bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Significant specificity of TruScreen in cervical cytology of ASC and LSIL women with incomplete cervical transformation zone type during COVID-19 post-pandemic in China: a prospective study
Authors: Yang Xue , He Ling , Xiao Xiao , Yan Lei , Shi Liye , Ren Zhen , Cai Haiyi , Fu Chun
Published: January 2024

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of TruScreen (TS) detecting cervical
intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) in cytology of atypical squamous cells
(ASC) and low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (LSIL) women during
COVID-19 post-pandemic. Design: Prospective, single-center study.
Setting: Changsha, China. Population: ASC and LSIL women from December
2020 to May 2021. Methods: Participants underwent TS, colposcopy
examination and biopsy in turn. Diagnostic value of TS, high-risk human
papillomavirus (hrHPV) and TS combined with hrHPV were compared.
Differences of TS regarding cervical transformation zone (TZ) type and
menopause, correlations between TS and p16, Ki-67 were assessed. Main
outcome measures: Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value
(PPV), negative predictive value (NPV) and area under curve (AUC) for
diagnostic value. Spearman coefficient for correlation. Results: A total
of 483 patients were enrolled. Specificity of TS detecting CIN1+, CIN2+,
CIN3+ were 77.1% (95% CI, 70.4%-82.7%), 66.7% (95% CI,
61.5%-71.5%), 62.7% (95% CI, 57.8%-67.4%) and all were
significantly higher than hrHPV test (P<0.001). TS had a high
sensitivity (68.0% vs 52.0%, P>0.05) and significantly
higher specificity (70.0% vs 48.5%, P<0.05) and NPV (89.6%
vs 73.3%, P<0.05) in women with incomplete cervical TZ type
(II and III) than TZ type I in detection of CIN2+. Conclusion: TS is an
effective triage screening method for cervical cytology of ASC and LSIL
women during COVID-19 post-pandemic, especially for incomplete cervical
TZ type women. Funding: Supported by National Natural Science Foundation
Project of China (81771546) and Hunan Science and Technology Innovation
Project (2020SK53404). Keywords: TruScreen; Cervical cancer screening;
Cervical transformation zone; CIN; COVID-19.
Prevalence of vitamin D deficiency and hypervitaminosis D among adult patients admitted to the tertiary care hospitals in Turkey
Authors: Yavuz Dilek Gogas , Ersoy Reyhan , Altuntas Yuksel , bilen habib , Pamuk Baris , apaydin tugce , Temizkan Sule , Altunbas Hasan , Akalin Aysen
Published: January 2024

Purpose: Vitamin D deficiency is a common health problem around the
world. This study aimed to evaluate the nationwide prevalence of vitamin
D status in tertiary care hospitals in Turkey. Methods: Retrospectively,
the data of vitamin D levels from 33 tertiary care hospitals’ clinical
biochemistry laboratories around Turkey between 2 January 2016 and 31
December 2016 were conducted. Results: In total 706434 serum samples
from adult subjects (F/M: 469028/ 237406; 66.4%/ 33.6%) were included.
While vitamin D levels were sufficient in 20.3% (n=14222), they were
insufficient in 21.9% (n=154360) and deficient in 57.8% (n=408882). Of
the deficient group, 25.0% (176608) had levels <10 ng/mL
consistent with profound deficiency. We observed the highest rates of
deficiency in those aged between 18-29 years 62.9% (n=70235) and lowest
rates in 60-69 years (52.3%, n=61121) and in 70-79 years (52.3%,
n=32397). Hypervitaminosis D were consisting of 5.5% of adult subjects.
highest rates of hypervitaminosis D were observed in over 80 years
(6.6%) and 70-79 years (6.5%), and the lowest in 18-29 years (2.8%).
Deficiency rates were 55.4% (n=131468) in men and 59.2% (n=277384) in
women. Higher deficiency rates were observed in January (67.9%),
February (71.6%), and March (66.7%). Conclusion: In this cohort, over
half of the subjects admitted to the tertiary care hospitals in Turkey
had vitamin D deficiency, required vitamin D supplementation. The
elderly population had the lowest prevalence of vitamin D insufficiency
and the highest prevalence of hypervitaminosis D. That may indicate
overtreatment of vitamin D supplementation in the elderly group.
Ventricular Ectopy following Wolff-Parkinson-White Syndrome Ablation
Authors: Saviano Massimo , Toriello Filippo , Barbieri Lucia , Carugo Stefano
Published: January 2024

