bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Genetic study of autosomal recessive nonsyndromic sensorineural hearing loss in Kuwaiti children
Authors: Farid Ahmed S. , Shabana Mohammed I. , Selim Mona H. , Al Sebeih Khalid H. , Abdulla Maryam M.
Published: September 2023

En

Abstract

Background

The prevalence of congenital hearing loss was found to be one in 1000 of live births. Fifty percent of the cause is genetic and autosomal recessive nonsyndromic sensorineural hearing loss (ARNSNHL) is responsible for 80% of the genetic causes.

Study design

Descriptive cross-sectional study.

Objectives

To study the genetic causes of ARNSNHL, mainly mutation in the gene encoding connexin26 (Cx26), and to correlate the identified gene and mutation with the degree and configuration of hearing loss, the progressiveness of hearing loss, as well as its relation to language development.

Patients and methods

One hundred children, age ranging from 6 months to 18 years, presenting with congenital ARNSNHL were chosen. Behavioral observation audiometry or pure tone audiometry to identify the hearing threshold level of the children was performed. Imittancemetry, otoacoustic emissions, auditory brainstem response, and computed tomography scan study were also undertaken. In addition, genetic tests to detect Cx26 mutations using a PCR and primers, as well as sequencing using different primers were also undertaken.

Results

Out of the total of 100 cases, 15 children were shown to have positive results for Cx26; nine of these were heterozygous and six were homozygous. Twelve participants (80%) among the Cx26 cases were due to 35delG. Out of the nine children who were heterozygous, six showed positive results for D1 (35delG), whereas three children were found to have positive results for D2 (G2A at location base 71). All the six homozygous cases were shown to be positive for D1 (35delG). Thus, the results revealed that 80% of the positive genetic results cases had 35delG.

Conclusion

Eighty percent of the cause of ARNSNHL in a Kuwaiti population was the 35delG mutation and 20% was due to G2A at location base 71. Of all the cases, 57% showed a positive family history of hearing loss. The homozygous cases presented with more severe clinical pictures compared with the heterozygous cases.
Can scoring of symptoms in dizzy children aid the categorization of causes of dizziness for accurate referral?
Authors: Shabana Mohamed I. , Dabbous Abeir O. , Hosni Noha A. , Medhat Mariam M.
Published: September 2023

En

Abstract

Participants and methods

This study included 20 dizzy children, who were compared with 10 healthy children, aged 6–12 years. Assessment of history taking was carried out using an Arabic dizziness questionnaire, for which a scoring system was designed to include a thorough evaluation of the different systems involved in balance control; a comparison with the results of referral was carried out.

Objective

To categorize the causes of dizziness into diagnostic categories and to determine the ability of the scoring system to direct to a certain referral for diagnosing the cause of dizziness.

Results

The questionnaire’s diagnostic categories matched the diagnosis on referral in 75% of cases. Its sensitivity in diagnosing vestibular category was 88.89%. The scoring was applied to the present history, but relevant data in the past medical and family histories were taken into consideration.

Conclusion

The questionnaire seems to be a reasonable anamnesis for use in training, with a scoring system that can categorize dizzy children by the system/systems affected. It provides questions that a trainee needs to be considering when managing balance disorders in the clinic.
Treatment of idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss: systemic versus intratympanic methylprednisolone acetate
Authors: Youssef Tarek F. , Ahmed Mohamed R.
Published: September 2023

En

Abstract

Background

The etiology of sudden sensorineural hearing loss is diverse; viral, vascular, immunologic, and abnormal cell stress responses have been proposed, the presentation of the disorder is abrupt, and hearing loss is progressive over a very short period. Steroids remain the treatment of choice irrespective of the etiology of hearing loss. Intratympanic corticosteroid injections have been widely used to deliver corticosteroids directly into the inner ear for those whom systemic steroids have not been successful. Complications such as perforations of the tympanic membrane, myringitis, and otitis media have been reported rarely.

Objective

To compare the hearing recovery results in patients with sudden sensorineural hearing loss receiving systemic versus intratympanic methylprednisolone acetate.

Methods

A randomized clinical trial was carried out over 4 years that included 46 patients randomly assigned to two groups of 23 patients each. Pretreatment hearing levels were compared with post-treatment audiograms up to 5 weeks following initial therapy. A 20-dB gain in pure-tone audiometry or a 20% improvement in speech discrimination score was considered a significant improvement. The results of both groups were compared and tested for statistical significance.

Results

The recovery rate in the systemic group was 65%, whereas the recovery rate in the intratympanic group was 56%; the overall results were comparable over different frequencies. Failure to improve was observed equally in both groups in 21% of patients.

