bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Measuring the polarized complex forward-scattering amplitudes of single particles in unbounded fluid flow: CAS-v2 protocol
Authors: Moteki Nobuhiro , Adachi Kouji
Published: June 2024

A detailed protocol for measuring the complex forward-scattering amplitude S(0°) of single particles, the Complex Amplitude Sensing version 1 (CAS-v1), has recently been developed and used for characterizing environmental particles. However, interpretations of the S(0°) data need a priori assumptions on the particle’s shape, and applications of the method have mostly been limited to the particles suspended in liquids. Here, we thoroughly upgrade the CAS technique to perform quality-controlled S(0°) measurements at two independent polarizations for particles suspended in gases and liquids. The polarization-resolved S(0°) sensing constrains the particle’s shape and improves the physical interpretability of data. An optical coherence backscattering detection technique enables non-invasive yet precise constraints of the particle’s location in the sensing region, realizing precise S(0°) measurements even for aerosol particles introduced via a gas jet without using a flow microchannel. The CAS-v2 protocol proposed here will be useful as a fast yet detailed particle measurement technique for laboratory and field studies.
A cluster-randomized trial of client and provider directed financial interventions to align incentives with appropriate case management in private medicine retailers: Results of the TESTsmART trial in Lagos, Nigeria
Authors: Visser Theodoor , Laktabai Jeremiah , Kimachas Emmah , Kipkoech Joseph , Menya Diana , Arthur David , Zhou Yunji , Chepkwony Tabitha , Abel Lucy , Robie Emily , Amunga Mark , Ambani George , Uhomoibhi Perpetua , Ogbulafor Nnenna , Oshinowo Abimbola , Ogunsola Oluwatosin , Woldeghebriel Meley , Garber Elizabeth , Olaleye Tayo , Eze Nwamaka , Nwidae Lekia , Mudabai Pamela , Gallis John A. , Fashanu Chizoba , Saran Indrani , Woolsey Aaron , Wiwa Owens , Turner Elizabeth L. , Prudhomme O’Meara Wendy
Published: July 2024

Malaria remains a major health priority in Nigeria. Among children with fever who seek care, less than a quarter gets tested for malaria, leading to inappropriate use of the recommended treatment for malaria; Artemisinin-based Combination Therapy (ACT). Here we test an innovative strategy to target ACT subsidies to clients seeking care in Nigeria’s private retail health sector who have a confirmed malaria diagnosis. We supported point-of-care malaria testing (mRDTs) in 48 Private Medicine Retailers (PMRs) in the city of Lagos, Nigeria and randomized them to two study arms; a control arm offering subsidized mRDT testing for USD $0.66, and an intervention arm where, in addition to access to subsidized testing as in the control arm, clients who received a positive mRDT at the PMR were eligible for a free (fully subsidized) first-line ACT and PMRs received USD $0.2 for every mRDT performed. Our primary outcome was the proportion of ACTs dispensed to individuals with a positive diagnostic test. Secondary outcomes included proportion of clients who were tested at the PMR and adherence to diagnostic test results. Overall, 23% of clients chose to test at the PMR. Test results seemed to inform treatment decisions and resulted in enhanced targeting of ACTs to confirmed malaria cases with only 26% of test-negative clients purchasing an ACT compared to 58% of untested clients. However, the intervention did not offer further improvements, compared to the control arm, in testing rates or dispensing of ACTs to test-positive clients. We found that ACT subsidies were not passed on to clients testing positive in the intervention arm. We conclude that mRDTs could reduce ACT overconsumption in Nigeria’s private retail health sector, but PMR-oriented incentive structures are difficult to implement and may need to be complemented with interventions targeting clients of PMRs to increase test uptake and adherence.

Trials registration: Clinical Trials Registration Number: NCT04428307. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7816435/ Correction: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9476591/.
Suicide ideation and behavior disparities among high school students: Examining Asian and multiracial race/ethnicity groups
Authors: Choi Sugy , Chang Ji Eun
Published: July 2024

We examined racial and ethnic disparities of suicide ideation/behaviors of high school students using detailed race/ethnicity data including Asian and multiracial race/ethnicity groups. The 2017 and 2019 Youth Risk Behavior Surveys were used to assess suicide ideation/behavior disparities across traditionally studied non-Latinx Black, Latinx, and non-Latinx White and understudied (non-Latinx Asian, multiracial-Latinx, multiracial-non-Latinx) racial/ethnic groups while controlling for common risk factors. Non-Latinx Black, multiracial Latinx, and multiracial non-Latinx students have higher odds of suicide attempt and injurious suicide attempt compared to non-Latinx Whites. Asian and multiracial non-Latinx students have higher odds of reporting suicide ideation and making a suicide plan compared to non-Latinx Whites. Results suggest that suicide ideation and behavior patterns differed considerably across racial/ethnic groups, and elicited the importance of including other racial/ethnic groups when conducting racial disparities analysis.
Intermittent low-dose far-UVC irradiation inhibits growth of common mold below threshold limit value
Authors: Mogensen Emilie Hage , Holm Christian Kanstrup
Published: July 2024

