bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Emission, sequestration, credit and trading of carbon under gamhar (Gmelina arborea Roxb.) based agroforestry system towards net zero carbon emission of India
Authors: Kumar Abhay , Shabnam Swati , Kumar Rakesh , Karmakar S. , Das Soumitra Sankar , Lakra Kerobim , Singh Indra , Kumar Rikesh , Sinha Asha Kumari , Barla Sheela , Kumari Nargis , Prasad Muneshwar , Hasan Wajid , Mahto Dinesh , Kumar Jitendra , Malik M.S. , Oraon P.R.
Published: August 2023

Currently 22% (13Gt CO2-eq) of the total global greenhouse gas emission is contributed through agriculture, forestry and other land use. In current global scenario of environmental goals, farming sector is under tremendous pressure of reducing its share of emissions. Agroforestry system is the best option to achieve net zero carbon emissions target of India. Keeping this view, to evaluate the intercrops and gamhar based agroforestry system for their biomass production along with carbon emission, carbon sequestration, carbon credit, and carbon trading potential. The experiment was laid out in randomized block design with seven different treatments and five replications Gamhar tree biomass accumulation was higher in gamhar based agroforestry system compared to sole gamhar. Among different tree components, stem contributed a maximum to total gamhar tree biomass followed by roots, leaves and branches. Average contribution of stem, roots, leaves and branches in total tree biomass was 50.00, 19.79, 19.18 and 10.73 percent in 2016-17, 59.94, 19.98, 12.74 and 7.27 percent in 2017-18, and 58.05, 20.00, 14.02 and 7.93 percent in pooled data, respectively. In case of crops, above ground, below ground and total biomass was significantly higher in sole intercrops than under gamhar based agroforestry system. Total (Tree + interrops + Soil) carbon stock, carbon sequestration, carbon credit and carbon price were significantly affected by treatments, and was maximum in Sole Greengram-Mustard. Net carbon emission was also recorded lowest in Sole Greengram-Mustard for which the values were 811.55% and 725.24% and 760.69% lower than Sole Gamhar in 2016-17, 2017-18 and in pooled data, respectively.
The Joint Effect of Body Mass Index and Serum Lipid Levels on Incident Dementia among Community-dwelling Older Adults
Authors: Lei Qiqi , Xiao Zhenxu , Wu Wanqing , Liang Xiaoniu , Zhao Qianhua , Ding Ding , Deng Wei
Published: August 2023

Objective: This study aimed to explore the joint effect of body mass index (BMI) and serum lipids levels on incident dementia.
Methods:We prospectively followed up with 1,627 dementia-free community residents aged ≥60 for 5.7 years on average. At baseline, weight,and height were measured, and total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) were detected in serum. Demographic characteristics were collected through questionnaires. Dementia was based on consensus diagnosis of neurologists and neuropsychologists using DSM-IV criteria. A generalized additive model (GAM) was used to assess the exposure-response relationship between BMI and serum lipid levels and dementia risk. Interactions and further classifications of BMI and serum lipid levels were further presentedby bivariate surface models and decision-tree models.
Results: The joint effects of TC with BMI, TG with BMI, and LDL-C with BMI on the risk of incident dementia shared a similar pattern, which was different from their independent exposure-response curves. The joint effect of HDL-C with BMI showed an S-surface but without statistical significance. Participants withTC<5.4 andBMI<21 (Hazard Ratio(HR) 1.93, 95% Confidence Interval (CI) 1.05-3.53), TC<5.4 and BMI≥21 (HR 1.73, 95% CI 1.09-2.72), and TC≥5.4 and BMI<21 (HR 4.02, 95% CI 2.10-7.71) were identified to have the increased risk of incident dementia compared to those with TC≥5.4 andBMI≥21. Participants with TG<1.7 and BMI<21 had an increased risk of incident dementia compared to those with TG≥1.7 and BMI≥21 (HR 1.98, 95%CI 1.17-3.3). Participants with LDL-C≥3.3 andBMI<21 were identified to have an increased risk of incident dementia compared to those with LDL-C≥3.3 and BMI≥21 (HR 3.33, 95%CI 1.64-6.78).
Conclusions: Our study showed that low BMI combined with low or high levels of serum lipids may increase the risk of dementia among older adults. This finding suggests the potential impacts of these two metabolic indexes on the risk of dementia.
Weed Ecological Attributes as Indicators of Sustainability in Agroecosystems of the Southeastern Region of Mexico City
Authors: Rendón-Aguilar Beatriz , Velázquez-Cárdenas Xenia Mitzi Yetlanezi , Morales-Gutiérrez Karla , Rivera-Ramírez Ismael , Camero-Aguilar David , de Santiago-Gómez Jesús Ricardo
Published: August 2023

