bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The role of perfusion, grey matter and behavioural phenotypes in the data-driven classification of cognitive syndromes
Authors: Vipin Ashwati , Lee Bernett Teck Kwong , Kumar Dilip , Soo See Ann , Leow Yi Jin , Ghildiyal Smriti , En Faith Phemie Lee Hui , Hilal Saima , Kandiah Nagaendran
Published: August 2023

BACKGROUND
The use of structural and perfusion brain imaging in combination with behavioural information in the prediction of cognitive syndromes using a data-driven approach remains to be explored. Here, we thus examined the contribution of brain structural and perfusion imaging and behavioural features to the existing classification of cognitive syndromes using a data-driven approach.
METHODS
Study participants belonged to the community-based Biomarker and Cognition Cohort Study in Singapore who underwent neuropsychological assessments, structural-functional MRI and blood biomarkers. Participants had a diagnosis of cognitively normal (CN), subjective cognitive impairment (SCI), mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and dementia. Cross-sectional structural and cerebral perfusion imaging, behavioural scale data including mild behaviour impairment checklist, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index and Depression, Anxiety and Stress scale data were obtained.
RESULTS
373 participants (mean age 60.7 years; 56% female sex) with complete data were included. Principal component analyses demonstrated that no single modality was informative for the classification of cognitive syndromes. However, multivariate glmnet analyses revealed a specific combination of frontal perfusion and temporo-frontal grey matter volume were key protective factors while severity of mild behaviour impairment interest sub-domain and poor sleep quality were key at-risk factors contributing to the classification of CN, SCI, MCI and dementia (p < 0.0001). Moreover, the glmnet model showed best classification accuracy in differentiating between CN and MCI cognitive syndromes (AUC = 0.704; sensitivity = 0.698; specificity = 0.637).
CONCLUSIONS
Brain structure, perfusion and behavioural features are important in the classification of cognitive syndromes and should be incorporated by clinicians and researchers. These findings illustrate the value of using multimodal data when examining syndrome severity and provide new insights into how cerebral perfusion and behavioural impairment influence classification of cognitive syndromes.
Response of Some Sugar beets cultivars to Organic fertilizers under South Sinai Conditions.
Authors: Abdelaziz Mahmoud Abdelsalam
Published: August 2023

Background: Sugar beets-winter is the primary sugar planting technique in arid Egypt, This study's major goal was to increase the growth of sugar beetroot cultivars in an arid region by applying organic fertilizers. It will be easier to increase crop performance under salinity if we have a superior grasp in terms of the molecular and physiological mechanisms driving salt acceptance.
Results: The sustainability of sugar beets, a novel crop in this region, is still unknown. Consequently, a field experiment four sugar beets cultivars (Casupia-Salama-Sahar and Faten) under three organic fertilization (0, 11.905, and 23.810 ton/ha). Field data were used to incorporate the capacity of 17 morphological, yield-related, and physiological features as indicators for detecting salt tolerant, net ecosystem economic advantages, and economic benefits.
Conclusions: Salama cultivar significantly surpassed other studied cultivars by 8.5%. The organic fertilization considerable impact on application rate, facilitate the elements and reduce the damage of the salts. Taking into account modifications to the organic fertilization traces, the Salama cultivar with (23.810 ton/ha), which produced the greatest net benefits to the ecosystem in terms of both economic and ecological advantages, and a 167 % Salama greater net economic benefits to the ecosystem than with the status quo Casupia cultivar and Organic Fertilization application rate (0 ton/ha), employing a comprehensive approach that combines Salama cultivar and Organic Fertilization application contributes to improvements sustainable sugar beets production systems in the El-Tur area, South Sinai, Egypt and places with comparable ecological characteristics.
Dosimetric Comparison between CyberKnife and HyperArc Treatment Plans for Trigeminal Neuralgia: Cone-Based Robotic System versus High- Definition MLC-Based Linac System
Authors: Yang Ching-Chieh , Ho Hsiu-Wen , Lin Hsiu-Man , Ting Wei-Chen , Wang Shih-Chang , Chen Hsiao-Yun , Lin Yu-Wei
Published: August 2023

Background
This study evaluates the feasibility of HyperArc (HA) for trigeminal neuralgia (TN) by comparing dose distribution with CyberKnife (CK).
Methods
Contour sets from twenty patients who had undergone CK for TN were used to generate HA treatment plans for comparison. Two different TN target delineation settings were used: the whole segment of the trigeminal nerve root entry zone (REZ) group and the 5-mm spherical target group. The prescribed dose was 65 Gy in a single fraction, prescribed to the 80% isodose line. The CK and HA treatment plans were compared for target coverage, sparing of organs at risk (OARs), and dose distribution metrics.
Results
In the whole segment of the REZ group, the HA plans showed statistically significant differences with higher target coverage than the CK plans. The mean brain doses for HA and CK were 0.83 Gy and 1.15 Gy, respectively (P < 0.001). The brain V12 was significantly smaller for HA plans (5.9 cm3) than CK plans (6.9 cm3). Significant achievement in the doses of the ipsilateral/contralateral cranial nerve (CN) VII/VIII were observed in the HA plans than the CK plans. The conformity index was significantly greater in the HA plans compared to the CK plans. The dose gradient radius was similar for the CK and HA plans. In the 5mm-spherical target group, both plans showed good target coverage, with the CK plans exhibiting better brain sparing and higher CN VII/VIII dose. The dose distribution metrics were similar for both plans.
Conclusions
The HA technique is a feasible alternative for TN treatment, offering excellent organ-at-risk sparing and favorable dosimetric distribution.
Prevalence of gastrointestinal helminth parasite infections in country chicken from Visakhapatnam district Andhra Pradesh India
Authors: Mathews Anisha , Pusupuleti Janikiram , Shameem Ummey
Published: August 2023