Mold infestations in buildings pose significant challenges to human health, affecting both private residences and hospitals. While molds commonly trigger asthma and allergies in the immunocompetent, they can cause life-threatening diseases in the immunocompromised. Currently, there is an unmet need for new strategies to reduce or prevent mold infestations. Far-UVC technology can inactivate microorganisms while remaining safe for humans. This study investigates the inhibitory efficacy of far-UVC light at 222 nm on the growth of common mold-producing fungi, specifically Penicillium candidum, when delivered in low-dose on-off duty cycles, a configuration consistent with its use in real-world settings. The inhibitory effect of the low-dose duty cycles was assessed on growth induced by i) an adjacent spore-producing P. candidum donor and ii) P. candidum spores seeded directly onto agar plates. In both setups, the far-UVC light significantly inhibited both vertical and horizontal growth of P. candidum, even when the UV doses were below the Threshold Value Limit of 23 mJ/cm2. These results suggest that far-UVC light holds the potential to improve indoor air quality by reducing or preventing mold growth, also when people are present.
Global incidence and mortality of childhood leukemia and its relationship with the Human Development Index
Authors: Mohammadian-Hafshejani Abdollah , Farber Irina M. , Kheiri Soleiman
Published: July 2024

Background

Childhood leukemia (CL) is a major global concern, accounting for 33% of all new cancer cases and 31% of all cancer deaths in children aged 0–14 years. Our study aimed to analyze the global incidence and mortality rates of CL in 2020 and its relationship with the Human Development Index (HDI).

Material and methods

In this ecologic study, we analyzed the 2020 cancer incidence and mortality data for children aged 0–14 years from the GLOBOCAN Project. We calculated the Age-Standardized Incidence Rate (ASIR) and Age-Standardized Mortality Rate (ASMR) of CL per 100,000 individuals. Pearson’s correlation coefficient was used to examine the association between childhood leukemia ASIR, ASMR, and the HDI, with a statistical significance threshold of P<0.05.

Results

In 2020, there were a total of 67,008 new cases of CL worldwide, with males accounting for 57.85%. The global ASIR for CL was 3.4 per 100,000 (3.9 in males, 3 in females). Additionally, there were 25,080 CL-related deaths, with males comprising 58.86%. The overall ASMR for CL was 1.3 (1.4 in males, 1.1 in females). We found a significant positive correlation (r = 0.405, P≤0.001) between the global ASIR and ASMR for CL. There was a strong positive correlation (r = 0.770, P = 0.001) between the HDI and childhood leukemia ASIR, but no significant association (r = 0.077, P = 0.337) was observed with ASMR.

Conclusion

Our study reveals that CL remains a significant health burden worldwide. We identified a positive correlation between the ASIR of CL and the HDI, indicating a potential role of socioeconomic factors in CL incidence.
Characterization of two affinity matured Anti-Yersinia pestis F1 human antibodies with medical countermeasure potential
Authors: Velappan Nileena , Biryukov Sergei S. , Rill Nathaniel O. , Klimko Christopher P. , Rosario-Acevedo Raysa , Shoe Jennifer L. , Hunter Melissa , Dankmeyer Jennifer L. , Fetterer David P. , Bedinger Daniel , Phipps Mary E. , Watt Austin J. , Abergel Rebecca J. , Dichosa Armand , Kozimor Stosh A. , Cote Christopher K. , Lillo Antonietta M.
Published: July 2024

Yersinia pestis, the causative agent of plague and a biological threat agent, presents an urgent need for novel medical countermeasures due to documented cases of naturally acquired antibiotic resistance and potential person-to-person spread during a pneumonic infection. Immunotherapy has been proposed as a way to circumvent current and future antibiotic resistance. Here, we describe the development and characterization of two affinity matured human antibodies (αF1Ig AM2 and αF1Ig AM8) that promote survival of mice after exposure to aerosolized Y. pestis. We share details of the error prone PCR and yeast display technology-based affinity maturation process that we used. The resultant matured antibodies have nanomolar affinity for Y. pestis F1 antigen, are produced in high yield, and are resilient to 37°C stress for up to 6 months. Importantly, in vitro assays using a murine macrophage cell line demonstrated that αF1Ig AM2 and αF1Ig AM8 are opsonic. Even more importantly, in vivo studies using pneumonic plague mouse models showed that 100% of the mice receiving 500 μg of IgGs αF1Ig AM2 and αF1Ig AM8 survived lethal challenge with aerosolized Y. pestis CO92. Combined, these results provide evidence of the quality and robustness of αF1Ig AM2 and αF1Ig AM8 and support their development as potential medical countermeasures against plague.
Relationship between social cognition and emotional markers and acoustic-verbal hallucination in youth with post-traumatic stress disorder: Protocol for a prospective, 2-year, longitudinal case-control study
Authors: Dumas Louise-Emilie , Fernandez Arnaud , Auby Philippe , Askenazy Florence
Published: July 2024

Introduction

Auditory-verbal hallucinatory experiences (AVH) have a 12% prevalence in the general pediatric population. Literature reports a higher risk of developing AVH in post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The persistence of AVHs during adolescence represents a risk of evolution into psychotic disorders. Social cognition and emotional markers could be considered prodromes markers of this evolution. The objectives of this prospective observational study are to observe social cognition and emotional markers correlation with the presence and persistence of AVH over two years and with the evolution of PTSD and psychotic diagnosis.

Methods and analysis

This prospective case-control study, longitudinal over two years (with an interim reassessment at six months and one year), will include 40 participants aged 8 to 16 years old with a diagnosis of PTSD and without a diagnosis of psychosis according to the criteria of DSM-5 (K-SADS-PL). Subjects included are divided into two groups with AVH and without AVH matched by gender, age and diagnosis. The primary outcome measure will be the correlation between social cognition and emotional makers and the presence of AVH in the PTSD pediatric population without psychotic disorders. The social cognition marker is assessed with the NEPSY II test. The emotional marker is assessed with the Differential Emotion Scale IV and the Revised Beliefs About Voices Questionnaire. The secondary outcome measures are the correlation of these markers with the persistence of AVH and the evolution of the patient’s initial diagnosis two years later.

