bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Association of Opioid Administration During General Anesthesia and Survival for Severely Injured Trauma Patients: A Preplanned Secondary Analysis of the PROPPR Study
Authors: Levy Dominique T. , Livingston Colleen E. , Saroukhani Sepideh , Fox Erin E. , Wade Charles E. , Holcomb John B. , Gumbert Sam D. , Galvagno Samuel M. , Kaslow Olga Y. , Pittet Jean-Francois , Pivalizza Evan G.
Published: April 2023

BACKGROUND:

There is a lack of reported clinical outcomes after opioid use in acute trauma patients undergoing anesthesia. Data from the Pragmatic, Randomized, Optimal Platelet and Plasma Ratios (PROPPR) study were analyzed to examine opioid dose and mortality. We hypothesized that higher dose opioids during anesthesia were associated with lower mortality in severely injured patients.

METHODS:

PROPPR examined blood component ratios in 680 bleeding trauma patients at 12 level 1 trauma centers in North America. Subjects undergoing anesthesia for an emergency procedure were identified, and opioid dose was calculated (morphine milligram equivalents [MMEs])/h. After separation of those who received no opioid (group 1), remaining subjects were divided into 4 groups of equal size with low to high opioid dose ranges. A generalized linear mixed model was used to assess impact of opioid dose on mortality (primary outcome, at 6 hours, 24 hours, and 30 days) and secondary morbidity outcomes, controlling for injury type, severity, and shock index as fixed effect factors and site as a random effect factor.

RESULTS:

Of 680 subjects, 579 had an emergent procedure requiring anesthesia, and 526 had complete anesthesia data. Patients who received any opioid had lower mortality at 6 hours (odds ratios [ORs], 0.02–0.04; [confidence intervals {CIs}, 0.003–0.1]), 24 hours (ORs, 0.01–0.03; [CIs, 0.003–0.09]), and 30 days (ORs, 0.04–0.08; [CIs, 0.01–0.18]) compared to those who received none (all P < .001) after adjusting for fixed effect factors. The lower mortality at 30 days in any opioid dose group persisted after analysis of those patients who survived >24 hours (P < .001). Adjusted analyses demonstrated an association with higher ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) incidence in the lowest opioid dose group compared to no opioid (P = .02), and lung complications were lower in the third opioid dose group compared to no opioid in those surviving 24 hours (P = .03). There were no other consistent associations of opioid dose with other morbidity outcomes.

CONCLUSIONS:

These results suggest that opioid administration during general anesthesia for severely injured patients is associated with improved survival, although the no-opioid group was more severely injured and hemodynamically unstable. Since this was a preplanned post hoc analysis and opioid dose not randomized, prospective studies are required. These findings from a large, multi-institutional study may be relevant to clinical practice.
Patients Undergoing Elective Inpatient Major Therapeutic Procedures in Florida Had No Significant Change in Hospital Mortality or Mortality-Related Comorbidities Between 2007 and 2019
Authors: Epstein Richard H. , Dexter Franklin , Fahy Brenda G.
Published: April 2023

BACKGROUND:

In a recent study, rapid response team implementation at 1 hospital was associated with only a 0.1% reduction in inpatient mortality from 2005 to 2018, characterized in the accompanying editorial as a “tepid” improvement. The editorialist postulated that an increase in the degree of illness of hospitalized patients might have masked a larger reduction that otherwise might have occurred. Impressions of greater patient acuity during the studied period might have been an artifact of efforts to document more comorbidities and complications, possibly facilitated by the change in diagnosis coding from the International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision (ICD-9) to the Tenth Revision (ICD-10).

METHODS:

We used inpatient data from every nonfederal hospital in Florida from the last quarter of 2007 through 2019. We studied hospitalizations for major therapeutic surgical procedures with lengths of stay ≥2 days. Using logistic regression with clustering by the Clinical Classification Software (CCS) code of the primary surgical procedure, we evaluated the trends for decreased mortality, changes in the prevalence of Medicare Severity Diagnosis Related Groups (MS-DRG) with complications or comorbidities (CC) or major complications or major comorbidities (MCC), and changes in the van Walraven index (vWI), a measure of patient comorbidities associated with increased inpatient mortality. Also incorporated in the modeling was the change from ICD-9 to ICD-10.

RESULTS:

There were 3,151,107 hospitalizations comprising 130 distinct CCS codes and 453 MS-DRG groups among 213 hospitals. Despite a progressive increase of 4.1% per year in the odds of a CC or MCC (P = .001), there were no significant changes in the marginal estimates of in-house mortality over time (net estimated decrease, 0.036%; 99% confidence interval [CI], −0.168% to 0.097%; P = .49). There was also absence of a significantly greater fraction of discharges with vWI >0 attributable to the year of the study (odds ratio, 1.017 per year; 99% CI, 0.995–1.041). The changes in MS-DRG to those with CC or MCC were not increased significantly from either the ICD-10 coding change or the number of years after the change.

