bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Evaluation of caesarean rates according to Robson classification using a newly developed smart phone application in a tertiary centre in Sri Lanka: Comparative study
Authors: Jayasundara Chandana , Piyadigama Indunil , Jayawardane Asanka , Perera Ananda
Published: September 2024

Objective
Caesarean section (CS) rates are increasing in Sri Lanka. More than half of births will occur through CS by 2025. CS should be medically indicated to reduce maternal morbidity. Robson classification is useful in assessing the indications for CS. It is difficult to obtain high-quality prospective data using traditional data collection methods. We intend to assess the use of new technology for this purpose.
Methods
We used the RobsApp® which is a newly developed smart phone application from April to October 2019 at the professorial unit De Soysa Hospital for Women (DSHW) for prospective data collection and analysis of 1712 deliveries according to Robson classification. This data is compared with Robson standards and previous traditional data collection methods.
Results
The quality of data gathered matched the recommendations by Robson guidance. The overall CS rate was 33.0%. The majority of the CS were carried out for Robson category 5a. Breech presentation accounted for 11.6% of CSs. Emergency CS contributed to 49.6% with CTG abnormalities being the most frequent indication.
Conclusions
RobsApp® is a convenient method for prospective data collection which allows achievement of the data quality recommended by the Robson guidance. The CS rates are rising in professorial unit DSHW. Increasingly CS are being performed for reasons other than for past sections.
Physician Associate (PA) students’ perceptions of Team-Based Learning (TBL) for teaching in Geriatric medicine
Authors: Aweid Basaam , Parnis Natalie , Harrison David
Published: September 2024

Background
Physician Associates have recently been introduced to the UK healthcare workforce. Their curriculum includes important topics in Geriatric medicine. As they undertake a 2-year intensive postgraduate course we wanted to explore if Team-based Learning is an effective and efficient learning strategy. In addition, we wanted to know how this approach compares to their current learning methods, namely Problem-based learning and lectures.
Methods
This was a qualitative study of Physician associate student perceptions of Team-Based Learning. After introducing four TBL sessions in the specialty of Geriatric medicine we sent students anonymous questionnaires asking them about their TBL experience and how it compared to PBL and lectures. We then undertook a thematic analysis of the responses.
Results
Twenty students responded to our online questionnaire. The thematic analysis utilised themes from previous studies as well as emergent ones. The key themes were that TBL requires more preparation, TBL is effective, TBL is preferred to PBL and lectures, but students did not want TBL to replace all their teaching.
Conclusions
TBL is an effective learning strategy that can be used alongside other teaching methods. While Physician Associate students preferred TBL over PBL and lectures, they wanted to have TBL alongside lectures at least. This information is important when planning teaching for an intensive 2-year course.
Targeted Drug Delivery Using Polymeric Encapsulation for Enhanced Antineoplastic Activity
Authors: PAUL SAMRAT , Basak Piyali
Published: September 2024

A non-repairable genomic mutation in cell cycle proteins can endow targeted cells with unlimited replicative potential, leading to the inappropriate overexpression of oncogenes or the formation of novel oncogenes, alongside the concurrent underexpression of tumor suppressor genes. This results in the development of neoplastic cells with invasive characteristics, commonly referred to as cancer cells. Current cancer therapies focus on targeted drug delivery systems designed to modify the drug release profile and ADME (absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion) properties, thereby minimizing side effects on non-cancerous cells. Bis(Iso-thiocyanatomethyl) Benzene, an antineoplastic compound, was isolated and purified from the leaves of Moringa oleifera, as reported in the literature. This compound was successfully encapsulated with a 68% efficiency (n = 3) into a polyvinyl alcohol matrix, resulting in the creation of nano/micro-sized "polymeric encapsulated sub-micron particles (PESP)" through a one-step modified binary nonsolvent conservation method. The details of this process have been documented in Indian patent file no: 544591. A single-dose cell viability assay revealed that the PESP-loaded compound inhibited the MDA-MB-231 cell line more effectively than the MCF-7 cell line, while demonstrating lower cytotoxicity towards peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). In silico studies showed that the compound interacted with estrogen and epidermal growth factor receptors, inducing apoptosis in MDA-MB-231 cells via a caspase-dependent pathway. Additionally, the polyvinyl alcohol matrix enhanced the binding and bioavailability of the PESP, as confirmed by cell-based adhesion and soft agar colony formation assays. This advanced delivery system is thus considered a promising method for achieving targeted antineoplastic activity.
Lightweight Detection and Mitigation Method for IP Spoofing Attacks in Software Defined Network
Authors: Wang Kun , Fu Yu , Duan Xueyuan , Liu Taotao
Published: September 2024

In response to the problems of high computational overhead and lack of flexibility in traditional IP spoofing attack mitigation methods, a method for mitigating IP spoofing attacks in SDN based on a dynamic restriction strategy is proposed. By using the triplet information in the Packet-In message to trace the attack path and locate the source host of the IP spoofing attack; the controller formulates a dynamic restriction strategy to limit the new flow forwarding function of the switch port connected to the attack source host, and then restores its function to forward new flows after the restriction period expires; the duration of the restriction period increases with the number of times it is detected as an attack source. This dynamic restriction strategy can prevent attack traffic from entering the SDN network, thereby effectively avoiding the overload of SDN switches, controllers, and links. Additionally, since there is no need for real-time monitoring of these restricted switch ports during the restriction period, this method has a higher mitigation efficiency and consumes fewer resources when dealing with long-duration attacks compared to traditional methods.
Submission to: Phytoparasitica Occurrence of ash whitefly, Siphoninus phillyreae (Haliday) (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae), in Brazil
Authors: Lourenção André , Evans Gregory A. , Soares Nyeppson de Sousa , Palma Gabriel Rodrigues , Costa Valmir Antonio , Wengrat Ana Paula Gonçalves  da Silva , Savaris Marcoandre
Published: September 2024

Siphoninus phillyreae (Haliday) (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) is a polyphagous species with a wide geographical distribution and high invasion potential. In South America, it has been documented in Venezuela, Chile, Peru and Argentina. Pomegranate leaves [Punica granatum L. (Lythraceae)] containing whitefly eggs, nymphs, puparia, and adults were collected in the municipalities of Campinas, Piracicaba (São Paulo), Planaltina (Goiás), São João dos Patos (Maranhão), Floriano (Piauí), and Janaúba (Minas Gerais). Based on morphological characters, the species was identified as S. phillyreae in the collections. Additionally, parasitism by Encarsia brasiliensis (Hempel) was observed in Piracicaba. The adults collected in Piracicaba underwent molecular characterization, validating the morphological identification. In Brazil, the pomegranate tree is often grown as an ornamental plant in gardens due to the beauty of its leaves, flowers, fruits, and medicinal properties. Thus, due to the increase in pomegranate cultivation, an appropriate management plan for this pest is necessary. Therefore, this is the first record of the S. phillyreae in Brazil, expanding its distribution in South America.
A Comparati̇ve Evaluati̇on of the Effects of Covi̇d-19 on the Quali̇ty of Li̇fe Oncology Pati̇ents İn the World and İn Turkey
Authors: Akgul Ismail , Yildiz Yesim , Celik Bulent , Unsal Oktay , Ozet Ahmet
Published: September 2024

Aim: COVID-19 pandemic has affected all aspects of life. With this study, we aimed to evaluate the effects of the pandemic on the quality of life (QOL) of oncology patients.
Material and Methods: This study was conducted on 220 outpatients and inpatients of medical oncology clinics of Gazi University Hospital, through face-to-face interviews in the period between August 2020 and February 2021. Data were collected with the WHOQOL Scale and the original questionnaire.
Results: Being younger, being in a higher level of education, living in metropolitan cities, and having a higher salary; increased the patients' QOL. The physical subscale scores (SS) were found to be significantly lower in those who needed surgery, chemotherapy, and hospitalization (p<0.05). The social SS of those who continued their working life and the environmental SS of those whose care support was not affected were found to be significantly higher (p<0.05). The physical and psychological SS of those who did not think that COVID-19 "negatively affects the course of the disease" was significantly higher (p<0.05). The physical SS of those who experienced the anxiety of being infected with COVID-19 at a “moderate” level was found to be significantly lower (p<0.05). The physical and psychological SS of "outpatient" oncology patients were found to be significantly higher (p<0.05). The physical, psychological, social, and environmental SS of oncology patients with other chronic diseases were significantly lower (p<0.05). Any of the SS of the WHOQOL Scale did not show a significant difference according to gender, marital status, and employment status (p>0.05).
Conclusıon: As the pandemic still continues, besides medical care, more intense psychological and social support should be provided to oncology patients.
Cytotoxicity and apoptotic-inducing effect of 1-(1-tosyl-1H-indol-3yl)propan-1-one against lung cancer cells
Authors: Bonifacio Joao Henrique Oliveira , Franca Mariana Nobre Farias , Melo Marcos Vinicius Barbosa , Santos Jileno Ferreira , Oliveira Cristiane Almeida Santos , Amaral Ricardo Guimaraes , Cavalcanti Sócrates Cabral de Holanda , Correa Cristiane Bani
Published: September 2024

Background
Lung cancer is the most prevalent and deadly cancer in the world. In the search for new antineoplastic drugs, research into derivatives of natural products revealed the constant evolution of science to provide treatments with fewer adverse effects. Indole is a natural compound found in plants and microorganisms with proven antitumor activity. Modifications to its structure can potentiate its cytotoxic effect on tumor cells. Thus, the aim of this study was to evaluate the cytotoxic potential of the synthetic indole derivative 1-(1-tosyl-1H-indol-3-yl)propan-1-one in tumor cell lines.
Methods
Sulforhodamine B (SRB) was used to evaluate the cytotoxic effect of compound 1-(1-tosyl-1H-indol-3-yl)propan-1-one against lung cancer (A549), breast cancer (MCF7) and prostate cancer (PC-3) cell lines. Furthermore, the hemolysis assay was carried out on human erythrocytes. The clonogenic and wound healing assays were used to analyze the reduction in colony formation and the migratory capacity of the A549 cell line, respectively. DAPI and Phalloidin/FITC were used to observe morphological changes. Death by apoptosis and necrosis were assessed by flow cytometer.
Results
The highest inhibitory effect was observed in the A549 cell line, with an IC50 of 2.6 µM. The A549 cell line was further selected for additional biological tests, considering the IC50 and the epidemiological relevance of this cancer. No hemolytic activity was observed in human erythrocytes after exposure to 1-(1-tosyl-1H-indol-3-yl)propan-1-one. In the colony formation test, clone inhibition was observed in the A549 cell line at a concentration of 5.2 µM. In the migration analysis, we observed that the compound inhibited wound closure in the A549 cells at the highest concentrations after 48 h of treatment. In addition, morphological changes characteristic of apoptosis, such as cytoplasmic reduction and changes in the disposition of actin filaments, were observed in the A549 cell line by staining with DAPI and phalloidin/FITC dyes. These results corroborate the flow cytometry results, which showed that the treatment induced apoptosis in the A549 cells.
Conclusions
Our results showed that the compound 1-(1-tosyl-1H-indol-3-yl)propan-1-one inhibited cell growth, migration and colony formation and promote cell death via apoptosis in A549 cell line.
Prevalence of Sleep Disorders and Its Impact on Academic Performance among Medical Students in Port Said University: A Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Ismail Youssef A. , El-Husseini Ahmed M. , Ahmed Nada M. , Auf Huda A. , Sadik Shahd A. , El-Barbari Mutuaz , Sultan Adam , Azzam Hassan , El-Tahlawy Salsabel , Mostafa Hanya S. , Ali Yasmeen
Published: September 2024