Conclusion

No statistically significant difference was observed between both the groups. Intratympanic steroid injection as a primary treatment of idiopathic sensorineural hearing loss is an effective alternative to systemic therapy.
The value of intraoperative facial nerve monitoring and preoperative FNAC in superficial parotidectomy: facial nerve morbidity outcome
Authors: Aboud Saleh K. , Baki Marina M. , Mohammad Yunus Mohd R.
Published: September 2023

Intraoperative use of nerve integrity monitors has been advocated to enhance nerve identification. We evaluate the impact of two controversial procedures used in surgical management of parotid tumors on postoperative facial nerve morbidity in University Kebangsaan Medical Centre, Malaysia: fine needle aspiration cytology and continuous facial monitoring using a nerve integrity monitor (NIM). This is a retrospective study on 15 cases of superficial parotidectomy performed during a 2-year period (2008–2010). In our opinion, using an NIM is optional for parotid tumors of the superficial lobe; however, performing preoperative fine needle aspiration cytology and using an NIM may help operative planning and improve medical education in a teaching hospital.
Screening for autism in low-birth-weight Egyptian toddlers
Authors: Kaddah Fatma-Alzahraa A. , Nassar Jilan F. , Ghandour Hassan H. , El-Farghali Ola G.
Published: September 2023

En

Abstract

Background

In recent times major advances have been made in the field of early detection of autism in infants, and validated screening tools now exist to facilitate the early and accurate screening of infants before further referral for specialized autism diagnostic testing.

Objective

The aim of this study was to screen low-birth-weight (LBW) toddlers for early autistic features compared with normal controls and identify the associated risk factors.

Materials and methods

This cross-sectional study included 100 toddlers (24–30 months old) with a history of LBW. They were screened for autism using the Modified Checklist for Autism in Toddlers (M-CHAT). Further assessment was made using the Childhood Autism Rating Scale (CARS), Vineland Social Maturity Scale, and Arabic Language Test. One hundred age-matched and sex-matched full-term toddlers with a history of average birth weight and uneventful natal, perinatal, and postnatal history were included as the control group.

Results

The toddlers with LBW had a significantly higher frequency of positive M-CHAT screening than did the controls (11% of LBW children vs. 2% of controls). Positively screened LBW toddlers had significantly higher parental age at conception, lower birth weight, higher frequency of small-for-gestational-age preterms as well as higher incidence of gestational bleeding when compared with negatively screened LBW. They also had lower language and social ages than the negatively screened LBW. M-CHAT scores of positively screened LBW children correlated positively with maternal age at conception and negatively with birth weight, social age, and language age. Five of the 11 positively screened LBW children and one of the two positively screened controls were confirmed to have autism on the basis of CARS.

Conclusion

LBW is probably an independent risk factor associated with the development of autism. Early screening for autism is recommended for the LBW population especially if associated with risk factor(s) or if showing early impairment of social and language abilities, to be followed by definitive autism testing in those with positive screening results.
Does tranexamic acid, deliberate hypotension, and anti-Trendelenburg position improve the quality and outcome for functional endoscopic sinus surgery
Authors: Khafagy Ahmed H. , Osman Sameh M.
Published: September 2023

En

Abstract

Objectives

To improve the control of bleeding during functional endoscopic sinus surgery (FESS) by means of positional changes, controlled hypotensive anesthesia, and an intraoperative (IO) intravenous injection of tranexamic acid.

Patients and methods

The study included 45 patients assigned to undergo FESS. Patients were divided randomly into three equal groups: group A received an IO injection of tranexamic acid 10 mg/kg as a bolus injection after induction of anesthesia. Group B included patients placed on a table inclined by ∼30π in the anti-Trendelenburg position and received an IO injection of tranexamic acid 10 mg/kg after induction of anesthesia. Group C included patients maintained supine who did not receive an IO injection of tranexamic acid. All patients received a maintenance anesthetic regimen that used combined intravenous/inhalational anesthesia. Operative field visibility was evaluated using the Fromme scale. The total amount of bleeding as judged by the amount evacuated was recorded.

Results

The anesthetic maneuver used reduced blood pressure and heart rate significantly at the end of surgery compared with the measures estimated at the time of induction of anesthesia. Groups A and C showed significantly higher blood pressure and heart rate estimated at the end of surgery compared with group B. All surgeries were conducted completely without IO complications. No extensive bleeding was recorded and no patient had a visibility score of 0 or 5. Four patients had a visibility score of 1, nine patients had a visibility score of 2, 15 patients had a visibility score of 3, and 17 patients had a visibility score of 4. The frequency of patients who had higher field visibility was significantly higher in group B compared with groups A and C, with a significantly higher frequency in group A compared with group C. Manipulations applied for group B significantly reduced the amount of IO bleeding, with a subsequent significant improvement in the mean field visibility score compared with groups A and C. Tranexamic acid significantly reduced the amount of bleeding and improved field visibility in group A compared with group C.

