bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Development of Novel Preclinical Model of Frostbite Injury-Induced Chronic Pain Using Deep Frozen Magnets
Authors: Ummadisetty Obulapathi , . Akhilesh , Gadepalli Anagha , Chouhan Deepak , Tiwari Vinod
Published: July 2023

Frostbite is a devastating condition that majorly affects the quality of life of military veterans and people residing at high altitudes. Pain in extreme cold conditions drives protective behavior against noxious cold injury, but when unattended it leads to ischemia followed by tissue damage leading to chronic pain. There has been an increase in the development of pre-clinical models for studying frostbite, but utilizing these models for pain evaluation is ill suited. The major hurdle in the development of novel therapeutics for the treatment of frostbite injury-induced chronic pain is the unavailability of well-established preclinical models. In this work, we have used deep freeze magnets to induce the frostbite and carried out the pharmacological validation phases including face, predictive and constructive to develop the frostbite induced pain model. We have quantified the pain components like allodynia and hyperalgesia by multiple behavioral assays. Molecular studies revealed a significant increase in oxidative stress and microgliosis marked by an increase in protein expression of IBA1 followed by ICAM1 and TNF-α in the dorsal root ganglion and spinal cord. We also found that peripheral microgliosis leads to an increase in the levels of proinflammatory cytokines in the spinal cord which sensitized the different nociceptors. In DRG of frostbite rats, nociceptors such as TRP channels and neuropeptides were found to be upregulated. Although NR2B was upregulated in the DRG its expression in the spinal cord remained unchanged. Interestingly our findings exclude the role of NMDA receptors in frostbite-induced chronic pain in the spinal cord. Treatment with ibuprofen (25, 50, and 100 mg/kg, i.p.) leads to significant restoration in behavioral, biochemical, and molecular alterations in frostbite rats as compared to the vehicle-administered group. The frostbite rat model successfully demonstrated the standard pharmacological paradigm like face, predictive and constructive validity and has a potential of being utilized to quantify pain parameters like allodynia and hyperalgesia in frostbite-induced chronic pain and to screen future treatment modalities.
High-risk groups of Neonatal Lupus Erythematosus in term infants: a birth cohort study
Authors: Jingran Ma , Zhenghong Li , Hongmei Song , Lejia Zhang
Published: July 2023

Purpose: This study aims to analyse the clinical characteristics and risk factors of high-risk groups of neonatal lupus erythematosus (NLE) in term infants.
Methods: The high-risk groups of NLE whose mothers were positive of anti-SSA, SSB or U1RNP antibodies during pregnancy were enrolled. They were born from February 2013 to February 2020, with a gestational age not less than 37 weeks. We analyzed their clinical data from birth to 24 months after birth.
Results: A total number of 105 cases of NLE high-risk groups were included. Among them, 30 cases were diagnosed with NLE (NLE group) and 75 cases were not (non-NLE group). The affected systems of the NLE group included dermal (13.3%), hepatic (76.0%), and hematological system (43.3%). Hepatic involvement, anemia and thrombocytopenia could not emerge until 60 days, 41 days and 22 days after birth in some cases. The systems involvement could be cured within 3 to 12 months after birth. The clearance time of specific autoantibodies was 12 months after birth. There was no significant difference in clinical characteristics of babies and their mothers between the two groups, neither of the positive rate or clearance time of specific autoantibodies.
Conclusion: After standardized prenatal health care, there is still a high risk of dermal, hepatic, or hematological system involvement for high-risk groups of NLE. There are no specific indicators to predict whether the babies will develop to NLE or not. All of them need to be followed up closely within one year after birth.
Multi-objective optimization of concave radial forging process parameters based on response surface methodology and genetic algorithm
Authors: Du Zun , Xu Wenxia , Wang Zhaohui , Zhu Xuwen , Wang Junshi , Wang Hongxia
Published: July 2023

In order to improve the forming quality of the forging and reduce the forging cost in the concave radial forging process. In this paper, the influence of process parameters (radial reduction Δh, rotation angle β, friction coefficient μ) on the forging process is investigated by numerical simulation, and the trade-off between the objective functions (strain homogeneity 𝐸, forging load 𝐹) is achieved by a multi-objective optimization method. First, sample points for different combinations of process parameters were obtained by the central composite experimental design. Then the mathematical model between the process parameters and the objective function was established using the response surface method, and the model was subjected to variance analysis and sensitivity analysis. Finally, the optimal process parameter combination was obtained according to the NSGA-II algorithm and the satisfaction function. The optimization results were also verified by finite element simulations. The optimized process combination: Δℎ=0.25 𝑚𝑚, 𝛽 = 21.68°, 𝜇 = 0.05. The corresponding 𝐸 and 𝐹 are 0.241367 and 577.029, respectively. Compared with the initial process, the standard deviation of the overall strain is reduced by 14.25% and the forging load is reduced by 1.76%. The results indicate that the quality of the forgings was significantly improved while the forging cost was reduced to some extent.
Prevalence and correlates of severe anxiety in patients with first hospitalization for major depressive disorder combined with dyslipidemia: a large sample cross-sectional study
Authors: Yin Huimin , Zhang Yanting , Liu Xuebing , Li Yi , Ma Jun
Published: July 2023

