bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Combination of health care service use and the relation to demographic and socioeconomic factors for patients with musculoskeletal disorders: a descriptive cohort study
Authors: Amundsen Olav , Moger Tron Anders , Holte Jon Helgheim , Haavaag Silje Bjørnsen , Bragstad Line Kildal , Hellesø Ragnhild , Tjerbo Trond , Vøllestad Nina Køpke
Published: August 2023

Background

Patients with musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) access health care in different ways. Despite the high prevalence and significant costs, we know little about the different ways patients use health care. We aim to fill this gap by identifying which combinations of health care services patients use for new MSDs, and its relation to clinical characteristics, demographic and socioeconomic factors, long-term use and costs, and discuss what the implications of this variation are.

Methods

The study combines Norwegian registers on health care use, diagnoses, comorbidities, demographic and socioeconomic factors. Patients (≥ 18 years) are included by their first health consultation for MSD in 2013–2015. Latent class analysis (LCA) with count data of first year consultations for General Practitioners (GPs), hospital consultants, physiotherapists and chiropractors are used to identify combinations of health care use. Long-term high-cost patients are defined as total cost year 1–5 above 95th percentile (≥ 3 744€).

Results

We identified seven latent classes: 1: GP, low use; 2: GP, high use; 3: GP and hospital; 4: GP and physiotherapy, low use; 5: GP, hospital and physiotherapy, high use; 6: Chiropractor, low use; 7: GP and chiropractor, high use. Median first year health care contacts varied between classes from 1–30 and costs from 20€-838€. Eighty-seven percent belonged to class 1, 4 or 6, characterised by few consultations and treatment in primary care. Classes with high first year use were characterised by higher age, lower education and more comorbidities and were overrepresented among the long-term high-cost users.

Conclusion

There was a large variation in first year health care service use, and we identified seven latent classes based on frequency of consultations. A small proportion of patients accounted for a high proportion of total resource use. This can indicate the potential for more efficient resource use. However, the effect of demographic and socioeconomic variables for determining combinations of service use can be interpreted as the health care system transforming unobserved patient needs into variations in use. These findings contribute to the understanding of clinical pathways and can help in the planning of future care, reduction in disparities and improvement in health outcomes for patients with MSDs.
Cost-effectiveness analysis of diagnostic strategies for COVID-19 in Iran
Authors: Rahmanzadeh F , Malekpour N , Faramarzi A , Yusefzadeh H
Published: August 2023

Background

Since 2020, COVID-19 has become a global public health issue and has caused problems worldwide. This infection can lead to a fever and respiratory problems. Asymptomatic carriers of the virus are a significant part of the spread of the disease, so early screening and diagnosis of suspected cases of COVID-19 are essential. Generally, standard diagnostic methods include lung imaging (CT), polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and corona antibody (IgM&IgG) testing. However, the costs of the above tests for the healthcare system cannot be ignored, and evaluating the incremental costs against the additional benefit is necessary. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the cost-effectiveness of diagnostic methods for COVID-19 patients.

Materials and methods

In this research, an economic evaluation analysis was conducted to reveal the cost-effectiveness of the diagnostic strategies for COVID-19 from the service provider’s perspective. Basic information about the costs of CT, serology (IgG&IgM), and molecular (PCR) tests were collected from the Ministry of Health of Iran. The effectiveness data were calculated according to the sensitivity and specificity of the diagnostic tests for COVID-19. In this study, the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) of the diagnostic strategies for COVID-19 was estimated, and the most cost-effective diagnostic strategy was determined. In calculating ICER and analyzing the sensitivity of the results, Treeage software was used.

Results

According to the calculated incremental effectiveness cost ratio for scenarios with 5, 10, and 50% prevalence of COVID-19 and according to the threshold defined by the World Health Organization, in the study, PCR, PCR, and IgG&IgM strategies are the most cost-effective diagnostic methods of the corona. Also, the results were not sensitive to the desired parameters based on the results of one-way sensitivity analysis.

Conclusion

Nowadays there are various tests with different levels of accuracy in the diagnosis of COVID-19. In general, PCR tests are more cost-effective for low prevalence of Covid-19, while IgM&IgG tests are more cost-effective for high estimated prevalence. The results of this research can help policymakers and health system managers to validate the most accurate diagnostic method for COVID-19, considering the prevalence of the disease.
Comparing full immunisation status of children (0–23 months) between slums of Kampala City and the rural setting of Iganga District in Uganda: a cross-sectional study
Authors: Jammeh Awa , Muhoozi Michael , Kulane Asli , Kajungu Dan
Published: August 2023

Background

Immunisation remains the most cost-effective public health intervention in preventing morbidity and mortality due to Vaccine-Preventable Diseases (VPDs). The study aims to compare the differences in immunisation coverage amongst children aged 0 to 23 months living in slums of Kampala city and Iganga as rural districts in Uganda.

Methods

This study utilises data from a cross-sectional survey done in 2019 in the slums of Kampala City and the rural district of Iganga within the Health and Demographic Surveillance Site (HDSS). It included 1016 children aged 0–23 months and their parents. A logistic regression model was used to analyse the relationship between multiple independent variables and the binary dependent variables (fully immunised) using Stata statistical software. The measures of association were odds ratios reported with a corresponding 95% confidence interval.