Conclusion

A combination of maintaining patients in the anti-Trendelenburg position, anesthetic manipulation using combined intravenous and inhalational anesthesia, and an IO intravenous injection of tranexamic acid could minimize bleeding and improve field visibility during FESS and this combination of manipulations could be recommended as strategy for this type of surgery.
Endoscopic examination after adenoidectomy: is it necessary?
Authors: Naguib Nader
Published: September 2023

Adenoidectomy is a safe and straightforward surgical procedure with clear indications. Traditionally, adenoidectomy is performed using a curette. The main disadvantage of this method is that it is a relatively blind technique. The aim of this study was to assess the efficacy of endoscopic nasopharyngeal examination at the end of curettage adenoidectomy in terms of both subjective and objective relief of nasal symptoms. A total of 110 patients were included is this study and divided randomly into two equal groups during the operation. Patients in group A underwent conventional curettage adenoidectomy and those in group B were further subjected to nasopharyngeal endoscopic examination at the end of the operation. After 18 months, 21.1% of patients in group A and 14% in group B complained of nasal obstruction. Moreover, on endoscopy, 13.4% of patients in group A and 8% in group B showed remaining adenoid tissue. Hence, nasopharyngeal endoscopic examination at the end of conventional curettage adenoidectomy is an easy method to detect and remove remnant adenoid tissue with minimal extra cost and operative time.
Expression of nm23H1 and MMP2 in laryngeal carcinoma and its role in aggressiveness of the tumour and node metastasis
Authors: Shehata Wael , Salman Manal
Published: September 2023

En

Abstract

Introduction

Squamous cell carcinomas of the head and neck are known for their aggressive growth and propensity to metastasize. The invasion is facilitated by matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs). The overexpression of many MMPs is positively associated with tumour metastasis. The nm23H1 gene has been implicated as a suppressor gene and reduced expression of its gene product has been observed in patients with positive lymph node metastasis.

Objective

The aim of this study was to examine the degree of expression of both MMP2 and nm23H1 proteins in 24 patients with primary laryngeal carcinoma using immunohistochemical technique and also to correlate the results with the clinical, radiological and histopathological data, in order to evaluate their role in predicting the local spread and lymph node metastasis.

Patients and methods

This study included 24 patients with primary laryngeal carcinoma involving various regions of the larynx and was carried out at the Department of Otolaryngology, Ain Shams University Hospitals.

The laryngeal and nodal specimens were examined histopathologically and immunohistochemical analysis was carried out for the nm23H1 and MMP2 proteins.

Results

There was a significant correlation between MMP2 expression and the site of the tumour, as a drastic reduction in MMP2 expression was mainly associated with glottic carcinoma (P<0.05). The tumour stages were associated with an increase in MMP2 expression, but this was not statistically significant (P=0.07). However, the presence of lymph node metastasis was significantly related to the overexpression of MMP2 (P<0.05). As regards nm23H1, a statistically significant correlation was found between nm23H1 expression and the tumour stage (P<0.05). Moreover, the presence of lymph node metastasis was significantly correlated to the loss of nm23H1 expression and vice versa (P<0.05). However, the correlation between the expression levels of MMP2 and nm23H1 was found to be statistically insignificant (P>0.05).

Conclusion

The increased expression of MMP2 was related to the occurrence of nodal metastasis of the tumour and also to the tumour sites characterized by frequent metastasis (supraglottic and transglottic). In contrast, nm23H1 expression was inversely related to the advancement of the tumour stage and the nodal metastatic state.
Cerclage and sphincter pharyngoplasty techniques for management of velopharyngeal insufficiency: How I do it?
Authors: Ragab Ahmed
Published: September 2023

The activities of swallowing and speaking depend upon the ability to achieve adequate closure of the velopharyngeal (VP) port. Swallowing and speaking are complex motor skills that involve the coordination of diverse groups of muscles between the nasopharynx and oropharynx. Various conditions can affect VP closure function including an adenoidectomy operation. Defects in the VP sphincter can affect the patient’s speech in many ways–for example, induction of hypernasality, decreased speech intelligibility, and nasal emissions. Three main surgical approaches to VP corrective surgery can be used–namely, pharyngoplasty, pharyngeal flap, and posterior pharyngeal wall augmentation. The author of this study designed a new procedure called cerclage sphincter pharyngoplasty to be added for correction of VP insufficiency. Maximum benefit can be achieved when the surgical technique takes advantage of the remaining native VP closure. As pharyngeal flaps are not functional and have multiple drawbacks and because posterior pharyngeal wall augmentation is successful only in case of minor defects, the author focuses on functional techniques used for correction of different closure patterns and grades–namely, cerclage and sphincter pharyngoplasty.
Image-guided nasal and skull base surgery: a case-control study
Authors: Fathy Hesham A.
Published: September 2023

En

Abstract

Objective

The objective of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of image-guided systems in nasal and skull base surgeries.

Study design

This is a prospective case–control study.

Materials and methods

A total number of 24 patients were included in this study. The relevant preoperative, operative, and postoperative records were collected and analyzed.

Results

The mean total operative time was greater for the image-guided surgery group (130 min; range 95–160 min) than for the control group (119 min; range 85–150 min). However, the mean actual operative time was less for the image-guided surgery group (93 min; range 65–120 min) than the control group (99 min; range 70–130 min). The image-guided surgery group had no major complications. However, the control group had three major complications (25%). The average estimated blood loss was higher for the image-guided surgery group (395 ml; range 130–1100 ml) than the control group (380 ml; range 100–950 ml).