Discussion

The originality of our protocol is to explore the potential progression to psychosis from PTSD by cognitive biases. This study supports the hypothesis of connections between PTSD and AVH through sensory, emotional and cognitive biases. It proposes a continuum model from PTSD to psychotic disorder due to impaired perception like AVH.

Trial registration

Clinical trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03356028.
Smooth muscle cell phenotypic switching occurs independent of aortic dilation in bicuspid aortic valve-associated ascending aortas
Authors: Balint Brittany , Bernstorff Inés García Lascurain , Schwab Tanja , Schäfers Hans-Joachim
Published: July 2024

Background

Bicuspid aortic valves (BAV) are frequently associated with ascending aortic aneurysms. The etiology is incompletely understood, but genetic factors, in addition to flow perturbations, are likely involved. Since loss of contractility and elaboration of extracellular matrix in the vessel wall are features of BAV-associated aortopathy, phenotypic modulation of smooth muscle cells (SMCs) may play a role.

Methods

Ascending aortic tissue was collected intra-operatively from 25 individuals with normal (i.e., tricuspid) aortic valves (TAV) and from 25 individuals with BAVs. For both TAV and BAV, 10 patients had non-dilated (ND) and 15 patients had dilated (D) aortas. SMCs were isolated and cultured from a subset of patients from each group. Aortic tissue and SMCs were fluorescently immunolabeled for SMC phenotypic markers (i.e., alpha-smooth muscle actin (ASMA, contractile), vimentin (synthetic) and p16INK4a and p21Cip1 (senescence). SMCs were also analyzed for replicative senescence in culture.

Results

In normal-sized and dilated BAV aortas, SMCs switched from the contractile state to either synthetic or senescent phenotypes, as observed by loss of ASMA (ND: P = 0.001, D: P = 0.002) and associated increases in vimentin (ND: P = 0.03, D: P = 0.004) or p16/p21 (ND: P = 0.03, D: P<0.0001) compared to TAV. Dilatation of the aorta exacerbated SMC phenotypic switching in both BAV and TAV aortas (all P<0.05). In SMCs cultured from normal and dilated aortas, those isolated from BAV reached replicative senescence faster than those from TAV aortas (all P = 0.02). Furthermore, there was a stark inverse correlation between ASMA and cell passage number in BAV SMCs (ND: P = 0.0006, D: P = 0.01), but not in TAV SMCs (ND: P = 0.93, D: P = 0.20).

Conclusions

The findings of this study provide direct evidence from cell culture studies implying that SMCs switch from the contractile state to either synthetic or senescent phenotypes in the non-dilated BAV aorta. In cultured SMCs from both non-dilated and dilated aortas, we found that this process may precede dilatation and accompany aneurysm development in BAV. Our findings suggest that therapeutically targeting SMC phenotypic modulation in BAV patients may be a viable option to prevent or delay ascending aortic aneurysm formation.
Not solely influencers in the communication plan: a comparative study in the fashion field
Authors: Sádaba Teresa , SanMiguel Patricia , López-Fidalgo Jesús , Guercini Simone
Published: July 2024

En los últimos años, las redes sociales e influencers están dominando las campañas de comunicación, debido a su poder de influencia en los consumidores. Como resultado, algunos de los actores tradicionales de la comunicación no están siendo considerados en los planes de comunicación. Sin embargo, no existe ningún estudio que confirme su pérdida de influencia sobre el consumidor y sus decisiones de compra. Tomando el caso de la compra en moda, el objetivo de este artículo es comparar el poder de influencia de siete actores de la comunicación: medios, marcas de moda, celebridades, influencers (mega, macro y micro) e influyentes. Con datos de 1176 cuestionarios respondidos a través del método de autodenominación, podemos concluir que los influencers son superados por los influyentes (círculos cercanos) como los líderes de opinión con mayor impacto en el consumidor, seguidos incluso por las marcas de moda y los medios de moda.
Las nuevas reglas del juego que la Inteligencia Artificial introduce en el periodismo [Reseña]
Authors: Vargues-Vara David
Published: July 2024

El libro Inteligencia Artificial, Periodismo y Democracia, editado por Tamara Vázquez Barrio e Idoia Salazar García, es una obra colectiva en la que participan un total de 22 miembros investigadores especialistas en disciplinas dispares, encargados de analizar, a lo largo de 16 capítulos y bajo una mirada crítica, los beneficios y los puntos de mejora derivados del uso de la Inteligencia Artificial en el periodismo, así como en la información que la ciudadanía obtiene fruto del resultado entre la interacción periodista-tecnología. La desinformación, la manipulación, la aparición de sesgos, la caída de los niveles de credibilidad y el desconocimiento hacia las nuevas herramientas, comportan algunas de las  debilidades que se desprenden del actual modelo de generación y difusión de contenido. Como contraposición, existe una postura, todavía más tímida, acerca de las posibilidades ventajosas al alcance de la mano para la profesión en particular y la sociedad en general, como la automatización de tareas rutinarias o el aumento de la productividad, si bien han de ir supeditadas a la implantación y renovación de principios deontológicos que, de forma paulatina, comienzan a incorporar recomendaciones específicas para el sector digital, y de unas líneas rojas delimitadas por la conciencia y la ética humana.
El rol de la ciudadanía en la conversación política en X. El caso de la #MocionDeCensura de 2023 en España
Authors: Alonso-Muñoz Laura , Casero-Ripollés Andreu
Published: July 2024

