bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Olive Mills Wastewater Effect on Domestic Wastewater Treatment Plants: Gaza Strip Case Study
Authors: Manama Ahmed Al , AlShawa Izziddin , Albahnasavi Ahmed
Published: August 2024

The improper disposal of olive mill wastewater (OMW) poses a substantial environmental challenge for wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) in the Gaza Strip. This study examines the impact of OMW on WWTPs facilities. Samples were collected from both olive mills and WWTPs across the Gaza Strip and analyzed for key biological wastewater parameters: Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD), Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD), phenols, oil and grease, and Total Suspended Solids (TSS). The findings reveal that the olive oil production process generates significant quantities of pollutants, including 3374.76 tons of COD, 797.55 tons of BOD5, 1.33 tons of phenol, 184.42 tons of oil and grease, and 1204.99 tons of TSS. During the olive harvesting season, there was a notable increase in influent pollutant levels. The Gaza Central WWTP recorded the highest levels, with BOD at 1382 mg/L, COD at 3040 mg/L, and TSS at 1810 mg/L. This spike is attributed to the high concentration of olive mills in the area. Conversely, the North Gaza WWTP, which serves a region with fewer olive mills, reported lower pollutant values: BOD at 760 mg/L and TSS at 933 mg/L. By the end of December, influent pollutant levels returned to normal domestic sewage ranges, indicating that the impact of OMW is temporary and closely associated with the olive harvesting season and related activities.
Single-cell transcriptomic analyses reveal heterogeneity and key subsets associated with survival and response to PD-1 blockade in cervical squamous cell carcinoma
Authors: zhao Qitai , Li Xia , Zhao Zhao , Cheng Yanmei , Yan Jiaqin , Ren Fang , Jia Yanyan , Li Juanhua , Wang Binhui , Liu Junqi , Wang Chenyin , Gao Meimei , Gu Hao , Fan Mingliang , Shi Huirong , Ji Mei
Published: August 2024

Understanding the intricate tumor microenvironment (TME) is crucial for elucidating the mechanisms underlying the progression of cervical squamous cell carcinoma (CSCC) and its response to anti-PD-1 therapy. In this study, we characterized 50,649 cells obtained from CSCC for single-cell RNA sequencing and integrated bulk sequencing data from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and clinical specimens to explore cell composition, metabolic processes, signaling pathways, specific transcription factors, lineage tracking and response to immunotherapy. We identified 31 subsets of stromal and immune cells in the tumor microenvironment (TME) and observed distinct patterns in the metabolic processes and signaling pathways of these cells between tumor and normal tissues. Collagen signaling was found to be crucial for the interaction between stromal and immune cells. Furthermore, PCLAF-TAEpis were negatively correlated with CXCL13+CD8+ tumor-reactive T cells, overall survival, and the response to anti-PD-1therapy in patients with CSCC. In vivo experiments demonstrated that PCLAF-TAEpis promoted tumor growth and hindered the therapeutic efficacy of anti-PD-1 treatment by inhibiting the infiltration and function of T cells. Collectively, our findings illuminate the heterogeneity of the complex TME in CSCC and offer evidence supporting PCLAF-TAEpis as a promising therapeutic target.
Can the supplementation of autolyzed yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) affect the diet digestibility, feeding behavior, levels of blood metabolites, and performance of Dorper × Santa Ines lambs finished in feedlot?
Authors: Schuh Bruno Raphael Fasolli , Bernardi Amauri , Daley Veridiana Lourenço , Fernandes Sergio Rodrigo , de Freitas José Antônio
Published: August 2024

This study aimed to evaluate the effect of autolyzed yeast (obtained from culture of Saccharomyces cerevisiae in sugarcane derivatives) supplementation on diet digestibility, ingestive behavior, levels of blood metabolites associated with protein and energy metabolism, and performance of Dorper × Santa Ines lambs finished in feedlot. Twenty-four non-castrated male lambs with a mean age of 4 months and a body weight (BW) of 19.49 ± 3.08 kg were allocated to individual pens. The trial was set out in a completely randomized design with two treatments and twelve replicates. The treatments consisted of a diet without (Control) and other with yeast culture (RumenYeast®), which was supplemented at a dose of 5 g/animal/day. Lambs were fed ad libitum with a total mixed ration (TMR) composed of 400 g/kg DM of Tifton 85 hay (Cynodon spp.) and 600 g/kg DM of concentrate feed, and contained 146 g/kg DM of crude protein (CP) and 2.30 Mcal/kg DM of metabolizable energy (ME). The experimental period lasted 70 days, and was divided in two phases: the first was the performance test, which occurred between 1–63 days; and the second was the digestibility test, which occurred between 64–70 days. The supplementation with autolyzed yeast did not affect the rumen pH and fecal pH; the dry matter digestibility; the times spent in feeding, rumination, water intake, and idleness; the serum levels of albumin, creatinine, and urea, and the plasma level of glucose; and the performance of lambs. The mean values for final BW, dry matter intake (DMI), average daily gain (ADG), and feed conversion ratio (FCR) were 37.52 kg, 1.051 kg/day, 0.286 kg/day, and 3.74 kg DM/kg gain, respectively. The supplementation of 5 g/animal/day of autolyzed yeast does not affect the diet digestibility, ingestive behavior, levels of blood metabolites, and performance of lambs finished in feedlot.
Carbon Sequestration Potential of Himalayan Cypress Stands of Kumaun Central Himalaya, India
Authors: Upreti Disha , Tewari Lalit Mohan , Tewari Ashish , Pandey Naveen Chandra , Chaturvedi R. K.
Published: August 2024