Background: Anxiety symptoms and dyslipidemia are common comorbidities in patients with major depressive disorder (MDD), and there are complex pathophysiologic as well as clinical mechanisms underlying the association between the three. In this study, we investigated the prevalence and associated factors of severe anxiety in first-time hospitalized patients with MDD with dyslipidemia.
Methods: We included 708 patients with major depressive disorder with comorbid dyslipidemia and collected their sociodemographic and general clinical data as well as biochemical parameters such as lipids, thyroid function and blood glucose. We also completed the Hamilton Anxiety Scale (HAMD), Hamilton Depression Scale (HAMD), Positive Symptom Scale (PSS) and Clinical General Impression Scale (CGI) to assess their clinical symptoms.
Results: The prevalence of severe anxiety disorder in MDD patients with dyslipidemia combined with first hospitalization was 11. 02%. HAMD score, PSS score, history of suicide, body mass index (BMI), thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) level, and tetra-iodothyronine (FT4) level were the risk factors for the development of severe anxiety disorders in patients with MDD who were comorbid with dyslipidemia. Higher HAMD scores and TSH level may exacerbate the development of severe anxiety symptoms.
Conclusion: This study reports and identifies the prevalence of anxiety symptoms in first-time hospitalized MDD patients with comorbid dyslipidemia, as well as risk factors for anxiety symptoms and severity of anxiety symptoms, and these identified factors may be potentially useful and informative for preventing and intervening in severe anxiety in this target population.
Crispr-Cas9-based lncRNA interference and activation identified aberrant expression of MYC- regulated ST8SIA6-AS1 promotes tumorigenesis and metastasis in hepatocellular carcinoma
Authors: Liu Xue-Qian , Jiang Dong , Liu Yang , Xie Kun , Zhao Yi-Jun , Liu Fu-Bao
Published: July 2023

Background
Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) participate in the formation, progression, and metastasis of cancer. This study aimed to explore the roles of lncRNA ST8SIA6-AS1 in the initiation and progression of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and elucidate the underlying regulatory mechanisms.
Methods
Fifty-six in-house pairs of HCC tissues were included in this study and the ST8SIA6-AS1 RNA level were determined by real‑time PCR. The knockdown and overexpression of ST8SIA6-AS1 in HCC cell lines were performed by Crispr-Cas9-based gene repression and activation. The effects of LncRNA ST8SIA6-AS1 on the biological behavior of HCC cells were determined in vitro and in vivo. Luciferase reporter assays, ChIP qPCR, and co-IP assays were performed to detect the binding sites and biological behavior of MYC and FOXA1 on chromatin. In this study, databases ENCODE and GEPIA were invoked to analyze the regulatory mechanisms of ST8SIA6-AS1 expression.
Results
Here, the results showed that the expression of ST8SIA6-AS1 is limited to the testes and prostate, but not liver tissue, in physiological states, significantly increased in HCC. This finding was validated in multiple HCC cell lines and 56 in-house pairs of HCC tissues. Functionally, high-efficiency Crispr-Cas9-based knockdown of ST8SIA6-AS1 revealed that ST8SIA6-AS1 knockdown attenuated the proliferation, and decreased the migration and infiltration of HCC cells. ST8SIA6-AS1 knockdown also significantly reduced the growth rate of subcutaneous and orthotopic HCC tumors. Conversely, Crispr-Cas9-based ST8SIA6-AS1 overexpression significantly improved the oncogenic characteristics of HCC cells. These results suggest that aberrant ST8SIA6-AS1 expression enhances the oncogenic characteristics in the liver. Further analysis showed that ST8SIA6-AS1 upregulation was regulated by the direct binding of transcription factor MYC to the − 260 bp to + 155 bp and + 1003 bp to + 1312 bp region of the ST8SIA6-AS1 transcription start site, a segment with high H3K27 acetylation. MYC knockdown or treatment with the BET bromodomain inhibitor JQ-1 significantly reduced ST8SIA6-AS1 RNA expression in HCC cells.
Conclusion
Aberrant ST8SIA6-AS1 expression in HCC is mediated by MYC and FOXA1, which plays an oncogenic role in HCC. And ST8SIA6-AS1 could serve as a molecular marker for HCC diagnosis.
Psychological and Socio-ecological correlates of 12-month Suicide behavior among Junior High school students in the Greater Accra Region of Ghana.
Authors: Azasu Enoch , Quarshie Emmanuel , Messias Erick , Larnyoh Marcus , Ali Elizabeth , Joe Sean
Published: July 2023