El entorno digital se ha convertido es un espacio de conversación desde el que la ciudadanía puede generar y promover el debate en torno a cuestiones de gran relevancia política, dando voz a un colectivo anteriormente silenciado. El objetivo de esta investigación es analizar las dinámicas de participación ciudadana en el entorno digital sobre la Moción de Censura impulsada por Vox celebrada los días 21 y 22 de marzo de 2023. Para ello, se analizan los mensajes publicados en X por los usuarios que contenían el hashtag #MocionDeCensura (n=2000). Los resultados demuestran diversos apuntes interesantes. Primero, los ciudadanos fueron los usuarios que más mensajes compartieron durante la primera sesión. Segundo, el protagonismo está muy repartido entre Pedro Sánchez y Santiago Abascal, mientras que el candidato a presidente, Ramón Tamames tiene una presencia secundaria. Tercero, la función principal de los mensajes es la crítica, derivada especialmente de las intervenciones de los parlamentarios. Finalmente, en cuarto lugar, el clima de polarización existente en la sociedad se hace patente también en el debate generado en X, donde los comentarios muestran posiciones muy extremas, a favor o en contra de los políticos que intervinieron. Las tendencias detectadas confirman que X se ha convertido en un espacio de participación y deliberación donde los ciudadanos muestran su malestar y descontento acerca de la política.
A Green Approach: Syzygium aromaticum Mediated Synthesis of CuO Nanoparticles with Potential for Wastewater Treatment
Authors: Kaur Parneet , Kumar Sanjeev , Kaur Harpreet , Kumar Sanjeev , Gaur Jyoti , Rani Diksha
Published: June 2024

The growing demand for environmentally sustainable and economically viable techniques for synthesizing nanoparticles is driving the advancement of green nanotechnology. This study presents an innovative approach for synthesizing copper oxide nanoparticles (CuO NPs) by utilizing an extract derived from Syzygium aromaticum. The XRD analysis verified the reliable synthesis of CuO, as indicated by the presence of the monoclinic phase and the extremely small crystallite size of 7.89 nm. FTIR spectrum illustrated the functionalizing of CuO with S. aromaticum phytochemicals, whereas FE-SEM and HR-TEM micrographs demonstrate the intricate nanostructure of the NPs. The SAED signals provide further confirmation of the crystalline structure. The clear existence of a well-defined absorption peak at 276 nm and an energy band gap of 3.58 eV undeniably confirms the effective synthesis of CuO NPs. Furthermore, the synthesized nanoparticles showed exceptional capability in degrading the resilient pollutant Congo red dye. By applying a dosage of 200 mg L–1, a remarkable 97% removal of Congo red dye (100 mg L–1) was achieved after 100 min following the pseudo-first-order kinetics.
Synthetic Fluorometric and Colorimetric Sensors for Identification of Fluoride Anion: A Short Review
Authors: Dutta Supriya , Sahana Animesh
Published: June 2024

Over two decades of research in fluoride ion detection has been an intriguing field and many papers have been published enriching the possibilities of fluoride ion detection in even nano molar concentration levels. However, few reviews have been published, critically analyzing the design strategies, especially to detect fluoride ions in aqueous and real samples. About 21 colorimetric sensors and fluorescent probes, published during 1999 to 2014 have been covered to analyze their design strategies, speed of detection, limit of detection and their applicability in real samples and in aqueous medium. The fundamental principles can be broadly classified into 5 categories namely Si-O bond cleavage, B-F monomer formation, deprotonation of amide hydrogen, Si-F bond formation and Sb-F bond formations which enable fluoride ion detection. Variations in the organic substituents attached to the Si-O bond, B-F monomer and amide groups is the key to the efficacy of the sensor. Optimization of applicability of the sensors in aqueous solvents vis-a-vis maintaining the sensitivity, range of detection, speed of detection, both quantitatively and qualitatively are a challenge. This review aims to present a comprehensive and critically analyzed discussion of the published probes, which will encourage further research in this field.
Theoretical, Antibacterial and Antioxidant Investigations of Hydroxyl Group Substituted Benzanilide Schiff Bases
Authors: Ayyadurai G.K. , Rathika S. , Sumathi S. , Jayaprakash R.
Published: June 2024

Two novel Schiff bases were synthesized from 4-amino-N-(4-aminophenyl)benzamide (DABA) and investigated after the spectral characterization techniques. Density functional theory (DFT) and molecular docking studies were conducted initially for the molecules for drug suitability. The toxicity of the synthesized molecules was evaluated using brine shrimp and 50% mortality concentrations of both the Schiff bases were examined with standard vincristine sulphate. Then, the antimicrobial activity was studied against selected bacterial strains such as E. coli, K. pneumoniae, S. typhimurium and P. mirabilis. The biological efficacy also extended to antioxidant study and the results showed that the inhibition concentrations between 150 and 305 µg/mL, which are in the toxicity limit. Out of two molecules, 2,4-dihydroxy group substituted Schiff bases showed better antimicrobial, antidiabetic and antioxidant activities.
Tenofovir Induced Fanconi Syndrome - A Case Report
Authors: Noufira Poomakoth  , Laila K.V.  , Shilpa Kadangal
Published: June 2024