Introduction: Many Authors already described automatic activity arising
from accessory pathways, but the underlying mechanism has not been
clarified yet. They may be due to embryogenetic features of myocardium
or may be related to specific excitability during radiofrequency
ablation. Methods and results: we report the case of a man who underwent
an accessory pathway ablation in WPW Syndrome. At the end of the
procedure we found an accelerated rhythm originating at the insertion of
the accessory pathway. Conclusion: If this manifestation represents the
effect of thermal injury or if it is a real intrinsic automaticity is
not fully documented.
An atypical cause of dyspnea in times of COVID-19 pandemic: a case report
Authors: Viteri Adrian , Suárez Cecilia , Manzano Luis , Iborra Pau Llàcer
Published: January 2024

COVID-19 is a disease that has changed the scenario in emergency
departments worldwide. Cardiac involvement should be considered in
certain cases making ultrasound a mandatory tool to aid in diagnosis,
follow-up, and treatment.
Morphological traits among Enset (Ensete ventricosum) landraces and cultural use of the landraces for the livelihood of people in southern Ethiopia
Authors: Feleke Newarinesh , Tekalign Wondimagegnehu
Published: January 2024

This study was undertaken on the morphological traits among the Enset
(Ensete ventricosum) landraces and cultural use of the landraces for the
livelihood of people in southern Ethiopia. The study was carried out in
purposively selected four kebeles of the Mareka district. A total of 145
individuals were interviewed using semi-structured interviews, and field
observation has also occurred. The morphological traits were measured
according to International Board for Plant Genetic Resources descriptors
for Enset. The data were analyzed using SPSS v 16.0 computer software
and Excel 2010 spreadsheet. A total of 33 Enset landraces were
identified. Identified landraces were grouped into five clusters based
on their morphological trait variability. Cluster number five had the
highest and cluster number three had the lowest mean. The highest
landrace richness was recorded from Ocha (3.18) while the lowest was
from Guta (2.56). The most abundant landraces were Amiya, Hoeya, Boza,
Yaka, Bothena, Ontha, Adinona, Shasha, and Keteriya in the Mareka
district. This study confirmed that the Dawro zone is rich in diversity
of Enset, however, reduction in production and loss of some landraces
was observed because. Therefore, attention must be given to the
conservation and maintenances of Enset landraces by all the concerned
bodies.
Endometrial cancer detection rate in women with postmenopausal bleeding on HRT
Authors: Buchanan Charlotte , Robinson Megan , MacDonald Madeleine
Published: January 2024

Objective To establish the endometrial cancer detection rate in women
using hormone replacement therapy presenting with postmenopausal
bleeding. Design Retrospective cohort study. Setting and Population
Rapid access gynaecology clinic at a tertiary hospital. Women aged under
60 years referred with postmenopausal bleeding. Methods Retrospective
study of referrals received between 1 January 2019 and 31 December 2020
including HRT use and histological diagnosis. Main Outcome Measures
Histological diagnosis of endometrial cancer, borderline ovarian tumour
or endometrial intraepithelial neoplasia. Results 1363 women were
included. 214 women were using HRT when they experienced PMB and only
one of these had endometrial cancer at histology (cancer detection rate
0.47%). 25 of the 1124 women who were not using HRT were diagnosed with
endometrial cancer on histology (cancer detection rate 2.18%). Chi
squared statistical analysis confirmed this was statistically
significant (p value 0.0156). Conclusions The endometrial cancer
detection rate in women aged under 60 years using HRT with PMB is very
low. Referral on a two-week wait pathway for suspected cancer diagnosis
induces stress and anxiety for the woman and may lead to more invasive
initial investigation even though other diagnoses are far more likely.
Women aged under 60 years with postmenopausal bleeding that have either
commenced HRT or had a change to their preparation within the last 6
months should be seen on a less urgent referral pathway if necessary
given the very low probability of endometrial cancer. Funding None
obtained Keywords Endometrial cancer, hormone replacement therapy,
postmenopausal bleeding
Design of the optical dual-band filter for emission of dual fluorescein through the irradiation of single optical source
Authors: Kwon So Yoon , Yoon Ki-Cheol , Kim Kwang Gi
Published: January 2024