Birds in a free environment carry huge risk of helminth parasite infections affecting the health of poultry and thereby indirectly leading to great economic loss. The present study aimed to evaluate the prevalence, parasite intensity and species diversity of gastrointestinal helminth parasites (GIH) of country chicken (Gallus gallus domesticus) from local chicken markets of Visakhapatnam district, Andhra Pradesh. A total of 300 gastrointestinal tract (GIT) samples were examined from January to December 2021 and the collected parasites were separated, counted, identified and statistically analysed. The overall prevalence of infection was found to be 87% with an intensity of 139.29. The study showed high prevalence with mixed infections (66%), whereas the prevalence with individual groups i.e. cestodes, nematodes and trematodes was found to be 83.00%, 70.33%, and 0.67% respectively. Altogether 10 parasite species were identified viz. Raillietina echinobothrida being the most dominant with a prevalence of 72.67%, followed by Raillietina tetragona (62.00%), Heterakis gallinarum (59.33%), Ascaridia galli (45.33%), Davainea proglottina (43.00%), Amoebotaenia cuneata (42.67%), Raillietina cesticillus (38.33%), Hymenolepis sps. 1 (36.00%), Cotugnia sps. (29.67%) and the least was Hymenolepis sps. 2 (21.00%). In month-wise data, highest prevalence was recorded in July (100%), and the highest seasonal prevalence was recorded in summer (90%), followed by monsoon (87%) and winter (84%). No major significant difference in prevalence was noted between males (88.51%) and females (85.53%). Hosts with high body temperature and low GIT pH levels showed increased prevalence and parasite intensity. The present study helps in laying better health and disease management strategies for country chicken.
Chlorogenic acid attenuates deoxynivalenol-induced apoptosis and pyroptosis in human keratinocytes via activating Nrf2/HO-1 and inhibiting MAPK/NF-κB/NLRP3 pathways
Authors: Chen Jiashe , Zhou Zhiyu , Xi Ningyuan , Xu Mingyuan , Wu Nanhui , Wu Fei , Fu Qiaoting , Yan Guorong , Liu Yeqiang , Xu Xiaoxiang
Published: August 2023

Background and aim
Deoxynivalenol (DON) is a common mycotoxic contaminant, frequently found in food and feed, causing a severe threat to human and animal health. Because of the widespread contamination of DON, humans involved in agricultural practices may be directly exposed to DON through skin route. Chlorogenic acid (CGA) is a phenolic acid, which has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. However, it is still unclear whether CGA can protect against DON-induced skin damage. Here, the effect of CGA on mitigating damage to human keratinocytes (HaCaT) triggered by DON, as well as its underlying mechanisms were investigated.
Methods
HaCaT cells were pre-incubated with CGA for 2 h, and then exposed with 0.25 µg/mL DON for 24 h, and cell viability was examined with CCK-8 assay. ROS (reactive oxygen species) was measured by flow cytometry mitochondrial and reactive oxygen species (mtROS) was measured fluorescence microscope. Superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione (GSH) and catalase (CAT) were measured by using corresponding kits.Proteins expression levels were determined by Western blot analysis.
Results
CGA pretreatment for 2 h significantly increased cell viability and reversed DON-induced oxidative stress by improving antioxidant enzyme activities such as SOD, GSH, CAT, reducing mtROS generation and enhancing mitochondrial function through activating Nrf2/HO-1 pathway. Moreover, CGA significantly increased the Bcl-2 protein expression, and decreased the protein expressions of Bax and cleaved caspased-3, and suppressed the phosphorylated of ERK, JNK, NF-κB. In addition, CGA could also inhibited the pyroptosis-related protein expressions including NLRP3, cleaved caspased-1 and cleaved IL-1β.
Conclusion
Our results suggest that CGA could attenuate DON-induced oxidative stress, inflammation and apoptosis through activating Nrf2/HO-1 pathway and inhibiting MAPK/NF-κB and pyroptosis signaling pathway.
Links among MRI features in paraspinal muscles, inflammatory processes, and related back pain in patients with lumbar disc herniation
Authors: Chen Xiaolong , Cui Peng , Li Yongjin , Wang Yu , Lu Shibao
Published: August 2023

Background
Recent studies have provided evidence that structural changes in paraspinal muscles are associated with intervertebral disc degeneration (IDD), ubiquitous with low back pain (LBP), and potentially thought to be regulated by inflammatory processes. However, the cascade links remain unclear.
Objective
The aims of this study were to investigate structural changes in paraspinal muscles that differed in healthy and lumbar disc herniation (LDH) patients, and LDH patients with and without LBP, and to determine the cascade link with the expression of inflammatory marker(s)
Methods
Cross-sectional areas (CSAs) and fatty degeneration of muscles were measured in this cascade prospective cohort study. Multifidus muscle (MM) tissue was procured from included individuals undergoing surgery. Gene expression was quantified using qPCR assays. Independent t-test, Chi-square, and Spearman correlation were used for evaluating the links among structural changes, expression of inflammatory markers, and clinical outcomes.
Results
Functional CSA and fatty degeneration of MM were larger in healthy group than LDH group. A significant increase in fat infiltration in MM in LBP group than in non-LBP group. TNF was 28-fold greater in high-fat infiltration group than low-fat infiltration group within MM. Expression of TNF and IL-1β in MM was moderately correlated with functional CSA and fatty degeneration of MM, which was moderately correlated with clinical outcomes.
Conclusions
Results support the hypothesis that IDD is associated with dysregulation of inflammatory state of local MM, which provides initial evidence that inflammatory dysregulation in paraspinal muscles has the potential for a broad impact on tissue health and LBP symptoms.
Full-length 16S rRNA gene sequencing by PacBio improves taxonomic resolution in microbiome samples
Authors: Buetas Elena , López Marta Jordán , Roldán Andrés López , D'Auria Giuseppe , Martínez-Priego Llucia , De Marco Griselda , Mira Alex , Carda-Diéguez Miguel
Published: August 2023

