bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Overexpression of NtERF5, belonging to the ethylene response factor gene family, inhibits potato virus X infection and enhances expression of jasmonic acid/ethylene signaling marker genes in tobacco
Authors: Suzuki Hiyori , Ito Tomoki , Ogata Takuya , Tsukahara Yuki , Nelson Richard S. , Sasaki Nobumitsu , MATSUSHITA Yasuhiko
Published: September 2023

Transcription factors belonging to the family of ethylene response factors (ERFs) in plants function in disease resistance to pathogens. One of the tobacco ERF genes, NtERF5, inhibits the accumulation of tobacco mosaic virus (genus Tobamovirus) when overexpressed in tobacco carrying the resistance gene N. Here, we report that NtERF5 can function as a transcriptional activator through binding of the GCC-box in planta. We then determined whether overexpression of NtERF5 in tobacco lacking the N gene (nn tobacco) inhibited infection by potato virus X (PVX: genus Potexvirus). Transient overexpression of NtERF5 inhibited the accumulation of PVX without affecting virus spread and increased the transcript levels of NtPRB-1b and NtPR6, which are jasmonic acid/ethylene-signaling marker genes encoding pathogenesis-related (PR) proteins. Stable overexpression of NtERF5 in nn tobacco also resulted in decreased PVX accumulation and the induction of the expression of NtPRB-1b and NtPR6. Our results revealed that overexpression of NtERF5 limited successful infection and accumulation of PVX and correlated with increased transcript levels of NtPRB-1b and NtPR6, suggesting the role of NtERF5 as a positive regulator of basal defense against virus infection.
Novel prognostic marker TGFBI affects the migration and invasion function of ovarian cancer cells and activates the integrin αvβ3-PI3K-Akt signaling pathway
Authors: Wang Hao , Xu Yin-hai , Guo Yi
Published: September 2023

Background
Individual patients with ovarian cancer show remarkably different prognosis. Present prognostic models for ovarian cancer mainly focus on clinico-pathological parameters, so quantifiable prognostic markers at molecular level are urgently needed. The platelet contributes to ovarian cancer progression, but fails to be considered as a biomarker due to its susceptibility. Here, we aimed to search for a stable prognostic marker from platelet-treated ovarian cancer cells, and explore its functions and mechanisms.
Methods
Microarrays analysis was done with platelet-treated SKOV-3 ovarian cancer cells. Relevant studies were searched in the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database. The candidate genes were determined by differentially expressed genes (DEGs), Venn diagram drawing, protein-protein interaction (PPI) network, Cox proportional hazards model and Kaplan-Meier analysis. The expression of TGFBI in clinical samples was assessed by immunehistochemical staining (IHC), and the association of TGFBI levels with the clinic-pathological characteristics and prognosis in ovarian cancer patients was evaluated by univariate and multivariate analysis. The functions of TGFBI were predicted using data from TCGA, and validated by in vitro and in vivo experiments. The mechanism exploration was performed based on proteomic analysis, molecular docking and intervention study.
Results
TGFBI was significantly higher expressed in the platelet-treated ovarian cancer cells. An analysis of bioinformatics data revealed that increased expression of TGFBI led to significant decrease of overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS) and post-progression survival (PPS) in ovarian cancer patients. Tissue microarray results showed that TGFBI was an independent factor for ovarian cancer, and TGFBI expression predict poor prognosis. Functionally, TGFBI affected the migration and invasion of ovarian cancer cells by regulation of epithelial mesenchymal transition (EMT) markers (CDH1 and CDH2) and extracellular matrix (ECM) degradation proteins (MMP-2). Mechanistically, TGFBI phosphorylated PI3K and Akt by combining integrin αvβ3.
Conclusions
We found out TGFBI as a novel prognostic indicator for ovarian cancer patients. TGFBI could promote metastasis in ovarian cancer by EMT induction and ECM remodeling, which might be associated with the activation of integrin αvβ3-PI3K-Akt signaling pathway.
Individual heterogeneity and perceptions matter: an analysis of income inequality and subjective well-being
Authors: Dufhues Thomas , Buchenrieder Gertrud , Möllers Judith , Jantsch Antje
Published: September 2023

This paper discusses the ambiguous relationship between income inequality and subjective well-being. It starts from the hypothesis that measures of perceived income inequality and ‘fair’ inequality better explain subjective well-being than objective measures. Not only do people systematically fail to locate their income position within an objectively observable income distribution but income inequality is not always negatively perceived. Individuals seem more tolerant of income inequality if the process leading to it is perceived as fair. Hence, an emerging consensus is that perceived rather than objective income inequality measures are more relevant. Moreover, heterogeneity at the individual level may affect the link between inequality and subjective well-being. Interaction terms between income inequality measures and individual characteristics reveal the heterogeneity of people. We use regression models to analyse a household survey from northern Thailand covering variables that are relevant to this issue. We find only weak evidence that perceived income inequality better explains subjective well-being than objective measures. However, the higher the discrepancy is between perceived inequality and the preferred level of ‘fair’ inequality, the lower the reported subjective well-being becomes. We further show that subjective and objective income inequality measures cannot necessarily replace one another but are complementary. In the model without interaction terms, we find little evidence for the often-quoted tunnel effect (people may feel optimistic about their future income based on other people’s higher incomes), but the tunnel effect appears when interaction terms with other variables are added. This indicates that the tunnel effect is present but hidden by individual heterogeneity.
U-Flow: A U-shaped Normalizing Flow for Anomaly Detection with Unsupervised Threshold
Authors: Tailanian Matías , Pardo Álvaro , Musé Pablo
Published: September 2023

In this work we propose a one-class self-supervised method for anomaly segmentation in images, that benefits both from a modern machine learning approach and a more classic statistical detection theory. The method consists of three phases. First, features are extracted using a multi-scale image Transformer architecture. Then, these features are fed into a U-shaped Normalizing Flow that lays the theoretical foundations for the last phase, which computes a pixel-level anomaly map and performs a segmentation based on the a contrario framework. This multiple-hypothesis testing strategy permits the derivation of robust automatic detection thresholds, which are crucial in real-world applications where an operational point is needed. The segmentation results are evaluated using the Intersection over Union (IoU) metric, and for assessing the generated anomaly maps we report the area under the Receiver Operating Characteristic curve (AUROC), and the area under the per-region-overlap curve (AUPRO). Extensive experimentation in various datasets shows that the proposed approach produces state-of-the-art results for all metrics and all datasets, ranking first in most MvTec-AD categories, with a mean pixel-level AUROC of 98.74%.
Code and trained models are available at https://github.com/mtailanian/uflow.
SpO2/FiO2 ratio. A promising index in predicting mortality in COVID-19 patients
Authors: Zinna Giuseppe , Pipitò Luca , Colomba Claudia , Scichilone Nicola , Licata Anna , Barbagallo Mario , Russo Antonio , Coppola Nicola , Cascio Antonio
Published: September 2023

Objectives: identifying high-risk COVID-19 patients is critical for emergency department decision-making. The primary objective of the study was to identify new independent predictors of mortality and their prognostic utility in combination with traditional pneumonia risk assessment scores.
Methods: a retrospective study was performed in two Italian University Hospitals. A multivariable logistic model was used to locate independent parameters associated with mortality.
Results: age, PaO2/FiO2 (P/F), and SpO2/FiO2 (S/F) ratios were found to be independent parameters associated with 30-day mortality. Study found that PSI was superior to CRB-65 and NEWS in predicting 30-day mortality (AUC: 0.766 vs. 0.763, p=0.981; AUC: 0.766 vs. 0.616, p=0.003). Combination of S/F with CRB-65 and NEWS improved the prognostic accuracy of score compared to “scoring without S/F” (p<0.001 vs. p<0.001 respectively) and compared to PSI (p=0.005 vs. p=0.483 respectively). Combination of P/F with CRB-65 and NEWS produced similar results.
Conclusions: in our study, S/F was an independent parameter of 30-day mortality, and being a non-invasive parameter, it could be a valuable tool for staging COVID-19 patients upon admission to the hospital. The combination of S/F and CRB-65 performed similarly to the PSI, and can be a valid alternative to ferruginous PSI calculation and could provide valuable support for decision-makers.
A novel SARS-CoV-2 detection method based on trans-acting ribozymes and FRET of DNA-hairpins in a hybridization chain reaction
Authors: Silva Leonardo Ferreira da , Queiroz Pedro , Resende Sophia , Gomide Mayna , Oliveira Izadora , Garay Aisel , Souza Amanda , Arce Anibal , Torres Fernando , Silva-Pereira Ildinete , Freitas Sonia , Coelho Cintia
Published: September 2023

The diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 by real-time detection of the viral genome using RT-qPCR (Reverse Transcriptase quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction) and serological methods were essential to control its rapid spread during the pandemic. However, RT-qPCR, which is the gold standard method to identify SARS-CoV-2 at the initial phase of infection, has high costs and other limitations such as refrigeration and specialized equipment and professionals. Therefore, a sensitive, not time consuming, not costly, not laborious, and free of refrigeration and specialized equipment is of utmost importance in view of the threat of future epidemics. Here, we propose a detection method where SARS-CoV-2 RNA is recognized and cleaved by ribozymes releasing an initiator fragment. This fragment triggers a hybridization chain reaction (HCR) with DNA hairpins containing fluorophores which leads to a Fluorescence Resonant Energy Transfer (FRET) interaction. First, a consensus SARS-CoV-2 RNA sequence was identified. This target viral RNA fragment and ribozymes were in vitro transcribed, followed by cleavage reactions. DNA hairpins with Cy3/Cy5 fluorophores were designed and synthesized for FRET-HCR assays that were performed to target the RNA fragment sequences obtained after ribozyme cleavage. Our results indicated that two out of the three designed ribozymes cleaved the target RNA. Furthermore, DNA hairpins with Cy3/Cy5 pairs were efficient in target RNA detection and in triggering FRET-HCR detectable reactions. Altogether, the results of this study laid the cornerstone, as a proof of concept, for the joint use of ribozymes and DNA hairpins with Cy3/Cy5 in FRET-HCR reactions to detect SARS-CoV-2 virus.
Percutaneous pedicle screw fixation combined with selective transforaminal endoscopic decompression for the treatment of thoracolumbar burst fracture
Authors: Pan Junpeng , Huang Ruipeng , Xun Shaoqing , Tong Yuexin , Gong Ping , Zhao Cheng-liang
Published: September 2023

Background
Evaluate the feasibility, safety, efficacy, and indications of percutaneous pedicle screw fixation (PPSF) combined with selective transforaminal endoscopic decompression (TED) in the treatment of thoracolumbar burst fracture (TLBF).
Methods
From August 2015 to August 2020, a total of 54 patients with single-segment TLBF enrolled in this study, of which 36 underwent PPSF alone and 18 underwent TED after PPSF. X-ray and computed tomography were performed before and 1 week after operation. Cobb angle(CA), vertebral wedge angle(VWA), vertebral body compression ratio(VBCR) and mid-sagittal canal diameter compression ratio(MSDCR)were calculated to evaluate the effect of spinal reduction. we used visual analogue scale(VAS), the Oswestry Disability Index(ODI), the Japanese Orthopedic Association score (JOA), and the Frankel Classification of Neurological Deficits to evaluate the effectiveness of surgical treatment before surgery, 1 week, 12 months and 36 months after surgery.
Results
All patients were followed up for 36 months. The decompression group had a higher VBCR and MSDCR than the non-decompression group before surgery. The CA, VBCR, VWA and MSDCR in the two groups were significantly improved compared with those before operation. The VAS, ODI, JOA and Frankel grades of the two groups were significantly improved after operation, and the curative effect was good after 12 months and 36 months of follow-up.
Conclusions
PPSF combined with selective TED in the treatment of TLBF had excellent efficacy, high safety, less injury, and a wide range of indications, which could accurately distinguish patients who did not need spinal canal decompression after posterior fixation.
Biological degradation of natural rubber glove by gram negative bacteria Klebsiella aerogenes
Authors: Chittella Harika , Yoon Li Wan , Ramarad Suganti , Lai Zee-Wei
Published: September 2023

As the urgency and the scope of the global threat posed by the rubber waste is increasing, so have the efforts to find sustainable and efficient solutions. In recent years, biological degradation of rubber waste has been gaining interest as an alternative to conventional waste management practices and widely used chemical methods. The gram-negative bacteria Klebsiella aerogenes was used in the current study to perform natural glove rubber (NGR) degradation. Parameters such as fermentation duration (within 21 days), temperature (30, 35 and 40oC) and pH (6,7 and 8) on the effect of biodegradation was investigated. The biodegraded rubber was characterised by dry weight analysis which showed a maximum weight loss of 17% at pH 7 under 35oC after 21 days. The growth curve analysis showed that a maximum cell concentration of 4.12 g/L in week 2 of the biodegradation process. Increase in viable cell count over the incubation time indicated that rubber waste had suitable carbon source to sustain the culture during the biodegradation process. The visual confirmation of biodegradation was carried out by Schiff’s staining indicating the formation of aldehydes and ketones. Further confirmation on the presence of new aldehydes and ketones peaks were shown in FTIR analysis. Results also showed that highest protein concentration of 657.02 µg/ml and enzyme (laccase and Manganese peroxidase) activity of 0.43 ± 0.05 IU was observed at week 2 of the biodegradation. The experiment results concluded that Klebsiella aerogenes had the highest rubber weight loss in shorter period. This paper is first to report the presence of laccase and MnP enzymes in Klebsiella aerogenes. The bacteria Klebsiella aerogenes is efficient in degrading rubber in a shorter period, further analysis on the biodegradation pathway (mechanism) is worth investigating.
Neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder safely and successfully treated with satralizumab during pregnancy and breastfeeding: a case report
Authors: Yoshida Takashi , Watanabe Osamu , Nomura Miwa , Yoshimoto Yusuke , Maki Yoshimitsu , Takashima Hiroshi
Published: September 2023

Background
Satralizumab, a monoclonal antibody that recognizes interleukin-6 receptors, is known to reduce the relapse rate in neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD), but its safety during pregnancy has not been established. We present the case of an NMOSD patient who safely completed pregnancy, parturition, and breastfeeding under satralizumab treatment. Importantly, satralizumab transfer to umbilical cord blood, infant serum, or breast milk was not observed.
Case presentation
A 37-year-old Japanese female developed anti-aquaporin 4 antibody-positive NMOSD with left optic neuritis. Despite responding to corticosteroid therapy, she experienced moon face and weight gain and desired the prompt reduction of the steroid dosage. She also wanted to conceive a child with a safe and preferably early pregnancy and parturition. Because pregnancy and parturition after the onset of NMOSD elevate the risk of relapse and miscarriage, treatment with satralizumab was initiated with the patient’s consent. She experienced normal parturition and continued satralizumab administration while breastfeeding without experiencing any relapses. Drug concentrations in the umbilical cord blood, infant serum, and breast milk were below the detection sensitivity.
Conclusions
These findings suggest that satralizumab may be safe and effective for the perinatal management of NMOSD, especially when there are concerns about continuing pregnancy and the risk of relapse after parturition.
Measurement of suspended sediment concentration at the outlet of the Yellow River Canyon: Using Sentinel-2 images and machine learning
Authors: Lei Xinyu , Jiang Youjing , Song Genxin , Zhai Shiyan , Dong Yubo
Published: September 2023

The suspended sediment concentration (SSC) is one of the most critical water quality parameters in rivers. Previous studies mainly focused on low-concentration sediment rivers. Besides, the traditional situ monitoring techniques and low-resolution imagery cannot meet the vastly spatial and temporal coverage. The Yellow River is famous for its high sediment content in the world. This research considers the outlet of the Yellow River Canyon as a case study. Based on the SSC data of Longmen Hydrological Station of the Yellow River provided by the Yellow River Conservancy Commission and the Sentinel-2 images from 2019 to 2020, the optimal band combination was selected to construct a random forest non-parametric regression prediction model, and the quantitative estimation of SSC of rivers with high sediment concentration was realized. The results showed that: (i) The determination coefficient (R2) of the SSC estimation model derived from the random forest model is 0.94, satisfying the requirements of high-precision SSC estimation; (ii) The red band and near-infrared band are important predictors of suspended sediment concentration; (iii) Seasonal differences and spatial variation in sediment in YuMen Kou waters are evident. The study's findings demonstrate that the random forest regression model is superior to traditional modeling methods for predicting SSC in sediment-rich rivers.
Metabolic Brain Imaging with Glucosamine CEST MRI: In Vivo Characterization and First Insights
Authors: Rivlin Michal , Perlman Or , Navon Gil
Published: September 2023

The utility of chemical exchange saturation transfer (CEST) MRI for monitoring the uptake of glucosamine (GlcN), a safe dietary supplement, has been previously demonstrated in detecting breast cancer in both murine and human subjects. Here, we studied and characterized the detectability of GlcN uptake and metabolism in the brain. Following intravenous GlcN administration in mice, CEST brain signals calculated by magnetization transfer ratio asymmetry (MTRasym) analysis, were significantly elevated, mainly in the cortex, hippocampus, and thalamus. The in vivo contrast remained stable during 40 minutes of examination, which can be attributed to GlcN uptake and its metabolic products accumulation as confirmed using 13C NMR spectroscopic studies of brain extracts. A Lorentzian multi-pool fitting analysis revealed an increase in the hydroxyl, amide, and relayed nuclear Overhauser effect (rNOE) signal components after GlcN treatment. With its ability to cross the blood-brain barrier (BBB), the GlcN CEST technique has the potential to serve as a metabolic biomarker for the diagnosis and monitoring various brain disorders.
Muscle and Joint Mechanics During Maximum-Force Biting Following Total Temporomandibular Joint Replacement Surgery
Authors: Woodford Sarah C. , Robinson Dale L. , Abduo Jaafar , Lee Peter V.S. , Ackland David C.
Published: September 2023

Total temporomandibular joint replacement (TMJR) surgery is the established treatment for severe temporomandibular joint disorders. While TMJR surgery is known to increase mouth opening capacity, reduce pain and improve quality of life, little is known about post-surgical jaw function during biting and chewing. The aim of this study was to use subject-specific 3D bite force measurements to evaluate the magnitude and direction of joint loading in unilateral total TMJR patients and healthy control subjects. An optoelectronic tracking system was used to measure jaw kinematics during maximum-force biting on a rubber sample in 5 unilateral total TMJR patients and 8 controls. Finite element model simulations driven by the measured kinematics were then employed to calculate the resultant bite force generated when compressing the rubber sample between the maxillary and mandibular teeth. Subject-specific musculoskeletal models were subsequently used to calculate muscle and TMJ loading. Unilateral total TMJR patients generated a bite force of 249.6 ± 24.4 N and 164.2 ± 62.3 N when biting on the contralateral and ipsilateral molars, respectively. In contrast, controls generated a bite force of 317.1 ± 206.6 N. Unilateral total TMJR patients biting on the contralateral molars had a significantly higher lateral TMJ force direction (median difference: 63.6°, p = 0.028), and a significantly lower ratio of working TMJ force to bite force compared to controls (median difference: 0.17, p = 0.049). The findings of this study provide insight into the loading of dental structures, which may influence the design and evaluation of dental implants, and guide TMJ prosthesis design.
The Role of Matrix Metalloproteinase and Apoptosis in Encephalitic Listeriosis of Naturally Infected Sheep
Authors: KARAYIGIT Mehmet Onder , HALIGUR Mehmet , AYDOGAN Ahmet
Published: September 2023

In this study, the role of MMP-2 and MMP-9 in the pathophysiology of meningoencephalitis in naturally infected sheep with Listeria monocytogenesis was investigated. 25 sheep brains with listeric meningoencephalitis were used in the study. 10 slaughterhouse material sheep brains were also used as a control. Tissue sections were stained immunohistochemically with Liseria, MMP-2 and MMP-9 antibodies. TUNEL staining was performed to detect apoptosis which is thought to occur during the neurodegeneration formed in the disease. MMP-2 and MMP-9 were expressed vascular endothelial cells, inflammatory cell, microglia and especially in neurons in infected brain tissue. As a result of the study, MMP-2 and MMP-9 expressions and TUNEL staining were significantly increased in infective tissues compared to controls and this difference was statistically significant. These results suggested that L. monocytogenes-related increases MMP-2 and MMP-9 that the associated apoptosis participate in neurodegeneration and neuropathology in listeric encephalitis
Contrast induced nephropathy in older patients undergoing coronary angiography and intervention: an observational study in Vietnam
Authors: Nguyen Tan Van , Quang Nhi Tuyet , Liu Weber , Trinh Ngo Thi Kim , Nguyen Tu Ngoc
Published: September 2023

Background
Contrast induced nephropathy (CIN) is the third common cause of hospital-acquired renal insufficiency and can negatively impact the treatment effect and increase mortality in older patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). The Mehran risk score has been the most used in Vietnam. In recent years, new simpler risk prediction models have been proposed, in which the contrast volume-to-glomerular filtration rate ratio (CV/GFR ratio) is promising. This study aimed to (1) examine the incidence of CIN in older patients undergoing coronary angiography and/or PCI, (2) compare the validity of the CV/GFR ratio and the Mehran score in predicting CIN, and (3) to identify optimal cut-off points of these scales through which can help identify older patients at high risk of developing CIN.
Method.
This is a prospective cohort study conducted at a tertiary hospital in Vietnam from September 2019 to May 2020. Consecutive patients aged ≥ 60 who underwent coronary angiography and/or PCI were recruited. CIN was defined as a 25% increase in serum creatinine from baseline or 0.5mg/dL absolute increase in serum creatinine within 48 hours post IV contrast administration. The CV/GFR ratio and the Mehran score were applied to predict CIN risk. Receiver Operator Characteristic (ROC) was applied to evaluate the area under the curve (AUC) of the CV/GFR ratio and Mehran score in predicting CIN, and the sensitivity and specificity for common cut-off points that were suggested in previous studies.
Results
There were 170 participants, with a mean age of 70 years and 33.1% were women. The incidence of CIN was 9.4%. Participants with CIN had higher prevalence of chronic kidney disease, heart failure and anaemia at admission. The AUC of the CV/GFR ratio against CIN was 0.79 (95%CI 0.65–0.92), and the Mehran score against CIN was 0.65 (95%CI 0.51–0.82).
Conclusion
Our study found that CIN was common in older patients after PCI. The CV/GFR ratio showed a good prognostic value for predicting CIN in the study participants as the Mehran score. Further research is needed to identify the optimal cut-off values for the CV/GFR ratio in older patients in Vietnam.
Employee wellness programmes and productivity in the Workplace: The case of the Gauteng Department of Education
Authors: Mhangwani Chrisen Eddie , Malindini Kholiswa
Published: September 2023

Orientation - Employee absenteeism has been identified as one of the reasons for the rising health costs for employers. Consequently, employers have acted proactively by sponsoring employee wellness programmes to curb the costs. Theoretically, health promotion programmes tend to reduce absenteeism, stimulate positivity, and enhance productivity.
Research purpose - This paper sought to examine the perceptions of the Gauteng Department of Education employees towards the health promotion programme in averting ill-health absenteeism behaviour.
Research Approach - The paper adopted a qualitative approach and a survey questionnaire as a data collection technique. A purposive sampling technique was utilised to draw a sample of forty employees from the Gauteng Department of Education (GDE) Head offices. The purpose was to elicit participants’ perceptions and experiences concerning the utilisation of the services offered by the GDE health promotion programme.
Main findings - The findings revealed that although the programme is effective to some degree, there are still implementation issues that need to be addressed. Moreover, ethics around the operations of the programme are crucial, and capacity building is necessary for the programme implementors.
Policy implications – Health promotion programmes are key to curbing absenteeism and stimulating productivity; however, implementation and awareness must be improved.
Do Physiotherapists in Nigeria Accept and Adopt Tele-rehabilitation: A Mixed-method Study
Authors: Odetunde Marufat Oluyemisi , Okonji Adaobi Margaret , (PT) Adebola Peace Adeoye B.M.R. , Onigbinde Ayodele Teslim
Published: September 2023

Background Recent exponential increase in adoption of tele-rehabilitation among physiotherapists in developed countries has highlighted its effectiveness in complementing conventional physical contact physiotherapy. However, many low-and middle-income countries have limited evidence on acceptance and adoption of tele-rehabilitation.Method This was a mixed method design of quantitative and qualitative study, aimed at investigating acceptance and adoption of tele-rehabilitation among Physiotherapists in Nigeria. Respondents comprised 331 physiotherapists working in Nigeria and registered with the Medical Rehabilitation Therapists (Registration) Board of Nigeria (MRTB). Quantitative approach involved completion of a 33-item structured questionnaire shared as Google Forms on respondents’ WhatsApp and emails. Qualitative aspect involved in-depth interview with 12 physiotherapists at the clinics, using a 10-item semi-structured interview guide, and recorded with a voice recorder. Quantitative data was analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics at p < 0.05 Alpha level. Qualitative data was analyzed using thematic content analysis.Results Respondents comprised 172 males and 159 females. Their mean age and years of experience were 33.42 ± 8.95 and 8.86 ± 8.037 years respectively. Pre-lockdown, only 62 (18.7%) respondents offered tele-physiotherapy. During the lockdown, 114 (34.4%) offered tele-physiotherapy. Smartphone apps were used by the majority155 (46.8%). 57 (17.2%) respondents were confident that tele-rehabilitation can complement conventional physiotherapy, while 72 (21.8%) kept offering post-lockdown. Use of digital technology was highest for patient education 97 (29.3%), especially for education in musculoskeletal conditions, 85 (25.7%). There were significant associations between pre-lockdown duties (p-value = 0.036), post-lockdown duties (p- value = 0.005), use of digital health technology (p-value = 0.001) with respondents’ age. Significant associations also existed between respondents’ years of practice and each of post-lockdown duties (p-value = 0.017) and use of digital health technology (p-value = 0.001). Qualitative approach revealed that facilitators to adoption and acceptance of tele-rehabilitation included patient education, training of physiotherapists, developing and implementing evidence based guidelines, and affordability and availability of tele-health software and hardware systems. Barriers were lack of or limited technological infrastructures, finances, hospital management support, and knowledge of ICT.Conclusions Physiotherapists in Nigeria demonstrated moderate acceptance but low adoption of tele-rehabilitation. Training of physiotherapists in tele-rehabilitation is recommended. The MRTB and policy makers should provide enabling technological environment for tele-rehabilitation in Nigeria.
MALPRED: Predictive Modeling for Malware Detection in Windows Systems using Ensemble Learning
Authors: Yau Le Qi , Shah Mahir Hitesh , Ang Eugene Jin Yew , Rameshkumar Dhanvine , Chee Justin Suwattana , Lam Yik Ting , Gupta Prannaya
Published: September 2023

Malware infections are a pervasive issue for computers running the Windows operating system. In this study, we present a machine-learning based approach to predict the likelihood of malware infection in Windows machines. Our methodology involves conducting data pre-processing, feature engineering, and selection on the Microsoft Malware Prediction dataset. We then perform extensive experimentation using various machine learning algorithms and identify XGBoost, LightGBM and CatBoost as the 3 best-performing algorithms. Through hyperparameter tuning via the Tree-Structured Parzen Estimator and using a Meta Learner on top of our top 3 best-performing algorithms, our optimal novel model achieves an AUC score of 73.24\% across Stratified 5-fold cross-validation, demonstrating the efficacy of our approach.
Menstrual health and prevalence of menstrual disorders among modern society females in Dhaka, Bangladesh: a cross-sectional study
Authors: Jami Md. Abu Bakar Siddique , Sultana Rezwana , Hasan Md. Mazedul , Ananna Ishrat Jahan
Published: September 2023

Background
Menstrual disorders affect women all around the world, although they are still viewed as minor health problems.
Objective
The objective of this study is to investigate the prevalence of menstrual disorders among modern society females in Dhaka, Bangladesh, and explore potential factors that may influence these disorders.
Study Design:
It is a cross-sectional study using a convenient sampling technique.
Method
A convenient sampling technique was used to collect primary data through a semi-structured questionnaire from 342 female residents of Dhaka, aged at least 15 years, between April 2021 and August 2021. Participants were from different demographic backgrounds.
Results
The mean age of respondents was 22 years ± 8.03. Participants were predominantly educated, with many pursuing undergraduate studies. They mostly belonged to nuclear families (77.7%) and middle (59.5%) to upper-middle (33.1%) socio-economic classes. Prevalent premenstrual symptoms included change in mood (71.6%), cramps (68.9%), abdominal bloating (45.9%), and breast discomfort (38.5%). Dysmenorrhea (50.6%) and menorrhagia (35.2%) were common, while polymenorrhea (10.8%) and oligomenorrhea were less frequent. Despite somewhat knowledge about the negative influence of junk foods on menstrual health, a significant proportion of participants reported consuming junk foods regularly. Most participants had easy access to sanitary napkins and menstrual hygiene products.
Conclusion
Menstrual disorders are prevalent among young women in modern Dhaka, despite their good education rate. Lifestyle and diet are linked to their prevalence. Healthcare professionals must educate and counsel women on menstrual health. Collaborative efforts among professionals, policymakers, and researchers are needed to raise awareness and support women in managing these issues.
Rapidity distribution within the defocusing non-linear Schrödinger equation model
Authors: Bezzaz Yasser , Dubois Léa , Bouchoule Isabelle
Published: September 2023

We consider the classical field integrable system whose evolution equation is the nonlinear Schrödinger equation with defocusing non-linearities, which is the classical limit of the quantum Lieb-Liniger model. We propose a simple derivation of the relation between two sets of conserved quantities: on the one hand the trace of the monodromy matrix, parameterized by the spectral parameter and introduced in the inverse-scattering framework, and on the other hand the rapidity distribution, a concept imported from the Lieb-Liniger model. To do so we use the definition of the rapidity distribution as the asymptotic momentum distribution after a very large expansion. We propose two different ways to derive the result, each one using a thought experiment that implements an expansion.
SİVİL TOPLUM KURULUŞLARININ AFET YÖNETİMİNDEKİ İKAMETLERİNİ SORGULAMAK: BALIKESİR İLİ ÖRNEĞİ
Authors: ÖZKAN Oğuzhan , UZUN Alper
Published: September 2023

Bu çalışmada, afet temalı sivil toplum kuruluşlarının (STK) afet yönetimindeki rollerini nasıl değerlendirdikleri, Balıkesir ili örneğinde ele alınmaktadır. Ayrıca bazı ülkelerde geçerli olan afet yönetimi anlayışı ile STK’ların afet yönetimindeki konumları Balıkesir’le ve Türkiye geneliyle kıyaslanarak değerlendirilmektedir. Böylece Balıkesir’de afet yönetiminin işleyiş açısından sağlıklı olup olmadığının saptanması amaçlanmaktadır. Araştırma kapsamında afet alanında faaliyet gösteren STK’ların bulunması ve dolayısıyla en verimli görüşmelerin bu grupla gerçekleştirileceği ön kabulüyle araştırmada amaçlı örneklem tercih edilmiş ve Balıkesir ilindeki 19 STK’ya bağlı temsilciler ile yarı yapılandırılmış görüşme gerçekleştirilmiştir. Görüşmeler MAXQDA programı aracılığıyla analiz edilmiştir. Buna göre, Balıkesir’deki STK’ların afet yönetimindeki rolleri için katılımcılar tarafından en sık yapılan iki vurgu, halka afet farkındalığının aşılanması ve afetlerden sonra oluşan toplumsal yaraların sarılmasıdır. Katılımcıların görüşleri değerlendirildiğinde ABD ve Japonya gibi afet yönetiminde öncü ülkelere kıyasla Türkiye’deki ve Balıkesir’deki STK’ların afet yönetimindeki rollerinin problemli olduğu anlaşılıp, bu problemlerin dış faktörler kadar kendi bünyelerindeki kusurlardan da kaynaklandığı görülmektedir.
Efektivitas Jus Kurma dan Sari Kacang Hijau terhadap Peningkatan Kadar Hemoglobin Ibu Hamil
Authors: Irmawati Eli , Wiji Rizki Natia , Harianti Rini
Published: September 2023

The study aimed to compare the effectiveness of date palm and mung bean juice on increasing hemoglobin levels in pregnant women in the working area of Tapung Health Center. It was a quasi-experimental with a non-randomized control group design involving 24 pregnant women, 12 in the experimental group (given date palm juice) and 12 in the control group (given green bean juice), each given for seven days. The data was analyzed with t-test. The results showed an increase in the average Hb level after being given date juice from 9.72 to 10.06, and green bean juice with an averages Hb level of 9.15 to 10.22. The result by paired t-test obtained a p-value = 0.004 that indicates the effectiveness of date palm juice in increasing Hb levels of pregnant women in the experimental group, as well as in pregnant women who were given mung bean juice, which indicates an increase in Hb levels (p-value = 0.004). Consumption of mung bean juice by anemic pregnant women is more effective in increasing their Hb level than date palm juice. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengetahui efektivitas jus kurma dan sari kacang hijau terhadap peningkatan kadar hemoglobin pada ibu hamil di wilayah kerja Puskesmas Tapung. Jenis penelitian quasi experimental dengan pendekatan non-randomized control group design dengan 24 sampel ibu hamil yang dibagi ke dalam 2 kelompok perlakuan, yakni 12 ibu hamil kelompok eksperimen (diberi jus kurma) dan 12 ibu hamil kelompok kontrol (diberi sari kacang hijau). Intervensi secara rutin selama 7 hari di masing-masing kelompok. Analisis data dilakukan dengan t-test. Hasil uji statistik menunjukkan bahwa terjadi peningkatan rerata kadar Hb setelah diberi jus kurma dari 9,72 g/dL menjadi 10,06 g/dL. Begitu juga untuk sari kacang hijau dengan rerata Hb dari 9,15 g/dL menjadi 10,22 g/dL. Hasil uji statistik menggunakan paired t-test diperoleh nilai p= 0,004 yang menunjukkan keefektivan jus kurma dalam meningkatkan kadar Hb ibu hamil di kelompok eksperimen, dan untuk ibu hamil yang diberi sari kacang hijau juga diperoleh nilai p= 0,000 yang menunjukkan adanya peningkatan kadar Hb. Konsumsi sari kacang hijau oleh ibu hamil anemia lebih efektif dalam meningkatkan kadar Hb dibandingkan jus kurma.
A Retrospective Analysis of the Lauren Classification in the Choice of
XELOX or SOX as an Adjuvant Chemotherapy for Gastric Cancer
Authors: Wang Ke , Yu Yuanyuan , Zhao Jian , Meng Qianhao , Xu Chang , Ren Jing , Zhang Yanqiao , Wang Yusheng , Wang Guangyu
Published: September 2023

Background:

We aim to retrospectively explore the guiding value of the Lauren classification
for patients who have undergone D2 gastrectomy to choose oxaliplatin plus capecitabine
(XELOX) or oxaliplatin plus S-1 (SOX) as a further systemic treatment after the operation.

Methods:

We collected data of 406 patients with stage III gastric cancer(GC)after radical D2 resection
and regularly received XELOX or SOX adjuvant treatment after surgery and followed
them for at least five years. According to the Lauren classification, we separated patients out into
intestinal type (IT) GC together with non-intestinal type(NIT) GC. According to the chemotherapy
regimen, we separated patients into the SOX group together with the XELOX group.

Results:

Among non-intestinal type patients, the 3-year DFS rates in the SOX group and the
XELOX group were 72.5%, respectively; 54.5% (P=0.037); The 5-year OS rates were 66.8% and
51.8% respectively (P=0.038), both of which were statistically significant.

Conclusion:

The patients of non-intestinal type GC may benefit from the SOX regimen. Differences
were counted without being statistically significant with intestinal-type GC in the SOX or
XELOX groups.
Synthesis and Evaluation of Imidazole Derivatives Bearing Imidazo[2,1-b] [1,3,4]thiadiazole Moiety as Antibacterial Agents
Authors: Xu Wen-Bo , Li Siqi , Zheng Chang-Ji , Yang Yu-Xuan , Zhang Changhao , Jin Cheng-Hua
Published: September 2023

Background:

Drug-resistant infections kill hundreds of thousands of people globally
every year. In previous work, we found that tri-methoxy- and pyridine-substituted imidazoles show
strong antibacterial activities.

Objective:

The aim of this work was to investigate the antibacterial activities and bacterial resistances
of imidazoles bearing an aromatic heterocyclic, alkoxy, or polycyclic moiety on the central
ring.

Methods:

Three series of 2-cyclopropyl-5-(5-(6-methylpyridin-2-yl)-2-substituted-1H-imidazol-4-
yl)-6-phenylimidazo[2,1-b][1,3,4]thiadiazoles (13a-e, 14a-d, and 15a-f) were synthesized and their
antibacterial activity was evaluated. The structures were confirmed by their 1H NMR, 13C NMR,
and HRMS spectra. All the synthesized compounds were screened against Gram-positive, Gramnegative,
and multidrug-resistant bacterial strains.

Results:

More than half of the compounds showed moderate or strong antibacterial activity. Among
them, compound 13e (MICs = 1-4 μg/mL) showed the strongest activity against Gram-positive and
drug-resistant bacteria as well as high selectivity against Gram-negative bacteria. Furthermore, it
showed no cytotoxicity against HepG2 cells, even at 100 μM, and no hemolysis at 20 μM.

Conclusion:

These results indicate that compound 13e is excellent candicate for further study as a
potential antibacterial agent.
Proteome-wide Profiling Reveals Molecular Mechanism Underlying the
Therapeutic Effect of Mongolian Medicine Sulongga-4 on Pyloric
Ligation-induced Gastroduodenal Ulcer in Rats
Authors: Wu Yuan Yuan , Ling Ling , Anggelima  , Lan Du , Tergel  , Gao Ya Nan , Cai Wen Cheng , Tong Shan , Wang Huan
Published: September 2023

Background:

Gastroduodenal ulcer is one of the common global gastrointestinal diseases.
Sulongga-4 is a traditional Mongolian medicine used for the treatment of gastroduodenal ulcer. However,
the molecular mechanism underlying the therapeutic effect of Sulongga-4 on gastroduodenal ulcer in
the proteome has not been clarified.

Objective:

The purpose of this study was to explore the molecular mechanism behind the therapeutic
efficacy of traditional Mongolian medicine Sulongga-4 on pyloric ligation-induced gastroduodenal
ulcer in rats.

Methods:

Gastroduodenal ulcer was induced by pyloric ligation in rats. The pathological changes of
gastric and duodenal tissues were observed first, and then the serum levels of AST and ALT were
measured. The significantly different proteins were verified by western blot and qRT-PCR.

Results:

The proteomics results showed that the Mongolian medicine Sulongga-4 might act on pyloric
ligation-induced gastroduodenal ulcer through differentially expressing several proteins, including
RPL35, RPL37, and LOC102548628 in gastric tissue, as well as Serpin b1a, Serpin b6a, and Vtn in
duodenal tissue by regulating ribosome, alcoholism and amoebiasis, and complement and coagulation
cascade pathways. In addition, the changes in serum AST and ALT levels in rats showed gastroduodenal
ulcer to be associated with liver injury.

Conclusion:

Sulongga-4 has shown a robust therapeutic effect against gastric duodenal ulcer. This therapeutic
effect may be mainly associated with pathways of ribosome, alcoholism in gastric tissue, and
amoebiasis, as well as complement and coagulation cascades in duodenal tissue.
Behavioural Variant Frontotemporal Dementia due to CCNF Gene Mutation:
A Case Report
Authors: You Feng-Ling , Xia Gao-Fu , Cai Jing
Published: September 2023

Background:

Frontal, temporal lobe dementia (FTD) and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
(ALS) are fatal neurodegenerative diseases. Studies have found that CCNF mutations have been
found in patients with familial and sporadic ALS and FTD. Behavioural variant frontotemporal dementia
(bvFTD) is a clinical syndrome characterized by progressive deterioration of personality, social
behaviour, and cognitive function, which is most closely related to genetic factors. As the early
symptoms of bvFTD are highly heterogeneous, the condition is often misdiagnosed as Alzheimer's
disease or psychiatric disorders. In this study, a bvFTD patient had a CCNF gene mutation, which
led to ubiquitinated protein accumulation and ultimately caused neurodegenerative disease. Genetic
detection should be improved urgently for bvFTD patients and family members to provide a clinical
reference for early diagnosis of frontotemporal dementia.

Case Presentation:

In this case, the patient was 65 years old with an insidious onset, early-onset
memory loss, a significant decline in the episodic memory, an early AD diagnosis, and oral treatment
with donepezil hydrochloride for 3 years with poor efficacy, followed by a change to oral memantine
hydrochloride tablets, which controlled the condition for several months. His medication
was switched to sodium oligomannate capsules, and his condition was gradually controlled, but no
significant improvement was observed. After spontaneous drug withdrawal, the patient’s condition
progressed rapidly; therefore, he visited our hospital and underwent neuropsychological tests for
moderate to severe cognitive impairment. AD cerebrospinal fluid markers showed no significant abnormalities,
and cranial MRI revealed frontotemporal lobe atrophy and decreased hippocampal volume.
Genetic testing for the presence of the CCNF gene revealed a c.1532C > A (p. T511N)
heterozygous variant, which might be a diagnostic criterion for bvFTD. Therefore, the patient's
symptoms recurred after transient improvement with the combination of donepezil, oral memantine
hydrochloride tablets, and sodium oligomannate, but his overall condition was improved compared
to that before, and this treatment regimen was continued to observe changes during the follow-up.

Conclusion:

The early clinical manifestations of bvFTD are complex and variable, and the condition
is easily misdiagnosed, thus delaying treatment. Therefore, for patients with a high clinical suspicion
of FTD, in addition to a detailed understanding of their medical history and family history
and improvement of relevant examinations, genetic testing should be performed as early as possible
to help confirm the diagnosis. For diseases closely related to genes, genetic testing of other family
members should be optimised as much as possible to allow early diagnosis and intervention and
guide fertility in the next generation.
Early Chronic Stress Induced Changes within the Locus Coeruleus in Sporadic
Alzheimer’s Disease
Authors: Minné Donné , Marnewick Jeanine L. , Engel-Hills Penelope
Published: September 2023

Chronic exposure to stress throughout the lifespan has been the focus of many studies
on Alzheimer's disease (AD) because of the similarities between the biological mechanisms involved
in chronic stress and the pathophysiology of AD. In fact, the earliest abnormality associated
with the disease is the presence of phosphorylated tau protein in locus coeruleus neurons, a brain
structure highly responsive to stress and perceived threat. Here, we introduce allostatic load as a
useful concept for understanding many of the complex, interacting neuropathological changes involved
in the AD degenerative process. In response to chronic stress, aberrant tau proteins that begin
to accumulate within the locus coeruleus decades prior to symptom onset appear to represent a
primary pathological event in the AD cascade, triggering a wide range of interacting brain changes
involving neuronal excitotoxicity, endocrine alterations, inflammation, oxidative stress, and amyloid
plaque exacerbation. While it is acknowledged that stress will not necessarily be the major precipitating
factor in all cases, early tau-induced changes within the locus coeruleus-norepinephrine
pathway suggests that a therapeutic window might exist for preventative measures aimed at managing
stress and restoring balance within the HPA axis.