bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Use of Liraglutide for obesity in HIV. A case report
Authors: Singh Sahil , Aguirre Ivette , Sankar Daniel
Published: April 2023

Background
Obesity is a complex, chronic, relapsing condition and is one of the greatest contributing factors to chronic disease burden in our society. It is also well-known that weight gain after antiretroviral treatment (ART) initiation can occur among people living with HIV and can occur with most antiretroviral classes. We report the case of a drug interaction involving Liraglutide and Rilpivirine, which resulted in an increased HIV viral load with risk of ongoing transmission
Case presentation
A young HIV positive Caucasian woman with excellent adherence to ART experienced weight gain during her pregnancy. This weight gain increased when she was switched to Tenofovir Alafenamide 25mg / Emtricitabine 200 mg / Bictegravir 50 mg. She was unable to lose weight despite a calorie-restricted diet and a regular exercise regimen. To avoid second generation integrase inhibitors (INSTI) she was treated with Tenofovir Alafenamide 25mg/Emtricitabine 200mg/Rilpivirine 25mg. She consulted her general practitioner to obtain weight reducing agents. She was prescribed Liraglutide, the daily injectable Glucagon-Like-Peptide (GLP)-agonist known to have weight loss properties. However, due to sub-optimal absorption of Rilpivirine through pharmacokinetic (PK) interactions of Rilpivirine and Liraglutide, our patient lost HIV virologic control and had breakthrough viraemia with risk of HIV transmission to her husband.
Conclusions
Potentially serious adverse effects stemming from drug interactions involving medications used in clinical practice can occur, leading to loss of HIV virologic control.
Improving Variational Autoencoders Reconstruction Using Prototypes
Authors: Oliveira Dario Augusto Borges , Rosa Laura Elena Cue La
Published: April 2023

Variational autoencoders implement latent space regularization with a known distribution, which enables stochastic synthesis from straightforward sampling procedures. Most of the various existing regularization approaches struggle with balancing proper regularization and good reconstruction quality. Here, we propose to circumvent such limitations by implementing a distributed latent space regularization using prototypical deep clustering with known distributions. Our approach enables high-quality data synthesis by simply decoding samples from such distributions around prototypes and disregards training any further auxiliary network to explicitly learn the decoder synthesis from codes. Such schema enables obtaining an appropriate number of clusters for solid regularization with better reconstruction quality and improved synthesis control. We experiment with our method using widespread exploratory benchmarks and report that regulariza-tion centered on optimal prototypes’ coordinates or cluster centroids neutralizes the adverse effects regularization terms often have on autoencoder reconstruction quality, matching non-regularized autoencoders’ performance. We also report appealing results for interpreting data representatives with simple prototype synthesis and controlling the synthesis of samples with prototype-like characteristics from decoding white noise around prototype coordinates.
Effectiveness of a new endodontic irrigation system for removing smear layer and dissolving simulated organic matter
Authors: Neto Raimundo Sales de Oliveira , Lima Luana Arantes de Souza , Titato Pedro Cesar Gomes , de Andradre Flaviana Bombarba , Vivan Rodrigo Ricci , Alcalde Murilo Priori , Duarte Marco Antonio Hungaro
Published: April 2023

OBJECTIVES:The study aimed to evaluate the potential for dissolution of organic tissue in areas of simulated complexity and cleaning of root walls of the new iVac® endodontic irrigation system.
MATERIAL AND METHODS: Thirty mandibular premolars were evaluated by scanning electron microscopy before and after biomechanical preparation. Then, they were distributed according to the final irrigation protocol into groups with conventional irrigation, passive ultrasonic irrigation with metallic insert (PUI), and iVac® system, and new photomicrographs were obtained. For tissue dissolution analysis, glass capillaries filled with catgut were attached to the cervical and apical thirds of twenty prototyped upper incisors. They were weighed before and after the previously mentioned irrigation protocols. The data were statistically compared with a significance level of 5%.
RESULTS:The final irrigation provided greater cleaning of the walls in the cervical, middle, and apical thirds of the root canals (P<0.05), with no statistically significant difference between PUI and iVac®, regardless of the analyzed thirds. Both ultrasonic irrigation protocols dissolved a significantly greater volume than the conventional irrigation protocol (P<0.05), with no difference between the two protocols (P<0.05).
CONCLUSIONS:The iVac® system showed wall cleaning and tissue dissolution similar to PUI with a metallic insert, and both were superior to conventional irrigation.
CLINICAL RELEVANCE: The new irrigation system iVac is more effective than conventional irrigation and has similar wall cleaning and tissue dissolution to PUI.
Large-scale genomic analyses with machine learning uncover predictive patterns associated with fungal phytopathogenic lifestyles and traits
Authors: Dort Erika , Layne Elliot , Feau Nicolas , Butyaev Alexander , Henrissat Bernard , Martin Francis , Haridas Sajeet , Salamov Asaf , Grigoriev Igor , Blanchette Mathieu , Hamelin Richard
Published: April 2023

