bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Improving Quality of Life in Chronic Patients: A Pilot Study on the Effectiveness of a Health Recommender System and Its Usability
Authors: Rio Alberto del , Jimenez Jennifer , Medina-García Rodrigo , Lozano-Hernández Cristina , Alvarez Federico , Serrano Javier
Published: April 2023

The TeNDER project aims to improve the Quality of Life (QoL) of chronic patients through an integrated care ecosystem. This study evaluates the Health Recommender System (HRS) developed for the project, which offers personalized recommendations based on data collected from a set of monitoring devices. The list of notifications covered different areas of daily-life such as physical activity, nutrition, and sleep. We conducted this case of study to evaluate the effectiveness and usability of the HRS in providing accurate and relevant recommendations to users. Evaluation process consisted on survey administration for QoL assessment, and the satisfaction and usability of the HRS. The four-week pilot study involved several patients and caregivers, and demonstrated that the HRS was perceived as user-friendly, consistent, and helpful, with a positive impact on patients’ QoL. However, the study highlights the need for improvement in terms of personalization of recommendations.
Efficient Purification of Polyhistidine-Tagged Recombinant Proteins Using Functionalized Corundum Particles
Authors: Völzke Jule L. , Smatty Sarah , Döring Sarah , Ewald Shireen , Oelze Marcus , Fratzke Franziska , Flemig Sabine , Konthur Zoltán , Weller Michael G.
Published: April 2023

Immobilized metal affinity chromatography (IMAC) is a popular and valuable method for the affinity purification of polyhistidine-tagged recombinant proteins. However, it often shows practical limitations, which might require cumbersome optimizations, additional polishing, and enrichment steps. Here, we present functionalized corundum particles for the efficient, economical, and fast purification of recombinant proteins in a column-free format. The corundum surface is first derivatized with the amino silane APTES, then EDTA dianhydride, and subsequently loaded with nickel ions. The Kaiser test, well-known in solid-phase peptide synthesis, was used to monitor amino silanization and the reaction with EDTA dianhydride. In addition, ICP-MS was performed to quantify the metal-binding capacity. His-tagged protein A/G (PAG), mixed with bovine serum albumin (BSA), was used as a test system. The PAG binding capacity was around 3 mg protein per gram of corundum. Cytoplasm obtained from different E. coli strains was examined as an example of a complex matrix. The imidazole concentration was varied in the loading and washing buffers. As expected, higher imidazole concentrations during loading are usually beneficial when higher purities are desired. Even when higher sample volumes, such as one liter, were used, recombinant protein down to a concentration of 1 µg/mL could be isolated selectively. Comparing the corundum material with standard Ni-NTA agarose beads indicated higher purities of proteins isolated using corundum. His6-MBP-mSA2, a fusion protein consisting of monomeric streptavidin and maltose-binding protein in the cytoplasm of E. coli, was purified successfully. To show that this method is also suitable for mammalian cell culture supernatants, purification of the SARS-CoV-2-S-RBD His8 expressed in human Expi293F cells was performed. The material cost of the nickel-loaded corundum material (without regeneration) is estimated to be less than 30 cents for 1 gram of functionalized support or 10 cents per milligram of isolated protein. Another advantage of the novel system is the corundum particles' extremely high physical and chemical stability. The new material should be applicable in small laboratories and large-scale industrial applications. In summary, we could show that this new material is an efficient, robust, and cost-effective purification platform for the purification of His-tagged proteins, even in challenging, complex matrices and large sample volumes of low product concentration.
Therapeutic Potential of Heterocyclic Compounds Targeting Mitochondrial Calcium Homeostasis and Signaling in Alzheimer’s Disease and Parkinson’s Disease
Authors: Tapias Victor , González-Andrés Paula , Peña Laura F. , Barbero Asunción , Núñez Lucía , Villalobos Carlos
Published: April 2023

The brain is a complex organ that controls body functions and homeostasis through the action of neuronal and glial cells. Neuronal activity is highly energy-dependent and requires large numbers of functional mitochondria to provide substantial amount of energy via mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS), the most efficient metabolic process to generate adenosine triphosphate (ATP). Under stress conditions, neurons are particularly vulnerable to mitochondrial dysfunction, leading to decreased ATP synthesis, excessive generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and reactive nitrogen species (RNS), and intracellular Ca2+ dyshomeostasis, although not necessarily in this order. Alzheimer's disease (AD) and Parkinson’s disease (PD) are the two most common neurodegenerative diseases in elderly and are characterized by the presence of abnormal protein aggregates and the progressive and irreversible loss of neurons in specific brain regions. The exact mechanisms underlying the etiopathogenesis of AD or PD remain unknown, but there is extensive evidence indicating that compromised mitochondrial energy metabolism along with a depleted antioxidant system play a vital role in the pathophysiology of these neurological disorders. Toxic accumulation of proteins such as amyloid β peptides (Aβ) or amyloid precursor protein (APP) in AD and α-synuclein (α-syn) or leucine-rich repeat kinase 2 (LRRK2) in PD cause mitochondrial deficits through direct inhibition of electron transport chain (ETC) assembly and function, thereby resulting in further generation of ROS/RNS and disturbance of Ca2+ influx. Due to the improvement in life expectancy, the incidence of age-related neurodegenerative diseases has significantly increased. There is no effective protective treatment or therapy available but rather only very limited palliative treatment. There is an urgent need for the development of preventive strategies and disease-modifying therapies (both neuroprotective and neurorestorative interventions) to treat AD/PD. Here, we review the capability of some heterocyclic compounds to modulate Ca2+ homeostasis and signaling with a potential role in regulating mitochondrial function and associated free radical production during the development and onset of AD or PD. Moreover, we have included the chemical synthesis of a series of heterocycles and their derivatives.
Construcción de redes sociales en el lugar de destino: las experiencias de venezolanos, colombianos y españoles en una ciudad intermedia de Chile
Authors: Soto-Alvarado Sylvia , Gil-Alonso Fernando , Garrido-Castillo Jaime
Published: April 2023

