bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Modulation of E-cadherin and Histone Deacetylase via miR-34c in Epidermoid Carcinoma and Tongue Cancer
Authors: Omar Shaimaa , Abdel-Ghany Shaimaa , -Latif Ghada A Abd , Gamil Yasmine , Mohamed Radwa , Refaat Marwa , El-hamid Jomana Abd , Sabit Hussein
Published: September 2023

Objectives: Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is a type of cancer that starts in the squamous cells that line the mouth. It is the most common type of head and neck cancer and accounts for about 90% of all head and neck cancers. MiR-34c is reported as a member of the p53 pathway that may function to disrupt the cell cycle as a result of DNA damage. Thus, understanding the role of this microRNA in the progression of OSCC becomes mandatory.
Materia and Methods: The present study investigated the expression profile of miR-34c in patients with well-differentiated OSCC compared to tongue squamous cell carcinoma (SCC25) and human epidermoid carcinoma (A253) cells. A total of 25 cases of tissue samples (10 normal oral mucosal tissue and 15 well-differentiated OSCC) were studied for miR-34c expression by qPCR. SCC25 and A253 cells were transfected with miR34c-5p expressing plasmid. Post transfection, cells were tested for DNA content, apoptosis, and E-cadherin expression.
Results: The expression profile of miR-34c was significantly lower in patients with well-differentiated OSCC compared to normal oral mucosal tissues (P = 0.000). Transfection of SCC25 cells and A253 cells with miR-34c induced cell cycle arrest, and resulted in a significant elevation in apoptosis (P= 0.000). Additionally, the expression of E-cadherin was enhanced in OSCC compared to the control, with a significant decrease in the expression of all tested HDACs. Transfection of miR-34c-5p enhanced by ultrasound significantly forced cell cycle arrest and increased the apoptosis levels, indicating the role of miR-34c-5p in controlling the malignant behavior of OSCC.
Conclusion: miR-34c could be an important tumor suppressor in oral malignancy, and miRNA34c mimics might be a reliable approach to combat OSCC.
Clinical relevance:Understanding the molecular functions of different types of miRNAs gives a deeper insight into understanding, and hence combating cancers such as OSCC. This might help minimize the invasive interventional treatments.
Research Landscape of Energy Transition and Green Finance: A Bibliometric Analysis
Authors: Xu Jiahui , Liu Qian , Wider Walton , An Zhida
Published: September 2023

This study utilizes bibliometric analysis to examine historical and present research patterns in the realms of energy transition and green finance and to forecast potential future domains. Using the bibliometric method, 328 scholarly articles from the Web of Science database were evaluated. This paper identifies influential publications, maps the research landscape, and forecasts emerging tendencies through co-citation and co-word analyses. Co-citation analysis found three main clusters, whilst co-word scrutiny revealed four main clusters. Despite the growing significance of research on energy transition and green finance research, further in-depth investigation is necessary to offer a thorough depiction of the research domain. This research represents a pioneering endeavour in the utilization of bibliometric analysis to investigate the interrelationship between two items. It offers valuable insights into the rapidly expanding field of energy transition and green finance, effectively highlighting its contours and indicating potential future developments.
Regulation mechanism of δ15N in alpine meadow plants and soil of Qinghai-Tibet Plateau under nitrogen addition
Authors: xiang xuemei , DE KEJIA , lin weishan , Tingxu FENG , Fei Li , Xijie WEI , Wei WANG
Published: September 2023

δ15N values in plants and soils can effectively help understand nitrogen cycling in ecosystems, however the driving factors and mechanisms of nitrogen cycling in alpine meadow ecosystems of the Three-River Source region are largely unknown, especially under different nitrogen form additions. To address this knowledge gap, we conducted a15N tracer field micro-plot experiment from June 2020 to September 2022 at an alpine meadow site in Qinghai Province, China, with three nitrogen forms added ((15NH4)2SO4, Ca(15NO3)2, and CO(15NH2)2) to calculate corresponding δ15Nplant and δ15Nsoil values. The results showed that (1) under different nitrogen form additions, δ15Nplant, δ15Nsoil, soil and vegetation properties all exhibited significant differences, with CO(15NH2)2addition resulting in markedly higher δ15Nplant, δ15Nsoil, total soil N, plant total N, and plant biomass compared to (15NH4)2SO4and Ca(15NO3)2treatments, while Shannon-Wiener diversity and Margalef richness indices reached maximum values under Ca(15NO3)2addition. (2) The most influential variables for δ15Nplant and δ15Nsoil were Shannon-Wiener index and mean annual temperature under (15NH4)2SO4addition, plant biomass and plant total N under Ca(15NO3)2addition, and plant total N and mean annual temperature under CO(15NH2)2addition. Overall, this study highlights the complexity of climate, soil and plant factors influencing δ15Nplant and δ15Nsoil under different nitrogen form additions, providing a theoretical basis for the mechanisms of δ15Nplant and δ15Nsoil variation in alpine meadow ecosystems of the Three-River Source region.
Melatonin enhances the remote effect of radiofrequency ablation via NRF-2 mediated inhibition of PD-L1 transcription in non-small cell lung cancer
Authors: Li Ziye , Zheng Tiansheng , Lin Shumeng , Zhang Wen , Qin Chenge , Reiter Russel J. , Li Ming , Fan Lihong
Published: September 2023