Background
Sleep is essential for human health, with significant physiological changes occurring during sleep. Sleep disorders, which are prevalent among university students, can impair various bodily systems and negatively impact academic performance.
Objective
This study aims to estimate the prevalence of sleep disorders, academic performance and assess the relationship between academic performance and sleep quality among medical students at Port Said University.
Methods
This cross-sectional study included 438 medical students from the Colleges of Medicine, Pharmacy, Nursing, and Physical Therapy at Port Said University, conducted from March 2023 to May 2024. Participants completed a self-administered questionnaire, which included the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and the Academic Self-Efficacy (ASE) Scale. The PSQI assessed sleep quality across seven components, and the ASE evaluated academic self-efficacy.
Results
The median global PSQI score among participants was 7 (IQR = 4), indicating poor sleep quality in 67.1% of students. The highest median component scores were for subjective sleep quality, sleep latency, disturbances, and daytime dysfunction. The ASE scores indicated moderate-to-high academic self-efficacy, with notable deficits in time management and exam preparation among poor sleepers. Statistically significant gender differences were observed, with female students exhibiting higher global PSQI scores (p = 0.025) and greater sleep disturbances (p < 0.001). Medication-taking students, particularly those on vitamin/mineral supplements, also reported poorer sleep quality (p = 0.042). Notably, significant differences were found between academic grades, with third and sixth-year students showing higher sleep efficiency issues (p = 0.001). Additionally, specific academic faculties showed significant disparities in sleep disturbances, particularly Pharmacy students (p = 0.001).
Conclusion
The study revealed a high prevalence of poor sleep quality among medical students at Port Said University, affecting their academic performance. Female students and those on medication were particularly at risk. The results highlight the importance of addressing sleep health in academic settings to enhance student well-being and performance.
The Development of Micro-zonation of Vegetation for Conservation of Plawangan Hill in Mount Merapi National Park, Indonesia
Authors: Khan Kamran , Hermawan Taufik Tri , Sadono Ronggo , Wilopo Wahyu
Published: September 2024

The micro-zonation of vegetation was developed by using the criteria and sub-criteria derived from other objectives, as documented in the literature of previous studies. This study employed the K-means clustering algorithm to discern variations in the criterion. The Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) analytical technique was utilized to estimate the weight and score of criteria that were vital for producing the micro-zonation of vegetation. Hence, the data collection procedure entailed conducting comprehensive interviews and manually completing questionnaires with experts. A total of four experts participated, including professionals from Taman Nasional Gunung Merapi and the forestry department of Universitas Gadjah Mada. The spatial evaluation was conducted using ArcMap 10.4 software following the processing of the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) utilizing an Excel sheet. The objective is to develop a geo-ecological model by creating a micro-zonation for vegetation on Plawangan Hill for conservation. The results showed that the AHP analysis of the micro-zonation of vegetation resulted in the highest weight (0.197) for the history of volcanic eruptions. Following this were the vegetation characteristics based on altitude (0.128), land cover (0.117), TNGM zone (0.096), elevation (0.092), slope (0.082), intensity of rainfall (0.073), and soil nutrients (0.056). The micro-zonation of vegetation further resulted in five clusters and five priorities. Cluster 3 became priority 1 and had an area of 33.56 hectares, or 24%, followed by Cluster 1, which became second priority and had an area of 26.55 hectares, or 19%. Cluster 5 became the third priority and had an area of 36.08 hectares, or 26%, while Cluster 4 became the fourth priority and had an area of 35.15 hectares, or 25%. The last zone was cluster 2, which became the fifth priority and had an area of 6.88 hectares, or 5%. The findings then proposed activities that could be greatly beneficial to apply to Plawangan Hill as a conservation area. The Plawangan Hill wilderness zone comprised nearly 70% of the area that was designated as a priority zone. All clusters, except for cluster 4, exhibited attributes associated with the utilization and wilderness zones of research areas. The TNGM's managerial team shall prioritize and take significant measures to conserve the land, which is designated as a utilization zone. It is imperative to reforest and restore certain regions of Plawangan Hill with indigenous vegetation that is well-suited to the ecosystems of the Low Land Tropical Forest and the Low Mountain Tropical Forest.
Periodic variation of anomalous cosmic ray oxygen during solar cycles 23 and 24
Authors: Kotzé Pieter , Mursula Kalevi
Published: September 2024