Se analiza la construcción, por parte de inmigrantes internacionales, de redes sociales en el país de destino, y las características de estas redes según el país de origen. Se estudia el caso de tres colectivos residentes en Chile, utilizando metodología cualitativa basada en entrevistas semiestructuradas, que se analizan mediante análisis narrativo. Los resultados muestran que quienes tienden a incorporarse con mayor rapidez en el lugar de destino, suelen establecer redes de vínculos débiles. Por el contrario, quienes tienen más dificultades para incorporarse en el lugar de destino, o lo hacen solo parcialmente, establecen redes densas más cerradas en lo cultural.
Analisis Faktor Resiliensi Rumah Tangga Petani dalam Menghadapi Variabilitas Iklim
Authors:   Departemen Ekonomi Sumberdaya dan Lingkungan Fakultas Ekonomi dan Manajemen IPB, Marseva Amalia Dwi , Putri Eka Intan Kumala ,   Departemen Ekonomi Sumberdaya dan Lingkungan Fakultas Ekonomi dan Manajemen IPB, Ismail Ahyar ,   Departemen Ekonomi Sumberdaya dan Lingkungan Fakultas Ekonomi dan Manajemen IPB
Published: April 2023

Variabilitas iklim berpotensi memberikan guncangan bagi rumah tangga petani. Penelitian ini bertujuan mengidentifikasi kerentanan, mengidentifikasi resiliensi dan faktor yang memengaruhinya, serta mengidentifikasi mekanisme adaptasi rumah tangga petani dalam menghadapi variabilitas curah hujan. Metode analisis yang digunakan adalah analisis deskriptif kualitatif, Livelihood Vulnerability Index, dan regresi linear berganda. Hasil menunjukkan Desa Sidamulya lebih rentan terhadap variabilitas curah hujan dibanding Desa Wanasari. Resiliensi dipengaruhi oleh tingkat pendidikan, tingkat pendapatan dari hasil panen sebelumnya, lama bertani, dan dummy pekerjaan lain. Adaptasi yang dilakukan adalah menggeser masa tanam, mengubah dan mengurangi dosis pupuk, mengubah benih, dan memiliki pekerjaan lain.
Analisis Penilaian Ekonomi Gumuk Pasir Parangtritis di Kecamatan Kretek, Kabupaten Bantul, DIY
Authors:   Program Studi Pascasarjana Ekonomi Sumberdaya dan Lingkungan, Fakultas Ekonomi dan Manajemen Institut Pertanian Bogor (IPB), Khatimah Khusnul , Syaukat Yusman ,   Program Studi Pascasarjana Ekonomi Sumberdaya dan Lingkungan, Fakultas Ekonomi dan Manajemen Institut Pertanian Bogor (IPB), Ismail Ahyar ,   Program Studi Pascasarjana Ekonomi Sumberdaya dan Lingkungan, Fakultas Ekonomi dan Manajemen Institut Pertanian Bogor (IPB)
Published: April 2023

Gumuk pasir merupakan fenomena hutan pantai unik dan di Asia Tenggara hanya ditemukan di Desa Parangtritis. Pada kondisi eksisting, gumuk pasir memberikan manfaat langsung dan manfaat tidak langsung, meskipun pemanfaatannya tidak merata di seluruh area. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengestimasi nilai ekonomi gumuk pasir pada kondisi eksisting dengan menggunakan metode total nilai ekonomi (total economic valuation/TEV). Hasilnya adalah nilai manfaat wisata (Rp1.009 juta/tahun), kayu bakar (Rp106 juta/tahun), pakan ternak (Rp188 juta/tahun), sedangkan manfaat penahan abrasi (Rp1.505 juta/tahun), dan pelindung angin laut (Rp1.019 juta/tahun). Nilai ekonomi total gumuk pasir Rp3.828 juta/tahun.
Анализ динамики эпидемического процесса COVID-19 в мире за неделю с 01.04.2023 г. по 07.04.2023 г.
Authors: Зимирова Анастасия , Поспелов Михаил , Иванова Александра , Карнаухов Игорь , Щербакова Светлана , Кутырев Владимир
Published: April 2023

В обзоре представлен анализ эпидемиологической ситуации в странах мира по COVID-19 за неделю с 01.04.2023 г. по 07.04.2023 г.
Socio-demographic and Built-environment determinants of Earthquake Risk Perception: the case of the Corinthiakos Gulf in Greece
Authors: Niforatos Stavros , Panagiotakos Demosthenes , Delladetsimas Pavlos Marinos
Published: April 2023