In Ghana, we know little about the epidemiology of suicide ideation, plan and attempts among junior high school (JHS) students in Ghana including the years preceding high school. This study explores the onset, characteristics, and recent patterns of 12-month suicide behavior among Ghanaian junior high school (JHS) students. Paper based surveys were administered to a sample (n = 800) of junior high school students in the Greater Accra region of Ghana. Self-reported measures on suicide ideation, plan and attempt as well as several psychological and psychosocial factors related to mental health, substance use, poverty, sexual behavior, interpersonal relationships, and family structure were employed. Bi-variate, Multivariate and Logistic regression analysis were performed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS version 25). This study found that 1 out of 5 adolescents have experienced suicide ideation in the last 12 months. Girls had significantly higher 12-month (χ2 = 3.5, p < 0.05) suicide ideation rates than boys. More importantly, the study found stress significantly increasing the odds of suicide behaviors in the last 12 months (β = 1.14; CI = 1.05–1.24, p < 0.05) and parental support significantly reducing the odds of suicide behaviors in the last 12 months (β = 0.86; CI = 0.81–0.91, p < 0.05). Additionally, we found significant associations between sexual intercourse, dating, hunger, substance use, suicide stigma and suicide behaviors. This finding highlights a potential emerging suicide crisis among preteens which warrants attention. Additional studies are needed to observe these increasing trends, identify risk, protective and precipitating factors to help prevent suicide among these children.
Fabrication and optical properties of the oxygen-ion implanted waveguides in Er 3+ -doped germanate glasses
Authors: Zhao Jie , Zhu Ze-Rui , Lu Yan , Ni Xiao , Zhang Liao-Lin , Wang Xiang-Fu , Liu Chun-Xiao
Published: July 2023

In this work, the planar optical waveguide on the Er3+-doped germanate glass was fabricated by the oxygen ion implantation with the energy of 6.0 MeV and the fluence of 5×1014 ions/cm2. The waveguide was characterized with the techniques of the m-line setup and the near-field pattern. The waveguide shows guided-mode propagation at a wavelength of 632.8 nm. The formation theory of the planar waveguide was discussed through simulating the energy loss distribution and analyzing the reconstructed refractive index profile. The ion implantation results in around 4.8 µm thickness of higher refractive index layer to guide light as a waveguide core in the Er3+-doped germanate glass, which could be used for applications in future integrated optical systems.
Pilot-scale field studies on activated microbial remediation of petroleum contaminated soil
Authors: Sun Wu-Juan , Li Qian , Luo Bo-Yun , Sun Rui , Ke Cong-Yu , Wang Si-Chang , Zhang Qun-Zheng , Zhang Xun-Li
Published: July 2023

A simple and cost-effective microbial remediation process has been developed for the treatment of petroleum contaminated soil by adding microbial activators to active the native microorganisms for enhancing the degradation of petroleum hydrocarbon. The microbial activator is formulated to provide nitrogen sources, phosphorus sources, trace elements, growth factors, biosurfactants, and soil pH regulators. The field trials, involving two 500 m3 oily soil samples with initial oil content of 5.01% and 2.15%, respectively, show that the petroleum hydrocarbon content can be reduced to 0.41% and 0.02%, respectively, in 50 days, reaching the national standard of cultivated land category II. The treatment period is significantly shorter than the commonly used composting and bioaugmentation methods. The remediation effect of microbial activator on oily soil was investigated through the germination experiment of rye seeds. The results showed that the activator itself could not only activate the functional microorganisms in the soil, but also reduce the biological toxicity of oily soil. After 40 days of treatment, the germination rate of rye seeds increased from 20–90%, indicating that the microbial activator could be effectively used for rapid in-situ remediation of oil contaminated soil.
Robust 3D Object Tracking with X-Triplet Markers: A Machine Learning-Based Approach
Authors: Shen Hongbin , Meng Cai , Deng Xinliang , Chen Diansheng
Published: July 2023

In this paper, we propose an efficient and robust X-Triplet detection method based on the support vector machine (SVM) and an adjacent matrix for locating and tracking objects through stereo vision with minimal feature points. The X-Triplet, denoted as Tri-X, is a composite marker consisting of three sequential X-corners. The definition and types of Tri-X markers are initially presented. Further, a fast and robust X-corner detector based on the block search strategy and SVM is proposed for extracting X-corner candidates along with their sub-pixel locations and orientations. The X-corner adjacent matrix (XAM) is then constructed using the orientation angle error to describe the possibility that any X-corner pair can form a valid edge vector. The Tri-X candidates are extracted efficiently from the XAM. Once the Tri-X markers are detected in binocular images, their 6D pose information can be recovered through stereo matching and triangulation technique. When multiple targets are involved simultaneously, different Tri-X markers can be utilized to identify different objects. Experimental results demonstrate the superiority of our method in terms of both accuracy and efficiency for X-corner and Tri-X marker detection, surpassing state-of-the-art approaches. Notably, our method achieves exceptional localization precision with a remarkable position error below 0.1mm and an orientation error below 1 degree. Additionally, our method exhibits great potential for utilization in user-defined specific tracking tasks, offering flexibility and adaptability to various tracking requirements.
A comparison of demographic, medical, social, and lifestyle behaviour correlates between cancer and non-cancer populations: a secondary analysis of the English Longitudinal Study of Aging cohort
Authors: De-Alker Elisha Cerys , Forbes Cynthia C.
Published: July 2023