Conclusion

Image-guided system may reduce the complications associated with endoscopic sinus surgery and allow for a more thorough operation.
Silicosis and silicotuberculosis: Ancient diseases that are still not conquered
Authors: Meintjes W A J
Published: September 2023

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Chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension: More options, more awareness
Authors: Allwood B W , Joubert L , Janson J
Published: September 2023

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Pulmonary endarterectomy for chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension in Cape Town, South Africa
Authors: Davies-van Es S A , Pennel T C , Brink J , Symons G J , Calligaro G L
Published: September 2023

Background. Pulmonary endarterectomy (PEA) is the only definitive and potentially curative therapy for chronic thromboembolicpulmonary hypertension (CTEPH), associated with impressive improvements in symptoms and haemodynamics. However, it is onlyoffered at a few centres in South Africa. The characteristics and outcomes of patients undergoing PEA in Cape Town have not beenreported previously.Objectives. To assess the difference in World Health Organization functional class (WHO-FC) before and at least 6 weeks after surgery.Methods. We interrogated the adult cardiothoracic surgery database at the University of Cape Town between December 2005 and April 2021 for patients undergoing PEA at Groote Schuur Hospital and a private hospital.Results. A total of 32 patients underwent PEA, of whom 8 were excluded from the final analysis owing to incomplete data or a histological diagnosis other than CTEPH. The work-up of these patients for surgery was variable: all had a computed tomography pulmonary angiogram, 7 (29%) had a ventilation/perfusion scan, 5 (21%) underwent right heart catheterisation, and none had a pulmonary angiogram. The perioperative mortality was 4/24 (17%): 1 patient (4%) had a cardiac arrest on induction of anaesthesia, 2 patients (8%) died of postoperative pulmonary haemorrhage, and 1 patient (4%) died of septic complications in the intensive care unit. Among the survivors, the median (interquartile range) improvement in WHO-FC was 2 (1 - 3) classes (p=0.0004); 10/16 patients (63%) returned to a normal baseline (WHO-FC I).Conclusion. Even in a low-volume centre, PEA is associated with significant improvements in WHO-FC and a return to a normal baseline in survivors.
A point-prevalence study of body mass indices in HIV-positive and HIV-negative patients admitted to hospital with COVID-19 in South Africa
Authors: Parker A , Broadhurst A G B , Moolla M S , Amien L , Ahmed R , Taljaard J J , Meintjes G , Nyasulu P , Koegelenberg C F N
Published: September 2023

Background. Obesity is now well recognised as a risk factor for severe COVID‐19, but the true prevalence of obesity in hospitalised adults with COVID‐19 remains unclear because formal body mass indices (BMIs) are not routinely measured on admission.
Objectives. To describe the true prevalence of obesity measured by the BMI, and associated comorbidities, in patients hospitalised with severe COVID‐19, including people with HIV (PWH).
Methods. We conducted a point‐prevalence study of measured BMI in consecutive patients with severe COVID‐19 admitted to the medical COVID‐19 wards in a tertiary academic hospital in Cape Town, South Africa (SA). Patients were enrolled over a 2‐week period during the peak of the first COVID‐19 wave in SA.
Results. We were able to measure the BMI in 122 of the 146 patients admitted during the study period. The prevalence of HIV was 20% (n=24/122). Most of the participants were overweight or obese (n=104; 85%), and 84 (68.9%) met criteria for obesity. The mean (standard deviation) BMI was 33 (7.5), and 34.5 (9.1) in PWH. Of PWH, 83% (n=20/24) were overweight or obese and 75% (n=18) met criteria for obesity. Multimorbidity was present in 22 (92%) of PWH.
Conclusion. We found that most patients, including PWH, met criteria for being overweight or obese. The high prevalence of obesity in PWH and severe COVID‐19 reinforces the need for targeted management of non‐communicable diseases, including obesity, in PWH.
Long-timescale anti-directional rotation in Drosophila optomotor behavior
Authors: Mano Omer , Choi Minseung , Tanaka Ryosuke , Creamer Matthew S , Matos Natalia CB , Shomar Joseph W , Badwan Bara A , Clandinin Thomas R , Clark Damon A
Published: September 2023

Locomotor movements cause visual images to be displaced across the eye, a retinal slip that is counteracted by stabilizing reflexes in many animals. In insects, optomotor turning causes the animal to turn in the direction of rotating visual stimuli, thereby reducing retinal slip and stabilizing trajectories through the world. This behavior has formed the basis for extensive dissections of motion vision. Here, we report that under certain stimulus conditions, two Drosophila species, including the widely studied Drosophila melanogaster, can suppress and even reverse the optomotor turning response over several seconds. Such ‘anti-directional turning’ is most strongly evoked by long-lasting, high-contrast, slow-moving visual stimuli that are distinct from those that promote syn-directional optomotor turning. Anti-directional turning, like the syn-directional optomotor response, requires the local motion detecting neurons T4 and T5. A subset of lobula plate tangential cells, CH cells, show involvement in these responses. Imaging from a variety of direction-selective cells in the lobula plate shows no evidence of dynamics that match the behavior, suggesting that the observed inversion in turning direction emerges downstream of the lobula plate. Further, anti-directional turning declines with age and exposure to light. These results show that Drosophila optomotor turning behaviors contain rich, stimulus-dependent dynamics that are inconsistent with simple reflexive stabilization responses.
Different rules for binocular combination of luminance flicker in cortical and subcortical pathways
Authors: Segala Federico G , Bruno Aurelio , Martin Joel T , Aung Myat T , Wade Alex R , Baker Daniel H
Published: September 2023