Risk perception has been widely recognized as an essential factor in shaping attitudes and behaviors of individuals and communities proactively, during and after the experience of extreme catastrophic events. Its importance derives out mostly due to its intrinsic relationship with socio-economic parameters and capacity building of communities affected by such events. The aim of this paper was to elaborate on the demographic, socio-economic and built-environment determinants of earthquake risk perception of populations living in an extremely earthquake-prone environment. For this purpose, a population sample of municipalities in the Corinthiakos Gulf in Central West Greece, was examined. The sample (230 men and 276 women) was randomly selected from three coastal municipalities of the Gulf: Aigialeia, Nafpaktia and Corinthos. Multi-adjusted linear regression analysis was performed to reveal the determinants of the participants’ perceptions regarding earthquake risk. Findings revealed that mean earthquake risk perception score was moderate in both men and women and notably lower for the participants living in the municipality of Nafpaktia, as compared to the participants of the other two study areas. Earthquake risk perception varied significantly according to age, sex, income and building construction period (of assets resided or used by the participants). Younger strata, especially young men, and households of lower income status tend to correlate to lower earthquake risk perception. Moreover, individuals living in newly constructed buildings presented lower earthquake risk perception levels. Also, increased individuals’ earthquake safety information provided by state agencies and local civil protection authorities was associated with increased risk perception. Issues like education, household structure, building earthquake insurance, savings and trust in civil protection authorities, were not associated with risk perception. From a policy design point of view, such findings provide noteworthy insights for local communities and civil protection authorities allowing to identify vulnerable population groups and to provide noteworthy insights to design targeted measures and policies in the making of a safe and resilient environment.
Electronic Moment Tensor Potentials include both electronic and vibrational degrees of freedom
Authors: Sriniva Prashanth , Demuriya David , Grabowski Blazej , Shapeev Alexandar
Published: April 2023

We present the electronic moment tensor potentials (eMTPs), a class of machine-learning interatomic models and a generalization of the classical MTPs, reproducing both the electronic and vibrational degrees of freedom, up to the accuracy of ab initio calculations. Following the original polynomial interpolation idea of the MTPs, the eMTPs are defined as polynomials of vibrational and electronic degrees of freedom, corrected to have a finite interatomic cutoff. Practically, an eMTP is constructed from the classical MTPs fitted to a training set, whose energies and forces are calculated with electronic temperatures corresponding to the Chebyshev nodes on a given temperature interval. The eMTP energy is hence a Chebyshev interpolation of the classical MTPs. With eMTPs, one can access the temperature-dependent electronic and vibrational free energies and the coupling between the two, separately. The performance of eMTPs is demonstrated for two refractory systems which have a significant electronic, vibrational and coupling contribution up to the melting point — unary Nb, and a disordered TaVCrW high-entropy alloy. Highly accurate thermodynamic and kinetic quantities can now be obtained just by using eMTPs, without any further ab initio calculations.
A study of high-resolution remote sensing image landslide detection with optimized anchor boxes and edge enhancement
Authors: Wang Kun , Han Ling , Liao Juan , Zhao Jianling
Published: April 2023

This paper takes landslide as a special research object. For the problems of landslide detection in remote sensing images, deep learning and playback method is adopted. On the basis of YOLOv3 network and combining with Gabor filter, its edge detection, detection anchor frame and small object detection scale are improved and optimized. By adding edge control factor, K-means, K-means + +, k-medoid and ISODATA, four clustering algorithms to evaluate the accuracy of the detection anchor frame and add small target large-scale sampling, the YOLOv3(ISODATA) model was finally established for landslide image detection. To severely evaluate the effectiveness of the present method, an experimental comparison is made with three target detection models: YOLOv3, R-CNN, and Fast R-CNN. The experimental results show that the accuracy of this method reached 93.14% compared with the other three methods, the recall rate was 86.14%, and the average accuracy was 94.87%, which are higher than the other three detection methods, indicating that the method has a good effect in landslide remote sensing image detection, and improves the problems existing in landslide remote sensing image detection.
AVA-ADR-001 Suppresses Tumor Growth and Induces Anti-tumor Immunity by Selectively Inhibiting ADAR1 p150
Authors: Kulkarni Aditya , Goswami Avijit , Deb Barnali , Mohanty Ankita , Goyal Sandeep , Singh Kawaljit , Yadav Rahul , Khurana Princy , Muralidharan Narenkumar , Rehwinkel Jan
Published: April 2023

Adenosine deaminase acting on RNA (ADAR1) catalyzes the hydrolytic deamination of adenosine (A) to inosine (I) in double-stranded RNA (dsRNA). There are 2 isoforms of ADAR1 (p110 in the nucleus; p150 in cytoplasm) and both modify self dsRNA in coding and non-coding regions. The ADAR1 p150 isoform is expressed from an interferon (IFN)-responsive promoter and has a Z-DNA/Z-RNA binding domain at the N-terminus. Previous reports have provided a strong rationale for the development of ADAR1 p150 inhibitors for cancer immunotherapy. Here, we describe AVA-ADR-001, a potential first-in-class small molecule inhibitor of ADAR1 p150 targeting the Zα domain. AVA-ADR-001 binds specifically to the Zα domain of ADAR1 p150 as confirmed by fluorescence spectroscopy and showed significant interferon induction in THP1 macrophages, which have high ADAR1 p150 expression compared with monocytes. Proteomics and transcriptomics analysis revealed significant upregulation of interferon signaling upon treatment with AVA-ADR − 001. Interestingly, activation of interferon signaling resulted in AVA-ADR-001 induced cell killing in ADAR1-independent cell lines. In addition, treatment with AVA-ADR − 001 resulted in significant activation of PKR, which may explain the decreased cell proliferation. Finally, AVA-ADR-001 showed superior anti-tumor efficacy compared to anti-PD1 in an in vivo tumor efficacy study and has a moderately synergistic effect when combined. Overall, this study reveals that ADAR1 p150 inhibition by AVA-ADR-001 exerts a multipronged impact on anti-tumor efficacy mediated by immune cells, accumulation of interferons and activation of PKR, resulting in protein translation inhibition and cell proliferation arrest.
AODTII: Adolescent Oro-Dental Trauma Impact Index- Developed and Validated in Sri Lanka
Authors: Udayamalee Iresha , Amarasinghe Hemantha , Zhang Ping , Johnson Newell
Published: April 2023