Background.
Sequencing variable regions of the 16S rRNA gene (≃300bp) with Illumina technology is commonly used to study the composition of human microbiota. Unfortunately, short reads are unable to differentiate between highly similar species. Considering that species from the same genus can be associated with health or disease it is important to identify them at the lowest possible taxonomic rank. Third-generation sequencing platforms such as PacBio SMRT, increase read lengths allowing to sequence the whole gene with the maximum taxonomic resolution. Despite its potential, full length 16S rRNA gene sequencing is not widely used yet. The aim of the current study was to compare the sequencing output and taxonomic annotation performance of the two approaches (Illumina short read sequencing and PacBio long read sequencing of 16S rRNA gene) in different human microbiome samples.
Results.
DNA from saliva, oral biofilms and faeces of 9 volunteers was isolated. Regions V3-V4 and V1-V9 were amplified and sequenced by Illumina Miseq and by PacBio Sequel II sequencers, respectively. With both platforms, a similar percentage of reads was assigned to the genus level (94.79% and 95.06% respectively) but with PacBio a higher proportion of reads were further assigned to the species level (55.23% vs 74.14%). Regarding overall bacterial composition, samples clustered by niche and not by sequencing platform. In addition, all genera with > 0.1% abundance were detected in both platforms for all types of samples. Although some genera such as Streptococcus tended to be observed at higher frequency in PacBio than in Illumina (20.14% vs 14.12% in saliva, 10.63% vs 6.59% in biofilm samples) none of the differences were statistically significant when correcting for multiple testing.
Conclusions.
The results presented in the current manuscript suggest that samples sequenced using Illumina and PacBio are mostly comparable. Considering that PacBio reads were assigned at the species level with higher accuracy than Illumina, our data support the use of PacBio technology for future microbiome studies, although a higher cost is currently required to obtain an equivalent number of reads per sample.
The potential of cricMAN1A2 as a novel biomarker for gout diagnosis
Authors: Guo Wenyan , Liu Kaixi , Sun Jianhong , zhang Qiaoxin , Du Mudan , Chen Yanrong , lin Xiaozhe , Wu Qingyu , Yang Xinran
Published: August 2023

Background
Gout is the most prevalent inflammatory arthritis, its gold standard of diagnosis is detection of monosodium urate crystals in joints. However, the invasive test limited its use in the diagnosis of gout. Thus, there is an urgent need to exploit a novel biomarker to predict and early diagnose the gout flare.
Methods
In this study, we aimed to screen out the potential biomarkers of gout from GEO database (GSE178825) through bioinformatics analysis.
Results
The results showed that 4994 DEGs (43 up-regulated genes and 13 down-regulated genes) were identified between gout patients and healthy control. DEGs were mostly enriched in DNA repair, sphingolipid biosynthetic process, membrane. MAN1A2 was the most important hub genes in the PPI network.And then a series of enrichment bioinformatics methods were performed, cricMAN1A2 was selected as novel biomarker, which levels was measured in 30 gout patients, 30 hyperuricemia patients and 30 healthy controls by qRT-PCR. Subsequently, ROC (receiver operating characteristic cuver) were used to evaluated the potential role of cricMAN1A2 as biomarker for gout. The levels of circMAN1A2 was significantly lower in the gout patients than those in healthy controls, with higher diagnostic efficiency(AUC(area under the ROC curve) = 0.86).
Conclusions
Our results provide key cricRNAs related to gout, and cricMAN1A2 could be a novel serum biomarker for gout diagnosis.
CRTAM promotes antitumor immune response in triple negative breast cancer by enhancing CD8+ T cell infiltration
Authors: Zheng Shuyue , Yang Benlong , Li Lun , Chen Ming , Zhang Liyi , Chi Weiru , Jiang Yizhou , Shao Zhi-Ming , Xiu Bingqiu , Chi Yayun , Wu Jiong
Published: August 2023

Background
Immunomodulatory (IM) subtype triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) has high immune cell signaling, cytokine signaling gene expression, and is more responsive to immunotherapy. The mechanism responsible for this phenomenon is not clear, but the gene, the cytotoxic and regulatory T cell molecule (CRTAM), seems to be involved in this process.
Methods
A total of 360 TNBC patients diagnosed with TNBC without any treatment before surgery at Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center (FUSCC) was analyzed and their primary tumor tissue subjected to RNA sequencing. Combined with three RNA-seq datasets obtained from GEO database, LASSO regression analysis was used to screen for IM type TNBC specific genes. Survival analysis were made by Kaplan-Meier method. GO, KEGG and GSEA analysis were used to explored the effect of CRTAM on the tumor immune response. RT-qPCR and western blot were used to assay the IFN response. Immunocompetent mice were injected in situ with mice triple negative breast cancer cells stably overexpressing CRTAM. Flow cytometry and IHC were used to determine tumor infiltrated immune cells of mice tumor model.
Results
In this study, we found that CRTAM expression was elevated in IM type TNBC and predicted favorable overall survival and recurrence-free survival in FUSCC and TCGA TNBC patients cohorts. GO and KEGG analysis suggested that CRTAM was highly associated with immune responses and immune system processes. Notably, CRTAM overexpression induced STAT1 phosphorylation and increased the expression of interferon-stimulated genes. We also found that CRTAM enhanced tumor-associated immune cell infiltration, especially CD8+ T cells, which may be related to the increased expression of MHC class I molecules caused by CRTAM overexpression. And it suggested that CRTAM had the potential to predict the efficacy of immunotherapy in TNBC.
Conclusions
In summary, these results suggest that CRTAM plays an important role in enhancing the immune inflammatory response and promoting CD8 + T cell infiltration in TNBC, which has the potential to be a new biomarker for predicting patients’ immune checkpoint inhibitor responses.
RETRACTED: A visual analysis of bibliometric-based studies of dry eye disease related to meibomian gland dysfunction
Authors: Zhou Zhenfeng , Long Hui , Zhou Li , Xu Xing , Zhang Rong , Tu Ning , Liu Fen , Xiong Jing
Published: August 2023