Forests play a substantial role in sequestering carbon and regulating the global carbon balance. Himalayan Cypress (Cupressus torulosa D. Don) from an ecological and economic stand point is a least explored evergreen conifer of Central Himalaya that often forms either pure stands or sometimes association with other tree species. However, very little information is known about the carbon sequestration potential of these Cypress stands. Therefore, the main objective of this study was to quantify carbon stocks and carbon sequestration potential of six Cypress stands distributed along the altitudinal gradients of 1600–2500 m asl in Kumaon Central Himalaya. A total of 120 circular plots of 5.65 m radius were laid systematically in six Cypress stands with 20 sample plots in each. Soil physical and chemical properties were also assessed. Results revealed that total tree density and basal area in cypress stand ranged from 440–1050 individuals ha-1 and 30.84–60.79 m2 ha-1, respectively. The total carbon stock ranged between 151–285 Mg C ha-1, respectively. Carbon sequestration rate across stands fluctuated between 2.42 and 4.87 Mg C ha-1 yr-1. Soil organic carbon (SOC), total nitrogen (TN) and available potassium (K) levels were higher in high altitude stands. Soil organic carbon (SOC) stock (for soil depth 0-60 cm) ranged from 155.58–398.80 Mg ha-1. Altitude and soil physico-chemical factors showed no significant (p>0.05) impact on carbon stocks of Cypress stands. Overall, the carbon reserves in the soil across stands were 9-57% higher than those in the trees' biomass. These estimates indicate that the value of cypress forests lies not only in their ability to sequester biomass carbon but primarily in their extensive soil carbon reserves. This study provides useful background for future research to assess the trend of carbon sequestration in Cypress stands.
Risk factor analysis and prediction model construction for contralateral central lymph node metastasis in unilateral papillary thyroid carcinoma
Authors: Qin jihao , Fang Xiaowen , Liang Chenxi , Li Siyu , Zeng Xueyu , Jiang Hancheng , Chen Zhu , Li Jie-Hua
Published: August 2024

Objective
To investigate contralateral central lymph node metastasis (CCLNM) in patients with unilateral papillary thyroid carcinoma (UPTC). To provide a reference for clinical decision-making, a prediction model for the probability of contralateral central lymph node metastasis was established.
Method
The clinicopathological data of 221 UPTC patients who underwent surgical treatment were retrospectively analyzed. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to determine the independent risk factors for CCLNM according to clinicopathological characteristics, construct a prediction model to construct a visual nomogram, and evaluate the model.
Results
According to univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses, sex (P = 0.01, OR: 3.790, 95% CI: 1.373–10.465), extrathyroidal tumor extension (ETE) (P = 0.040, OR: 6.364, 95% CI: 1.083–37.381), tumor diameter (P = 0.010, OR: 3.674, 95% CI: 1.372–9.839) and ipsilateral central lymph node metastasis (ICLNM) (P < 0.001, OR: 38.552, 95% CI: 2.675–27.342) were found to be independent risk factors for CCLNM and were used to construct a nomogram for internal verification. The ROC curve had an AUC of 0.852 in the training group and an AUC of 0.848 in the verification group, and the calibration curve indicated that the prediction probability of the model was consistent with the actual probability. Finally, the analysis of the decision curve showed that the model has good application value in clinical decision-making.
Conclusion
Sex, ETE, tumor size, and ICLNM emerged as independent risk factors for CCLNM in UPTC patients. A predictive model was therefore developed, harnessing these variables to enable an objective, personalized estimation of CCLNM risk. This tool offers valuable insights to inform surgical planning and optimize treatment strategies for UPTC management.
Are you a Bot or Human? Classifying Joint Actions using Sensing Data
Authors: Arima Yoshiko , Harada Yuki , Okada Mahiro
Published: August 2024

This study investigates the effect of joint activities on the joint Simon effect (JSE) when the collaborator is a human or bot. In human-activity-recognition research, sensing data from a virtual reality (VR) environment are used to classify a pair’s activities as a target tag of cooperation, conformity, and competition. The collaborator performing the JSE task in VR space is replaced with bots during the sessions without the participant’s notice, thereby creating a human or bot experimental condition. Analysis results show that cooperative activity is observed under human conditions, whereas a higher proportion of conformity is observed under bot conditions. The synchrony index, as calculated based on important features for classification, is lower in the bot condition compared with that in the human condition. In conclusion, our classification model successfully classifies interpersonal activities using VR sensor data and can distinguish between humans and bots. (143 words)
Real-world Efficacy of Acupoint Stimulation on Clinical Pregnancies Among Women Following Frozen-Thawed Single Blastocyst Transfer: a retrospective cohort study of 4863 cycles
Authors: Teng Yili , Pan Peipei , Yang Haiyan , Huang Xuefeng , Chen Xia , Zhang Huan , Lin Shiyi
Published: August 2024