Results

Out of the 1016 participants, 544 participants live in the rural area and 472 participants in the slums. Slums had 48.9% (n = 231) of fully immunised children whilst rural areas had 43.20% (n = 235). The multivariate analysis showed that children living in slums are more likely to be fully immunised as compared to their counterparts in rural areas (Odds ratio:1.456; p = 0.033; CI:1.030–2.058). Immunisation coverage for BCG (98.9%), Polio 0 (88.2%), Penta1 (92.7%), and Pneumo1 (89.8%) were high in both settlements. However, the dropout rate for subsequent vaccines was high 17%, 20% and 41% for Penta, pneumococcal and rota vaccines respectively. There was poor uptake of the new vaccines with slums having 73.4% and 47.9% coverage for pneumococcal and rota vaccines respectively and rural areas had 72.1% and 7.5% for pneumococcal and rota vaccines respectively.

Conclusion

The low full immunisation status in this study was attributed to the child’s residence and the occupation of the parents. Lack of education and poor access to messages on immunisation (inadequate access to mass media) are other contributing factors. Educational messages on the importance of immunisation targeting these underserved populations will improve full immunisation coverage.
Computational and theoretical chemistry of newly synthesized and characterized 2,2’-(5,5’-(1,4-phenylene)bis(1H-tetrazole-5,1-diyl))bis-N-acetamides
Authors: Ejaz Syeda Abida , Farid Aftab , Zargar Seema , Channar Pervaiz Ali , Aziz Mubashir , Wani Tanveer A. , Attaullah Hafiz Muhammad , Ujhan Rabail , Tehzeeb Arfa , Saeed Aamer , Ali Hafiz Saqib , Erben Mauricio F.
Published: August 2023

Energetic heterocycles, including pyridines, triazoles, and tetrazoles, exhibit greater density, heats of formation, and oxygen balance compared to their carbocyclic counterparts, making them a promising approach for synthesizing novel bis-tetrazole acetamides. Synthesized compounds A-F, some of which feature a chlorine atom attached to the phenyl ring, serve as valuable synthons for aryl coupling reactions. Analysis via 1H-NMR and 13C-NMR spectroscopy, as well as density functional considerations through B3LYP functional correlation with 6-311 +  + G(d) and 6-31G(d) basis set, revealed the observed LUMO/HOMO energies and charge transfer within the molecule. Additionally, the dipole moment, chemical hardness, softness, ionization potential, local reactivity potential via Fukui indices and thermodynamic properties (entropy, enthalpy, and Gibbs free energy) of the molecule were calculated through density functional theory studies. In addition, Molecular Docking studies were conducted to investigate the anti-cancer potential of synthesized heterocyclic compounds against caspase 3, NF-KAPPA-B and P53 protein. Molecular docking analysis demonstrated a potent interaction between 2,2’-(5,5’-(1,4-phenylene)bis(1H-tetrazole-5,1-diyl))bis-N-(2,4-dinitrophenyl) acetamides (6d) and TP53 and NF-KAPPA-B with binding energies of − 11.8 kJ/mol and − 10.9 kJ/mol for TP53 and NF-KAPPA-B, respectively. Similarly, 2,2’-(5,5’–(1,4-phenylene)bis(1H-tetrazole-5,1-diyl))bis-N-(2-chlorophenyl) acetamides (6f) exhibited a strong interaction with caspase-3 with binding energy of -10.0 kJ/mol, indicating their potential as therapeutic agents against these proteins. Furthermore, the findings of current study was further strengthen by 100 ns molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. Finally, theoretical studies of oxygen balance and nitrogen percentage suggest that these molecules can be utilized as energetic materials.

Graphical Abstract
Social network analysis by Turiyam graphs
Authors: Ganati Gamachu Adugna , Repalle V. N. Srinivasa Rao , Ashebo Mamo Abebe
Published: August 2023

Objective

A single valued neutrosophic set represented the uncertainty of real life situations in terms of membership $$(t)$$

(
t
)

, indeterminacy $$(i)$$

(
i
)

and non-membership $$(f)$$

(
f
)

degree. However, this uncertainty cannot be limited to those three degrees; there is also an additional refusal degree. For this issue, the Turiyam set is an appropriate tool, which described the neutrosophic refusal degree of this situation as a liberal $$(l)$$

(
l
)

degree in addition to those three degrees. The graphical representation of this situation is required for knowledge processing. For this purpose, the Turiyam graph was introduced as an extension of the single valued neutrosophic graph. This graph is helpful when the depictions of the vertices or their relationships or both, are considered in terms of membership $$(t)$$

(
t
)

, indeterminacy $$(i)$$

(
i
)

, non-membership $$(f)$$

(
f
)

and liberal $$(l)$$

(
l
)

degrees. The goal of this paper is to introduce the degree, order and size in the context of Turiyam graphs and examine a social network (SN) with the help of this graph.

Results

In this regard, the degree, order and size in the context of Turiyam graphs are studied. The feasibility of this Turiyam graph is shown by employing its concept in a social network (SN). Finally, the advantage of the Turiyam graph over the existing graph theories is recognized by viewing its better framework.
Down-regulated FTO and ALKBH5 co-operatively activates FOXO signaling through m6A methylation modification in HK2 mRNA mediated by IGF2BP2 to enhance glycolysis in colorectal cancer
Authors: Ye Mujie , Chen Jinhao , Lu Feiyu , Zhao Minghui , Wu Suwen , Hu Chunhua , Yu Ping , Kan Jingbao , Bai Jianan , Tian Ye , Tang Qiyun
Published: August 2023

Background

N6-methyladenosine (m6A) modification is the most abundant reversible methylation modification in eukaryotes, and it is reportedly closely associated with a variety of cancers progression, including colorectal cancer (CRC). This study showed that activated lipid metabolism and glycolysis play vital roles in the occurrence and development of CRC. However, only a few studies have reported the biological mechanisms underlying this connection.