The authors have requested that this preprint be removed from Research Square.
Increasing in three units the order of convergence of iterative methods for solving nonlinear systems
Authors: Cordero Alicia , Leonardo-Sepúlveda Miguel A. , Torregrosa Juan R. , Vassileva María P.
Published: August 2023

This manuscript presents an innovative technique for high-precision iterative methods in nonlinear systems. The goal is to enhance the convergence order by three units with just one additional functional evaluation per iteration, while keeping the computational cost low. This new approach is incorporated into existing methods of order p, allowing for more accurate and efficient results. Numerical tests support the theoretical validity of the technique, highlighting its superiority over conventional p-order methods and its potential for solving complex problems. In summary, the manuscript introduces a promising technique that combines high precision and efficiency in approximating solutions for nonlinear systems, increasing the convergence order of iterative methods from p to p+3.
WITHDRAWN: Simultaneous adsorption of malachite green, methyl orange, and rhodamine B with TiO 2 /macadamia nutshells-derived activated carbon composite
Authors: Thuy Le Thi Thanh , Thuy Pham Thi , Anh Pham Thi Giang , Tien Nguyen Anh , Bich Nguyen Thi Hong , Khieu Dinh Quang
Published: August 2023

In this study, TiO2/activated carbon (TiO2/MAC) composite was synthesized from activated carbon prepared from macadamia nutshells and a water-soluble titanium complex, and it was used to simultaneously adsorb malachite green (MG), methyl orange (MO), and rhodamine B (RhB) from aqueous solutions. The kinetic studies show that the adsorption experimental data are best described by the pseudo-second-order kinetic model. The equilibrium data of the trinary-component system were analysed via the models that combine the three single-component isotherms (Langmuir, Freundlich, Sips) into the ideal adsorption solution theory (IAST) and the Langmuir and P-factor-Langmuir extended models. The results obtained from the AICs (Akaike Information Criterion) indicate that IAST incorporating the Langmuir model is the most suitable to describe the removal of the dyes in the trinary component solution. The high maximum adsorption capacities, qe, in the single/trinary solution for MG, RhB, and MO are 0.318/0.241, 0.212/0.314, and 0.291/0.145 mM·g–1, respectively. The thermodynamic analysis reveals that the adsorption is spontaneous and endothermic. The results of material regeneration through photocatalytic self-cleaning show that TiO2/MAC can be utilized as a sustainable alternative for the simultaneous elimination of textile dyes from effluents.
Phase 3 Trial of Recombinant Human Alkaline Phosphatase for Patients with Sepsis-Associated Acute Kidney Injury (REVIVAL)
Authors: Pickkers Peter , Angus Derek , Bass Kristie , Bellomo Rinaldo , Berg Erik van den , Bernholz Juliane , Bestle Morten H , Doi Kent , Doig Christopher , Ferrer Ricard , Francois Bruno , Gammelager Henrik , Goettrup Ulf , Hoste Eric , Iversen Susanne , Joannidis Michael , Kellum John , Liu Kathleen , Meersch Melanie , Mehta Ravindra , Millington Scott , Murray Patrick , Nichol Alistair , Ostermann Marlies , Pettila Ville , Solling Christopher , Winkel Matthias , Young Paul , Zarbock Alexander
Published: August 2023

Purpose: Ilofotase alfa is a human recombinant alkaline phosphatase with reno-protective effects that showed improved survival and reduced MAKE90 in sepsis-associated acute kidney injury (SA-AKI) patients. ‘REVIVAL’, was aphase 3 trial, conducted to confirm its efficacy and safety.
Methods: In this international double-blinded randomized-controlled trial, SA-AKI patients were enrolled <72 hours on vasopressor and <24 hours of AKI. The primary endpoint was 28-day all-cause mortality. The key secondary endpoint was Major Adverse Kidney Events up to day 90 (MAKE90).
Results: 650 patients were treated and analyzed for safety; and 649 for efficacy data (ilofotase alfa n=330; placebo n=319). The observed mortality rates in the ilofotase alfa and placebo groups were 27.9% and 27.9% (nominal one-sided p-value of 0.50) at 28 days, and 33.9% and 34.8% (p=0.41) at 90 days. The trial was stopped for futility on the primary endpoint. The observed proportion of patients with MAKE90 was 56.7% in the ilofotase alfa group vs. 64.6% in the placebo group (p=0.02), mainly due to the number of patients who received renal replacement therapy (28.2% vs. 36.4%). There was evidence of heterogeneity of treatment effect with a marked reduction in MAKE90 events in patients with pre-existent impaired renal function randomized to ilofotase alfa (p=0.024). Adverse events were reported in 67.9% and 75.0% patients in the ilofotase and placebo group.
Conclusion: Among critically ill patients with SA-AKI, ilofotase alfa did not improve day 28 survival. There may however be reno-protective properties, especially among patients with pre-existing renal disease. No safety concerns were identified.
Trial registration and date of registration: ClinicalTrials.gov number NCT04411472, May-28-2020
Analysing the contribution of intermittent rivers to beta diversity can improve freshwater conservation in Mediterranean rivers
Authors: Soria Maria , Cid Núria , Ortega Jean , Bini Luis Mauricio , Acosta Raúl , Gutiérrez-Cánovas Cayetano , Rodríguez-Lozano Pablo , Fortuño Pau , Vinyoles Dolors , Gallart Francesc , Prat Narcís , Bonada Núria
Published: August 2023

