bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
PELAYANAN ADMINISTRASI DI KANTOR UPTD DUKCAPIL KECAMATAN TALANG KELAPA KABUPATEN BANYUASIN
Authors: Marlina Leny , Anti Neni Teri , Ibrahim Ibrahim
Published: October 2023

Penelitian ini merupakan penelitian kualitatif dengan menggunakan pendekatan fenomenologi. Informan dalam penelitian ini terdiri dari informan kunci (kepala kantor UPTD Dukcapil) dan informan pendukung (pegawai kantor dan masyarakat). Pengumpulan data dalam penelitian ini menggunakan beberapa teknik, meliputi teknik observasi, wawancara, dan dokumentasi. Penelitian ini menggunakan dua teknik triangulasi dalam proses pengujian keabsahan datanya, yaitu triangulasi sumber dan triangulasi teknik. Data yang telah dikumpulkan kemudian dianalisis secara kualitatif menggunakan model analisis Miles dan Huberman. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa dalam memberikan pelayanan administrasi, pegawai di kantor UPTD Dukcapil Kecamatan Talang Kelapa Kabupaten Banyuasin telah memberikan pelayanan administrasi dengan efisien, optimal, baik dan tertib. Keterampilan dan pengetahuan para petugas dalam menyelesaikan pekerjaan sudah baik. Selain itu, kemudahan akses informasi bagi masyarakat dalam menerima pelayanan administrasi sangat amat bagus, mulai dari pemberian informasi langsung yang dilakukan oleh para pegawai, hingga terciptanya berbagai inovasi.
STRATEGI KEPALA SEKOLAH DALAM PENGELOLAAN SARANA DAN PRASARANA DI SMP NEGERI 43 PALEMBANG
Authors: Wulandari Yus , Niswah Choirun , Ibrahim Ibrahim
Published: October 2023

Artikel ini membahas tentang Strategi Kepala Sekolah dalam Pengelolaan Sarana dan Prasarana di SMP Negeri 43 Palembang. Adapun tujuan penelitian ini yakni untuk mengetahui strategi kepala sekolah dalam pengelolaan sarana dan prasarana di SMP Negeri 43 Palembang. Penelitian ini merupakan penelitian kualitatif, dengan pendekatan deskriptif, subyek penelitian ini adalah kepala sekolah, wakil kepala bidang sarana dan prasarana, tenaga pendidik, tenaga kependidikan juga stakeholders lainnya. Data yang dikumpulkan melalui wawancara, observasi dan dokumentasi. Teknik yang digunakan dalam analisis data adalah reduksi data, penyajian data dan penarikan kesimpulan. Teknik yang digunakan dalam pemeriksaan keabsahan data adalah triangulasi sumber, triangulasi sumber dan triangulasi waktu. Hasil dari penelitian ini adalah strategi yang dilakukan oleh kepala sekolah dalam mengelola sarana dan prasarana di SMP Negeri 43 Palembang berupa pembentukan tim pengelolaan yang melibatkan wakil kepala bidang sarana dan prasarana dan pihak yang terkait lainnya. Adapun pembiyaannya melalui dana Bantuan Operasional Sekolah. Dana tersebut dipergunakan untuk biaya perawatan, perbaikan dan pengadaan sarana prasarana lainnya.
PELATIHAN PEMASARAN UMKM BERBASIS MEDIA SOSIAL PADA DESA MANDALAMEKAR KAB.BANDUNG
Authors: Budiantoro Harry , Anthonio Dean Salomo , Santosa Perdana Wahyu , Subing Hesty Juni Tambuati , Zahra Nurfadhilah , Wiratama Lison
Published: October 2023

Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengevaluasi pengetahuan, keterampilan, dan penerapan pemasaran melalui media sosial di Desa Mandalamekar, Kecamatan Cimenyan, Kabupaten Bandung. Ini didasarkan pada kenyataan bahwa salah satu tantangan yang dihadapi oleh Desa umumnya adalah kurangnya pengetahuan tentang pemasaran online, terutama seiring dengan kemajuan teknologi internet. Oleh karena itu, penting untuk memberikan pelatihan mengenai pemasaran UMKM berbasis media sosial agar memungkinkan UMKM untuk melakukan transaksi dengan lebih mudah melalui aplikasi. Metode implementasi terdiri dari analisis awal, yang mencakup survei dan pelatihan UMKM dalam pemasaran melalui media sosial, serta melibatkan pihak terkait lainnya. Kegiatan pelatihan melibatkan narasumber dari internal dan eksternal. Hasil dari pelaksanaan pelatihan menunjukkan peningkatan dalam kualitas produksi video untuk pemasaran UMKM di Karang Taruna.
Consumption of periphyton and bioseston by Mozambique tilapia in aqua dams with three different substrates
Authors: Hlongwane KC , Moyo NAG , Rapatsa-Malatji MM
Published: October 2023