Tenofovir is a potent antiretroviral agent that has been in clinical use for the treatment of HIV and chronic hepatitis B virus infection. Fanconi syndrome is a rare complication occurring in <0.1% of HIV patients treated with Tenofovir. Fanconi syndrome is a defect of the renal proximal tubule leading to malabsorption of various electrolytes and substances that are usually absorbed by the proximal tubule. It is diagnosed by decreased urine output, polydipsia, hypokalemia, hypophosphatemia, and hyperchloremic (non-anion-gap) metabolic acidosis. Here we present two cases of acute kidney injury with features of Fanconi syndrome due to Tenofovir reported in the Adverse Drug Reaction (ADR) monitoring centre of Government Medical College Kozhikode. Both the patients showed clinical improvement on changing the treatment from Tenofovir combination to Abacavir combination regimen. The purpose of this case report is to recommend that patients receiving Tenofovir combination regimen should be screened for renal functions and electrolyte balance from the start of therapy and periodically monitored for atleast a year.
Tenofovir is a nucleotide reverse transcriptase inhibitor, approved by US Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection,in combination with other antiretroviral agents and Hepatitis B infection in adults.[1] Tenofovir is generally well tolerated by patients and has an excellent safety record. However, there are reports of rare episodes of acute renal failure and Fanconi syndrome with the use of Tenofovir and hence caution should be exercised when using this drug in patients with pre-existing renal disease.[1,2] Fanconi syndrome is a generalized defect in proximal renal tubule transport involving amino acids, bicarbonate, glucose, potassium, phosphate, uric acid and proteins leading to malabsorption of these molecules. The clinical presentation includes polydipsia, polyuria, dehydration, and osteomalacia.[3] This syndrome can be an inherited condition or acquired due to outdated tetracyclines, or drugs like cisplatin, gentamicin, tenofovir and valproic acid.[4,5,6] Here, we report two cases of Fanconi syndrome which was probably induced by Tenofovir.
This is a case of a known but rare complication of tenofovir. Also, as a part of pharmacovigilance Programme of India all known/unknown, frequent/rare, serious/known serious adverse effects have to be reported by the healthcare professionals and by the patients to the ADR Monitoring Center.
Hence, we followed up the cases reported by the physicians, so that the patients receiving this combination can be screened for renal functions and electrolyte balance from the start of therapy and monitored during the first year. This will ensure an early detection and management of the Adverse Drug Reactions (ADR).
A high degree of suspicion is to be kept for this rare syndrome while prescribing the drug tenofovir.
Spontaneous Non-Traumatic Splenic Rupture in an Adult Patient with Extrahepatic Portal Venous Obstruction (EHPVO) – A Case Report with Review of Literature
Authors: Sebastian Jose  , Archana Della Thomas
Published: June 2024

Extrahepatic portal venous obstruction (EHPVO) is a primary vascular disorder wherein there is obstruction of the extrahepatic portal vein with or without the involvement of the intrahepatic branches, splenic vein (SV), and/or superior mesenteric vein (SMV).[1] It is a longstanding disorder and the characteristic finding is the cavernous transformation of the portal vein. The condition is distinct from acute or chronic portal vein thrombosis (PVT) occurring in the setting of liver cirrhosis or hepatocellular carcinoma. EHPVO along with obliterative portal venopathy (OPV) are two important pre-hepatic causal factors for non-cirrhotic portal hypertension (NCPH) in which the structure of liver and function is preserved until late in the disease.[2,3,4] Budd-Chiari syndrome (BCS) or hepatic venous outflow tract obstruction (HVOTO) is another important post-hepatic etiology for NCPH.[1]
In the reported case the author describes a case of a spontaneous non-traumatic splenic rupture in a patient of EHPVO with massive splenomegaly and features of portal hypertension.
Basilar Invagination and Platybasia in Chiari I Malformation Diagnosed in an Elderly Patient
Authors: Amit Shrivastava  , Gunjan Jindal  , Smriti Deswal
Published: June 2024

BACKGROUND
Patients with Type 1 Chiari malformation may not have any abnormality at birth. This is because Chiari 1 malformation is the mildest form of the Chiari spectrum of abnormalities. It is characterized by the displacement of deformed cerebellar tonsils more than 5 mm caudally through the McRae’s line. As a result, the IVth ventricle may be small and distorted.[1,2]
Antibacterial Properties of Bacterial Cellulose-Quercetin Composite Membrane
Authors: Apriani Riza , Sadino Asman , Senania Astri , Oetari Zahara , Fajrianti Gania Ningsih Noer
Published: July 2024

Bacterial cellulose has been thoroughly explored as a biomaterial for various applications due to its intrinsic mechanical, physical, and biological features. Its structural characteristics provide ideal conditions for developing composite, expanding its range of applications even further. The current study aims to synthesize quercetin-loaded bacterial cellulose composite as a potential wound dressing by utilizing the antibacterial activity of quercetin and the unique characteristics of bacterial cellulose. The produced bacterial cellulose was ex-situ modified with quercetin. The composite was characterized for its functional group by FTIR, its morphology by FE-SEM, and its antibacterial activity was evaluated against Gram-positive S. aureus and Gram-negative E. coli through the disc diffusion method. Characterization analyses confirmed the successful impregnation of quercetin into the BC matrix. The antibacterial activity of BC-Quercetin showed moderate activity, both against S. aureus and E. coli. Determining the loading dose of quercetin into bacterial cellulose is a gap for conducting future research. However, this study indicates that combining bacterial cellulose with quercetin could provide a base for developing promising alternatives for the conventional dressing system in wound healing.
MODEL COMPARISON OF VECTOR AUTOREGRESSIVE RESHAPED AND SARIMA IN SEASONAL DATA (A CASE STUDY OF TEA PRODUCTION IN PT PERKEBUNAN NUSANTARA VIII INDONESIA)
Authors: Ratnaningsih Dewi Juliah , Adam Fia Fridayanti
Published: July 2024