In Mediterranean climate regions, intermittent rivers (IRs) harbor highly dynamic communities with species and trait composition changing over time and space. Considering simultaneously multiple biodiversity facets and a spatiotemporal perspective is, therefore, key to develop effective conservation strategies for these ecosystems. We studied the spatiotemporal dynamics of aquatic macroinvertebrates in rivers of the western Mediterranean Basin by analysing (1) the taxonomic and functional richness and the local contribution to beta diversity (LCBD; measured considering taxonomic and functional facets) of perennial rivers and IRs over five sampling times, and (2) their relation with flow intermittence, local environmental uniqueness, and the number of anthropogenic impacts. Both analyses were also conducted for the subset of data including only IRs to compare values between their flowing and disconnected pool phases. According to our results, taxonomic and functional richness tended to be higher in perennial rivers than in IRs, while IR sites made the greatest contribution to taxonomic and functional LCBD. When comparing among IRs sites over time, higher values of taxonomic and functional LCBD corresponded mostly to their disconnected pool phase. Flow intermittence, the number of impacts and the environmental uniqueness were significant predictors of taxonomic and functional richness, but only flow intermittence was an important predictor of taxonomic LCBD. For the IR-only data subset, disconnected pool permanence was the main predictor explaining spatiotemporal patterns. Our results highlight the importance of IRs to biodiversity conservation of Mediterranean climate rivers, especially during the disconnected pool phase, suggesting that these ecosystems cannot be ignored in conservation planning strategies.
A Fixed Margin Based Proximal Ordinal Support Vector Regression Model
Authors: Yao Xiao
Published: August 2023

This study extends the proximal support vector machine (PSVM) to the ordinal regression problems by proposing a proximal ordinal support vector regression (POSVR) based on the fixed margin strategy. The proposed POSVR is applied to the multi-class classification problems with ordered discrete outcome events under the assumption that the ordered classes can be separated by a group of parallel decision hyperplanes. POSVR can be transformed into a linear equation system and solved conveniently. The experimental results on the benchmark datasets and a real-world recovery rate dataset of US corporate bonds demonstrate that POSVR achieves better performance in terms of cross-validation outputs on the training set and out-of-sample prediction on the testing set. It implies that the proposed POSVR is a promising technique for credit risk modeling and other areas in ordinal regression problems.
Evaluation of BHMT2 gene expression and its expression factor regulating LNC00922 LNCRNA with rs10944 genotype determination in patients with breast cancer
Authors: Zavareh Seyed Ali Dibaj , Akhlaghi Zahra , Esfahani Sarina Samiei , Mohammadi Niloofar , Rahimirad Samira , Azadeh Mansoureh
Published: August 2023

Background: It is predicted that dysregulation of BHMT2 expression level could have a remarkable effect on Breast cancer status. The absence of methionine and Hyperhomocysteinemia have been linked to a decline in BHMT2 expression. This mRNA expression and its correlated long non- coding RNA (lncRNA) (LINC00922) have been investigated in our experiment based on the bioinformatics approach. Also, the genotype frequency analysis of BHMT2 in SNP rs10499 has been demonstrated. The mentioned SNP is correlated with the differences in the binding affinity of miR542-3p.
Material and method: we performed a microarray analysis to find the differentially expressed genes (DEGs). GeneMANIA and miRWalk online databases were used for mRNA-mRNA and mRNA-miRNA interaction analyses. Clusterprofiler package was used for functional and pathway enrichment analyses. dbSNP database was applied for finding the relevant Single nucleotide polymorphism
(SNP). The Co-lncRNA database was used for finding the correlated lncRNA.A real-time PCR experiment was performed to count the relative expression level of BHMT2 and LINC00922. The high resolution melt (HRM) method was performed to identify the SNP genotype frequency.
Result: BHMT2 had a significant down-regulation, and LINC00922 had a significant up-regulation in Breast cancer tissues compared to normal. No significant difference in genotype frequency of rs10944 was observed.
Conclusion: The current study revealed that BHMT2 and LINC00922 can be the two novel correlated biomarker of breast cancer. More similar investigations are needed for evaluating more accurate and reliable result, specially about rs10499.
Intention To Use Patient Portal And Its Predictors Among Diabetic Patients Enrolled In Referral Hospitals, Amhara Regional State, Northwest Ethiopia, 2023: UTAUT-2 Model.
Authors: Abebe Aschale Wubete , Tilahun  , Mekonnen( Zeleke Abebaw , (MPH) Masresha Derese Tegegne
Published: August 2023

