bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
How Were European GPS/FPS Involved in the Covid Vaccination-Campaign? A European Questionnaire Study About the Experiences of the Vaccinations in 2021
Authors: Rurik Imre , Torzsa Péter
Published: January 2024

Background. The SARS-CoV-2pandemic has become the greatest public health challenge worldwide. Intensive research started to develop vaccines and by the late 2020 vaccination campaign started.
Aim. Collecting information from European countries, how and in what extent were family physicians/general practitioners/FPs/GPs involved in the vaccinations-campaign in 2021 and how was it organized at national level.
Method. A short questionnaire was distributed through the secretariats of WONCA-Europe and the European Forum for Primary Care.
Results. In most of the countries participation of FPs/GPs was compulsory. The vaccination was usually centrally organized by governmental authorities. At the beginning (web-based) registration of patients was required, mainly at national level. By the mid of 2021, vaccination on walk in basis became available in almost every country for the first and for the booster injections. The remunerations of GPs/FPs were differed, in some countries without extra payment. The Pfizer’s vaccine was used in all countries; while in 9 countries not EMA approved vaccines were also used in primary care settings and at vaccination centres. In some countries, professional homepages helped the GPs.
The involvement of PHC providers did not correlate to the vaccination coverage of the entire population of the respective countries. It was the highest in the more developed countries with higher living standard, where participation of GPs was voluntary and appropriate financial incentives were offered for them.
Conclusion. The vaccination campaign was a professional and logistic challenge and an excellent performance of PC providers. Experiences gained could be used in the future to manage similar pandemic challenges.
Landscape disturbance and change lead to impoverishment and homogenization of butterfly assemblages in Southern Mexico
Authors: Hernández-Hernández Ulises , Molina-Martínez Arcángel , León-Cortés Jorge L. , Sandoval-Ruiz César A.
Published: January 2024

Mosaics on different land use types characterize current landscapes. This structural complexity is generally made up of areas of native vegetation, vegetation patches in different successional stages, agricultural areas and cattle ranching. In this paper we evaluated the influence of the structure and heterogeneity of fragmented landscapes on butterfly assemblages in a heavily fragmented area in Veracruz State, Mexico. From June to November 2021, ten landscapes were studied and characterized to estimate compositional and configurational heterogeneity, and the type and extent of the landscape elements present. 160 fixed transects were performed to gather measures of butterfly richness, abundance, diversity, dominance and habitat specificity. We recorded 91 species of three families, of which generalist species comprised more than 85% of the total number of species. Compositional heterogeneity and agro-pastoral systems negatively influenced species richness. Likewise, pastures and crops cover had a significant effect on species abundance. Our results showed that butterfly community in present tropical landscapes might be undergoing a process of biotic homogenization, since a vast majority of common and widespread species were dominant and despite an important amount of native vegetation still persisted in some of the study landscapes. Management of the agro-pastoral landscape should include the provision of environments (wooded pastures, remnant treefall areas) that promote the presence of functional habitat for a variety of butterflies, including those with specific habitat requirements.
Technology in Agriculture and Religious Conflict
Authors: Bhattacharya Shreya
Published: January 2024

I examine the effect of the Green Revolution on religious riots in India between 1957 and 1985. Using an instrumental variable framework on a district level panel dataset, I find that riots are longer after the Green Revolution is introduced, with a 1% increase in the duration of a riot. Employing alternative measures of riot intensity and incidence, I find suggestive evidence of an overall increase in religious conflict after the introduction of mechanization via the Green Revolution. I show that the Green Revolution reduces the opportunity cost of engaging in conflict by reducing the demand for labor in agriculture due to mechanization. There is suggestive evidence to show that religious violence is exacerbated in an election year. Additional results indicate the mitigation of the effects of the Green Revolution on conflict in a good rainfall year and an increase in the intensity of conflict in districts in north India. My findings shed light on the unintended consequences of technology in agriculture as well as the mechanisms through which this technology influences ethnic conflict.
JEL classification: JEL D74, F35, D72, Z12
Dysregulation of Triptophan Hydroxylation and Oxidation Path in Schizophrenia and Effects on Cognitive Functions and Clinical Symptoms
Authors: ÖZMEN EZGİ SELÇUK , ARSLAN FİLİZ CİVİL , Menteşe Ahmet , Demir Selim , Köksal Ayşe Çakır , Özmen Tuna
Published: January 2024