In Mexico City, 16% of the total land area is devoted to agricultural activities with evidence of pre-Hispanic heritage, characterized by the prevalence of various agroecosystems. In the middle of the 20th century, urbanization produced changes in agricultural activities. We analyzed contemporary aspects related to technological, socioeconomic, and cultural components of three agroecosystems and their relationship with some ecological and cultural parameters of weeds, considering them as "agroecosystem sustainable indicators". We conducted 179 interviews with campesinos in SUBURBAN and PERIURBAN spaces of the municipalities of Milpa Alta, Tláhuac, and Xochimilco, and selected 30 plots for sampling weeds. We recorded the abundance of each species and estimated different ecological attributes. We applied non-parametric and multivariate analysis to compare weed attributes between agroecosystems and spaces. Most of the collaborators are native from Mexico City, they are not full time campesinos, and they have changed some agricultural practices. Displacement of traditional crops and agricultural practices, and incorporation of others, has modified many ecological attributes of weeds. Chinampa was impacted the most, whereas slope was least affected. We recorded 156 species throughout the 30 samples. The slope had the highest diversity, and ciénega the lowest. More than half are native, where slope shared the highest number. Ecological Importance Value indicates that there are not dominant species in slope. Species composition also differs between the three agroecosystems. Slope is the most sustainable agroecosystem and must be use as a model to protect and recover the agrobiodiversity of the other agroecosystems of CDMX.
High-dose cytarabine induction therapy and flow cytometric measurable residual disease monitoring for children with acute myeloid leukemia
Authors: Tomizawa Daisuke , Matsubayashi Jun , Iwamoto Shotaro , Hiramatsu Hidefumi , Hasegawa Daisuke , Moritake Hiroshi , Hasegawa Daiichiro , Terui Kiminori , Hama Asahito , Tsujimoto Shin-ichi , Kiyokawa Nobutaka , Miyachi Hayato , Deguchi Takao , Hashii Yoshiko , Iijima-Yamashita Yuka , Taki Tomohiko , Noguchi Yasushi , Koike Kazutoshi , Koh Katsuyoshi , Yuza Yuki , Moriya-Saito Akiko , Horibe Keizo , Taga Takashi , Tanaka Shiro , Adachi Souichi
Published: August 2023

Japanese Pediatric Leukemia/Lymphoma Study Group AML-12 is a seamless phase II/III cooperative study to evaluate a role of high-dose cytarabine (HDAC) in initial induction therapy and significance of measurable residual disease (MRD) at end of induction therapies for children with acute myeloid leukemia (AML). From 2014 to 2018, a total of 359 patients were enrolled; 324 patients were randomly assigned to receive standard-dose cytarabine induction or HDAC induction. Following the common second induction, patients achieving remission were stratified into either of the three risk groups and received consolidation chemotherapy with or without allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. MRD was centrally monitored at end of Induction-1 (TP-1) and end of Induction-2. There were no significant statistical differences in the primary endpoints between the two arms; MRD-positive (≥ 0.1%) rate at TP-1 (21.5% vs. 25.2%, P = 0.517) and 3-year event-free survival rate (64.3% [95%CI, 56.5% – 71.0%] vs. 61.2% [53.1% – 68.4%], P = 0.589). MRD could be measured for 262 (94.9%) of the 276 patients for whom MRD monitoring was attempted and was demonstrated to be the strongest factor to predict the outcomes. Although, HDAC in initial induction did not improve the outcomes of children with AML, flow cytometric MRD monitoring was feasible and highly prognostic.
Inhibition of TRPM3 by primidone provides a potential therapeutic method for adenomyosis management
Authors: Jin Zhixing , Peng Yaoming , Zhang He , He Xiaoping , Zhang Yi , Pan Xin , Li Min , Yang Qianqian
Published: August 2023

Purpose
To test the expression profile of transient receptor potential channels (TRPs) in adenomyosis patients and evaluate the effects of primidone on tamoxifen-induced adenomyosis mice.
Methods
Eutopic endometrium from adenomyosis patients (n = 20) was collected and subjected to mRNA analysis of TRP channels. TRPA1, TRPV1 and TRPM3 in adenomyosis patients (n = 50) and tamoxifen-induced adenomyosis mice (n = 6) were examined by immunohistochemistry. From 10 weeks after birth, primidone (2 mg/kg/d) and atosiban (1 mg/kg/d) were given separately to adenomyotic mice by intraperitoneal injection for 3 weeks. The hotplate test was conducted once a week beginning at 10 weeks, and then uterine samples were harvested for HE staining and RNA-seq at 13 weeks.
Results
The mRNA expression of 15 TRPs was significantly increased in the proliferative phase of the adenomyotic endometrium. TRPV1, TRPM3 or TRPA1 staining levels were positively correlated with dysmenorrhea severity, menses amount and uterine size. In tamoxifen-induced adenomyosis mice, primidone had a significant effect on both the depth of myometrial infiltration and analgesia. Forty-seven DEGs were identified after primidone treatment, and bioinformatics analysis predicted that they were enriched in the cell cycle and cell division.
Conclusion
The expression profile of TRP channels varies significantly in adenomyosis patients, and primidone may provide a potential therapeutic method for adenomyosis management.
Evaluation and genetic dissection of the powdery mildew resistance in 558 wheat accessions
Authors: Jin Yuli , Han Guohao , Zhang Wenjing , Gao Huiming , Bu Bin , Zhao Ya , Wang Jiaojiao , Liu Ruishan , Yang Hong , Ma Pengtao
Published: August 2023