Methods

Protein and mRNA levels of FTO and ALKBH5 were measured using western blot and qRT-PCR. The effects of FTO and ALKBH5 on cell proliferation were examined using CCK-8, colony formation, and EdU assays, and the effects on cell migration and invasion were tested using a transwell assay. m6A RNA immunoprecipitation (MeRIP) and RNA-seq was used to explore downstream target gene. RIP was performed to verify the interaction between m6A and HK2. The function of FTO and ALKBH5 in vivo was determined by xenograft in nude mice.

Results

In this study, FTO and ALKBH5 were significantly down-regulated in CRC patients and cells both in vivo and in vitro in a high-fat environment. Moreover, FTO and ALKBH5 over-expression hampered cell proliferation both in vitro and in vivo. Conversely, FTO and ALKBH5 knockdown accelerated the malignant biological behaviors of CRC cells. The mechanism of action of FTO and ALKBH5 involves joint regulation of HK2, a key enzyme in glycolysis, which was identified by RNA sequencing and MeRIP-seq. Furthermore, reduced expression of FTO and ALKBH5 jointly activated the FOXO signaling pathway, which led to enhanced proliferation ability in CRC cells. IGF2BP2, as a m6A reader, positively regulated HK2 mRNA in m6A dependent manner. Additionally, down-regulation of FTO/ALKBH5 increased METTL3 and decreased METTL14 levels, further promoting CRC progression.

Conclusion

In conclusion, our study revealed the FTO-ALKBH5/IGF2BP2/HK2/FOXO1 axis as a mechanism of aberrant m6A modification and glycolysis regulation in CRC.
Home treatment as an add-on to family-based treatment for adolescents with anorexia nervosa compared with standard family-based treatment and home-based stress reduction training: study protocol for a randomized clinical trial
Authors: Besse-Flütsch Nicole , Bühlmann Claudia , Fabijani Natalie , Ruschetti Gian Giacomo , Smigielski Lukasz , Pauli Dagmar
Published: August 2023

Background

Family-based treatment (FBT) is currently the most effective evidence-based treatment approach for adolescents with anorexia nervosa (AN). Home treatment (HT) as an add-on to FBT (FBT-HT) has been shown to be acceptable, feasible and effective. The described three-arm randomized clinical trial (RCT) is intended to investigate whether FBT-HT demonstrates higher efficacy compared to standard outpatient FBT with supplemental mindfulness-based stress reduction training (FBT-MBSR).

Methods

This RCT compares FBT-HT to standard outpatient FBT and FBT-MBSR as a credible home-based control group in terms of efficacy and delivery. Adolescents with AN or atypical AN disorder (n = 90) and their parent(s)/caregiver(s) are to be randomly assigned to either FBT, FBT-HT or FBT-MBSR groups. Eating disorder diagnosis and symptomatology are to be assessed by eating disorder professionals using standardized questionnaires and diagnostic instruments (Eating Disorder Examination, Eating Disorder Inventory, Body Mass Index). In addition, parents and caregivers independently provide information on eating behavior, intrafamily communication, stress experience and weight. The therapeutic process of the three treatments is to be measured and assessed among both participants and care providers. The feasibility, acceptability and appropriateness can thus also be evaluated.

Discussion

We hypothesize that FBT-HT will be an acceptable, appropriate and feasible intervention and, importantly, will outperform both established FBT and FBT-MBSR in improving adolescent weight and negative eating habits. Secondary outcome measures include the reduction in the stress experienced by caregivers, as well as the regulation of perceived expressed emotions within the family, while the intrafamily relationships are hypothesized to mediate/moderate the effectiveness of FBT. The proposed study has the potential to enhance the scientific and clinical understanding of the efficacy of FBT for AN, including whether the addition of HT to FBT versus another home-based adjunct intervention improves treatment outcomes. Furthermore, the study aligns with public health priorities to optimize the outcomes of evidence-based treatments and integrate the community setting.

Trial registration This study is registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT05418075).
Optic canal: a CT-based morphometric study in north Indian population
Authors: Sthapak Eti , Pasricha Navbir , Narayan Shamrendra , Gaharwar Anamika , Bhatnagar Rajan
Published: August 2023

Background

Lesser wing of sphenoid joins the body of sphenoid by two roots which are separated by the optic canal. Optic canal is a communicating channel between orbit and middle cranial fossa, forming a passage for the ophthalmic artery and optic nerve. Considering the delicate neurovascular structure that traverses the narrow confines of the optic canal, knowledge of the morphometry, anatomical variations of this canal and their relations becomes an important part of diagnostic medicine and surgical management.

Objective

The aim of the study was to conduct morphometric analysis and document variations of optic canal in north Indian population and study its sexual dimorphism.

Material and Method

Type of Study Cross-sectional study. Sample size 200 Computerized tomography head axial section scans from picture archiving and communication system. The computer-assisted measurements of optic canal parameters were obtained on both right and left sides. Statistical analysis Unpaired t-test, paired t-test and ANOVA were applied.