Objective In our study, we aimed to examine the relationship between tryptophan kynurenine pathway and schizophrenia symptom clusters and cognitive functions.Method 46 patients in remission and 42 controls of the same gender, age and education level were included in the study. MCCB was applied to all participants to evaluate cognitive functions. Serotonin level to evaluate the tryptophan synthesis pathway; blood KYNA level to assess impairment; The tryptophan degradation enzyme IDO and some inflammation biomarkers predicted to increase its activity were measured. The levels of hsCRP and neopterin, which are biomarkers of inflammation, were examined.Results We found KYNA and serotonin serum levels were significantly lower in the patient group than in the control group. IDO was expressed at a lower level in the patient group compared to the control group, the difference between the groups was not statistically significant. Neopterin level in the patient group was found lower than the control group, this difference was not statistically significant. The cognitive performance of patients in the total MCCB scores and the scores of all subscales were significantly lower than those in healthy controls.Conclusion A Tryptophan oxidation pathway could be a valuable candidate for future therapeutic research for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases such as schizophrenia. With our study, we aimed to contribute to the literature in this area where the findings are limited.
A scoping review of the roles, challenges, and strategies for enhancing the performance of community health workers in the response against COVID-19 in low- and middle-income countries
Authors: Zulu Joseph Mumba , Silumbwe Adam , Munakampe Margarate , Chavula Malizgani Paul , Mulubwa Chama , Sirili Nathanael , Zulu Wanga , Michelo Charles , Tetui Moses
Published: January 2024

Background: With the spread of COVID-19 to most low-and middle- income countries (LMICs), global concerns arose on how to respond to the pandemic. While studies have documented the experience of community actors and in particular community health workers (CHWs) in responding to COVID-19 in LMICs, critical appraisal and synthesis of research data on the same is still lacking. We aimed to highlight, the roles and challenges of CHWs in the fight against COVID-19, and strategies to address these challenges.
Methodology: Using a scoping review design, we systematically searched the following electronic databases: PubMed, HINARI, Cochrane Library (Reviews and Trials), Science Direct and Google Scholar. Three authors searched literature on CHWs and COVID-19 as well as CHWs and the COVID-19 vaccine. After critical appraisal of studies, informed by Arksey and O’Malley, twenty-five articles were included in the final analysis.
Results: Community health workers assisted with and contributed to health promotion and education tasks, surveillance, contact tracing and quarantine, maintaining essential primary health services, linking people to services through referrals, advocating for clients and communities, supporting planning and coordination of vaccination, as well as participated in vaccine rollout tracking and follow-up. Challenges experienced by CHWs in the COVID-19 response included stigma and discrimination by community members, inadequate infection prevention and control preparedness, lack of supplies and commodities, limited supportive policies and inadequate remuneration and incentives.
The performance of CHWs during COVID-19 pandemic response could be enhanced by harnessing digital technology (mHealth) to support CHWs, establishing collaborative groups via mobile-messaging platforms, prioritizing CHWs in receiving the COVID-19 vaccine, and periodically training CHWs in preventive measures of the COVID-19 response. It was also noted that implementing wellness programs for CHWs including the provision of adequate and quality protective equipment was vital.
Conclusion: CHWs were found to be critical community actors and integral members of the health system during the COVID-19 pandemic. This calls for increased investments that will ensure greater support for the integration of CHWs into health systems as this could also ultimately contribute to maintaining the credibility and sustainment of CHW programs, as well as promoting more inclusive health systems.
Two-step BEC coming from a temperature dependent energy gap
Authors: Acevedo Juan José Valencia , Atala Miguel Angel Solís
Published: January 2024

We report the effects on the thermodynamic properties of a 3D Bose gas caused by a temperature dependent energy gap ∆ (T) at the lower edge of the energy spectrum of the particles constituting the Bose gas which behaves like an ideal Bose gas when the gap is removed. Explicit formulae are given for the critical temperature, the condensate fraction, the internal energy and the isochoric specific heat, which are calculated for three different gaps that abruptly go to zero at temperature TB, as well as for the damped counterparts whose drop to zero we have smoothed. In particular, for the undamped BCS (Bardeen, Cooper and Schrieffer) gap it is observed that the Bose-Einstein condensation (BEC) critical temperature Tc is equal to that of the ideal Bose gas T0, for all TB ≤ T0; surprisingly, the condensate fraction presents two different filling rates of the ground state at Tc = T0 and at TB < T0 while the specific heat shows a finite jump at Tc as well as a divergence at TB. Three-dimensional infinite Bose gas results are recovered when the temperature independent gap is either a constant or equal to zero.
PACS numbers: 03.75.Fi; 05.30.Jp; 67.40.Kh
Quality of Service Based Differentiation Quotient for Data Delivery in WSN: A performance improvement technique
Authors: Baskar K. , Muthumanickam K. , Mahesh P. C. Senthil , Saravanan S
Published: January 2024

Energy is a crucial factor for Wireless Sensor Network (WSN) reliant applications that are dependent on the Internet of Things (IoT) since a node's low residual energy frequently causes packet loss, a shorter network lifetime, and end-to-end delays. IoT nodes frequently have a limited amount of resources, including processing and storage power, energy-saving potential, and communication. It is necessary to increase the energy consumption and network lifetime of WSN reliant IoT applications to provide a better Quality of Service (QoS) guarantee. In time-critical IoT applications, QoS is a key factor. Thus, a service provisioning method to transmit data with a superior QoS differentiation quotient has been presented in this paper.An improved zone header selection algorithm separates the sensor network based on node authentication and measures zone header-sink node combinations.The suggested QoS differentiation quotient algorithm is completely distributed and does not need any network knowledge beforehand. To show that the proposed solution improves the QoS of the WSN reliant IoT networks compared to various state-of-the-art techniques, simulation experiments were carried out utilizing various metrics such as data loss, transmission latency, energy consumption, and throughput. The suggested model performs better than existing methods in terms of all metrics, according to simulation findings.
Assessing the Acceptability and Feasibility of Remote Spirometric Monitoring for Rural Patients with Interstitial Lung Disease: A Multimethod Approach
Authors: Boente Ryan David , Schacht Sydney , Borton Rebecca , Joseph Vincent , Rattray Nicholas , Golzarri-Arroyo Lilian
Published: January 2024