Invasive plant pathogenic fungi have a global impact, with devastating economic and environmental effects on crops and forests. Biosurveillance, a critical component of threat mitigation, requires risk prediction based on fungal lifestyles and traits. Using a machine learning approach that separates phylogenetic and genomic feature signals, we analyzed 387 fungal genomes to test the hypothesis that there are predictive signatures associated with phytopathogenic lifestyles and traits. Our results lend strong support to this hypothesis, and our analyses uncovered genomic patterns associated with phytopathogenic lifestyles and traits, identifying gene families that are potentially important in the evolution of plant pathogenic fungi. We found that the top-performing feature sets for predictions included carbohydrate-active enzymes (CAZymes), peptidases, and secondary metabolite clusters. Expansions in the number of CAZyme and peptidase genes, and of specific families such as CBM63, were revealed in the genomes of plant pathogens compared to non-phytopathogenic genomes (saprotrophs, endo- and ectomycorrhizal fungi) and were strong predictors of phytopathogenicity. Such genomic feature profiles could be useful to predict risks of fungal plant pathogens in future biosurveillance activities.
Physically inactive as a risk factor for obesity and r/educed physical function in young adults
Authors: Rachmawati Maria Regina , Kusumaningsih Widjaja Laksmi , Suhartini Sri Mukti
Published: April 2023

Physical inactivity is associated with increased rates of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs). Some of the factors that indicate a person has risk for future NCDs are obesity and reduced measures of physical performance, such as appendicular muscle mass (ASM), hand grip strength (HGS), and gait speed (GS).
Objectives: Study to analyze the risk of physical inactivity to obesity and physical performance in young adult.
Method: The cross-sectional study included 419 young adults consisting of 206 (49.2%) men and 213 (50.8%) women. Physical activity (PA) values were determined using the International PA Questionnaire (IPAQ), with an inactive score <600 METs and an obesity standard ≥ 25 kg/m2. The values of lower ASM, HGS, and GS were based on the 2019 AWGS criteria.
Results: Physical inactivity rates were 327 (78%), while in men were lower than women; 154 (47%) and 173 (53%) (p=0.125). Obesity rates were 162 (39%), however, in men were higher than in women; 101 (62.3%) vs 61 (37.7%) (p<0.001). The low ASM rates were 104 (25%), i.e., in men were lower than in women; 34 (32.7%) vs 70 (67.3%) (p<0.001). The low HGS rates were 32 (8%), that is relatively similar between genders; 18 (56.3%) and 14 (43.8%) (p=0.464), as well as the low GS rates were 55 (13%), also similar between genders; 23 (42%) and 32 (58%) (p=0.25). Physically inactive was a risk factor; for obesity in men of OR (95% CI)=1.2 (0.6-2) and in women of OR (95% CI) = 1.5 (0.7-3), for lower ASM of OR (95% CI) = 1.6 (0.9-3), and for lower HGS of OR (95% CI) = 1.6 (0.6-4.2). Physically inactive was not a risk factor for lower GS of OR (95% CI= 1 (0.6-2).
Conclusion: Most of young adults were physically inactive, thus increasing the risk of obesity, and decreasing muscle mass and muscle strength.
Clinical trial registration The study did not have a clinical trial registration. The study did not have a clinical trial registration, as it did not intervene.
The Effect of the Enzymes Trypsin and DNase I on the Antimicrobial Efficiency of Root Canal Irrigation Solutions
Authors: ÇANKAYA Tülin DOĞAN , AYDIN Zeliha UĞUR , ERDÖNMEZ Demet
Published: April 2023

Objectives The purpose of this study was to use a confocal laser scanning microscope (CLSM) to evaluate the antibacterial efficacy of using 2.5% sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl), 2% chlorhexidine (CHX), Irritrol, and chitosan-coated silver nanoparticles (AgCNPs) alone or in combination with deoxyribonuclease I (DNase I) and trypsin pre-enzyme applications in dentin samples contaminated with Enterococcus faecalis (E. faecalis).Materials and Methods 144 dentin blocks with confirmed E. faecalis biofilm formation were divided randomly according to the irrigation protocol to be tested (n = 12): NaOCl, CHX, Irritrol, AgCNPs, Trypsin/ NaOCl, Trypsin/ CHX, Trypsin/ Irritrol, Trypsin/ AgCNPs, DNase I/ NaOCl, DNase I/ CHX, DNase I/ Irritrol, and DNase I/ AgCNPs. Dentin blocks were stained with the Live/Dead BacLight Bacterial Viability Kit and viewed with CLSM after irrigation applications. The percentage of dead and viable bacteria was calculated using ImageJ software on CLSM images. At a significance level of p < 0.05, the obtained data were analyzed using One-Way Anova and Post-Hoc Tukey tests.Results In comparison to NaOCl, CHX had a higher percentage of dead bacteria, both when no pre-enzyme was applied and when DNase I was applied as a pre-enzyme (p < 0.05). There was no difference in the percentage of dead bacteria between the irrigation solutions when trypsin was applied as a pre-enzyme (p > 0.05). AgCNPs showed a higher percentage of dead bacteria when trypsin was applied as a pre-enzyme compared to other irrigation solutions (p < 0.05), while the pre-enzyme application did not affect the percentage of dead bacteria in NaOCl, CHX, and Irritrol (p > 0.05).Conclusions No irrigation protocol tested was able to eliminate the E. faecalis biofilm. While the application of trypsin as a pre-enzyme improved the antimicrobial effect of AgCNPs, it did not make any difference over other irrigation solutions.Clinical Relevance: Pre-enzyme treatment with trypsin improved the antimicrobial activity of AgCNPs. The combined use of these two solutions may be useful as a treatment support in endodontic practice, as it helps to separate bacteria from the biofilm matrix.
Breast cancer patient-derived microtumors resemble tumor heterogeneity and enable protein-based stratification and functional validation of individualized drug treatment
Authors: Anderle Nicole , Schäfer-Ruoff Felix , Staebler Annette , Kersten Nicolas , Koch André , Önder Cansu , Keller Anna-Lena , Liebscher Simone , Hartkopf Andreas , Hahn Markus , Templin Markus , Brucker Sara Y. , Schenke-Layland Katja , Schmees Christian
Published: April 2023