How does the human brain combine information across the eyes? It has been known for many years that cortical normalization mechanisms implement ‘ocularity invariance’: equalizing neural responses to spatial patterns presented either monocularly or binocularly. Here, we used a novel combination of electrophysiology, psychophysics, pupillometry, and computational modeling to ask whether this invariance also holds for flickering luminance stimuli with no spatial contrast. We find dramatic violations of ocularity invariance for these stimuli, both in the cortex and also in the subcortical pathways that govern pupil diameter. Specifically, we find substantial binocular facilitation in both pathways with the effect being strongest in the cortex. Near-linear binocular additivity (instead of ocularity invariance) was also found using a perceptual luminance matching task. Ocularity invariance is, therefore, not a ubiquitous feature of visual processing, and the brain appears to repurpose a generic normalization algorithm for different visual functions by adjusting the amount of interocular suppression.
An effective and comprehensible method to detect and evaluate retinal damage due to diabetes complications
Authors: Dao Quang Toan , Trinh Hoang Quan , Nguyen Viet Anh
Published: September 2023

The leading cause of vision loss globally is diabetic retinopathy. Researchers are making great efforts to automatically detect and diagnose correctly diabetic retinopathy. Diabetic retinopathy includes five stages: no diabetic retinopathy, mild diabetic retinopathy, moderate diabetic retinopathy, severe diabetic retinopathy and proliferative diabetic retinopathy. Recent studies have offered several multi-tasking deep learning models to detect and assess the level of diabetic retinopathy. However, the explanation for the assessment of disease severity of these models is limited, and only stops at showing lesions through images. These studies have not explained on what basis the appraisal of disease severity is based. In this article, we present a system for assessing and interpreting the five stages of diabetic retinopathy. The proposed system is built from internal models including a deep learning model that detects lesions and an explanatory model that assesses disease stage. The deep learning model that detects lesions uses the Mask R-CNN deep learning network to specify the location and shape of the lesion and classify the lesion types. This model is a combination of two networks: one used to detect hemorrhagic and exudative lesions, and one used to detect vascular lesions like aneurysm and proliferation. The explanatory model appraises disease severity based on the severity of each type of lesion and the association between types. The severity of the disease will be decided by the model based on the number of lesions, the density and the area of the lesions. The experimental results on real-world datasets show that our proposed method achieves high accuracy of assessing five stages of diabetic retinopathy comparable to existing state-of-the-art methods and is capable of explaining the causes of disease severity.
The influence of music teaching appreciation on the mental health of college students based on multimedia data analysis
Authors: Shen Qiangwei
Published: September 2023

The mental health problem of college students has gradually become the focus of people’s attention. The music appreciation course in university is a very effective approach of psychological counseling, and it is urgent to explore the role of music appreciation in psychological adjustment. Therefore, we propose an emotion classification model based on particle swarm optimization (PSO) to study the effect of inter active music appreciation teaching on the mental health of college students. We first extract musical features as input. Then, the extracted music appreciation features generate subtitles of music information. Finally, we weight the above features, input them into the network, modify the network through particle swarm optimization, and output the emotional class of music. The experimental results show that the music emotion classification model has a high classification accuracy of 82.6%, and can obtain the emotional categories included in interactive music appreciation, which is helpful to guide the mental health of college students in music appreciation teaching.
Self-aware face emotion accelerated recognition algorithm: a novel neural network acceleration algorithm of emotion recognition for international students
Authors: Tong Lian , Yang Lan , Wang Xuan , Liu Li
Published: September 2023

With an increasing number of human-computer interaction application scenarios, researchers are looking for computers to recognize human emotions more accurately and efficiently. Such applications are desperately needed at universities, where people want to understand the students’ psychology in real time to avoid catastrophes. This research proposed a self-aware face emotion accelerated recognition algorithm (SFEARA) that improves the efficiency of convolutional neural networks (CNNs) in the recognition of facial emotions. SFEARA will recognize that critical and non-critical regions of input data perform high-precision computation and convolutive low-precision computation during the inference process, and finally combine the results, which can help us get the emotional recognition model for international students. Based on a comparison of experimental data, the SFEARA algorithm has 1.3× to 1.6× higher computational efficiency and 30% to 40% lower energy consumption than conventional CNNs in emotion recognition applications, is better suited to the real-time scenario with more background information.
Effect of ethyl methanesulfonate mediated mutation for enhancing morpho-physio-biochemical and yield contributing traits of fragrant rice
Authors: Shamshad Areeqa , Rashid Muhammad , Jankuloski Ljupcho , Ashraf Kamran , Sultan Khawar , Alamri Saud , Siddiqui Manzer H. , Munir Tehzeem , Zaman Qamar uz
Published: September 2023

Background

Chemical mutagenesis has been successfully used for increasing genetic diversity in crop plants. More than 800 novel mutant types of rice (Oryza sativa L.) have been developed through the successful application of numerous mutagenic agents. Among a wide variety of chemical mutagens, ethyl-methane-sulfonate (EMS) is the alkylating agent that is most commonly employed in crop plants because it frequently induces nucleotide substitutions as detected in numerous genomes.

Methods

In this study, seeds of the widely consumed Basmati rice variety (Super Basmati, Oryza sativa L.) were treated with EMS at concentrations of 0.25%, 0.50%, 0.75%, 1.0%, and 1.25% to broaden its narrow genetic base.

Results

Sensitivity to a chemical mutagen such as ethyl methanesulfonate (EMS) was determined in the M1 generation. Results in M1 generation revealed that as the levels of applied EMS increased, there was a significant reduction in the germination percent, root length, shoot length, plant height, productive tillers, panicle length, sterile spikelet, total spikelet, and fertility percent as compared to the control under field conditions. All the aforementioned parameters decreased but there was an increase in EMS mutagens in an approximately linear fashion. Furthermore, there was no germination at 1.25% of EMS treatment for seed germination. A 50% germination was recorded between 0.50% and 0.75% EMS treatments. After germination, the subsequent parameters, viz. root length and shoot length had LD50 between 05.0% and 0.75% EMS dose levels. Significant variation was noticed in the photosynthetic and water related attributes of fragrant rice. The linear increase in the enzymatic attributes was noticed by the EMS mediated treatments. After the establishment of the plants in the M1 generation in the field, it was observed that LD50 for fertility percentage was at EMS 1.0% level, for the rice variety.

Conclusion

Hence, it is concluded that for creating genetic variability in the rice variety (Super Basmati), EMS doses from 0.5% to 0.75% are the most efficient, and effective.
Association detection between multiple traits and rare variants based on family data via a nonparametric method
Authors: Chi Jinling , Xu Meijuan , Sheng Xiaona , Zhou Ying
Published: September 2023

Background

The rapid development of next-generation sequencing technologies allow people to analyze human complex diseases at the molecular level. It has been shown that rare variants play important roles for human diseases besides common variants. Thus, effective statistical methods need to be proposed to test for the associations between traits (e.g., diseases) and rare variants. Currently, more and more rare genetic variants are being detected throughout the human genome, which demonstrates the possibility to study rare variants. Yet complex diseases are usually measured as a variety of forms, such as binary, ordinal, quantitative, or some mixture of them. Therefore, the genetic mapping problem can be attributable to the association detection between multiple traits and multiple loci, with sufficiently considering the correlated structure among multiple traits.

Methods

In this article, we construct a new non-parametric statistic by the generalized Kendall’s τ theory based on family data. The new test statistic has an asymptotic distribution, it can be used to study the associations between multiple traits and rare variants, which broadens the way to identify genetic factors of human complex diseases.

Results

We apply our method (called Nonp-FAM) to analyze simulated data and GAW17 data, and conduct comprehensive comparison with some existing methods. Experimental results show that the proposed family-based method is powerful and robust for testing associations between multiple traits and rare variants, even if the data has some population stratification effect.
Linking watershed nutrient loading to estuary water quality with generalized additive models
Authors: Schramm Michael P.
Published: September 2023

Evaluating estuary water quality responses to reductions (or increases) in nutrient loading attributed to on the ground management actions can be challenging due to the strong influence of environmental drivers on nutrient loads and non-linear relationships. This study applied generalized additive models to calculate watershed nutrient loads and assess responses in estuary water quality to seasonally-adjusted freshwater inflow and flow-adjusted nutrient loads in Lavaca Bay, Texas. Lavaca Bay is a secondary embayment on the Texas coast displaying early potential for eutrophication and water quality degradation. Use of flow-adjusted nutrient loads allowed the study to evaluate the response in water quality to changes in nutrient loads driven by anthropogenic sources. Cross-validation indicated that, despite data constraints, semiparametric models performed well at nutrient load prediction. Based on these models, delivered annual nutrient loads varied substantially from year to year. In contrast, minimal changes in flow-normalized loads indicate that nutrient loadings were driven by natural variation in precipitation and runoff as opposed to changes in management of nonpoint sources. Models indicated no evidence of long-term changes in dissolved oxygen or chlorophyll-awithin Lavaca Bay. However, site specific long-term increases in both organic and inorganic nitrogen are concerning for their potential to fuel eutrophication. Further analysis found freshwater inflow had strong influences on nutrient and chlorophyll-aconcentrations but there was no evidence that changes in watershed nutrient loading explained additional variation in dissolved oxygen and limited evidence that watershed nutrient loadings explained chlorophyll-a concentrations. In addition to providing a baseline assessment of watershed nutrient loading and water quality responses in the Lavaca Bay watershed, this study provides methodological support for the use of semiparametric models in load regression models and estuary assessments.
Friend leukemia integration 1 overexpression decreases endometrial receptivity and induces embryo implantation failure by promoting PART1 transcription in the endometrial epithelial cells
Authors: Zhang Yile , Yin Beining , Li Sichen , Cui Yueyue , Liu Jianrong
Published: September 2023

Background

In vitro fertilization-embryo transfer (IVF-ET) is a crucial assisted reproductive technology for treating infertility. However, recurrent implantation failure (RIF), a significant challenge in IVF-ET success, remains unresolved. This study aimed to explore the role and mechanism of FLI1 in endometrial receptivity and RIF.

