. Conclusions: The MRB among diabetic patients is at a very high level. This information may be helpful to health care professionals and policymakers seeking to understand MRB for patients with diabetes. Future studies should focus on developing interventions that help reduce such burdens.
Attachment states of mind, mentalization, and their correlates in a first‐episode psychosis sample
Authors: MacBeth Angus , Gumley Andrew , Schwannauer Matthias , Fisher Rebecca 
Published: September 2022

Objectives. Although there has been increased interest in applying attachment theory to the psychological understanding of psychosis, research to date has focused on self‐reported attachment and psychotic symptomatology. This study presents evidence for applying attachment and mentalization constructs to understanding engagement and adaptation to first‐episode psychosis (FEP), using a narrative based interview. Design. A cross‐sectional cohort design was used. Methods. Thirty‐four individuals with a first episode of psychosis were interviewed using the Adult Attachment Interview. Attachment classifications and reflective function scores were derived from the interview. Psychotic symptomatology, premorbid adjustment, duration of untreated psychosis, and psychological variables were also measured. Results. Attachment distribution was heterogeneous in the sample, although the majority of participants were classified dismissing of attachment. Mentalization scores were consistent with previous clinical samples. Attachment and mentalization were unrelated to psychotic symptomatology. Conclusions. The current study demonstrates, albeit with a small clinical sample, the importance of assessing attachment and mentalization via narrative methods. The findings also have clinical implications for understanding the process of engagement and adaptation in FEP.
Quantum-cascade-laser-absorption-spectroscopy diagnostic for temperature, pressure, and NO X
2
Π
1/2 at 500  kHz in shock-heated air at elevated pressures
Authors: Gilvey Jonathan J. , Ruesch Morgan D. , Daniel Kyle A. , Downing Charley R. , Lynch Kyle P. , Wagner Justin L. , Goldenstein Christopher S. 
Published: September 2022

The design, validation, and application of a
quantum-cascade-laser-absorption-spectroscopy diagnostic for measuring
gas temperature, pressure, and nitric oxide (NO) in high-temperature
air are presented. A distributed-feedback quantum-cascade laser (QCL)
centered near

1976

c
m

−
1

was used to scan across two
transitions of NO in its ground electronic state (

X

2

Π

1

/

2

). A measurement rate of
500 kHz was achieved using a single QCL by: (1) performing
current modulation through a bias-tee, and (2) targeting closely
spaced transitions with a large difference in lower-state energy. The
diagnostic was validated in a mixture of 95% argon and 5% NO, which
was shock-heated to

≈
2000

to 3700 K. The average mean
percent differences between laser-absorption-spectroscopy (LAS)
measurements and predictions from shock-jump relations for
temperature, pressure, and NO mole fraction were 3.1%, 4.1%, and 6.5%,
respectively. The diagnostic was then applied to characterize
shock-heated air at high temperatures (up to

≈
5500

K

) and high pressures (up to
12 atm) behind either incident or reflected shocks. The LAS
measurements were compared to theoretical predictions from shock-jump
relations, pressure sensors mounted in the wall of the shock tube, and
equilibrium values of the NO mole fraction. The average mean percent
differences between LAS measurements and their aforementioned
reference values were 3.2%, 10.8%, and 10.4% for temperature,
pressure, and NO mole fraction, respectively. Last, a comparison
between a measured NO mole fraction time history and a time-stepped
homogeneous reactor simulation performed using two different chemical
kinetics mechanisms is presented.
Impact of a prestrained graded InGaN/GaN interlayer towards enhanced optical characteristics of a multi-quantum well LED based on silicon substrate
Authors: Das Samadrita , Lenka Trupti Ranjan , Talukdar Fazal Ahmed , Sadaf Sharif Md. , Velpula Ravi Teja , Nguyen Hieu Pham Trung 
Published: September 2022