Most brain surgeries aim to completely resection a tumor. However, the
arrangement of blood vessels around brain tumors is often complex.
Moreover, the tumors and blood vessels have similar colors, making it
difficult to identify the boundaries between them with the naked eye.
Fluorescent staining is a method used to distinguish the borders between
brain tumors and blood vessels. The fluorescent contrast agents commonly
used to observe tumors are 5-aminolevulinic acid (5-ALA) and fluorescein
sodium (FS), which have different surgical sensitivities, depending on
the type of tumor. In this article, a dual band band-pass filter (BPF)
with dual-wavelength emission for 5-ALA and FS is designed, and the
dual-band BPF capable of inducing simultaneous fluorescence emission of
FS and 5-ALA was investigated experimentally to improve accuracy, speed,
and energy efficiency in clinical settings. The possibility of dual
fluorescence emission with a single irradiation is proposed. The
proposed fluorescent dual-band filter has the advantage of saving
energy, reducing auxiliary manpower and unit costs, and reducing
operating room space requirements by producing two fluorescence
diagnostic effects using a single equipment.
On some classes of the entire functions
Authors: Yang Xiao-Jun
Published: January 2024

The main target of this article is to prove the products, behaviors and
simple zeros for the classes of the entire functions associated with the
Weierstrass-Hadamard product and the Taylor series.
Cardiac effects of oxytocin 2.5 U or carbetocin 100 µg after caesarean delivery: study protocol for a prospective randomized controlled multi-centre trial
Authors: Bekkenes Maria , Jørgensen Marte , Jacobsen Anne , Fagerland Morten , Rakstad-Larsen Helene , Solberg Ole Geir , Aaberge Lars , Klingenberg Olav , Steinsvik Trude , Rosseland Leiv Arne
Published: January 2024

Objective: Oxytocin may cause dose-dependent ischaemic echocardiogram
changes, prolongation of QT time and release of myocardial biomarkers.
We have previously demonstrated comparable vasodilatory effects of
oxytocin and carbetocin and are now undertaking a Phase 4 trial to
investigate whether carbetocin causes changes to myocardial markers.
Design: Randomized controlled trial. Setting: Obstetrics units at Oslo
University Hospital or and Akershus University Hospital, Norway.
Population or sample: Planned enrolment of 240 healthy, singleton
pregnant women aged 18 to 50 years, who are undergoing planned caesarean
delivery Methods: Based on pilot study data, each participant will
receive a 1 -minute intravenous injection of either oxytocin 2.5 U or
carbetocin 100 µg during caesarean section. Main outcome measures: The
primary outcome is prespecified as the change from baseline in
high-sensitive troponin I plasma concentrations at 6–10 hours after
study drug administration. Secondary outcomes include uterine tone grade
at 2.5 and 5 minutes after study drug administration, adverse events for
up to 48 hours after study drug administration, estimated blood loss
within 8 hours of delivery, need for rescue treatment and
direct/indirect costs. Results: Enrolment and primary analysis is
expected to be completed by the end of 2021. Conclusions: Any potential
cardiotoxicity difference between oxytocin and carbetocin will help
inform treatment decisions for pregnant women.
Novel solitons solutions of two different nonlinear PDEs appear in engineering and physics
Authors: Awan Naeem , ASJAD MUHAMMAD IMRAN , Rehman Hamood
Published: January 2024

In this piece of research, our aim is to investigate the novel solitons
solutions of nonlinear (4+1)-dimensional Fokas equation (FE) and
(2+1)-dimensional Breaking soliton equation (BSE) via new extended
direct algebraic method. New acquired solutions are bright, singular,
dark, periodic singular, combined-dark bright and combined-dark singular
solitons solutions along with hyperbolic and trigonometric functions
solutions. The achieved distinct types of solitons solutions contain key
applications in engineering and physics. By taking the appropriate
values of involved parameters, numerous novel structures are also
plotted. These solutions define the wave performance of the governing
models, actually.
Two problems on the Sombor indices of molecular graphs
Authors: Yang Chenxu , Ji Meng , Das Kinkar , Mao Yaping
Published: January 2024