There is a strong correlation between PD-L1 expression and the malignancy of the tumor, and targeted regulation of PD-L1 expression can significantly improve the lung cancer patients' prognosis. The transcriptional regulation of PD-L1 expression is a critical topic in current research. Previous studies have demonstrated that melatonin (MLT) can promote the remote effect of radiofrequency ablation (RFA). However, it is unclear whether this action of MLT is through inhibiting the expression of PD-L1 in tumor cells. Our transcriptomic analysis showed that MLT significantly inhibited the tumor tissue expression of PD-L1 and NRF2 and enhanced the remote effect of RFA ablation. Our subsequent in vitro experiments also demonstrated that MLT could suppress tumor cells by inhibiting the expression of PD-L1 and NRF2. Further study demonstrated that NRF2 could inhibit the transcriptional expression of PD-L1. The dual luciferase reporter assay showed that NRF-2 inhibited the transcription expression of PD-L1 by activating the PD-L1 promoter. Deletion mutation research has shown that the transcriptional regulation of NRF2 is achieved by repressing the activation of TCAGAGGCTAT, a specific locus of the PD-L1 promoter. For the first time, we found that NRF2 was an important transcriptional regulator of PD-L1 promoter, and MLT could promote the remote effect of RFA ablation by inhibiting the NRF2-PD-L1 signal axis. All these findings may offer a novel strategy for enhancing anti-tumor immunity through regulating PD-L1, and provide a solid foundation for the clinical applications of MLT in combination with RFA therapy for lung cancer.
Vitellogenins appear in the form of protein complexes in the hemolymph of Haemaphysalis flava ticks
Authors: Li Dan , Liu Lei , Liu Zi-ling , Tian Yuan , Gao Xin , Cheng Tian-yin
Published: September 2023

Background Hemolymph is a circulating aqueous fluid which is full of proteins, lipids, carbohydrates, hormones, and hemocytes. Ticks transport nutrients, signaling molecules, waste and immune factors to all areas of the body via hemolymph. Vitellogenin (Vg) family members, which are vital for the tick reproduction, are a main soluble component in the hemolymph, but there remain disputes regarding their protein structures and functional classifications. Here we aimed to investigate whether Vg proteins would exist in the hemolymph as a monomer or complex, as well as the putative functional classifications Vg proteins based on their structures. Methods Hemolymph was collected from fully engorgedHaemaphysalis flavaticks by leg amputation. Hemolymph proteins were examined by both native polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (Native-PAGE) and sodium dodecyl sulfate PAGE (SDS-PAGE). Proteins extracted from gels were further identified by a combination of liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS). Results Two bands (380 kDa and 520 kDa) were separated from tick hemolymph by Native-PAGE and were further separated into four bands (105 kDa, 120 kDa, 130 kDa and 360 kDa) by SDS-PAGE. LC/MS/MS revealed that seven tick proteins and 13 host proteins existed in the four bands. These tick proteins mainly were the vitellogenin (Vg) family and α-macroglobulin family members. In silica structural analysis showed that these Vg family members all had common conserved domains including the N-terminus lipid binding domain (LPD-N), the C-terminus von Willebrand type D domain (vWD) and the unknown functional domain (DUF). Additionally, they contained the cleaving sites that could cleave the protein into multiple subunits. Meanwhile, combined with our previous observations, it was believed that these Vg family proteins in the hemolymph functionally belonged to carrier protein (CP) but not Vg. Conclusion These findings imply that Vg family proteins, most likely CP, are the primary constituent of Hemolymph in the form of protein complexes. It will drive a more rational selection of Vg family proteins as antigen targets for the development of vaccines aimed at the control of tick development.
Computational Design of a Multi-Epitope-Based Vaccine Targeting the BF.7 Omicron Variant of SARS-CoV-2
Authors: Raghavendra B , Dhanushkumar T , Selvam Prasanna kumar , Gopikrishnan Mohanaraj , Vasudevan Karthick , C George Priya Doss
Published: September 2023

In recent times, the SARS-CoV-2 virus has been observed to cause a serious threat to the world through its high permissive mutations by adapting itself to the host environment, which is a time to design a effective vaccine that could be able to produce immune response to fight against the virus. An Immunoinformatics approach was employed to conduct a high-throughput analysis aimed at developing a multi-epitope-based vaccine that specifically targets the BF.7 Omicron variant, which is currently a variant of concern. The essential aspect for the successful development of a vaccine lies in identifying B-cell and T-cell epitopes that exhibit both antigenic features, capable of eliciting a defensive immune response, while also possessing non-allergenic characteristics to prevent any harmful allergic reactions. These epitopes are essential for the development of vaccines because they aid in the immune system's ability to identify and attack certain infections without inducing unfavourable allergic reactions. The Docking and MD simulation studies have shown structural stabilityand Toll-like receptors with chosen vaccine architecture interact strongly. with strong The Insilico immune simulation boosted the research study confirming the efficiency of the vaccination that has the potential to stimulate immunological responses by producing antibodies to not only targeting the specific VOC, BF.7 omicron variant but also other omicron sublineages. Overall, the computational study have provided strong evidences to the designed vaccine construct which needs to be confirmed through the experiemental study.
Comparison of postoperative outcomes and long-term survival rates between patients who underwent robotic and laparoscopic complete mesocolic excision for right-sided colon cancer
Authors: Aghayeva Afag , Seker Mustafa Ege , Bayrakceken Serra , Kirbiyik Ebru , Bagda Aysegul , Benlice Cigdem , Karahasanoglu Tayfun , Baca Bilgi
Published: September 2023

