bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Sexual health risk indicators and their associations with caries status and gingival health of adolescents resident in sub-urban South-West Nigeria
Authors: Folayan Morenike Oluwatoyin , El Tantawi Maha , Yassin Randa , Arowolo Olaniyi , Sam-Agudu Nadia A.
Published: May 2024

Background Adolescents are at high risk of poor sexual and oral health. We investigated for sexual risk factors associated with caries experience and gingival health among adolescents in Nigeria. Methods This cross-sectional study collected data from 10-19-year-old adolescents in Ile-Ife, South-West Nigeria through a household survey conducted between December 2018 and January 2019. Information collected included age; sex; socioeconomic status; sexual practices (vaginal, oral, anal sex); sexual (transactional sex, multiple sex partners, condom use at last sexual intercourse) and oral health (frequency of tooth brushing, use of fluoridated toothpaste, dental service utilization in the last 12 months, consumption of refined carbohydrates in-between meals) risk behaviors; caries experience; and gingival health. Logistic regression was used to determine associations between explanatory variables (sexual and oral health risk behaviors) and outcome variables (caries experience and gingivitis). Results There were no significant associations between caries experience and history of sexual intercourse (OR:1.00); condom use at last sex act (OR:0.68); and having one (OR:2.27) or more sexual partners. Also, there was no significant association between moderate/severe gingivitis and a history of anal (OR:2.96), oral (OR:2.69), or vaginal (OR:1.40) sex; and a report of having one (OR:1.71) or more (OR:2.57) sex partners. Conclusions Some sexual health risk indicators insignificantly increase the risk for caries and moderate/severe gingivitis. Screening for sexual risk behaviors during dental care may be a suitable wellness programs approach for adolescents.
The SCOPE framework – implementing ideals of responsible research assessment
Authors: Himanen Laura , Conte Erica , Gauffriau Marianne , Strøm Tanja , Wolf Baron , Gadd Elizabeth
Published: May 2024

Background Research and researchers are heavily evaluated, and over the past decade it has become widely acknowledged that the consequences of evaluating the research enterprise and particularly individual researchers are considerable. This has resulted in the publishing of several guidelines and principles to support moving towards more responsible research assessment (RRA). To ensure that research evaluation is meaningful, responsible, and effective the International Network of Research Management Societies (INORMS) Research Evaluation Group created the SCOPE framework enabling evaluators to deliver on existing principles of RRA. SCOPE bridges the gap between principles and their implementation by providing a structured five-stage framework by which evaluations can be designed and implemented, as well as evaluated. Methods SCOPE is a step-by-step process designed to help plan, design, and conduct research evaluations as well as check effectiveness of existing evaluations. In this article, four case studies are presented to show how SCOPE has been used in practice to provide value-based research evaluation. Results This article situates SCOPE within the international work towards more meaningful and robust research evaluation practices and shows through the four case studies how it can be used by different organisations to develop evaluations at different levels of granularity and in different settings. Conclusions The article demonstrates that the SCOPE framework is rooted firmly in the existing literature. In addition, it is argued that it does not simply translate existing principles of RRA into practice, but provides additional considerations not always addressed in existing RRA principles and practices thus playing a specific role in the delivery of RRA. Furthermore, the use cases show the value of SCOPE across a range of settings, including different institutional types, sizes, and missions.
Individual and health care provider factors influencing stroke self-management behavior: A cross-sectional study
Authors: Septianingrum Yurike , Yusuf Ah , Widyawati Ika Yuni , Purwanti Nunik , Hatmanti Nety Mawarda , Lestari Shelly Nursofya , Yuswanto Andis
Published: May 2024

Background This study aimed to examine individual- and health service provider-related factors that influence the self-management behavior of patients with stroke. Methods This cross-sectional study investigated a cohort of 110 ischemic stroke patients in the neurology outpatient department of Universitas Airlangga Hospital from February 2023 to May 2023. Data were obtained using the following three distinct questionnaires: the general demographic questionnaire, health care provider questionnaire, and modified stroke self-management behavior questionnaire. Results Chi-square test results indicated a significant correlation between age (p = 0.023) and information availability (p = 0.000) with self-management behavior in patients with stroke. However, no significant correlations were observed between gender (p = 1.107), residence (p = 0.859), availability of access (p = 0.093), availability of health facilities (p = 0.065), and collaboration among health workers (p = 0.641) with self-management behavior in patients with stroke. Ordinal logistic regression analysis results indicated that age significantly influenced self-management behavior in patients with stroke (p = 0.034; OR = 2.49). Discussion The presence of reliable information within the hospital setting is expectedly complemented by a strong level of literacy among patients with stroke, thereby facilitating the enhancement of their self-management practices.
An observational cross-sectional study of the role of magnetic resonance imaging in the evaluation of T2-weighted hyperintensities in the spinal cord in tertiary care hospital in central India
Authors: Dhabalia Rishabh , Kashikar Shivali
Published: May 2024