CONCLUSIONS:

Consistent with the previous study, there was at most a small decrease in the mortality rate over a 12-year period. We found no reliable evidence that patients undergoing elective inpatient surgical procedures were any sicker in 2019 than in 2007. There were substantively more comorbidities and complications documented over time, but this was unrelated to the change to ICD-10 coding.
Clinical Performance of Decision Support Systems in Anesthesia, Intensive Care, and Emergency Medicine: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Harutyunyan Robert , Jeffries Sean D. , Ramírez-GarcíaLuna Jose L. , Hemmerling Thomas M.
Published: April 2023

BACKGROUND:

Medical technology is expanding at an alarming rate, with its integration into health care often reflected by the constant evolution of best practices. This rapid expansion of available treatment modalities, when coupled with progressively increasing amounts of consequential data for health care professionals to manage, creates an environment where complex and timely decision-making without the aid of technology is inconceivable. Decision support systems (DSSs) were, therefore, developed as a means of supporting the clinical duties of health care professionals through immediate point-of-care referencing. The integration of DSS can be especially useful in critical care medicine, where the combination of complex pathologies, the multitude of parameters, and the general state of patients require swift informed decision-making. The systematic review and meta-analysis were performed to evaluate DSS outcomes compared to the standard of care (SOC) in critical care medicine.

METHODS:

This systematic review and subsequent meta-analysis were performed after the EQUATOR networks Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines (PRISMA). We systematically explored PubMed, Ovid, Central, and Scopus for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) from January 2000 to December 2021. The primary outcome of this study was to evaluate whether DSS is more effective than SOC practice in critical care medicine within the following disciplines: anesthesia, emergency department (ED), and intensive care unit (ICU). A random-effects model was used to estimate the effect of DSS performance, with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) in both continuous and dichotomous results. Outcome-based, department-specific, and study-design subgroup analyses were performed.

RESULTS:

A total of 34 RCTs were included for analysis. In total, 68,102 participants received DSS intervention, while 111,515 received SOC. Analysis of the continuous (standardized mean difference [SMD], −0.66; 95% CI [−1.01 to −0.30]; P < .01) and binary outcomes (odds ratio [OR], 0.64; 95% CI, [0.44–0.91]; P < .01) was statistically significant and suggests that health interventions are marginally improved with DSS integration in comparison to SOC in critical care medicine. Subgroup analysis in anesthesia (SMD, −0.89; 95% CI, [−1.71 to −0.07]; P < .01) and ICU (SMD, −0.63; 95% CI [−1.14 to −0.12]; P < .01) were deemed statistically supportive of DSS in improving outcome, with evidence being indeterminate in the field of emergency medicine (SMD, −0.24; 95% CI, [−0.71 to 0.23]; P < .01).

CONCLUSIONS:

DSSs were associated with a beneficial impact in critical care medicine on a continuous and binary scale; however, the ED subgroup was found to be inconclusive. Additional RCTs are required to determine the effectiveness of DSS in critical care medicine.
Energizing Mitochondria to Prevent Mobility Loss in Aging: Rationale and Hypotheses
Authors: Tian Qu , Lee Philip R. , Walker Keenan A. , Ferrucci Luigi
Published: April 2023

Based on recent studies from our group and others, we hypothesize that mitochondrial dysfunction during aging may be the root cause of mobility decline through deficits in the musculoskeletal and central nervous systems. Mitochondrial dysfunction could be a therapeutic target to prevent mobility decline in aging.
Determinants of mortality risk among Indonesian patients with COVID-19
Authors: Efendi Ferry , Haryanto Joni , Has Eka Mishbahatul Mar'ah , Makhfudli Makhfudli , Indarwati Retno , Kuswanto Heri , Wahyuhadi Joni , Farabi Makhyan Jibril Al , Ho Ken Hok Man
Published: April 2023

Background: The mortality risk of the novel coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19) remains a global concern. Particularly in Indonesia, patients aged 18–59 years have a high risk of death due to COVID-19. In this study, we analysed the determinants of mortality risk among patients with confirmed COVID-19.

Methods: A secondary analysis of data from the Indonesian COVID-19 dashboard, tracking COVID-19 cases from April 2020 to May 2021 was performed. Data of 22,314 patients with COVID-19 aged 18–59 years were analysed using descriptive analysis, chi-square test, and binary logistic regression to obtain adjusted odds ratios (AORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs).

Results: Factors associated with confirmed mortality risk among patients aged 18–59 years with COVID-19 included increasing age (AOR = 1.08; 95% CI = 1.07–1.09), hospitalised and on ventilator support (AOR = 130.75; 95% CI = 69.03–247.63), having severe disease (AOR = 15.24; 95% CI = 11.51–20.17), and travelling history (AOR = 1.36; 95% CI = 1.13–1.63).

Conclusions: These findings confirmed that the increasing risk of death due to COVID-19 was associated with increasing age, ventilator support during hospitalisation, developing severe disease, and having a travelling history. This suggests that curative strategies should be strengthened with a focus on improving clinical governance by prioritising patients with the above variables.
Carotenoids from female Grapsus albolineatus as potential anti-ageing compounds
Authors: Paransa Darus Saadah Johanis , Kemer Kurniati , Mantiri Desy Maria Helena , Kepel Rene Charles , Suleman Dininurilmi Putri , Soemantri Ara Deani , Kurnia Dikdik
Published: April 2023

Introduction: Grapsus albolineatus is thought to have a high concentration of carotenoid pigments. Although studies on male G. albolineatus have been conducted, no studies on pigment extraction from female G. albolineatus have been carried out. Carotenoids have a high ability to fight free radicals. Previous research has shown that carotenoids can fight free radicals that cause premature skin-aging.

Aim: The purpose of this research was to find out what kinds of carotenoids are found in G. albolineatus and whether they can act as natural inhibitors of proteins that cause premature aging, such as glucogenase, elastase, and hyaluronidase enzymes.

Methods: Carotenoids were extracted from G. albolineatus using column chromatography and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC); molecular docking and visualization were done with Autodock 4.2 and Discovery Studio/Biovia, respectively.  

Results: According to HPLC data, there are carotenoid pigments such as didehydroastaxanthin, tetrahydroastaxanthin, dihydroastaxanthin, diatoxanthin, astaxanthin, and adonixanthin.  According to molecular docking experiments, pigment carotenoids from G. albolineatus are efficient inhibitors of protein elastase and hyaluronidase with binding energy range -7.58 kcal/mol - -9.03 kcal/mol and -6.16 kcal/mol - -7.71 kcal/mol, respectively.

Conclusions: G. albolineatus carotenoids have the potential to be anti-aging since they are more effective as protein elastase and hyaluronidase inhibitors than their native inhibitors.
Cell-type classification of cancer single-cell RNA-seq data using the Subsemble ensemble-based machine learning classifier
Authors: Chen David , Shooshtari Parisa
Published: April 2023

Background

The advent of single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) has provided a high-resolution overview of the cellular heterogeneity of different tissue types. Manual cell type annotation of gene expression datasets remains a useful but time-intensive task. Ensemble machine learning methods leverage the predictive power of multiple classifiers and can be applied to classify high-dimensional gene expression data. Here, we present a novel application of the Subsemble supervised ensemble machine learning classifier used to classify novel cells with known cell type labels using gene expression data.

Methods

First, we tested the classification performance of different pre-processing steps used to normalize and upsample the training dataset for the Subsemble using a colorectal cancer dataset. Second, we conducted a cross-validated performance benchmark of the Subsemble classifier compared to nine other cell type classification methods across five metrics tested, using an acute myeloid leukemia dataset. Third, we conducted a comparative performance benchmark of the Subsemble classifier using a patient-based leave-one-out cross-validation scheme. Rank normalized scores were calculated for each classifier to aggregate performance across multiple metrics.

Results

The Subsemble classifier performed best when trained on a dataset that was log-transformed then upsampled to generate balanced class distributions. The Subsemble classifier was consistently the top-ranked classifier across five classification performance metrics compared to the nine other baseline classifiers and showed an improvement in performance as the training dataset increased. When tested using the patient-based leave-one-out cross-validation scheme, the Subsemble was the top-ranked classifier based on rank normalized scores.

Conclusions

Our proof-of-concept study showed that the Subsemble classifier can be used to accurately predict known cell type labels from single-cell gene expression data. The top-ranked classification performance of the Subsemble across two validation datasets, two cross-validation schemes, and five performance metrics motivates future development of accurate ensemble classifiers of scRNA-seq datasets.
Evaluation of clinical efficacy of Ginkgo biloba extract in the treatment of knee osteoarthritis: a randomized clinical trial
Authors: Al-Haddad Maryam , Bairam Ahsan , Hussain Haider , Majeed Suhad , Al-Jalehawi Ahmad
Published: April 2023

Background: Osteoarthritis (OA) is a degenerative joint disease characterized by deteriorating articular cartilage. Most patients may not get enough control of symptoms in spite of the availability of various treatment options. Because of the synergistic impact of flavonoids and ginkgolides, Ginkgo biloba (GB) has been shown to possess antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties besides its generally safe profile. This study aims to assess the efficacy and safety of the Ginkgo biloba extract (GBE) in patient with Knee OA .

Methods: This is a randomized double blinded clinical trial conducted in a private orthopaedic clinic in Al-Najaf Government-Iraq between 1st November 2021 to 1st June 2022. Patients were randomized into two groups; Group A administered the standard treatment (diclofenac capsule 100 milligram sustained released with paracetamol 1 gram twice daily) with GBE capsule  120 milligram twice daily, while Group B administered the standard treatment with placebo (starch) capsule only. The Knee injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS) was performed to assess the efficacy of the GBE in patient with Knee OA for eight weeks.Results: 60 patients (Group A: mean age 54.2±8.6, male 24.24%, female 75.76%; Group B: mean age 58.0±8.4, male 22.22%, female 77.78%) successfully completed the eight weeks follow up. Pain, symptoms, sport, activity of daily living (ADL) scores showed significant improvement in Group A from the first two weeks after treatment with GB in comparison with group B. however, scores of quality of life (QOL) were not significantly improved in two group comparison at each assessment week. Only 10 patients (group A:8, group B:2) reported gastrointestinal adverse effects during the study which were all mild.

Conclusions: GB may provide additional beneficial health effects to patients with knee OA based on KOOS scores when add to the standard treatment regime.

Registration: ClincialTrials.gov (NCT05398874, https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT05398874).
Introducing technology of planting methods to increase rice production for sustainable farmers’ income
Authors: Witjaksono Julian , Indrasti Rita , Bungati Bungati , B Markus Rawung Jefny , Sehat Tan Siti , Gaffar Abdul , Sunandar Nandang , Sirnawati Enti , N Manoppo Conny , Assagaf Muhammad , Sulistiono Wawan , Sihombing Donald , Handayati Wahyu , Purba Resmayati , Asmin Asmin
Published: April 2023

Background: Rice self-sufficiency is still a great concern in Indonesia; in order to feed the population of 270 million people, farmers must implement new technology to boost rice production. This study aimed to provide information on the differences between direct seed planting and its conventional counterpart in terms of productivity and farmer income. Secondly, we aimed to characterize the productivity and farmer income for two legowo planting systems (legowo 4:1 and legowo 2:1). Finally, farmers’ perceptions of the legowo implementation were evaluated.

Methods: This study was carried out in Konawe District at the farm level in Karandu Village, Anggotoa Sub District of Southeast Sulawesi Province, Indonesia. The research design was implemented to allow comparison between legowo 4:1 and legowo 2:1. 60 farmers who implemented legowo 2:1 and legowo 4:1 respectively, were selected. Moreover, 30 farmers who did not implement both 4:1 and 2:1 were selected as the conventional planting method. This research design was implemented in order to compare between legowo and non legowo planting systems, as mentioned above, 60 respondents will compare with 30 farmers in terms of yield and economic advantage. Lastly, in order to determine technological perceptions, a total of 150 farmers were interviewed.

Results:  The study case results showed that direct seed planting is much more profitable than its conventional counterpart. The introduction of legowo 4:1 was highly significant in boosting rice production compared to legowo 2:1. In terms of perception, we found that the low cost and the availability of legowo are the most important parameters for the adoption of this technology.

Conclusions: In summary, we recommend the implementation of the legowo 4:1 planting system to boost rice productivity. By reducing labor costs, the direct seeding method increased farmers’ income.
Use of non-intrusive laser exfoliation to improve substance uptake into citrus leaves
Authors: Ponce Cabrera Luis , Etxeberria Ed , Gonzalez Pedro , Flores Reyes Teresa
Published: April 2023

Background: Despite the presence of stomata in leaves, foliar application of agrochemicals can be extremely inefficient due to the low permeability of leaf cuticular surfaces to polar compounds.

Methods: This study introduced a laser-based “wax exfoliation” method to facilitate the penetration of substances into the leaf and, together with enhancing their uptake into the phloem and subsequent transport across tissue. This investigation demonstrated the effectiveness and non-invasive properties of laser exfoliation to improve the penetration of foliar-applied substances into citrus leaves.

Results: This work presents the use of laser energy to exfoliate the cuticle of a leaf, with the highest energy density of 0.76 J/ cm2 resulting in 85-90% exfoliation across the entire laser-spot area. The infrared wavelength of the erbium laser is specifically chosen to target the wax cuticle without causing damage to the underlying epidermal cells. This selective ablation allows for increased penetration of therapeutic compounds into the leaf and transportation throughout the plant's vasculature. This is demonstrated using a fluorescent glucose analog applied to the laser treated leaves, showing increased penetration and transport throughout the leaf.

Conclusions: Our findings demonstrate that the use of laser technology for the foliar application of agrochemicals provides significant advantages, including improved foliage uptake of therapeutic compounds. The method of cuticle exfoliation presented in this study is highly effective and non-intrusive, limiting its effects to the cuticle only. Future work should focus on the development of prototypes for in-field applications, including testing at longer distances as the Er:YAG laser does not require a lens for this application.
Case Report: Tracheal infiltration with wheezing revealing Hodgkin's disease
Authors: Daboussi Selsabil , Saidane Asma , Mhamdi Samira , boubaker Nouha , Mariem Chaabane , Aichaouia Chiraz , Hela Ghedira , Msadek Fehmi , Zied Moetemri
Published: April 2023

Hodgkin's disease with an initial tracheobronchial involvement is extremely rare. The symptoms might be misleading, resulting in a diagnosis delay. We report the case of a 38-year-old woman with a one-month history of wheezing and a non-productive cough. The physical examination revealed a good general state of health, bilateral diffuse wheezing and supra-clavicular lymphadenopathy. The adenopathy biopsy's histopathology revealed Hodgkin's disease. The whole body FDG-PET scan was an important tool to assess the diagnosis as well as for the staging. The patient was treated with chemotherapy. Another unusual aspect is the tracheobronchial metastasis confirmed by a bronchial biopsy. Thus, our patient was put on a second-line chemotherapy. She died one year after the initial diagnosis. To conclude, it is a rare case of an Hodgkin lymphoma with a tracheobronchial relapse. It should be considered in the differential diagnosis of a tracheal tumor.
Anticancer activities of tocotrienols: A Systematic Scoping Review
Authors: Mohamedahmed Shaza M , Kamarudin Muhamad Noor Alfarizal , Ramdas Premdass , Khalid Ali Qusay , Sundralingam Usha , Radhakrishnan Ammu Kutty
Published: April 2023

Background: The increasing number of cancer cases requires developing newer approaches to treat this disease. One approach uses natural compounds with known anticancer effects, such as tocotrienols. Many cell-based and animal-model studies found that tocotrienols possess potent anticancer activities. However, the exact molecular regulatory mechanism through which tocotrienols exert anticancer actions remains unclear.

Methods: This scoping review analysed data from original research articles reporting on the anticancer effects of tocotrienols on human cancer cell lines published in the last seven years (January 2015 and September 2021) using a systematic scoping review approach. From the initial 619 research papers [ProQuest (n= 61), PubMed (n= 84), Embase (n = 148), Ovid Medline (n =53), Scopus (n = 137), Web of Science (n =136)] identified using pre-defined keywords, only 37 articles met the inclusion and exclusion criteria for this review. Human cancers commonly studied in the 37 research articles include breast, lung, prostate and colorectal cancer cell lines.

Results: The analysis showed that exposing human cancer cell lines to tocotrienols triggered common anticancer mechanisms such as activation of apoptosis and inhibition of proliferation, angiogenesis and cell migration through regulation of key regulatory genes and proteins involved in these pathways.

Conclusions: The findings show that tocotrienols regulate a number of biomarkers that induce cell death and regulate cell cycle in various types of human cancer cells. Further targeted studies are required to map the definite pathways by which T3 exerts their action and to better understand the cellular actions and the regulatory pathways.
The role of salivary orosomucoid 1 as an early diagnostic and prognostic biomarker of hepatocellular carcinoma related to Hepatitis B: A systematic review
Authors: Limijadi Edward Kurnia Setiawan , Ar Ardiyana , Rahmawati Nurul Azizah Dian , Sudiasa I Nyoman Sebastian , Tjandra Kevin Christian
Published: April 2023

Background: Salivary orosomucoid 1 (ORM1) is highly increased in hepatocellular carcinoma related to hepatitis B. Thus, this study aims to investigate the role of salivary ORM1 as an early diagnostic and prognostic biomarker of HCC related to hepatitis B.

Methods: The sources included were original articles published from 2013 until 2023 (last date searched, January 2023) from ProQuest, Google Scholar, Springer, and ScienceDirect. The inclusion criteria were original research articles (observational cohort or diagnostic studies). Other article reviews, meta-analyses, non-comparative research, and in silico, in vitro and in vivo studies, technical reports, editor responses, conference abstracts, non-English, non-full-text, and irrelevant articles that were not related to either salivary ORM1, or hepatocellular carcinoma, hepatitis B, or kidney failure were excluded. Then, the ROBINS-I took was used to assess bias . The result was constructed with PICOS criteria within the table created in the google spreadsheet. This systematic review followed the PRISMA guidelines.

Results: We included five diagnostic studies with 533 samples conducted in China and Japan. Even though limited original studies with homogenous PICO was a limitation, the evidence output of this study can still be well presented. Salivary ORM1 may be useful to detect early cancer diagnosis as rapidly increased levels of ORM1 can be observed in the early stages of HCC (four times higher than usual) and the biomarker has a sensitivity of 81.67% and a specificity of 77.5%. This biomarker is also able to detect the prognosis of individuals with the disease with or without chemotherapy because the higher the level of ORM1, the more liver damage occurs that leads to a poorer prognosis.

Conclusions: Salivary ORM1 is a potential early diagnostic biomarker of HCC related to hepatitis B and a biomarker of the disease prognosis.

Registration: Open Science Framework (OSF) (March 16, 2023).
The identification of high-performing antibodies for Coiled-coil-helix-coiled-coil-helix domain containing protein 10 (CHCHD10) for use in Western Blot, immunoprecipitation and immunofluorescence
Authors: Ayoubi Riham , Alshafie Walaa , Southern Kathleen , McPherson Peter S. , Laflamme Carl ,   NeuroSGC/YCharOS/EDDU collaborative group
Published: April 2023

CHCHD10 is a mitochondrial protein, implicated in the regulation of mitochondrial morphology and cristae structure, as well as the maintenance of mitochondrial DNA integrity. Recently discovered to be associated with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal dementia (FTD) in its mutant form, the scientific community would benefit from the availability of validated anti-CHCHD10 antibodies. In this study, we characterized four CHCHD10 commercial antibodies for Western Blot, immunoprecipitation, and immunofluorescence using a standardized experimental protocol based on comparing read-outs in knockout cell lines and isogenic parental controls. As this study highlights high-performing antibodies for CHCHD10, we encourage readers to use it as a guide to select the most appropriate antibody for their specific needs.
Towards miniaturized electrochemical sensors for monitoring of polychlorinated biphenyls
Authors: Ndunda Elizabeth Nthambi , Mwanza Moses Mutiso
Published: April 2023

Pollution of our environment as a result of industrialization and other human activities is a growing concern due to the harmful effects of most chemicals that are released into the environment. Of particular interest are the persistent organic pollutants (POPs) that are reported to be toxic and build up in the environment due to their persistence. Among the POPs are polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), which were widely used in the past in various applications ranging from additives in pesticides to dielectric fluids in electrical equipment. As a way of protecting the one health trilogy (environment, human and animal health), their determination in the environment is a paramount call that has seen researchers continue to provide advanced technologies towards achieving this goal. These technologies involve the conventional gold standard gas chromatography systems coupled to sensitive detectors that can detect trace level concentrations. They have come in handy in monitoring of PCBs but their application for routing monitoring may not be sustainable because of the cost of operation associated with them and the need for experts to run the equipment. As a result, there is need for affordable systems that are still able to achieve the required sensitivity for routine monitoring and real-time data acquisition. Sensor systems fit very well in this category since they can be miniaturized for affordability and portray many other desirable features. PCBs as environmentally relevant environmental pollutants have received minimal attention with regards to sensor development and this review highlights the efforts that have been made so far. It provides in-depth discussions on electrochemical sensors and the various modifications that have been employed to date to achieve detection of PCBs at low concentrations as well as the future prospects in remote and routine monitoring.
How public imagery matters for art and crisis
Authors: Honerud Hilde Hovland , Honerud Jon Hovland
Published: April 2023

In this piece we discuss how use of images in news about crises affects the need for, the possibilities for, and opportunities for contemporary art and crises. In doing so we discuss ontologies of photographic art, images in context, representation, and violence. We argue that the increasing volume of news images around us affects how pictures are perceived, and accordingly the space in which art is experienced. We use examples from the artist author’s exhibitions and publications to develop these experienced relations into fractured images, and how the artwork can be seen both as expressions of experience and of self. The article concludes that art embeds both the representation, the artist’s and the viewer’s life worlds, and that art concerning crisis shows how the risk of simulation and the potential for understanding are two sides of the same coin.
Obesity development in adults and children as a effect of psychosomatic factors
Authors: Kułakowska Aleksandra , Siedlak Agnieszka , Lepczyński Bartłomiej , Kłakowicz Philip , Lechowski Sebastian
Published: April 2023

The aim of this chapter is to explain how psychosomatic factors influence the development of obesity in children and adults. Obesity is one of the most popular chronic diseases, and it puts a person at risk for heart disease. Obesity promotes worry, stress, and depression, as well as affecting self-esteem and acceptance, according to scientific evidence. Obesity is becoming more common among children, which has been linked to bullying and emotional deterioration. As a result, in addition to seeing a dietician, an obese person should seek psychological help.
Black-Box Attack-Based Security Evaluation Framework for Credit Card Fraud Detection Models
Authors: Xiao Jin , Tian Yuhang , Jia Yanlin , Jiang Xiaoyi , Yu Lean , Wang Shouyang
Published: April 2023

The security of credit card fraud detection (CCFD) models based on machine learning is important but rarely considered in the existing research. To this end, we propose a black-box attack-based security evaluation framework for CCFD models. Under this framework, the semisupervised learning technique and transfer-based black-box attack are combined to construct two versions of a semisupervised transfer black-box attack algorithm. Moreover, we introduce a new nonlinear optimization model to generate the adversarial examples against CCFD models and a security evaluation index to quantitatively evaluate the security of them. Computing experiments on two real data sets demonstrate that, facing the adversarial examples generated by the proposed attack algorithms, all six supervised models considered largely lose their ability to identify the fraudulent transactions, whereas the two unsupervised models are less affected. This indicates that the CCFD models based on supervised machine learning may possess substantial security risks. In addition, the evaluation results for the security of the models generate important managerial implications that help banks reasonably evaluate and enhance the model security.

History: Accepted by Ram Ramesh, Area Editor for Data Science & Machine Learning.

Funding: This work was supported in part by the National Natural Science Foundation of China [Grants 72171160 and 71988101], Key Program of National Natural Science Foundation of China and Quebec Research Foundation (NSFC-FRQ) Joint Project [Grant 7191101304], Key Program of NSFC-FRQSC Joint Project [Grant 72061127002], Excellent Youth Foundation of Sichuan Province [Grant 2020JDJQ0021], and National Leading Talent Cultivation Project of Sichuan University [Grant SKSYL2021-03].

Supplemental Material: The software that supports the findings of this study is available within the paper and its Supplemental Information ( https://pubsonline.informs.org/doi/suppl/10.1287/ijoc.2023.1297 ) as well as from the IJOC GitHub software repository ( https://github.com/INFORMSJoC/2021.0076 ) at ( http://dx.doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.7631457 ).
Jumping Fluid Models and Delay Stability of Max-Weight Dynamics Under Heavy-Tailed Traffic
Authors: Sharifnassab Arsalan , Tsitsiklis John
Published: April 2023

We say that a random variable is light-tailed if moments of order [Formula: see text] are finite for some [Formula: see text]; otherwise, we say that it is heavy-tailed. We study queueing networks that operate under the max-weight scheduling policy for the case in which some queues receive heavy-tailed and some receive light-tailed traffic. Queues with light-tailed arrivals are often delay stable (that is, expected queue sizes are uniformly bounded over time) but can also become delay unstable because of resource sharing with other queues that receive heavy-tailed arrivals. Within this context and for any given “tail exponents” of the input traffic, we develop a necessary and sufficient condition under which a queue is robustly delay stable, in terms of jumping fluid models—an extension of traditional fluid models that allows for jumps along coordinates associated with heavy-tailed flows. Our result elucidates the precise mechanism that leads to delay instability through a coordination of multiple abnormally large arrivals at possibly different times and queues and settles an earlier open question on the sufficiency of a particular fluid-based criterion. Finally, we explore the power of Lyapunov functions in the study of delay stability.
A combination of three nerve entrapment syndromes, which was difficult to differentiate from a vertebral compression fracture
Authors: Harada Yukinori , Kakura Kentaro , Shimizu Taro
Published: April 2023

Introduction: This report describes the educational case of a patient who developed three different cutaneous nerve entrapment syndromes at the same level of the thoracic nerve, which was difficult to differentiate from a vertebral compression fracture. Case Description: A 74-year-old woman presented with right lower abdominal pain, followed by back and flank pain. During later assessment, anterior, posterior and lateral cutaneous nerve entrapment syndromes at the Th11 level were diagnosed. Conclusion: A combination of three different cutaneous nerve entrapment syndromes can occur in the same patient.
Pharyngeal haemorrhage immediately after intake of fried foods: angina bullosa haemorrhagica
Authors: Yanagita Yasutaka , Hayashi Yasushi , Yokokawa Daiki , Ikusaka Masatomi
Published: April 2023

Angina bullosa haemorrhagica (ABH) is a disease of unknown cause that occurs most frequently in middle-aged and older adults and is characterized by the destruction of blood vessels in the submucosal layer of the middle pharynx and larynx centred on the soft palate, resulting in the formation of haemorrhagic blisters. It usually resolves within a day and heals without scarring within about a week. No treatment is necessary. However, cases of airway obstruction due to haematemesis have been reported, and this potential risk should be considered when tracheal intubation or upper gastrointestinal endoscopy is being performed. In this report, we describe the case of a 50-year-old man who developed a haematoma in the pharynx following upper endoscopy, which spontaneously ruptured and healed, leading to the diagnosis of ABH. The main purpose of this case report is to remind the reader that ABH improves without treatment, thus eliminating the need for unnecessary examination, and that there is a risk of airway obstruction depending on the site of the lesion.
Boswellia papyrifera a tree of economic importance in dry land Sudan: Dendrometric parameters and tapping characteristics
Authors: DAFA-ALLA MOHAMED , ABDELKARIM HASHIM ADAM , ABUELBASHAR AHMED IBRAHIM , HASSAN MUSAB HAMID
Published: April 2023

Abstract. Dafa-Alla M, Abdelkari HA, Abuelbashar AI, Hassan MH. 2022. Boswellia papyrifera a tree of economic importance in dry land Sudan: Dendrometric parameters and tapping characteristics. Asian J For 7: 10-16. We conducted this research in Abugadaf Natural Forest Reserve (ANFR) located within Blue Nile state, Sudan. The objectives were to examine dendrometric parameters and to analyze tapping characteristics for frankincense production. We randomly distributed 97 sample plots; in each, we counted B. papyrifera trees, measured their diameter at breast height (dbh), total height, bole height, and crown diameter, and examined the correlation between crown diameter and dbh. We examined 116 tapping spots made on 13 randomly selected trees. In each tree, we measured upper and lower tapping heights, calculated potentially untapped bole height, counted the number of tapping spots, measured their dimensions, recorded their directions, and compared mean numbers of tapping spots at four directions using one-way ANOVA (?=0.05). Results revealed that the distributions of dbh and the total height of tapped B. papyrifera followed a bell shape, and that of bole height and crown diameter followed a bell-shaped skewed to the right. Results revealed a significant (P=0.000) correlation between crown diameter and dbh (N=499) that trees were tapped at the four directions without significant difference (P=0.427) between mean numbers of tapping spots at the four directions. The study concludes that current tapping practice doesn’t strictly adhere to recommended tapping guides, particularly with minimum lower tapping height and preference of concentration of tapping in east-west directions.
Diversity, density and photo-physiology of micro-phytoplankton from degraded and non-degraded reefs around Rodrigues Island, Western Indian Ocean
Authors: SOONDUR MOUNESHWAR , KAULLYSING DEEPEEKA , RAMAH SUNDY , BHAGOOLI RANJEET
Published: April 2023

Abstract. Soondur M, Kaullysing K, Ramah S, Bhagooli R. 2023. Diversity, density and photo-physiology of micro-phytoplankton from degraded and non-degraded reefs around Rodrigues Island, Western Indian Ocean. Indo Pac J Ocean Life 7: 108-121. This study aimed at investigating the variations in micro-phytoplankton diversity, density and photo-physiology between a degraded, Anse Aux Anglais (AAA) in the north, and a non-degraded, Port Sud-Est (PSE) in the southeast, reefs around Rodrigues Island, Republic of Mauritius. Sampling was carried out in summer and winter seasons from 2016 to 2019 at the two sites, PSE and AAA. Micro-phytoplankton samples were collected using a plankton net of 5µm and conserved with Lugol’s solution. Physico-chemical parameters namely temperature, dissolved oxygen, salinity, and ph were recorded in situ. Seawater samples were collected for nutrient and chlorophyll-a concentration analyses. The Total Micro-Phytoplankton Densities (TMPD) did not differ seasonally for the whole period from 2016 until 2019 but there was a significant difference station-wise (P < 0.01), with higher TMPD recorded at the non-degraded reef of PSE. PSE exhibited the higher species diversity. Diatoms and dinoflagellates were more abundant at PSE while the cyanobacteria showed higher densities at AAA. Genera like Licmorphora, Gonyaulax, Polykrikos, Trichodesmium, and Lygnbya, reported worldwide to possibly cause mortality and/or changing community structure of corals, were recorded at both PSE and AAA though not at blooming densities. Photo-physiological assessment of micro-phytoplankton, using a Diving Pulse-Amplitude-Modulated (D-PAM) fluorometer, varied significantly both seasonally and spatially. These findings indicated that the non-degraded reef site had higher micro-phytoplankton density, diversity and photo-physiological performance than the degraded one, implying that degraded reefs may not only be characterized by the benthic cover and/or their health status but also the biological parameters from the water column.
A case study of the Handeni District (Tanzania) examining drought coping strategies and risk management among pastoralists based on livestock
Authors: MWAKALONGE HEBRON LUSUBILO , CHINGONIKAYA EMMANUEL E.
Published: April 2023