Introduction
Interstitial lung disease encompasses a group of rare lung conditions causing inflammation and scarring of lung tissue. The typical method of monitoring disease activity is through pulmonary function tests performed in a hospital setting. However, accessing care can be difficult for rural patients due to numerous barriers. This study assesses the feasibility and acceptability of home spirometry telemonitoring using MIR-Spirometers and the patientMpower home-monitoring platform for rural patients with interstitial lung disease.
Methods
Unblinded, uncontrolled, prospective, multiple-methods study of the feasibility and utility of remote monitoring of 20 rural subjects with interstitial lung disease. Study assessments include adherence to twice weekly spirometry for 3 months in addition to mMRC dyspnea and EQ-5D-5L health-related quality of life questionnaires with each spirometry maneuver. Upon completion, subjects were encouraged to complete an 11-question satisfaction survey and participate in semi-structured qualitative interviews to further explore expectations and perceptions of rural patients to telehealth and remote patient monitoring.
Results
19 subjects completed the 3-month study period. Adherence to twice weekly spirometry was mean 53% ± 38%, with participants on average performing 2.26 ± 1.69 maneuvers per week. The median (Range) number of maneuvers per week was 2.0 (0.0, 7.0). The majority of participants responded favorably to the patient satisfaction survey questions. Themes regarding barriers to access included: lack of local specialty care, distance to center with expertise, and time, distance, and high cost associated with travel. Remote monitoring was well perceived amongst subjects as a way to improve access and overcome barriers.
Conclusions
Telehelath utilizing a web-based remote spirometry monitoring platform is acceptable and feasible in rural participants. Adherence can likely be improved with more robust methods to monitor and remind participants. However, subjects found the patientMpower application and spirometers easy to use. The greatest perceived benefits to use included overcoming barriers to access, such as time, distance, and cost of travel associated with usual care. Before widespread use, cost, reimbursement, and patient access to broadband internet must be addressed. Future studies are needed to ensure long-term feasibility in rural patients, with further research comparing outcomes of remote patient monitoring to usual care.
Affective Polarization and Dynamics of Information Spread in Online Networks
Authors: Lerman Kristina , Feldman Dan , He Zihao , Rao Ashwin
Published: January 2024

Different ideological groups within a heterogeneous online social networks not only disagree but also dislike and distrust each other. This phenomenon, called affective polarization, widens political divisions and also impacts how information spreads online. We directly measure affective polarization on social media by quantifying emotions and toxicity of reply interactions. We demonstrate that interactions between users with same ideology (in-group replies) tend to be positive, while interactions between opposite-ideology users (out-group replies) are characterized by negativity and toxicity. Second, we show that affective polarization generalizes beyond the in-group/out-group dichotomy and can be considered a structural property of social networks: emotions vary with network distance between users, with closer interactions eliciting positive emotions and more distant interactions leading to higher anger, disgust, and toxicity. Finally, we show that similar information can exhibit different dynamics when spreading in polarized groups. These findings are consistent across diverse discussions on topics such as the COVID-19 pandemic and abortion. Our research provides new insights into the complex social dynamics of affective polarization in the digital age and its implications for online discourse.
Role of Tenofovir dipivoxil in gut microbiota recovery from HBV- infection induced dysbiosis
Authors: Long Jianfei , Saw Maximilian , Zhang Pan , Wang Li , Li Ling , Ren Hongyan , Liu Chao , Ma Zhenxuan , Zhang Jiming , Wang Bin
Published: January 2024

Background
Studies have found dysbiosis of the gut microbiota in individuals infected with the hepatitis B virus (HBV). Tenofovir dipivoxil (TDF) is one of the preferred oral antiviral drugs used for the treatment of chronic hepatitis B (CHB), but the extent to which TDF is able to affect the gut microbiota and inflammatory factors of a patient remains largely unexplored. In this study, we collected stool samples from HBV patients prior to medication and from CHB patients treated with TDF.
Results
The gut microbiota and inflammatory factors were assessed in 42 healthy subjects (HC group), 109 HBV-infected subjects, including 48 CHB patients who were not medicated with nucleoside analogue drugs (No-NAs group), and 61 CHB patients who were medicated with TDF (TDF group). 16S rRNA sequencing revealed that TDF treatment caused significant changes in the gut microbiota of HBV-infected individuals; however, the gut microbiota of HBV-infected individuals did not fully recover to a pre-dysbiosis state. The relative abundance of Bacteroidota gradually decreased from the HC group to the No-NAs and TDF groups. The relative abundance of Fusobacteriota was significantly higher in the No-NAs group than in the HC group. At the genus level, Dialister, Eubacterium_hallii_group, Halomonas, Collinsella, Sphingomonas, Xanthomonadaceae_unclassified, and Rhizobiaceae_unclassified were overrepresented; while the abundance of Bacteroides and Fusobacterium decreased significantly in the No-NAs and TDF groups.
Conclusions
This study showed that TDF treatment significantly improved the regulation of the gut microbiota and aided in dysbiosis recovery. We did not observe significant improvement in serum inflammatory factor concentrations, which may be related to the relatively short duration of TDF administration in this study.
Reliability-Based Design Optimization for a Vertical-Type Breakwater with Multiple Limit State Equations under Korean Marine Environments varying from Sea to Sea
Authors: Cho Yong Jun
Published: January 2024