Periphyton-based aquaculture can reduce feed input costs. Here we characterised the periphyton and bioseston formation in aqua dams stocked with net, plastic, and stone substrates. The consumption of periphyton and bioseston from the net substrate by Mozambique tilapia Oreochromis mossambicus fingerlings was evaluated. Three experiments were conducted. In the first experiment, net, stone, and plastic were deployed in triplicates in aqua dams. The net substrate registered the highest (7.74 ± 1.45 g m-2, ±SE) periphyton biomass. Network analysis showed connectedness between the substrates. The degree centrality showed that the net substrate had the highest score, indicating that there were more groups of species with similar functions growing on the net substrate. The net substrate was subsequently used in the second experiment to determine the consumption of periphyton and bioseston by tilapia fingerlings in aqua dams. Three treatments were assigned: N100 (fish fed 100% commercial diet); N50 (fish fed 50% commercial diet); and N33 (fish fed 33% commercial diet). Growth performance did not differ significantly among the treatments, although N50 showed a trend for a higher growth. This suggests that periphyton may be capable of nutritionally compensating for the partial withdrawal of commercial feed. A third experiment was conducted in fibreglass tanks to determine the preference of tilapia between periphyton and bioseston. The prominent values showed that tilapia preferred to feed on bioseston. The best growth performance was achieved in a periphyton-based aquaculture system, and deployment of the net substrate is recommended in tilapia ponds.
Biogeographic and environmental drivers of reef fish diversity in coastal islands of the Gulf of Thailand
Authors: Mattos FMG , Yeemin T , Sutthacheep M , Feitosa JLL
Published: October 2023

Islands, critical environments for marine biodiversity, have endorsed several classical ecological theories. However, most studies on marine communities in islands are restricted to oceanic settings; whether premises of island biogeography apply to coastal islands is still unknown. In the Gulf of Thailand (GoT), coral reefs occur in nearshore coastal islands, subject to a wide range of environmental conditions, diverging from the most-studied oceanic counterparts. We investigated fish communities of 51 reefs at 10 sites spanning ~1500 km of the GoT coast, to answer whether diversity and species composition were (1) more influenced by area and isolation than by local environmental conditions and/or (2) affected by the geographical position. As predicted by island biogeography models, diversity decreased with island isolation, albeit only for rare species; reef area increased diversity but solely for common and dominant species. The effect of the geographical position of reefs within the GoT was negligible. Small-scale differences in local conditions of turbidity and depth affected diversity and composition more than isolation and SST. Within-island variability in these conditions yielded a high local turnover of species, enhancing within-site gamma richness, even when the mean alpha richness per site was low. Trophic group composition was similar among most sites, but extreme conditions of environmental constraints (e.g. very high/low turbidity) rendered changes in the dominant trophic group. Results suggest that island biogeography models apply to the reef fish communities in coastal islands to some extent, but the broader ranges of local conditions are the primary drivers of their diversity and composition.
Pengembangan instrumen penilaian matematika berbasis literasi numerasi menggunakan aplikasi Quizizz
Authors: Narpila Suci Dahlya
Published: October 2023

Penelitian pengembangan dengan menggunakan model pengembangan Borg & Gall yang telah dimodifikasi menjadi sembilan tahapan ini melibatkan 103 siswa yang berasal dari MAN se kota Medan. Sedangkan objeknya merupakan instrumen penilaian matematika berbasis literasi numerasi menggunakan aplikasi Quizizz. Terdapat tiga data yang dibutuhkan pada penelitian yaitu data validitas yang berasal dari tiga ahli, data kepraktisan yang berasal dari angket kepraktisan serta data keefektifan yang berasal dari hasil uji coba dan skor angket respon siswa. Berdasarkan penelitian yang telah dilakukan, maka didapatkan data (1) validitas materi sebesar 4,08 yang termasuk kriteria valid, validitas media adalah 4,2 dengan kriteria sangat valid serta validitas bahasa sebesar 4,3 dengan kriteria sangat valid; (2) nilai kepraktisan produk sebesar 3,9 yang menunjukkan bahwa produk sudah praktis; (3) persentase ketuntasan siswa setelah mengikuti tes adalah 81,8% yang berada pada kategori sangat baik, dan (4) skor rata-rata hasil angket respon siswa 3,74 yang menunjukkan respon positif. Dari hasil penelitian tersebut, dapat disimpulkan bahwa instrumen penilaian instrumen penilaian matematika berbasis literasi numerasi menggunakan aplikasi Quizizz telah memenuhi kriteria valid, praktis dan efektif.
Development of sustainable downstream processing for nutritional oil production
Authors: Rollin Samuel , Gupta Adarsha , Franco Christopher M. M. , Singh Surinder , Puri Munish
Published: October 2023

Nutritional oils (mainly omega-3 fatty acids) are receiving increased attention as critical supplementary compounds for the improvement and maintenance of human health and wellbeing. However, the predominant sources of these oils have historically shown numerous limitations relating to desirability and sustainability; hence the crucial focus is now on developing smarter, greener, and more environmentally favourable alternatives. This study was undertaken to consider and assess the numerous prevailing and emerging techniques implicated across the stages of fatty acid downstream processing. A structured and critical comparison of the major classes of disruption methodology (physical, chemical, thermal, and biological) is presented, with discussion and consideration of the viability of new extraction techniques. Owing to a greater desire for sustainable industrial practices, and a desperate need to make nutritional oils more available; great emphasis has been placed on the discovery and adoption of highly sought-after ‘green’ alternatives, which demonstrate improved efficiency and reduced toxicity compared to conventional practices. Based on these findings, this review also advocates new forays into application of novel nanomaterials in fatty acid separation to improve the sustainability of nutritional oil downstream processing. In summary, this review provides a detailed overview of the current and developing landscape of nutritional oil; and concludes that adoption and refinement of these sustainable alternatives could promptly allow for development of a more complete ‘green’ process for nutritional oil extraction; allowing us to better meet worldwide needs without costing the environment.
Study of the antimicrobial activity of cationic carbosilane dendrimers against clinical strains of multidrug-resistant bacteria and their biofilms
Authors: Hernando-Gozalo Marcos , Aguilera-Correa John Jairo , Rescalvo-Casas Carlos , Seijas-Pereda Laura , García-Bertolín Carlos , de la Mata Francisco Javier , Sánchez-Nieves Javier , Cuadros Juan , Pérez-Tanoira Ramón
Published: October 2023