Despite tremendous progress in deciphering breast cancer at the genomic level, the pronounced heterogeneity remains a major obstacle to the advancement of novel and more effective treatment approaches. Frequent treatment failure and the development of treatment resistance highlight the need for patient-derived tumor models that reflect the individual tumors of breast cancer patients and allow a comprehensive analyses and parallel functional validation of individualized and therapeutically targetable vulnerabilities in protein signal transduction pathways. Here, we introduce the generation and application of breast cancer patient-derived 3D microtumors (BC-PDMs). Residual fresh tumor tissue specimens were collected from n = 102 patients diagnosed with breast cancer and subjected to BC-PDMs isolation. BC-PDMs retained histopathological characteristics, and extracellular matrix (ECM) components together with key protein signaling pathway signatures of the corresponding primary tumor tissue. Accordingly, BC-PDMs reflect the intertumoral heterogeneity of breast cancer and its key signal transduction properties. DigWest®-based protein expression profiling of identified treatment responder and non-responder BC-PDMs enabled the identification of potential resistance and sensitivity markers of individual drug treatments, including markers previously associated with treatment response and yet undescribed proteins. The combination of individualized drug testing with comprehensive protein profiling analyses of BC-PDMs may provide a valuable complement for personalized treatment stratification and response prediction for breast cancer.
Maximizing total sugar recovery from pretreatment-hydrolysis of sweet sorghum bagasse through cultivar selection and process optimization
Authors: Bedzo Oscar K. K. , Diedericks Danie , McIntosh Paul , Rorke Daneal C. S. , Rensburg Eugene van , Gorgens Johann
Published: April 2023

The nature of a sweet sorghum cultivar influences the recovery of sugars from the bagasse during pretreatment. The sugars recovered are used in applications for conversion to high-value products such as alcohols, organic acids, and other fuels and chemicals. The severity of the pretreatment used plays a crucial role in the yield and quality of the sugars that can be recovered. Therefore, a strategic approach was taken to lower the severity of the pretreatment process to a combined severity factor (CSF) value of 0.48, whilst maintaining a high level of total-sugar recovery (i.e. 68% (w/w) and higher). This was achieved by screening 23 sweet sorghum cultivars for high-performance characteristics at low-severity conditions and optimizing the pretreatment process conditions. The pretreatment conditions included time, temperature, and acid concentration ranges of 5 to 60 min, 150 to 210 oC, and 0.00% to 0.96% (w/w) H2SO4, respectively. Cultivar AP6 was identified as the best performer, producing the highest total sugar yield of 78.17%. A reduction in total by-product formation from 4.79 to 2.79 g/100 g biomass was also observed. Three preferred cultivars selected for pilot scale pretreatment using steam explosion resulted in maximum total sugar recoveries that exceeded 80% (w/w). Cultivar engineering/selection provides an opportunity to utilize lignocelluloses that will liberate sugars at desired yields while reducing the generation of by-products by implementing low severity pretreatments.
Identification of a novel subtype of astrocytes in HIV-associated pain pathogenesis
Authors: Tang Shao-Jun , Zheng Junying , Spurgat Michael , Yuan Subo , Liu Xin , Gelman Benjamin
Published: April 2023

Pathological pain is a frequent complication in HIV patients, yet the underlying mechanism remains elusive, and effective therapeutic targets have not been identified. Reactive astrocytes are specifically activated in the spinal dorsal horn (SDH) of HIV patients with pathological pain and required for HIV-associated pain development in mouse models. These findings suggest that reactive astrocytes play a crucial role in the pathogenesis of HIV-associated pain. However, due to the heterogeneity of reactive astrocytes, the pathogenic subtype remains unknown. In this study, we used single-nucleus RNA-seq (snRNA-seq) transcriptomic analysis to identify a novel subtype of HIV-pain-associated astrocytes (HIPAs) in the lumbar spinal cord of HIV-1 gp120 transgenic models and in the spinal cord of HIV patients. HIPAs express galectin 3 (Gal3) and exhibit transcriptomic signatures of phagocytosis and inflammation. We demonstrated that HIPAs phagocytose neuronal components and are associated with neuronal degeneration. We also found that knockout (KO) of Gal3 in gp120 transgenic mice reduced the number of HIPAs. Furthermore, Gal3 KO inhibited the expression of mechanical allodynia and HIV pain-related pathogenic processes, including neuronal degeneration and neuroinflammation, in gp120 transgenic mice. Our data collectively suggest that HIPAs are a novel Gal3-expressing astrocytic subtype that plays a critical role in gp120-induced pathogenesis in the spinal pain neural circuit. Targeting HIPAs may provide a potential therapeutic strategy for treating HIV-associated pain.
Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis secondary to unrecognized Bartonella henselae infection: A Case report
Authors: Hempel Amanda , Manzoor Fizza , Petrescu Dan
Published: April 2023

BACKGROUND:
Bartonella henselae are intracellular bacteria transmitted to humans through animal bites and scratches contaminated with the feces of arthropod vectors, and are most commonly associated with cat exposure although transmission from other mammals has been reported. Bartonella henselae infection has a spectrum of clinical manifestations and has rarely been reported as cause of hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) in immunocompromised hosts.
CASE PRESENTATION:
We present a report of Bartonella henselae infection progressing to HLH in an immunocompetent host. The patient initially presented with regional lymphadenopathy but the diagnosis was not suspected as the patient reported no exposure to cats. On further history, he did report a scratch from a dog prior to development of symptoms. The patient was treated with methylprednisolone, intravenous immunoglobulin and anakinra for the HLH and three months of Doxycycline for Bartonella infection, with complete resolution of symptoms.
CONCLUSIONS:
Although commonly associated with cat exposure, Bartonella henselae transmission can occur after exposure to other animals including dogs and clinicians need to maintain an index of suspicion for timely diagnosis. Bartonella henselae is associated with a spectrum of clinical manifestations which can include disseminated infection with severe complications such as hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis. Prompt initiation of Bartonella treatment is essential when thought to be the trigger for hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis although the optimal treatment regimen is unclear.
RETRACTED: A room with a view? Using virtual reality-based eye tracking and GIS to investigate the ancient domestic space
Authors: Campanaro Danilo Marco , Landeschi Giacomo
Published: April 2023

The authors have requested that this preprint be removed from Research Square.
Overexpression and virus-induced gene silencing of Cytochrome P45082G24 from safflower revealed positive insights into flavonoid accumulation and methyl jasmonate tolerance in transgenic plants
Authors: Wang Yufei , Li Zhiling , Ahmad Naveed , Sheng Xiaoxiao , Iqbal Babar , Naeem Muhammad , Wang Nan , Li Fengwei , Yao Na , Liu Xiuming
Published: April 2023

The cytochrome P450 superfamily of monooxygenases plays a major role in the evolution and diversification of plant natural products. The function of cytochrome P450s in physiological adaptability, secondary metabolism, and xenobiotic detoxification has been studied extensively in numerous plant species. However, their underlying regulatory mechanism in safflower still remained unclear. In this study, we aimed to elucidate the functional role of a putative CtCYP82G24-encoding gene in safflower, suggesting crucial insights into the regulation of methyl jasmonate-induced flavonoid accumulation in transgenic plants. The results showed that methyl jasmonate (MeJA) was associated with a progressive upregulation of CtCYP82G24expression in safflower among other treatment conditions including light, dark and polyethylene glycol (PEG). In addition, transgenic plants overexpressing CtCYP82G24 demonstrated increased expression level of other key flavonoid biosynthetic genes, such as AtDFR, AtANS, and AtFLS, and higher content of flavonoids and anthocyanins accumulation when compared to wild-type and mutant plants. Under exogenous MeJA treatment, the CtCYP82G24 transgenic overexpressed lines showed a significant spike in flavonoid and anthocyanin content compared to wild-type and mutant plants. Moreover, the virus-induced gene silencing (VIGS) assay of CtCYP82G24 in safflower leaves exhibited decreased flavonoid and anthocyanin accumulation and reduced expression of key flavonoid biosynthetic genes, suggesting a possible coordination between transcriptional regulation of CtCYP82G24 and flavonoid accumulation. Together, our findings confirmed the likely role of CtCYP82G24 during MeJA-induced flavonoids accumulation in safflower.
A case of pyridoxine-dependent epilepsy with novel ALDH7A1 mutation
Authors: Luo Feifei , Ruan Ying , Du LiJun , Jiang Li , Xiong Ying , Liu Hanmin
Published: April 2023

Background Pyridoxine-dependent epilepsy (PDE) is a rare autosomal recessive disease, usually associated with neonatal seizures, about 75% of the patients suffered from intellectual or developmental delay (IDD). Antiepileptic drugs are often difficult to control seizures or incomplete control, but pyridoxine administration can significantly improve seizure control and neurodevelopmental outcomes. Clinical diagnosis of PDE is challenging because its neurological symptoms may not be the primary clinical symptom. Some children may have other symptoms before the onset of PDE, such as respiratory distress, hypothermia, hypoglycemia, shock and acidosis, allergy, bloating, vomiting, and irritability. It was found that PDE is mainly caused by a mutation in ALDH7A1.
Case presentation This paper reports the clinical diagnosis and treatment of a case of pyridoxine-dependent epilepsy (PDE) and literature analysis. The onset of the disease was 2 hours after birth, with generalized tonic-clonic seizures and continuous convulsions. Various antiepileptic drugs were difficult to control. Due to an unclear early diagnosis and obvious lactic acid increase, mild hypothermia was used for 72 hours at the early stage. The effect of vitamin B6 treatment was not significant in the initial stage. Other diseases were excluded through rigorous clinical diagnosis and treatment, neuroelectrophysiology and neuroimaging examinations, and hematuria tandem mass spectrometry. The mutation of the ALDH7A1 gene was found through whole exome sequencing, and PDE was finally diagnosed. The control effect was good with vitamin B6 alone, and the growth and development were normal until the age of 3 months.
Conclusions We report a case of PDE in a Chinese newborn due to ALDH7A1 gene mutation. The c.531del (p.Leu178 *) mutation may be a new pathogenic mutation. Through our case report, it is suggested that the underlying etiology should also be suspected when the cause of various systemic symptoms is uncertain and the response to conventional treatment is insufficient. All patients with unexplained epilepsy who have conditions should receive PDE-related biochemical indicators and genetic testing.
Predictive mutagenesis of prolyl endopeptidase from non-pathogenic acidophilic bacteria for gliadin catalysis
Authors: Pathak Ravi Kant , Badyal Surbhi , Kharga Nitesh , Dutta Joydeep , Yadav Rakesh , Goutam Umesh
Published: April 2023