Background T2-weighted hyperintensities in the spinal cord are a complex and diagnostically challenging entity that can present with diverse clinical features. This study protocol outlines a comprehensive investigation to understand the causes, clinical and imaging characteristics, and correlation with pathological findings of T2-weighted hyperintensities in the spinal cord. By establishing a systematic assessment approach, this study seeks to provide valuable insights into these abnormalities’ diagnostic and prognostic implications. Methods The study will be conducted as a prospective observational design. Patients with clinically diagnosed or suspected spinal cord injury presenting with intramedullary T2-weighted hyperintensity and referred for MRI evaluation will be included. Data collection will encompass patient demographics, clinical features, and extensive imaging parameters. Pathological data, when available, will be correlated with imaging findings. Various statistical methods will be employed to analyse the data, including frequency analysis, comparative tests, logistic regression, and survival analysis. Expected Results The study anticipates elucidating the spectrum of etiologies underlying T2-weighted hyperintensities in the spinal cord and their clinical and imaging profiles. The systematic approach will offer a structured diagnostic method, while correlations with pathological data will provide an enhanced understanding of these conditions. The results are expected to provide clinicians with valuable insights into diagnosing, treating, and prognosticating patients with spinal cord hyperintensities.
Aerodynamic performance enhancement of centrifugal compressor using numerical techniques
Authors: S Shivani , A Amar Murthy , G Srinivas
Published: May 2024

Background Centrifugal compressors are dynamic machines utilizing a rotating impeller, efficiently accelerate incoming gases, transforming kinetic energy into pressure energy for compression. They serve a wide range of industries, including air conditioning, refrigeration, gas turbines, industrial processes, and applications such as air compression, gas transportation, and petrochemicals, demonstrating their versatility. Designing a centrifugal compressor poses challenges related to achieving high aerodynamic efficiency, surge and choke control, material selection, rotor dynamics, cavitation, erosion, and addressing environmental considerations while balancing costs. Optimizing maintenance, reliability, and energy efficiency are essential aspects of the design process. Methods The primary objective of this research is to comprehensively investigate and improve the aerodynamic performance of centrifugal compressors. To accomplish this, a comprehensive investigation of variables such as blade number and hub diameter, along with various turbulence models will be conducted. This approach will leverage numerical techniques to fill the significant gaps in the current literature regarding centrifugal compressor design and optimization. The study encompasses the evaluation of two turbulence models, namely Shear Stress Transport and K-epsilon. Furthermore, it delves into the fine-tuning of blade geometry, including variations in blade number and hub diameter, aiming to refine the design for optimal performance. Extensive analyses using Ansys CFX encompass key variables such as Pressure, Mach Number, Density, Velocity, Turbulence Kinetic Energy, and Temperature. Results Notably, the optimized pressure profile yielded remarkable results, achieving a substantial 36% improvement, demonstrating the tangible benefits of these design enhancements. Conclusion The outcomes of this research hold significant utility for engineers, manufacturers, and regulatory bodies, offering invaluable insights and guidance to enhance compressor performance and efficiency.
Protocol for the study of bedside CSF analysis by urinary reagent strips and comparison with traditional laboratory measurements in a tertiary care centre in rural India
Authors: Ahmad Dr. Shahzad , Lohiya Dr. Sham
Published: May 2024

Abstract* Background Meningitis is an infection of leptomeninges. It is an emergency life-threatening condition that requires prompt treatment initiation. Diagnosis is the rate-limiting step because cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) analysis requires experienced personnel. Therefore, this study was conducted to assess the utility of urinary reagent strips for the rapid bedside diagnosis of CSF glucose, proteins, and leukocytes. Objective To determine the efficacy of a urinary reagent strip for bedside analysis of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples. Methods This prospective comparative study will be conducted in the Department of Neonatology and Pediatrics, Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College, Sawangi, Wardha. CSF samples from patients suspected of infection of the central nervous system (CNS) and awaiting diagnosis will be subjected to semi-quantitative analysis using a urinary reagent strip (for glucose, proteins, and leukocytes). The results were compared with the laboratory results of the individual samples. Result After completing the study, we determined the efficacy of the urinary reagent strips in bedside estimation of CSF glucose, protein, and leukocyte levels in terms of sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values, and diagnostic accuracy. Conclusion This study provides insight into the utility of urinary reagent strips for rapid bedside diagnosis of CSF samples from patients suspected of having an infection.
Negligible effects of read trimming on the accuracy of germline short variant calling in the human genome
Authors: Barbitoff Yury , Predeus Alexander
Published: May 2024

Background Next generation sequencing (NGS) has become a standard tool in the molecular diagnostics of Mendelian disease, and the precision of such diagnostics is greatly affected by the accuracy of variant calling from sequencing data. Recently, we have comprehensively evaluated the performance of multiple variant calling pipelines. However, no systematic analysis of the effects of read trimming on variant discovery with modern variant calling software has yet been performed. Methods In this work, we systematically evaluated the effects of adapters on the performance of 8 variant calling and filtering methods using 14 standard reference Genome-in-a-Bottle (GIAB) samples. Variant calls were compared to the ground truth variant sets, and the effect of adapter trimming with different tools was assessed using major performance metrics (precision, recall, and F1 score). Results We show that adapter trimming has no effect on the accuracy of the best-performing variant callers (e.g., DeepVariant) on whole-genome sequencing (WGS) data. For whole-exome sequencing (WES) datasets subtle improvement of accuracy was observed in some of the samples. In high-coverage WES data (~200x mean coverage), adapter removal allowed for discovery of 2-4 additional true positive variants in only two out of seven datasets tested. Moreover, this effect was not dependent on the median insert size and proportion of adapter sequences in reads. Surprisingly, the effect of trimming on variant calling was reversed when moderate coverage (~80-100x) WES data was used. Finally, we show that some of the recently developed machine learning-based variant callers demonstrate greater dependence on the presence of adapters in reads. Conclusions Taken together, our results indicate that adapter removal is unnecessary when calling germline variants, but suggest that preprocessing methods should be carefully chosen when developing and using machine learning-based variant analysis methods.
Polarization and health-related behaviours and outcomes during the COVID-19 pandemic: a systematic review protocol
Authors: Ipekci Aziz Mert , Filsinger Maximilian , Buitrago-Garcia Diana , Kobler Betancourt Cristopher I. , Frahsa Annika , Low Nicola
Published: May 2024

Introduction The COVID-19 pandemic affected people’s health behaviours and health outcomes. Political or affective polarization could be associated with health behaviours such as mask-wearing or vaccine uptake and with health outcomes, e.g., infection or mortality rate. Political polarization relates to divergence or spread of ideological beliefs and affective polarization is about dislike between people of different political groups, such as ideologies or parties. The objectives of this study are to investigate and synthesize evidence about associations between both forms of polarization and COVID-19 health behaviours and outcomes. Methods In this systematic review, we will include quantitative studies that assess the relationship between political or affective polarization and COVID-19-related behaviours and outcomes, including adherence to mask mandates, vaccine uptake, infection and mortality rate. We will use a predetermined strategy to search EMBASE, Medline (Ovid), Cochrane Library, Cochrane COVID-19 Study Register, Global Health (Ovid), PsycInfo (Ovid), Web of Science, CINAHL, EconLit (EBSCOhost), WHO COVID-19 Database, iSearch COVID-19 Portfolio (NIH) and Google Scholar from 2019 to September 8 2023. One reviewer will screen unique records according to eligibility criteria. A second reviewer will verify the selection. Data extraction, using pre-piloted electronic forms, will follow a similar process. The risk of bias of the included studies will be assessed using the JBI checklist for analytical cross sectional studies. We will summarise the included studies descriptively and examine the heterogeneity between studies. Quantitative data pooling might not be feasible due to variations in measurement methods used to evaluate exposure, affective and political polarization. If there are enough relevant studies for statistical data synthesis, we will conduct a meta-analysis. Discussion This review will help to better understand the concept of polarization in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic and might inform decision making for future pandemics. Protocol registration PROSPERO ID: CRD42023475828.
Psychological interventions for mood and cognition after stroke and transient ischaemic attack: A protocol for an umbrella review
Authors: Kontou Eirini , Shokraneh Farhad , das Nair Roshan , Quinn Terry , Leonardi-Bee Jo , Thorpe Naomi , Clifford Naomi , Williams Marie , Wydera Sandra , Drummond Avril
Published: May 2024

Background People who have had a stroke or a Transient Ischaemic Attack (TIA) can experience psychological and/or cognitive difficulties. The body of research for psychological and neuropsychological interventions after stroke is growing, however, published systematic reviews vary in scope and methodology, with different types and severity of strokes included, and at times, diverse conclusions drawn about the effectiveness of the interventions evaluated. In this umbrella review, we aim to systematically summarise the existing systematic reviews evaluating psychological interventions for mood and cognition post-stroke/TIA. Methods We will conduct this umbrella review according to the JBI Manual for Evidence Synthesis. The following databases will be searched from inception: Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, Database of Reviews of Effects (DARE), MEDLINE, Embase, CINAHL, PsycINFO, and Epistemonikos. Systematic reviews with or without meta-analysis published until the search date will be included. Reviews including psychological interventions addressing mood and/or cognition outcomes for any stroke type or severity will be screened for eligibility. A narrative synthesis, including content analysis, will be used. Each stage of the review will be processed by two independent reviewers and a third reviewer will be considered to resolve disagreements. The methodological quality of the included reviews will be assessed using AMSTAR 2. Discussion Existing systematic reviews provide varied evidence on the effectiveness of psychological interventions post-stroke/TIA. This umbrella review aims to summarise knowledge and evidence on different types of psychological and neuropsychological interventions targeting mood and cognition. Findings will highlight important knowledge gaps and help prioritise future research questions. Systematic Review Registration This protocol was prospectively registered with the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO) on November 15, 2022; PROSPERO CRD42022375947.
Effects of electroacupuncture on cognitive symptoms in major depressive disorder: a pilot study and randomized controlled trial
Authors: Boontra Yindee , Thanetnit Chommakorn , Phanasathit Muthita
Published: May 2024