Introduction

Antimicrobial Resistance is a serious public health problem, which is aggravated by the ability of the microorganisms to form biofilms. Therefore, new therapeutic strategies need to be found, one of them being the use of cationic dendritic systems (dendrimers and dendrons).

Methods

The aim of this study is to analyze the in vitro antimicrobial efficacy of six cationic carbosilane (CBS) dendrimers and one dendron with peripheral ammonium groups against multidrug-resistant bacteria, some of them isolated hospital strains, and their biofilms. For this purpose, minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC), minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC), minimum biofilm inhibitory concentration (MBIC) and minimum eradication biofilm concentration (MBEC) studies were carried out. In addition, the cytotoxicity on Hela cells of those compounds that proved to be the most effective was analyzed.

Results

All the tested compounds showed in vitro activity against the planktonic forms of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and only the dendrimers BDSQ017, BDAC-001 and BDLS-001 and the dendron BDEF-130 against their biofilms. On the other hand, only the dendrimers BDAC 001, BDLS-001 and BDJS-049 and the dendron BDEF-130 were antibacterial in vitro against the planktonic forms of multidrug-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa, but they lacked activity against their preformed biofilms. In addition, the dendrimers BDAC-001, BDLS-001 and BDSQ-017 and the dendron BDEF-130 exhibited a good profile of cytotoxicity in vitro.

Discussion

Our study demonstrates the possibility of using the four compounds mentioned above as possible topical antimicrobials against the clinical and reference strains of multidrug-resistant bacteria.
Optimizing control strategies for urine nitrification: narrow pH control band enhances process stability and reduces nitrous oxide emissions
Authors: Faust Valentin , Boon Nico , Ganigué Ramon , Vlaeminck Siegfried E. , Udert Kai M.
Published: October 2023

Nitrification is well-suited for urine stabilization. No base dosage is required if the pH is controlled within an appropriate operating range by urine feeding, producing an ammonium-nitrate fertilizer. However, the process is highly dependent on the selected pH set-points and is susceptible to process failures such as nitrite accumulation or the growth of acid-tolerant ammonia-oxidizing bacteria. To address the need for a robust and reliable process in decentralized applications, two different strategies were tested: operating a two-position pH controller (inflow on/off) with a narrow pH control band at 6.20/6.25 (∆pH = 0.05, narrow-pH) vs. a wider pH control band at 6.00/6.50 (∆pH = 0.50, wide-pH). These variations in pH also cause variations in the chemical speciation of ammonia and nitrite and, as shown, the microbial production of nitrite. It was hypothesized that the higher fluctuations would result in greater microbial diversity and, thus, a more robust process. The diversity of nitrifiers was higher in the wide-pH reactor, while the diversity of the entire microbiome was similar in both systems. However, the wide-pH reactor was more susceptible to tested process disturbances caused by increasing pH or temperature, decreasing dissolved oxygen, or an influent stop. In addition, with an emission factor of 0.47%, the nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions from the wide-pH reactor were twice as high as the N2O emissions from the narrow-pH reactor, most likely due to the nitrite fluctuations. Based on these results, a narrow control band is recommended for pH control in urine nitrification.
Type 1 diabetes, glycemic traits, and risk of dental caries: a Mendelian randomization study
Authors: Tan Li , Zhong Meng-Mei , Zhao Ya-Qiong , Zhao Jie , Dusenge Marie Aimee , Feng Yao , Ye Qin , Hu Jing , Ou-Yang Ze-Yue , Chen Ning-Xin , Su Xiao-Lin , Zhang Qian , Liu Qiong , Yuan Hui , Wang Min-Yuan , Feng Yun-Zhi , Guo Yue
Published: October 2023

Background: Regarding past epidemiological studies, there has been disagreement over whether type 1 diabetes (T1DM) is one of the risk factors for dental caries. The purpose of this study was to determine the causative links between genetic susceptibility to T1DM, glycemic traits, and the risk of dental caries using Mendelian randomization (MR) approaches.

Methods: Summary-level data were collected on genome-wide association studies (GWAS) of T1DM, fasting glucose (FG), glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), fasting insulin (FI), and dental caries. MR was performed using the inverse-variance weighting (IVW) method, and sensitivity analyses were conducted using the MR-Egger method, weighted median, weighted mode, replication cohort, and multivariable MR conditioning on potential mediators.

Results: The risk of dental caries increased as a result of genetic susceptibility to T1DM [odds ratio (OR) = 1.044; 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.015–1.074; p = 0.003], with consistent findings in the replication cohort. The relationship between T1DM and dental caries was stable when adjusted for BMI, smoking, alcohol intake, and type 2 diabetes (T2DM) in multivariable MR. However, no significant correlations between the risk of dental caries and FG, HbA1c, or FI were found.