Gutman proposed a new alternative interpretation of
vertex-degree-based topological index, called Sombor index. It is
defined via the term dG(vi)2+dG(vj)2, where dG(vi) is the degree of the vertex vi in graph G. Deng et al.
[Int. J. Quantum Chem. 121(11) (2021), e26622] proposed the
following two problems: to determine the maximum value of the
(reduced) Sombor index among all molecular graphs of order n
and to determine the extremal (minimum and maximum) of the (reduced)
Sombor index among all connected graphs with n vertices and m
edges. In this paper, we solve these two problems.Keywords: Degree; Sombor index; Molecular treeAMS subject classification 2010: 05C05, 05C12, 05C35
Chloroplast Small Heat Shock Protein CsHSP24.6 of Tea Plants Positively Regulates Heat, Light, and Salt Stress Tolerance
Authors: Wang Haiyan , Ma Jing , Han Xueying , Zhu Mengqing , Luo Yuanyuan , Chen Yifan , Fu Zhouping , Ma Guoliang , Gao Liping , Xia Tao
Published: January 2024

Small heat shock proteins (sHSPs) function as molecular chaperones,
which play crucial roles in plant growth, development, and stress
response. However, the function of the sHSP gene in the tea plant
(Camellia sinensis L.) has not been extensively investigated. In total,
54 C. Sinensis small heat shock proteins (CssHSPs) in the tea plant
genome were screened. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that CssHSPs in the
same group have similar conserved domains and motifs; conversely,
significant structural differences exist in the different groups. Most
CssHSP genes had tissue-specific expression. They also responded to one
or more abiotic or biotic stresses, CsHSP24.6 was selected for
functional analysis. The results demonstrated that the expression of
CsHSP24.6 increased under abiotic stresses such as temperature, light
intensity, and NaCl. In addition, under high temperature and high light
intensity treatments, CsHSP24.6 and its target gene CspTAC5 interacted
to enhance the heat and light resistances of the plant. CsHSP24.6
facilitates resistance to abiotic stresses in tea plants. These results
further support that CsHSP24.6 plays an essential role in maintaining
plant growth and development under abiotic stress.
Biodiversity of Cyclophyllidea species in rodents of western China and the “out of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateu, QTP” hypothesis of this order based on its differentiation and biogeography
Authors: Wu Yao-Dong , Dai Guo-Dong , Li Li , Littlewood D. Timothy , Zhang Linsheng , Guo Ai-Min , Wu Yan-Tao , Ohiolei John , Ni Xing-Wei , Abebe Nigus , Li Wenhui , Zhang Nianzhang , Fu Baoquan , Yan Hongbin , Jia Wanzhong
Published: January 2024

The Cyclophyllidea comprise the most species-rich order of tapeworms
(Platyhelminthes, Cestoda) with, for helminths, perhaps the most severe
health impact on wildlife, livestock, and humans. Rodent biodiversity of
the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau (QTP) and its surrounding ranges provide a
significant reservoir for numerous species of Cyclophyllidea. We
collected cyclophyllidean species from QTP and Xinjiang province in
China, resolving four unsequenced and likely new species. Phylogenetic
construction of partial 18S rDNA, 28S rDNA and mitochondrial (
mt) genes provided high nodal support for the categorisation of
the three of the putative new species, assigning each respectively to
the genera Hydatigera (ex Eospalax fontainierii),
Mesocestoides (ex Neodon irene) and
Paranoplocephala (ex Neodon irene). Poor nodal support for
the unidentified (‘new’) species collected from pika ( Ochotona
curzoniae) in Yushu county, Qinghai province. Combined with the current
investigation, the other three cyclophyllidean species found in this
study ( Taenia caixuepengi, Taenia crassiceps and
Versteria mustelae) may be widely distributed in western China.
The phylogenetic reconstructions based on 28S rDNA and cox1-
nad1 indicate that some families and genera may require taxonomic
revision. Estimates of divergence time based on mt genes showed
that the differentiation rate of tapeworms was strongly associated with
the rate of change in the biogeographic scenarios caused by the uplift
of the QTP, i.e. species differentiation of Cyclophyllidea was driven by
host-parasite co-evolution caused by the uplift of QTP. We propose an
“out of QTP” hypothesis for the radiation of cyclophyllideans.
Ultrasound-Assisted Lumbar Puncture for Obese Pediatric Oncology Patients: A Feasibility Study
Authors: Leviter Julie , Kadan-Lottick Nina , Auerbach Claudia , Riera Antonio
Published: January 2024