Background
Acupoint stimulation is a frequently used complementary treatment among individuals undergoing assisted reproductive technology, however, the evidence for its efficacy remains a subject of considerable debate.
Methods
A single-center retrospective cohort study of 4863 cycles was to determine the efficacy of varying acupoint stimulation protocols on clinical pregnancies among 3,907 women aged < 43 years during single frozen-thawed blastocyst transfer. Based on the timing and dosage of acupoint stimulation they fulfilled, the participations were categorized into four groups: group T0 (n = 1227) without acupoint stimulation, group T1(n = 1607) with one session of acupoint stimulation administered within 2 hours prior to embryo transfer procedure, group T2-3 (n = 1600) with a total of 2–3 sessions of acupoint stimulation conducted during the period from progesterone administration day to 2 hours prior to transfer procedure, and group T ≥ 4 (n = 429) having at least 4 sessions of acupoint stimulation from the 5th day of exogenous estrogen initiated and continuing until 2 hours prior to the embryo transfer procedure. In this study acupoint stimulation was facilitated through the application of medicated patches in conjunction with electromagnetic wave heat therapy (AMP-EWH). The primary outcome was clinical pregnancy, with 8 weeks of pregnancy follow-up.
Results
Clinical pregnancies occurred among 734 of 1227 cycles in group T0(59.8%), 1030 of 1607 cycles in group T1(64.1%), 999 of 1600 cycles in group T2-3(62.4%), and 289 of 429 cycles in group T ≥ 4(67.4%). Upon various statistical analysis models compared to the CPR of group T0, group T1 showed OR 1.199,(95%CI,1.029 to 1.397), p = 0.020, in Model crude; 1.173,(0.999 to 1.376),0.054 ,Model 1;1.184,(1.008 to 1.391),0.040, Model 2;1.170,(0.985 to 1.390),0.074, Model PSM; group T2-3 showed CPR OR 1.116, (95%CI, 0.959 to 1.300), p = 0.157, in Model crude; 1.062, (0.905 to 1.300), 0.460, Model 1; 1.076 (0.916 to 1.265), 0.373, Model 2; and 1.069 (0.898 to 1.274), 0.454, Model PSM; and group T ≥ 4 showed CPR OR 1.387, (95%CI, 1.100 to 1.748), p = 0.006, in Model crude; 1.380, (1.084 to 1.758), 0.009, Model 1; 1.394 (1.093 to 1.778), 0.008, Model 2; and 1.672 (1.219 to 2.295), 0.001, Model PSM.
Conclusions
AMP-EWH administrated at least 4 sessions resulted in a significantly higher clinical pregnancy rate of single frozen-thawed blastocyst transfer among women under 43 years old. These findings support the use of AMP-EWH as an effective adjunct to frozen-thawed blastocyst transfer for enhancing clinical pregnancy rates.
Joint Fluid Multi-Omics Improves Diagnostic Confidence During Evaluation of Children with Presumed Septic Arthritis
Authors: Lopez Yolanda Pena , Tareen Naureen G , Zhang Bo , Raman Indu , Arana Carlos , Zhu Chengsong , Liu Yang , Selvakumar Pratibha , Oers Nicolai S.C. van , Morris Simrat , Hooper Lora , Copley Lawson A.B. , RAJ PRITHVI
Published: August 2024

Objective: To demonstrate the potential clinical value of multi-omics approach to guide clinical decision-making for children suspected to have presumed septic arthritis.
Study design: Twelve children with suspected septic arthritis were prospectively enrolled to conduct standard of care culture and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing of knee joint fluid specimen. A rapid multi-omics approach that combines metagenomics and host-immune response proteomics and single cell transcriptomics of the synovial fluid was explored to enhance the diagnostic confidence for children with both culture- and PCR-negative results.
Results: Ten children had suspected primary septic arthritis and two had acute hematogenous osteomyelitis (AHO) diagnosis. Joint fluid cultures were positive for 6/12 (50%) patient, whereas remaining 50% samples were both culture- and PCR-negative. Metagenomics sequencing results were 100% concordant with the culture. Many inflammatory cytokines including IL-4, IL-17A, MCP-1, IL-8, IL-2, IL-1b, IL-6, TNF-a, etc. were significantly elevated in the joint-fluid of children with bacteremia as compared to the infection negative subset. Interestingly, children without any bacteremia exhibited strong signature of autoantibodies (IgGs) in the joint-fluid. These autoantibodies were targeted to several nuclear i.e. dsDNA, histones, Jo-1, scl-70, Ro/SS-A, SmDs, CENP-A and non-nuclear antigens i.e. Albumin, Collagens, Myosin, Laminin, etc.. Furthermore, single cell transcriptomics confirmed the abundance of autoreactive CD8+ T cells and B cells in autoantibody positive subject as potential drivers of autoimmune pathology. The results from all three assays, including 16S sequencing (p=0.006), cytokine profile (p=0.009) and autoantibody profile (p=0.02) were significantly differential between children with infection vs those without. Out of six infection negative children, multiomics analysis characterized two children with inflammatory arthritis with potential Juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) and one child with Post-Streptococcal Reactive Arthritis. These three children were immediately referred to Rheumatology clinic for further investigation. Overall, this improved the diagnostic confidence for 9 of 12 (75%) children and provided crucial data to further guide the diagnosis especially in the infection negative subset.
Conclusions: The multiomics approach rapidly stratifies children with bacterial infections and potentially reactive or autoimmune inflammatory conditions, and thus help guide the appropriate evaluation and treatment strategies in a higher percentage of cases than previously possible using standard evaluation strategies.
Rapamycin improves the therapeutic regenerative potentials of mesenchymal stromal/stem cells
Authors: Veret Damien , Tejedor Gautier , PEREZ Esther , Chomette Alison , Farno Maylis , Ferreira-Lopez Rosanna , Dagneaux Louis , Pers Yves-Marie , Jorgensen Christian , Gondeau Claire , Brondello jean-marc
Published: August 2024