Conclusion: These results indicate that T1DM has causal involvement in the genesis of dental caries. Therefore, periodic reinforcement of oral hygiene instructions must be added to the management and early multidisciplinary intervention of T1DM patients, especially among adolescents and teenagers, who are more susceptible to T1DM.
Roles of microglia in adult hippocampal neurogenesis in depression and their therapeutics
Authors: Fang Shaoyi , Wu Zhibin , Guo Yali , Zhu Wenjun , Wan Chunmiao , Yuan Naijun , Chen Jianbei , Hao Wenzhi , Mo Xiaowei , Guo Xiaofang , Fan Lili , Li Xiaojuan , Chen Jiaxu
Published: October 2023

Adult hippocampal neurogenesis generates functional neurons from neural progenitor cells in the hippocampal dentate gyrus (DG) to complement and repair neurons and neural circuits, thus benefiting the treatment of depression. Increasing evidence has shown that aberrant microglial activity can disrupt the appropriate formation and development of functional properties of neurogenesis, which will play a crucial role in the occurrence and development of depression. However, the mechanisms of the crosstalk between microglia and adult hippocampal neurogenesis in depression are not yet fully understood. Therefore, in this review, we first introduce recent discoveries regarding the roles of microglia and adult hippocampal neurogenesis in the etiology of depression. Then, we systematically discuss the possible mechanisms of how microglia regulate adult hippocampal neurogenesis in depression according to recent studies, which involve toll-like receptors, microglial polarization, fractalkine-C-X3-C motif chemokine receptor 1, hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, cytokines, brain-derived neurotrophic factor, and the microbiota-gut-brain axis, etc. In addition, we summarize the promising drugs that could improve the adult hippocampal neurogenesis by regulating the microglia. These findings will help us understand the complicated pathological mechanisms of depression and shed light on the development of new treatment strategies for this disease.
The novel immunobiotic Clostridium butyricum S-45-5 displays broad-spectrum antiviral activity in vitro and in vivo by inducing immune modulation
Authors: Chathuranga Kiramage , Shin Yeseul , Uddin Md Bashir , Paek Jayoung , Chathuranga W. A. Gayan , Seong Yebin , Bai Lu , Kim Hongik , Shin Jeong Hwan , Chang Young-Hyo , Lee Jong-Soo
Published: October 2023

Clostridium butyricum is known as a probiotic butyric acid bacterium that can improve the intestinal environment. In this study, we isolated a new strain of C. butyricum from infant feces and evaluated its physiological characteristics and antiviral efficacy by modulating the innate immune responses in vitro and in vivo. The isolated C. butyricum S-45-5 showed typical characteristics of C. butyricum including bile acid resistance, antibacterial ability, and growth promotion of various lactic acid bacteria. As an antiviral effect, C. butyricum S-45-5 markedly reduced the replication of influenza A virus (PR8), Newcastle Disease Virus (NDV), and Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV) in RAW264.7 cells in vitro. This suppression can be explained by the induction of antiviral state in cells by the induction of antiviral, IFN-related genes and secretion of IFNs and pro-inflammatory cytokines. In vivo, oral administration of C. butyricum S-45-5 exhibited prophylactic effects on BALB/c mice against fatal doses of highly pathogenic mouse-adapted influenza A subtypes (H1N1, H3N2, and H9N2). Before challenge with influenza virus, C. butyricum S-45-5-treated BALB/c mice showed increased levels of IFN-β, IFN-γ, IL-6, and IL-12 in serum, the small intestine, and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF), which correlated with observed prophylactic effects. Interestingly, after challenge with influenza virus, C. butyricum S-45-5-treated BALB/c mice showed reduced levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines and relatively higher levels of anti-inflammatory cytokines at day 7 post-infection. Taken together, these findings suggest that C. butyricum S-45-5 plays an antiviral role in vitro and in vivo by inducing an antiviral state and affects immune modulation to alleviate local and systemic inflammatory responses caused by influenza virus infection. Our study provides the beneficial effects of the new C. butyricum S-45-5 with antiviral effects as a probiotic.
Immunological profiling in long COVID: overall low grade inflammation and T-lymphocyte senescence and increased monocyte activation correlating with increasing fatigue severity
Authors: Berentschot Julia C. , Drexhage Hemmo A. , Aynekulu Mersha Daniel G. , Wijkhuijs Annemarie J. M. , GeurtsvanKessel Corine H. , Koopmans Marion P. G. , Voermans Jolanda J. C. , Hendriks Rudi W. , Nagtzaam Nicole M. A. , de Bie Maaike , Heijenbrok-Kal Majanka H. , Bek L. Martine , Ribbers Gerard M. , van den Berg-Emons Rita J. G. , Aerts Joachim G. J. V. , Dik Willem A. , Hellemons Merel E.
Published: October 2023

Background

Many patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection develop long COVID with fatigue as one of the most disabling symptoms. We performed clinical and immune profiling of fatigued and non-fatigued long COVID patients and age- and sex-matched healthy controls (HCs).

Methods

Long COVID symptoms were assessed using patient-reported outcome measures, including the fatigue assessment scale (FAS, scores ≥22 denote fatigue), and followed up to one year after hospital discharge. We assessed inflammation-related genes in circulating monocytes, serum levels of inflammation-regulating cytokines, and leukocyte and lymphocyte subsets, including major monocyte subsets and senescent T-lymphocytes, at 3-6 months post-discharge.

Results

We included 37 fatigued and 36 non-fatigued long COVID patients and 42 HCs. Fatigued long COVID patients represented a more severe clinical profile than non-fatigued patients, with many concurrent symptoms (median 9 [IQR 5.0-10.0] vs 3 [1.0-5.0] symptoms, p<0.001), and signs of cognitive failure (41%) and depression (>24%). Immune abnormalities that were found in the entire group of long COVID patients were low grade inflammation (increased inflammatory gene expression in monocytes, increased serum pro-inflammatory cytokines) and signs of T-lymphocyte senescence (increased exhausted CD8+ TEMRA-lymphocytes). Immune profiles did not significantly differ between fatigued and non-fatigued long COVID groups. However, the severity of fatigue (total FAS score) significantly correlated with increases of intermediate and non-classical monocytes, upregulated gene levels of CCL2, CCL7, and SERPINB2 in monocytes, increases in serum Galectin-9, and higher CD8+ T-lymphocyte counts.

Conclusion

Long COVID with fatigue is associated with many concurrent and persistent symptoms lasting up to one year after hospitalization. Increased fatigue severity associated with stronger signs of monocyte activation in long COVID patients and potentially point in the direction of monocyte-endothelial interaction. These abnormalities were present against a background of immune abnormalities common to the entire group of long COVID patients.
A new design method for stiffened plate based on topology optimization with min-max length-scale control
Authors: Wang Shitao , Zhang Haibing
Published: October 2023

Stiffened plates are widely used in engineering due to their excellent manufacturing and mechanical properties. This paper introduces a novel method for designing stiffener plates that combines the H-DGTP formulation, robust topology optimization formulation, and maximum length-scale control. In comparison to existing methods, the proposed approach not only provides a clear layout of stiffeners but also optimizes their height. Sensitivity analysis of all design variables is derived for utilization with gradient-based optimizers. The study demonstrates that the implementation of the robust filter approach enables precise control of both structural features and gap widths, effectively avoiding sharp angles. Moreover, as the maximum length approaches the minimum length, the stiffeners assume uniform thickness, which better meets engineering requirements. Numerical examples are presented to validate the effectiveness of the proposed method.
Application progress of human amniotic membrane in vitreoretinopathy: a literature review
Authors: Yang Huawei , Li Ziyue , Jin Wei , Yang Anhuai
Published: October 2023

Recently, the application of the amniotic membrane (AM) in ophthalmology is gradually expanding from the anterior to the posterior segment of the eye. Its characteristics of anti-inflammation, anti-bacterial, anti-vascularization, immune regulation, anti-fibrosis, pro-epithelialization, and so forth have made it a hot topic in ophthalmic research. AM has been confirmed to repair photoreceptors, restore normal retinal structures, and close the abnormal structures in the optic disc. Currently, the application areas mainly include retinal hole, retinal detachment, optic disc pit, retinal degenerative diseases, and choroidal hole. This article reviews the current literature applying AM transplantation in the treatment of various posterior segment diseases while comparing the clinical outcomes with other techniques.
Concurrent coronary artery disease and immune thrombocytopenia: a systematic review
Authors: Rahhal Alaa , Provan Drew , Shunnar Khaled , Najim Mostafa , Ahmed Ashraf Omer , Rozi Waail , Al-Khabori Murtadha , Marashi Mahmoud , AlRasheed Mona , Osman Hani , Yassin Mohamed
Published: October 2023

Introduction

Coronary artery disease (CAD) management in the setting of immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) remains very challenging to clinicians as a reasonable balance between bleeding and thrombosis risks needs to be achieved, and the evidence guiding such management is scarce.

Methods

We conducted a systematic review following the PRISMA guidelines to summarize the available literature on the management and outcomes of CAD coexisting with ITP. We searched PubMed and Embase for studies published in English exploring CAD and ITP management until 05 October 2022. Two independent reviewers screened and assessed the articles for inclusion. Patients' characteristics, CAD treatment modalities, ITP treatment, and complications were reported.

Results

We identified 32 CAD cases, among which 18 cases were revascularized with percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), 12 cases underwent coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABG), and two cases were managed conservatively. More than 50% were men, with a mean age of 61 ± 13 years and a mean baseline platelet count of 52 ± 59 × 109/L. Irrespective of the revascularization modality, most patients were treated with either corticosteroids alone, intravenous immunoglobulins (IVIG) alone, or in combination. Among those who underwent PCI, two patients had bleeding events, and one patient died. Similarly, among those with CABG, one patient developed bleeding, and one patient died.

Conclusion

We found that revascularization with either PCI or CABG with the concurrent use of corticosteroids and/or IVIG for ITP was feasible, with an existing non-negligible risk of bleeding and mortality.
Patients with geriatric syndromes and anti-amyloid therapies: lack of consideration? An exploratory analysis of the literature
Authors: Sadlon Angélique , Ott Martin , Kressig Reto W.
Published: October 2023

Introduction

Patients who should benefit from anti-amyloid therapies (AAT) are found across all geriatric settings. Yet, it remains unclear how the use of AAT in patients with geriatric syndromes, such as frailty and polypharmacy, has so far been discussed in the literature.

Methods

Articles on aducanumab, gantenerumab, lecanemab, donanemab, crenezumab, solanezumab were retrieved in MEDLINE from inception to July 2023. For each article, identified geriatric relevant terms were assigned to five discussion contexts (eligibility of AAT study population, safety, prescription, patient clinical profile, alternative outcomes measurement). Article type and the involvement of geriatric healthcare professionals as an author were further extracted.

Results

Out of 538 articles, 23 (4.27%) were published in journals from the geriatric category, 44 (8.18%) included an author affiliated with a geriatric institution. One hundred and sixteen (21.56%) articles included at least one geriatric relevant term, which were mostly discussed in the context of safety and eligibility. Articles mentioning geriatric syndromes were more frequently authored by a geriatric healthcare professional (p = 0.044).

Discussion

The use of AAT in patients with geriatric syndromes has so far received poor attention in the literature raising concerns on their use in this patient group. The involvement of geriatric healthcare professionals in future studies may increase the relevance of AAT research in patients with geriatric syndromes.
Fluorescence radial fluctuation enables two-photon super-resolution microscopy
Authors: Tsutsumi Motosuke , Takahashi Taiga , Kobayashi Kentaro , Nemoto Tomomi
Published: October 2023

Despite recent improvements in microscopy, it is still difficult to apply super-resolution microscopy for deep imaging due to the deterioration of light convergence properties in thick specimens. As a strategy to avoid such optical limitations for deep super-resolution imaging, we focused on super-resolution radial fluctuation (SRRF), a super-resolution technique based on image analysis. In this study, we applied SRRF to two-photon microscopy (2P-SRRF) and characterized its spatial resolution, suitability for deep observation, and morphological reproducibility in real brain tissue. By the comparison with structured illumination microscopy (SIM), it was confirmed that 2P-SRRF exhibited two-point resolution and morphological reproducibility comparable to that of SIM. The improvement in spatial resolution was also demonstrated at depths of more than several hundred micrometers in a brain-mimetic environment. After optimizing SRRF processing parameters, we successfully demonstrated in vivo high-resolution imaging of the fifth layer of the cerebral cortex using 2P-SRRF. This is the first report on the application of SRRF to in vivo two-photon imaging. This method can be easily applied to existing two-photon microscopes and can expand the visualization range of super-resolution imaging studies.
Middle meningeal artery embolization for chronic subdural hematoma: a systematic review
Authors: Omura Yoshihiro , Ishiguro Taichi
Published: October 2023

Background

Chronic subdural hematoma (cSDH) is one of the most common diseases in neurosurgery. Middle meningeal artery embolization (MMAE) is reportedly an option to prevent recurrence or avoid surgery in patients with cSDH. This study was performed to review the evidence on MMAE for cSDH and evaluate its safety, efficacy, indications, and feasibility.

Methods

We systematically reviewed the literature according to the PRISMA guidelines using an electronic database. The search yielded 43 articles involving 2,783 patients who underwent MMAE.

Results

The hematoma resolution, recurrence, and retreatment rates in the MMAE-alone treatment group (n = 815) were 86.7%, 6.3%, and 9.6%, respectively, whereas those in the prophylactic MMAE with combined surgery group (n = 370) were 95.6%, 4.4%, and 3.4%, respectively. The overall MMAE-related complication rate was 2.3%.

Conclusion

This study shows that MMAE alone is, although not immediate, as effective as evacuation surgery alone in reducing hematoma. The study also shows that combined treatment has a lower recurrence rate than evacuation surgery alone. Because MMAE is a safe procedure, it should be considered for patients with cSDH, especially those with a high risk of recurrence.
The impact of patient-reported visual disturbance on dynamic visual acuity in myopic patients after corneal refractive surgery
Authors: Wang Yuexin , Zhang Yu , Wu Tingyi , Ren Xiaotong , Yuan Yifei , Li Xuemin , Chen Yueguo
Published: October 2023

Purpose

To investigate the impact of patient-reported visual disturbance on dynamic visual acuity in myopic patients after corneal refractive surgery.

Methods

This is a prospective nonrandomized study. Adult myopic patients receiving bilateral photorefractive keratectomy (PRK), femtosecond laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis (FS-LASIK), or small incision lenticule extraction (SMILE) with Plano target were included. Eight types of patient-reported visual disturbance were evaluated regarding frequency, severity and bothersome and dynamic visual acuity (DVA) of 40 and 80 degrees per second (dps) was measured postoperatively at 3 months.

Results

The study enrolled 95 patients with an average age of 27.6 ± 6.4 years. The most frequently reported visual disturbance was the fluctuation in vision (70.5%), followed by glare (66.3%) and halo (57.4%). Postoperative DVA at 80 dps was significantly associated with the total score of haloes (p = 0.038) and difficulty in judging distance (p = 0.046). Significant worse postoperative DVA at 40 dps was observed in patients with haloes than those without (p = 0.024). The DVA at 80 dps for patients without haloes or difficulty in judging distance was significantly better than that with the symptoms (haloes, p = 0.047; difficulty in judging distance, p = 0.029). Subgroup analysis by surgical procedures demonstrated that the significant difference in DVA between patients with and without visual disturbance was only observed in patients receiving FS-LASIK.