The enzyme prolyl endopeptidase is a member of serine peptidase group belonging to the MEROPS peptidase family S9 of clan SC. It is popularly known for its preferential cleavage of small peptides usually 30 amino acid long at the carboxyl end of proline residues. This characteristic cleavage property makes prolyl endopeptidase a therapeutic in treating gluten allergy which is triggered by 33 amino acid long (gliadin α-2) or 26 amino acid long peptides rich in proline and glutamine residues. Digestion of gliadin peptides to a length lesser than 9 amino acids can impede an autoimmune response and thus gluten sensitivity in genetically susceptible individuals. To address this issue, we have investigated the prolyl endopeptidase interactions with gliadin peptide by docking studies. Based on the docking exercises, interacting residues of endopeptidase can be further subjected to introduction of in silico mutations. A series of favourable mutations sites such as N477, I478, N483 and A682 in human PEP corresponding to which sites A548, G549, A555 and I737 have been identified respectively in Candidatus sulfotelmatobacter sp. sbA7, a non-pathogenic acidophilic human PEP homolog. Simulation of single substitution mutation at site A548 was tested capable to catalyse complete digestion of immunogenic gliadin α-2 peptide.
Clinical Utility of Monobiomaker-Based Malaria Rapid Diagnostic Test Kits at a Military Medical Centre in Ghana: An Exploration Pilot Study
Authors: Hamid Abdul-Wahab Mawuko , Yovelanywe Suonyir Raymond , Frimpomaa Salomey , Agyeman-Duah Kwaku , Kissiedu Kwapong Yaw , Cudjoe Evans Ewusie , Akoliga Samuel , Kinanyok Silas , Kwadzokpui Precious Kwablah , Jnr Kenneth Owusu Agyemang , Duneeh Richard Vikpebah , Bawah Ahmed Tijani , Nanga Salifu , Saeed Sumaiya Salifu , Boakye-Yiadom Emily , Afeke Innocent , Orish Verner Ndudiri , Kasu Emmanuel Senyo , Ofori Eric Kwasi , Owusu-Agyei Seth
Published: April 2023

Background: Proliferation of non-falciparum species of plasmodium into predominant falciparum populations compromises the utility of monobiomaker based malaria Rapid Diagnostic Test (mRDT). This study evaluated the validity of a mono-biomarker based Carestart®) and Paracheck™ mRDTs in use at a Military Medical Centre in Ghana.
Methodology: The study was designed to assess the validity of named mRDTs in a setting in Ghana. Blood samples collected from a consecutive series of 207 febrile patients in the months of June and July 2020, were tested for malaria parasites, using the mRDTs and microscopy as the gold standard. Prevalence, validity, and reliability metrics were determined using Frequentist, Receiver Operating Characteristics (ROC), and Kappa statistics, respectively.
Results: The prevalence was 23.2% and 12.3% using microscopy and candidate mRDT, respectively. Sensitivities and specificities were 53.2% and 98.1% (Carestart®), 45.8% and 99.4% (Paracheck), respectively. Neither ROC analysis showed a significant disparity between mRDTs (Carestart®: AUROC=0.75 vs Paracheck™: AUROC=0.73), nor the reliability index showed disagreement between both mRDTs (Cronbach’s α = 0.92). But there was significant disagreement between microscopy and mRDTs (Carestart®: Kappa=0.58 vs Paracheck™: Kappa=0.55).
Conclusion: The use of a monobiomaker mRDTs in this study led to a significant variation between the ‘internal’ and ‘ecological’ validity metrics. Averagely, 84% mRDT false negatives was non-falciparum. It is therefore, critical to accelerate the implementation of WHO’s recommendation to switch from mono to multiple biomarker (s)-based mRDTs for detecting both falciparum and non-falciparum species. Extended research is needed to consolidate our understanding of the dynamics of malaria among our military personnel exposed to non-falciparum plasmodium.
A new reservoir-based CPAP with low oxygen consumption. The Bag-CPAP
Authors: de Beaufort Eloïse , Carteaux Guillaume , Morin François , Lesimple Arnaud , Haudebourg Anne-Fleur , Fresnel Emeline , Duval Damien , Broc Alexandre , Mercat Alain , Brochard Laurent , Savary Dominique , Beloncle François , Dessap Armand Mekontso , Richard Jean-Christophe
Published: April 2023