Result

Optic canal of 110 males, 90 females were examined. The overall cranial opening diameter, orbital opening diameter and length of optic canal in males were 4.34 ± 0.74, 3.17 ± 0.58 and 9.81 ± 1.62 and in females they were 3.99 ± 0.71, 2.97 ± 0.59 and 9.38 ± 2.02 respectively.

Conclusion

Significant gender difference is seen in cranial and orbital opening diameter, and distance from midsagittal plane. No statistical significant difference is observed in right and left side parameters. A thorough knowledge of the normal dimensions of optic canal is important for evaluation and management of cases of optic nerve decompression.
Bioinformatic analysis of KIT juxtamembrane domain mutations in Syrian GIST patients: jigsaw puzzle completed
Authors: Pharaon Nour , Habbal Wafa , Monem Fawza
Published: August 2023

Background

The huge number of detected somatic KIT mutations highlights the necessity of in silico analyses that are almost absent in the relevant medical literature. The aim of this study is to report the mutation spectrum analysis of exon 11 encoding the juxtamembrane (JM) domain of the KIT gene in a group of Syrian GIST patients.

Methods

Forty-eight formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded GIST tissue samples, collected between 2006 and 2016, were retrieved from the pathological archives and analyzed for KIT exon 11 mutations by DNA sequencing. Structural/functional impact of detected variants was predicted using several bioinformatic tools.

Results

Twenty-one different variants have been detected in intron 10, exon 11, and intron 11 of the KIT gene, eight of which were novel changes. Mutations in exon 11 of the KIT gene were detected in 28 of 48 (58.3%) GIST patients and predicted to be pathogenic and cancer promoting. Specifically, age above 60 was very significantly associated with the negative selection of deletion mutations (p = .007), a phenomenon that points to deletion severity.

Conclusions

Six bioinformatic tools have proved efficient in predicting the impact of detected KIT variations in view of published structural, experimental, and clinical findings.
Citizen science to monitor the establishment and spread of a biological control agent: the case of Pareuchaetes pseudoinsulata (Lepidoptera, Erebidae) for the control of Chromolaena odorata (Asteraceae) in South and South-East Asia
Authors: Cock Matthew J. W. , Day Michael D. , Winston Rachel L.
Published: August 2023

Pareuchaetes pseudoinsulata Rego Barros (Lepidoptera, Erebidae) has been deliberately released in six countries in South and South-East Asia as a biological control agent for Chromolaena odorata (L.) R.M. King & H. Rob. (Asteraceae). To date, the scientific literature has records of establishment in only four of these countries: India, Indonesia, Malaysia and Sri Lanka. Georeferenced and dated images shared by citizen scientists on the iNaturalist.org platform were used to assess the establishment and spread of P. pseudoinsulata. Adding to our existing knowledge, it was found that P. pseudoinsulata is established in Thailand and Vietnam and has spread to China (Yunnan and Hainan provinces), Cambodia and West Malaysia (Penang). We discuss the value of using citizen science to track the establishment and spread of weed biological control agents, using P. pseudoinsulata as an example.
Assessment of the relationship between lubricating oil viscosity and surface-attached adhesion rate via regression modelling
Authors: Jantarasricha Tanakorn
Published: August 2023

This study used a regression model, experimental data from a viscosity measurement device, and a computational technique to investigate the relationship between lubricant viscosity and surface-attached adhesion rates. Three types of used lubricants were identified and evaluated using viscosity and surface adhesion measuring instruments using three different sizes of steel balls, namely 3 mm, 3.5 mm, and 4 mm. The experimental results were then analysed using a simple linear regression model with parameter estimation. At a significance level of 0.05, the results revealed that the lubricant viscosity and the rate of surface adhesion were linearly correlated. The results of this research could be utilized by industry to control the usage of lubricating oil in industrial parts, make judgments about changing or analysing the quality of the heat-reducing lubricant at the interface between mechanical components, and so on. To maintain lubrication efficiency and increase the service life of industrial parts. As a result of fulfilling this desired goal, the regression equations generated during this study can be used to estimate surface-attached adhesion rates in other circumstances. The viscosity range utilised in this case study corresponds to the normal viscosity of the unused lubricant. The surface-attached adhesion rate can thus be accurately selected by manufacturers, and the lubrication effectiveness can also be monitored. This is another indirect waste reduction in the manufacturing chain.
Predictors of Ongoing Androgen Abuse. A Prospective 2-year Follow up of 100 Male Androgen Abusers
Authors: Smit Diederik L , de Ronde Willem
Published: August 2023

Background

The abuse of androgens is common among visitors to fitness centers. Prospective data regarding patterns of androgen abuse and predictors of future use are not well studied.

Methods

This is a 2-year prospective observational cohort study among 100 male androgen abusers. The median age of the subjects was 31 years (range, 19-67 years). Participants were meticulously characterized and observed for 1 year before, during, and after the use of a cycle of androgens. They remained in follow-up for a second year to study subsequent androgen abuse. Using multivariable regression analysis we aimed to identify baseline sociodemographic factors and cycle characteristics that would predict future androgen abuse.

Results

Ninety-seven (97%) men completed the second year of follow-up. Sixty-three subjects (65%) abused androgens again and 16 (16%) for the entire duration of the second year. The variables that were positively associated with the cumulative time of androgen abuse during the 2 years of follow-up were historical cumulative androgen exposure and the intention to take part in bodybuilding competitions. Cycle duration in year 1 and training time at baseline were positively associated with repeated use in year 2. Cycle duration in the first year was also positively associated with the cumulative time of androgen abuse in the second year. For all the other investigated baseline variables and cycle characteristics, no associations with future use were found.

Conclusion

The results of this study support the assumption that body building competitions are a driver for androgen abuse. Most androgen abusers use androgens repeatedly. The factors that predict future androgen abuse may assist in harm reduction strategies that aim to minimize long-term health problems in androgen abusers.
Adrenal Crisis Associated With COVID-19 Vaccination in Patients With Adrenal Insufficiency
Authors: Kurematsu Yukako , Mohri Takako , Okada Sadanori , Takahashi Yutaka
Published: August 2023

Vaccination is generally recommended for patients with adrenal insufficiency receiving glucocorticoid replacement therapy because they are at risk of experiencing adrenal crisis during infections. Conventional vaccinations, such as those for influenza virus, have rarely been associated with adrenal crisis in patients with adrenal insufficiency; therefore, increasing the glucocorticoid dose during vaccination is not necessarily recommended. The COVID-19 mRNA vaccines exhibit a higher degree of adverse reactions, including fever and general fatigue, than those of conventional vaccines. Here, we present 3 cases of adrenal crisis associated with mRNA COVID-19 (BNT162b2) vaccination in patients with secondary adrenal insufficiency. Two patients presented with adrenal crisis after the second dose, whereas 1 presented with adrenal crisis after the first dose. Within 24 hours of vaccination, all patients presented with fatigue and appetite loss, and 2 patients were febrile. None of them increased their glucocorticoid dosage at the time of vaccination, leading to an adrenal crisis. To date, 9 cases of adrenal crisis, including ours, associated with COVID-19 vaccination have been reported. Considering the high degree of adverse reactions to COVID-19 vaccination, administration of prophylactic stress dose of glucocorticoids is strongly recommended, particularly in patients with symptomatic adverse reactions, to protect them from adrenal crisis.
Siblings With HNF4A Congenital Hyperinsulinism From Possible Parental Gonadal Mosaicism
Authors: Wolschendorf Robin , Eimicke Toni , Swartz Jonathan
Published: August 2023

Congenital hyperinsulinism is the most common cause of persistent hypoglycemia in early infancy. Mutations in the gene for heterozygous hepatocyte nuclear transcription factor 4-alpha (HNF4A) account for approximately 5% of cases and are inherited in an autosomal dominant fashion or arise as de novo mutations. This case describes a unique presentation of parental gonadal, or germline, mosaicism as the suspected inheritance pattern for siblings with congenital hyperinsulinism caused by HNF4A mutations. Two siblings presented with hypoglycemia in the first hours of life and were subsequently confirmed to have hyperinsulinism. In each patient, glycemic control was achieved at relatively low doses of diazoxide. Both siblings tested positive for the same HNF4A mutation, whereas the parents tested negative for HNF4A mutations. Gonadal, or germline, mosaicism became the presumed leading diagnosis, given 2 unaffected parents with 2 children with congenital hyperinsulinism. The older sibling demonstrated additional clinical features of liver disease and renal Fanconi syndrome, both of which are associated with HNF4A mutations.

Genetic testing plays an important role in the diagnosis and management of congenital hyperinsulinism. HNF4A mutations may arise by a range of mechanisms, including gonadal, or germline, mosaicism. HNF4A mutations have phenotypic variance that may affect multiple organ systems at any age.
A SDHB Variant of Unknown Significance in a Patient With a Cardiac Functional Paraganglioma
Authors: Carafone Lindsay , Victor Adrienne , Harbuz-Miller Inga
Published: August 2023

Cardiac paragangliomas are extremely rare tumors derived from chromaffin cells of the neural crest. Succinate dehydrogenase B (SDHB) mutations are associated with metastatic potential and potentially worse prognosis. Here we describe the case of a 64-year-old man who presented with chest pain, fatigue, and weight loss. Cardiac workup revealed a nearly 7-cm cardiac mass in the right lateral wall. Incisional biopsy demonstrated paraganglioma. Plasma free normetanephrine and chromogranin A were elevated. A DOTATATE positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) revealed avidity of the mass with no evidence of distant metastases. Next-generation sequencing of the specimen demonstrated a variant of unknown significance of SDHB at H244D. Germline testing was negative. Surgical resection was aborted due to involvement of critical structures of the heart. Systemic treatment with the multi-tyrosine kinase inhibitor cabozantinib was initiated with subsequent improvements in biochemical markers as well as reductions in maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax) on Ga-68 DOTATATE PET/CT. After 5 months of cabozantinib, he was unable to tolerate the side effects and external beam radiation therapy was completed. In this case, we report a novel somatic SDHB mutation at H244D in a sympathetic paraganglioma presenting as a cardiac mass.
A Novel CDC73 Gene Mutation in Hyperparathyroidism Jaw Tumor Syndrome Associated With Ectopic-pelvic Kidney
Authors: Danda Vijay Sheker Reddy , Kyatham Vivek , Paidipally Srinivas Rao , Palli Sharmila
Published: August 2023

A 21-year-old woman presented with polyuria, fragility fractures, and a history of recurrent renal calculi, which was also present in her maternal aunt. Examination revealed an oval palpable mass in the neck. Biochemistry revealed a grossly elevated serum calcium, PTH, and serum alkaline phosphatase with low serum phosphorous, suggestive of primary hyperparathyroidism. Ultrasonography of the neck and parathyroid scintigraphy localized a large lesion arising from the right posterior and inferior aspect of the thyroid gland, suggesting a parathyroid tumor. Parathyroid carcinoma was suspected based on the severe clinical manifestations. A computed tomography scan of the abdomen revealed cysts in the kidneys, bilateral medullary nephrocalcinosis, left ectopic-pelvic kidney, and lytic lesions in the iliac bone. The patient underwent a right inferior parathyroidectomy with normalization of serum calcium postoperatively. Histopathologic examination revealed a parathyroid adenoma, which was contrary to the expectation. Whole exome sequencing in the index case revealed a novel 99-bp heterozygous insertion, likely pathogenic variant in the exon 2 of CDC73 gene causing hyperparathyroidism jaw tumor syndrome. Here, we report a rare case of hyperparathyroidism jaw tumor syndrome that presented with severe hypercalcemia, renal cysts, and an ectopic-pelvic kidney without jaw tumor or uterine abnormalities.
“The Great Lesson of May '68 Is That Violence Pays”
Authors: Provenzano Luca
Published: August 2023

From the après-mai 1968 through the end of the 1970s, successive groups of French radicals legitimized revolutionary violence and developed a militant protest culture that challenged the state's monopoly on violence. Most scholars have presented political violence in 1970s France as bound to the trajectories of organized Maoist and Trotskyist groups and as the product of revolutionary ideology that was overcome by experience. This article traces how a cohort of radicals continued to articulate discourses of self-defense, counterviolence, and violence as revolution of the self well into the 1970s. Activists did so because their experiences of conflict confirmed the salience of violent struggle. The article contributes to the historical study of violent phenomena by tracing an approach that integrates the analysis of understandings of violence and experiences of conflictual politics.
GBV and Postcolonial India
Authors: Grewal Inderpal
Published: August 2023

This chapter examines how Indian print media covers the anti-Muslim violence that has become endemic since Narendra Modi became Prime Minister in 2014. Focusing on the widespread use of terminologies of “pogrom” and “lynching” by the Indian press, it argues the media's use of these terms reveals that Muslims in India are now racialized in ways that are transnationally understandable through the history of African Americans in the US or Jews in Eastern Europe and Russia. The chapter suggests that images of such racial violence both reveal the conditions that enable it—such as the inaction and complicity of the state, police, and judiciary—and also show how such violence is normalized as it becomes part of gendering the population through a violent right-wing patriarchy. Such gendering produces Hindu patriarchy able to violently subjugate Muslim women and men, and constructs Muslim men as insufficiently patriarchal because they are unable to protect “their” women.
Power, Subjectivity, and Sexuality in Iranian Political Prisons
Authors: Talebi Shahla
Published: August 2023

Based on the experiences of three Iranian women former political prisoners, this chapter contemplates why subjection to sexual violence is felt or imagined to shatter the soul more drastically and enduringly than other forms of violence. Refusing to succumb to two common explanations—the culturalist approach and the universalistic ahistorical view of sexual violence—this chapter seeks to open a more nuanced discussion of power, sexuality, sexual violence, and political subjectivity. It reflects on the way political subjectivity has been linked to gender and sexuality and ponders the role of the autonomous subject in shaping these attitudes. Using a narrative ethnography, this chapter seeks to allow the stories of women political prisoners to be heard in context of a complex constellation of social and political conditions, with their memories and embodied histories intermingled in their way of living in the modern world.
Johnnetta Betsch Cole and the Art of Speechifying
Authors: Watkins-Hayes Celeste
Published: August 2023

This interview captures an informal exchange between mentee and mentor as Celeste Watkins-Hayes visited Johnnetta Betsch Cole as she prepared to return to her home state of Florida. Sorting through papers, books, artwork, and clothing that would later be archived at Spelman College and housed with dear friends and family members, Cole and Watkins-Hayes paused for tea to discuss the art of speechifying. This conversation in many ways became the catalyst for Speechifying, laying the groundwork for themes explored in the book. The interview is an intimate meditation and reflection on Cole's powerful impact as an orator who focuses on education and social justice.
Cancer-Specific Survival of Patients with Non-Muscle-Invasive Bladder Cancer: A Population-Based Analysis
Authors: Ślusarczyk Aleksander , Zapała Piotr , Zapała Łukasz , Borkowski Tomasz , Radziszewski Piotr
Published: August 2023

Background and Purpose

Non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) constitutes a heterogeneous group of tumors with different prognoses. This population-based study aimed to report real-world cancer-specific survival (CSS) of NMIBC and create a prognostic nomogram based on the identified risk factors.

Methods

The Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results database was searched for patients diagnosed with NMIBC from 2004 to 2015, who underwent transurethral resection of the bladder tumor. The dataset was divided into development and validation cohorts. Factors associated with CSS were identified using Cox proportional hazards and used to develop a prognostic nomogram.

Results

In total, 98,238 patients with NMIBC were included. At the median follow-up of 124 months (IQR 81–157 months), cancer-specific mortality (CSM) was highest for T1HG (19.52%), followed by Tis (15.56%), similar for T1LG and TaHG (10.88% and 9.23%, respectively), and lowest for TaLG (3.76%). Multivariable Cox regression for CSS prediction was utilized to develop a nomogram including the following risk factors: tumor T category and grade, age, tumor size and location, histology type, primary character, race, income, and marital status. In the validation cohort, the model was characterized by an AUC of 0.824 and C-index that reached 0.795.