Methods

Differential endometrial cell proportions between patients with RIF and control subjects were assessed using single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) analysis. The chromatin accessibility of FLI1 in the luteal endometrial tissue of patients with RIF and control subjects was examined using the single-cell assay for transposase-accessible chromatin sequencing (scATAC-seq). FLI1 mRNA and protein levels were gauged by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) and western blotting. Cell viability and migration were examined via cell counting kit (CCK)-8 and scratch healing assays. Epithelial-mesenchymal transition markers were analyzed using western blotting. Mechanisms underlying FLI1’s regulation of PART1 transcription and expression in endometrial epithelial cells were explored using chromatin immunoprecipitation and dual-luciferase reporter assays. Adeno-associated virus (AAV) carrying epithelial cell-specific FLI1/PART1 overexpression sequences was uterinely injected in mice to assess FLI1/PART1 effects.

Results

scRNA-seq revealed diminished endometrial epithelial cell proportions in RIF patients. Meanwhile, scATAC-seq indicated enhanced chromatin accessibility of FLI1 in these cells. FLI1 exhibited specific expression in RIF patients’ endometrial epithelial cells. Specific FLI1 overexpression inhibited embryo implantation, while knockdown enhanced it. Pregnant mice injected with AAV encoding FLI1 overexpression had significantly lower implantation than AAV-negative controls. FLI1 binding to PART1 promoter heightened PART1 transcription and expression in endometrial epithelial cells. Rescue experiments illustrated FLI1’s role in embryo implantation by boosting PART1 expression. PART1 was notably elevated in RIF patients’ luteal endometrial tissue and non-receptive endometrial epithelial cells (HEC-1-A). Specific PART1 overexpression dampened embryo implantation, whereas knockdown promoted it. Pregnant mice injected with AAV encoding PART1 had lower implantation than negative controls. PART1 knockdown mitigated FLI1’s inhibitory impact on HEC-1-A cell viability and migration.

Conclusions

FLI1 overexpression in the endometrial epithelial cells of patients with RIF inhibited embryo implantation by binding to the PART1 promoter region to promote PART1 expression. These findings can aid in the development of novel therapeutic targets for RIF.
Role of Early Mitral Valve Surgery in Acute Infective Endocarditis: A Case Series and Review of Literature
Authors: Jakaraddi Gunavathy Nagesh , Jakaraddi Nagesh D
Published: September 2023

Infective Endocarditis (IE) is a serious cardiac infection diagnosed with syndromic approach based on clinical, immunological, sonographic, and microbiological findings. It is highly suspected in patients with pre-existing heart disease who have bacteremia in absence of other obvious source. Due to its non-specific symptoms and delayed diagnosis causes severe septicemia, multiple organ failure, and high mortality. This case series describes three critically ill patients who were diagnosed with active IE upon admission to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU). All three patients were admitted in critical condition and were newly diagnosed with IE. They were initially stabilised with appropriate antibiotics. However, during their ICU stay, after two weeks, they experienced recurrent arrhythmias and severe Mitral Regurgitation (MR), complicating recurrent pulmonary oedema that hindered weaning from mechanical ventilation. Therefore, it was decided to perform Mitral Valve (MV) correction surgery during the acute phase of endocarditis (2 weeks after starting antibiotics). Unfortunately, all patients had in-hospital mortality. Intraoperative findings revealed extensive vegetation on the Anterior and Posterior Mitral Leaflet (AML and PML) with extension to the chordae. The high mortality was attributed to their critical pre-operative condition, septic shock, and cerebral embolism. Guidelines and task force management clearly state that early surgery plays a definitive role in acute endocarditis with complications. However, identifying the appropriate candidates for early surgery is challenging due to the associated high mortality. A database search on MV surgery in acute IE, comparing repair and replacement, has concluded that repair is safe and associated with better survival than replacement.
Case Series of Three Cases of Madura’s Foot with a Characteristic ‘Dot in Circle’ Sign: A Radiologist Perspective
Authors: Sultana Sadaf , Ahmad Mehtab , Sultana Sana , Arif Mohammad , Khan Inam Ullah
Published: September 2023