Abstract. Mwakalonge HL, Chingonikaya EE. 2023. A case study of the Handeni District (Tanzania) examining drought coping strategies and risk management among pastoralists based on livestock. Intl J Trop Drylands 7: 1-11. A case study was done to learn more about how pastoralists in the Handeni District, Tanzania, cope with drought. Drought poses a serious threat to pastoralists' way of life globally. The purpose of this research was to analyze and record data on the efficacy of livestock-based risk management and coping mechanisms in mitigating the negative consequences of drought. Despite the common belief that pastoralists can't make a living without their animals, there is a lack of information on how to make pastoral communities more resistant to drought and other dangers, information that is essential for any system of sustainable management. Many efforts have been made to deal with the drought, but it continues to worsen. Therefore, a cross-sectional research strategy was adopted to learn more about cattle risk management and coping strategies. Questionnaires, focus groups, and interviews with key informants were used to gather socio-economic information from 160 herders. Frequencies and percentages were calculated using a statistical software package for social sciences. A regression model was used for inferential statistics to establish a connection between the socio-economic status of pastoral households and the independent variable of interest. A negative correlation with age was found (? = -0.451; p = 0.808), a positive correlation with education (? = 43.821; p = 0.497), a positive correlation with family size (? = 3.379; p= 0.50), a negative correlation with marital status (? = -53.979; p = 0.847), and a positive correlation with the land area (? = 58.898; p = 0.004). Herd mobility positively influenced the socio-economies of pastoral households (? =91.749; p = 0.01), as did the availability of an early warning system (? =; 316.537; p = 0.00) and the timely availability of a market (? = 11.516; p = 0.021). A total of 3.666 animals out of 57,785 were lost due to the effects of the drought. The death rate was 6.34%.
“Being a carer, you just get forgotten!”: exploring the experiences and opportunities of informal primary carers in Australia
Authors: Sharafizad Fleur , Franken Esme , Jogulu Uma , Teo Stephen
Published: April 2023

Despite the reported positive impact of informal personal care on the cared for, carers themselves experience a range of adverse health outcomes. In addition, Australian care policies primarily target the cared for, while the needs of carers tend to be disregarded. This article draws on data collected from 36 interviews with carers who were offered an opportunity to engage in a pilot training programme focused on enhancing opportunities. Viewed through the lens of self-determination theory, the training served as a stimulus in supporting carers’ psychological needs, demonstrating that more targeted, nuanced and meaningful supports are required to maintain carers’ motivation and well-being.
Small lidar ratio of dust aerosol observed by Raman-polarization lidar near desert sources
Authors: Huang Zhongwei , Li Meishi , Bi Jianrong , Shen Xingtai , Zhang Shuang , Liu Qiantao
Published: April 2023

Previous studies have shown that the lidar ratio has a significant influence on the retrieval of the aerosol extinction coefficient via the Fernald method, leading to a large uncertainty in the evaluation of dust radiative forcing. Here, we found that the lidar ratios of dust aerosol were only 18.16 ± 14.23sr, based on Raman-polarization lidar measurements in Dunhuang (94.6°E, 40.1°N) in April of 2022. These ratios are much smaller than other reported results (∼50 sr) for Asian dust. This finding is also confirmed by some previous results from lidar measurements under different conditions for dust aerosols. The particle depolarization ratio (PDR) at 532 nm and color ratio (CR, 1064 nm/532 nm) of dust aerosols are0.28 ± 0.013 and 0.5-0.6, respectively, indicating that extremely fine nonspherical particles exist. In addition, the dust extinction coefficients at 532 nm range from2 × 10−4 to 6 × 10−4m−1for such small lidar ratio particles. Combining lidar measurements and model simulation by the T-matrix method, we further reveal that the reason for this phenomenon is mainly due to the relatively small effective radius and weak light absorption of dust particles. Our study provides a new insight into the wide variation in the lidar ratio for dust aerosols, which helps to better explain the impacts of dust aerosols on the climate and environment.
Multiple-photon bundle emission in the n-photon Jaynes-Cummings model
Authors: Jiang Shu-Yuan , Zou Fen , Wang Yi , Huang Jin-Feng , Xu Xun-Wei , Liao Jie-Qiao
Published: April 2023

We study the multiple-photon bundle emission in the n-photon Jaynes-Cummings model composed of a two-level system coupled to a single-mode optical field via the n-photon exciting process. Here, the two-level system is strongly driven by a near-resonant monochromatic field, and hence the system can work in the Mollow regime, in which a super-Rabi oscillation between the zero-photon state and the n-photon state can take place under proper resonant conditions. We calculate the photon number populations and the standard equal-time high-order correlation functions, and find that the multiple-photon bundle emission can occur in this system. The multiple-photon bundle emission is also confirmed by investigating the quantum trajectories of the state populations and both the standard and generalized time-delay second-order correlation functions for multiple-photon bundle. Our work paves the way towards the study of multiple-photon quantum coherent devices, with potential application in quantum information sciences and technologies.