Background
This study aims to evaluate and compare the safety and efficacy of robotic and laparoscopic complete mesocolic excision (CME) for patients diagnosed with right colon cancer. The study also examined 5-year survival rates to determine the outcomes of these procedures.
Methods
Patients who underwent CME for right-sided colon cancer between 2014 and 2021 were included in the current study. Group differences of age, body mass index, operation time, bleeding amount, total harvested lymph nodes and post-operation hospital stay were analyzed by the Mann-Whitney U test. Group differences of sex, American Society of Anesthesiology, and TNM stage were analyzed by the Chi-squared test. Disease-free survival and overall survival were assessed using Kaplan-Meier curves and compared using the log-rank Mantel-Cox test.
Results
From 109 patients, 74 of them were 1:1 propensity score matched and used for analysis. Total harvested lymph node (p = < 0.001) and estimated blood loss (p = 0.031) were found to have statistically significant between the groups. We found no statistically significant difference between the groups in terms of disease-free and overall survival (p = 0.27 and 0.86, respectively), and the mortality rate was 9.17%, with no deaths directly attributed to the surgery.
Conclusions
Our study shows that minimally invasive surgery is a feasible option for CME in right colon cancers, with acceptable overall survival rates. Although the robotic approach resulted in a higher lymph node yield, there was no significant difference in survival rates between the robotic and laparoscopic approaches. Further randomized trials are needed to determine the clinical significance of both approaches.
Exploring the Clinical Significance of Specific Immune-Related Adverse Events (irAE) in Melanoma Patients Undergoing Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor (ICI) Therapy
Authors: Asher Nathanel , Bar-Hai Neta , ben-Betzalel Guy , Stoff Ronen , Grynberg Shirly , Schachter Jacob , Steinberg Yael , Gelernter Leah , Shlasky Avital , Frommer-Shapira Ronnie
Published: September 2023

Introduction: Several studies have demonstrated that patients who experience irAE as a result of ICI treatment, exhibit significantly improved outcomes compared to patients without toxicity. However, data regarding the impact of specific irAE is currently lacking. Patients and methods: This is a real-world single-site cohort of advanced melanoma patients who were treated with ICI as first line between 2014 and 2020. This study explores the correlation between specific irAE and treatment efficacy. Results: Four hundred and fifteen (415) patients were treated with either anti PD-1 monotherapy (65%), combination of anti PD-1 and anti CTLA-4 (24%), or anti CTLA-4 monotherapy (11%). Median age was 68 years (12-99y), and 58% were male. The median follow-up was 24.5m. Any-grade irAEs were seen in 72% (n = 299), and 26% experienced high-grade irAE (n = 104). The most frequent irAEs were cutaneous (classified as non-vitiligo, n = 110, 26.5% and vitiligo, n = 48, 11.6%), rheumatologic (n = 68, 16.4%), gastrointestinal (n = 66, 15.9%), endocrine (n = 61, 14.7%), and hepatitis (n = 50, 12%). The development of irAE was associated with a significantly longer median PFS (19.6m vs 4.5m; HR 0.46, p < 0.001) and median OS (55m vs 16.9m; HR 0.44, p < 0.001). Specific irAE that were significantly associated with survival benefit were rheumatologic (HR 0.34 for PFS, p < 0.001; HR 0.38 for OS, p < 0.001), non-vitiligo cutaneous (HR 0.58 for PFS, p < 0.001; HR 0.54 for OS, p = 0.001), vitiligo (HR 0.30 for PFS, p < 0.001; HR 0.29 for OS, p < 0.001) and endocrine (HR 0.6 for PFS, p = 0.01; HR 0.52 for OS, p < 0.001). After adjustment for ECOG performance status, LDH level, type of ICI protocol and M-substage - the rheumatologic, non-vitiligo cutaneous and vitiligo irAE remained significant on multivariate analysis for both PFS and OS. Conclusions: The development of rheumatologic, vitiligo and other cutaneous irAE during ICI treatment, is correlated with a noteworthy survival advantage, while other irAE do not present this correlation. These specific irAEs may reflect a hyper-activated immune response and thus can serve as meaningful clinical biomarkers.
Self-paced Ensemble and Big Data Identification: A Classification of Substantial Imbalance Computational Analysis
Authors: Bano Shahzadi , Zhi Weimei , Qiu Baozhi , Raza Muhammad , Sehito Nabila , Kamal Mian Muhammad , Aldehim Ghadah , Alruwais Nuha
Published: September 2023