Background
Sports-related oro- dental trauma, such as tooth fracture, displacement, mobility, and avulsion, cause significant concern among adolescent players due to detrimental impacts. This study aimed to develop and evaluate the validity and reliability of a simple index as a questionnaire to assess the impact of oro-dental trauma on adolescents.
Methods
AODTII, an adolescent oro-dental trauma impact index was developed and validated using a mixed-method approach. Items used to generate the index were defined based on the qualitative and quantitative analysis of the results from Oral Health-Related Quality of Life Questionnaires, personnel interviews with experts and focus group discussions with adolescents. Principal component analysis and Exploratory factor analysis were used to create the index. The validity and reliability of the developed index were assessed using a separate sample.
Results
The initial list of 28 items was reduced to 12 by the Principal Component Analysis. Exploratory Factor Analysis categorised the variables into four latent constructs; physical impact, psychosocial effect influenced by peer pressure, the impact of oral health care and the impact caused due to unmet dental trauma treatment need. The cut-off values of the AODTII were based on PCA. The index achieved the Content Validity Ratio of 88.33. The construct validity was assessed with confirmatory factor analysis by developing a structural equation model. It obtained good model fit indices of RMSEA value of 0.067, SRMR of 0.076, CFI of 0.911 and the Goodness of Fit index of 0.95. The homogeneity was ensured with convergent and discriminant validity. The Cronbach's alpha value was 0.768, ensuring reliability. The index assesses the level of impact due to oro- dental trauma and identifies whether the adolescents perceive it significantly or not.
Conclusion
AODTII can be used as a valid and reliable index to assess the impact of oro- dental trauma on adolescents. It can be used as a clinical adjunct, an advocacy tool and a useful OHRQoL instrument.
Health Problems of Solid Waste Collectors in India: A Scoping Review
Authors: Mishra Hemant , Ali Asif , Abedin Zainul
Published: April 2023

Background: The profession of solid waste collection is inherently hazardous, especially to the health of solid waste collectors. Consequently, they face a wide range of health problems including physical, occupational and psychological issues.
Aim: The objective of this scoping review is to explore the scientific literature concerned with the physical, occupational and psychological health problems of solid waste collectors in India, primarily in the past two decades.
Methods: In accordance with the PRISMA guidelines, a scoping review of the available relevant peer-reviewed scientific literature was performed for comprehensive analysis of the extent of health problems and issues of solid waste collectors in India. Two prominent online databases namely, PubMed and Google Scholar were searched extensively using predefined criteria. Original research papers published in peer-reviewed reputed scientific journals post the year 2000 were screened and selected for this study. A total of 20 scientific research articles concerned with the health problems of solid waste collectors were included in this study.
Results: Scoping review of original research articles revealed that 2 – 90 per cent of the solid waste collectors suffered from dermatological health problems, 8.1-95 per cent from respiratory problems, 3.8-33 per cent from different types of ophthalmological health problems, 25-76.6 per cent from musculoskeletal health problems and 4.5-15 per cent from gastrointestinal problems. 3 - 16 per cent solid waste workers were affected by tuberculosis while 2.5-83.3 by viral fever. Among occupational health problems, 43.5-91.7 per cent solid waste collectors faced injuries during work, bruises, cuts and lacerations, 9.6-16.5 per cent were affected by animal bites, more than 70 per cent suffered from injury by sharp objects, 70 per cent of the solid waste collectors suffered from mild to severe depression, 55 per cent of them were affected by mild to severe anxiety, 25 per cent of the solid waste collectors felt constantly under strain, 39.5 per cent felt unhappy and depressed, 40 per cent suffered from loss of sleep and faced loss of concentration.
Conclusion: Solid waste collectors in India face a wide range of health problems which are physical, occupational as well as psychological in nature. Review of research revealed that the frequency of occurrence of health problems is higher in solid waste collectors than in rest of population. Targeted health surveillance and greater access to healthcare could help improve the state of health of solid waste collectors. Additionally, they should be provided with first aid kit, safety equipment to guard against animal attacks and regular counseling for psychological well-being.
Impact of Parkinson's disease treatment on fluctuations in weight
Authors: Umemoto George , Fujioka Shinsuke , Iwashita Yuki , Dotsu Yuriko , Noda Masako , Tsuboi Yoshio
Published: April 2023

Background
Weight loss (WL) is the most common symptom among patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) and has been reported to start several years before the diagnosis of PD. The relationship between WL and PD treatment is complex. This study aimed to characterize the impact of PD treatment on WL and find clues to establish the administration of nutrition for patients with PD.
Methods
Eighty-two patients with PD (mean age, 58.4 ± 10.2 years; mean Hoehn and Yahr stage, 3.2 ± 0.7) were recruited. Their treatments included deep brain stimulation (DBS) therapy (n = 34), levodopa/carbidopa intestinal gel (LCIG) therapy (n = 13), and oral medication alone (n = 35). Based on the medical records, the age of onset, disease duration, treatment options, videofluoroscopic dysphagia scale, blood test results, and weight change were collected.
Results
The median WL per year and rate of WL were − 1.0 ± 2.8 kg and − 1.9 ± 4.7%, respectively. Most patients (93%) were classified into normal nutrition and mild malnutrition groups by their CONUT scores. The median WL of the DBS group was significantly lower than that of the oral medication alone group (p < 0.01). The rate of WL showed a significant negative correlation with the age of onset (rho = − 0.328, p = 0.003), but showed a significant positive correlation with the disease duration (rho = 0.231, p = 0.04).
Conclusions
These results highlighted WL in the early stages of PD and suggested the need for adequate monitoring for patients undergoing device-aided therapy as well as oral medicine-treated patients with greater WL.
Neural Correlation of Relation Information——Evidence from ERP
Authors: Jia Xiaofei , Zhou Changle
Published: April 2023

Central-parietal N200 is an ERP component that associates with orthographic processing in Chinese word recognition. Studies have shown that it may be related to the early processing of morpheme structures. Compound words can be regarded as the smallest unit of morpheme combination, the recognition process can be analogous to the comprehension of the sentence, including combining constituent morphemes. This process includes grammatical combinations and semantic combinations. Studies have found that the semantic combination takes place during the N400 time-window. Generally speaking, the grammatical combination should occur before the semantic combination, so does the structure priming that occurred during the N200 time-window represent grammatical combination? We explored this issue by using Chinese coordinative compounds and ERP technology. We found that there is a significant grammatical structure priming effect in the processing of Chinese compound words. This effect occurs in the early stage of word processing, that is, the N200 period. Combined with the previous research, the semantic relation priming occurred in the N400 window, indicating that the grammatical combination did appear before the semantic combination, and outlined the time course of the effect of relation information.
Reported Self-Care Practice towards Prevention of Puerperal Sepsis and Associated Factors among Postnatal Mothers In Arba Minch Town, Southern Ethiopia, 2022
Authors: Mengistu Sheleme , Seyoum Kenbon , Temesgen Gebremaryam , Terefe Bezabih , Ejigu Neway , Kene Chala , Geta Girma
Published: April 2023

Background: Puerperal sepsis is an important cause of maternal morbidity and mortality, especially in developing countries including Ethiopia. If not identified early and preventive measures are not taken, it can lead to severe lifetime maternal morbidity and even death. So, to prevent maternal complications associated with puerperal sepsis, assessing the postnatal mother's self-care practice is vital. Therefore, this study aimed to assess reported self-care practices towards the prevention of puerperal sepsis and associated factors among postnatal mothers in Arba Minch town, southwest Ethiopia, 2022.
Methods: Community-based cross-sectional study was employed from may1-30th, 2022. A structured and interviewer-administered questionnaire was used to collect the data from study participants. Study participants were randomly selected and interviewed at their homes using simple random sampling techniques. The data was collected by Open Data Kit (ODK) and exported to the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 26 for analysis and the information was presented using frequencies, summary measures, tables, and figures.
Both bivariate and multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed to identify associated factors. Pvalues < 0.05 with a 95% confidence level were used to declare statistical significance.
Results; A total of 417 postnatal mothers participated in this study making a response rate of 98.5%. The study revealed that 45.6% with (95%, CI (41.2% - 50.1%) of postnatal mothers had good self-care practice towards the prevention of puerperal sepsis, whereas the rest had poor self-care practice. Tertiary educational level (AOR = 2.56(1.43-4.59), multiparity (AOR = .44(.26-.74) and having a good awareness of puerperal sepsis prevention (AOR = 2.17(1.40-3.37) were factors identified to have a significant statistical association with good self-care practice towards prevention of puerperal sepsis.
Conclusion; this study revealed that less than half of postnatal mothers had good self-care practices for the prevention of puerperal sepsis. Healthcare providers and all stakeholders should focus on strategies to improve awareness of postnatal mothers about self-care practice in antenatal care clinics, during postnatal, at a community level with a special focus on postnatal mothers with no formal education and multiparous mothers.
Insula functional connectivity at EEG resting-state as a biomarker linked to pain processing and severity of clinical symptoms in fibromyalgia
Authors: Alves Rael Lopes , Zortea Maxciel , Serrano Paul Vicuña , Tomedi Rafaela Brugnera , Almeida Rodrigo Pereira , Torres Iraci Lucena Silva , Fregni Felipe , Caumo Wolnei
Published: April 2023

Brain areas and oscillations have been pointed out as markers of chronic pain. We used electroencephalography (EEG) to compare the linear and non-linear connectivity of regions of interest (ROIs) related to the pain matrix in people with fibromyalgia (FM) and healthy controls (HC). Sixty-four women (49 FM and 15 HC) volunteered to participate in a resting-state EEG session with eyes open (EO) and eyes closed (EC), as well as clinical, psychological, and serum brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF). The connectivity of 10 ROIs was computed for 7 different EEG frequencies. In EC conditions, FM exhibits decreased non-linear connectivity in the beta-2 band between the right-insula and left mPFC (F=-4.09, p = .035). Considering the differences between EO and EC, FM present increased linear connectivity between the left insula and right thalamus in the beta-3 band (F = 3.46, p = .009) and increased non-linear connectivity between the right insula and left medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) in the beta-2 band (F = 3.78, p = .025). These results mainly indicate the insula role in different circuits in FM and highlight the beta oscillations activity. Insular brain connectivity at rest could be an objective biomarker of how pain is processed, and it is related to the severity of clinical symptoms in fibromyalgia.
Seasonal Prevalence of Respiratory Pathogens Among Children in the United Arab Emirates: A Multicenter Cross-Sectional Study in the Pre-COVID19 Era.
Authors: Salim Sara , Celiloglu Handan , Tayyab Farah , Malik Zainab A.
Published: April 2023

Background
Viral respiratory infections in children pose a significant burden on healthcare facilities globally. In the United Arab Emirates (UAE) these account for 15% of all healthcare encounters among children. However, the seasonal prevalence and molecular epidemiology of respiratory viral infections in the UAE remains unknown. We sought to determine trends in seasonal viral prevalence in order to monitor disease activity and optimize timing of Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) prophylaxis among high-risk infants in the UAE.
Methods
This cross-sectional multicenter study included children 0-18 years of age who presented to a large private healthcare group in Dubai, UAE, and had upper respiratory samples collected for multiplex polymerase chain reaction (mPCR) testing between January 1st and December 31st, 2019. Sociodemographic, clinical, and molecular data were examined for children who tested positive for any pathogen on the mPCR panel.
Results
A total of three thousand and ninety-eight infants and children had mPCR assays performed during the study period, of which 2427 (78.3%) were positive for any respiratory pathogen. The median age of our sample population was 39 months and 56.8% were male. Emergency room was the most common site (34.7%) of sample collection and the vast majority of children presented with fever (85.3%). Rhinovirus/enterovirus was the most prevalent viral infection (45%) throughout the year and peaked in September, followed by Influenza (20.2%), and RSV (17.1%). RSV season, defined as an infection prevalence of >10%, occurred from August to December with a peak in October. Adenovirus (15.6%) infections peaked in June and accounted for 43% of hospitalizations in our study (p<0.05). Viral co-infections with RSV and rhinovirus/enterovirus were most common and observed in 19.9 % of children.
Conclusion
Rhinovirus/enterovirus is the most prevalent viral pathogen throughout the calendar year among the pediatric population in the UAE. RSV season begins earlier than reported in other countries regionally, hence RSV prophylaxis should be initiated in August to optimize protection among high-risk infants.
Antioxidative barrier indicators of pre-school children in case of active dental caries
Authors: Yildirim Sinem , amenabar jose miguel , Bakkal Meltem
Published: April 2023

Background: Antioxidant system is a powerful defense system of the body works against damages caused by free radicals. The present study investigated the effect of active dental caries on oxidative stress by evaluating the antioxidative stress indicators in saliva and serum samples of children.
Methods: Thirty eight children aged between 35-72 months were participated in this study. Unstimulated whole saliva and serum samples were collected from the children before and after the performance of their dental treatments. Salivary; pH, flow rate and total protein concentrations were measured. Total antioxidant status (TAS) and Total oxidant status (TOS) levels of serum and saliva samples were determined. In addition, saliva and serum levels of Nitric oxide (NO), Catalase (CAT) and Glutathione peroxidase (GPx) were measured quantitatively.
Results: According to the quantitative measurements, TAS showed an increase in the post-treatment saliva/serum samples, whereas TOS had a decrease. In addition, NO and CAT levels of pre-treatment saliva/serum samples were higher than the levels found in post-treatment samples. It was also found that the concentrations of GPx increased statistically after treatment. The positive correlations of these parameters were found between whole saliva and serum samples, except the GPx levels.
Conclusions: Saliva is has a great potential in biomedical research, as well as serum and it constitutes a defence, against free radical-modified oxidative stress due to active dental caries. The oxidative/antioxidative balance appeared to shift toward the antioxidant status after the children became caries-free.
Benefit of an action camera in endoscopy education for medical students under COVID-19
Authors: Uchiyama Akira , Yamashina Shunhei , Sato Toshifumi , Sakuma Satoshi , Tomiki Yuichi , Isayama Hiroyuki , Nagahara Akihito , Ikejima Kenichi
Published: April 2023

Background
Endoscopy is an important form of clinical gastroenterology education because it gives students the opportunity to learn about diagnosis procedures and even treatment. During the COVID-19 pandemic, medical students were observed from outside the endoscopy room due to the risk of airborne infection. In this study, we investigated the efficacy of combining endoscopy education with doctor's-eye-view videos of the procedure obtained using live-action cameras (GoPro®).
Methods
From February to May 2021, endoscopists wore GoPro Hero8 cameras on their heads to display a doctor's-eye view video outside the room. The efficacy of the GoPro videos in combination with endoscopic monitoring was evaluated by 15 participating medical students. The participants rated the efficacy on a 5-point scale and commented on the positive and negative points.
Results
A total of 78.6% of participants evaluated the GoPro as good; 57.2% answered that it increased their understanding, with 71.4% stating that it increased their understanding of procedures in particular. A total of 85.7% of the students answered that their interest in endoscopy had increased, and 85.7% evaluated the benefit of the GoPro videos as good. In addition, 64.3% answered that the method was effective in preventing COVID-19 infection. Education using GoPro videos enabled students to feel as if they were conducting the endoscopy themselves and enabled them to concentrate on learning.
Conclusions
Practical endoscopic education using a GoPro is an effective educational tool that not only increases understanding of endoscopic practice but also stimulates students’ interest and awareness of their future as doctors.
Optimal and Near-optimal Frequency-hopping Sequences based on Gaussian Period
Authors: Wang Yan , Fu YanXi , Li Nian , Wang HuanYu
Published: April 2023