PT Perkebunan Nusantara VIII (PTPN VIII) is a State-Owned Enterprise (BUMN). It operates in the plantation sector.  The leading commodity is tea.  The demand for tea produced by PTPN VIII is increasing. Thus, planning tea production is necessary. One of the production planning efforts is through forecasting based on previous data.  Tea  production data is time-series data.  It contains seasonal elements and is dependent on other locations. We will analyze data with these criteria  using space-time models, one of which is vector autoregressive (VAR). VAR models the relationship  between observations on certain variables at one time. It also models the observation of the variable itself at previous times. Additionally, VAR models  the relationship  between observations and other variables at previous times. This paper explains how to forecast tea  production. It uses the reconstituted VAR and Seasonal Autoregressive Moving Average (SARIMA) models. The results showed that the reconstituted VAR model was better than the SARIMA model in predicting tea production. The tea production prediction was at the Sedep and Santosa plantations in Bandung Regency.
Masquerade of authority: hijacked journals are gaining more credibility than original ones
Authors: Hegedűs Mihály , Dadkhah Mehdi , Dávid Lóránt D.
Published: July 2024

At the moment, the academic world is faced with various challenges that negatively impact science integrity. One is hijacked journals, a second, inauthentic website for indexed legitimate journals, managed by cybercriminals. These journals publish any manuscript by charging authors and pose a risk to scientific integrity. This piece compares a journal’s original and hijacked versions regarding authority in search engines. A list of 16 medical journals, along with their hijacked versions, has been collected. The MOZ Domain Authority has been used to check the authority of both original and hijacked journals, and the results have been discussed. It indicates that hijacked journals are gaining more credibility than original ones. This should alarm academia and highlights a need for serious action against hijacked journals. The related policies should be planned, and tools should be developed to support easy detection of hijacked journals. On the publishers’ side, the visibility of journals’ websites must be enhanced to address this issue.
Gamma-ray shielding investigation of nano- and microstructures of SnO on polyester resin composites: Experimental and theoretical study
Authors: Al-Saleh Wafa M. , Almutairi Haifa M. , Alsafi Khalid , Nabil Islam M. , Elsafi Mohamed
Published: June 2024

Based on the experimental and theoretical radiation attenuation, this study produced and tested a composite material made of polyester reinforced with SnO at varied concentrations and abbreviated as Pol-SnOx, where x = 0–60% with steps of 20 wt% Also, the polyester samples were doped with SnO of different particle sizes: Micro, Nano, and 50% Micro/50% Nano mix to investigate the effect of the particle size on the radiation attenuation performance. In the photon energy range of 0.015–15 MeV, their radiation shielding properties were empirically determined using an HPGe detector and theoretically determined using Phy-X/PSD software. The linear attenuation coefficient (LAC) values dropped from 1.361 to 0.022 cm−1 for Pol-SnO0, from 13.611 to 0.033 cm−1 for Pol-SnO20, from 31.700 to 0.049 cm−1 for Pol-SnO40, and from 61.076 to 0.076 cm−1 for Pol-SnO60 in the photon energy (Eγ) range from 0.015 to 15 MeV. The LAC values of the fabricated Pol-SnOx samples increased as the SnO concentrations increased. Also, the addition of 50% Micro/50% Nano mix particle size of the SnO to the polyester significantly increased the values of the LAC. The percentages of LAC improvement of SnO nano-particles were 16.625%, 13.236%, 8.714%, and 7.935% at the Eγ values of 0.059, 0.661, 1.173, and 1.332 MeV, respectively. Also, the LAC values were enhanced by adding SnO containing 50% Micro/50% Nano mix particles by 19.097%, 15.271%, 9.854%, and 9.071% at the Eγ values of 0.059, 0.661, 1.173, and 1.332 MeV, respectively, when compared to microparticles. The addition of 50% Micro/50% Nano Mix of SnO with 60% content to the polyester showed the highest LAC and radiation protection efficiency and lowest half-value layer and transmission factor among the other samples due to increased SnO doping and interparticle distances of the Micro and Nano mix.
Non-Speaking Autistic Participation in Liturgy and Church Life: (Non-)Speech Acts
Authors: van Ommen Armand Léon , Cundill Helena
Published: July 2024

Many liturgies depend on speech. But how do those autistic people who do not speak, or speak only minimally, participate in liturgy? This article addresses how eight non- or minimally-speaking autistic people experience liturgy. Having used a range of methods for data collection, we identified two key themes in the data: the desire for (1) liturgical and (2) social participation. We interpret these findings in light of speech-act theory. We propose that conventions around what is interpreted as meaningful communication or prayer are socially constructed and can be shaped to take account of the contribution made by non- or minimally-speaking worshippers.
Deep reinforcement learning enhances artistic creativity: The case study of program art students integrating computer deep learning
Authors: Zhao Feng
Published: June 2024