Background
Several forms of noninvasive ventilatory supports have a high consumption of oxygen which may precipitate oxygen shortage, as experienced during the COVID-19 pandemic. In this bench-to-bedside study, we assessed the performances of a new continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) device using a large a reservoir (the “Bag-CPAP”) designed to minimize oxygen consumption and compared it with other CPAP devices.
Methods
First, a bench study compared the performances of the Bag-CPAP and four CPAP devices to an intensive care unit ventilator. Two FiO2 targets (40-60% and 80-100%) at a predefined positive end expiratory pressure (PEEP) level between 5 and 10 cm H2O were tested and fraction of inspired oxygen (FiO2) and oxygen consumption were measured. Device-imposed work of breathing (WOB) was also evaluated.
Second, an observational clinical study evaluated the new CPAP in 20 adult patients with acute respiratory failure in two hospitals in France. Actual FiO2, PEEP, peripheral oxygen saturation, respiratory rate and dyspnea score were assessed.
Results
All six systems tested in the bench study reached the minimal FiO2 target of 40% and four were able to reach at least 80% FiO2 while maintaining PEEP in the predefined range. The ratio of FiO2 delivered to the oxygen consumed was the highest with the new reservoir-based CPAP whatever the FiO2 target. The WOB induced by the device was slightly higher with the Bag-CPAP.
In the clinical study, the Bag-CPAP was well tolerated and could reach high (>90%) and moderate (>50%) FiO2 with an oxygen flow rate of 15 [15-16] and 8 [7-9] L/min, respectively. Dyspnea score improved significantly after introduction of Bag-CPAP, and SpO2 increased.
Conclusions
In vitro, the Bag-CPAP exhibited the highest oxygen saving properties. It was well accepted clinically and reduces dyspnea. The Bag-CPAP may be useful to treat patients with acute respiratory failure in the field, especially when facing constraints in oxygen delivery.
Erchen Decoction Alleviates High-Fat Diet + AOM/DSS-Induced CRC by Ameliorating Cholesterol-Bile Acid Metabolism Disorder through Regulating FXR and the Gut Microbiota
Authors: Liu Ruifang , shanshan Ding , zhaoyang Yang , fei Zhang , Fu Yi , Peng Xue , Jindi Zhao , Yang Yuan , Liao Linghong
Published: April 2023

The incidence of colorectal cancer (CRC) is closely related to dietary factors. Dietary factors greatly affect the structure and function of intestinal microorganisms. In the process of cholesterol bile acid metabolism, the gut microbes participate in the conversion of primary bile acid to secondary bile acid and play an important role in the occurrence and development of CRC. Erchen decoction (ECD) has been widely used in basic research and clinical treatment as a traditional Chinese medical prescription, particularly for patients who are overweight and exhibit dyslipidemia. It is widely used in clinical practice in patients with phlegm syndrome in early colorectal cancer. However, the effects of this treatment on microorganisms and the underlying metabolic mechanisms are still unclear. In this study, a model of high-fat diet and azoxymethane combined with dextran sodium sulfate (AOM/DSS) was established, and ECD intervention was administered to investigate the incidence rate of CRC under different dietary conditions, as well as the effect of ECD intervention on CRC mice fed a high-fat diet. The results showed that the incidence rate of colorectal neoplasms increased under conditions of a high-fat diet, and ECD could reduce the incidence of CRC by regulating abnormal lipid metabolism and improving the structure and function of the intestinal flora.
The Impact of Expanded Access Programs for Systemic Anticancer Therapy in an Irish Cancer Centre
Authors: Cronin Timothy K , Ronayne Cian , O’Donovan Niamh , McGuinness Eimear , Cooke Katie , Dennehy Maeve , Dennehy Colum , Power Derek G , Cahill Mary R , Collins Dearbhaile C , Connolly Roisin M , Bambury Richard M , Mykytiv Vitaliy , Higgins Michaela J , Noonan Sinéad A , O'Reilly Seamus
Published: April 2023

Purpose Expanded access programs (EAPs) allow patients with cancer who have unmet clinical needs to obtain access to pre-authorisation treatments. There is no standardised process or registry for implementing these programs nationally and real world data on their impact is lacking. We evaluated their prevalence and impact in a cancer centre.Methods Data relating to adult cancer patients treated via EAPs from 2011 to 2021 in three Cork university hospitals was collated. Descriptive statistics were employed to get an overview of the impact these programs currently have on cancer care provision.Results We identified 193 patients who accessed EAPs during the study period, availing of 33 separate drugs for a total of 50 different cancer indications. The prevalence of EAP usage was shown to have been trending upwards in recent years with a total of 189 programs being accessed throughout the period. Drugs provided were from a number of different anti-cancer drug classes, particularly targeted therapies (n = 18) and immune checkpoint inhibitors (n = 17). Cancers from a wide range of both solid and liquid tumour types were identified as having been treated with EAP drugs and patients treated were from across a broad spectrum of ages (26–82, SD:11.99).Conclusion EAPs have an increasing role in access to novel cancer therapies in our community and by extension nationally. Equity of EAP access would be facilitated by a national registry of available agents which we have now established. Assessment of their benefits and toxicities would be enhanced by the requirement for a real world data base as a condition of EAP approval.
Soft Computing Techniques for Stock Market Prediction: An Analysis
Authors: Ayyasamy S. , Sachan Prateek , Ranadheer M. , Singh Ananya
Published: April 2023