Madura’s foot is a rare infectious granulomatous disease affecting the foot. The incidence of this disease has decreased in recent years due to improved living conditions. However, it can still be misdiagnosed by inexperienced surgeons as other similar conditions. Early and accurate diagnosis is crucial for optimal treatment and limb preservation. In this study, the authors present three unusual cases of Madura’s foot. A 23-year-old woman presented with swelling and draining sinuses in her left foot for six years. Imaging tests including Ultrasonography (USG), Computed Tomography (CT), and Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) revealed the characteristic ‘dot in circle’ sign of Madura’s foot. However, her USG-guided biopsy did not confirm the diagnosis, and it was only through an excisional biopsy that actinomycetoma was confirmed. Another case involved a 60-year-old male with multiple soft tissue swellings on his right foot for 10 years, resulting in foot deformity. Radiographs showed multiple punched-out lytic lesions in the bones, while USG and MRI exhibited the typical ‘dot in a circle’ sign. Histopathological examination confirmed actinomycetoma. The third case involved a 36-year-old male with a chronic sinus discharging yellow pus and black granules on the volar side of his right foot. USG and MRI revealed the classic signs of Madura’s foot, and these findings were correlated with histopathological examination. The present cases confirm the specificity of the ‘dot-in-circle’ sign on MRI and USG, supported by histopathological correlation.
Development and Performance Evaluation of Hybrid-Solar Dryer for Cassava Grate
Authors: Adejumo Patricia Omonegho , Olumurewa John Alaba Victor , Bolade Matthew Kolawole , Awolu Olugbenga Olufemi
Published: September 2023

A solar hybrid dryer for cassava grate was fabricated and evaluated for performance. The major components include chimney, drying chamber, solar collector, blower housing (heater and fan) unit, solar panel, aluminum frame, rollers and 12 V direct current battery.  Evaluation of the hybrid dryer was carried out to investigate the effect of drying temperature and variety of cassava (TMS96/1414, TMS92/0326 and TMS01/1368) on moisture loss, drying rate and drying efficiency. The dryer recorded maximum temperature of 55ᵒC and 45ᵒC in the drying chamber for hybrid and solar drying respectively which are higher than the 26ᵒC recorded for ambient. In all the experiments performed it took 7 hours for the moisture content of sample using hybrid solar drying to be reduced from average of 65% to about 10.19%.  For solar drying it took 13 hours to attain moisture content of 11% while open sun drying took 35 hours to reduce the moisture content to 13 %.  The result showed that TMS96/0326 had the highest moisture loss (6.20 kg/kg, 6.09 kg/kg and 5.65kg/kg) drying rate (0.899 kg/hr, 0.870 kg/hr and 0.807 kg/hr) for open sun, solar and hybrid drying respectively. This confirmed that variety and temperature had effect on the drying performance.  The drying efficiency for hybrid drying was 78.71 %, 79.71 % and 73.42 % while solar drying had 47.76 %, 48.38 % and 44.53 % for TMS96/1414, TMS92/0326 and TMS01/1368 respectively; an indication that temperature, airflow rate and variety of cassava grate had significant effect on evaluated parameters hence the hybrid solar dryer is efficient for achieving dry cassava grate.
Social Mapping of Fish Farming Communities in Cikancung Village, Cikancung District, Bandung Regency
Authors: Suryana Asep Agus Handaka , Zulvikar Septian , Maulina Ine , Nurhayati Atikah
Published: September 2023

This study aims to compile a social mapping of fish farming communities and social factors that influence fishery development in cikancung village, cikancung district, bandung regency. This research method is a survey method. This research was carried out from july 2023 – august 2023 in cikancung village. The data required is qualitative data, namely primary data and secondary data. Primary data was obtained through interviews and questionnaires with fish farmers in cikancung village, while secondary data was obtained through documents from the cikancung village government and the food and fisheries security service, bandung regency, west java. The sampling technique used was purposive sampling. The data analysis method in this research is qualitative descriptive analysis. The results showed that the social conditions of the cultivators were in the productive age with a secondary education level. Livelihoods as fish cultivators are sidelines. Most of the fish farming business is carried out by men, while women play a role in domestic activities. The social stratification of the cultivating community is at the lower strata, namely as ordinary people. Social factors that hinder cultivators in developing their business are uneven levels of education, lack of counseling, and cultivation as a side livelihood. There is a need for ongoing research regarding socio-economic mapping By using variables and other methods to monitor What are the social and economic conditions of the fish farming community in Cikancung village, cikancung district, bandung regency and also There needs to be more intensive outreach and training activities To fish farmers in cikancung village so that business activities are carried out Implemented can be more advanced and developed.
China’s Geoeconomic Strategy for Southeast Asia under the Leadership of Xi Jingping
Authors: Vuong Nguyen Hung , Anh Pham Lan
Published: September 2023

Southeast Asia is becoming increasingly important in China’s global strategies. Under Xi Jinping, China has intensified the implementation of its foreign policy called, “The Good Neighbor Policy,” with countries in the Southeast Asian region to protect its “core interests” and build a belt of peace and stability beneficial for China's development. This article analyzes China’s economic geoeconomic shift towards Southeast Asia with the following content: (i) China's geoeconomic strategic perspective on Southeast Asia; (ii) The objectives of implementing China’s geoeconomic strategy in Southeast Asia; (iii) The methods used to implement China’s geoeconomic strategy in Southeast Asia; and (iv) The reactions of countries in the Southeast Asian region to China’s geoeconomic strategy under the leadership of Xi Jinping.