During the artistic journey, creators frequently encounter challenges stemming from pressure, resource constraints, and waning inspiration, all of which can impede their creative flow. Addressing these obstacles requires a multifaceted strategy aimed at nurturing creativity throughout the artistic process. Procedural art generation emerges as a viable solution to invigorate artistic creativity. In this study, the deep Q-network (DQN) was constructed to solve the shortage of artistic creativity through its automatic decision-making ability. The model was trained with different types of artistic styles (abstract and minimalism) in WikiArt dataset. The model generates various artistic elements of different styles, forms, or thinking according to the input parameters or constraints, and selects specific colors, textures, or shapes to help the artist maintain focus in the creation process and expand the creativity in the creation process. In order to achieve this goal, in the process of performing the procedural art generation task with DQN, the experiment collected the generation speed, interpretability, and creativity evaluation feedback of each style of art. The feedback results show that the scores of color field painting and minimalism were 83.2, 93.5, 86.3 and 86.6, 91.5, 82.1 respectively. The research shows that employing dynamic mass spectrometry networks enables the automation of the art creation process. This innovative approach facilitates the exploration of diverse creative ideas tailored to various artistic tasks, thereby fostering advancements in art creation and nurturing creativity.
New findings on the karyotype and distribution of two Rhipidomys Tschudi, 1845 species (Rodentia: Sigmodontinae) from Upper Purus River
Authors: Lanes Rayque de Oliveira , Pires Carolina , Teixeira Bernardo R. , Bonvicino Cibele R.
Published: July 2024

Rhipidomys is a Sigmodontinae genus with a great diversity in western Amazonia, including Rhipidomys gardneri and Rhipidomys leucodactylus. These species shared the same diploid number of 44, however, two fundamental numbers were attributed to R. leucodactylus and one to R. gardneri. A new karyotype for R. leucodactylus is described, with a diploid and fundamental number shared by other Rhipidomys species. Data confirmed three karyotypes for R. leucodactylus, only one for R. gardneri, the presence of R. leucodactylus in the Brazilian state of Acre and extend the distribution of R. gardneri to Manoel Urbano, in Acre, showing both species occurring in the high Purus River basin.
A CNN-CBAM-BIGRU model for protein function prediction
Authors: Sharma Lavkush , Deepak Akshay , Ranjan Ashish , Krishnasamy Gopalakrishnan
Published: June 2024

Understanding a protein’s function based solely on its amino acid sequence is a crucial but intricate task in bioinformatics. Traditionally, this challenge has proven difficult. However, recent years have witnessed the rise of deep learning as a powerful tool, achieving significant success in protein function prediction. Their strength lies in their ability to automatically learn informative features from protein sequences, which can then be used to predict the protein’s function. This study builds upon these advancements by proposing a novel model: CNN-CBAM+BiGRU. It incorporates a Convolutional Block Attention Module (CBAM) alongside BiGRUs. CBAM acts as a spotlight, guiding the CNN to focus on the most informative parts of the protein data, leading to more accurate feature extraction. BiGRUs, a type of Recurrent Neural Network (RNN), excel at capturing long-range dependencies within the protein sequence, which are essential for accurate function prediction. The proposed model integrates the strengths of both CNN-CBAM and BiGRU. This study’s findings, validated through experimentation, showcase the effectiveness of this combined approach. For the human dataset, the suggested method outperforms the CNN-BIGRU+ATT model by +1.0 % for cellular components, +1.1 % for molecular functions, and +0.5 % for biological processes. For the yeast dataset, the suggested method outperforms the CNN-BIGRU+ATT model by +2.4 % for the cellular component, +1.2 % for molecular functions, and +0.6 % for biological processes.
critique of semaglutide (Wegovy®) for obesity management NICE technology appraisal TA875
Authors: Kahal Hassan , Walton Chris
Published: June 2024

Wegovy®, semaglutide 2.4 mg, is a glucagon-like peptide-1 analogue that has been approved by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) for the treatment of adults with obesity in the National Health Service (NHS). In this review, we provide a reflection on NICE TA875 and its implementation in the NHS.
Real-world cross-comparison of metabolic outcomes with different sodium-glucose co-transporter 2 inhibitors agents in adults with type 2 diabetes: results from the Association of British Clinical Diabetologists audit programme
Authors: Crabtree Tom
Published: June 2024

Sodium-glucose co-transporter-2 inhibitors (SGLT2i) have demonstrated significant efficacy in improving cardiorenal and metabolic outcomes, However, whether there are differences between agents remain unclear. We therefore assessed changes in haemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), weight, body mass index (BMI) and systolic blood pressure (SBP) across the class; and between agents.
Methods: Individuals using empagliflozin (E), canagliflozin (C) or dapagliflozin (D) in the ABCD audits were included provided that data were available for the outcomes of interest. Multivariate linear regression analysis was used to assess adjusted change in HbA1c, weight, BMI and SBP and to compare outcomes between drugs. Analyses were performed in Stata 17.
Results: 21,263 individuals (E=11,231; C=2,257; D=7,775) with mean±SD age 60.0±10.4years, HbA1c 75.3±17.2 mmol/mol, BMI 33.9±7.1kg/m2 and 61.2% female were included. Over median follow-up of 1.7 years, HbA1c reduced by 10.0 mmol/mol (95% CI 9.8-10.2; p<0.001); weight reduced by 3.2 kg (95% CI 2.2-4.1; p<0.001); BMI reduced by 1.1 kg/m2 (95% CI 0.8-1.5; p<0.001) and SBP reduced by 0.9 mmHg (95% CI 0.7-1.1; p<0.001). Empagliflozin was associated with larger HbA1c reduction than dapagliflozin and canagliflozin (-10.6 mmol/mol [E] vs -9.8 mmol/mol [C] vs -9.1 mmol/mol [D]; p<0.001 for both). Canagliflozin was associated with statistically larger SBP reductions compared to dapagliflozin (-1.6 mmHg [C] vs 0.6 mmHg [D]). No differences were noted in weight and BMI change between drugs. Discontinuation of SGLT2i therapy was rare, only occurring in 0.35% (75/21,338). Our cohort has individuals with higher baseline weight and HbA1c compared to published trial data and may be more generalisable to a UK population.
Conclusion: SGLT2i are very well tolerated and are associated with improvements in multiple metabolic and clinical parameters in UK real-world practice. Relatively small differences were observed between agents for HbA1c and SBP reduction, but not for weight reduction. Further work should focus on establishing the association between individual SGLT2i agents and hard cardiorenal end points in the real world.
Status Imunisasi Campak (MR1) pada Masa Pandemi COVID-19
Authors: Lestari Niken , Siyam Nur
Published: July 2024