This paper presents alternate
pairs of InGaN/GaN prestrained layers with varying indium
compositions, which are
inserted between the GaN/InGaN
MQW active region and the n-GaN layer in a light-emitting diode (LED)
nanostructure in order to obtain enhanced optical
characteristics. The device is mounted on a silicon substrate followed
by a GaN buffer layer that promotes charge injection by minimizing the
energy barrier between the electrode and active layers. The designed
device attains more than 2.897% enhancement in efficiency when
compared with the conventional LED, which is attributed to the
reduction of a polarization field within the MQW region. The proposed
device with 15% indium composition in the prestrained layer attains a
maximum efficiency of 85.21% and a minimized efficiency droop of
3.848% at an injection current of 40 mA, with high luminous
power in the output spectral range. The device also shows a minimum
blueshift in the spectral range, indicating a decrease in the
piezoelectric polarization.
Theoretical analysis of a 60  W solar-pumped single crystal fiber laser
Authors: Xiang Pengfei , Lan Lanling , Liu Yan , Qi Hongfei , Tang Yulong , Ma Xiuhua 
Published: September 2022

In order to improve the output power of solar-pumped single-crystal fiber (SCF) lasers, we propose a novel solar concentrating system, to the best of our knowledge, consisting of a parabolic mirror, a 3D compound parabolic concentrator, and a hollow-core reflector. By ray tracing with TracePro, the influence of the fiber’s diameter and the hollow reflector’s shape on the solar absorption efficiency is theoretically investigated. A typical Nd:YAG SCF with a core diameter of 1 mm, length of 150 mm, and doping concentration of 1 at.% is selected for a simulation of laser operation. The output characteristics of the laser are analyzed by solving the rate equation and power transmission equation; the maximum output power and solar-to-laser conversion efficiency are 60.62 W and 4.64%, respectively. The thermal effects of the laser are simulated by Comsol software. When the input solar power is 1307.4 W, the temperature decreases sharply first and then saturates along the SCF fiber, with the maximum value of 69.18°C at the input fiber end. This concentrating system can effectively overcome the limitation of end-launching solar power into SCFs and has great potential in improving the output power of solar fiber lasers.
Are interferon-gamma release assays reliable to detect tuberculosis infection in patients with rheumatoid arthritis treated with Janus kinase inhibitors?
Authors: Scrivo Rossana , Molteni Emanuele , Castellani Chiara , Altobelli Alessio , Alessandri Cristiano , Ceccarelli Fulvia , Di Franco Manuela , Priori Roberta , Riccieri Valeria , Sili Scavalli Antonio , Spinelli Francesca Romana , Mastroianni Claudio Maria , Conti Fabrizio 
Published: September 2022

Background
Screening for latent tuberculosis infection is recommended in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) starting Janus kinase inhibitors (Jaki). Interferon (IFN)-gamma release assays (IGRAs) are increasingly used for this purpose. Jaki tend to decrease the levels of IFNs, questioning the reliability of IGRAs during treatment with these drugs.

Objectives
To compare the performance of QuantiFERON-TB Gold Plus (QFT-P) and QFT Gold In-tube (QFT-GIT) in RA patients treated with Jaki.

Methods
RA patients underwent QFT-P and QFT-GIT at baseline (T0), and after 3 (T3) and 12 months (T12) of treatment with Jaki. The agreement between the two tests was calculated. The agreement between IGRAs and tuberculin skin test (TST) or chest radiography at baseline was also determined. The variability of QTF-P results was longitudinally assessed.

Results
Twenty-nine RA patients (F/M 23/6; median age/IQR 63/15.5 years; median disease duration/IQR 174/216 months) were enrolled. A perfect agreement was found between QFT-P and QFT-GIT at all times (κ = 1). At T0, no agreement was recorded between IGRAs and TST (κ = -0.08) and between TST and chest radiography (κ = -0.07), a low agreement was found between QFT-P and chest radiography (κ = 0.17). A variation of 33.3% in the results of QFT-P was recorded at T3 vs T0, of 29.4% at T12 vs T0, and of 11.8% at T12 vs T3. The median levels of IFN-γ produced by lymphocytes in response to the mitogen of QFT-P decreased after 3 months followed by an increase after 12 months (not significant). No change in the median number of circulating lymphocytes was documented. Glucocorticoids intake was associated with a higher probability of negative or indeterminate IGRA results at T0 (p<0.0001).

Conclusion
A response to IGRAs is detectable during treatment with Jaki. However, fluctuations in the results of IGRAs have been observed in the absence of correlation with clinical outcomes, thus challenging their interpretation.