Purpose
This secondary analysis of the English Longitudinal Study of Aging (ELSA) dataset aims to explore differences in sociodemographic, medical, psychosocial, and behavioural characteristics between cancer and non-cancer populations.
Methods
Data was collected in waves via computer-assisted interviewing, self-led questionnaires, and nurse-led physical measurements. Datasets were arranged according to variables of interest. IBM SPSS Statistics v27.0 software was used to perform parallel cross-sectional analyses. Chi-squares determined differences in categorical variables and Analyses of Variance (ANOVAs) determined differences in continuous variables.
Results
Cancer groups were more likely to report poor or fair general health than those without cancer (p < .001 in Waves 2, 6, 9 and COVID Wave 2; p = .016 in COVID Wave 1). They were also more likely to report often being troubled by pain (Wave 2 p = .037, Wave 6 p = .036, Wave 9 p = .006) and a difficulty with one or more activities of daily living (ADLs) and mobility (p < .001 in Waves 2, 6 and 9). In Waves 6, 9 and COVID Wave 2, cancer groups were less likely to report being current smokers (p < .001) and more likely to report being ex-smokers having smoked regularly in the past (p < .001). Cancer groups reported less frequent engagement in mild, moderate or vigorous physical activity in Wave 2 (p < .001, p = .005, p = .008) and Wave 9 (p = .003, p < .001, p < .001). Those with cancer were more likely to experience depression (p = .026) in Wave 6.
Conclusion
These findings indicate pain management may be a useful therapeutic aim in combination with targeted physical activity advice and psychosocial interventions for cancer populations.
Design Optimization of Marine Propeller using Elitist Particle Swarm Intelligence
Authors: Khan Fahad Ali , Shoukat Nadeem , Shah Ajmal , Bhatti Matloob Hussain , Hashmi Abrar , Muhammad Usama , Tariq Muhammad Atiq Ur Rehman , Jan Syed Mansoor
Published: July 2023

Marine transportation is still the primary source of global transportation. The propeller, which is a critical componentof the propulsion system, must be designed with multiple constraints and objectives to satisfy the need. Recent studies propose that utilizing an improved optimization algorithm and computational analysis would explore better designs than conventionalmethods. In the present study, Elitist Particle Swarm Optimization (EPSO) technique is implemented to optimize the design ofa marine propeller. Potsdam’s Conventional Propeller VP 1304 is used as a benchmark design case. Reynold’s Averaged NavierStokes equation based Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) along with Vortex Lattice Method (VLM) and Fluid StructureInteraction (FSI) model is used for computational analysis. The results obtained in this study are validated against the previously published experimental data. An optimized propeller design is proposed based on the Elitist Particle Swarm Optimization technique.It is observed that the proposed design shows improved open water performance for lower advance coefficient (J) valuesbased on the given constraints. It’s also observed that open water efficiency is improved by 7 percent for J=0.6 compared tothe original design. The one-way Fluid Structure Interaction analysis shows that the proposed design is structurally stable underopen water test conditions
Modelling spatiotemporal variation in under-five malaria risk in Ghana in 2016-2021
Authors: Aheto Justice Moses K. , Menezes Lynette J. , Takramah Wisdom , Cui Liwang
Published: July 2023

Background
Ghana is among the top 10 highest malaria burden countries, with about 20000 children dying annually, 25% of which were under five years. This study aimed to produce interactive web-based disease spatial maps and identify the high-burden malaria districts in Ghana.
Methods
The study used data in 2016–2021 from the routine health service nationally representative and comprehensive District Health Information Management System II (DHIMS2) implemented by the Ghana Health Service. Bayesian geospatial modeling and interactive web-based spatial disease mapping methods were employed to quantify spatial variations and clustering in malaria risk across 260 districts. For each district, the study simultaneously mapped the observed malaria counts, district name, standardized incidence rate, and predicted relative risk and their associated standard errors using interactive web-based visualization methods.
Results
A total of 32,659,240 malaria cases were reported among children < 5 years from 2016 to 2021. Factors associated with malaria risk are the log number of children (log-mean − 0.99, 95% credible interval = -1.06 – -0.92) and the log number of males (log-mean 0.21, 95% credible interval = 0.18–0.23). The study found substantial spatial and temporal differences in malaria risk across the 260 districts. The predicted national relative risk was 1.23 (SE: 0.0084) with a range of 0.0012 to 4.8291. Using the 2021 data, residing in Keta, Abuakwa South, Jomoro, Ahafo Ano South East, Tain, Nanumba North, and Tatale Sanguli districts was associated with the highest malaria risk ranging from a relative risk of 3.00 to 4.83. The district-level spatial patterns of malaria risks changed over time.
Conclusion
This study identified high malaria risk districts in Ghana where urgent and targeted control efforts are required. It provides an effective, actionable tool to arm policymakers and program managers in their efforts to reduce malaria risk and its associated morbidity and mortality in line with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) 3.2 in a setting with limited public health resources, where universal intervention across all districts is practically impossible.
A Survey of Graph Federation Learning for Data Privacy Security Scenarios
Authors: Luo Guangsheng , Fang ZhiJun , Zhao Xiaoli , Chen Mingxuan
Published: July 2023