Lumbar punctures (LPs) are performed frequently on children with
leukemia and lymphoma as part of the standard of care. They are
typically performed by pediatric oncology providers for both diagnostic
and therapeutic interventions with the aid of moderate or deep sedation.
Point-of-Care Ultrasound (POCUS) has emerged as a promising strategy to
aid in lumbar puncture procedures and has been found to be associated
with lower number of attempts, and higher success rates. We describe our
experience using POCUS to assist with LPs in a subgroup of pediatric
oncology patients identified to be procedurally difficult secondary to
obesity. This collaboration was well received and resulted in successful
LPs in most (8/9) cases. This is a promising modality to improve the
delivery of care and LP success in pediatric oncology patients.
Metabolic heat response of Kluyveromyces marxianus during Carboxypeptidase Y Production; Effect of Agitation, Aeration and pH control
Authors: Easwaran Sivanesh , Subramanian Anusha Mohanakrishnan , Aadimoolam Saravanaraj , Surianarayanan Mahadevan
Published: January 2024

Abstract Metabolic heat responses during Carboxypeptidase Y production
by Kluyveromyces marxianus was estimated by optimizing the aeration and
agitation rates. 1 LPM and 150 RPM was found to be optimum for maximum
Carboxypeptidase Y production in a 2L capacity bioreaction calorimeter.
The effect of pH on Carboxypeptidase Y production was carried out
extensively in this study. Under controlled pH conditions, Kluyveromyces
marxianus utilized both the substrate (glucose) and the by-product
(ethanol) effectively to yield a maximum of 19 IU/mL compared to 10
IU/mL Carboxypeptidase Y under uncontrolled pH conditions. Biokinetic
constants, Oxygen Mass Transfer coefficient, Shear stress and total
metabolic heat of the reaction were estimated. For the first time,
biocalorimetric coupled respirometric studies have given a maximum
Carboxypeptidase Y yield making it attractive for commercial
applications.
Trends in global research in seed dispersal: A bibliometric analysis
Authors: Liu Yuzhen , wenting liu , Feng Bin , Li Caidi , Yang Xiaoxia , Yu Yang , Zhang Chunping , Shi Guang , Sun Caicai , Yang Zengzeng , Zhang Xiaofang , Dong Quanmin
Published: January 2024

In this study, data were sampled from the Science Citation Index
Expanded (SCI-E) and Social Science Citation Index (SSCI) databases of
the Web of Science Core Collection (WoSCC). With the help of CiteSpace
visualization software, a systematic analysis was carried out on 1,939
publications from various countries in the field of seed dispersal. The
activity index (AI) and attractive index (AAI) were used to evaluate the
research effort and academic impact of different countries/territories
in this field, and the global research progress and dynamic changes in
research on seed dispersal were discussed. The results showed that (1)
the number of publications on seed dispersal has increased rapidly, and
research on seed dispersal is in a growth stage and has great potential.
Ecology was the journal with the highest impact in this field, and
ecology was the most popular subject category among the studies
analysed. (2) The most productive authors in the field of seed dispersal
are from Spain, and the most productive institution is in the USA. The
research effort and academic impact of the USA were higher than the
global average level in most years; the research effort and academic
impact of Brazil, China and Japan were lower than the global average
level in most years, but in recent years, the academic impact of these
countries has been continuously increasing. (3) Keyword burst analysis
showed that the new research hotspots or frontiers were mainly
concentrated on seed conservation and the spatial patterns of seed
dispersal. In-depth analysis of seed dispersal research indicated that
the increasing development of mathematical models related to seed
dispersal creates an opportunity to study the processes of seed
dispersal and their consequences.
An orally available small molecule BCL6 inhibitor effectively suppresses diffuse large B cell lymphoma cells growth in vitro and in vivo
Authors: Xing Yajing , Guo Weikai , Wu Min , Xie Jiuqing , Huang Dongxia , Hu Pan , Zhou Miaoran , Zhang Qiansheng , wang Peili , Wang Xin , Wang Guixue , Wu Huangan , Zhou Cili , Chen Yihua , Liu Mingyao , