bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Peripheral blood DNA methylation and neuroanatomical responses to HDACi treatment that rescues neurological deficits in a Kabuki syndrome mouse model
Authors: Goodman Sarah Jessica , Luperchio Teresa Romeo , Ellegood Jacob , Chater-Diehl Eric , Lerch Jason P. , Bjornsson Hans Tomas , Weksberg Rosanna
Published: October 2023

Background

Recent findings from studies of mouse models of Mendelian disorders of epigenetic machinery strongly support the potential for postnatal therapies to improve neurobehavioral and cognitive deficits. As several of these therapies move into human clinical trials, the search for biomarkers of treatment efficacy is a priority. A potential postnatal treatment of Kabuki syndrome type 1 (KS1), caused by pathogenic variants in KMT2D encoding a histone-lysine methyltransferase, has emerged using a mouse model of KS1 (Kmt2d+/βGeo). In this mouse model, hippocampal memory deficits are ameliorated following treatment with the histone deacetylase inhibitor (HDACi), AR-42. Here, we investigate the effect of both Kmt2d+/βGeo genotype and AR-42 treatment on neuroanatomy and on DNA methylation (DNAm) in peripheral blood. While peripheral blood may not be considered a “primary tissue” with respect to understanding the pathophysiology of neurodevelopmental disorders, it has the potential to serve as an accessible biomarker of disease- and treatment-related changes in the brain.

Methods

Half of the KS1 and wildtype mice were treated with 14 days of AR-42. Following treatment, fixed brain samples were imaged using MRI to calculate regional volumes. Blood was assayed for genome-wide DNAm at over 285,000 CpG sites using the Illumina Infinium Mouse Methylation array. DNAm patterns and brain volumes were analyzed in the four groups of animals: wildtype untreated, wildtype AR-42 treated, KS1 untreated and KS1 AR-42 treated.

Results

We defined a DNAm signature in the blood of KS1 mice, that overlapped with the human KS1 DNAm signature. We also found a striking 10% decrease in total brain volume in untreated KS1 mice compared to untreated wildtype, which correlated with DNAm levels in a subset KS1 signature sites, suggesting that disease severity may be reflected in blood DNAm. Treatment with AR-42 ameliorated DNAm aberrations in KS1 mice at a small number of signature sites.

Conclusions

As this treatment impacts both neurological deficits and blood DNAm in mice, future KS clinical trials in humans could be used to assess blood DNAm as an early biomarker of therapeutic efficacy.
The co-occurrence of Kikuchi–Fujimoto disease and systemic lupus erythematosus: a case report
Authors: Yousefi Maysam , Rukerd Mohammad Rezaei Zadeh , Binafar Hanieh , Shoaie Sahar , Mirkamali Hanieh , Pourzand Pouria , Kaveh Roxana
Published: October 2023

Background

Kikuchi–Fujimoto disease is an uncommon systemic disease that mostly affects young women. Kikuchi–Fujimoto disease typically manifests as necrotizing lymphadenopathy, which frequently follows by a fever; however, Kikuchi–Fujimoto disease occurs rarely in extranodal regions. One of the most important accompaniments of Kikuchi–Fujimoto disease is its connection with autoimmune diseases such as systemic lupus erythematosus. This case presents a simultaneous occurrence of Kikuchi–Fujimoto disease with liver involvement and systemic lupus erythematosus in a young female patient.

Case presentation

We present a rare case of a 20-year-old white woman who presented with fever, joint pains, myalgia, and shortness of breath. Initial hospitalization and treatment for fever of unknown origin did not yield improvement. Physical examination revealed cervical and supraclavicular lymphadenopathy, and laboratory investigations showed abnormal blood counts, elevated inflammatory markers, and positive autoimmune serologies. Imaging studies revealed bilateral pleural effusion and liver lesions. Lymph node biopsy confirmed the diagnosis of Kikuchi–Fujimoto disease, and liver biopsy showed extranodal involvement. The patient was diagnosed with Kikuchi–Fujimoto disease-associated systemic lupus erythematosus and treated with hydroxychloroquine and corticosteroids. The patient showed gradual resolution of symptoms and lymphadenopathy with treatment.

Conclusion

Kikuchi–Fujimoto disease is a rare systemic condition primarily impacting young females. It is characterized by necrotizing lymphadenopathy, often accompanied by fever. Although Kikuchi–Fujimoto disease is predominantly seen in the lymph nodes, occurrences in non-nodal areas are infrequent. When diagnosing Kikuchi–Fujimoto disease, it is essential to screen patients for systemic lupus erythematosus. In this particular case, we observed liver involvement along with the presence of both Kikuchi–Fujimoto disease and systemic lupus erythematosus.
Synergistic anticancer activity of cisplatin combined with tannic acid enhances apoptosis in lung cancer through the PERK-ATF4 pathway
Authors: Zheng Xiang , Yang Lei , Zhai Wei , Geng Nana , Zhang Zhimin , Li Xueying , Wu Mingsong
Published: October 2023

Background

Cisplatin (CDDP) is a common anticancer drug whose side effects limit its clinical applications. Tannins (TA) are plant-derived polyphenols that inhibit tumor growth in different types of cancer. Here, we evaluated the anticancer effect of TA combined with CDDP on lung cancer cell lines (GLC-82 and H1299) and investigated the underlying molecular mechanism of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress-induced apoptosis.

Methods

Cell lines were treated with CDDP, TA, and CDDP + TA, and the effect of the combination was assessed using MTT assay and observed under light and fluorescence microscopes. Cell apoptosis was detected by flow cytometry, and the levels of ERS apoptosis pathway related genes were valuated by qRT-PCR and western blotting. The effects of the drug combination on the tumors of nude mice injected with H1299 cells were investigated, and the expression of key factors in the ER stress apoptotic pathway was investigated.

Results

The combination of CDDP and TA significantly inhibited lung cancer cell viability indicating a synergistic antitumoral effect. The mRNA and protein expression levels of key ER stress factors in the CDDP + TA group were considerably higher than those in the CDDP and TA groups, the tumor volume in tumor-bearing mice was the smallest, and the number of apoptotic cells and the protein expression levels of the key ER stress in the combination group were considerably higher.

Conclusions

The combination of TA and CDDP may produce synergistic antitumoral effects mediated by the PERK-ATF4-CHOP apoptotic axis, suggesting a novel adjuvant treatment for lung cancer.
A transformer-based multi-task deep learning model for simultaneous infiltrated brain area identification and segmentation of gliomas
Authors: Li Yin , Zheng Kaiyi , Li Shuang , Yi Yongju , Li Min , Ren Yufan , Guo Congyue , Zhong Liming , Yang Wei , Li Xinming , Yao Lin
Published: October 2023

Background

The anatomical infiltrated brain area and the boundaries of gliomas have a significant impact on clinical decision making and available treatment options. Identifying glioma-infiltrated brain areas and delineating the tumor manually is a laborious and time-intensive process. Previous deep learning-based studies have mainly been focused on automatic tumor segmentation or predicting genetic/histological features. However, few studies have specifically addressed the identification of infiltrated brain areas. To bridge this gap, we aim to develop a model that can simultaneously identify infiltrated brain areas and perform accurate segmentation of gliomas.

Methods

We have developed a transformer-based multi-task deep learning model that can perform two tasks simultaneously: identifying infiltrated brain areas segmentation of gliomas. The multi-task model leverages shaped location and boundary information to enhance the performance of both tasks. Our retrospective study involved 354 glioma patients (grades II-IV) with single or multiple brain area infiltrations, which were divided into training (N = 270), validation (N = 30), and independent test (N = 54) sets. We evaluated the predictive performance using the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) and Dice scores.

Results

Our multi-task model achieved impressive results in the independent test set, with an AUC of 94.95% (95% CI, 91.78–97.58), a sensitivity of 87.67%, a specificity of 87.31%, and accuracy of 87.41%. Specifically, for grade II-IV glioma, the model achieved AUCs of 95.25% (95% CI, 91.09–98.23, 84.38% sensitivity, 89.04% specificity, 87.62% accuracy), 98.26% (95% CI, 95.22–100, 93.75% sensitivity, 98.15% specificity, 97.14% accuracy), and 93.83% (95%CI, 86.57–99.12, 92.00% sensitivity, 85.71% specificity, 87.37% accuracy) respectively for the identification of infiltrated brain areas. Moreover, our model achieved a mean Dice score of 87.60% for the whole tumor segmentation.

Conclusions

Experimental results show that our multi-task model achieved superior performance and outperformed the state-of-the-art methods. The impressive performance demonstrates the potential of our work as an innovative solution for identifying tumor-infiltrated brain areas and suggests that it can be a practical tool for supporting clinical decision making.
Outcomes in Children, Adolescents, and Young Adults With Down Syndrome and ALL: A Report From the Children's Oncology Group
Authors: Rabin Karen R. , Devidas Meenakshi , Chen Zhiguo , Ji Lingyun , Kairalla John , Hitzler Johann K. , Yang Jun J. , Carroll Andrew J. , Heerema Nyla A. , Borowitz Michael J. , Wood Brent L. , Roberts Kathryn G. , Mullighan Charles G. , Harvey Richard C. , Chen I-Ming , Willman Cheryl L. , Reshmi Shalini C. , Gastier-Foster Julie M. , Bhojwani Deepa , Rheingold Susan R. , Maloney Kelly W. , Mattano Leonard A. , Larsen Eric C. , Schore Reuven J. , Burke Michael J. , Salzer Wanda L. , Winick Naomi J. , Carroll William L. , Raetz Elizabeth A. , Loh Mignon L. , Hunger Stephen P. , Angiolillo Anne L.
Published: October 2023

PURPOSE

Patients with Down syndrome (DS) and B-ALL experience increased rates of relapse, toxicity, and death. We report results for patients with DS B-ALL enrolled on Children's Oncology Group trials between 2003 and 2019.

METHODS

We analyzed data for DS (n = 743) and non-DS (n = 20,067) patients age 1-30 years on four B-ALL standard-risk (SR) and high-risk trials.

RESULTS

Patients with DS exhibited more frequent minimal residual disease (MRD) ≥0.01% at end induction (30.8% v 21.5%; P < .001). This difference persisted at end consolidation only in National Cancer Institute (NCI) high-risk patients (34.0% v 11.7%; P < .0001). Five-year event-free survival (EFS) and overall survival (OS) were significantly poorer for DS versus non-DS patients overall (EFS, 79.2% ± 1.6% v 87.5% ± 0.3%; P < .0001; OS, 86.8% ± 1.4% v 93.6% ± 0.2%; P < .0001), and within NCI SR and high-risk subgroups. Multivariable Cox regression analysis of the DS cohort for risk factors associated with inferior EFS identified age >10 years, white blood count >50 × 103/μL, and end-induction MRD ≥0.01%, but not cytogenetics or CRLF2 overexpression. Patients with DS demonstrated higher 5-year cumulative incidence of relapse (11.5% ± 1.2% v 9.1% ± 0.2%; P = .0008), death in remission (4.9% ± 0.8% v 1.7% ± 0.1%; P < .0001), and induction death (3.4% v 0.8%; P < .0001). Mucositis, infections, and hyperglycemia were significantly more frequent in all patients with DS, while seizures were more frequent in patients with DS on high-risk trials (4.1% v 1.8%; P = .005).

CONCLUSION

Patients with DS-ALL exhibit an increased rate of relapse and particularly of treatment-related mortality. Novel, less-toxic therapeutic strategies are needed to improve outcomes.
Trends and Components of Thyroid Status Evaluation in Commercially Insured Adults in the United States, 2006-2020
Authors: Morris Earl J , Vouri Scott M , Maraka Spyridoula , Singh Ospina Naykky
Published: October 2023

Context

Thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) is one of the most ordered laboratory tests.

Objective

Determine trends of TSH testing rates and components of thyroid function testing.

Methods

This was a retrospective analysis of adults 18-64 years old without evidence of thyroid disease with at least 365 days of continuous enrollment between 2006 and 2020 in the IBM MarketScan Claims Database. The main outcome measures were trends of TSH tests/1000 eligible patient-months stratified by age, sex, and region and composition of thyroid function testing.

Results

Among 67 353 280 patients meeting eligibility criteria, we identified 25 606 518 TSH tests and 15 138 211 patients with ≥1 TSH test. Patients contributing an episode of TSH testing were most commonly 45-54 years old (29.8%) and female (63.6%). TSH testing rates remained consistent throughout the study period with 11.4 and 11.7 TSH tests/1000 person-months in the first and last study months, respectively (mean 12.2 TSH tests/1000 person-months). TSH testing rates dropped sharply in the spring of 2020 (4.2 TSH tests/1000 person-months). Females showed a nearly 2-fold higher rate of TSH testing than males (16.1 TSH tests/1000 person-months vs 8.6 TSH tests/1000 person-months). TSH testing rates increased with age (8.2 TSH tests/1000 person-months among individuals 18-34 years old vs 15.4 TSH tests/1000 person-months among individuals 55-64 years old). No difference in TSH testing rates was noted between regions. Thyroid function testing episodes included only TSH in most cases (70.8%).

Conclusion

TSH testing rates among commercially insured individuals without known thyroid disease appears stable over time, with higher frequency in females and with increasing age.
Treatment of Intrathecal Drug Pump Flipping Using Fascial Flaps: A Technical Description and Case Series
Authors: Taghlabi Khaled M. , Bhenderu Lokeshwar S. , Guerrero Jaime R. , Hagopian Alexa De la Fuente , Farhat Souha , Rajendran Sibi , Cruz-Garza Jesus G. , Dinh Tue , Faraji Amir H.
Published: October 2023

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES:

Intrathecal drug therapy is a common treatment for dystonia, pain, and spasticity using implanted pump and catheter systems. Standardized management of intrathecal drug pump (ITDP) migration and flipping has not been well established in the literature. This study reports the use of soft tissue to address less common pump complications such as pump flipping, migration, and difficulty in medication refill.

METHODS:

A retrospective chart review of intrathecal pump cases performed by two surgeons between February 2020 and August 2022 was conducted. Patients with complications such as pump flipping, migration, or challenges in medication refill treated with soft tissue flaps were included. Patient demographics, comorbidities, and perioperative data were collected.

RESULTS:

A total of five patients with ITDP complicated by pump flipping, migration, malposition, or difficulty in medication refill that were treated using fascial flaps were included in the study. Three technical considerations when revising ITDP complications are secure pump anchoring, reliable wound closure, and ease of pump medication refill. Cases 1 and 2 demonstrate the technique of secure pump anchoring with a rectus fascial flap. Cases 3 and 4 show a technique to achieve reliable vascularized wound closure, and case 5 describes a technique to solve an uncommon problem of a thick subcutaneous abdominal tissue preventing the refill of the ITDP medication.

CONCLUSION:

Soft tissue flaps may serve as a treatment option for patients with uncommon ITDP complications. De-epithelialized dermal fasciocutaneous or fascial flaps may be developed to anchor the pump more securely. Cross-discipline collaboration may further delineate the technique, benefits, and outcomes of this approach.
Oral Contraception Use and Musculotendinous Injury in Young Female Patients: A Database Study
Authors: RODRIGUEZ LUIS A. , LIU YIDA , SOEDIRDJO SUBARYANI D. H. , THAKUR BHASKAR , DHAHER YASIN Y.
Published: October 2023

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to characterize the effect of sex and the influence of oral contraception usage on musculotendinous injury (MTI). Current literature suggests a disparity in the incidence of MTI between males and females. This may be attributed to inherent biological differences between the sexes, such as in the sex hormonal milieu. There is a lack of information associating sex hormone milieu and MTI.

Methods

We searched the PearlDiver database (a for-fee healthcare database) for males, females taking oral contraceptives (OC), and eumenorrheic females not taking any form of hormonal contraceptives (non-OC) 18–39 yr old. The three populations were matched by age and body mass index. We queried the database for lower-extremity skeletal MTI diagnoses in these groups.

Results

Each group contained 42,267 patients with orthopedic injuries. There were a total of 1476 (3.49%) skeletal MTI in the male group, 1078 (2.55%) in non-OC females, and 231 (0.55%) in OC females. Both the non-OC and the OC groups had a significantly smaller proportion of MTI than males (P < 0.0001), and therefore these groups were less likely (adjusted odds ratios, 0.72 and 0.15, respectively) to experience MTI when controlled for potential covariates.

Conclusions

In this study, we show that females are less likely to develop MTI to total injuries, when compared with males, with OC using females being least likely followed by non-OC females. These results are consistent with other epidemiological studies; however, overall results in the literature are variable. This study adds to the emerging body of literature on sex hormone–influenced musculoskeletal injury but, more specifically, MTI, which have not been rigorously investigated.
Trade-ins and Transaction Costs in the Market for Used Business Jets
Authors: Hodgson Charles
Published: October 2023

Manufacturers of durable goods can encourage consumers facing transaction costs to upgrade by accepting used units as trade-ins. These “buyback schemes” increase demand for new units, but increase the supply of used units if trade-ins are resold. I investigate the equilibrium effects of buyback schemes in the market for business jets. I find that buyback increases manufacturer revenue by 7.2 percent at fixed prices. However, in equilibrium this revenue gain is diminished by 43 percent due to substitution away from new jets among first time buyers. I show how the size of this cannibalization effect depends on preference heterogeneity. (JEL D23, G34, L13, L62)
VODKA2: a fast and accurate method to detect non-standard viral genomes from large RNA-seq data sets
Authors: Achouri Emna , Felt Sébastien A. , Hackbart Matthew , Rivera-Espinal Nicole S. , López Carolina B.
Published: October 2023

During viral replication, viruses carrying an RNA genome produce non-standard viral genomes (nsVGs), including copy-back viral genomes (cbVGs) and deletion viral genomes (delVGs), that play a crucial role in regulating viral replication and pathogenesis. Because of their critical roles in determining the outcome of RNA virus infections, the study of nsVGs has flourished in recent years, exposing a need for bioinformatic tools that can accurately identify them within next-generation sequencing data obtained from infected samples. Here, we present our data analysis pipeline, Viral Opensource DVG Key Algorithm 2 (VODKA2), that is optimized to run on a parallel computing environment for fast and accurate detection of nsVGs from large data sets.
Angiographic characteristics of culprit lesions in infarct related artery and correlation of TIMI score with SYNTAX score to predict extent and severity of coronary artery disease in patients undergoing primary percutaneous coronary interventions
Authors: Rizwanullah  , Sial Jawaid Akbar , Ali Nasir , Shehzad Muhammad
Published: October 2023

Objective: The current study was designed to explore the relationship of TIMI and SYNTAX risk score to predict the CAD extent and severity in STEMI patients.

Methods: For this cross-sectional study, 304 STEMI patients undergoing PPCI were enrolled at Department of Interventional Cardiology NICVD Karachi from September 2021 to January 2022. and the TIMI risk score was determined at enrolment. Based on these scorings, the patients were grouped as low, intermediate, and high risk, i.e., a score of ≤ 3, 4 to 7, and ≥ 8, respectively. The SYNTAX scores were utilized to assess the extent of CAD.

Results: Statistically significant difference was found in symptoms to balloon time (p=0.001), history of diabetes (p=0.006), angina (p=0.011), obesity (p=0.048), STEMI type (p=0.003), Killip classes (p=0.000), Infarct-Related Artery (p=0.006), number of diseased vessels (p<0.01), LMS > 50% (p=0.000), PCI type (p<0.01), collateral circulation (p<0.01), In-hospital mortality (p<0.01), LV support (p<0.01), and post-procedural TIMI flow (p=0.013), among  the three TIMI risk groups. Significant correlation was found among TIMI risk score and SYNTAX score.

Conclusion: It is observed that the TIMI risk scores are highly correlated with the SYNTAX Score in predicting the CAD severity in STEMI patients.

doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.40.1.7750

How to cite this: Rizwanullah, Sial JA, Ali N, Shehzad M. Angiographic characteristics of culprit lesions in infarct related artery and correlation of TIMI score with SYNTAX score to predict extent and severity of coronary artery disease in patients undergoing primary percutaneous coronary interventions. Pak J Med Sci. 2024;40(1):---------. doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.40.1.7750

This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Views and practices on medical cannabis of unlicensed providers in Thailand: a qualitative study
Authors: Assanangkornchai Sawitri , Saingam Darika , Thaikla Kanittha , Talek Muhammadfahmee
Published: October 2023

Background: Despite the legalization of cannabis use for medical purposes in Thailand in February 2019, illicit providers are still widespread and accessible. This study aimed to understand why people still chose to receive medical cannabis treatment or products from unlicensed or illegal providers. The practices of unlicensed or illegal providers in provision of medical cannabis products or treatment services were also examined. Methods: Qualitative in-depth interviews were conducted among medical cannabis providers and users, including 36 unlicensed and 7 licensed providers and 25 users in 2019-2021. Snowball sampling was used to recruit participants until saturation of data was achieved. Interviews included open-ended questions about the providers’ practices and attitudes towards medical cannabis. Interviews were recorded and transcribed, and thematic analysis was performed. Results: Overall, six reasons were identified to answer why unlicensed/illicit providers were still popular, including: 1) easy accessibility; 2) familiarity with the unlicensed providers before the legal scheme became available; 3) favorable characters (kind, supportive, non-judgmental) of unlicensed providers; 4) affordable treatment fees; 5) trust in the quality of the medicines; and 6) lack of knowledge and negative attitudes towards cannabis from healthcare professionals. Most providers started their career as medical cannabis providers by using it themselves or with their relatives and being satisfied with the results. They used cannabis products to treat all diseases, including skin, eyes, HIV/AIDS, non-communicable diseases and all kinds of cancers. Additionally, they believed that it was effective, with no or minimal adverse effects. Conclusions: This study suggests that some patients will continue receiving medical cannabis treatment and products from unlicensed or illegal providers. More attention should be paid on increasing the capacity of medical cannabis service systems within public health hospitals, and the certification of unlicensed providers, so as to integrate them into a regulated system.
A dataset about Spanish young people’s digital skills, use of technology and online platforms
Authors: Aranda Daniel , Mohammadi Leila , Blasco Mireia Montaña , Estanyol Elisenda , Fernández-de-Castro Pedro
Published: October 2023

Background: The datafication scenario of the current communicative ecosystem poses a challenge to media and digital literacy, especially in terms of participation and civic and democratic engagement of youth. Methods: For this purpose, through a survey with a representative sample of 600 young people in Spain, between 16 and 18 years old, we observed their level of digital literacy through three variables: technical competencies, informational competencies, and critical knowledge. This dataset also collects information on the reasons why young people use digital technology such as video games, consoles, computers or mobile phones. On the other hand, we also offer information on the types of social networks or applications and the time and types of uses by youngsters of different digital technologies and social media platforms. The survey includes socio-demographic factors such as gender including (male, female, and others). Conclusions: This survey offers researchers relevant data on the digital skills of Spanish youth and on the perceptions of the use of different digital technologies. This paper also reports the main descriptive data that can be expanded by researchers accessing the database.
Knowledge of obstetric danger signs and associated factors among pregnant women attending antenatal care services at Thai community hospital
Authors: Koovimon Pruk , Kaikaew Kasiphak , Mahoree Khanittha , Bumphenkiatikul Thanapob
Published: October 2023

Background: To decrease preventable maternal mortality, providing health education to all parties is mandatory. Good knowledge, including awareness of pregnant women regarding obstetric danger signs (ODS), leads to appropriate practices and services. The knowledge of ODS varies among countries and regions. Since the data in rural regions of Thailand remains unavailable, this study aimed to identify the prevalence of good ODS knowledge and associated factors among pregnant women attending antenatal services at a Thai community hospital. Methods: We performed a cross-sectional, analytical study in 415 singleton pregnant women who visited the antenatal clinic at Wang Saphung Hospital, Loei, Thailand. A well-trained research assistant interviewed all participants using the data record form containing twenty items on the demographic and obstetric data and sixteen items on ODS knowledge. An ODS score of at least 75% (12 points) was considered a good level of knowledge. Results: A total of 275 participants (66.27%) had good knowledge of ODS. The most recognized ODS was vaginal bleeding whereas the least recognized ODS during pregnancy was convulsion; the least recognized ODS during labor and delivery was retained placenta. Multivariate regression analysis showed that the predictive factors of good OBS knowledge included a higher education level, maternal age of at least 20 years, and having medical personnel as a source of knowledge. Conclusions: In a rural setting of Thailand, two-thirds of pregnant women had good ODS knowledge. Identifying those at risk for fair and poor ODS knowledge and prompt management for the vulnerable subgroups might help decrease maternal mortality.
The altered sputum microbiome profile in patients with moderate and severe COPD exacerbations, compared to the healthy group in the Indian population
Authors: Hazra Druti , SM Fayaz , Chawla Kiran , Sintchenko Vitali , Martinez Elena , Magazine Rahul , Siddalingaiah Nayana
Published: October 2023

Background: Microbial culture-independent sequencing techniques have advanced our understanding of host-microbiome interactions in health and disease. The purpose of this study was to explore the dysbiosis of airway microbiota in patients with moderate or severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and compare them with healthy controls. Methods: The COPD patients were investigated for disease severity based on airflow limitations and divided into moderate (50%≤FEV1<80% predicted) and severe groups (FEV1<50% predicted). Spontaneous sputum samples were collected and, the V3-V4 regions of the 16S rRNA coding gene were sequenced to examine the microbiome profile of COPD and healthy participants. Results: A total of 45 sputum samples were collected from 17 severe COPD, 12 moderate COPD cases, and 16 healthy volunteers. The bacterial alpha diversity (Shannon and Simpson’s index) significantly decreased in the moderate and severe COPD groups, compared to healthy samples. A significantly higher proportion of Firmicutes and Actinobacteria were present in moderate COPD, and Proteobacteria numbers were comparatively increased in severe COPD. In healthy samples, Bacteroidetes and Fusobacteria were more abundant in comparison to both the COPD groups. Among the most commonly detected 20 bacterial genera, Streptococcus was predominant among the COPD sputum samples, whereas Prevotella was the top genus in healthy controls. Linear discriminant analysis (LDA>2) revealed that marker genera like Streptococcus and Rothia were abundant in moderate COPD. For severe COPD, the genera Pseudomonasand Leptotrichia were most prevalent, whereas Fusobacterium and Prevotella were dominant in the healthy group. Conclusions: Our findings suggest a significant dysbiosis of the respiratory microbiome in COPD patients. The decreased microbial diversity may influence the host immune response and provide microbiological biomarkers for the diagnosis and monitoring of COPD.
PKD1 gene mutation and ultrasonographic characterization in cats with renal cysts
Authors: Jaturanratsamee Kotchapol , Jiwaganont Palin , Sukumolanan Pratch , Petchdee Soontaree
Published: October 2023

Background: Polycystic kidney disease (PKD) has a complex phenotype partly explained by genetic variants related to this disease. Ultrasonography is a promising approach for defining clinical signs. This study aimed to assess kidney characteristics in cats with Polycystin-1 (PKD1) gene mutations and wild-type cats. Kidney characteristics were identified by ultrasonography. Methods: A total of 108 cats of variable breeds aged an average of 37.01±3.50 months were included. Blood examination and biochemical tests were evaluated. For cystic formation, renal ultrasound was performed. The PKD1 gene mutation was identified via polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and DNA sequencing. Matrix correlation and effectiveness of ultrasound for PKD1 mutation detection were determined. Results: The results showed that 19.44% of cats had PKD1 mutations, a high prevalence in Persian and Persian-related breed cats. Our results demonstrated the characteristics of kidneys in wild-type cats and cats with gene mutations. Based on ultrasonography results, there was an association between cats with gene mutations and cyst formation. The findings indicated that ultrasound did not detect cysts in cats aged 4-36 months, supporting the evidence that PKD1 gene mutations may not be present. This study found high sensitivity and renal specificity ultrasound for PKD1 heterozygous mutation. Moreover, cystic formation via renal ultrasound showed an increased risk for PKD1 mutation 2,623 times compared to normal kidneys. Conclusions: Ultrasonographic examination, coupled with genetic investigations, may help to clarify the phenotypic variability of PKD1. The phenotypic profile of PKD1 will guide therapeutic outcomes and reduce the prevalence of PKD morbidity and mortality in cats.
Pendampingan Wanita Penggerak Halal Untuk Eskalasi Pemahaman Ekosistem Halal di Lingkungan Majelis Taklim Kota Bandung
Authors: Imaniyati Neni Sri , Wiyanti Diana , Putra Panji Adam Agus , Trimelawati Reni
Published: October 2023

Aktivitas majelis taklim di Kota Bandung sangat signifikan. Peningkatan aktivitas majelis taklim salah satunya yakni dengan hadirnya Wanita Penggerak Halal. Masih minimnya pengetahuan serta literasi berkaitan dengan topik halal dan transaksi ekonomi dan bisnis syariah khususnya di lingkungan majelis taklim Kota Bandung menjadi salah satu tujuan diadakannya kegiatan pengabdian kepada masyarakat ini. Pengabdian yang dilakukan oleh Tim PKM Unisba ini adalah untuk meningkatkan pemahaman serta literasi mengenai urgensi konsumsi halal serta pemahaman mengenai kegiatan ekonomi dan bisnis syariah pada masyarakat khususnya berupa pendampingan kepada Wanita pegerak halal yang di dalamnya terdiri dari ibu-ibu majelis taklim di kota Bandung. Metode yang digunakan dalam PKM berupa pendampingan yaitu meliputi sosialisasi, workshop, pelatihan, praktek langsung, dan evaluasi. Dalam kegiatan ini dilakukan post-test terkait pemahaman dasar terkait halal dan ekonomi syariah, Temuan dalam pelaksanaan pendampingan ini adalah Masyarakat masih belum sepenuhnya memiliki pemahaman terkait makanan halal dan produk halal, serta minimnya kegiatan-kegiatan ekonomi dan bisnis yang sesuai dengan prinsip syariah. Dengan kegiatan ini terdapat peningkatan pemahaman pada masyarakat khususnya ibu-ibu majelis taklim. Pengabdian ini berguna bagi masyarakat untuk meningkatkan pemahaman terkait produk halal. Adapun saran dalam kegiatan PKM ini adalah perlu adanya literatis bagi majelis taklim di kota Bandung berkaitan dengan produk-produk halal serta kegiatan ekonomi berbasis syariah sehingga majelis-mejelis taklim dapat mengaplikasikannya dalam kehidupan sehari-hari.
¿El rey ha muerto? ¿Viva el rey?
Authors: Cortijo Ocaña Antonio
Published: October 2023

Abstract: Según Cortijo Ocaña la novela sentimental sí existe y se define por un carácter experimental, de tanteo y prueba durante su existencia porque los autores bucean con este género en las posibilidades de tratar de modo coherente (técnico, argumental, etc.) el tema del amor, manteniendo con ello tensiones/relaciones con el género de la lírica cancioneril y el artúrico-caballeresco en especial.
German Influences on Ottoman Film Propaganda during World War I
Authors: Dinç Enis
Published: October 2023

abstract: When the Ottoman Empire entered World War I, it lacked the experience of other European countries in using modern propaganda techniques to mobilize its population for the war effort. The German Empire assisted the Ottomans to set up a propaganda machine in which cinema, the most modern visual technology of the time, also had a role to play. Through the analysis of primary sources such as films, photographs, memoirs, letters, and reports, this article sheds light on the forgotten role of the Germans in introducing film propaganda to the Ottomans during World War I.
Rereading Analects 2.3: Law, Rites, and Dignity in Confucius
Authors: Li Sha
Published: October 2023

Abstract: Analects 2.3 is a key passage in the construal of Confucius' political and legal thought, but readings of it diverge. Many scholars view it as a broader evaluation of the rule of law relative to that of rites, while some read it more specifically as pertaining to the coercive enforcement of morality. Some read the quotation as an instrumental, conformist tenet, whereas some perceive its humanistic and ethical nature. Textual and contextual findings show that the latter categories in both cases are the more plausible. This clarification illuminates differences between Confucius' notion of virtue-rites guidance and later variations that may lack respect for moral autonomy.
RETRACTED: Temperature prediction of Bragg grating sensing based on a one-dimensional convolutional neural network
Authors: Shao Xiangxin , Chang Shige , Jiang Hong , Tang Rui
Published: October 2023

In this paper, we propose a new (to us) way of demodulating the grating sensing spectrum using a one-dimensional convolutional neural network (1DCNN) to overcome the limitation of the traditional fitting method of temperature demodulation for subway tunnel fires. This method constructs a one-dimensional convolutional neural network model and combines it with the experimental device of a fiber Bragg grating (FBG) temperature measurement. One thousand eight hundred spectra of experimental data are selected as sample data for training. Adam’s random optimization algorithm is used in training to predict the temperature of multiple periods, with an accuracy of 99.95% and a root-mean-square deviation (RMSE) of 0.0832°C. The experiment shows that the algorithm in this paper is better than the GRU and LSTM algorithms, as traditional maximum peak methods, and can effectively improve the measurement accuracy. This article aims to provide a high-speed demodulation solution for FBG-based sensing systems to meet the practical needs of large-scale real-time monitoring.
Compensation of the tool influence function changes under neighborhood effect in atmospheric pressure plasma processing
Authors: Ji Peng , Li Duo , Jin Yuan , Su Xing , Wang Bo
Published: October 2023

Nowadays, computer controlled optical surfacing (CCOS) is greatly developed in the fabrication of ultra-precision optical surfaces. As one of the deterministic CCOS techniques, atmospheric pressure plasma processing (APPP) can achieve the efficient removal based on the chemical reaction. In this process, the temperature rising issue caused by plasma heating is of great importance for accelerating the etching rate, but also increases the difficulty of deterministic removal control, because the tool influence function (TIF) in APPP is no longer time-invariant. In the existing research, the time-variant TIF model can describe the TIF changes to a certain degree, which is considered in the dwell time calculation. However, there inevitably exists the strong neighborhood effect, which indicates that the TIFs of different dwell points are thermally interacted. Thus, the existing time-variant TIF model is no longer accurate for predicting TIF changes, and not suitable for application to further compensation. To solve this, the compensation of TIF changes under neighborhood effect is proposed in this paper. First, the mechanism of TIF changes caused by neighborhood effect is explained in depth. Then, the theoretical analysis is implemented and the compensation method is systematically discussed, encompassing the tool path optimization, model of TIF changes and dwell time calculation. Further, the proposed method is demonstrated and verified by a series of simulations. Finally, the experimental validation is carried out, which proves the capability of achieving high-precision removal and high convergence rate.
Fiber chromatic confocal method with a tilt-coupling source module for axial super-resolution
Authors: Sun Zhuang , Huang Xiangdong , Yang Chao
Published: October 2023

Current fiber chromatic confocal probes suffer from a low axial resolution. This study proposes a fiber chromatic confocal method with a tilt-coupling source module for axial super-resolution. An annular intensity distribution is generated at the fiber port of the probe by adjusting the tilt-coupling angle between the fiber and source module to reduce the width of the confocal axial response characteristic curve at each wavelength and to enhance the intensity contrast of the spectral signal. Compared with the coaxial coupling state, the developed 21° tilt-coupling state can reduce the FWHM by approximately 17%, and the axial resolution increases by 1.7 times.
Recognition and reconstruction of cell differentiation patterns with deep learning
Authors: Dirk Robin , Fischer Jonas L. , Schardt Simon , Ankenbrand Markus J. , Fischer Sabine C.
Published: October 2023

Cell lineage decisions occur in three-dimensional spatial patterns that are difficult to identify by eye. There is an ongoing effort to replicate such patterns using mathematical modeling. One approach uses long ranging cell-cell communication to replicate common spatial arrangements like checkerboard and engulfing patterns. In this model, the cell-cell communication has been implemented as a signal that disperses throughout the tissue. On the other hand, machine learning models have been developed for pattern recognition and pattern reconstruction tasks. We combined synthetic data generated by the mathematical model with spatial summary statistics and deep learning algorithms to recognize and reconstruct cell fate patterns in organoids of mouse embryonic stem cells. Application of Moran’s index and pair correlation functions forin vitroand synthetic data from the model showed local clustering and radial segregation. To assess the patterns as a whole, a graph neural network was developed and trained on synthetic data from the model. Application toin vitrodata predicted a low signal dispersion value. To test this result, we implemented a multilayer perceptron for the prediction of a given cell fate based on the fates of the neighboring cells. The results show a 70% accuracy of cell fate imputation based on the nine nearest neighbors of a cell. Overall, our approach combines deep learning with mathematical modeling to link cell fate patterns with potential underlying mechanisms.
Explanation of clustering result based on multi-objective optimization
Authors: Chen Liang , Zhong Caiming , Zhang Zehua
Published: October 2023

Clustering is an unsupervised machine learning technique whose goal is to cluster unlabeled data. But traditional clustering methods only output a set of results and do not provide any explanations of the results. Although in the literature a number of methods based on decision tree have been proposed to explain the clustering results, most of them have some disadvantages, such as too many branches and too deep leaves, which lead to complex explanations and make it difficult for users to understand. In this paper, a hypercube overlay model based on multi-objective optimization is proposed to achieve succinct explanations of clustering results. The model designs two objective functions based on the number of hypercubes and the compactness of instances and then uses multi-objective optimization to find a set of nondominated solutions. Finally, an Utopia point is defined to determine the most suitable solution, in which each cluster can be covered by as few hypercubes as possible. Based on these hypercubes, an explanations of each cluster is provided. Upon verification on synthetic and real datasets respectively, it shows that the model can provide a concise and understandable explanations to users.
Time for You: A process evaluation of the rapid implementation of a multi-level mental health support intervention for frontline workers during the COVID-19 pandemic
Authors: McCann Bryan , Hunter Simon C. , McAloney-Kocaman Kareena , McCarthy Paul , Smith Jan , Calveley Eileen
Published: October 2023

The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic had wide-ranging negative impacts on mental health. The pandemic also placed extraordinary strain on frontline workers who were required to continue working and putting themselves at risk to provide essential services at a time when their normal support mechanisms may not have been available. This paper presents an evaluation of the Time for You service, a rapidly developed and implemented intervention aimed at providing frontline workers with quick access to flexible online mental health support. Time for You provided service users with three service options: self-guided online cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) resources; guided engagement with online CBT resources; 1–1 psychological therapy with trainee sport and exercise psychologists and trainee health psychologists. A process evaluation informed by the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research considered service fidelity, adaptations, perceived impact, reach, barriers, and facilitators. Interviews with project managers (n = 5), delivery staff (n = 10), and service users (n = 14) explored perceptions of the service implementation and outcomes, supported by data regarding engagement with the online CBT platform (n = 217). Findings indicated that service users valued the flexibility of the service and the speed with which they were able to access support. The support offered by Trainee Psychologists was perceived to be of high quality, and the service was perceived by service users to have improved mental health and wellbeing. The rapid implementation contributed to issues regarding appropriate service user screening that led to trainee psychologists being unable to provide the service users with the support they needed as the presenting issues were outside of trainees’ competencies. Overall, the findings suggest that interventions offering flexible, online psychological support to frontline workers can be an effective model for future interventions. Trainee psychologists are also able to play an important role in delivering such services when clear screening processes are in place.
Disease decreases variation in host community structure in an old-field grassland
Authors: Grunberg Rita L. , Halliday Fletcher W. , Heckman Robert W. , Joyner Brooklynn N. , O’Keeffe Kayleigh R. , Mitchell Charles E.
Published: October 2023

Disease may drive variation in host community structure by modifying the interplay of deterministic and stochastic processes that shape communities. For instance, deterministic processes like ecological selection can benefit species less impacted by disease. When communities have higher levels of disease and disease consistently selects for certain host species, this can reduce variation in host community composition. On the other hand, when host communities are less impacted by disease and selection is weaker, stochastic processes (e.g., drift, dispersal) may play a bigger role in host community structure, which can increase variation among communities. While effects of disease on host community structure have been quantified in field experiments, few have addressed the role of disease in modulating variation in structure among host communities. To address this, we conducted a field experiment spanning three years, using a tractable system: foliar fungal pathogens in an old-field grassland community dominated by the grassLolium arundinaceum, tall fescue. We reduced foliar fungal disease burden in replicate host communities (experimental plots in intact vegetation) in three fungicide regimens that varied in the seasonal duration of fungicide treatment and included a fungicide-free control. We measured host diversity, biomass, and variation in community structure among replicate communities. Disease reduction generally decreased plant richness and increased aboveground biomass relative to communities experiencing ambient levels of disease. These changes in richness and aboveground biomass were consistent across years despite changes in structure of the plant communities over the experiment’s three years. Importantly, disease reduction amplified host community variation, suggesting that disease diminished the degree to which host communities were structured by stochastic processes. These results of experimental disease reduction both highlight the potential importance of stochastic processes in plant communities and reveal the potential for disease to regulate variation in host community structure.