We investigate the evolution of the Rieger periodicity at 152 − 156 days, the 27-day synodic rotation period as well as the 13.5 and 9-day harmonic periodicities in anomalous cosmic ray (ACR) oxygen (O) fluxes at the energy range between 8 - 25 MeV/n observed by the Advanced Composition Explorer(ACE) satellite during solar cycles 23 and 24. The ACR oxygen flux data is analysed using the Lomb-Scargle periodogram and Morlet wavelet spectral analysis techniques. Daily mean oxygen fluxes during solar quiet times are used to identify how the ACR oxygens at different energies vary at the Rieger periodicity and at the solar rotation periodicities in each year. This is the first investigation of the periodicity evolution of ACR oxygen ions. Previous investigations have mostly concentrated on the spectral behaviour of GCR particles during various solar cycles of opposite polarities, in particular the 27-day and 13.5-day periodicities. Our analysis revealed a significant temporal and energy dependence in the spectral behaviour of ACR oxygen during both cycles, with the most prominent Rieger periodicity occurring during the late declining phase of these solar cycles.
Secular trend of colorectal cancer attributable to low physical activity from 1990 to 2021 in China
Authors: Yang Qian , Hu Yao , Liu Fang
Published: September 2024

Objective
This study aims to report low physical activity related colorectal cancer (LPARCC) death and Disability Adjusted Life Years (DALYs) in 1990–2021, and decompose the changes in disease burden into population growth, population aging, and epidemiological changes.
Methods
We obtained LPARCC data from the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) online database. The Joinpoint regression model and the age-period-cohort model (APC) were used to describe the trend of disease burden and analyzed the effects of age, period, and cohort. Finally, a recently developed decomposition method was conducted to attribute changes in the burden of disease from 1990 to 2021 to population growth, population aging, and epidemiological changes.
Results
From 1990 to 2021, there were significant increased trends in all ages and age-standardized rates of summary exposure values of low physical activity, with percentage changes of 0.46 (95% CI: 0.16 to 0.86) and 0.16 (95% CI: -0.08 to 0.45), respectively. The percentage change of age-standardized mortality rates (ASMR) for LPARCC from 1990 to 2021 was − 0.07 (95% CI: -0.38–0.37) and percentage change of age-standardized DALY rate (ASDR) was − 0.09 (95% CI: -0.37–0.33), both of them showed non-significantly decreased trends. In addition, the results of the Joinpoint regression model demonstrated that the annual percentage changes in ASMR and ASDR rates for LPARCC were − 0.22 (95% CI: -0.52–0.09) and − 0.29 (95% CI: -0.55– -0.03), respectively. Finally, from 1990 to 2021, the ASMR of LPARCC increased by 191.19%, which could be decomposed into age structure (170.62%), mortality change in low physical activity (-15.42%), and population size (35.99%), respectively.
Conclusion
Over the past 30 years, the number of LPARCC death and DALYs in China had shown an upward trend, which was mainly attributed to population aging.
Phytoplankton uptake by a resilient urban estuary bivalve, Mytilopsis leucophaeata
Authors: Kido Allyson K , Mansfield Noah , Schott Eric
Published: September 2024

Urban estuaries face numerous problems stemming from excess nutrients from stormwater runoff. Baltimore Harbor, an urban estuary, has intense and frequent phytoplankton blooms that can lead to hypoxic and anoxic zones, and ultimately fish kills. Efforts to reduce the nutrients, that fuel algae blooms, focus on point sources and not remediation once the nutrients have entered the water. In water removal of nutrients is often in the form of phytoplankton uptake by bivalve suspension feeders. Commercial bivalve species have been studied for their ability to remove phytoplankton and sequester nutrients in the coastal zone. In urban estuaries, commercially important bivalves often do not naturally occur, or urban pollution would make them unsuitable for human consumption. Therefore, we set out to determine if a locally abundant non-commercial mussel, Mytilopsis leucophaeata, could reduce phytoplankton levels and how environmentally relevant temperature and salinity may impact clearance rates. Our study developed a standard method to quantify phytoplankton removal of two cultured phytoplankton species (Isochrysis sp. and Chaetoceros sp.), by measuring both in vivo and extracted chlorophyll. We then evaluated the ability of the mussels to remove algae under varied temperatures and salinity that are typical for Baltimore Harbor. Our results show that at lower temperatures there is a lower clearance rate, and salinity did not significantly affect the clearance rates of the mussels. Overall, our results show potential for the use of this native non-commercial bivalve to reduce phytoplankton blooms in Baltimore Harbor.
Effect of exogenously applied amino acids on photosynthetic pigments, metabolites and enzymatic antioxidants in Zea mays L. subjected to salt stress
Authors: Ahmad Muhammad Haseeb , Zafar Zunaira , Bibi Haleema , Ali Naila , -un-Nisa Zaib , Usman Sheeraz , Shah Anis Ali , Shafique Shiffa , Gatasheh Mansour K.
Published: September 2024