Background: The concept of self-paced learning in the context of ensemble learning involves the idea of allowing each individual member, or base learner, within an ensemble to learn at its own pace. Ensemble learning refers to a machine learning technique that combines multiple learning models, known as base learners, to improve predictive accuracy and overall performance.
Motivation: The research focuses on self-paced ensemble and big data classifications, with considerable data imbalance as a mediating factor. This idea is a brand-new domain with a lot of untapped potential. For example, the growth of information technology has resulted in the spread of massive data in our daily lives. Many real-world applications often create imbalanced datasets for critical classification tasks. For example, to anticipate click-through rates, online advertising companies may produce many datasets, such as user viewing or interactions with advertisements
Research object : This research focuses on the challenges associated with learning classifiers from large-scale, highly imbalanced datasets prevalent in many real-world applications. Traditional algorithms learning often need better performance and high computational efficiency when dealing with imbalanced data. Factors such as class imbalance, noise, and class overlap make it demanding to learn effective classifiers.
Methods: The self-paced ensemble method addresses the challenges of high imbalance ratios, class overlap, and noise presence in large-scale imbalanced classification problems. By incorporating the knowledge of these challenges into our learning framework, we establish the concept of classification hardness distribution
Conclusion: This research concludes that the self-paced ensemble is a revolutionary learning paradigm for massive imbalance categorization, capable of improving the performance of existing learning algorithms on imbalanced data and providing better results for future applications.
Genome sequence and characterization of Streptomyces phages Vanseggelen and Verabelle, representing two new species within the genus Camvirus
Authors: Ongenae Véronique , Kempff Annabel , Neer Vera van , Shomar Helena , Tesson Florian , Rozen Daniël , Briegel Ariane , Claessen Dennis
Published: September 2023

Despite the rising interest in bacteriophages, little is known about their infection cycle and lifestyle in a multicellular host. Even in the model system Streptomyces, only a small number of phages have been sequenced and well characterized so far. Here, we report the complete characterization and genome sequences of Streptomyces phages Vanseggelen and Verabelle isolated fromStreptomyces coelicolor. A wide range of Streptomyces strains could be infected by both phages, but neither of the two phages was able to infect members of the closely related sister genus Kitasatospora. The phages Vanseggelen and Verabelle have a double-stranded DNA genome with lengths of 48,720 and 48,126 bp, respectively. Both phage genomes contain 72 putative genes, and the presence of an integrase encoding protein indicates a lysogenic lifestyle. Characterization of the phages revealed their stability over a wide range of temperatures (25–45°C) and pH values (4–10). In conclusion, Streptomyces phage Vanseggelen and Streptomyces phage Verabelle are newly isolated phages that can be classified as new species in the genus Camvirus, within the subfamily Arquattrovirinae.
Early transplantation of human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells is more effective in treating Achilles tendinopathy in a rat model
Authors: Yuan Ze , Yu Ding , Wang Yanxue , Liu Lijiaqi , Wang Junchao , Ma Chao , Wu Shaoling
Published: September 2023

Objective
Tendinopathy often causes pain and dysfunction that are difficult to treat. Various studies have examined the use of mesenchymal stem cells in treating tendinopathy, but the therapeutic effects differ depending on the dose and stage of tendinopathy. This study aims to investigate the efficacy and optimal delivery time of human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells (Huc-MSCs) in treating Achilles tendinopathy.
Methods
Tendinopathy was induced in SD rats by injecting 50 μL of collagenase I solutioninto the Achilles tendon. Tendinopathy was established after one week for early-stage models and after four weeks for advanced-stage models. The early tendinopathy models were randomly divided into the MSC-1 and control-1 groups, whereas the advanced tendinopathy models were randomly divided into the MSC-2 and control-2 groups. The rats were injected with 50 μL of Huc-MSCs solution or normal saline into the tendon twice. Achilles tendons were sampled at four weeks after treatment for related evaluation.
Results
H&E staining revealed lower histological scores in the MSC groups compared to the control groups, with the MSC-1 group scoring slightly lower than the MSC-2 group. Alizarin red staining showed lower heterotopic ossification in the MSC groups than in the control groups. RT-qPCR showed lower mRNA expression of TNF-α, IL-1β and MMP-3 in the MSC groups compared to the control groups. Immunohistochemical staining showed that early MSC delivery promoted collagen I and TIMP-3 synthesis and decreased MMP-3 expression. Transmission electron microscopy revealed larger collagen fiber diameter in the MSC groups, with the MSC-1 group yielding larger collagen fiber than the MSC-2 group. Biomechanical results showed higher failure load and stiffness in the MSC-1 group compared to the MSC-2 group.
Conclusion
Local injection of Huc-MSCs into the Achilles tendon restores normal collagen fiber arrangement, promotes matrix synthesis, reduces inflammation and improves biomechanical properties of the injured Achilles tendon. Results showed that early delivery is more effective than advanced delivery.
dyDNS: a Python Package Index Dynamic DNS Secured Updater for freedns.afraid.org
Authors: Takefuji Yoshiyasu
Published: September 2023

There are many unsecured dynamic DNS servers which have been used in the world. This paper proposes a new PyPI dynamic DNS updater, dyDNS, which allows users to update IPs for free dynamic DNS providers securely using OpenSSL technology which solves unsecured problems. Unlike traditional free dynamic DNS updating tools, dyDNS encrypts usernames, passwords, and domain name information for added security. It is customized for one of the best free dynamic DNS providers: freedns.afraid.org and can run on Windows, MacOS, and Linux operating systems. This paper serves as a tutorial for network professionals and practitioners to learn how to debut a PyPI package for maximum dissemination of the new software worldwide. dyDNS is validated with Code Ocean for software reproducibility.
Biologically Inspired Tonic and Bursting LIF Neuron Model for Spiking Neural Network: A CMOS Implementation
Authors: A Seenivasan M , Ahmed Rekib Uddin , Saha Prabir
Published: September 2023