Background:Patient portal technology is increasingly utilized in the health care system for diabetes management, as means of communication and information-sharing tools and it has the potential to improve access, quality, and outcomes for diabetic patients. However, its adaption is relatively low and patients’ intention towards patient portal is unknown. This study aims to fill this gap by determining the intention to use the patient portal and its predictors among diabetic patients in Ethiopia.Method:An institution-based cross-sectional study was conducted on 1078 diabetes patients from April 3 to May 8 in eight referral hospitals Amhara region, Ethiopia 2023. Sample was proportionally allocated for each hospital and participants were selected by using a systematic random sampling method. The data were collected in the same period in all hospitals by using interviewer-administered questioner; by kobo collect mobile app. Descriptive statistics were done using SPSS version 26. The degree of association between exogenous and endogenous variables was assessed and validated using structural equation modeling by AMOS version 21.Result:A total of 1037 (96.2% response rate) diabetic patients participated in the study. Of them 407(39.25%), 95% CI: [36.4–42.2] were found to have an intention to use patient portal. Digital literacy (β =0.312, 95% CI: [0.154-0.465], p < 0.01) performance expectancy (β =0.303, 95% CI: [0.185-0.420], p < 0.01) effort expectancy (β = 0.25 95% CI: [0.131-0.392], p < 0.01) facilitating condition (β = 0.22 95% CI: [0.081-0.36], p < 0.01) and habit (β = 0.111 95% CI: [-0.009-0.227], p < 0.05) were significantly associated with intention to use patient portal. Effort expectancy and facilitating condition were positively moderated by gender.Conclusion:This study found that diabetes patient’s intention to use patient portal was low. Intervention in digital literacy, performance expectancy, effort expectancy, facilitating conditions and habit are needed to improve diabetic patient’s intention to use the patient portal.
Selecting out of virulent strains of C. perfringens by the preparation process of meat curries possess a public health threat: evidence from a retrospective study
Authors: Perera Manosha Lakmali , Perera Irosha , Ranasinghe Gerard
Published: August 2023

Heat resistant spore formation is favourable for selecting out of C. perfringens virulent strains by the preparation process of meat curries. When heat resistance coupled with enterotoxin production it possesses a public health threat. Hence, this study was conducted using a representative sub sample of stored 15 meat curry isolates of C.perfringens from a large sample based on a previous descriptive cross sectional study to compare heat-resistant spore (HRS) formation, C. perfringens enterotoxin (CPE) production, and combined HRS - CPE abilities of meat curry isolates of this bacterium obtained from eating houses within Colombo city. Representative subsample (12 chicken and 03 beef) of preserved C. perfringens cultures after complete confirming retrieved from the cold room. Stored culture was vortex mixed prior to inoculation. Subsequently, 20ml of freshly steamed thioglycollate medium was inoculated with 2ml of stored culture (preserved in cooked meat medium and they were incubated anaerobically at 370C for 24hrs. Sporulation endeavoured using 3 media: Duncan and Strong, Modified Duncan and Strong, and Sporulation Broth as described previously. Heat resistance was tested at 1000C for 1 h in distilled water and the production of enterotoxin was evaluated with a PET-RPLA kit as detailed previously. The differences in selected virulent factors by the variety of meat curry were statistically significant (p<0.05). Selecting out of virulent strains due to the process of curry preparation was evident from this retrospective study. This evidence needs to confirm with a large sample size refining methodologies.
Quantifying Benefit-Risk and Addressing Missing Data in Late-Stage Clinical Trials
Authors: Ganju Jitendra , Fritsch Arno , Mueller Katharina , Schloemer Patrick , Yu Ron
Published: August 2023

It is important in clinical trials to quantify the net benefit and reliably estimate the effect of treatment when some patients dropout prematurely. The current approach to assessing net benefit is subjective, and methods for handling missing data are inadequate or not easily accessible by those who are not subject matter experts. We investigate a method for quantifying benefit-risk and addressing missing data. For benefit-risk, an important set of efficacy and safety endpoints is hierarchically organized. Each pair of patients, one from each group, is compared on the first hierarchically arranged endpoint to determine which patient fared better (‘wins’). If the comparison results in a win, the remaining endpoints are not compared. If it is tied, the pair is compared on the next hierarchical endpoint, and so on. The results of all such pairwise comparisons are combined as a win ratio: #wins / #losses. It is proposed that the analyses are presented sequentially and cumulatively, so that the contribution of each component to benefit-risk can be assessed. For missing data, the reason for and timing of missingness are incorporated in the pairwise comparison. For example, if both patients in a pair dropout due to adverse events, the patient who dropped out later has won. Thus, the reason for and the timing of missing data are explicitly incorporated. The Phase 3 PATENT-1 study evaluating riociguat in pulmonary arterial hypertension and patient preferences of benefit vs risk for renal cell carcinoma is used for illustration of the methods. The methods proposed provide a more objective way to assess benefit-risk and address missing data.
Zeitverlauf bis zur Erstdiagnose bei Patienten mit GEP-NET : monozentrische Analyse
Authors:   , Koca Esra
Published: August 2023

Neuroendokrine Tumoren (NET) sind eine seltene Krankheit mit einem breitgefächerten heterogenen Erscheinungsbild, wodurch sich die Diagnose der Tumoren aus einer Vielzahl aus Gründen häufig um Jahre verzögert (1). In dieser Arbeit analysierten wir einen großen Datensatz in einem tertiären Referenzzentrum (UKF) von 1984-2019, um die Symptomatik vor der Diagnose des Tumors sowie den Zeitraum von der Tumormanifestation bis zur Diagnose weiter zu klären. Für die deskriptiven Analysen kamen SPSS, Cox-Regression und Log-Rank-Test zur Anwendung. Insgesamt schloss die retrospektive Studie 488 gastroenteropankreastische (GEP)-NET mit 486 Patienten ≥ 18 Jahren ein, wovon knapp mehr als die Hälfte männlich (52,9%) waren. Das mittlere Alter bei Erstdiagnose (ED) betrug 58 Jahre (477/486, 9 unbekannt). Die häufigsten Primärtumorlokalisationen stellten Pankreas (143/488 Patienten) und Dünndarm (145/488 Patienten) dar. Die Mehrheit der NET waren langsam wachsende G1-Tumoren mit einem Ki67 < 3% (155/330). Die Hälfte der Patienten entwickelten im Verlauf Fernmetastasen, wobei die meisten bereits bei der ED vorlagen und insbesondere die Leber als Metastasierungsorgan dominierte. Bei mehr als 60% der Patienten konnten Angaben zur klinischen Symptomatik vor der ED detektiert werden, wovon wiederum mehr als die Hälfte symptomatisch waren. 42% der symptomatischen Patienten zeigten NET-spezifische Symptome (Bauchschmerzen 77/128; 60,2%, Durchfall 51/128; 39,8%, Flush 19/128; 14,8%, Karzinoidsyndrom 8/128; 6,3% Tachykardie 6/128; 4,7%). In der primären bildgebenden Diagnostik dominierten konventionelle Bildgebungen wie Sonographie und Computertomographie (CT), wobei nuklearmedizinische Diagnostik eine Seltenheit darstellte. Mehr als 30% der Tumoren wurden als Zufallsbefunde im Rahmen einer bildgebenden Diagnostik oder Operation diagnostiziert. Die Mehrheit der Patienten stellte sich initial außerhalb unserer Klinik vor, nur etwa 15% wurden innerhalb unserer Klinik insbesondere in der Gastroenterologie vorstellig, wo der NET diagnostiziert wurde. Die Phase von der Tumormanifestation bis zur ED aller NET betrug im Median 17 Tage. Das Vorhandensein von Fernmetastasen sowie Symptomen führte zu keiner signifikanten Kürzung der Phase und einer schnelleren ED des NET (Median 65,5 vs. 90 Tage, p = 0,4).
Weaving game and task into content-language integration: Proposing a game-mediated dual learning model
Authors: Gao Yuchan (Blanche)
Published: August 2023

Content-based instruction, task-based language teaching, and game-mediated learning are three pedagogical approaches that are perceived as effective in second and foreign language education. These approaches share common ground in a sociocultural and functional view of language learning and popularity as engaging classroom strategies in elementary, middle, and high school (K-12) contexts. However, challenges may exist in ensuring content and language dual learning goals, designing language learning tasks, or implementing game-mediated activities. Therefore, this study seeks to describe the conceptual and methodological alignment among these approaches by reviewing recent research. Moreover, a game-mediated dual learning model is proposed to pinpoint a series of design components for language educators to consider when they integrate the aforementioned three approaches.
A call for critical and open pedagogies in Spanish heritage language instruction: Students as knowledge producers of Open Educational Resources (OERs)
Authors: Vañó García Inés
Published: August 2023

This paper stresses the urgent need to implement critical and open pedagogies in language teaching, especially in the Spanish heritage language classroom. Language courses are often compulsory in secondary and higher education and typically employ traditional pedagogical models that are structured by grammar and/or communication tasks. This study introduces how heritage language teaching emerged as a field of study in the United States and offers a brief overview of critical and open pedagogies and their connection to open educational resources. This paper then introduces critical and open pedagogies to teaching Spanish as a heritage language, followed by a critical look at the existing Spanish teaching material. As an alternative to this material, this article shares a project titled “Discovering El Barrio” which addresses an innovative and productive pedagogical practice carried out by a Spanish heritage language class at Lehman College, CUNY. In this project, Spanish heritage language learners (HLL) became producers of authentic teaching and learning materials for second language (L2) Spanish learners.
PENINGKATKAN PARTISIPASI AKTIF PARA PELAYAN DI GKJ WIROBRAJAN MELALUI IBADAH PADANG PASKA PANDEMI COVID-19
Authors: Minarni Nani , Purwadi Joko , Haryono Nugroho Agus
Published: August 2023

Tulisan ini merupakan hasil pelatihan kepemimpinan yang dilakukan oleh Tim Pengabdian Fakultas Teknologi Informasi UKDW pada tahapan pertama dari tiga tahapan pendampingan yang disepakati oleh pengurus GKJ Wirobrajan. Pelatihan ditujukan bagi pengurus gereja yang terdiri atas majelis, komisi dan pengurus wilayah, dengan tujuan untuk menguatkan motivasi sebagai para pelayan di GKJ Wirobrajan pasca pandemic Covid-19. Tujuan berikutnya yakni mengenalkan model kepemimpinan pengurus (steward leader) dalam gereja yang lebih menekankan pendekatan partisipatoris dalam pelayanan sehingga tidak bertumpu pada sosok pendeta jemaat semata. Harapan akhir dari pelatihan kepemimpinan yakni para pengurus dapat memaknai kembali pemahamannya tentang arti pelayanan, pendekatan partisipatif dalam pelayanan dan memiliki komitmen melayani yang didengar dan didukung oleh sesama pengurus gereja. Untuk mencapai tujuan tersebut, metode yang digunakan dalam pelatihan yakni interaktif – reflektif, dengan dibuatkan alur kegiatan berupa kombinasi antara ibadah, ceramah, dinamika kelompok, dan refleksi diri. Hasil akhir yang didapat setelah pelaksanaan tahap pertama, pengurus memiliki tiga hal penting sebagai dasar ke tahap berikutnya, yakni memaknai arti pelayanan secara otentik, kesadaran baru menjadi pelayan yang partisipatif dan refleksi personal yang menyentuh aspek spiritualitas seorang pelayan.