The current study has been designed to investigate the effect of different concentrations (0, 25, 75, 100 ppm) amino acids including Methionine (Met), Tryptophan (Tryp), Glycine Betaine (GB) and Lysine (Lys) in alleviating the effect of salt stress. The experiment was performed on maize plants under two stress conditions (0, 120 mM NaCl). Effect of salinity reduced the morpho-physiological parameters along with antioxidant activities. Application of amino acids exhibit potential of tolerance for saline stress. All applications of amino acids increased the growth parameters, however, maximum shoot length, biomass of shoot was noted under the application of lysine while root length, number of leaves and biomass of root was improved by the application of glycine betaine, methionine and tryptophan respectively. Photosynthetic pigments were increased under the influence of glycine betaine. Amino acids also triggered the antioxidant activity and increase the production of metabolites. Phenolics, total soluble proteins (TSP) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) were improved by the application of glycine betaine, catalase (CAT), peroxidase (POD) and flavonoids were improved by the application of tryptophan, while total free amino acids (TFA) were more under the effect of methionine application. With increasing concentrations of amino acids the parameters were also in increasing pattern. Because of amino acids application, enhancement of studied parameters under saline environment is linked to increased photosynthetic pigments, improved metabolites and modulated antioxidants activites in Zea mays L.
Phenotypic plasticity in the number of leaf trichomes of Arabidopsis kamchatica subsp. kawasakiana under heavy metal stress
Authors: Yanagizaki Yoshiki , Harada Emiko , Numata Haruna , Yoshiyama Kohei
Published: September 2024

Trichomes, epidermal appendages found on plant surfaces, are known to accumulate zinc (Zn) and cadmium in heavy metal-tolerant plants. This study investigates whether excessive heavy metal stress induces an increase in the number of leaf trichomes in such plants. Utilizing the Zn hyperaccumulator plant Arabidopsis kamchatica subsp. kawasakiana, we conducted field surveys and cultivation experiments to test this hypothesis. The field survey revealed a positive effect of soil Zn levels on the number of trichomes per leaf. Consistently, results from the cultivation experiments demonstrated a significant effect in three out of four ecotypes studied. Our findings suggest that an excess supply of Zn stimulates the formation of leaf trichomes in A. k. subsp. kawasakiana, potentially aiding in physiological stress alleviation. Our results introduce a novel observation of a plastic response, wherein soil Zn levels influence the development of leaf trichomes. The adaptive significance and specific developmental mechanisms underlying this response await further elucidation.
Multi-source Domain Adaptation Approach to Classify Infrastructure Damage Tweets during Crisis
Authors: Priya Shalini , Bhanu Manish , Roy Saswata , Dandapat Sourav Kumar , Chandra Joydeep
Published: September 2024

Instant crisis information on social media is the most searched essen-tials to provide relief and rescue operations to the victims at the early crisis hours. However, insufficient information on underway crisis incidents and rich data from past crisis events resort to domain adaptation (DA) techniques over any other approaches. Despite, the existing DA methods could not adequately engage the available past resources and hence lose vital information for the ongoing crisis incidents compromising the performance. Existing pitfalls of state-of-the-art models are: (1) models do not work on joint domain feature relation at elementary and instance level to exploit the complete information of each domain (2) moreover, these models could not efficiently harness the information, when there are diversified and varying number of source crisis incidents. Inspired by the ensemble setup in identifying the infrastructure damage, we introduce Ensemble model using the elementary feature (Parts-of-speech tagging) Attention and Hypersphere Separator Springer Nature 2021 L A T E X template Domain Adaptation Approach to Classify Infrastructure Damage (EnPHyS). It operates at joint feature levels where each level works with the abundant source and scarce target data to extract the best of the (1) shared and (2) invariant features for the objective task. Ensemble uses Multi-Task Learning (MTL) and an adversarial approach to enhance the information retrieval of target features. EnPHyS performance was investigated under single-source as well as multi-source domain adaptation scenarios with four publicly available datasets. The reported results on standard metric F-measure reveal the average growth of 17%, 22% and 38% respectively over the best performing baseline model.
Rinodina Moziana (Lichenized Ascomycetes Physciaceae), a New Record From Pakistan
Authors: wahab hira , uddin Siraj , Wahab Afshan , Khalid Abdul Nasir , Mayrhofer Helmut
Published: September 2024

During the field survey conducted in Malakand district, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan, Rinodina species was discovered. The taxonomic and chemical characters along with an ITS-based phylogenetic analysis and notes on ecology and distribution considered it as Rinodina moziana (lichenized Ascomycota). A comprehensive study of the available literature corroborates this discovery, and marking it as the first documented occurrence of Rinodina moziana in Pakistan.
Monolithic poly(methylsilsesquioxane) aerogels with glasslike transparency: From sol-gel synthesis to ambient pressure drying
Authors: Miyamoto Riichi , Ueoka Ryota , Tachibana Koichiro , Maeno Ayaka , Kaji Hironori , Kanamori Kazuyoshi
Published: September 2024

Practical aspects of the successful preparation of monolithic poly(methylsilsesquioxane) (PMSQ) aerogels with glasslike transparency via ambient pressure drying (APD) are discussed in detail. Two-step acid-base process starting from methyltrimethoxysilane (MTMS) in the presence of nonionic poly(ethylene oxide)-block-poly(propylene oxide)-block-poly(ethylene oxide) surfactant and the use of strong base as polycondensation catalyst resulted in fine mesoporous structure, showing low density (0.148 g cm−3) and glasslike transparency (95% at 10 mm thickness). Cracking and irreversible shrinkage during APD have been prevented by optimized aging and drying processes. In particular, aging in an aqueous alcohol solution containing a low concentration of MTMS under controlled temperature has been found to be crucial in obtaining PMSQ aerogels with crack-free, low-density, glasslike transparency, and monolithic nature. A large-area APD aerogel in 120×120×6 mm3, with thermal conductivity of 15.6 mW m−1 K−1, has successfully been obtained due to optimizations of aging and drying conditions. Similar APD aerogels have also been obtained when alkali metal hydroxides, especially lithium hydroxide, are employed as base catalysts. These findings are expected to play important roles in designing industrial productions of monolithic aerogels for thermal superinsulation and other applications.
Cell-free chromatin particles damage genomic DNA of healthy cells via an ROS-independent mechanism
Authors: Mittra Indraneel , Jain Karishma , GV Raghuram , Lopes Relestina , Khare Naveen Kumar , Shabrish Snehal
Published: September 2024