Objectives To investigate the impact of electroacupuncture on cognitive function, quality of life (QoL), and depression severity in patients with major depressive disorder (MDD). Methods This double-blinded randomized controlled trial included 60 participants aged 18-55 with cognitive symptoms related to MDD at Thammasat University Hospital. Participants were divided into two groups: the electroacupuncture group combined with standard antidepressant treatment (EG; n=30) and the control group receiving standard care with placebo acupuncture (CG; n=30). The study assessed 1) executive functions using the Trail making test- B and Stroop Color and Word Test, 2) delayed recall, and 3) subjective cognitive complaint and Quality of life (QoL) using WHODAS 2.0. Depressive symptoms were measured using the Thai version of the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9). Baseline and post-intervention assessments were conducted over 10 weeks. Mann-Whitney U test analyzed treatment effects by comparing median differences between groups. Results Both groups exhibited similar demographics and cognitive traits. Cognitive improvement was observed in both groups at the endpoint. Intention-to-treat analysis revealed significantly higher median scores for subjective cognitive complaints in the EG compared to the CG (EG: Median = 5.5, CG: Median = 0.0, p=0.049). No serious side effects were identified from either electroacupuncture or placebo acupuncture. Conclusions Electroacupuncture improved subjective complaints in MDD patients with cognitive symptoms, but did not show effects on specific cognitive functions, QoL, or depressive symptoms. This study provides initial evidence supporting the potential of electroacupuncture in MDD patients with cognitive symptoms, suggesting opportunities for further research. Trial registration NCT06239740, February 2, 2024, ClinicalTrials.gov.
Concomitant Infection of Helicobacter pylori and Intestinal Parasites: Burden, Sociodemographic and Clinical Characteristics in Hospitalized Children and Adolescents in Northern Lebanon
Authors: MINA Sara , Daher Sara , Mina Nour , Khoder Ghalia
Published: May 2024

Background Helicobacter pylori and intestinal parasites are well-known for their high prevalence in children, especially in developing countries. However, their concomitant infections are poorly documented. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the association between intestinal parasites and H. pylori among hospitalized children and adolescents with upper gastrointestinal complaints in Northern Lebanon. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted involving 297 hospitalized pediatric patients, aged between 1 and 15 years, who presented with gastrointestinal symptoms. The socio-demographic, lifestyle, and gastrointestinal characteristics of all participants were analyzed. Fresh stool samples were collected and screened for the presence of intestinal parasites and H. pylori infections. Results 6.4% of the patients were positive for intestinal parasitic infections, 5.4% were positive for H. pylori infection, and 11.8% were co-infected. The results of the Chi-square test showed that H. pylori infection is significantly associated with parasitic infection but not with a particular species. The most frequent coinfection was H. pylori-Entamoeba histolytica (77.1%). Moreover, H. pylori infection was associated with overcrowding and infrequent washing of vegetables before eating. The prevalence of co-infections increased in patients of mothers with a primary educational level or less. In regards to clinical characteristics, our findings showed a statistically significant relationship between i) gastric reflux and H. pylori, and ii) severe diarrhea and parasitic infection. Conclusion Our data highlighted the association between H. pylori and intestinal parasitic infections. Thus, H. pylori detection could be taken into consideration while screening for parasitic infections in children and adolescents.
In Vitro Alpha-Glucosidase Inhibitory Effect of Etlingera Elatior Ethanol Extract Growing in Gayo Highland, Aceh Province, Indonesia
Authors: Zumaidar Zumaidar , Asmilia Nuzul , Saudah Saudah , Husnah Milda
Published: May 2024

Background The prevalence of diabetes mellitus (DM) is increasing overtime, potentially leading to various severe health complications and mortality. Despite therapeutic agents have currently been developed, unexpected adverse effects are inevitable. Hence, safe and effective medications such as those of plant origin are critical to prevent unexpected complication in DM sufferers. Etlingera elatior has been widely used as spice and traditional medicine to treat diabetes in Aceh Province, Indonesia. However, study regarding α-glucosidase inhibitory effect of E. elatior growing in Gayo highlands, Aceh, Indonesia, is completely lacking. The aim of this study was to evaluate in vitro α-glucosidase inhibitory effect of E. elatior ethanol extracts (EEEE) growing in Gayo highlands, Aceh Province, Indonesia. Methods Antioxidant activity was determined using DPPH procedure, whereas α-glucosidase inhibition assay was carried out using spectrophotometric method. Data analysis was performed using One-Way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA), followed by Duncan’s multiple range test at α=0.05. Results Phytochemical analysis revealed the presence of total phenolic (TPC), total flavonoid (TFC), and total tannin (TTC) content in all E. elatior plant parts, in which the highest TPC was found in the stem (158.38 GAE/g), whereas the highest TFC and TTC was obtained in the rhizome extracts. The extract of fruit showed the strongest antioxidant activities, followed by the stem and leaf, with IC50 of 2.381 μg/mL, 6.966 μg/mL, and 19.365 μg/mL, respectively. All E. elatior extracts revealed a significant inhibitory activity against α-glucosidase at the concentration of 500 μg/mL, in which the stem extract showed the most effective α-glucosidase inhibitory effect with IC50 value of 5.15 μg/mL, suggesting its promising potential as antidiabetic agent. Conclusions This study highlights E. elatior potency as a novel source of antioxidant and natural antidiabetic compounds that are useful for the prevention and treatment of diabetes.
Efficacy of different remineralization agents on microhardness and chemical composition of enamel white spot lesion
Authors: Ghanim Rahman Rafal , Diab Ban Sahib
Published: May 2024

Background White spot lesions (WSLs) are frequently linked with low microhardness and mineral content changes. several strategies have been employed to deal with these problems. This investigation aimed to analyze the microhardness and mineral content changes after remineralization with bioactive glass (BAG) and casein phospho-peptide-amorphous calcium phosphate with fluoride (CPP-ACPF). Methods Twenty sound maxillary first premolars extracted were used to obtain a total of one hundred enamel samples. forty enamel slabs were split into four experimental groups (n = 10 each): Group I, BAG; Group II, BAG+CPP-ACPF; Group III, CPP-ACPF varnish; and Group IV, artificial saliva (negative control). To create artificial WSLs, all samples were preserved in a prepared demineralizing agent for 72 h before treatment with remineralizing agents. Vickers microhardness test was performed. Additionally, 60 enamel samples were selected for analysis using energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDX) and assigned to six experimental groups; the first four groups were similar to that used in the microhardness test along with Group V: WSLs, and Group VI: baseline. The statistical analyses employed in this study included Tukey’s HSD (p<0.05), one-way ANOVA, and Shapiro-Wilk. Result Regarding surface microhardness, the BAG+CPP-ACPF group showed the most favorable recovery, which was better than the outcomes of the BAG and CPP-ACPF groups. A statistically significant change (p <0.05) was not observed between them. Similarly, for mineral content change, the BAG+CPP-ACPF group demonstrated the greatest result, The BAG group came next, and the CPP-ACPF group came last. Conclusion The BAG+CPP-ACPF group might be regarded as the best course of treatment for enhancing both the surface microhardness and mineral content (Ca, P), while the control group (Artificial saliva) showed the least satisfactory results in comparison. After demineralization, mineral content and microhardness decreased in all samples. Therefore, BAG+CPP-ACPF significantly improved the surface microhardness and mineral content.
Effect of osteopathic manipulation using SSDV protocol on improving motor coordination and hand eye coordination in children with developmental coordination disorder: a protocol for randomized controlled trial
Authors: Hullumani V Sharath , Raghuveer Raghumahanti , Qureshi Moh’d Irshad
Published: May 2024

Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD) significantly impacts motor coordination and hand-eye coordination in children, affecting their daily activities and academic performance. This study aims to investigate the efficacy of Physical Rehabilitation utilizing the Sensory Stimulation and Developmental Vestibular (SSDV) protocol in improving motor coordination and hand-eye coordination in children diagnosed with DCD. Children diagnosed with DCD will be recruited and randomly allocated to either the intervention group receiving Physical Rehabilitation using the SSDV protocol or the control group receiving standard care. The intervention will involve a structured program incorporating sensory stimulation and developmental vestibular activities tailored to the individual needs of participants. Motor coordination and hand-eye coordination will be assessed using standardized measures such as the Movement Assessment Battery for Children (MABC) and the Beery-Buktenica Developmental Test of Visual-Motor Integration (Beery VMI). Assessments will be conducted at baseline, post-intervention, and follow-up time points. This randomized controlled trial seeks to evaluate the effectiveness of Physical Rehabilitation using the SSDV protocol in enhancing motor coordination and hand-eye coordination in children with DCD. By employing standardized measures, this study aims to provide objective insights into the impact of the intervention. Findings from this trial may contribute to the development of evidence-based interventions for children with DCD, potentially improving their motor skills and overall functioning in daily life and academic settings. Registration: CTRI/2024/03/064467
Current status of immunodeficient mouse models as substitutes to reduce cat and dog use in heartworm preclinical research
Authors: Dagley Jessica L , DiCosty Utami , Fricks Crystal , Mansour Abdelmoneim , McCall Scott , McCall John W , Taylor Mark J , Turner Joseph D
Published: May 2024