Conclusions

To conclude, NMIBC is associated with a significant risk of long-term CSM especially, but not only, in patients with T1HG. Rarely diagnosed TaHG and T1LG tumors should be regarded as high-risk due to approximately 10% CSM. T category, grading, and age remain the most powerful determinants of CSS in NMIBC, but sociodemographic factors might also influence its prognosis.
Radiographical assessment of post and core placement errors encountered by Saudi dental students at different educational levels
Authors: Alshehri Turki , Aly Nourhan M. , Altayyar Raand , Alghamdi Deena , Alotaibi Shahad , Ellakany Passent
Published: August 2023

Background: Dental post and core is one of the common procedures performed after endodontic treatment. The aim of this study was to radiographically assess the quality of post and core procedures performed by dental students at different education levels in addition to determining the most critical errors encountered during their clinical practice.

Methods: A retrospective cross-sectional study design was conducted in the College of Dentistry, Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University. A total of 550 periapical radiographs (PAs) of cemented posts were retrieved from the records of patients treated by dental students. Parameters and guidelines for assessing the quality of post treatment have been determined and statistically analyzed. A P value <0.05 was considered statistically significant.

Results:  The study included 502 students and most of them were females (66.5%). Data were obtained from 502 patients (62% females) with fiber posts used in 98.2% of the cases. About 50% of the posts were inserted in premolars, 62.9% in the upper arch, and 66.7% were restored with crowns as a final restoration. Regarding the quality of posts, 98.4% showed good preparation quality and 98% showed good radiographic quality. The post diameter was equal to 1/3 of the root diameter in 31.9% of the cases; post length was equal to 2/3 of root length in 5% of the cases and equal to or more than crown height in all cases (100%). Length of the remaining gutta percha (GP) was between 3–5 mm in 38.8%, and there was no gap between the post and remaining GP in 95.6% of the cases. There were no statistically significant differences between dental students at different clinical educational levels regarding the quality of post placement.

Conclusions: The quality of post and core procedures performed by students showed acceptable radiographic quality and were within the recommended standards.
The transition to nuclear energy in Bangladesh: The interplay between climate-related urgency and geopolitical factors
Authors: Badal Ushan Ara
Published: August 2023

One of the significant issues in contemporary international politics is to examine the contexts of energy usage of different countries, keeping in mind the looming climate threat. Energy transition not only highlights the central role of energy usage but also exposes the vulnerability caused by it. Given the context, Bangladesh has adopted nuclear technology to meet its economic demand and environmental requirements. As a middle-income country, eyeing to graduate to a developing nation by 2041, its choice of exploring nuclear energy has exposed the country to the question of the rationality of the decision. Nuclear energy has a distinguished history that accommodates several debates about its safety and sustainability. Though many developed countries are planning for a nuclear phase-out, Bangladesh’s decision merits attention and explanation to embrace such a stand. Often, the economic priorities have been attached to Bangladesh’s decision for the energy transition, while the discussion about nuclear energy in Bangladesh ignores the geopolitical purposes and international political agenda. This paper, therefore, aims to explore the internal and external climate-related urgency, and geopolitical concerns responsible for such a transition, which have remained unexplored in the existing literature.
Code and Data Repository for ℓ0 Trend Filtering
Authors: Wen Canhong , Wang Xueqin , Zhang Aijun
Published: August 2023

The goal of this repository is to share softare and R scripts of our paper ℓ 0 Trend Filtering. Our motivation is to present our code and results in a reproducible way and facilitate the coding effort of those who want to run further experiments or improve our model.
Model Kemitraan Perguruan Tinggi dan Desa untuk Meningkatkan Kemampuan Start-Up Produk Susu Sapi Desa Pesanggrahan, Kecamatan Batu, Kota Batu, Jawa Timur
Authors: Muntini Melania Suweni , Rumiati Agnes Tuti , Gunawan Janti , Rahayu Lucky Putri , Fatimah Iim , Faridawati Faridawati
Published: August 2023