Pada masa pandemi, cakupan imunisasi khususnya campak mengalami penurunan yang signifikan. Penelitian ini menggunakan pendekatan cross sectional study. Sampel dalam penelitian ini sebanyak 63 anak usia 9-24 bulan dengan teknik pengambilan sampel secara cluster random sampling. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan terdapat hubungan dukungan keluarga (p=0,01), akses informasi terhadap pelayanan imunisasi di masa pandemi COVID-19 (p=0,033), jarak rumah ke penyedia layanan imunisasi (p=0,002), ketersediaan imunisasi/vaksin campak (p=0,028), dan tingkat kecemasan terjangkit COVID-19 (p<0,01), tidak terdapat hubungan antara pekerjaan ibu (0,156) dan persepsi terhadap kinerja layanan imunisasi di masa pandemi COVID-19 (0,097). Simpulan dari penelitian ini, yaitu terdapat hubungan antara dukungan keluarga, akses infromasi terhadap pelayanan imunisasi di masa pandemi COVID-19, jarak rumah ke penyedia layanan imunisasi, ketersediaan imunisasi/vaksin campak, dan tingkat kecemasan terjangkit COVID-19, tidak terdapat hubungan antara pekerjaan ibu dan persepsi terhadap kinerja layanan imunisasi di masa pandemi COVID-19 dengan status imunisasi campak (MR1) di wilayah kerja Puskesmas Karangayu pada masa pandemi COVID-19.
Hubungan Pilar Sanitasi Total Berbasis Masyarakat dengan Kejadian Diare
Authors: Karantika Agyta , Siwiendrayanti Arum
Published: July 2024

Abstrak
Desa Gebang merupakan desa yang telah terdeklarasi sebagai Desa ODF dalam program Sanitasi total berbasis masyarakat. Program ini untuk membudayakan perilaku hidup bersih dan sehat, mencegah penyebaran penyakit berbasis lingkungan, meningkatkan akses sanitasi. Outcome dari program ini adalah penurunan penyakit diare. Tujuan penelitian ini untuk mengetahui hubungan pilar sanitasi total berbasis masyarakat dengan kejadian diare di Desa Gebang. Metode penelitian ini menggunakan observasional analitik dengan pendekatan cross sectional. Populasi penelitian 1.526 KK dan 63 sampel. Teknik pengambilan sampel menggunakan Proporsional Random Sampling menggunakan kuesioner dan lembar observasional. Analisis data menggunakan uji chi-square. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan adanya hubungan cuci tangan pakai sabun (0,034), dan pengelolaan air minum dan makanan (0,014) dengan kejadian diare. Variabel yang tidak berhubungan adalah pengelolaan sampah (0,678) dan pengelolaan limbah cair (0,057).
Abstract
Gebang Village is a village that has been declared an ODF Village in the community-based total sanitation program. This program is aimed at cultivating clean and healthy living habits, preventing the spread of environment-based diseases, increasing access to sanitation. The outcome of this program is a reduction in diarrheal diseases. This study aimed to determine the relationship between the pillars of community-based total sanitation and the incidence of diarrhea in Gebang Village. This research method uses analytic observational with a cross-sectional approach. The study population was 1,526 families and 63 samples. The sampling technique used proporsional random sampling using questionnaires and observational sheets. Data analysis used the chi-square test. The results showed that there was a relationship between washing hands with soap (0.034), and management of drinking water and food (0.014) with the incidence of diarrhea. Variables that are not related are waste management (0.678) and liquid waste management (0.057).
Apropiaciones argentinas de la arqueología foucaultiana
Authors: Colautti Lautaro
Published: July 2024

Durante la década del ’60, Foucault realiza sus investigaciones histórico-filosóficas bajo el nombre metodológico de arqueología. Este término para referir al estudio de las condiciones históricas de posibilidad que permitieron la aparición de diversos saberes e instituciones. En su libro Las palabras y las cosas, una arqueología de las ciencias humanas (1966), Foucault centra su trabajo de descripción de las distintas épocas del pensamiento en torno a los conceptos de episteme y a priori histórico, ambos abandonados al menos en la década siguiente, cuando Foucault pasa a describir su labor intelectual como genealogía.
En el campo intelectual argentino, la recepción y circulación de la obra de Foucault varió mucho desde los años cincuenta hasta nuestros días. En los últimos años, las categorías arqueológicas fueron utilizadas para pensar tanto la historia intelectual como el diagnóstico de la sociedad contemporánea. En el presente trabajo nos encargaremos de presentar dos actualizaciones de la episteme foucaultiana para pensar las tensiones entre saber y política: la era de las Formas de Elías Palti y la episteme posmoderna de Pablo Manolo Rodríguez mostrando cómo ambas expresiones reformulan el aparato conceptual empleado por Foucault para pensar una arqueología de lo político en el caso del primero y la aparición de la cibernética en el caso del segundo autor. Para dicha tarea, nos concentraremos los elementos que retienen ambos autores argentinos, así como también en aquellos puntos en los que ambos toman distancia del pensador de Poitiers.