Chemoprophylactic prevention of veterinary heartworm disease in companion animals, caused by the vector-borne nematode parasite Dirofilaria immitis, is a multi-billion-dollar global market. Experimental use of cats and dogs in preclinical heartworm drug testing is increasing due to evolving drug-resistance to frontline macrocyclic lactones and renewed investment in alternative preventative drug research. We and others recently published data demonstrating proof-of-concept of utilising lymphopenic severe-combined immunodeficient (SCID) or Recombination Activating Gene (RAG)2 deficient mice with additional knockout of the IL-2/7 receptor gamma chain (γc) as alternative preventative drug screening research models of dirofilariasis. Here we summarise the current knowledge of candidate immunodeficient mouse models tested, including a comparison of susceptibility using different background strains of mice, different D. immitis isolates, following use of anti-inflammatory treatments to further suppress residual innate immunity, and efficacies achieved against different reference anthelmintics. We supplement this precis with new data on treatment response to the veterinary anthelmintic, oxfendazole, and initial evaluation of D. immitis susceptibility in CB.17 SCID and C57BL/6 RAG2-/-γc-/- mice. We conclude that in addition to NSG and NXG mice, RAG2-/-γc-/- mice on either a BALB/c or C57BL/6 background offer an alternative screening model option, widening access to academic and commercial laboratories wishing to pursue initial rapid in vivo drug screening whilst avoiding potentially unnecessary cat or dog testing.
Case Report: Impact of gross total resection on survival in glioblastoma
Authors: Chaulagain Dipak , Smolanka Volodymyr , Smolanka Andriy , Havryliv Taras
Published: May 2024

Glioblastoma (GBM), known for its aggressive behavior and dismal prognosis. Traditional therapeutic methods, including adjuvant chemotherapy and radiotherapy in conjunction with maximally safe surgical resection, are designed to prolong survival and alleviate symptoms. This case report investigates the relationship between survival outcomes in glioblastoma patients and gross total resection (GTR). A recurring seizure disorder manifested in a 58-year-old female patient presented with left-sided lower limbs weakness and occurred twice weekly for a maximum duration of 20 seconds; this condition necessitated hospitalisation and subsequent surgical intervention. A gross total resection was executed with success, resulting in the accomplishment of complete tumor excision. The patient received radiotherapy after a six-week regimen of temozolomide chemotherapy that followed the surgical removal of tumor. Notably, following treatment, the patient reported a substantial amelioration of symptoms and has maintained a 24-month survival rate thus far, with continuous follow-up. This case highlights the potential for enhanced survival outcomes in the treatment of glioblastoma when gross total resection (GTR) is followed by adjuvant chemo-radiotherapy.
A guide to selecting high-performing antibodies for Protein-glutamine gamma-glutamyltransferase 2 (TGM2) for use in western blot, immunoprecipitation and immunofluorescence
Authors: Ayoubi Riham , Fotouhi Maryam , Alende Charles , González Bolívar Sara , Southern Kathleen , Laflamme Carl ,   Neuro/SGC/EDDU collaborative group,   ABIF consortium
Published: May 2024

Protein-glutamine gamma-glutamyltransferase 2 (TGM2) is a Ca2+ dependent enzyme that catalyzes transglutaminase cross-linking modifications. TGM2 is involved in various diseases, either in a protective or contributory manner, making it a crucial protein to study and determine its therapeutic potential. Identifying high-performing TGM2 antibodies would facilitate these investigations. Here we have characterized seventeen TGM2 commercial antibodies for western blot and sixteen for immunoprecipitation, and immunofluorescence. The implemented standardized experimental protocol is based on comparing read-outs in knockout cell lines against their isogenic parental controls. This study is part of a larger, collaborative initiative seeking to address antibody reproducibility issues by characterizing commercially available antibodies for human proteins and publishing the results openly as a resource for the scientific community. While the use of antibodies and protocols vary between laboratories, we encourage readers to use this report as a guide to select the most appropriate antibodies for their specific needs.
The war continues not only on the front: a broader look at PTSD in the context of the Russian invasion and its impact on Ukrainian citizens – systematic rewiev
Authors: Adamczyk Monika , Mazurek Joanna , Stachowicz Hubert , Ptasznik Magdalena , Baran Aleksandra , Bartos Weronika , Piotrowska Magdalena , Flegiel Ewelina , Lenart Justyna , Podrażka Miłosz
Published: May 2024

Russia's aggression against Ukraine is undoubtedly a tragic event that will bring various, often difficult to predict, consequences at many levels of functioning. Certainly, the mental health of war victims faces many challenges. The mental health crisis that occurs during war is a public health problem.28 One of the main disorders that appear in people directly or indirectly related to war is PTSD. It arises as a result of experiencing extremely dangerous, terrifying events that go beyond one's ability to cope and is manifested by symptoms such as: obsessive, persistent re-experiencing of traumatic events, avoidance of factors causing a "return" to traumatic memories, excessive arousal and a sense of constant threats.8, 10 Many factors influence the occurrence of PTSD. It is extremely important to look at the reasons that make it difficult to obtain support. mental health and improving the support system. Ukrainian children and youth deserve special attention here. A developing young society must face particularly great challenges, and it is their mental well-being that guarantees better development of the entire nation. Every effort must be made to ensure that citizens of a country at war receive adequate support. We have many methods of help, from basic emergency support, through a wide range of psychotherapy, to medications in the most severe cases. Additionally, the knowledge of the existence of a phenomenon such as post-traumatic growth may give hope and motivation to act to people in mental crisis struggling with symptoms of PTSD. However, the war continues and there will be more and more victims struggling with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and other mental health disorders. We cannot determine at this point how much damage this conflict will cause. However, it is worth acting now to prevent and limit the tragic consequences of the situation in which Ukraine finds itself.
Detours in Shared Rides
Authors: Lobel Ilan , Martin Sébastien
Published: May 2024

Detours are considered key for the efficient operation of a shared rides service, but they are also a major pain point for consumers of such services. This paper studies the relationship between the value generated by shared rides and the detours they create for riders. We establish a limit on the sum of value and detour, and we prove that this leads to a tight bound on the Pareto frontier of values and detours in a general setting with an arbitrary number of requests. We explicitly compute the Pareto frontier for one family of city topologies and construct it via simulation for several more networks, including one based on ride-sharing data from commute hours in Manhattan. We find that average detours are usually small, even in low-demand-density settings. We also find that by carefully choosing the match objective, detours can be reduced with a relatively small impact on values and that the density of ride requests is far more important than detours for the effective operations of a shared rides service. In response, we propose that platforms implement a two-product version of shared rides and limit the worst-case detours of its users.

This paper was accepted by Hamid Nazerzadeh, data science.

Supplemental Material: The online appendix and data files are available at https://doi.org/10.1287/mnsc.2020.03125 .
Frontiers in Operations: Employees vs. Contractors: An Operational Perspective
Authors: Lobel Ilan , Martin Sébastien , Song Haotian
Published: May 2024

Problem definition: We consider a platform’s problem of how to staff its operations given the possibilities of hiring employees and setting up a contractor marketplace. We aim to understand the operational difference between these two work arrangement models. Methodology/results: We consider a model where demand is not only stochastic but also evolving over time, which we capture via a state of the world that determines the demand distribution. In the case of employees, the platform controls the number of employee hours it uses for serving demand, whereas in the case of contractors, it sets the wage paid to them per utilized hour. We show that although the employee problem is equivalent to a standard newsvendor, the contractor one corresponds to an unusual version of the newsvendor model where utilization is the control variable. Managerial implications: This distinction makes the contractor model more flexible, allowing us to prove that it performs significantly better, especially if the order of magnitude of demand is unknown. Meanwhile, hybrid solutions that combine both employees and contractors have complex optimal solutions and offer relatively limited benefits relative to a contractor marketplace.

History: This paper has been accepted in the Manufacturing & Service Operations Management Frontiers in Operations Initiative.

Funding: This research was partially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China [Grant 71821002].

Supplemental Material: The online appendix is available at https://doi.org/10.1287/msom.2023.0029 .
Geographical Peculiarities of Pinus sibirica Du Tour Natural Regeneration as Related to its Seed Crops
Authors: Tantsyrev Nikolai V. , Shobairi Seyed Omid Reza , Usoltsev Vladimir A. , Lingxiao Sun , Haiyan Zhang , Chunlan Li , Jing He , Roudbari Samira Hemmati , Beirami Behnam Asghari , Ayombekov Qirghizbek
Published: May 2024

Forest ecology faces a significant challenge in understanding the dynamics of populations of forest-forming trees during their renewal phase, as it shapes the subsequent development and structure of forest ecosystems. The forest regeneration process relies on the dynamics of the seed yield of the woody plants and the unique characteristics of their distribution. In the case of the Cembrae sp. five-needled pines belonging, which have wingless seeds, their renewal is closely linked to the activities of Nucifraga sp. birds that scatter the seeds to create food reserves in the soil. This research aims to explore the geographical variations of Siberian stone pine (Pinus sibirica Du Tour) natural regeneration as a function of seed abundance. This study was conducted in three Russian mountain regions known for their forests predominated by Pinus sibirica: the Aldan Highlands, the Northern Urals, and the Khamar-Daban Mountains. It was discovered that each region exhibited distinct patterns in both cone yields and Pinus sibirica regeneration. The fluctuations in the thin-billed nutcracker (Nucifraga caryocatactes macrorhynchos Brehm C. L.) populations during the seed harvest season, influenced by the nature of the seed production dynamics in each region, we believed to play a major role in the quantity of Pinus sibirica seedlings appearing in the subsequent year. These findings explain the observed variations in the renewal dynamics of annual emergent seedlings of Pinus sibirica and its reliance on cone yield in the examined regions.
Embodied Energy and Thermal Performance of Alternate Walling Materials in Affordable Housing in the Composite Climate of Delhi
Authors: Jain Gunjan , Manchanda Shweta , Singh Mandeep
Published: May 2024