 

Kata Kunci: GKJ Wirobrajan; Pelayanan, Pemimpin Pengurus, Interaktif-Reflektif, Pendekatan Partisipatif
EDUKASI PEMBUATAN MASKER ORGANIK DARI BAHAN DASAR KOMBINASI BERAS DAN DAUN RICA DI DESA MAKU, KABUPATEN SIGI, SULAWESI TENGAH
Authors: Anggi Viany , Sujati Ni Wayan , Rakanita Yasinta
Published: August 2023

Kegiatan pengabdian kepada masyarakat adalah satu kegiatan penting dalam Tridarma Perguruan Tinggi yang harus dilakukan untuk pemberdayaan masyarakat yang mandiri dan professional dari ketidakberdayaan masyarakat yang menjadi permasalahan secara global saat ini.  Sekolah Tinggi Ilmu Farmasi Pelita Mas Palu memiliki Kebun Tanaman obat keluarga di daerah Desa Maku, Kecamatan Dolo, Kabupaten Sigi Sulawesi Tengah.  Untuk itu sebagai sumber Tanaman Obat keluarga yang ada didaerah tersebut, sehingga dipilih untuk kegiatan Pengabdian kepada masyarakat.  Kegiatan ini bertujuan untuk memberikan pengetahuan kepada masyarakat desa Maku tentang pembuatan masker organik dari bahan dasar kombinasi bahan dasar beras dan daun rica yang berfungsi sebagai antioksidan dalam meregenerasi sel-sel kulit. Target luaran yang diharapkan dari kegiatan ini yaitu menumbuhkan jiwa kewirausahaan adanya produk-produk yang dihasilkan, memberikan penyuluhan, membuat kebun tanaman obat keluarga, memberikan pemeriksaan kesehatan gratis untuk masyarakat desa Maku dan pemberian sembako gratis.  Metode yang digunakan dalam kegiatan ini yaitu pembentukkan kelompok perdusun sesuai dengan urutan dusun di desa Maku, penyampaian materi yang akan disampaikan, dimana 30% peserta belum memahami tentang pembuatan masker organik, penyampaian materi selama 1 jam dilanjutkan dengan melakukan penanaman TOGA, pemeriksaan kesehatan gratis dan pemberian sembako gratis.  Hasil kegiatan menunjukkan bahwa masyarakat yang ada di desa Maku mampu memahami tentang materi edukasi pembuatan masker organic dengan tingkat pemahaman sebesar 70%.
Partons as unique ground states of quantum Hall parent Hamiltonians: The case of Fibonacci anyons
Authors: Tanhayi Ahari Mostafa , Bandyopadhyay Sumanta , Nussinov Zohar , Seidel Alexander , Ortiz Gerardo
Published: August 2023

We present microscopic, multiple Landau level, (frustration-free and positive semi-definite) parent Hamiltonians whose ground states, realizing different quantum Hall fluids, are parton-like and whose excitations display either Abelian or non-Abelian braiding statistics. We prove ground state energy monotonicity theorems for systems with different particle numbers in multiple Landau levels, demonstrate S-duality in the case of toroidal geometry, and establish complete sets of zero modes of special Hamiltonians stabilizing parton-like states, specifically at filling factor \nu=2/3ν=2/3. The emergent Entangled Pauli Principle (EPP), introduced in [Phys. Rev. B 98, 161118(R) (2018)] and which defines the “DNA” of the quantum Hall fluid, is behind the exact determination of the topological characteristics of the fluid, including charge and braiding statistics of excitations, and effective edge theory descriptions. When the closed-shell condition is satisfied, the densest (i.e., the highest density and lowest total angular momentum) zero-energy mode is a unique parton state. We conjecture that parton-like states generally span the subspace of many-body wave functions with the two-body MM-clustering property within any given number of Landau levels, that is, wave functions with MMth-order coincidence plane zeroes and both holomorphic and anti-holomorphic dependence on variables. General arguments are supplemented by rigorous considerations for the M=3M=3 case of fermions in four Landau levels. For this case, we establish that the zero mode counting can be done by enumerating certain patterns consistent with an underlying EPP. We apply the coherent state approach of [Phys. Rev. X 1, 021015 (2011)] to show that the elementary (localized) bulk excitations are Fibonacci anyons. This demonstrates that the DNA associated with fractional quantum Hall states encodes all universal properties. Specifically, for parton-like states, we establish a link with tensor network structures of finite bond dimension that emerge via root level entanglement.
Restructuring the economic systems on the way to an additive economy
Authors: Melnyk Leonid , Kalinichenko Lyudmila , Kubatko Oleksandr , Dobrowolski Zbysław , Babczuk Arkadiusz
Published: August 2023

The additive economy should be the productive basis toward which the national economies aspire. This paper aims to deepen the theoretical issues of the additive economy forming and its key components: additive technology and additive manufacturing. Additive technology is defined as a set of methods and tools based on which the production of products occurs by adding only the useful part of natural substances to the final commodity and creating no waste. Additive manufacturing is a system of interconnected processes of transforming natural substances into finished products based on additive technology. The additive economy is a system of trade and industries based on additive manufacturing. The study analyzes competitive advantages (direct prototyping, saving materials and energy, the ability to work without human participation, dematerialization of transportation and storage of products) and challenges of the additive economy (building an organizational network of production systems; forming solidarity economy; developing new social institutions; social development of a person). The paper formulates the key directions of economic systems restructuring to an additive economy formation, including restructuring energy production types, energy networks, and interface sphere and change of the structure of primary resources. The general debatable problem of the economic systems restructuring to the additive economy is the formation of new social institutions capable of providing necessary solutions.
AcknowledgmentThe study is prepared in the framework of the research project “Restructuring of the national economy in the direction of digital transformations for sustainable development” (№0122U001232), funded by the National Research Foundation of Ukraine.