Wheat powdery mildew, caused by the fungal pathogen Blumeria graminis f. sp. tritici (Bgt), is a devasting disease of wheat all over the world, leading to significant yield losses. Host resistance is the most cost-effective and eco-soundly strategy to control this disease. It is certainly significant to assess the resistance level of various wheat germplasms as well as identify their genetic basis for the resistance. In the present study, a total of 558 wheat accessions were evaluated their seedling resistance to powdery mildew and the presence of resistance genes Pm1, Pm2, Pm4, Pm5, Pm6, Pm8, Pm21, Pm24, Pm41, Pm60 and Pm69 using different Bgt isolates and gene specific molecular markers. The results indicated that only 25 out of 558 wheat accessions were resistant to the Bgt isolate E09, suggesting the overall level of powdery mildew resistance of these accessions is inadequate. Further, these 25 accessions showed remarkable different resistance spectrum to extra 25 Bgt isolates and ranged from single to 25 ones. Among them, seven accessions remained resistant to all the tested isolates, indicating these accessions possess genes with broad spectrum resistance. Subsequently, the molecular detection using closely linked/diagnostic marker results showed that 249 accessions could carry only one of the tested Pm genes, 75 carry combined Pm genes and 234 not carry any of tested genes. Pm8 was detected at the highest frequency of 61.45%, whereas Pm5, Pm24, Pm41 and Pm69 were not detected. Notably, for seven accessions resistant to all the 26 tested isolates, Pm21 was detected in four of these wheat accessions, including HengS29, Chang 4640, Xinong 556 and ML728; Pm2 and Pm60 were identified in Emai 18 and Xinmai 296, respectively; no any of tested genes were detected in Emai 16, indicating novel broad spectrum resistant gene(s) might be present in this accession. The information on the evaluation and genetic dissection of the powdery mildew resistance in these 558 wheat accessions can be valuable for the popularization of these accessions and also for the powdery mildew resistance breeding using these accessions.
Why is end-of-life inpatient cost high among cancer patients? A prospective cohort study
Authors: Balasubramanian Ishwarya , Malhotra Chetna , group COMPASS study
Published: August 2023

Background:
Inpatient cost for cancer patients is high during the last six months of life, but reasons for this are not understood. We aim to understand the type of hospital admissions and inpatient services associated with an increase in inpatient cost in last months of life.
Methods:
We used survey and billing records of 439 deceased patients with a solid metastatic cancer, enrolled in a prospective cohort study. Based on cost per day of inpatient admissions, we classified admissions as low- or high-intensity. We decomposed the inpatient cost into cost for different inpatient services. We assessed patient characteristics associated with higher inpatient cost.
Results:
Towards death, proportion of inpatient cost for ‘maintenance care’ increased while that for intensive care unit (ICU) and surgeries decreased. Low-intensity, compared to high-intensity admissions had a higher proportion of cost for ‘maintenance care’ and a lower proportion for surgeries and ICU. Number of low-intensity admissions increased more steeply towards death than high-intensity admissions. Both admission types contributed equally to the share of inpatient cost. Older patients were less likely to have a high-intensity admission (β: -0.01, CI: -0.02,-0.00). Greater preference for life extension (β: 0.06, CI: 0.01,0.12) and inaccurate prognostic belief were associated with higher cost of high-intensity admissions (β: 0.31, CI: -0.01,0.62).
Conclusions:
Findings suggest that inpatient costs in last six months of life may be reduced if maintenance care is availed in low-cost settings such as hospice/palliative care alongside steps to reduce non-beneficial surgeries and ICU admissions.
Trial registration
NCT02850640 (Prospectively registered on June 9, 2016)
Deep neural nets for Evaluation method of Table tennis athletes' psychological load intensity based on Artificial Intelligence
Authors: Qu Lian Zhu
Published: August 2023

Table tennis athletes are easily disturbed by the environment, psychology and other factors in the process of competition, and there is high uncertainty. Therefore, an artificial intelligence based evaluation method of Table tennis athletes' psychological load intensity is proposed. Based on the collection and monitoring of Table tennis athletes' psychological load data, this paper preprocesses them to complete the monitoring of Table tennis athletes' psychological load intensity. Based on this, from the factors that affect the psychological load of Table tennis athletes, this paper constructs an evaluation index system of Table tennis athletes' psychological load intensity including training pressure and environment. According to the index system, the psychological load intensity of Table tennis athletes is evaluated by fuzzy mathematical tools. The results show that the psychological load of the experimental Table tennis athletes is 6.45, which belongs to moderate load; Moreover, the evaluation method has a high accuracy in evaluating 8 items of Table tennis athletes' psychological load intensity, such as too long training time, too much training content and noise impact, which can effectively improve the training quality of Table tennis athletes.
Molecular characterization, phylogenetic analysis and viral load quantification of Lumpy Skin Disease Virus in Cattle
Authors: K Sanganagouda , Nagraja K , Sajjanar Basavaraj , Kounin Sabha , Gomes Amitha Rena , H Pavithra B , Lalasangi Sanjeevakumar , R Sumathi B , Murag Shivaraj , P Shankar B , R Anjan Kumar K , Kharate Arun , K Muniyelappa H , D Venkatesha M , Hegade Raveendra
Published: August 2023

Lumpy skin disease is an emerging, remerging and trans-boundary disease caused by lumpy skin disease virus (LSDV) belongs Capripoxvirus genus and Poxviridae family in cattle. The recent episodes of disease outbreak in last 4 years from 2019 to 2023 caused huge socio-economic loss. In the present study, clinical samples from LSD outbreaks were collected from different districts of Karnataka, India for virus isolation and molecular characterization. Preliminary confirmation of LSD virus was performed by targeting envelope protein p32 (192 bp) gene by conventional Polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Real-Time qPCR was developed for absolute quantification of viral copy numbers in the infected samples. The viral copy number Log10 (Mean ± SD) in majority of the representative samples ranged from 4.962 to 12.432. The partial genes of GPCR and P32 were sequenced and submitted to GenBank. Phylogenetic analysis was performed by comparing sequences with other LSDV, Sheep pox virus (SPPV) and Goat pox virus (GPPV). The results indicated that our isolates have similarity with the LSDV sequences from Nepal, Bangladesh, Botswana, Egypt, Kenya Turkey and Saudi Arabia. It was also found that one of our isolate (OQ383668) clustered with the GPPV with 100% similarity. Our results highlight the necessity of ongoing surveillance and molecular characterization of circulating LSDV strains required for perspective development of suitable LSD vaccine to control the disease.
Square beams for optimal tiling in TEM
Authors: de Marco Alex , Chua Eugene , Alink Lambertus , Kopylov Mykailo
Published: August 2023

Imaging large fields-of-view at a high magnification requires tiling. Transmission electron microscopes typically have round beam profiles; therefore, tiling across a large field-of-view is either imperfect or results in uneven exposures, which is a problem on dose-sensitive samples. Here we introduce a square electron beam that can be easily retrofitted in existing microscopes and demonstrate its application showing it can tile nearly perfectly and deliver cryo-EM imaging with a resolution comparable to conventional setups.
A feasibility study on the complementarity of quality and genetic tests on seed certification: lessons from the hybrid maize in Malawi
Authors: Hunga Henry Geoffrey , Soon-Sinclair Jan Mei
Published: August 2023

At $1.5 billion the African seed sector accounts for 3.5 per cent of the global seed market. The growth is attributed to economic reforms and African countries adopting market-oriented policies promoting the private sector role and regional integration. However, smallholder farmers have reported poor quality certified seeds on the market. Therefore, this feasibility study sought to prove the existence of counterfeit hybrid maize seeds on the market in Malawi. Using the mystery shopper approach 37 hybrid maize seed samples were bought from agro-dealers and eight reference seed samples from the parent seed companies in three districts of Mchinji, Dowa, and Lilongwe. The agro-dealers were categorised whether licenced or not using the Seed Trade Association database. This was followed by quality and genetic purity using simple sequence repeat (SSR) tests. Results show that only 34% of the agro-dealers where the seed samples were procured were licensed by the government. Quality tests showed that the seeds were within the acceptable range for germination, moisture content, and purity percentage. However, genetic variation results showed that only one of the 37 samples matched the reference seed sample and the rest of the samples exhibited heterozygosity traits not matching the reference samples or similar lines.
rhIFN-α14 changes skin microbiota in naturally occurring canine atopic dermatitis
Authors: Beirão Breno C. B. , Taraciuk Aline C. , Gadotti Ana Carolina , Klassen Elisa , Trentin Carolina , Ingberman Max , McKenzie Chris , Stimson William H.
Published: August 2023

Atopic dermatitis (AD) manifests as recurrent and progressive pruritic dermatitis in dogs. Treatment is lifelong and non-responders are common to most drugs, with the exception to glucocorticoids, which have many undesirable effects. Our group has previously shown clinical efficacy of recombinant human interferon-alpha14 (rhIFNα−14) in the treatment of naturally occurring canine atopic dermatitis. Here, we sought to verify the role of rhIFNα−14 in the dysbiosis of the skin during AD. Six dogs with chronic non-seasonal atopic dermatitis were selected and treated with the experimental compound (10,000 IU/kg of rhIFNα-14 orally for 8 weeks). Each dog was evaluated by a veterinarian once a week. Efficacy outcomes were based on a veterinary-conducted simplified version of the CADESI (canine atopic dermatitis extent and severity index) score. Owner assessment of the status of the dog was also collected during the clinical consultation. Blood samples were collected every fifteen days for haematological analysis. Skin microbiota was assessed by next-generation sequencing. Pruritus score was negatively correlated to bacterial family homogeneity, as were vet scores of excoriations and erythema. There were no associations between clinical scores with individual bacterial genera, including Staphylococcus spp. In conclusion, the administration of rhIFNα−14 positively changes the skin microbiota by increasing the bacterial family homogeneity and ameliorates the disease severity, indicating one possible mode of action of this cytokine in atopic dermatitis.
Ecological Niche Modeling for the Prediction of Suitable Habitat for Chrysodeixis chalcites (Noctuidae) in the Contiguous United States
Authors: Galle Nicholas A. , Hankins Kayla R. , Bucheli Sibyl R. , Williams Justin K. , Randle Christopher Patrick
Published: August 2023

The golden twin-spot moth, Chrysodeixis chalcites Esper (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), is a polyphagous, polyvoltine crop pest occurring natively from northern Europe to Mediterranean Africa and the Canary Islands. Larvae feed on a wide variety of naturally occurring plants as well as soybean and other legume crops, short staple cotton, tomato, potato, peppers, tobacco, and banana. Chrysodeixis chalcites has been recorded in agricultural lands in the Ontario peninsula in eastern Canada and in northern counties of Indiana, USA. Given the strong potential for C. chalcites to invade USA crop lands, it is important to identify habitats most likely to sustain growing populations of this pest. Using occurrence data from its homerange, and environmental predictors including bioclimatic conditions, elevation, and human disturbance, we trained three ecological niche models, and used these models to estimate an ensemble prediction of habitat suitability in the contiguous US. Because human impact is potentially a confounding predictor, models were trained both with and without it. High habitat suitability was projected for the Atlantic coast from New England to Florida, the Gulf coast, the lower Midwest, and the Pacific coast and Central Valley of California. Though model predictions were robust, we recommend caution in their interpretation. First, agricultural lands are bioclimatically altered landscapes, and these alterations not reflected in bioclimatic data gathered from weather stations. Second, though the inclusion of human impact did not alter predictions on a large scale, it produced predictions favoring major metropolitan areas as suitable habitat, which we interpret as an artifact.
Boosting the light-harvesting and surface properties of inorganic ceramic to tune its bactericidal and organic dye mineralization activities
Authors: Aadil Muhammad , Hassan Warda , Mubarik Shamroza , zainab Breeha , Maqbool Uzma , Alsalmah Hessa A. , Ejaz Syeda
Published: August 2023