In this study, as part of basic research aimed at enhancing the accuracy of load- and resistance coefficients to ensure their suitability for practical design and promoting the application of underutilized reliability-based design in Korea, the author conducts optimal design based on the reliability analysis of a vertical-type breakwater in the seas off Haeundae, Yeosu, Mokpo, Gunsan, and Incheon – representative ports in Korea. In doing so, the author utilized the double-loop approach that solves simultaneously a reliability problem nested in an optimization process. To alleviate the extremely large numerical efforts demanded in the double-loop approach, the Subset Simulation method was employed. In this process, the author deliberately refrained from using design waves of a specific return period and linear probabilistic models such as Gaussian distribution, especially concerning wave- and lift forces, often viewed as barriers to the widespread application of reliability-based design in Korea. Instead, the author focused on characterizing the uncertainties associated with wave force, lift force, and overturning moment —variables that significantly impact the integrity of vertical-type breakwaters- by developing probabilistic models for these random variables directly from long-term in-situ wave data, which captures the varied characteristics of the Korean marine environment from sea to sea. The limit state of the vertical-type breakwater was defined to encompass sliding, overturning, and collapse failures, and the strong interrelation between wave force, lift force, and overturning moment was described using the Nataf joint probability distribution. As anticipated, simulation results show that solely considering sliding failure, as in the current reliability-based design platform in Korea, leads to an underestimated failure probability. Furthermore, it becomes evident that ensuring a consistent failure probability for vertical-type breakwaters using design waves with a specific return period, as in past studies, is not feasible. In contrast, this study demonstrates that breakwaters optimally designed to meet the reliability index requirement of β-3.5 to 4 consistently maintain a target failure probability in all sea areas.
A novel inorganic phosphate-based adhesive for bonding archaeological pottery: A preliminary exploration
Authors: Xie Lina , Li Yuhu , Hu Wenjing , Fang Shiqiang , Chen Xue-Qiang
Published: January 2024

The breakage and fracture of archaeological potteries not only make them in a dangerous state for a long time but also are not conducive to exhibition and utilization. To repair these fragmentized potteries, it is imperative to synthesize an adhesive that can provide cohesion by bonding the broken surface. In the past decades, organic polymer materials, such as epoxy resin and acrylic resin, have often been used to repair pottery. However, it has been reported that using organic bonding materials for pottery conservation comes with various adverse effects, such as short lifetime, poor compatibility and preservation damage in recent years. With the introduction of material compatibility, the idea of using inorganic materials to protect inorganic cultural relics has been gradually accepted. This study introduces a novel inorganic adhesive, which can achieve excellent bonding performance by using the Al(OH)3–H3PO4 system as base adhesive, CuO as curing agent and nano-TiO2 as filler. To select the optimal base adhesive, the paper investigates the influence of varying weight ratios of H2O–H3PO4 system and Al(OH)3–H3PO4 system on properties such as tensile lap-shear strength, microstructure, high-temperature resistance and phase composition. Moreover, several formulations have been prepared and tested in laboratory to investigate the impact of filler addition on color, bonding performance and surface microstructure. Studies have defined the optimal formulation, and the inorganic phosphate-based adhesive (IPA) has been preliminarily applied to the fractured archaeological pottery. The obtained results demonstrate that the IPA is a promising bonding material and shows great potential in fractured pottery restoration.
Research on Cyst of Jaw Detection Algorithm Based on Alex Net Deep Learning Model
Authors: Guangyan Wang , Yanan Jia , Aihemaiti Gulibstan , Kexin Wang , Feng Qiao , Duyan Geng
Published: January 2024

In clinical medicine, jawbone cysts are a common dental disease, and their symptoms are similar to other dental diseases, making diagnosis difficult. To address this issue, this paper proposes a cyst detection system based on Alex Net to achieve the detection of cysts on dental radiographs using a CBCT dataset. The system can detect potential cyst lesions and locations in a timely manner to assist doctors in diagnosis. The improved model achieves an average accuracy of 83.5% and a maximum accuracy of 99.9%, achieving a high cyst recognition rate on existing datasets. In addition, the extensive image enhancement techniques introduced in the Alex Net model also improve the performance of the model. The experimental results show that compared to Res Net and VGG Net, both networks are not ideal for the classification of jawbone cysts, and may not be able to effectively extract key features from medical images, resulting in low classification accuracy. Therefore, it is important to choose a suitable deep learning model for the diagnosis of specific dental diseases. In future research, it is possible to further explore how to combine multiple deep learning models to improve the accuracy of diagnosis of dental diseases such as jaw cysts. In addition, improving data preprocessing and enhancing techniques can further improve the generalization ability of the model. In summary, by combining deep learning and clinical medicine concepts and methods, more effective auxiliary diagnostic systems can be developed to improve the accuracy and efficiency of dental disease diagnosis.
Enhanced Qca Design: Innovative Xor Gate and Optimized Circuits for Binary to Gray Code Conversion and Vedic Multiplication
Authors: Bhuvaneswari V. , Yuvaraj S.
Published: January 2024

Quantum-dot Cellular Automata (QCA) is considered an alternative technology to CMOS (Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor) due to its potential for ultra-low power consumption and high-speed operation. This work presents the design of a new XOR gate based on the concept of half distance-based cell interactions. Additionally, the digital circuits of the Binary to Gray Code converter and Vedic Multiplier have been designed using the proposed XOR gate. The Binary to Gray Code converter is a fundamental component in digital systems that facilitates efficient communication between binary and Gray Code representations. The Vedic Multiplier is a crucial arithmetic unit extensively used in modern digital signal processing and computing systems. The evaluation of the proposed circuits confirms that they work properly and are better in terms of the number of dots, area, and latency.
Enhancing Non-Invasive Colorectal Cancer Screening with Stool DNA Methylation Markers and LightGBM Machine Learning
Authors: Xiang Yi , Yang Na , Zhu Yunlong , Zhu Gangfeng , Lu Zenghong , Geng Shi , Zheng Liangjian , Feng Xiaofei , Zhu Rui , Xu Xueming , Wang Xiangcai , Zheng Tianlei , Huang Li
Published: January 2024

Objective: This study evaluates the effectiveness of stool DNA methylation markers CNRIP1, SFRP2, and VIM, along with Fecal Occult Blood Testing (FOBT), in the non-invasive screening of colorectal cancer (CRC), further integrating these markers with the Light Gradient Boosting Machine (LightGBM) machine learning (ML) algorithm.
Methods: The study analyzed 100 stool samples, comprising 50 CRC patients and 50 healthy controls, from the First Affiliated Hospital of Gannan Medical University. Methylation Specific PCR (MSP) was used for assessing the methylation status of CNRIP1, SFRP2, and VIM gene promoters. FOBT was performed in parallel. Diagnostic performance was assessed using Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curve analysis, and a LightGBM-based ML model was developed, incorporating these methylation markers and FOBT results.
Results: ROC analysis demonstrated that SFRP2 had the highest diagnostic accuracy with an AUC of 0.87 (95% CI: 0.794-0.946) and a sensitivity of 0.88. CNRIP1 and VIM also showed substantial screening effectiveness, with AUCs of 0.83 and 0.80, respectively. FOBT, in comparison, had a lower predictive value with an AUC of 0.67. The LightGBM-based ML model significantly outperformed individual markers, achieving a high AUC of 0.95 (95% CI: 0.916-0.991). However, the sensitivity of the ML model was 0.78, suggesting a need for improvement in correctly identifying all positive CRC cases.
Conclusion: Stool DNA methylation markers CNRIP1, SFRP2, and VIM exhibit high sensitivity in non-invasive CRC screening. The integration of these biomarkers with the LightGBM ML algorithm enhances the diagnostic accuracy, offering a promising approach for early CRC detection.
Anthelmintic Activity of Pineapple: In Silico Molecular docking and Molecular Dynamics Simulation
Authors: Paul Arkajyoti , Das Tuhin , Chowdhury Md. Helal Uddin , Majumder Mohuya , Khan Md. Murad , Emran Talha Bin
Published: January 2024

Helminths are a major group of pathogens, responsible for a wide range of diseases in human and many other animals through their parasitic interaction with the host. At present a number of helminth species are posing serious threat due to their adroit evasion technique from the immune system and resistance to conventional anti-parasitic drugs. In order to find drug to cope with this challenge, a series of computational analysis was conducted on different compounds identified in Pineapple (Ananas comosus (L.) Merr.). SwissADME tool predicted the drug likeness of the selected compound based on the Lipinski’s rule of five. Out of 33 molecules, five compounds- syringaldehyde, p-hydroxybenzaldehyde, benzaldehyde, phenol and ethyl acetate showed promising binding affinity ranging from − 5.011 to -6.519 as depicted from docking score against tubulin-colchicine, potential receptor site for drug designing against helminths. MM-GBSA analysis showed that Syringaldehyde-1SA0 complex attained lower binding energy of -35.639 kcal/mol relative to ethylacetate, benzaldehyde, p-hydroxybenzaldehyd, and phenol complex. Molecular dynamics simulation results further confirmed the potential anti-helminthic activity of syringaldehyde. The receptor-ligand complex showed promising RMSD and RMSF value of 2.008Å and 1.324Å respectively with the major hydrophobic interactions remaining unchanged even after 10 ns simulation. Thus, in this study, syringaldehyde was found to be a potential inhibitor of the tubulin-cholchicine receptor to prevent the progression of helminthic infection in the host cell. Performance of further clinical experiment with this compound, can reveal its true potential as a novel anti-helminthic drug in near future.
Causal association between type 2 diabetes mellitus, inflammatory bowel disease and iron deficiency anemia: A multivariable Mendelian randomization Study
Authors: Yang Qingluo Yang , Gao Xue , Wang Juping , WU Shuqin
Published: January 2024