Conclusion

Postoperatively, myopic patients undergoing corneal refractive surgery with haloes or difficulty in judging distance have significantly worse low and high-speed DVA than those without the symptoms. The present study provided the basis for postoperative guidance in daily tasks involving dynamic vision when patients have visual disturbances.
Global epidemiology of breast cancer based on risk factors: a systematic review
Authors: Roheel Amna , Khan Aslam , Anwar Fareeha , Akbar Zunaira , Akhtar Muhammad Furqan , Imran Khan Mohammad , Sohail Mohammad Farhan , Ahmad Rizwan
Published: October 2023

Background

Numerous reviews of the epidemiology and risk factors for breast cancer have been published previously which heighted different directions of breast cancer.

Aim

The present review examined the likelihood that incidence, prevalence, and particular risk factors might vary by geographic region and possibly by food and cultural practices as well.

Methods

A systematic review (2017-2022) was conducted following Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses (PRISMA) guidelines, reporting on epidemiological and risk factor reports from different world regions. Medical Subject Heading (MeSH) terms: “Breast neoplasm” “AND” country terms such as “Pakistan/epidemiology”, “India/epidemiology”, “North America/epidemiology”, “South Africa/epidemiology” were used to retrieve 2068 articles from PubMed. After applying inclusion and exclusion terms, 49 papers were selected for systematic review.

Results

Results of selected articles were summarized based on risk factors, world regions and study type. Risk factors were classified into five categories: demographic, genetic and lifestyle risk factors varied among countries. This review article covers a variety of topics, including regions, main findings, and associated risk factors such as genetic factors, and lifestyle. Several studies revealed that lifestyle choices including diet and exercise could affect a person’s chance of developing breast cancer. Breast cancer risk has also been linked to genetic variables, including DNA repair gene polymorphisms and mutations in the breast cancer gene (BRCA). It has been found that most of the genetic variability links to the population of Asia while the cause of breast cancer due to lifestyle modifications has been found in American and British people, indicating that demographic, genetic, and, lifestyle risk factors varied among countries.

Conclusion

There are many risk factors for breast cancer, which vary in their importance depending on the world region. However, further investigation is required to better comprehend the particular causes of breast cancer in these areas as well as to create efficient prevention and treatment plans that cater to the local population.
An accurate, reliable, and universal qPCR method to identify homozygous single insert T-DNA with the example of transgenic rice
Authors: Tran Hai Thanh , Schramm Carly , Huynh My-my , Shavrukov Yuri , Stangoulis James C. R. , Jenkins Colin L. D. , Anderson Peter A.
Published: October 2023

Early determination of transgenic plants that are homozygous for a single locus T-DNA insert is highly desirable in most fundamental and applied transgenic research. This study aimed to build on an accurate, rapid, and reliable quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) method to fast-track the development of multiple homozygous transgenic rice lines in the T1 generation, with low copy number to single T-DNA insert for further analyses. Here, a well-established qPCR protocol, based on the OsSBE4 reference gene and the nos terminator, was optimized in the transgenic Japonica rice cultivar Nipponbare, to distinguish homozygous single-insert plants with 100% accuracy. This method was successfully adapted to transgenic Indica rice plants carrying three different T-DNAs, without any modifications to quickly develop homozygous rice plants in the T1 generation. The accuracy of this qPCR method when applied to transgenic Indica rice approached 100% in 12 putative transgenic lines. Moreover, this protocol also successfully detected homozygous single-locus T-DNA transgenic rice plants with two-transgene T-DNAs, a feature likely to become more popular in future transgenic research. The assay was developed utilizing universal primers targeting common sequence elements of gene cassettes (the nos terminator). This assay could therefore be applied to other transgenic plants carrying the nos terminator. All procedures described here use standardized qPCR reaction conditions and relatively inexpensive dyes, such as SYBR Green, thus the qPCR method could be cost-effective and suitable for lower budget laboratories that are involved in rice transgenic research.
Genetic control of flowering time and fruit yield in citron watermelon
Authors: Katuuramu Dennis N. , Levi Amnon , Wechter William P.
Published: October 2023

Flowering time and fruit yield are important traits in watermelon crop improvement. There is limited information on the inheritance and genomic loci underlying flowering time and yield performance, especially in citron watermelon. A total of 125 citron watermelon accessions were evaluated in field trials over two growing seasons for days to male and female flowers, fruit count, fruit weight, and fruit yield. The germplasm was genotyped with more than two million single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers generated via whole-genome resequencing. Trait mapping was conducted using a genome-wide association study (GWAS). Broad-sense heritability for all traits ranged from moderate to high, indicating that genetic improvement through breeding and selection is feasible. Significant marker-trait associations were uncovered for days to female flower (chromosomes Ca04, Ca05, Ca08, and Ca09), fruit count (on Ca02, Ca03, and Ca05), fruit weight (on Ca02, Ca06, Ca08, Ca10, and Ca11), and fruit yield on chromosomes Ca05, Ca07, and Ca09. The phenotypic variation explained by the significant SNPs ranged from 1.6 to 25.4, highlighting the complex genetic architecture of the evaluated traits. Candidate genes relevant to flowering time and fruit yield component traits were uncovered on chromosomes Ca02, Ca04, Ca05, Ca06, Ca09, and Ca11. These results lay a foundation for marker-assisted trait introgression of flowering time and fruit yield component traits in watermelons.
Salinity stress-induced phosphorylation of INDETERMINATE-DOMAIN 4 (IDD4) by MPK6 regulates plant growth adaptation in Arabidopsis
Authors: Rawat Anamika , Völz Ronny , Sheikh Arsheed , Mariappan Kiruthiga G. , Kim Soon-Kap , Rayapuram Naganand , Alwutayd Khairiah M. , Alidrissi Louai K. , Benhamed Moussa , Blilou Ikram , Hirt Heribert
Published: October 2023