In recent years, the research on Graph Neural Networks(GNNs) and Federated Learning(FL) has become more and more mature. However, these studies rely heavily on training data. With the improvement of user data privacy awareness and the emphasis on data security at the national level, the training data has become relatively large. difficulty. Moreover, in practical application scenarios, most of the data is unstructured, making it very important to adopt GNNs to learn representations. This paper will give a comprehensive overview of the fusion learning algorithm of GNNs and FL under the framework of distributed machine learning from the perspective of data privacy and security. First, an overview of the current challenges of graph federated learning(GFL); then, an in-depth analysis of GFL methods, and an extended exploration of the topology of graphs; then, focus on several graph-structured federated learning privacy calculations, communication mechanisms, etc. Secondly, it makes a comparative analysis of the common methods of GFL, experimental data sets and experimental evaluations; finally, this paper looks forward to the research hotspots of GFL in combination with privacy and security.
Thumbnail Generation for User Defined Aspect Ratios
Authors: Verma Abhigya , Singh Anushka , . Arti , Lamba Dhairya , Yadav Gunjan , Jain Radhika , Jain Suhani , Mohapatra A.K.
Published: July 2023

A thumbnail is a scaled-down version of an image that provides a visual summary with low resolution. Thumbnails are commonly used in digital media like Photo galleries and video-sharing websites. Through this research, a comparison has been presented between three thumbnail generation techniques and for what scenarios they are suitable. The first two methods are predefined methods provided by Microsoft Azure Services and do not provide satisfactory results. The third method discussed in this paper uses a traditional deep learning approach by modifying the layers of the VGG-16 model and performing regression on a dataset of 1000 images to give bounding box coordinates of the most important area of the image as the output and a validation accuracy of 47.99 percent. A competitive analysis with respect to the results is shown in the below sections.
Performance of MIMO Ad Hoc Network Integrating the AODV Multipath Routing Secret Sharing Scheme with Space Time Coding
Authors: Boral Soma , Mondal Arun Kumar
Published: July 2023

AODV Secret Sharing Scheme with Space Time Coding was proposed to utilize the spatial diversity of MIMO systems to improve the diversity gain and coding gain with multipath routing to prevent the loss of data caused by specific link failures or path failures. In this paper we analysis the performance of MIMO Ad Hoc network integrating the AODV Secret Sharing Scheme with Space Time Coding to overcome the difficult conditions on the channel. The main objective of this system is to improve network throughput and network coverage and save energy with different SNR values. The theoretical performance analysis for the proposed STBC- AODV Secret Sharing Scheme is presented. The performance analysis of the orthogonal STBC coding system with different combination of antennas are analysed to measure the bit error rate. The advantages of the STBC- AODV Secret Sharing Scheme are also shown by simulations.
A comparison between physical therapy clinics with high and low rehabilitative volumes in patients with ACL reconstruction
Authors: Simonsson Rebecca , Högberg Johan , Lindskog Jakob , Piussi Ramana , Sundberg Axel , Sansone Mikael , Samuelsson Kristian , Thomeé Roland , Senorski Eric Hamrin
Published: July 2023

Background Treatment volume can impact outcomes after surgical procedures of the knee between surgeons with high- and low-patient-volumes. However, the difference between physical therapeutic clinics with high- and low-volumes has not been widely researched. This registry study aims to investigate how patient volume affects knee function outcomes after anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction at physical therapy clinics in terms of odds for a second ACL injury, return to pre-injury level of sports, perceived knee function, and recovery of strength and hop performance. Method Data were extracted from the Project ACL, a local rehabilitation registry. High- and low-volume clinics were defined based on the number of patients who attended different clinics. High-volume clinics were defined as those with > 100 patient registrations in Project ACL during the study period while low-volume clinics were those with ≤ 100 patient registrations. High- and low-volume clinics were compared, based on muscle function and patient-reported outcomes across 4 follow-ups during the first year after ACL reconstruction, and odds of second ACL injury up to 2 years after ACL reconstruction. Result Of the 115 rehabilitation clinics included, 111were classified as low-volume clinics, and 4 as high-volume clinics. There were 31 (1.6%) second ACL injuries to the ipsilateral or contralateral side within the first year and 68 (4.0%) within two years. No difference in the incidence of a second ACL injury, within 1 year follow-up OR 0.95 [95% CI 0.46–1.97] or within 2 years follow-up OR 1.13 [95% CI 0.68–1.88], was found between high- and low-volume clinics. There were early (2 months) and non-clinically relevant differences in PROs and physical activity levels early after ACL reconstruction in favor of high-volume clinics. One year after ACL reconstruction, no differences were observed between high- and low-volume clinics in terms of PROs, muscle function, and return to pre-injury sports. Conclusion No clinically relevant difference in the incidence of secondary ACL injuries in patients who underwent rehabilitation after ACL reconstruction at high- or low-volume physical therapy clinics was found. In addition, no clinically relevant differences in outcomes were found during the first year in terms of patient-reported outcomes, recovery of muscle function, or return to pre-injury sports.
Utility of 18F-FDG PET/CT in treatment strategies for patients with cancer of unknown primary
Authors: Huang Rong , Zhang Yun , Hu Yuxiao
Published: July 2023