Several hundred billion cells die daily in the human body, releasing cell-free chromatin particles (cfChPs) in the process, which then enter the blood circulationand get taken up by healthy cells. We have previously reported that, these internalized cfChPs damage genomic DNA as well cause physical damage to mitochondria, resulting in increased mitochondrial ROS production. In the current study, we evaluated the potential damaging effects of the cfChP-induced increase in ROS production on genomic DNA. NIH3T3 mouse fibroblast cells were treated with cfChPs isolated from the sera of healthy individuals (H-cfChPs) or patients with cancer (C-cfChPs) in the presence or absence of the ROS scavenger Mito-TEMPO. The pre-incubation of cfChP-treated cells with Mito-TEMPO abolished ROS production, but did not prevent genomic DNA damage induced by H-cfChPs and C-cfChPs. Our results suggest that cfChP-induced genomic DNA damage occurs in an ROS-independent manner. These findings align with emerging evidence suggesting that mitochondrial ROS may not be a direct cause of genomic DNA damage and suggest that DNA damage attributed to ROS may in-fact be induced by cfChPs. This possibility opens up new therapeutic approaches involving deactivation of cfChPs to retard ageing and other degenerative conditions traditionally attributed to oxidative stress.
Potential drug targets for prostate cancer ： A mendelian randomization study and application for target-derived drug design
Authors: Cheng Long , Gan Shu , Huang Peijian , Zhang Qiaoxuan , Kang Shiyue , Han Liqiao , Zhang Pengwei , Zhan Min , Wu Xinzhong , Huang Xianzhang , Yan Jun
Published: September 2024

Background
The advent of targeted cancer therapies has led to a decline in prostate cancer (PCa) incidence and mortality rates. Nevertheless, challenges persist due to the long-term single-agent therapeutic insensitivity and resistance encountered in PCa treatment. Therefore, there is an urgent need for novel drug targets to address these challenges in PCa therapy.
Method
We analyzed 731 plasma proteins and PCa summary GWAS data from Prostate Cancer Association Group to investigate cancer associated genomic alterations (control: case = 61 106: 79 148). Cis-acting Mendelian randomization and Bayesian analysis was applied to reveal the causality between protein and PCa. Additionally, protein-protein interaction (PPI) was performed to discover the potential coactions between identified target proteins and established drug targets approved by FDA for the treatment of PCa. Furthermore, we utilized Alpha Fold 2 to predict the 3D complex structure between identified proteins and established drug targets. Finally, these findings were validated using data from UK Biobank and the European Bioinfomatics Institute, and six promising target proteins were categorized into three tiers.
Results
Six potential causal proteins including MSMB, IGF2R, KDELC2, TNFRSF10B, GSTP1, and SPINT2 were discovered through drug target Mendelian randomization analysis. Among them, MSMB (Odds ratio (OR) = 0.81; 95% confidence interval (CI) : 0.80–0.82; P = 2.52×10− 148), IGF2R (OR = 0.92; 95% CI: 0.90–0.94; P = 4.57×10− 10), KDELC2 (OR = 0.89; 95% CI: 0.86–0.93; P = 1.89×10− 8), TNFRSF10B (OR = 0.74; 95% CI: 0.65–0.83; P = 2.41×10− 7), and GSTP1 (OR = 0.82; 95% CI: 0.75–0.90; P = 4.22×10− 5) were inversely associated with PCa risk, and upregulate level of SPINT2 (OR = 1.05; 95% CI: 1.03–1.05; P = 1.49×10− 6) increased PCa risk. None of six proteins had reverse causality. MSMB and KDELC2 shared the same variant with PCa by co-localization analysis (PPH4 > 0.8). During external validation, five proteins were replicated in at least one dataset except IGF2R.
Conclusions
Our study has highlighted that a constellation of plasma proteins including MSMB, KDELC2, GSTP1, and TNFRSF10B have been identified as potential drug targets for PCa, which might provide valuable insights for the rational design of novel drugs in PCa therapy.
Privacy-by-design generation of two virtual clinical trials in multiple sclerosis and their release as open datasets
Authors: Demuth Stanislas , Rousseau Olivia , Faddeenkov Igor , Paris Julien , Sèze Jérôme , Biaciotti Béatrice , Payet Marianne , Guillaudeux Morgan , Barreteau Alban-Félix , Laplaud David , Edan Gilles , Gourraud Pierre-Antoine
Published: September 2024

Sharing information provided by individual patient data is restricted by regulatory frameworks due to privacy concerns. Generative artificial intelligence could generate shareable virtual patient populations, as proxies of sensitive reference datasets. Explicit demonstration of privacy is demanded. Here, we determined whether a privacy-by-design technique called “avatars” can generate synthetic randomized clinical trials (RCTs). We generated 2160 synthetic datasets from two RCTs in multiple sclerosis (NCT00213135 and NCT00906399) with different configurations to select one synthetic dataset with optimal privacy and utility for each. Several privacy metrics were computed, including protection against distance-based membership inference attacks. We assessed utility by comparing variable distributions and checking that all of the endpoints reported in the publications had the same effect directions, were within the reported 95% confidence intervals, and had the same statistical significance. Protection against membership inference attacks was the hardest privacy metric to optimize, but the technique yielded robust privacy and replication of the primary endpoints. With optimized generation configurations, we could select one dataset from each RCT replicating all efficacy endpoints of the placebo and commercial treatment arms with a satisfying privacy. To show the potential to unlock health data sharing, we released both placebo arms as open datasets.
Cross Beam Saturated Absorption Spectroscopy: A novel technique for optimization of power broadening
Authors: Utreja Shubham , Roy Pallab , Rathore Harish , Choudhury Sourin , Das Manoj , Panja Subhasis
Published: September 2024

Saturated Absorption Spectroscopy (SAS) is a technique commonly used for recording Doppler broadening free absorption spectra of atomic vapours and also to estimate the natural linewidth of the atomic transitions. However, in conventional SAS two counter-propagating laser beams are used as pump and probe and the linewidths of the absorption spectra show strong dependences with the power of the laser beams following the saturation theory. The present work demonstrates a unique technique of Cross-Beam spectroscopy for recording saturated absorption spectra near their natural linewidth by deploying pump and probe beams in orthogonal orientation instead of their collinear position. In the case of orthogonal orientation, the recorded absorption linewidth hardly varies with the power variation of the laser beam and does not follow the Saturation theory. Following the above technique, transition frequencies for different isotopes of ytterbium (Yb) have been measured, and the transition frequency for the most abundant isotopes, i.e., Yb174, estimated to be 751526556.04(60) MHz with natural linewidth of 32.0(8) MHz.
Optimal First-Order Methods for Nonconvex Optimization Using the Stochastic Path-Integrated Differential Estimator
Authors: Li Chris Junchi
Published: September 2024

In this paper, we tackle the optimization of nonconvex functions prevalent in large-scale statistical learning tasks. We introduce the Stochastic Path-Integrated Differential EstimatoR (SPIDER), a novel method for efficiently tracking deterministic quantities with significantly lower sampling costs. Utilizing SPIDER, we develop the SPIDER-SFO algorithm, which enhances Normalized Gradient Descent (NGD) and achieves faster convergence rates for nonconvex optimization problems in both finite-sum and online cases. Our rigorous analysis shows that SPIDER-SFO achieves a gradient computational cost of $\mathcal{O}\left(\epsilon^{-3} \wedge\left(n+n^{1 / 2} \epsilon^{-2}\right)\right)$ for finding an $\epsilon$-approximate first-order stationary point. Additionally, we extend our method to find approximate second-order stationary points with the SPIDER-SFO ${ }^{+}$algorithm, which combines SPIDER-SFO with efficient Negative-CurvatureSearch techniques. This algorithm attains an $(\epsilon, \delta)$-approximate second-order stationary point at the gradient cost $\tilde{\mathcal{O}}\left(\left(\epsilon^{-3}+\delta^{-2} \epsilon^{-2}+\delta^{-5}\right) \wedge\left(n^{1 / 2} \epsilon^{-2}+n^{1 / 2} \delta^{-2} \epsilon^{-1}+\delta^{-3} \epsilon^{-1}+\delta^{-5}+n\right)\right)$. We demonstrate that our algorithms achieve the best-known optimal convergence guarantees and optimality across a wide range of $\epsilon$ and $\delta$ values, providing superior performance under specific smoothness and Hessian-Lipschitz conditions. This work sets a new benchmark in nonconvex optimization, offering robust and scalable solutions for complex stochastic optimization tasks.
Unlocking Future Research Strategies: Key Collaborations and Network Characteristics in Helicobacter Pylori Eradication Therapy (2000-2023)
Authors: Ogasawara Naruaki
Published: September 2024

Aim
To analyze the collaboration patterns among researchers in Helicobacter pylori (H.pylori) eradication therapy from 2000 to 2023, identifying key contributors and evaluating the structural characteristics of the co-authorship network.
Method
This study utilized data from the Web of Science (WoS) Core Collection, analyzing 13,432 articles on Helicobacter pylori eradication published between 2000 and 2023. The co-authorship network was examined using macro-level indicators such as network density, clustering coefficient, number of components, and average path length, along with micro-level indicators including degree centrality, closeness centrality, and betweenness centrality. The analysis was conducted using Python (Version 3.10.5) in the PyCharm development environment (Software Version 2022.1.3).
Result
The co-authorship network demonstrated an evolving structure over the analyzed period, with increasing network density and clustering coefficients, suggesting enhanced collaboration among researchers. Key contributors such as Asaka M., Graham DY, and Mégraud F. consistently emerged as central figures, facilitating collaboration within the network. Despite these improvements, the network remained fragmented with several isolated components, indicating persistent gaps in global connectivity.
Conclusion
The study highlights the evolving collaborative landscape in H. pylori eradication research over the past two decades, emphasizing the importance of key researchers in driving scientific collaboration. Despite modest improvements in network connectivity, ongoing efforts to foster collaboration are essential to address challenges such as antibiotic resistance and enhance the effectiveness of H. pylori eradication therapies.
Prevalence and factors associated with Sugar-Sweetened Beverage Consumption among adolescents and women aged 10-49 years in Kenya: a cross-sectional study
Authors: Okemwa Sharonmercy , Nyakundi Caleb , Ngesa Romeo Warera , Kibe Peter , Akoth Catherine , Wambiya Elvis , Ng’ang’a Loise , Oguta James Odhiambo
Published: September 2024

Sugar sweetened beverages (SSBs) are major sources of free sugars in diet. Their intake is associated with obesity, chronic diseases, and increased risk of premature deaths. Studies indicate SSB consumption impacts females more than males but limited evidence exists on SSB intake among women especially in low- and middle-income countries. We aimed to determine the prevalence and determinants of SSB consumption among women aged 10–49 years in Kenya using secondary data from the first and second rounds of Kenya's Performance Monitoring for Accountability (PMA) nutrition surveys. Analysis was stratified by residence (rural vs. urban) and univariable and multivariable logistic regression was used to assess the determinants of SSB consumption. The prevalence was 52.4% (95% CI: 47.9, 56.8) increasing from 48.3% in 2018 to 63.6% in 2019. Prevalence was slightly higher in urban than rural areas (53.2% vs. 51.7%), those aged 20–29 years (54.1%), in union (52.9%), tertiary level of education (59.1%), richest (52.4%), and the employed (57.0%). Urban women had 1.29-fold higher odds compared to rural women. Education level was significantly associated with SSB consumption, with higher education linked to increased odds of consumption. The findings of this study highlight the need for development of policies that seek to reduce SSB consumption with the adoption of interventions that target urban residents, the educated, the rich, and overweight.
Radiographic Errors in Intraoral Periapical Radiographs
Authors: RAKHA MONIKA , Guru Prasad R.  , Neeta Sharma  , Rajkumari Ranjita Devi  , Ajay Kumar Rana  , Abhijeet Kamble
Published: September 2024

Background: Radiographs are considered as pivotal aid in the diagnosis and treatment planning of various Oro-dental pathologies. Changes in the quality of radiographs may lead to misinterpretation, which results in incorrect diagnosis and treatment planning. The technical and processing errors can largely influence the radiographic interpretation. Both paralleling and bisecting angle techniques can have both technical and manual errors.
Aims: To estimate the frequency of radiographical errors in conventional radiographs taken by undergraduate dental students.
Materials And Method: Thousand (1000) dental radiographs taken by undergraduate students were examined. Patient's age ranged between 5 -75 years. X- ray films were examined on X-ray film viewer and were classified according to type of errors and anatomical distribution.
Results: The study aimed to identify common faults encountered during routine radiography. The most frequently observed error was Improper Vertical Angulation. Interns performed better in obtaining radiographs compared to Final year students.
Keywords: Radiographic errors, Dental students, Bisecting angle technique.
Cone Beam Computed Tomography: An essential ally to Undergraduates in their Dental Practice
Authors: Misra Deepankar , Misra Akansha
Published: September 2024

Cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) has developed into a crucial technique in contemporary dentistry, enabling dentists to examine the interaction between teeth and the tissues around them. The use of CBCT, improves the precision of diagnoses, planning, and follow-up in difficult patients. In order to give clinically valuable information based on a set of volumetric data, image post-processing and subsequent visualization rely on software for 3D navigation and application of indexation techniques. Diagnostic quality relies heavily on image post-processing, and a variety of methods have been used, including multiplanar reformations, maximum intensity projection, and volume rendering. CBCT is expected to be used routinely in most offices during the next few decades and shall be considered the "gold standard" for imaging of the oral and maxillofacial region.
An Insight into Supportive Periodontal Therapy and Maintenance Care
Authors: OJHA MOITRI OJHA , Dr. Vartika Verma  , Dr. Kapilesh Singh  , Dr. Darshana Sarkar
Published: September 2024

Abstract:
Periodontitis is a painless destructive disease of the tooth supporting structures that progresses silently, hence it’s a big challenge for clinicians to motivate the patients for therapy. Several factors influence the treatment outcome such as genetic variations, smoking, systemic complications, stress, trauma from occlusion, iatrogenic dentistry, etc. There is ever-growing evidence that recall visits are prerequisites for the success of therapy. At the personal level, maintenance is difficult for an average patient as this demands frequent elimination of soft and hard deposits from all the possible surfaces, hence highlighting the significance of repeated professional care at regular intervals. An effective outcome of the therapy can be achieved by a fruitful combination of both active and supportive periodontal therapy, hence reducing the possibility of re-infection and arresting the disease progression.
Keywords: Supportive Periodontal therapy; an extended trimeric model; compliance; risk assessment.
Spontaneous regression of Congenital epulis in infancy- A case report
Authors: Singh Sushma , Bailwad Sandeep A , Bhatnagar Akash , Roy Medha
Published: September 2024

Congenital epulis, a benign tumour of the oral cavity, referred to as Neumann's tumour, is a very uncommon disease among newborns. The maxillary alveolar ridge is where it often comes from in the alveolar ridge. Although the lesion has a stunning appearance, it is ultimately benign. It might result in mechanical obstruction, which would make breathing difficult and make feeding challenging. At the moment of birth, solving the issue can require a multidisciplinary team approach. This paper's goal is to describe instance of congenital epulis that were present at birth, case was conservatively managed without any surgical intervention leading to spontaneous regression.