Background: The regenerative potential of mesenchymal stromal/stem cells (MSCs) has been extensively studied in clinical trials over the past decade. Despite the promising regenerative properties documented in preclinical studies, such as those for osteoarthritis (OA), the therapeutic translation of these results in patients has not been fully conclusive. One factor contributing to this therapeutic barrier could be the presence of senescent cells in the OA joint.
Methods: This study explores a novel approach to the treatment of OA by combining the therapeutic potential of adipose tissue-derived MSCs (AD-MSCs) with Rapamycin, a clinically approved immunosuppressive drug with anti-senescent properties. We first investigated the effects of Rapamycin on senescence and fibrosis markers in freshly isolated OA chondrocytes by immunostaining. We next evaluated the in vitro differentiation capacities of AD-MSCs, their regulatory immune functions on activated immune cells and their regenerative effects on OA chondrocyte signature in presence of Rapamycin.
Results: Rapamycin was found to reduce in OA chondrocytes the senescence marker p15ink4b
and the fibrotic marker COL1A1 in a dose-dependent manner without affecting the expression of the master chondrogenic markers SOX9 and COL2. The drug enhanced the differentiation of AD-MSCs into chondrocytes and reduced their adipogenesis. In addition, Rapamycin improved the immunoregulatory functions of AD-MSCs by promoting the expression of immunosuppressive elements such as IDO1, PTGS2, and PDL-1/CD274, the latter at the cell surface. Finally, by comparative RNA sequencing analysis, we revealed that AD-MSCs in presence of Rapamycin exhibited an improved chondroprotective regenerative effects on cocultivated OA chondrocytes.
Conclusions: Our findings propose that the combination of Rapamycin and AD-MSCs enhances the therapeutic efficacy of these cells on senescence-driven degenerative diseases such as OA. Overall, our data also open avenue for the identification of some factors that could contribute to the enhanced anti-fibrotic and anti-inflammatory properties of AD-MSCs in response to Rapamycin.
Affective Touch is encoded by pupil dilation as a comprehensive social phenomenon
Authors: Bonino Greta , Mazza Alessandro , Capiotto Francesca , Berti Annamaria , Pia Lorenzo , Monte Olga Dal
Published: August 2024

Affective Touch is characterized by both emotional and arousing dimensions that rely on specific features of a gentle human caress. In this study, we investigated whether and how both the nature of the touching effector (Human hand vs. Artificial hand) and touch type (Dynamic vs. Static) influenced the participants’ pupil dilation and their subjective experience during tactile stimulation. We observed that when participants received a dynamic touch, their pupil dilation increased more when the touch was promoted by a human compared to an artificial hand. This discrimination was not present for static touch. Also, dynamic touch promoted by a human hand invoked a supralinear enhancement of pupil dilation indicating that the combination of these two features induced a stronger autonomic activation than the summed effects of each separately. Moreover, this specific type of touch was perceived as the most pleasant compared to all other tactile stimulations. Overall, our results suggest that pupil dilation could map the pleasant experience of human-to-human tactile interactions, supporting the notion that the autonomic nervous system encodes the emotional and hedonic aspects associated with Affective Touch as a complex and holistic social experience, rather than solely responding to its low-level sensory properties.
Quantum-Enhanced Blockchain and Digital Twin Integration for Enhanced Healthcare Data Security
Authors: Bose Rajesh , Sutradhar Shrabani , Roy Sandip
Published: August 2024

The integration of quantum-enhanced blockchain and digital twin technologies offers a potent solution for advancing healthcare data security, particularly in ensuring the integrity and confidentiality of medical records. This paper presents a comprehensive framework that leverages quantum computing principles to enhance the security of blockchain networks, while digital twins are utilized for securely managing and accessing medical records. The proposed Quantum-Enhanced Blockchain Architecture employs quantum key distribution protocols and lattice-based cryptography to protect against quantum attacks, ensuring a secure and scalable decentralized system. The Digital Twin Framework for Medical Record Confidentiality integrates encryption and access control mechanisms to safeguard patient data. A novel Healthcare Encryption Algorithm (HEA) is proposed for encrypting and decrypting data in the digital twin, ensuring confidentiality and privacy. Furthermore, the Quantum-Enhanced Blockchain and Digital Twin Integration Process (QBDTIP) outlines the steps involved in securely managing medical records using these technologies. Experimental results demonstrate the system's robustness against cyber-attacks, scalability, interoperability, and effectiveness in ensuring data integrity and confidentiality. Overall, this research highlights the transformative potential of integrating quantum-enhanced blockchain and digital twin technologies for enhancing healthcare data security.
Dissemination of the 2022 ASMBS and IFSO Guidelines for Bariatric Surgery: what has reached primary care providers?
Authors: Hulse John , Slay Richard , Bryant Mary Kate , Byrne T. Karl , Pullatt Rana
Published: August 2024