The core part of the neuromorphic processors enti-tled as spiking neural network (SNN), which is more biologicallyplausible than ANN, where the signal is propagated in the form ofa spike. This perception seeks to create hardware systems thatresemble the brain in both shape and function; these systemsare comprised of artificial bio-neurons and synapses and can bescaled to the size of the brain. Many researchers have developedvarious bio-plausible neuron models to attain precise neuronvalues. This paper proposes a sub-threshold implementation ofthe Leaky Integrate and Fire (LIF) neuron model, which emulatesthe spiking behavior which is generally observed in biology.The models comprise analog and mixed (Analog and Digital)circuits that mimic biological spiking behaviors and exhibit bio-electric potential differences. The neuron models are simulatedin Cadence Virtuoso GPDK 45nm Technology and the multi-sim simulator powered by National Instruments to understandthe different spiking behaviors. The spike pulses with differentshapes and magnitudes, which are the functions of membranepotential and also applicable to realize the spiking behavior ofSNNs. The proposed neuron model operates at 1V power and 1msstep pulse, where it consumes less power (4.377μW ) and minimalenergy (761.146f J) per spike. The measured spike pulse widthstands at 15.823μs, while the refractory time period of the pulseis determined to be 57.795μs. The proposed model also comparedwith popular models like Hodgkin-Huxley and Izhikevich modelsin terms of the spike pattern.
Assessment of curvature filtering strategies for high-order sharp interface simulation of surface tension driven flows
Authors: Henneaux David , Haegeman Ward , Schrooyen Pierre , Massot Marc , Magin Thierry
Published: September 2023

In this work, we implement several state-of-the-art curvature filtering techniques inside a common high-order sharp interface discontinuous Galerkin finite element based numerical framework. We conduct an extensive study on static test cases by considering all the possible combinations in the curvature computation procedure. This allows us to extract the optimal parameters that are expected to minimize instabilities and parasitic current apparition in surface tension driven flows. We then apply the most promising strategies to benchmark dynamic test cases and observe that curvature filtering is crucial to ensure stability and accuracy of the computations.
A robust hybrid algorithm for medical image cryptography using patient biometrics based on DNA and RNA computing
Authors: Soltani Mohammad , Shakeri Hassan , Houshmand Mahboobeh
Published: September 2023

In the new age, most medical digital imaging and media objects (DICOMs) contain images and related medical and demographic information about the patients, which must be kept secret. One of the techniques used to secure medical images is encryption. This study suggests a robust hybrid cryptography algorithm to ensure DICOM privacy. The proposed algorithm uses DNA and RNA encryption algorithms. In the suggested algorithm, in the DNA phase, the DICOM image is encrypted using DNA rules, the XOR operator, and the chaotic map function, and the first cipher image is created. The cipher image is then sent into the RNA phase, where the truth table for RNA and the secret key are used to further encrypt the image. In addition to increasing security for each of the encrypted DICOMs, all keys depend on the patient’s biometric information, such as the patient’s iris or fingerprint. Some of the encryption features such as statistical, differential, and key analysis findings show that the proposed system is resilient and resistant to a variety of attacks.
Use and management of medicinal plants among the Moba in the prefecture of Tone in Togo
Authors: Liyabin Noundja , Patrice Zerbo , Wouyo Atakpama , Kperkouma Wala , Komlan Batawila , Koffi Akpagana
Published: September 2023

Background and research objectives: Finding sustainable management options for the local communities that depend on medicinal plants is crucial in the face of human pressure on these plants. This study contributes to the sustainable management of medecinal plants in Togo. It aims to censusing medecinal plants and pathologies and identify the endogenous sustainable management strategies for medicinal plants in the Moba ethnic group of Togo. Methods: Data was collected through semi-structured ethnobotanical individual interviews with 50 traditional healers, recorded on a Microsoft Excel 10 spreadsheet and processed with the Sphinx5V software and the Microsoft Excel 10 table. Results: 166 medicinal plants were reported in the treatment of 91 pathologies dominated by dysmenorrhoea, stomachache, wounds, general and chronic asthenia, and infantile umbilical hernia. The most represented botanical families were: the Poaceae (12), the Combretaceae (10), and the Euphorbiaceae (10), Caesalpiniaceae (8), and Mimosaceae (7). The most important species according to the Species Importance Value Index (IVIsp) are: Vitellaria paradoxa (159.59), Parkia biglobosa (145.94), Securidaca longipedunculata (145.12), Diospyros mespiliformis (133.51), Annona senegalensis (123.88), Khaya senegalensis (110.52), Cymbopogon proximus (106.88), Cymbopogon giganteus (102.03), Zanthozylum zanthoxyloides (99.005). The most used plant parts are roots (18.6 %), leaves (17.85 %), bark of the trunk (16.66 %), the whole plant (14.28 %) and the fruits (12.30 %). Endogenous management strategies for medicinal plants include in situ protection in fields, reforestation, and respect for totemic trees, groves and sacred forests.
Effects of succinates on the inflammatory response: a review
Authors: Lazarev Vladimir V. , Anchutin P. E.
Published: September 2023