Purpose
To investigate the casual role of type 2 diabetes mellitus(T2DM) and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) in iron deficiency anemia (IDA).
Methods
Univariable and multivariable Mendelian randomization (MR) analyses were conducted to evaluate the associations of T2DM, ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn's disease (CD) with risks for IDA.
Results
CD and T2DM were found to be associated with IDA in all three diseases. The ORs were 1.035(95% CI 1.006–1.064; p = 0.049) for CD and 1.086(95% CI 1.004–1.168; p = 0.022) for T2DM, respectively. Furthermore, when assessing CD and T2DM simultaneously using multivariable MR, both were found to be associated with an increased risk of IDA (OR 1.039, 95% CI 1.001–1.069, p = 0.012; OR 1.100, 95% CI 1.034–1.166, p = 0.005). But considering the effects of UC and CD in multivariable MR, only T2DM was causally associated with IDA (OR 1.104, 95% CI 1.037–1.171, p = 0.004).
Conclusion
Associations were found in the incidence of IDA and an increased risk of T2DM and CD, highlighting the importance of IDA prevention in patients with T2DM and CD.
Satisfaction in Mental Health Care: Examining Psychometric Properties of Experience of Service Questionnaire in a Turkish Population
Authors: Ozer Pelinsu Bulut , Halfon Sibel
Published: January 2024

Objective: Measuring satisfcation with psychological health services is important in clinical settings in order to evaluate the benefits of treatment. Past research has shown that relationship with clinician is at the core of satisfaction reports. However, measurement tools focusing on patients’ psyhcological health care experiences are rather scarce. The objective of this study is to adapt the Experience of Service Questionnaire (ESQ) Parent form and examine its psychometric properties in a Turkish population.
Method: ESQ Parent form was translated into Turkish and was presented to parents (N = 242) of children who have completed their treatment in a university’s psychological counseling center. Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) was also gathered from parents pre- and post-treatment in order to measure symptomatic gains and investigate their associations with satisfaction with treatment.
Results: Factor analysis revealed a two-factor solution (‘Care’ and ‘Environment’) similar to questionnaire’s original structure. In addition, discriminant validity results showed that participants showing higher therapeutic gains (as measured by CBCL) show significantly higher satisfaction in ESQ.
Conclusions: This study is the first to measure satisfaction in psychological health care settings in Turkey, and therefore aims to contribute to a gap in the field. Results indicate a significant association between treatment outcome and satisfaction levels. Also, adapted measurement tool demonstrates adquate reliability and validity scores supporting it’s use in clinical settings.
Clinical characteristics and treatment responses of patients presenting with Delirious mania- A series of four cases
Authors: Sahu Raj Kumar , Rana Ajayveer
Published: January 2024

Background
Delirious mania which was previously known as Bell's mania is a severe psychiatric syndrome characterized by the rapid onset of three principal clinical features- delirium, mania, and psychosis. It is a rare condition that involves severe incessant agitation, leading to a medical emergency. There are no standardized diagnostic guidelines. It has an acute onset, fluctuating course that alternates between psychosis, catatonic, manic features, and delirium with rapid progression of symptoms (i.e., hours or days). It is characterized by extreme psychomotor activity, disorientation, emotional lability, delusions and hallucinations. Very few cases have been reported from India hence making it imperative to study its clinical characteristics and possible treatment which can help in providing care to such patients in emergency settings.
Case presentation:
We describe the cases of four patients with delirious mania admitted to an inpatient psychiatric unit and discuss the demography, clinical features, investigations, treatment and course of illness during hospitalization of delirious mania.
Conclusions
Delirious mania is a severe but rare condition that involves severe incessant agitation, leading to a medical emergency. There is a high likelihood to misdiagnose these cases in the absence of diagnostic guidelines. Lack of recognition of this condition may lead to mismanagement of the course of illness. When manic excitement, psychosis, and delirium present concurrently, a diagnosis of delirious mania should be strongly considered. This case series will help clinicians in identifying cases of Delirious mania and providing treatment at early stages leading to a faster response and minimize morbidity.
Insulin and metformin are associated with reduced risk of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
Authors: Lehrer Steven , Rheinstein Peter
Published: January 2024

Background Type 2 diabetes (T2D), but not type 1, protected against ALS. In T2D serum insulin is normal or elevated in the early stages. Type 1 diabetes, characterized by a total lack of insulin, is associated with increased risk of ALS. The antidiabetic metformin also protects against ALS. Connexin 43 (Cx43), an astrocyte protein, operates as an open channel via which toxic substances from astrocytes reach motor neurons to cause ALS.Methods In the current study we analyzed FDA MedWatch data to determine whether insulin or metformin could reduce the risk of ALS. We performed in silico molecular docking studies and molecular dynamics simulation with Cx43 to determine if insulin or metformin dock within the Cx43 channel and can block it effectively, again reducing risk of ALS.Results In MedWatch, Insulin use is associated with a significantly reduced risk of ALS (Proportional Reporting Ratio 0.401). Metformin use is associated with a significantly reduced risk of ALS (PRR 0.567). The Human insulin heterodimer docked within center of the Cx43 channel, effectively blocking it. Molecular dynamics simulation showed that the block is highly stable and may be responsible for the protective effect of T2D on ALS. Metformin docks within the Cx43 channel, but the relatively small size of the metformin molecule may not allow it to obstruct the passage of toxic substances from astrocytes to motor neurons.Conclusion MedWatch data indicates that both insulin and metformin reduce risk of ALS. The results of our in silico docking study and molecular dynamics simulation corroborate our previous findings with Cx31. Insulin docks within the open hemichannel of hexameric Cx43, potentially blocking it. Molecular dynamics simulation showed that the block is stable and may be responsible for the protective effect of T2D and insulin on ALS. Metformin probably does not exert its protective effect by blocking the Cx43 channel.
Clinical profile of adult patients referred to congenital heart surgery in Egypt, a single center experience.
Authors: Samaan Amir Anwar , Abdrabou Mostafa M. , Mostafa Amir , AbdElAziz Osama , Shazly Mahmoud El , Lotfy Sherif , Hassan Mohamed , Elamragy Ahmed A.
Published: January 2024

Background
A major challenge facing adult congenital heart disease (ACHD) service in developing countries is the lack of adequate data on the disease burden and specific needs of this group. We aimed to describe ACHD patients in Egypt who are in need for further surgical correction, their various presentations, and the types of surgeries required.
Methods
The study included ACHD patients considered for further surgical correction after a heart team discussion at a tertiary cardiac center in Egypt. Data about age, gender, presentation, functional capacity, resting oxygen saturation, diagnosis, previous intervention and its timing, and the type of surgery decided were collected.
Results
Over one year, 103 cases (49.5% males, mean age 23 years) were referred to surgery out of 134 cases discussed at the heart team committee. One-third of the patients (34%) were cyanotic and the majority presented in NYHA functional class II (44.7%) and III (35.95%). More than half of the patients (56.3%) had a previous surgical or trans-catheter intervention with a median age of 4 years at the time of the first procedure. The most frequently encountered diagnoses were: Tetralogy of Fallot (ToF) (23.3%), atrial septal defect (18.4%), double outlet right ventricle (DORV) (11.6%), and transposition of great arteries (TGA) (7.8%). Surgical procedures that were required most were: Fontan procedure (20.3%), surgical ASD closure (18.4%), surgical pulmonary valve replacement (14.5%), total ToF repair (9.7%), subaortic membrane resection (6.7%) and tricuspid valve surgery (5.8%).
Conclusions
The group of ACHD patients in Egypt who require further surgical correction is heterogeneous with various presentations and needs. The required surgeries vary from simple to complex procedures. An efficient ACHD program necessitates the collaboration of dedicated cardiologists, radiologists, and cardiothoracic surgeons who are familiar with the unique demands and difficulties of this patient group.
Effect of Burlap on the Mechanical and Microstructural Properties of Burlap Fiber Reinforced Concrete
Authors: Gebreegziabher Yohannes E. , Hareru Werku Koshe , Mulugeta Solomon
Published: January 2024

This study investigated the impact of burlap fibers on the workability and mechanical properties of concrete. Five different levels of burlap fiber content were tested, and it was found that all fiber contents in the range of 0.1 to 0.85% (wt.) can produce fresh workable concrete. The fiber content had no significant effect on the compressive strength but had a significant effect on the tensile strength and water absorption capacity of the C25 concrete. Among the different concentrations tested, 0.6% (wt.) burlap fibers exhibited the best performance. The results of the permeability test and microstructural analysis of the images further confirmed that a fiber content of 0.6% (wt.) can ensure stronger and more durable concretes. Therefore, it is recommended to use 0.6% burlap fiber to enhance the tensile strength significantly (by approximately + 3.8% relative to the control) while maintaining similar compressive strength and water absorption capacity as conventional C25 concrete.
RETRACTED: Linkages Study of COVID-19 pandemic between Conventional and Islamic indices of Pakistan stock exchange: Wave Analysis for different Pandemic Waves
Authors: Khursheed Zamrud , Rehman Moghis Ur
Published: January 2024

The authors have requested that this preprint be removed from Research Square.
Characteristics of Cerebellar Cognitive Affective Syndrome in patients with acute cerebellar stroke and its impact on outcome
Authors: Shinya Tokuaki , Yamauchi Kota , Tanaka Shota , Goto Kei , Arakawa Shuji
Published: January 2024

Objectives
To evaluate the cerebellar cognitive affective syndrome scale (CCAS-S) in patients with acute cerebellar stroke (ACS) and examine its relationship with the outcomes.
Methods
We included patients who experienced ACS for the first time and were hospitalized in Steel Memorial Yawata Hospital within 7 days of stroke onset between April 2021 and April 2023. The CCAS-S, Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), and Scale for the Assessment and Rating of Ataxia (SARA) scores were evaluated 1 week after stroke onset, and Functional Independence Measure (FIM)/Barthel Index (BI) at discharge, physical function, activities of daily life, duration of hospitalization, and outcome (discharge destination) were evaluated. The Mann–Whitney U test was used to compare CCAS-S scores and variables.
Results
Thirteen consecutive patients with ACS (nine women) and age-and sex-matched healthy controls (seven women) were included. The MMSE score was within the normal range in all patients; however, patients with stroke had a lower total CCAS-S score (median 72, interquartile range [IQR] 66–80) and a higher number of failed tests (median 4, IQR 3–5) than healthy controls. Significant deficits were observed in semantic fluency (p = 0.008), category switching (p = 0001), and similarity (p = 009). Possible, probable, and definite CCAS were diagnosed in two, one, and 10 patients, respectively. Patients discharged home showed better SARA and FIM/BI scores but similar CCAS-S scores compared to those discharged to rehabilitation hospitals.
Conclusion
CCAS, along with impaired executive and language functions, is frequently observed in ACS patients; however, impaired motor function, and not CCAS, influences the outcome.
Business and Bleeding Hearts
Authors: Ó Laoghaire Tadhg
Published: January 2024

When it comes to fulfilling our basic duties to distant others, we in the affluent world face a motivation gap; we consistently fall short of bearing even moderate costs for the sake of helping others secure basic minimums to which they are entitled. One response to the motivation gap is to cultivate in affluent populations a greater concern for distant others; cultivating such concern is the goal of ‘sentimental cosmopolitanism’. Two approaches to sentimental cosmopolitanism currently dominate the literature, a compassion-based and a complicity-based approach, respectively. In this paper, I argue for the promise of reciprocity as an alternative motivator of cosmopolitan concern. I further argue that a sense of obligation to distant others, grounded in our participation in an ongoing system of reciprocal exchange, can be cultivated within a thus-far overlooked sphere of cosmopolitan sensitization, namely the market. I make the case for the market as an appropriate site for cosmopolitan sensitization, and further argue that multinational corporations are, for several reasons, well-positioned to bear the political responsibility of sensitizing affluent populations to the significance of their participation in a cooperative economic scheme shared with distant others. This paper, then, makes a novel contribution to debates on cosmopolitan sentiment, as well as to the emerging literature on corporations’ political responsibilities.

Keywords: multinational corporations; political responsibility; reciprocity; sentimental cosmopolitanism; trade
Solidarity and/in Language
Authors: Peled Yael
Published: January 2024

The notion of solidarity can be said to be premised on shared intention and joint action, particularly when oriented towards questions of social and political justice. Yet conceptions of solidary relations remain surprisingly thin on language, and the ethics of the linguistic practices and mechanisms through which individuals formulate a sufficiently meaningful backdrop necessary for shared intention and joint action. My aim in this article, therefore, is to begin filling this gap, in the form of a general normative account that identifies the multilayered interrelations between solidarity and language, and examines their moral and practical implications. I begin with a brief overview of solidarity and language in the context of normative debates on bounded political communities. I then proceed to offer a more critical account of solidarity and linguistic difference, challenging some of the assumptions underlying its present understanding in that literature. In order to highlight and illustrate that critique, I explore its relevance to the highly political and often overlooked question of solidarity and language loss. I conclude with a brief reflection on the field of political theory and philosophy, asking what theoretical, conceptual and methodological insights may be gained from a closer attention to the language of solidarity in the theoretical and practical pursuit of justice.
Solidarity across Generations
Authors: Scholz Sally
Published: January 2024

Transgenerational political solidarity disrupts the dominant framing that identifies conflict between generations-the “problem of generations”-as the driver of social change. Political solidarity across generations offers a way of thinking about social justice movements as contributing elements to global social justice efforts through their work in acknowledging the historical rootedness of structural injustice and their commitment to continually reimagine solidarities. Attending to features of transgenerational political solidarity is useful for theorists learning from engaged work on the ground. Transgenerational political solidarity - collective movements for social change connected across past, present, and future - demonstrates the commitment to navigate through disagreement in a forward-looking manner, to find support in and echoes of the cause of past movements for social change, and to foreground the possibilities of future movements by situating collective action in relation to social justice understood in context.
Normative Demand for Deference in Political Solidarity
Authors: Woods Kerri , Hobbs Joshua
Published: January 2024

Allies of those experiencing injustice or oppression face a dilemma: to be neutral in the face of calls to solidarity risks siding with oppressors, yet to speak or act on behalf of others risks compounding the injustice. We argue that adhering to a normative demand for deference (NDD) to those with lived experience offers would-be allies a way of navigating this dilemma. While theorists of solidarity have generally focused on epistemic benefits of the NDD, we identify a second important and neglected good in bearing witness. However, how the NDD can be adhered to in practice also raises challenges. While the literature focuses on a gold standard model of direct engagement, we defend a valuable role for a second-order form of engagement through reading, films, and similar media. This second-order form of engagement may be particularly salient for global and transnational solidarity, an important element of contemporary global politics.