Objective
To evaluate the role of 18F-FDG PET/CT imaging in primary tumor detection and treatment formulation in patients with cancer of unknown primary (CUP).
Methods
Sixty-two patients with CUP were selected from a database consisting of 18,802 cases in the Jiangsu Cancer Hospital PET/CT centre from 18 May 2016 to 18 November 2022. Clinical data and changes in treatment strategies before and after PET/CT were collected.
Results
A total of 42 primary tumors (42/62, 67.7%) were identified by PET/CT examination. The tumor staging of patients before conventional PET/CT imaging (such as CT/MRI/US) and after PET/CT did not change in 28 patients (28/62, 45.2%), whereas for 35 patients (34/62, 54.8%) tumor staging changed. Forty-five patients (45/62, 72.6%) had not developed treatment plans before PET/CT examination, but treatment plans were clarified after PET/CT examination. Thirteen patients (13/62, 21.0%) underwent changes in treatments before and after PET/CT examination. Among the 20 patients (20/62, 32.3%) whose primary tumors were not detected, 16 patients (16/20, 80.0%) had no treatment plans before PET/CT and the treatment plans were defined after PET/CT, three patients (3/20, 15.0%) changed the treatment plans before and after PET/CT, and one patient (1/20, 5.0%) did not change the treatment plan.
Conclusion
18F-FDG PET/CT plays an important role in the detection and staging of primary tumors in patients with CUP. PET/CT findings can not only help clinicians develop appropriate treatment plans for patients with CUP, but also serve as an effective approach to improve real-life treatment strategies for these patients.
Interest in Peer Support Among Singaporean Adults with Symptoms of Anxiety and Depression
Authors: Teo Irene , Puri Jyotika , Chodavadia Parth , Huan Ho Jia , Poremski Daniel , Fung Daniel Shuen Sheng , Finkelstein Eric Andrew
Published: July 2023

Background
Access to formal mental healthcare is low in Asia. Peer-support can be a viable alternative, gateway, or complement to formal mental healthcare. The current study examined interest in various types of peer support, including individual vs. group and virtual vs. in-person, among Singaporean adults with symptoms of anxiety or depression and their preferences and perceptions surrounding peer support.
Methods
A cross-sectional online survey was administered to members of a web panel. Participants with symptoms of depression or anxiety based on the Patient Health Questionnaire-4 screener were surveyed. Logistic regression analysis was conducted to examine factors associated with greater interest in peer support.
Results
350 panel members met our inclusion criteria. 62% indicated interest in receiving peer support. The strongest preference was for one-on-one support delivered virtually. Younger age (OR = 1.05, p < .01), working in white-collar managerial as opposed to white-collar non-managerial positions (OR = 1.96, p < .05), utilizing formal healthcare in the last 3 months (OR = 2.45, p < .05), and previously providing peer support (OR = 7.33, p < .01) were associated with greater interest in receiving peer support. Most of those not interested in peer support cited concerns around confidentiality.
Conclusions
Despite low uptake of formal mental healthcare, the majority of adult Singaporeans surveyed with anxiety or depression symptoms indicated interest in receiving peer support. Greater efforts to promote peer support programs can be part of a comprehensive strategy to address rising rates of poor mental health in Singapore.
Relationship between BMI and CD4 cell counts among people living with HIV on ART attending Infectious Disease Hospital, Kano State
Authors: David Olaoye Olalekan , Isyaku Mikail Umar , Etukudo Ekom Monday , Usman Ibe Michael
Published: July 2023

Background
There are currently an estimated 38 million people living with HIV (PLWHIV) in the globe. The aim of the present study was to examine the relationship between Body mass index (BMI) and CD4 cell counts among people living with HIV attending Infectious Disease Hospital, Kano State.
Method
Two hundred HIV-positive and non-HIV positive above 18 years of age were recruited for the study. Blood samples were collected from both categories for the determination of CD4 count. The relationship between the height, weight, BMI, and CD4 cell counts was examined using Pearson correlation, and a p-value less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant.
Result
Mean heights of among male HIV subject (1.66 ± 0.07) was significantly higher (p < 0.001) compared to female HIV subjects (1.54 ± 0.09). BMI was significantly higher (p < 0.001) in female HIV subjects (24.74 ± 4.95) when compared to male HIV subjects (21.78 ± 2.73). There was a moderate positive correlation (r = 0.280, p = 0.006) between CD4 cell count and height in non-HIV males; however, there was no significant correlation between CD4 count and BMI in HIV and non-HIV individuals.
Conclusion
The study concludes that there exists sexual dimorphism in HIV subjects among people living with HIV. There was no significant relationship between CD4 cell count and BMI in HIV and non-HIV individuals.
Incorporating ε-Polylysine Hydrochloride, Tea Polyphenols, Nisin, and Ascorbic Acid into Edible Coating Solutions: Effect on Oxidation and Structure of Marinated Egg Proteins
Authors: Liu Jingbo , Han Lu , Cheng Dongkun , Li Shengrao , Chen Xiumei , Yu Yiding , Zhang Deju , Zhang Ting
Published: July 2023