INTRODUCTION: Endogenous succinate functions as a pro-inflammatory factor, while exogenous succinate — as an anti-inflammatory factor. The mechanisms of effect of succinates on the inflammatory response are not fully understood. OBJECTIVE: Generalization of the current scientific knowledge on the use of exogenous succinate in inhibition of the inflammatory response. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The PubMed, Web of Science, Google Scholar, Scopus, and eLibrary international databases were used to search for relevant articles. The search keywords were: “succinic acid”, “amber acid”, “inflammation”, “meglumine sodium/solution”. The search was limited to articles published between 2012 and December 2022. The inclusion criteria were: 1) research focused on the cellular energy supply in inflammation; 2) effects of succinate on the inflammatory response intensity due to changes in the cellular energy supply; 3) correlation of the cellular energy supply with clinical and laboratory inflammatory indicators when succinate-containing drugs are used; 4) original studies. RESULTS: The initial identification analysis included over 200 published studies. After the screening, 84 full-text articles meeting the selection criteria were included in the final review: 31 literature reviews, 24 of which are dedicated to the pro-inflammatory effects of endogenous succinate, and 7 — to the anti-inflammatory effect of exogenous succinate in succinate-containing agents; and 53 original scientific articles: 27 articles are dedicated to the research of molecular mechanisms of endogenous succinate, and 26 articles are dedicated to the study of the clinical use of succinate-containing drugs. CONCLUSIONS: Endogenous succinate is defined as the most important pro-inflammatory factor. Exogenous succinate has a pronounced anti-inflammatory effect mediated by normalization of the immune cell energy supply in hypoxia. No studies have been found on the differences in the mechanism of action of endogenous and exogenous succinate.
Impact of multizonal decontamination of upper respiratory tract on incidence of ventilator-associated pneumonia: multicenter randomized pilot study
Authors: Lapin К. S. , Fot Е. V. , Kuzkov Vsevolod V. , Кirov М. Yu.
Published: September 2023

INTRODUCTION: Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) is the one of nosocomial infections in intensive care units. VAP can result in prolonged duration of hospitalization and invasive mechanical ventilation (MV) that is associated with attributive mortality. OBJECTIVE: The aim of our pilot multicenter randomized study was to assess effect of the multizonal decontamination of upper airway including subglottic space on the VAP incidence and time of onset, as well as colonization upper airway and clinical outcomes. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Sixty patients requiring the prolonged MV were included in the prospective study. All participants were randomized into three groups: the control, the local antiseptic (LA) and the bacteriophage (BP). All patients were managed using similar VAP protective bundle. Infection-related ventilator-associated complications (IVAC) were registered based on clinical, laboratory, and instrumental examination. Diagnosis of VAP was confirmed if CPIS was ≥ 6 points. RESULTS: A total incidence of IVAC did nоt differ between groups: 15 (75 %), 14 (70 %), and 17 (85 %) cases in the control, LA, and BP groups, respectively. The VAP incidence was lower in the LA and BP groups compared with the controls: 3 (15 %) and 3 (15 %) vs 10 (50 %) cases (χ2 = 8.35; p = 0.015). The overall mortality was 30 % and did not differ between the groups. Multi-selective decontamination resulted in a trend to increased ventilator-associated tracheobronchitis incidence in the BP group and to silent colonization in both LA and BP groups (p = 0.07). No differences in the duration of MV, ICU and hospital stay were observed. CONCLUSIONS: The combined multizonal upper airway decontamination involving subglottic space is associated with a reduction of the VAP incidence but did not change the overall IVAC rate. Multizonal decontamination based on subglottic bacteriophage instillation might have a potential to influence the microbial heterogeneity of upper airways.
Permanensi Kawasan Masjid Raya Sabilal Muhtadin Banjarmasin
Authors: Alison Daniel , Sunaryo Rony Gunawan , Damayanti Rully
Published: September 2023

Title: The Permanence of Sabilal Muhtadin Great Mosque Area
 
The area of the Great Mosque of Sabilal Muhtadin Banjarmasin was originally the location of "Fort Van Tatas," namely the fortress of Tatas Island in the Dutch East Indies era. This area is the first layer of the development of Banjarmasin City, starting with the Tatas Fortress with a defense function. In its development, the area underwent several changes in function and form until the era of the Republic of Indonesia. In this area, the Great Mosque of Sabilal Muhtadin was established as an Islamic religious center in Banjarmasin. Given the significance of the area as the first layer of the city, the research aims to provide an overview of the morphology of the Sabilal Region from time to time. Next, use the city morphology approach to identify the permanence of the elements forming the area, including what elements remain, the elements that change, and the elements that are missing. Synchronic and diachronic analysis methods are carried out on urban tissue areas, including observed elements: roads, open spaces, natural elements and plots-blocks, and buildings. The analysis results show that the area's morphology has changed the urban tissue character of the area from a center of defense to a center of religion. In comparison, some of the area's elements have changed and disappeared, such as elements of the fort and elements of roads, and rivers.
Ambiguous Ages, Ambivalent Youths: How Asylum Seekers in Germany Navigate Age Categorization
Authors: Bialas Ulrike
Published: September 2023