This work presented a simple co-precipitation technique for forming nanostructured, porous, visible light-active, highly conductive, and Zn-doped copper oxide (ZCO). The combine effects of doping, structural modification, and nanoscience enable to form a novel catalyst with integrated features. Physicochemical studies confirm the coexistence of all desired features in the ZCO photocatalyst. Dye-mineralization and antimicrobial capabilities of the formed photocatalysts were evaluated in detail and compared with those of their undoped counterpart, copper oxide (CO). The antimicrobial activities of the ZCO photocatalyst, tested against E. coli (a negative strain) and S. aureus (a negative strain), were superior to those of CO and comparable to those of commercially available drugs. Furthermore, ZCO photocatalysts eliminate the methyl blue dye using simple adsorption and mineralization processes at a greater extent and rate than CO photocatalyst. More precisely, the ZCO photocatalyst mineralizes 80.61% of MB under visible light irradiation. Under identical circumstances, the CO photocatalyst mineralizes just 60.10% of MB. The amplified photoactivity of the ZCO photocatalyst may be endorsed to its larger surface area (56.5 m2g− 1) and visible-light prompted bandgap (1.59 eV), which not only enhance the dye adsorption probability but also improved the light-harvesting capabilities. This study opens new avenues for developing metal-substituted metal oxide porous nanostructures for environmental and ecological protection.
Sociodemographic and Decision-Making Factors Associated with Unmet Family Planning Needs among Married Women in Madi Municipality, Chitwan, Nepal
Authors: Ghimire Rochana , Shah Rajani , Baral Yojana , Malla Dinesh Kumar , Thapa Kanchan
Published: August 2023

Background
Sustainable Development Goal of Nepal targets universal access to family planning (FP) services and increasing the contraceptive prevalence rate to 75% by 2030. Despite continuous efforts from the government of Nepal in the FP sector, the prevalence of unmet need for FP is high. This study aimed to identify sociodemographic and decision-making factors associated with the unmet need for FP among married women of reproductive age.
Methods
This is a community-based cross-sectional study conducted in Madi municipality, Chitwan, Nepal. Face-to-face interviews were conducted with 218 married women of reproductive age using a semi-structured questionnaire. Descriptive statistics, chi-square tests and multivariate logistic regression were used to analyse the data.
Results
The overall unmet need for FP was 38%. Respondents whose husbands were involved in foreign employment were more likely [aOR: 4.408; CI: 2.068–9.399] to have an unmet need for FP than those employed within the country. The likelihood of the unmet need was higher [aOR: 3.212; CI: 1.368–8.135] among couples who did not discuss using FP methods compared to those who discussed three or more times. Women with up to two children [aOR: 5.212; CI: 1.163–23.363] and three or more children [aOR: 8.758; CI: 1.691–45.355] were more likely to have a higher unmet need for FP than women without a child.
Conclusion
A significant proportion of women had an unmet need for FP. Intervention should focus on addressing the FP needs of migrants and their spouses, promoting spousal discussion on FP and counselling on the treatment as well as side effects of contraceptives. Furthermore, empowering women would enable them in the decision-making process and in accessing FP services.
Nucleotide supplementation as a novel adjunctive therapy for canine atopic dermatitis
Authors: Barroso Carolina D. N. , Cavalheiro Vitória L. , Imamura Louise M. , Cordeiro Caroline C. , Ingberman Max , Caron Luiz Felipe , Beirão Breno C. B.
Published: August 2023

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is an important allergic condition in dogs, and treatment is lifelong. Alternatives for therapy are important, as dogs do not respond equally to commonly used therapies. Novel therapies on the market are also costly, which limits their adoption in low and middle-income countries. Nucleotides have been shown to improve innate barrier function and were therefore tested for their efficacy in canine atopic dermatitis. Two independent mouse trials were performed. The first trial (pilot) aimed to standardize the atopic dermatitis challenge model and to perform a proof-of-concept for the use of nucleotides for the treatment of AD. The second trial expanded on the results of the first by assessing the oral use of the experimental compound. Lastly, a clinical trial was run on 27 dogs with naturally occurring AD, for 8 weeks. The mouse trials revealed that use of nucleotides diminished the dermal inflammation that is common in AD. On histopathological analyses, scores of inflammatory cells, and fibrosis in the dermis of were lower in treated mice, resulting in diminished dermal thickness. Both oral and injectable administration routes proved effective. Differently from what occurred in the dermis, epidermal thickening was not reversed by the test compound. In dogs, oral treatment reduced owner-assessed pruritus and in vet-assessed erythema. These data indicate a possible use for oral nucleotide supplementation against canine AD.
Awareness of strabismus and associated factors among adults in Jimma town, Southwest Ethiopia
Authors: Daba¹ Kumale Tolossa , * Segni Tesfaye Aga² , Regassa³ Tolossa Tufa
Published: August 2023