Desa Pesanggrahan terletak di Kecamatan Batu, Kota Batu, Jawa Timur. Susu sapi yang dihasilkan lebih dari dua juta liter per tahun dan menjadikannya desa dengan produksi susu tertinggi di Kota Batu. Pada tahun 2015, produksi susu Kota Batu mencapai 22.430.928 L, terdiri atas susu kambing 33.620 L, dan susu sapi mencapai 22.397.655 L. Dalam pengolahan hasil susunya, masyarakat Batu lebih banyak menggantungkan diri dengan Industri Pengolah Susu (IPS), yaitu 90%, dengan harga yang terbilang rendah untuk ukuran susu kualitas super, dan hanya sekitar 10% yang dijual sendiri oleh KUD Kota Batu untuk konsumsi masyarakat sekitar. Penelitian yang dilakukan ini sekaligus juga sebagai partisipasi perguruan tinggi dalam menaikkan metrik Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), utamanya pada capaian ke delapan tentang Decent work and economic growth. Dalam kegiatan ini terdapat partisipasi masyarakat untuk memastikan pertumbuhan ekonomi dan partisipasi yang produktif masyarakat Desa Pesanggrahan, Kecamatan Batu, Kota Batu, Jawa Timur. Fokus utama pada pengabdian ini adalah melakukan kegiatan pelatihan tentang produk olahan susu sapi dan mengenalkan proses bisnis berbasis IT. Inovasi dalam melakukan kemitraan ini diharapkan dapat menghidupkan bisnis produk olahan susu sapi Desa Pesanggrahan, Kota Batu dan meningkatkan partisipasi pemuda yang tidak bekerja di daerah tersebut dalam mengolah produk susu beserta menjalankan bisnisnya sendiri dengan memanfaatkan teknologi agar dapat meningkatkan produktivitasnya.
Produksi Pakan Komplit Kambing dan Domba dari Fermentasi Limbah Pertanian
Authors: Zullaikah Siti , Jannah Afifatul , Pramujati Bambang , Prasetyo Endry Nugroho , Mahfud Mahfud , Ni'mah Hikmatun , Haryanto Haryanto , Sukadri Heru , Efendiy Adelia Paramita , Hajar Ahmad Saifullah , Iftitah Alfi Nur , Maulana Alvin , Akbar Candra Faisal , Noerhidayat Dandi Taufiq , Shodiq Kevin Surya Rizky , Angeline Krystallyn Gracella , Fijianti Nuraini Septi , Handayani Ratri Ninda , Wati Siti Isna Rachma
Published: August 2023

Keterbatasan pakan ternak di Desa Bluri saat musim kemarau menjadi kendala terbesar yang dihadapi oleh para peternak. Potensi pertanian di Desa Bluri yang sangat melimpah akan menghasilkan limbah pertanian yang dapat dimanfaatkan sebagai pakan ternak dengan cara fermentasi. Pada kegiatan pengabdian kepada masyarakat (abmas) sebelumnya telah dikembangkan pakan ternak sapi yang memenuhi SNI dan dapat meningkatkan bobot badan sapi lebih dari 1 kg/hari. Oleh karena itu pada kegiatan abmas saat ini dikembangkan pakan untuk kambing dan domba. Pakan yang dikembangkan mengacu pada ketersediaan limbah di Desa Bluri dan hasil terbaik pada penelitian sebelumnya. Bahan pakan yang digunakan adalah limbah tebon jagung, jerami padi, rendeng kedelai, polar, dan serawut singkong yang difermentasi secara aerob selama 3 – 21 hari. Pakan ternak yang dikembangkan di laboratorium selanjutnya diproduksi secara massal di Desa Bluri serta diuji coba pada hewan ternak. Pakan yang dikembangkan memenuhi kategori sebagai pakan komplit. Pada campuran 75% pakan hasil fermentasi C4 (pakan komplit) dan 25% hijauan dapat meningkatkan berat badan kambing rata-rata harian hingga 0,29 kg/hari.
An evidence-based guide to smoking cessation therapies
Authors: Marshall Anna-Marie , Siddiqui Faraz , Dogar Omara
Published: August 2023

Despite a general decline in smoking in the UK, prevalence remains high in certain groups such as young adults, pregnant women, those who have a mental Illness and those from socio-economically disadvantaged backgrounds. These groups are also more likely to benefit from targeted smoking cessation interventions. Clinical contact between health professionals and patients who smoke creates an opportunity for offering cessation interventions and to reduce smoking-related harm. This article summarises evidence reported in high-quality systematic reviews on smoking cessation interventions that could be offered by health professionals coming in to contact with patients who smoke. The evidence presented here suggests that brief advice by a health professional is beneficial in achieving smoking cessation and so is intensive behavioural support, alone or in combination with pharmacotherapies (nicotine replacement therapies [NRTs], bupropion and varenicline). Pharmacotherapies are also effective individually in achieving smoking cessation; a combination of NRTs (oral or skin patch) can be particularly helpful among highly dependent smokers. Pharmacotherapies in combination with behavioural support delivered in healthcare settings are more effective than when used alone and delivered in community settings, respectively. Electronic cigarettes are also effective in achieving smoking cessation and are more effective than NRT.
Robots to Carry Out Wind Farm Repair and Inspection
Authors: Knight Helen
Published: August 2023

New wind turbine blade project could save an average farm £26m in its life
Industrial Diamond Composite in 3D
Authors: Excell Jon
Published: August 2023

New process will allow diamonds to be made in highly complex shapes
£30m Project to Test Drugs
Authors: Knight Helen
Published: August 2023

3D images to be made at cellular level
Battery Tech Breakthrough?
Authors: Nathan Stuart
Published: August 2023

As more systems look towards better electricity storage, a harmless, durable and non-flammable battery could be the way forward
Assystem Takes Next Step in Fusion Power Project
Authors: Nathan Stuart
Published: August 2023

Team will develop designs for UK-led fusion reactor’s breeder blanket
Train Braking Technology Aims for Better Adhesion on Rails
Authors: Ford Jason
Published: August 2023

New system could bring end to autumnal rail delays
Silicon Sentries
Authors: Ford Jason
Published: August 2023

Workplace safety technologies are protecting against COVID-19 and opening new revenue streams
Why the NHS Needs More Engineers
Authors: Meese Helen
Published: August 2023

With new technology key to the future of healthcare, the NHS faces a pressing need for more clinical engineers, writes Dr Helen Meese
Q&A: Material Benefits
Authors: Excell Jon
Published: August 2023

An expert panel discusses key advances in the world of engineering materials