The task of predicting stock prices is crucial in the fields of finance and economics. Machine learning methods have been increasingly popular in recent years for stock price forecasting. In this abstract, we suggest a hybrid model for predicting stock prices that combines the strength of XGBoost, RNN, and LSTM networks. Stock price prediction is one of the numerous uses for the potent gradient boosting method known as XGBoost. Stock price sequential data is a good fit for deep learning models like RNN and LSTM. The proposed hybrid model first extracts significant features from historical stock data using XGBoost, and then models the temporal dependencies in the data using RNN and LSTM. The experimental findings demonstrate that the suggested model performs better than the state-of-the-art models on several benchmark datasets.
Predictors of Antipsychotics Switching among Ambulatory Patients with Schizophrenia in Ethiopia: A Multicenter Hospital-Based Cross-Sectional Study.
Authors: Kiflu Mekdes , Azale Telake , Gubae Kale , Agegnew Samuel , Mebratu Ephrem , EliasErgena Asrat , Abubeker Ousman , Mekonnen Gizework Alemnew
Published: April 2023

Introduction: A change of therapy from one to another antipsychotic medication is currently the main challenge of therapy. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of antipsychotic medication switches and determinants among patients with schizophrenia in Northwest Ethiopia.Methods Multi-center hospital-based cross-sectional study was conducted at five Comprehensive Specialized Hospitals found in Northwest Ethiopia from April 30, 2021, to August 30, 2021. Data were extracted from both patients’ medical charts and interviews. Data were entered into Epi-data software version 3.5.1 and exported to SPSS version 25.0 for analysis. A multivariable logistic regression model was fitted to identify factors associated with medication regimen switch. The level of significance of the study was kept at a P-value of 0.05 with a 95% confidence interval.Result a total of 414 patients are involved in the study, and 188(45.5%) of patients switched antipsychotics within one year. The unavailability of the medication is the commonest reason for switching. Being male[AOR = 2.581,95% CI; (1.463,4.552)], having relapse[AOR = 2.341,95% CI: (1.169,4.687) ], history of hospitalization in the past year [AOR = 3.00,95% CI; (1.478,5.715)] and taking typical antipsychotics [AOR = 3.340, CI; (1.76, 6.00)] had a significant association with antipsychotics switching.Conclusions and recommendations: There is a high prevalence of antipsychotic switches among schizophrenia patients. Prescribers need to be careful while dosing, selecting, and switching antipsychotics, hence may help reduce discontinuation and unnecessary switch and thus achieve optimal clinical management.
Fusing Artificial Intelligence with Scrum Framework
Authors: Ameta Upasana , Patel Mayank , Rathore Narendra Singh
Published: April 2023

In today’s era, AI has become a huge part of people’s lives. AI technology’s ability to think, evaluate, and respond like a human brain has reduced human effort by automating a large number of tasks. However, the development of such applications is difficult and requires mass data evaluation and manipulation. With innovations, changing customer needs, and increasing complexity, AI project development require a renovated approach to improve the development procedure. Employing Scrum Framework prescribed under the Agile Software Development Methodology can prove to be an effective way to improve product quality and revenue and reduce production complicacy. Scrum Framework aims to develop small pieces of the product in increments and continuously test and evaluate it to minimize errors and maximize responsiveness. The repetitive, inspective, and adoptive approach followed by Scrum Framework can make AI-based project development and management easier and more effective.
Analysis of the pulse widths on radiation properties from an electron driven by intense elliptically polarized laser
Authors: zhang xiang , chen dongjun , tian youwei
Published: April 2023

In this paper, a model of electron electromagnetic radiation is established by using Lorentz formula for the interaction of a tightly focused elliptically polarized laser with a single electron under the condition of nonlinear Thomson scattering. Let the initial pulse width λ0 be 3.3fs. By changing the laser pulse width λ0, the energy distribution and space distribution of electron radiation emitted by electron under different conditions are obtained. The results show that when laser interacts with a single electron, the electromagnetic radiation emitted by the electron accumulates in a cone shape in space. With the increase of pulse width λ0, the peak energy of electron radiation is bimodal, and the peak power of electron radiation drops. At the same time, the longer it takes for the electron radiation to reach the peak, the frequency spectrum and time function show that the high-frequency component decreases, the cutoff frequency decreases, and the harmonic frequency increases.
17β-estradiol delays cardiac aging through suppressing the methylation of Beclin1 in a murine model
Authors: Ye Lili , Shi Xiaoyi , Deng Tianming , Zhao Jun , Wu Tianjie , Chen Jingrong
Published: April 2023

Cardiac endogenous senescence will gradually change and aggravate with age. Recent research showed that 17β-estradiol (17β-E2), an estrogen with numerous biological activities including the prevention of vascular senescence. However, how 17β-E2 against cardiac aging is still unknown. This work addressed the underlying mechanism with regard to Beclin1 and autophagy activity to better understand the anti-senescent effect of 17β-E2 on a well-established animal model of cardiac aging. The findings demonstrated that cardiac aging mice treated with 17β-E2 had substantially improved heart function. By RNA-sequencing and Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (GSEA) analysis, the autophagy signaling pathway was further enriched in the myocardial tissue of cardiac aging mice treated with 17β-E2, and we also discovered that 17β-E2 obviously suppress the methylation of Beclin1 promoter region, which mediate the activation of autophagy signal. Overall, our data showed that 17β-E2's anti-senescent effect on cardiac aging mice was mediated by the crucial suppression of methylation in the Beclin1 promoter area and subsequent activation of the autophagy signal, which may present a possible therapeutic approach to prevent cardiac aging.
The study of heat transfer in convex parabolic profile fins
Authors: Mhlongo Mfanafikile Don , Shozi Benjamin Franklin
Published: April 2023