Egg processing products lose their attractions due to protein oxidation, while the edible coating incorporating antioxidant and antimicrobial agents can address this deficit. In this work, chitosan (CS) in combination with ε-polylysine hydrochloride, tea polyphenols, nisin, and vitamin C (CS-NH-TC) was applied as a novel edible coating material for preserving marinated eggs for 20 days and its effects on protein oxidation and structure, including total sulfhydryl, dityrosine, protein solubility and hydrophobicity, intermolecular forces, particle size, turbidity, secondary structure, and microstructure were determined. Compared to uncoated marinated eggs (Sulfhydryl: 12.02 μmol/g, soluble protein: 1.13 mg/mL, dityrosine: 6251.8, protein hydrophobicity: 3691, turbidity: 0.13 mg/mL, particle size: 342.13 nm), CS- and CS-NH-TC-coated eggs exhibited improved protein stability, as evidenced by a higher sulfhydryl (22.20 and 30.92 μmol/g) and soluble protein content (1.31 and 1.42 mg/mL), and lower dityrosine content (4722 and 4216), protein hydrophobicity (2891.72 and 865.75), turbidity (0.06 and 0.03 mg/mL), and particle size (292.06 and 256.57 nm). Additionally, edible coatings, especially CS-NH-TC coatings, were positively correlated with smaller intermolecular force changes in marinated eggs, corresponding to suppressed oxidation and improved structural stability. Furthermore, CS-NH-TC-coated samples showed more stable protein secondary structures and less disorderly and aggregated protein microstructure. Our study could provide a theoretical basis for stabilizing the protein structure of egg processing products.
The Effects of Peat Swamp Forest Patches and Riparian Areas within Large Scale Oil Palm Plantations on Bird Species Richness
Authors: Bettycopa Amit  , Wauter Ralph Klok  , Peter J. Van Der Meer  , Nik Sasha Khatrina Khairuddin  , Ivan Chiron Yaman  , Kho Lip Khoon
Published: July 2023

It is well established that oil palm is one of the most efficient and productive oil crops. However, oil palm agriculture is also one of the threats to tropical biodiversity. This study aims to investigate how set-aside areas in an oil palm plantation affect bird biodiversity. The research area includes two set-asides areas: peat swamp forest and riparian reserves and two oil palm sites adjacent to reserved forest sites. A total of 3,074 birds comprising 100 species from 34 families were observed in an oil palm plantation landscape on peatland located in the northern part of Borneo, Sarawak, Malaysia. Results showed that efforts by set-asides forest areas in large scale of oil palm dominated landscapes supported distinct bird species richness. High percentage of the canopies and shrub covers had a positive effect on bird species richness at area between oil palm and peat swamp forest. Herbaceous cover with height less than 1 m influenced the abundance of birds in the plantation closed to the peat swamp forest. The set-aside areas in oil palm plantations are essential in supporting bird’s refuges and should be part of oil palm landscape management to improve biodiversity conservation. Thus, provided the forest set-aside areas are large enough and risks to biodiversity and habitat are successfully managed, oil palm can play an important role in biodiversity conservation.
Índice Multidimensional da Ativação do Patrimônio Territorial: A dimensão natural e seus componentes
Authors: Denardin Valdir Frigo , Junior Ney Fett , Cazella Ademir Antônio , Lopes Paulo Rogério , Alves Christiane Luci Bezerra
Published: July 2023

A dimensão natural é apenas uma das dimensões inerentes ao tema desenvolvimento, considerado multidimensional por definição. Pensar e agir nos processos de desenvolvimento territorial requer equipes multi/interdisciplinares, para evitar falsas e equivocadas interpretações que assumem o desenvolvimento como sinônimo de crescimento econômico. O texto propõe lançar luzes, pistas, sobre um conjunto de componentes e variáveis pertinentes à dimensão natural, que podem orientar processos de desenvolvimento nos territórios. Para tal, valeu-se de revisão bibliográfica e sistematização das vivências da equipe de pesquisadores. Na abordagem da dimensão natural a equipe propôs cinco componentes: (Bio)Geodiversidade, Agroecossistemas, Vulnerabilidade Ambiental Urbana, Cesta de Bens e Serviços Territoriais, Política de Estado para a Sustentabilidade. Cada componente consiste em um conjunto de variáveis, com seus respectivos instrumentos de coleta de dados e escala de classificação. O esforço empreendido caminhou em direção à proposição de uma matriz de componentes e variáveis para a mensuração de um Índice que representa a Dimensão Natural (IDN) nos processos de desenvolvimento territorial.
The Effect of Instructional Adaptations Training within Inclusive Practices on Classroom Teachers' Opinions about the Importance of Instructional Adaptations
Authors: BİLGİÇ Emrah , BATU Emine Sema
Published: July 2023