Background: Strabismus is a common problem that mostly affects children. Awareness of eye diseases is important in encouraging people to seek early treatment, which further helps in reducing the burden of visual impairment. The aim of this study was to assess awareness of strabismus and associated factors among adults in Jimma town, Southwest Ethiopia.
Methods: A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted on adults in Jimma Town using a pretested structured questionnaire from June 1 to June 30, 2022. A sample size of 631 was determined by using a single proportion formula and taking an awareness of strabismus of 52.3% from the most recent local study, a 95% confidence interval, a 5% margin of error, a nonresponse rate of 10%, and a design effect of 1.5.
Binary logistic regression was used to identify factors associated with awareness of strabismus. A multivariable logistic regression model was performed, and a p value <0.05 was considered to indicate statistical significance.
Results:A total of 584 individuals were interviewed with a response rate of 92.5%.
A total of 43.7% of the participants were found to have a good level of awareness of strabismus.
In addition, a statistically significant association was found between the level of awareness of strabismus and age, previous eye examination, and level of education. The most common source of information was the community.
Conclusions: The study found that a significant proportion of the participants had poor awareness of strabismus, particularly regarding its causes and treatment options. Thus, it is better if awareness creation is facilitated by the responsible bodies for the community.
PARP1 is differentially expressed in BCR-ABL p190+ ALL patient samples and targeting PARP inhibition induces cell death comparable to that of tyrosine- kinase golden standard in pre-clinical models
Authors: Machado Caio Bezerra , Silva Emerson Lucena da , Ferreira Wallax Augusto Silva , Pessoa Flávia Melo Cunha de Pinho , de Quadros Andreza Urba , Fantacini Daianne Maciely Carvalho , Furtado Izadora Peter , Rossetti Rafaela , Silveira Roberta Maraninchi , de Lima Sarah Caroline Gomes , Júnior Fernando Augusto Rodrigues Mello , Seabra Aline Damasceno , Moreira Edith Cibelle de Oliveira , Filho Manoel Odorico de Moraes , de Moraes Maria Elisabete Amaral , Montenegro Raquel Carvalho , Ribeiro Rodrigo Monteiro , Khayat André Salim , Burbano Rommel Mário Rodriguez , Oliveira Edivaldo Herculano Correa , Covas Dimas Tadeu , de Souza Lucas Eduardo Botelho , Moreira-Nunes Caroline Aquino
Published: August 2023

Detection of t(9;22), and consequent BCR-ABL1 fusion, is still a marker of worse prognosis for acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), with resistance to tyrosine-kinase inhibitor therapy being a major obstacle in the clinical practice for this subset of patients. In this study, we investigated the effectiveness of targeting poly-ADP-ribose polymerase (PARP) in a model of BCR-ABL p190 + ALL, the most common isoform to afflict ALL patients, and demonstrated the use of experimental PARP inhibitor (PARPi), AZD2461, as a therapeutic option with cytotoxic capabilities similar to that of imatinib, the current golden-standard in medical care. We characterized cytostatic profiles, induced cell death and biomarker expression modulation utilizing cell models, also providing a comprehensive genome-wide analysis through aCGH of the model used, and further validated PARP1 differential expression in samples of ALL p190 + patients from local healthcare institutions, as well as in larger cohorts of online and readily available datasets. Overall, we hope our findings help expand the characterization of molecular profiles in ALL settings and guide future investigations into novel biomarker detection and pharmacological choices in the clinical practice.
Visualization of photothermal therapy by semiconducting polymer dots mediated photoacoustic detection in NIR II
Authors: Lin Xiangwei , Xu Zhourui , Li Jiangao , Shi Hongji , Fu Zhenyu , Chen Yuqing , Lin Haoming , Xu Gaixia , Chen Xin , Chen Siping , Chen Mian
Published: August 2023

Visualization of photothermal therapy mediated by photothermal transduction agents (PTAs) is important to promote individual treatment of patients with low side effect. Photoacoustic detection has emerged as a promising noninvasive method for the visualization of PTAs distribution, but has still limitations in temperature measurement, including poor measurement accuracy and low tissue penetration depth. In this study, we have developed biocompatible semiconducting polymer dots (SPD) for in situ coupling of photothermal and photoacoustic detection in the near-infrared II window. The SPD has dual-photostability under the irradiation of pulsed laser and continuous-wave laser with 42.77% of photothermal conversion efficiency. Meanwhile, a strong correlation between the photoacoustic signal and the actual temperature of SPD can be observed. The standard deviation of SPD-mediated photoacoustic thermometry can reach to 0.13°C when the penetration depth of gelatin phantom is 9.49 mm. Preliminary experimental results in vivo show that SPD mediated photoacoustic signal has a high signal-to-noise ratio, as well as good performance in temperature response and tumor enrichment. Such a study not only offers a new nanomaterial for the visualization of photothermal therapy, but will also promote the theranostic platform for clinical applications.
Postprandial Hypotension Is More Common Than Orthostatic Hypotension In Older Adults With Dementia With Lewy Bodies: A Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: ISIK Ahmet Turan , ONTAN MEHMET SELMAN , DOST Fatma Sena , MUTLAY Feyza , MAHSER Alev CAM , YILDIRIM ACELYA GOKDENIZ , KAYA Derya
Published: August 2023