The heat transfer in a longitudinal fin of a convex parabolic shape is examined in this research. The temperature distribution is given by the power law, and thermal conductivity and heat transport vary nonlinearly with temperature. The boundary conditions that we have selected are the step change in base heat flow and step change in base temperature. We employ Lie symmetries to overcome the issue. Two local symmetries were allowed by the governing equation for the convex parabolic profile in the case where $m=n$ and two additional symmetries in the situation where $m\neq n.$ The initial non-linear PDE was transformed into non-linear ODEs by the local symmetries. Both steady-state and transient-state solutions were examined. In certain circumstances, the solutions achieved the desired step shift. The effects of the thermo-geometric parameter and the exponent on temperature are studied. The fin efficiency is also examined.
Real-time Human Body Detection in Surveillance Footage Using Computer Vision Algorithms
Authors: Er-Rajy Latifa , kiram my Ahmed El , ghazouani Mohamed El
Published: April 2023

The detection of human bodies in real-time surveillance footage is a crucial problem in the field of computer vision with various applications in security, safety, and monitoring. In this paper, we present our computer vision system designed for real-time human body detection in surveillance footage. The system is optimized for both efficiency and accuracy, making it suitable for use in real-world scenarios. We have divided the system into several stages including data collection, feature extraction, model selection, model training, real-time deployment, and post-processing. To evaluate our system, we conducted thorough evaluations on a large dataset of surveillance footage and found it to achieve high accuracy and efficiency. The results of our extensive evaluation demonstrate the tool's effectiveness and potential for widespread use in various applications. The proposed system is a valuable tool for practical applications, providing a reliable and cost-effective solution for real-time human body detection and can be easily integrated into existing surveillance systems. Our contribution to the advancement of computer vision and its applications in real-world scenarios, particularly in the field of security and surveillance, is significant. The paper concludes with a discussion of future work aimed at further improving the tool's capabilities and applications.
Preferences of patients with severe mental disorders in social medical welfare policies: a discrete choice experiment from communities in China
Authors: Lu Wei , Huang Qingzhi , Zhu Junli , Chen Yun , Su Dai , Chen Chen , Xin Yu
Published: April 2023

Purpose Patients with severe mental disorders in China face a heavy financial burden and are in dire need of government support to help with medical costs. At present, the implementation of social medical welfare policies for patients with severe mental disorders in China has been ineffective. This study aims to study the participation preferences of patients for these policies, and provide a basis for the next path of policies improvement.Methods A questionnaire using the discrete choice experiment has been designed. Conditional logit regression and mixed logit regression models have been constructed based on the choice preference data, while relative importance and scenario prediction analysis have been adopted to measure the emphasis level of policy attributes in patients' minds.Results All four policy attributes affect patients' preferences for policy participation, while the attributes in descending order of relative importance are starting payment line(29.10%), reimbursement rate(25.40%), drug catalogue(24.19%), and designated medical institutions(21.31%).Patients significantly preferred the policy option with no starting payment line (p < 0.01). There are also differences in the attributes that patients with different characteristics consider critical when making choices.Conclusion This study has measured demand-side preferences for policy participation from the patient's perspective. The important finding obtained is that patients' preferences for policies attributes are closely influenced by the actual details of the policies in which they are currently or have previously participated and by their level of awareness at the time they make their judgments. The direction of policies adjustment can be grasped accordingly.
Dielectronic properties and photocatalytic activities of two novel cobalt(II) meso-tetraphenylporphyrin-based coordination complexes
Authors: Amiri Nesrine , Guergueb Mouhieddinne , Bourguiba Marwa , Nasri Habib
Published: April 2023

Two novel cobalt(II) tetraphenylporphyrin-based six-coordinate complexes; bis(4-Dimethylaminopyridine)(5,10,15,20-tetrakis[4-bromophenyl]porphinato) cobalt(II) (1) and bis(4-Dimethylaminopyridine) (5,10,15,20-tetrakis[4-chlorophenyl]porphinato )cobalt(II) (2) were synthesised in good qualitative and quantitative yields. The chemical structures of these synthesized compounds were confirmed by elemental analysis, infrared, proton nuclear magnetic resonance and mass spectrometry, UV–vis absorption, and fluorescence spectroscopies. Their photophysical properties, namely their molar extinction coefficients (ε), fluorescence quantum yields (Φf) and lifetimes (τf), were determined and compared with those of meso-tetraphenylporphyrin. The dielectric properties such as dielectric constant (ε′), dielectric loss (ε″), and conductivity (σ) were investigated as a function of temperature and frequency. Impedance analysis was carried out using Cole-Cole plots to understand the electrical conduction mechanism. As an application of our two cobaltous complexes, an investigation involving complexes 1–2 in the photocatalytic performance was carried out by decomposing the TB dye under visible light irradiation at room temperature.
Synthesis and Investigation of C60H40FeN8O8S4 thin Films for Photocatalytic degradation of organic dye
Authors: Kassmi M. , Khalil S. , Rhimi B. , Samti R.
Published: April 2023

In this study, different experimental conditions is used to investigate the physical characteristics of new 4-Tetra-4-Tolyl-Sulfonyl: Iron-Phthalocyanine (4T4TS-FePc) thin films. The structural, morphological, and optical properties of 4T4TS-FePc thin films were then determined using a range of results. The majority of the material's properties indicate to its ingrained tendency to act as a photocatalyst, which is supported by the speed at which MB degrades under ultraviolet-visible light and may be suitable for applications aimed at wastewater treatment.