Introduction: Adaptations must be made by teachers for students with Special Educational Needs (SEN) to take part in the successful inclusion practices (SIP) process and to ensure effective teaching. However, teachers struggle to make adaptations for various reasons during the instructional process, either finding it difficult to make adequate adaptations or being unable to make any adaptations at all. For this reason, there is a problem with the realization of the SIP, and the educational needs of the students with SEN cannot be met properly. The study aims to examine the effect of an information package application (IPA) prepared on instructional adaptations (IA) for classroom teachers on teachers' opinions on the importance of IA. Method: In the study, mixed method and “multi-stage mixed design” were used as the research design. The research consists of five stages: i. Determination of opinion (requirement) before SIP, ii. SIP preparation and implementation, iii. determination of SIP effectiveness, iv. determination of social validity related to SIP, and v. Stage: Monitoring phase respectively. The participants of the study are primary school class teachers from Hendek district of Sakarya province, who have students with SEN in their class (60 [Experimental group: n = 30, control group: n = 30] in the quantitative dimension, 31 teachers in the qualitative dimension). The qualitative data of the research was obtained through focus group interviews (FGI). Quantitative dimension data of the research was obtained by using the Scale of Instructional Adaptations for Inclusion (SIMI); social validity data were obtained by using the Social Validity Form; and the data containing personal information was obtained by using the demographic information form. Findings: The findings of the research indicate that the implementation of the IPA has positively changed teachers' opinions regarding the importance of individualized education. “Social validity determination” findings of the study show that teachers find the IPA performed useful and functional. Discussion: The research findings have been discussed within the framework of the relevant literature, and recommendations and limitations related to the study have been stated.
Machine learning in predicting anti-money laundering compliance with protection motivation theory among professional accountants
Authors: Masrom Suraya , Tarmizi Masetah Ahmad , Halid Sunarti , Rahman Rahayu Abdul , Rahman Abdullah Sani Abd , Ibrahim Roslina
Published: July 2023

Money laundering represents a significant global threat, necessitating the vigilance of professional accountants in detecting and reporting suspicious customer activities within their jurisdiction to the relevant authorities. Despite the legal obligation to comply with anti-money laundering regulations, professional accountants' adherence to these measures remains insufficient. Previous research on machine learning techniques for combating money laundering has predominantly concentrated on predicting suspicious transactions, rather than evaluating compliance behavior. This study aims to develop a machine learning prediction model to assess the inclination of professional accountants towards adhering to anti-money laundering regulations, serving as an early signal system to gauge their willingness to abide by the law in their professional responsibilities. The research elaborates on the design and implementation of machine learning models based on three algorithms: Decision Tree, Gradient Boosted Tree, and Support Vector Machine. The paper offers two types of comparisons from distinct perspectives: firstly, the performance of each algorithm in predicting real cases of anti-money laundering compliance, and secondly, the contribution of attributes measured by weights of correlation in different algorithms. Alongside demographic factors, the study evaluates the effectiveness of each algorithm in anti-money laundering compliance by utilizing five attributes derived from the Protection Motivation Theory (PMT). The findings demonstrate the significance of all attributes, including demography and PMT, in all machine learning models, with both Gradient Boosted Tree and Support Vector Machine achieving a proportion of variance of 0.8 or higher. This indicates the potential of these algorithms in effectively measuring and predicting professional accountants' intentions to comply with anti-money laundering regulations.
Users’ Motivations for Facebook Unfriending During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Survey Study
Authors: Neely Stephen
Published: July 2023

Background

Social networking sites (SNSs) such as Facebook have been central to the global exchange of health-related information throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, but during this time, increased web-based interactions proved to be a source of stress and conflict for many SNS users. Prior research suggests that many users have engaged in significant boundary regulation during this period, using behaviors such as unfriending to refine and reorient their social networks in response to pandemic-related information.

Objective

This study aimed to examine Facebook unfriending during and in relation to the first year of the pandemic to better understand how SNS users have managed and maintained their social networks around the COVID-19 pandemic. On the one hand, unfriending may be motivated by an attempt to protect the utility and accuracy of a user’s informational environment. On the other hand, it may be motivated by a desire to tune out alternative viewpoints and opinions. Both motivations may have significant implications for public health discourse and outcomes.

Methods

A sample of 824 active Facebook users (drawn from a representative survey of 1000 American adults) was analyzed using a series of logit regression models. Survey respondents were selected using a stratified quota sampling approach to ensure a representative sample of the US population. Balanced quotas were determined (by the region of the country) for sex, age, race, ethnicity, and political affiliation.

Results

In total, 31.7% (261/824) of active Facebook users unfriended at least one account over COVID-19 pandemic–related posts during the first year of the pandemic. The most common reasons for unfriending included “making political comments about COVID-19” (191/824, 23.2%) and “posting information that was inconsistent with public health guidelines” (162/824, 19.7%). As hypothesized, reliance on Facebook for COVID-19 pandemic–related news and information was associated with a greater likelihood of unfriending, particularly in response to information that was inconsistent with public health guidelines. Political factors (particularly partisan intensity) were also predictive of unfriending, especially in the case of COVID-19 pandemic–related disagreements.

Conclusions

Both information utility concerns and political factors were associated with a greater likelihood of COVID-19 pandemic–related unfriending, although the magnitude of the effects associated with utility appears to be greater. Although utility-motivated unfriending may lead to more reliable health information experiences for some SNS users, the tendency of consumers to assess accuracy and credibility on the basis of partisan predilections obscures this finding and warrants further consideration.