Purpose
Dysautonomia is one of the supportive clinical features in dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB). This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of postural and postprandial blood pressure changes as a sign of dysautonomia in DLB patients.
Methods
The study group comprised 125 patients with DLB (76 females; mean age 78.4 ± 7.1 years) and 126 controls (89 females; mean age 74.5 ± 6.8 years). Postprandial blood pressure changes were assessed by ambulatory 24-hour blood pressure monitorization. Postural blood pressure changes were assessed via the head-up tilt table test.
Results
The frequency of postprandial hypotension (PPH), orthostatic hypotension (OH), and delayed OH was higher in patients with DLB compared to controls (89.4% vs 50.8%; p < 0.001, 45.5% vs 28.6%; p = 0.006, and 13.3% vs 5.6%; p = 0.045, respectively); whereas the frequency of supine hypertension (HT), and orthostatic hypertension (OHT) was similar. However, supine HT in non-hypertensive participants was higher in DLB patients than in controls (n = 45, 48.9% vs n = 37, 27%; p = 0.043). PPH and OH were independently associated with DLB (odds ratio [OR]:10.52 confidence interval [CI]%95 3.11–35.61; p < 0.00, and OR:1.96 CI%95 1.05–3.69; p = 0.035, respectively) after adjustment for age, the number of drugs, anti-psychotics, antiparkinsonian drugs, angiotensin receptor blockers, and beta blockers.
Conclusion
The study demonstrated that PPH was the most common type of dysautonomia, followed by OH and supine HT in older patients with DLB Given the potential complications of postural blood pressure changes and PPH in such patients, autonomic dysfunction should be evaluated in the follow-up of DLB.
Splice-altering variant in TECTA as a cause of hearing loss DFNA8/12
Authors: Yang Yan , Luo Haiyan , Feng Chuanxin , Zou Yongyi , Guo Zhen , Zeng Baitao , Huang Shuhui , Yuan Huizhen , Ma Pengpeng , Wu Ping , Liu Danping , Lu Qing , Luo Laipeng , Xiao Junfang , Jiang XiangLong , Yang Bicheng , Liu Yuhe , Liu Yanqiu
Published: August 2023

Purpose
The aim of this study was to determine the genetic cause of early onset autosomal dominant hearing loss segregating in five-generation kindred of Chinese descent and provide preimplantation genetic testing for them.
Methods
Clinical examination, pedigree analysis, exome sequencing, minigene-based splicing analysis and in vivo RNA analysis were carried out on the family. Preimplantation genetic testing (PGT) for the causative variation and chromosome aneuploidis based on SNP analysis has been used to avoid transmission of hearing loss in this family.
Results
All the affected individuals presented with moderate down-sloping hearing loss and whole-exome sequencing identified a novel splice-site variant c.5383 + 6T > A in the tested subjects within the TECTA locus. Genotyping of all the 32 family members confirmed segregation of this variant and the deafness phenotype in the extended family. Functional analysis of RNA indicated that c.5383 + 6T > A is a pathogenic splice-site variant and should be considered for diagnostic purposes. Furthermore, a successful singleton pregnancy with no variant in the site c.5383 + 6 within TECTA locus was established and a healthy male child was born by PGT.
Conclusion
We have identified a novel variant c.5383 + 6T > A in TECTA ZA-ZP inter-domain, which could be contributing to in early onset autosomal dominant hearing loss phenotype,The implications of our study are valuable in the clinical diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment of patients with TECTA pathogenic variants.
Association Between Depression and Osteoporosis of the United States population: a cross-sectional study
Authors: Zheng Yanxu , Bao Jing , Li Kecheng , Zhang Xin , Guo Jingchen , Guo Weiqin , He Jinshen
Published: August 2023

Depression and osteoporosis both are common mental illness for older people and the relationship between osteoporosis and depression is still unclear. This article aims to determine the relationship between depression and osteoporosis among adults aged 50 or older. The study, which included 6153 participants, consisting of the control group (n = 5726) and the osteoporosis group (n = 432), was based on the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) database. Compared with individuals who do not have osteoporosis, those who have osteoporosis have a higher incidence of depression (10.7% vs 6.6%, P = 0.002). Individuals with depression are more likely to also have osteoporosis (OR: 1.60, 95% CI: 1.12 to 2.29, P = 0.010). On subgroup analysis, there were higher odds ratio of osteoporosis in male (OR: 2.47, 95% CI: 1.21 to 5.05, P = 0.013), individuals between the ages of 50 to 65 are at a greater risk (OR: 2.16, 95% CI: 1.25 to 3.74, P = 0.006), high BMI (OR: 1.67, 95% CI: 1.06 to 2.64, P = 0.027), taking prednisone or cortisone(OR: 2.92, 95% CI: 1.06 to 8.05, P = 0.039), and patients with high cholesterol levels (OR: 2.14, 95% CI: 1.36 to 3.35, P = 0.001). Therefore, doctors should pay attention to the osteoporosis middle-aged and elderly people with depression.
Cerebral mechanism of Tuina on the descending pain inhibitory system in knee pain Study protocol for a randomized controlled parallel trial
Authors: Xu Hui , Wang Zheng , Wang Zhen , Zhou Hang , Chen Xiaojing , Guo Juan , Li Wanyu , Xie Yuchen , Zhou Yunfeng
Published: August 2023

Background:Tuina, a manual therapy, is effective and safe for reducing clinical symptoms of knee osteoarthritis (KOA); however, the mechanism that influences pain through the descending pain inhibitory system in KOA is unclear. Thus, we will investigate the modulatory implications of Tuina on the rostral ventromedial medulla (RVM) and periaqueductal gray (PAG), which have critical roles in the descending pain inhibitory system in patients with KOA.Methods:This is a randomized, controlled parallel trial. Patients with KOA will be randomly assigned (1:1) to 6 weeks of health education or Tuina. Functional and structural magnetic resonance imaging, pressure pain thresholds, numerical rating scale, Hamilton Anxiety Scale, Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index, and Hamilton Depression Scale will be conducted at the beginning and end of the experiment. We will use PAG and RVM as seeds in resting-state functional connectivity (rsFC) analysis. Adverse events will be documented and assessed throughout. The outcome evaluators and data statisticians will be blinded to the treatment group assignment to reduce the risk of bias.Discussion:Our trial will provide evidence on the effect of Tuina on rsFC in patients with KOA and identify possible relationships between rsFC changes and improvement of clinical variables, elucidating the effect of Tuina on the descending pain inhibitory system of patients with KOA.Trial registration: Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (ChiCTR2300070289). Date of registration: April 7, 2023
Rational design of star-shaped triarylborane-based thermally activated delayed fluorescent emitters for organic light-emitting diodes
Authors: Jin Ruifa , Xin Jingfan , Xiao Wenmin
Published: August 2023

A series of novel donor (D)–acceptor (A) star-shaped triarylborane-based molecules have been designed for the applications in organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs) devices with thermally activated delayed fluorescence (TADF) properties. Their photophysical and electronic properties have been systematically investigated by applying density functional theory (DFT) and time dependent DFT (TD-DFT) methods. The frontier molecular orbitals (FMOs) analysis has turned out that the vertical electronic transitions exhibit a strong charge transfer character. The D and A fragments are separated efficiently. Furthermore, all the designed molecules display small singlet-triplet energy gap (ΔEST) values, which is beneficial for TADF properties. Our results suggest that the introduction of different donors can tune the delayed fluorescence emission colour effectively. The designed molecules are expected to be the promising candidates TADF materials for organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs).
Analysis and interpretation IT in supply chain management practices of manufacturing industries IN Tehran
Authors: AghaiGhalechi Mohsen , Souri Maryam , Poursobhan Fatemeh
Published: August 2023

This study aims to evaluate how well manufacturing industries in Tehran province are adopting IT-enabled tools for supply chain management, as well as how successful these technologies are at reducing costs and managing customer relationships. Small, medium, and big registered manufacturing enterprises have been used as the population for this purpose, and surveys with the production department have been undertaken. The study's focus is only on Tehran's manufacturing sectors. For the purposes of the study, the total population has been determined as the number of manufacturing companies registered with the Tehranian administration. In Tehran province, there are currently 3532 small-scale manufacturing businesses, 54 medium-scale manufacturing facilities, and 37 large-scale manufacturing facilities. The population for the present study was determined using the information on registered industrial units in Tehran that was made available by the Department of Industry and Commerce in the Tehran government and the Tehran Province Industrial Development Corporation. Future scholars and practitioners of SCM in the manufacturing sector will find the study beneficial in understanding the significance of IT-enabled tools and how efficiency may be attained in the supply chain operations of the manufacturing sector.
Quantifying the spin-orbit effect in molecular clusters using Steradians and Spin-Orbit geometries
Authors: Morales-Bayuelo Alejandro
Published: August 2023

The manuscript discusses the concepts of spin-orbit coupling in atomic physics and Molecular Quantum Similarity (MQS) in molecular clusters. Spin-orbit coupling arises from the interaction between an electron's spin and its motion around the nucleus and plays a crucial role in determining energy levels and spectral lines in atoms with heavy nuclei. On the other hand, MQS is a computational approach to compare the electronic density distributions in different molecular systems. In this order of ideas, the study aims to answer questions about electronic and structural differences caused by the spin-orbit effect from the standard geometry (Steradians geometry) using the MQS framework. The MQS is based on the Molecular Quantum Similarity Measure (MQSM) using different positive operators such as Dirac delta and Coulomb operators to quantify the similarity between molecular systems. The paper presents tables with MQSM indices and Euclidean distances for different molecular clusters using both spin-orbit (SO) and standard geometry (SR). The results show significant effects of spin-orbit coupling on the similarity measures between different molecules. The manuscript suggests that understanding the relationship between spin-orbit effects and quantum similarity could lead to deeper insights into electronic interactions in complex molecular systems and has potential applications in quantum mechanics and molecular physics.
Political Epidemiology of Covid-19 Mortality: A Multilevel Analysis of Macro-Systemic Political Variables
Authors: nguyen Thuy
Published: August 2023

This study delves into the realm of "political epidemiology" which has gained increasing attention among scholars of political science and public health. It investigates how Covid mortality rate are influenced by macro-systemic political variables such as the level of democracy, systems of internal governance, government effectiveness, and trust in government. Employing multilevel modeling, I analyze countries' trajectories of Covid-19 mortality rates spanning from March 2020 to January 2022. I found that, on average, countries with a federal system tend to exhibit higher Covid-19 death rates compared to those with a unitary system. Moreover, democracy is found to be inversely associated with Covid-19 mortality across countries, although the specific effects of democracy on the trajectory of Covid-19 rates depend on the subgroup of countries considered. Furthermore, government effectiveness emerges as a crucial factor, with a negative association with Covid-19 mortality rates. Countries with more effective governance tend to experience lower death tolls from Covid-19. Additionally, in countries where the population demonstrates higher levels of trust in the government, the curves of Covid-19 death tolls tend to flatten.