Introduction
Only 1% of Americans eligible for metabolic and bariatric surgery (MBS) receive MBS. Prior studies have analyzed primary care provider (PCP) referral patterns and perceptions of MBS as a potential barrier to increasing MBS. However, less data exists regarding PCP knowledge of MBS indications and outcomes. Following the 2022 update to the indications for MBS by the ASMBS and IFSO, the number of eligible patients is only expected to increase. We evaluated PCP knowledge regarding the existence of the 2022 ASMBS and IFSO updated guidelines, MBS indications, and MBS outcomes.
Methods
An 11-question survey was emailed to primary care residents, advanced practice providers, and faculty at a single institution.
Results
Of 151 surveys distributed, 39.7% responded (n = 60). 95% were unaware of the 2022 updated guidelines. On multiple choice questions, 16.3% correctly identified the average weight loss from MBS, and 46.8% correctly answered the diabetes remission rate following MBS. Trainee answers were not statistically significant from practicing PCPs. Fifteen respondents had referred a patient for MBS, but this subgroup did not perform significantly better on the assessment. 72.3% of respondents reported inadequate MBS education during their training, and 85.1% were interested in additional education.
Conclusion
We present the first assessment of PCP MBS knowledge since the release of the 2022 updated ASMBS and IFSO guidelines. This study indicates a gap in PCPs’ knowledge regarding the updated guidelines and represents an opportunity for collaboration with our primary care colleagues to provide further MBS education.
Accuracy and precision of the certified Glucometer-Strips Systems Galileo, Calla and Contour Plus One in clinical practice
Authors: Chlup Rudolf , Zálešáková Hana , Doubravová Blanka , Ďurajková Emilia , Nezval Martin , Gottwaldová Jiřina , Zapletalová Jana
Published: August 2024

Background The purpose of this study was to revise the accuracy and precision of three glucometer-strips systems (GSS) in professional routine.
Methods Prospective single-centre study. Triplets of cPG were investigated on 3 GSS: 1. Galileo, 2. Calla, both employing glucoseoxidase strips (Wellion, Austria), 3. Contour Plus (Ascensia, Switzerland) employing glucosedehydrogenase strips. In each GSS three devices and one LOT of strips were employed. Following the cPG readings, venous blood was taken to measure venous plasma glucose (vPG) on Cobas Integra 400 analyzer employing hexokinase. A total of 258 pairs of cPG vs vPG were compared using Wilcoxon signed rank test with Bonferroni correction and software IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows, V. 23.0. Precision was estimated using SD of average differences between individual cPG measurements. P<0.05 was considered significant.
Results Deviations (mean±SD) from vPG≥5.55 mmo/L (100 mg/dL): Galileo 0.25±0.49 mmol/L (5±9 mg/dL), Calla -1.25±1.08 mmol/L (-23±19 mg/dL), Contour -0.63±0.71 mmol/L (-11±13 mg/dL). Number of cPG values within interval ±15 % of vPG: Galileo 196/207 (94.7 %), Calla 162/207 (78.3 %), Contour 200/207 (96.6%). For vPG values <5.55 mmol/L (100 mg/dL) the interval±0.83 mmol/L (15 mg/dL) reached: Galileo 11/51 (21.6 %), Calla 48/51 (94.1 %), Contour 51/51 (100 %). Galileo cPG <7.0 mmol/L (126 mg/dL) after subtraction of 0.7 mmol/L (12,4 mg/dL) reached 51/51 (100 %).
Conclusions Borderline accuracy of Galileo was found for cPG≥7 mmol/L (126 mg/dL) whereas for cPG<7 mmol/L (126 mg/dL) correction –0.7 mmol/L (13 mg/dL) was necessary. Accuracy of Contour but not of Calla was confirmed.
Effect of warm and cold ischemia on pancreaticoduodenectomy specimen following robotic pancreaticoduodenectomy.
Authors: González-Abós Carolina , Lorenzo Klaudia , Archilla Iván , Cuatrecasas Miriam , Ausania Fabio
Published: August 2024

Background
The adoption of robotic pancreaticoduodenectomy has increased in recent years for the treatment of pancreatic head tumours and periampullary lesions. Some potential benefits seem to be demonstrated, but the impact of longer perioperative time on ischaemia and autolysis of the surgical specimen has not been analysed. The aim of this study is to evaluate the impact of robotic surgery on histological changes of the surgical specimen occurring during robotic pancreaticoduodenectomy.
Methods
A review of histopathology files was performed for all pancreatic specimens collected at our hospital from January 2022 to March 2024. Both warm ischaemia time (WIT) and cold ischaemia time (CID) were collected. Histological features related to ischaemic damage were evaluated and ischaemic changes in normal pancreatic tissue and pancreatic tumour were graded as absent, mild, moderate and severe. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to determine which variables were associated with moderate and severe ischaemia.
Results
Sixty surgical specimens were analysed: 20 open PD, 17 robotic PD with cold ischaemia and 23 robotic PD. Median total WIT was 182 minutes (OPD 57 minutes vs RPD 190 minutes vs RPD-CI 198 minutes; p < 0.001). Median CID was 760 minutes (740–835) in samples stored at 4ºC. Assessment of tumour regression was of poor quality in the specimens with cold ischemia. Univariate analysis showed that longer intraoperative time, male gender and cold ischaemia were associated with pancreatic tissue degradation. In multivariate analysis, cold ischaemia was the only independent factor associated with normal pancreatic tissue and tumour tissue moderate and severe degradation.
Conclusions
Prolonged ischaemia time, especially in the case of cold storage, has a strong effect on the degradation of normal and tumour tissue without affecting tumour staging.
Evaluation of Prognostic Factors for High-Flow Nasal Cannula Therapy Failure in Infants with Bronchiolitis: A Prospective Study
Authors: Zayani Seyfeddine , Thabet Farah , Marzouki Amal , Benfredj Manel , Chouchane Chokri , Chouchane Slaheddine
Published: August 2024