Many of the unaccompanied young migrants who have sought asylum in Germany since 2015 do not own documentation of their birth dates or even know their exact ages. Yet asylum and youth welfare laws distinguish precisely between minors and adults, down to the day, thus making it necessary for the German state to estimate the birth dates of young migrants and compelling some of the migrants to claim to be minors. In this article, drawing on years of ethnographic fieldwork in Berlin, I examine four features of the German state’s age categorization regime that make it so powerful: the discretion of street-level bureaucrats; the weight of written records; a prioritization of precision over accuracy; and—most important—the ability of bureaucrats to switch between the previous three features at will. I analyze the strategies young migrants employ against this regime to influence the outcomes of their own age categorization as well as the challenges inherent in living as a minor or within liminal, uncertain age categories. The latter include widespread distrust and fear of being found out as well as feelings of infantilization and emasculation. I use age categorization as a context in which to reflect on the agency of migrants vis-à-vis state bureaucracies and conclude that young migrants can try to affect only the determination of their own birth dates but have little impact on the prevailing definitions of age and youth. This article thus contributes to the study of categorization processes in international migration, the possibilities for migrants’ resistance, and the politics of time.
Validation of the Spanish Version of the Massachusetts General Hospital-Sexual Functioning Questionnaire (MGH-SFQ) with Sexual Arousal Measures in Men
Authors: Sierra Juan Carlos , Arcos-Romero Ana I. , Granados Reina , Cervilla Oscar , Mangas Pablo , Muñoz-García Laura Elvira , Álvarez-Muelas Ana
Published: September 2023

Objective. Provide new validity evidence of the Spanish version of the Massachusetts General Hospital-Sexual Functioning Questionnaire (MGH-SFQ) by associating its scores with measures of sexual arousal. Method. In asample of 48 men, using a quasi-experimental design, sexual functioning, propensity for sexual inhibition/excitation, subjective sexual arousal, andgenital response (penile plethysmography recorded with Biopac MP150 equipment) were evaluated. Results. Arousal and erection scores correlated with sexual inhibition due to the threat of performance failure (r = −.29; p < .05) and genital response (r = .31; p < .05), respectively. Participantswith difficulties in sexual functioning indicated greater sexual inhibition due to the threat of performance failure (p = .04) and lower intensity in their genital response (p = .05). Conclusions. The validity of the measures obtained with the Spanish version of the MGH-SFQ is supported, showingthe erection item to be useful for the detection of possible erectile disorders.
The impact of sociodemographic factors and work-family conflict on the relationship between organizational support and women’s burnout
Authors: Stankeviciene Asta , Šimelytė Agnė , Tamaševičius Virginijus , Petkinytė Evelina
Published: September 2023

Women’s burnout affects not only the individuals suffering from this condition but also those around them and the organization they work for. This phenomenon spills over into their personal lives and increases the likelihood of work-family conflicts. Organizational, personal, and family circumstances can affect women’s burnout. This study aims to determine the influence of perceived organizational support on burnout at work while mediating work-family conflict and moderating sociodemographic factors such as age, romantic relationship status, and number of children. The quantitative study involved 404 employed women aged 18 to 64. A structured questionnaire was distributed via social media or e-mail targeting employed women in Lithuania’s public and private sectors. IBM SPSS and a special PROCESS macro were applied to perform a mediation-moderation analysis. The study showed that the direct effect of perceived organizational support is greater than the indirect effect in mediating work-family conflicts. This is true in the case of both general burnout and its separate components. The significant moderating effect of age revealed that younger women aged 18 to 34 experience more burnout than older women. The number of children demonstrated a significant moderating effect between perceived organizational support and burnout and its dimensions for women with two or more kids. No moderating effect of romantic relationship status on the interconnection between perceived organizational support and women’s overall burnout or its individual dimensions was found.
Analysis of physical and non-physical factors associated with individual water consumption using a hierarchical linear model before and after an earthquake in a region with insufficient water supply
Authors: Ito Yuri , Yokomichi Hiroshi , Shrestha Sadhana , Kiem Anthony S. , Kondo Naoki , Nishida Kei
Published: September 2023

In regions suffering from water scarcity, residents commonly employ several coping strategies such as the use of multiple water sources, water storage and water sharing and borrowing. This study applies a hierarchical linear regression model to investigate the physical (i.e. water source and supply time) and non-physical (i.e. number of families, wealth status, education for household head, house ownership, water treatment and community involvement) factors associated with individual water consumption throughout the Kathmandu Valley, Nepal. During the baseline period (dry season before the 2015 Gorkha earthquake), the average water consumption was 91 litre/capita/day (LPCD) but there was a regional disparity in water consumption, ranging from 16 to 158 LPCD. The statistical analysis indicated that households using many water sources consumed more water regardless of the supply area even in an emergency. In addition, households with many family members used less water per person. During emergencies, households participating in the local community were found to consume more water than households not participating in the community, especially when the water being used was managed by the community.
Water, sanitation, and hygiene facilities: enabling or impeding handwashing? An assessment of a primary school infrastructure in Palwal, India
Authors: Gupta Vibha , Anand Sarita
Published: September 2023