The INDETERMINATE DOMAIN (IDD) family belongs to a group of plant-specific transcription factors that coordinates plant growth/development and immunity. However, the function and mode of action of IDDs during abiotic stress, such as salt, are poorly understood. We used idd4 transgenic lines and screened them under salt stress to find the involvement of IDD4 in salinity stress tolerance The genetic disruption of IDD4 increases salt-tolerance, characterized by sustained plant growth, improved Na+/K+ ratio, and decreased stomatal density/aperture. Yet, IDD4 overexpressing plants were hypersensitive to salt-stress with an increase in stomatal density and pore size. Transcriptomic and ChIP-seq analyses revealed that IDD4 directly controls an important set of genes involved in abiotic stress/salinity responses. Interestingly, using anti-IDD4-pS73 antibody we discovered that IDD4 is specifically phosphorylated at serine-73 by MPK6 in vivo under salinity stress. Analysis of plants expressing the phospho-dead and phospho-mimicking IDD4 versions proved that phosphorylation of IDD4 plays a crucial role in plant transcriptional reprogramming of salt-stress genes. Altogether, we show that salt stress adaption involves MPK6 phosphorylation of IDD4 thereby regulating IDD4 DNA-binding and expression of target genes.
How is music listening purpose related to stress recovery? – two preliminary studies in men and women
Authors: Song Yichen , Mewes Ricarda , Skoluda Nadine , Nater Urs M.
Published: October 2023

Introduction

Studies have suggested that listening to music can reduce psychological and biological responses to a stressor. However, it is unclear whether music has the same effect on stress recovery. According to field studies, people commonly use music in daily life for the specific purpose of relaxation. We explored whether individuals who generally use music for relaxation purposes show improved recovery from an acute stressor.

Methods

In two independent studies, twenty-seven healthy female participants (Mage = 24.07) (Study 1) and twenty-one healthy male participants (Mage = 23.52) (Study 2) were separated into two groups based on their frequency of using music for relaxation purposes (low vs. high). All participants underwent a lab-based psychosocial stress test. Subjective stress levels were measured using visual analogue scales. Salivary cortisol and salivary alpha-amylase were measured to assess endocrine and autonomic stress responses, respectively. Subjective stress levels and saliva samples were measured nine times throughout the stress induction and recovery procedure. Chronic stress levels were assessed using the Perceived Stress Scale and the Screening Scale of Chronic Stress.

Results

No significant differences were observed in subjective stress levels, salivary alpha-amylase activity, or cortisol concentration between the two groups in either of the two studies. Further analyses revealed that among male participants, increased use of music for relaxation purposes was related to more chronic stress levels (t (10.46) = 2.45, p = 0.03, r = 0.60), whereas female participants exhibited a trend in the opposite direction (t (13.94) = −1.92, p = 0.07, r = 0.46).

Discussion

Contrary to our expectations, the results indicate that habitual music listening for relaxation purposes is not associated with improved recovery from a stressor. However, due to the small sample size, future exploration is necessary to enhance the statistical power of the results of the study.
Academic burnout in psychology and health-allied sciences: the BENDiT-EU program for students and staff in higher education
Authors: Kourea Lefki , Papanastasiou Elena C. , Diaconescu Liliana Veronica , Popa-Velea Ovidiu
Published: October 2023

Studying at university involves demanding academic and clinical training requirements for students from Psychology and other health-allied fields, potentially having severe physical and mental health implications. Existing training programs for addressing burnout have focused thus far on specific areas (e.g., stress management, physical exercise, mindfulness meditation, etc.) with promising outcomes. However, no comprehensive programs have been developed to train students and staff in the early identification of burnout signs and characteristics as well as in self-assessing personal needs and habits (i.e., primary prevention), or in identifying community resources and evidence-based strategies to overcome burnout (i.e., secondary prevention). This paper describes the content development, refinement, and piloting process of the BENDiT-EU program as part of a European collaborative to address academic burnout for health-allied students. Piloting results showed that participants viewed the program positively and provided helpful suggestions for content improvement and training delivery. Future research directions should target experimental investigations of the program’s effectiveness and the longitudinal interaction of burnout with other variables (e.g., resilience).
The transformative cognition of English as a Foreign Language student teachers’ personal practical knowledge
Authors: Xu Quan , Wang Ting
Published: October 2023

This study investigates the process by which English as a Foreign Language (EFL) student teachers transmute their Pedagogical Content Knowledge (PCK) into Personal Practical Knowledge (PPK) within a blended learning community. Data sources, including conversation transcripts, reflective journals, and field notes, were meticulously examined utilizing the commonplaces of temporality, sociality, and place. Several key findings were unveiled: (1) the volume and focal points of transformed PPK varied across participants; (2) the metamorphosis of PCK into PPK was found to be selectively partial, filtered by factors such as previous learning experiences, course expectations, and levels of engagement; and (3) the selection process was molded within the dynamic interplay of the internal components of the blended learning community and the external socio-cultural conditions. The study concludes that the cognition mechanism of EFL student teachers’ PPK is characterized by elements of variation, selection, and dynamism.