Objective
This study aims to examine factors associated with High-flow nasal cannula (HFNC) therapy failure in infants with moderate to severe bronchiolitis, thereby optimizing and personalizing management by identifying patients at risk of treatment failure.
Methods
A prospective cohort study was conducted over two years (September 2021 - March 2023) in the pediatric intensive care unit of a tertiary-level university hospital. Infants aged 0–12 months with moderate to severe bronchiolitis requiring HFNC were included. Exclusion criteria were previous noninvasive or invasive mechanical ventilation, tracheostomy, uncorrected cyanotic congenital heart disease, or chronic respiratory or neuromuscular pathology. Clinical and biological characteristics were assessed at initiation and at H2 of HFNC treatment. Logistic regression was used to identify risk factors for HFNC therapy failure.
Results
Of the 154 patients included, 100 (64.9%) responded to HFNC, while 54 (35.1%) required escalation of care. Univariate analysis showed significant differences in age and weight at admission between responders and non-responders. Multivariate analysis identified weight below the 10th percentile, FiO2 requirement ≥ 42.5%, and Wang score ≥ 10 at HFNC initiation as predictors of failure. Persistence of tachycardia, tachypnea, hypercapnia, and FiO2 ≥ 48.5% after 2 hours of HFNC were also predictors of failure. The most frequent causes of HFNC failure were persistent increased respiratory effort (64.8%) and severe apnea (18.5%).
Conclusions
Key predictors of HFNC therapy failure include low weight, high initial FiO2 requirements, and severe clinical scores at initiation, as well as persistent clinical instability during the first hours of therapy. These findings can guide clinical decisions and improve outcomes for infants with bronchiolitis.
YOLOv8-SST Lightweight Small Target Fault Detection System Integrating SENet Attention Mechanism and Tr-OCR
Authors: Li Hui , Li Zhiping , Shi Leina , Su Yixu , Yu Taoming
Published: August 2024

To solve the issues of slow processing speed and susceptibility to false and missed detections in fault detection algorithms with cluttered backgrounds, this paper proposes an improved YOLOv8 lightweight fault small target detection method based on the fusion of a squeeze-and-excitation network and transformer-based optical character recognition. The backbone network structure of the YOLOv8 algorithm was optimized by adding the channel attention module SENet to enhance the performance, adaptability, and generalizability of the model. The differentiable feature learning loss function was optimized to guide learning, reduce positioning errors, and improve accuracy. Group shuffle convolution was used in the neck layer to replace the traditional standard convolution to construct a lightweight detection network, which increases the diversity of the network receptive fields, better captures contextual information regarding the target, and reduces complexity. This study innovatively introduced optical character recognition (OCR) into the YOLOv8 backbone to improve digit recognition accuracy. A CCD-type image sensor was used as an image acquisition device, to further improve the accuracy of the fault detection. Finally, the experimental results were analyzed, and the improved YOLOv8n algorithm achieved a detection precision of 96.84%, a recall of 98.73%, and an F1-Score of 97.81%.
Negative feedback loop in the activation of non-homologous end joining DNA repair pathway in Helicobacter pylori infected patients with gastritis
Authors: Amirnorouzi Mohsen , Karimi Ahmadmoeen , Daryani Naser Ebrahimi , Rajaei Amiratabak , Hashemi Mehrdad , Alebouyeh Masoud
Published: August 2024

Chronic gastritis if left untreated can develop into cancer. This study was done to investigate the activation of error-prone DNA repair pathway in response to Helicobacter pylori infection. Relative changes in the expression levels of genes involved in the non-homologous end-joining pathway (NHEJ) in H. pylori-infected (Cases) and non-infected patients (Controls) with chronic gastritis were measured. A significant increase in the relative expression level of TP53, and significant decrease in the relative transcription of lncRNA LINP1 and XRCC5 were detected in the case group. The transcription of Lig4 and XRCC6 was increased in the case group, which was not statistically significant. The Spearman’s Correlation Coefficient analysis showed a significant positive-correlation between the transcriptional levels of LINP1 and XRCC4/XRCC5/Lig4, and between XRCC5 and TP53/Lig4 both in the case and control groups. Moreover, a significant positive correlation between LinP1 and XRCC6 in the case, and a significant positive correlation between XRCC4 and Lig4, and a negative correlation between TP53 and LinP1/XRCC4/XRCC5 in the control group was detected. Collectively, our results suggest a protective role for TP53 against the assembly and stabilization of NHEJ complex, mainly through downregulation of LinP1 and XRCC5, in the H. pylori-infected patients with chronic gastritis.
Identification of Ground Water Potential Zones in Nanjangud Taluk Using GIS
Authors: Prakash Manasa M , S Adarsh
Published: August 2024

It’s a paradoxical situation in many parts of India where despite receiving a decent amount of rainfall, water scarcity remains a significant issue. In hard-rock areas, where groundwater is a primary source of water, the thickness and accessibility of aquifers play a crucial role. Satellite images may identify a variety of ground features that could be indicators of the existence of groundwater; they are frequently employed in groundwater analysis. Analysing groundwater potential zones is crucial for sustainable water source management. In the case of Nanjangud Taluk in Mysuru District, Karnataka, India, it's significant to categorize the groundwater availability to better understand and manage this vital resource. The division into dissimilar classes (i.e., Excellent, very good, good, moderate, and poor) based on hydro-geomorphological conditions helps in prioritizing areas for intervention and resource allocation. Using Toposheets from the Survey of India as a base, various thematic maps such as slope, land-use, and drainage density are created using GIS software like ArcGIS. These thematic maps are then converted into raster data using the feature to raster converter tool. Once rasterized, each thematic map is assigned a fixed percentage of influence based on its importance in determining groundwater potential.
Visualizing mitochondrial membrane potential with FRET probes: Integrating fluorescence intensity ratio and lifetime imaging
Authors: Peng Fei , Ai Xiangnan , Bu Xiaoyu , Zhao Zixuan , Gao Baoxiang
Published: August 2024

Mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) is crucial for mitochondrial function and serves as a key indicator of cellular health and metabolic activity. Traditional lipophilic cationic fluorescence intensity probes are unavoidably influenced by probe concentration, laser intensity, and photobleaching, limiting their accuracy. To address these issues, we designed and synthesized a pair of fluorescence molecules, OR-C8 and SiR-BA, based on the Förster Resonance Energy Transfer (FRET) mechanism, for dual-modality visualization of MMP. OR-C8 anchors to the inner mitochondrial membrane through strong hydrophobic interactions, while SiR-BA is expelled from mitochondria when MMP decreases, thereby regulating the FRET process. During MMP reduction, the fluorescence intensity and lifetime of OR-C8 increase, while the fluorescence intensity of SiR-BA decreases. By combining changes in fluorescence intensity ratio and fluorescence lifetime, dual-modality visualization of MMP was achieved. This method not only accurately reflects MMP changes but also provides a novel tool for in-depth studies of mitochondrial function and related disease mechanisms, offering significant potential for advancing mitochondrial research and therapeutic development.
Psychometric properties and longitudinal measurement invariance of the Treatment-induced Neuropathy Assessment Scale in the Chinese cancer chemotherapy population
Authors: Jin Yanfei , Li Yang , Xiong Lina , Tang Chulei , Ma Hongwen
Published: August 2024

Background: Background: Treatment-induced peripheral neuropathy is one of the most complex toxicities to diagnose and manage in cancer patients. The Treatment-Induced Neuropathy Assessment Scale (TNAS) is a valid instrument in English for assessing the severity and course of neuropathy across various cancer treatments; it has not been evaluated for psychometric properties in non-Western samples, nor has it been tested for longitudinal measurement invariance.
Aim: To evaluate psychometric properties and longitudinal measurement invariance of the TNAS in Chinese cancer patients.
Design: A longitudinal observational study.
Methods: A total of 316 patients were surveyed at three time points. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), convergent validity, longitudinal measurement invariance, criterion validity, and Internal consistency reliability were evaluated.
Results: CFA supported the 2-factor structure of the original TNAS construct at three-time points. The composite reliability (CR) and the average variance extracted (AVE) indicated that the TNAS had good convergent validity. TNAS exhibited strong measurement invariance over time and was reliable across different time points. The correlation of TNAS with the EORTC QLQ-CIPN20 showed good criterion validity. Moreover, the TNAS and sub-scales had high internal consistency at three-time points.
Conclusion: The findings suggest that the TNAS is a reliable and valid instrument with adequate psychometric properties and temporal stability. Our results support the use of TNAS in clinical practice to measure treatment-induced peripheral neuropathy and track changes in neuropathy symptoms.
Assessment and Mitigation of Groundwater Pollution in Sikar City: A Comprehensive Review
Authors: Nussi Keerthi Reddy , S Sajan , Basumatary Udangshree Rani , Biyyyathiyil Shahada , Kuzhivelil Ivin John , Bunty Bhoomika , Kumar Nand
Published: August 2024

Water pollution is a pressing global environmental issue with far-reaching consequences for the environment, public health, and economic development. Assessing and mitigating water pollution are critical for safeguarding environmental and public health. It involves identifying pollution sources, measuring impacts on health and the environment, and implementing reduction strategies. Sikar is one of the cities of Rajasthan facing a severe water pollution crisis, with significant contamination affecting surface and groundwater, highlighting the urgent need for sustainable water management practices. Additionally, Sikar is experiencing increasing groundwater levels due to excessive irrigation, inefficient water use, and limited recharge. This trend exacerbates water quality issues and poses risks to infrastructure and agriculture. This paper assesses the impact of current water pollution levels by measuring key water quality indicators (pH, BOD, COD, etc.) of Sikar City and comparing the indicators to national and international standards. It also addresses the issue of increasing groundwater levels due to factors such as excessive irrigation, inefficient water use, and limited recharge. The study then proposes mitigation strategies by reviewing relevant or similar case studies and research papers on water pollution in Sikar and similar regions.
Assessing the Effectiveness of Automatic Speech Recognition Technology in Emergency Medicine Settings: A Comparative Study of Four AI-powered Engines
Authors: Luo Xiao , Zhou Le , Adelgais Kathleen , Zhang Zhan
Published: August 2024

Purpose
Cutting-edge automatic speech recognition (ASR) technology holds significant promise in transcribing and recognizing medical information during patient encounters, thereby enabling automatic and real-time clinical documentation, which could significantly alleviate care clinicians’ burdens. Nevertheless, the performance of current-generation ASR technology in analyzing conversations in noisy and dynamic medical settings, such as prehospital or Emergency Medical Services (EMS), lacks sufficient validation. This study explores the current technological limitations and future potential of deploying ASR technology for clinical documentation in fast-paced and noisy medical settings such as EMS.
Methods
In this study, we evaluated four ASR engines, including Google Speech-to-Text Clinical Conversation, OpenAI Speech-to-Text, Amazon Transcribe Medical, and Azure Speech-to-Text engine. The empirical data used for evaluation were 40 EMS simulation recordings. The transcribed texts were analyzed for accuracy against 23 Electronic Health Records (EHR) categories of EMS. The common types of errors in transcription were also analyzed.
Results
Among all four ASR engines, Google Speech-to-Text Clinical Conversation performed the best. Among all EHR categories, better performance was observed in categories “mental state” (F1 = 1.0), “allergies” (F1 = 0.917), “past medical history” (F1 = 0.804), “electrolytes” (F1 = 1.0), and “blood glucose level” (F1 = 0.813). However, all four ASR engines demonstrated low performance in transcribing certain critical categories, such as “treatment” (F1 = 0.650) and “medication” (F1 = 0.577).
Conclusion
Current ASR solutions fall short in fully automating the clinical documentation in EMS setting. Our findings highlight the need for further improvement and development of automated clinical documentation technology to improve recognition accuracy in time-critical and dynamic medical settings.
A case of multiple intracerebral hemorrhage due to early-onset cerebral amyloid angiopathy with Alzheimer`s disease neuropathological change three decades after childhood neurosurgery
Authors: Funakoshi Takumi , Yamada Minoru , Ikeda Kazuna , Yokokawa Kazuki , Saito Tarou , Suzuki Syuuichiro , Iwahara Naotoshi , Kimura Yusuke , Akiyama Yukinori , Mikuni Nobuhiro , Hisahara Shin
Published: August 2024

Background
Cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA) is a disease in which Amyloid β (Aβ) is deposited in blood vessels and meninges in the brain. CAA typically occurs in the elderly but is also known to occur in younger patients with a history of childhood head trauma or dura graft following neurosurgical procedures. In some cases, pathological examination of brain biopsies has identified not only Aβ but also phosphorylated tau (p-tau) deposits. This is a pathological feature characteristic of Alzheimer`s disease (AD). There are few reports of cases in which AD has already developed based on cognitive decline symptoms and the presence of p-tau in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). This is the first case of amyloid angiopathy after graft surgery in which the patient already had mild cognitive decline and pathological findings showed not only amyloid β accumulation but also abnormal tau accumulation.
Case presentation
The patient is a 39-year-old female who underwent neurosurgery for an arachnoid cyst in the right temporal lobe at the age of 2 years. The patient probably underwent dural transplantation, although this is unclear because no operative record remains. Severe headache, dizziness and right leg weakness developed abruptly. Neurological finding showed aprosexia and cognitive impairment of 21/30 on MMSE. The Aβ42/40 ratio had decreased in CSF. Brain MRI showed multiple cerebral hemorrhages. 123I -iodoamphetamine single-photon emission computed tomography (IMP-SPECT) showed hypoperfusion dominantly in the bilateral temporal lobe and posterior cingulate gyrus. Considering of CAA, brain biopsy was performed. Pathological examination showed severe CAA in many leptomeningeal and cortical vessels. Neurofibrillary tangles, neuropil threads and tau-positive neurites around plaques were also present.
Conclusion
We reported early-onset CAA after neurosurgery in childhood. In addition to pathological findings characteristic of AD, cognitive impairment was also observed, suggesting that the patient may have developed AD. In pathological finding, p-tau deposition was observed in neurons. These finding suggested the possibility of progression to AD in this patient. We believe that this is an extremely rare case of early-onset CAA with cognitive decline, abnormalities of Aβ and tau in cerebrospinal fluid, AD pathology including deposition of p-tau in neurons, and characteristic findings on IMP-SPECT.
Clinical Characteristics and Risk Factors for Multidrug-Resistant Enterobacter cloacae Complex Bacteremia in a Chinese Tertiary Hospital: A Decade Review (2013–2022)
Authors: Han Mei , Hua Miaomiao , Xie Hui , Li Jia , Wang Yijun , Shen Han , Cao Xiaoli
Published: August 2024

Objective
This study aimed to analyze the antimicrobial resistance profiles, the clinical characteristics and risk factors of bacteremia caused by Enterobacter cloacae complex (ECC) strains.
Methods
Clinical information of patients diagnosed with bacteremia caused by ECC from 2013 to 2022 were collected retrospectively. The clinical data of these patients were then analyzed in subgroups based on multidrug resistance (MDR), nosocomial acquired, polymicrobial bacteremia and mortality.
Results
The ECC strains showed the highest resistant rates to ceftriaxone (39.9%), followed by ceftazidime (36.7%) and aztreonam (31.2%). The proportion of MDR ECC was 30.9% (58/188). The analysis revealed that initial empirical antibiotic therapy was a robust and independent risk factor (OR = 3.193, 95%CI 1.203–8.479, P < 0.020), whereas, appropriately empirical therapy significantly reduced the risk (OR = 0.279, 95%CI 0.130–0.598, P < 0.001) of MDR-ECC bacteremia. In addition, ICU admission was identified as independent risk factors in patients with polymicrobial bacteremia (P = 0.009). Moreover, diagnostic procedure (endoscopy) (P = 0.009) and blood transfusion (P = 0.003) were independent risk factors for mortality.
Conclusion
Carbapenems and amikacin as the most effective treatments for ECC bacteremia. Initial empirical antibiotic therapy was an independent risk factor, and appropriate empirical therapy was a protective factor for patients with MDR ECC bacteremia. ICU admission was an independent risk factor for polymicrobial bacteremia. Both endoscopy and blood transfusion are associated with mortality of ECC Bacteremia. Control of MDR ECC bacteremia requires a cooperative and comprehensive approach, including strategies for identification of resistant organisms, risk factor detection and implementation strategies of infection-control and prevention.