The importance of water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) facilities in school cannot be ignored in protecting children from communicable diseases. However, reports from UNICEF suggest that there is a lack of adequate WASH facilities and a dearth of adequate data on available facilities, particularly from developing countries. The present study sought to address this gap and build on the evidence-base of school hygiene and sanitation facilities in rural India. The study also assessed the association between available facilities and the handwashing behavior of students. Data were collected from 28 schools using a modified Joint Monitoring Program (JMP) observation checklist and a self-administered questionnaire. Results indicate a universal coverage of WASH facilities in the sampled schools, though the sufficiency and usability of the infrastructure were inadequate. The study also found better hand hygiene KAP scores among students in schools that had handwashing stations closer to toilets (p = 0.018). We conclude that while India has improved access to facilities under the recent National policy push, there needs to be a continued focus on increasing sufficiency, maintenance and usability of the facilities. Additionally, health promotion activities that include teachers, parents and the community are required to improve the hygiene and sanitation behavior of school children.
Effective management of the watershed in response to historical climate change using a GIS-based multi-criteria decision analysis (MCDA)
Authors: Arshed Abu Bakar , Masood Mohammad , Zafar Muhammad Awais , Nabi Ghulam , Iqbal Mudassar
Published: September 2023

Watershed management is necessary to conserve water resources because the watershed hydrological processes are more affected by climate and land use change, resulting in the problems of droughts, floods, soil erosion, etc. This study determined suitable alternatives that can ensure viable strategies for tackling the climate change impacts at the Soan River Basin (SRB). A framework was applied to assess the impacts of climate change and land use/cover change (LUCC) using the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT). A multi-criteria decision analysis (MCDA) was used to prioritize watershed management alternatives by comparing watershed management criteria and alternatives using the analytic hierarchy process (AHP). Framework findings showed a 69 and 31% decline in runoff, and a 58 and 42% increment in evapotranspiration (ET) due to climate change and LUCC, respectively. The top prioritized suitable alternatives were water harvesting structure (WHS) and vegetative cover (VC). Suitability analysis showed that 63.61 and 16.56% area of the SRB were moderately to highly suitable for WHS, respectively. For soil and water management, VC has been found suitable to moderately suitable for 72.68 and 26.75% of the basin area, respectively. So, there should be adoption of such measures which will assist in configuring the climate adaptive strategies.
Analco y La Luz
Authors: Flores-Rodríguez Carlos Enrique , Fajardo Velázquez Luís , López Nanco Rosa María
Published: September 2023

Atendiendo tiempos, lugares y disciplinas, lo público ha tenido acepciones equívocas. Debido a su plasticidad de usos, polisemia, multiplicidad de usuarios, pero, sobre todo, porque contiene una historia acumulada, definir y caracterizar los espacios reservados para su despliegue en las ciudades mexicanas de origen virreinal se complejiza aún más. Desde una postura fenomenológica, y con herramientas etnográficas, en este trabajo se reflexiona sobre ello. Tomando como objeto de estudio los barrios originarios de Analco y de La Luz, en Puebla, México, se descubre que ha sido la calle, el espacio y la espacialidad que en mayor medida ha promovido la vida barrial y el desenvolvimiento de lo público, siendo ahí donde se vive una acumulativa yuxtaposición de prácticas no siempre distinguibles entre legales e ilegales, ni atribuibles a un individuo, a un colectivo, o a una autoridad. Estas condiciones casuísticas, en contraparte, han obligado a que se construyan mecanismos cotidianos de negociación-legitimación. En esta autorregulación reside no sólo su definición y caracterización, sino también la garantía de subsistencia como espacio de reproducibilidad de sus sistemas de convivencia (barrialidad), aun, y en especial, en condiciones de emergencia o trastocamiento de la cotidianidad, en cuyo caso, incluso, autoafirma su calidad de público.
Importância da ESF em termos de saúde pública e o acolhimento humanizado: relato de experiência
Authors: Moraes Rosilene Camara Ferreira de , Fonseca Corvino Marcos Paulo , Souza de Moraes Alexander
Published: September 2023

Objetivo: descrever a experiência de uma médica em uma equipe multiprofissional no processo de acolhimento humanizado de uma Unidade de Saúde da Família no município de Maricá, região metropolitana da capital do estado do Rio de Janeiro. Método: trata-se de um estudo descritivo, tipo relato de experiência que narra ações e aspectos relacionados ao processo de acolhimento humanizado em Unidade de Saúde da Família, com foco na capacitação da equipe multiprofissional, na perspectiva da educação permanente. Resultado: Os resultados evidenciam a necessidade do processo de capacitação ser focado na equipe, visando não apenas o acolhimento aos usuários, e sim a iniciar pelos próprios profissionais de saúde, com destaque na importância do bem estar geral e emocional das equipes para um acolhimento humanizado à população. Conclusão: Foi iniciado um projeto com a equipe multiprofissional de forma diária de acolhimento humanizado à própria equipe, através de exercícios de respiração, meditação, palavras de conforto, espaço de escuta individual e coletivo e tarefas curtas para gerar bem estar. A resposta da equipe foi positiva a esse projeto inicial, que serviu de inspiração para a criação de um Curso de Capacitação em Acolhimento Humanizado.
Palavras-Chave: Acolhimento Humanizado; Saúde da Família; Equipe Multidisciplinar; Saúde Coletiva; Educação Permanente.