Meeting the affordable housing shortage in India in a short time has its environmental and social challenges. It not only requires huge resources but is also a big social responsibility to provide economical and comfortable housing for the marginalized section of society. Improper selection of construction materials may lead to the locking up of massive energy as embodied energy of materials and uncomfortable indoor living conditions. The present study focuses on the need for consideration of both embodied energy and thermal performance in the selection of materials for the building envelope in naturally ventilated affordable housing in India. Walling materials form a major part of the building envelope and thus it's crucial to assess their performance. This paper presents an analysis of embodied energy and thermal performance of fly ash Bricks, AAC blocks, and RCC precast panels as walling options in comparison to conventional walling material of burnt clay brick in the composite climate zone of Delhi. This analysis is being carried out for the alternate walling solutions in practice or emerging for mid to high-rise EWS housing construction in this region. The embodied energy values per cubic meter are compared for each wall assembly for the lifecycle stage cradle to gate. Thermal simulation results are presented in terms of indoor operative temperatures achieved by each wall type material and compared with the comfort temperature range prescribed by the comfort model IMAC-R, 2022 to find out the ‘discomfort degree hours’. The results of the study underscore the suitability of fly ash bricks and AAC blocks as sustainable alternatives due to their lower embodied energy compared to traditional burnt clay bricks base case. Fly ash bricks even outperform the base case in terms of thermal comfort. The study discourages the use of burnt clay bricks due to very high embodied energy. The study also strongly discourages the use of RCC panels in the composite climate as they exhibit both poor thermal comfort and high embodied energy. The study findings would help government agencies to make environmentally and socially conscious decisions about the use of walling materials on a large scale in meeting the affordable housing demand.
Chemical Potency of Cobalt Doped Modified Graphite Electrode Prepared by Electrochemical Method and its Application in Degrading Solution of Rhodamine-B dye
Authors: Sindhushree Hiremaralli Sathyanarayana , Radhika Rayapura Thimmegowda , Venkatesha Bellale Marigowda
Published: May 2024

Primary goal of the present study is to progress a methodological framework for Rhodamine-B dye degradation using cobalt doped graphite modified electrode in aqueous solution by electrochemical method. This is environmentally friendly method. Rate study for Rh-B dye degradation under various parameters like concentration, applied current and temperature were studied and compared between Graphite electrode and Cobalt graphite electrode. Ultra Violet-Visible spectral data and Chemical oxygen demand values are evident for the complete degradation of Rhodamine-B in aqueous solution during anodic oxidation using the modified Co/graphite electrode. The dye degradation efficiency for Cobalt graphite modified electrode (Co/GME) increases by 77% compared to graphite electrode. The COD values decreases to ~98% than the initial COD after degradation with Co/GME. Increase in applied current, temperature increases the rate of degradation and follows first order kinetics up to 60% of the reaction. Hydroxyl (.OH) free radicals are produced by advanced oxidation processes (AOPs), which are attack the dye molecules and cause them to degrade. SEM/EDAX is used to observe the formation of cobalt layer in the rod of graphite. Under various laboratory settings ICE values were computed, it shows that Cobalt doped graphite modified electrode acts as a good anode to degrade Rh-B dye and it converted into CO2, H2O, and other basic inorganic salts. This procedure is straightforward, inexpensive, and can be used to treat wastewater that contains organics.
The Future of Agriculture in A Carbon Constrained World
Authors: Raj Sathwik , Suresh Aditya , Suresh Aditya , Khan Shoaib , Reddy Mareddy Harinath , Patidar Kapil
Published: May 2024

In a world grappling with the far-reaching consequences of climate change and a growing imperative to lower emissions of greenhouse gases, agriculture’s potential finds itself at a critical juncture. This paper explores the intricate dynamics of agriculture in a carbon-constrained world, presenting a nuanced analysis of the multifaceted challenges and opportunities that lie ahead. With a focus on sustainable practices, carbon sequestration, and innovative technologies, this study elucidates the pathways through which agriculture can transition towards a low-carbon and climate-resilient future. From precision farming and agroforestry to advanced breeding techniques and digital agriculture, a spectrum of strategies emerges to mitigate the carbon footprint of agriculture while concurrently enhancing productivity and food security. Moreover, the paper underscores the indispensable role of policy frameworks, international cooperation, and public-private partnerships in ushering in a transformative era for agriculture that aligns harmoniously with global climate goals. This review explores carbon foot printing methodologies in agriculture and their implications for sustainable practices. Additionally, it highlights role of carbon foot printing in informing decision-makers, examines emerging trends like precision agriculture, and addresses associated challenges. This review identifies these gaps and offers recommendations for future research. In elucidating these key themes, this paper advances to a thorough comprehensive understanding of the imperative to embrace innovation and sustainability as guiding principles for the future of farming in a carbon-constrained world.