In frequency-hopping communication system, frequency-hopping sequences(FHSs) have a decisive influence on the whole frequency-hopping communication system. To construct FHS sets which meet the requirements of the theoretical bounds are important in researching frequency hopping communication system. In this paper, a new class of optimal FHSs and near-optimal FHSs based on trace functions are constructed. It is shown that the new FHSs are optimal according to the Lempel-Greenberger bound.
New Eco-Friendly Zinc-incorporated Urea Slow Release Fertilizer for Improving Zinc availability and Nitrogen Use Efficiency in Maize
Authors: Mirbolook Atena , Rasouli-Sadaghiani MirHasan , Keshavarz Payman , Alikhani Mina
Published: April 2023

Background and Aims

improving nitrogen (N) use efficiency (NUE) is necessary to reduce the entry of excess N into the environment and to retain N in the soil. Few studies have been done on dual-purpose slow release fertilizers using urea and zinc (Zn).

Methods

In this study, a new Zn-incorporated urea slow release fertilizer with diatomite (DE) and nano-diatomite (NDE) was synthesized. The treatments included the following: C: control, U: urea, Zn: zinc sulfate, UZn: urea-Zn complex, UZn-DE: urea-Zn-diatomite, UZn-NDE: urea-Zn-nano-diatomite. The slow-release urea-Zn fertilizers (SRUZns) were characterized using FESEM/EDS, FT-IR, CHN, DLS, and zeta potential techniques. First, the slow release behavior of SRUZns in soil was monitored. Then, a greenhouse study was carried out to check the agronomic effects of them on maize (Zea mays).

Results

Instrumental analyses indicated the binding of UZn complex into DE and NDE in the components. Usage of SRUZns lead to better retention of NH4+ relative to NO3−. UZn-NDE was twice as effective as UZn-DE in NH4+ retaining in the soil. Also, cumulative losses of Zn available in the soil was the lowest by UZn-NDE. Pot study revealed that UZn-fertilizers boosted the crop growth in comparison to the urea and zinc sulfate alone. N and Zn uptake and use efficiency improved significantly by SRUZn fertilizers in maize.

Conclusion

The results showed that the dual-purpose SRUZns with slow-release behavior could be reflected as well-organized N and Zn fertilizers in agricultural and horticultural with minimal environmental effluence.
Sphaerocoryne affinis fruit extract causes DNA damage leading to inhibited cell proliferation and activated apoptosis in cervical cancer cells
Authors: Le-Trung Nghia , Minh Tue Duong , Phuong Thao Dang Thi , Kamei Kaeko
Published: April 2023

Background
The roots, bark, leaves, branches, and flowers of Sphaerocoryne affinis (family Annonaceae) reportedly exert anti-cancer activity. Herein, we examined the anti-cancer potential of S. affinis fruit extracts using cervical cancer HeLa cells.
Methods
The solvent fractions of the S. affinis fruit extract were prepared and subjected to in vitro testing in cervical cancer (HeLa) and human embryonic kidney 293 (Hek-293) cells. The CCK 8 assay was used to determine the time- and dose-dependent cytotoxicity. DAPI staining was performed to determine the number of nuclei and assess cell morphology. The expression of γH2AX, cleaved-caspase-3, and cyclin E was determined using western blotting. Quantitative PCR determined the relative transcription levels of pro-apoptotic BAX, anti-apoptotic BCL2, and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA).
Results
The hexane fraction of S. affinis fruit extract exhibited cytotoxicity against HeLa and Hek293 cells, as determined by IC50 values (95% confidence interval [CI] 4.05–4.34 µg/mL and 10.61–37.52 µg/mL, respectively). Accordingly, S. affinis fruit extract exerted selective toxicity against cancer cells relative to normal cells, with a selectivity index between 2.45–9.26. In addition, the cells displayed abnormal morphology and nucleus shrinkage. The time-dependent cytotoxicity assay revealed that cell viability was unaltered during the initial 24 h of treatment. Cells treated with the hexane fraction of S. affinis fruit extract showed increased levels of the histone H2A variant, γH2AX, a marker for DNA damage. Furthermore, caspase-3 was activated in the extract-treated cell group. Expression of cyclin E, crucial for the G1 to S phase transition, was reduced in cells treated with the S. affinis fruit extract. Simultaneously, treatment with S. affinis fruit extract decreased the expression of PCNA mRNA, which is essential for replication.
Conclusion
Collectively, these findings indicate that S. affinis fruit extracts exert an anti-cancer effect by arresting the cell cycle of HeLa cells and inducing apoptosis owing to irreversible DNA damage.
Risk of fall in female Saudi students who engage in cognitive-motor dual tasks- A Cross Sectional Study
Authors: Alatawi Salem , Mahmoud Hayam
Published: April 2023

Background: Dual tasking (DT) requires individuals to carry out two actions simultaneously, comparable to how the brain can perform a cognitive function while the body is in motion, which eventually enhances human balance.
Objective: To examine and compare the impact of DT on the risk of falling (ROF) among Saudi female students enrolled in the literary and scientific faculties.
Method: A cross-sectional design was used. 120 female students consented to this study after 150 were invited. Specialization led to the formation of the scientific (SG, 86) and literary (LG, 34) groups. All participants, aged 18 to 25, had a normal BMI and normal cognitive and balance skills. Using the Biodex balancing system, ROF during balance alone (no DT) and with DT (motor and two types of cognitive tasks) were assessed. ROF was compared within and between groups using paired and unpaired T-tests, respectively. Mann-Whitney compared the two groups throughout the DT. The level of significant was considered at P=0.05.
Results: There was no significant difference in ROF in SG (P 0.05) between the performance with and without dual tasking, contrary, LG demonstrated a significant difference (P=0.05) for the same tests. In addition, the only time there was a significant difference between the two groups was when they performed DT.
Conclusion: SG students are better capable than LG students in maintaining balance and resisting the ROF during DT. This study's findings may pave the way for improved interventions to reduce fall risk and improve balance during neurorehabilitation.
Obstetric violence among HIV positive and negative women in Ghana: A cross sectional study in two regions
Authors: Appiah Seth Christopher Yaw , Yalley Abena Asefuaba , Ahlin Ekoutiame , Hoeffler Anke
Published: April 2023

Background: Although the problem of obstetric violence (OV) is receiving increasing attention among academics and policy makers, the prevalence and associated factors of OV are still poorly understood. The fear of OV prevents women from giving birth in health facilities, which is crucial for the effectiveness of HIV prevention programs, such as the Prevention of Mother to Child Transmission (PMTCT) program.
Objective: The aim of this paper is to determine the prevalence of OV, the comparative burden and associated predictors between HIV positive and negative women in Ghana.
Methods: The present study is a facility-based cross-sectional study enrolling 2,142 women, of which 310 were HIV positive and 1,832 HIV negative with a birth history of 0-24 months. The women were enrolled consecutively using a two stage sampling technique from eight hospitals with antiretroviral clinics across two regions in Ghana. The primary outcome variable was the experience of OV and its various forms. Descriptive data is presented in tables and reported in frequencies. The inferential analysis has been performed by estimating the Adjusted Odds Ratios (AOR) using multivariate logistic regression.
Results: Prevalence of OV was slightly lower among HIV positive women (61.0%) compared to HIV negative women (65.1%), though this was not statistically significant (χ2=1.99; p=0.158). The most common sub-category of OV experienced by all women was non-confidential care (35.2%). HIV positive women experienced more abandoned care (32.6%) with non-consented care being the least prevalent form of OV. Experience of discrimination was higher among HIV positive women (13.5%) than HIV negative women (10.8%). The multivariate regression analysis of the predictors of OV suggests that HIV positive women are not more likely to experience OV. Instead, we find evidence that HIV positive women are less likely to be subjected to physical violence (AOR=0.512; CI: 0.369-0.710), non-consented care (AOR=0.457; CI: 0.244-0.859) and non-dignified care (AOR= 0.688; CI: 0.513-0.923).
Conclusions: The study shows high rates of OV among all women. However, we found no evidence that HIV positive women were at higher risk to experience OV than HIV negative women. Evidence based interventions are required to address OV due to its threat to facility-based childbirth and the PMTCT cascade of care.
Evaluation of the Association of mir-143 and rs4705342 single nucleotide polymorphism with Oral Squamous cell carcinoma
Authors: Rezazadeh Hojat , Rezazadeh Fahimeh , ranjbar Zahra , Mokhtari Mohammad Javad , Fattahi Mohamad Javad , Semnani Mohammadsadegh Aghabababak , Aghasadeghi kiana
Published: April 2023

Introduction

Numerous studies have demonstrated that decreased expression of miR-143 is frequently observed in different cancer types, which can lead to an elevated probability of cell proliferation, migration, apoptosis, invasion, and epithelial to mesenchymal transition. Among, all head and neck cancers, oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is the most commonly occurring type. Thus, the aim of this research is to explore the possibility of scrutinizing the plausibility correlation between a functional polymorphism (i.e., rs4705342) located in the flanking region of miR-143 and the susceptibility of Iranian individuals to squamous cell carcinoma.

Methods

we recruited a total of 245 participants in this cross-sectional study, consisting of 95 patients diagnosed with OSCC and 150 healthy controls. The tetra-primer ARMS-PCR method was used to genotype the rs4705342 polymorphism. This method is a highly accurate and validated technique for detecting genetic variations. The genotyping results were further validated through DNA sequencing to ensure accuracy and minimize errors.

Results

Our analysis of the allele and genotype frequencies of the miR-143 rs4705342 polymorphism revealed significant differences between OSCC cases and controls. Using the chi-square test, we found that the P-value was less than 0.05, which indicates that the null hypothesis of no significant difference in gene expression between the two groups can be rejected. Therefore, our findings imply that the rs4705342 polymorphism might be linked with a higher susceptibility to OSCC in the Iranian population.

Conclusion

We have discovered evidence that supports the notion that the presence of the miR-143 rs4705342 polymorphism may be a contributing factor in the development of OSCC in the Iranian population. However, further studies, sample sizes and diverse populations are needed to better evaluate the significance of this genetic variation in OSCC pathogenesis. Overall, our findings emphasize the importance of identifying genetic factors that may influence cancer risk and the need for continued research to improve the prevention and treatment of this disease.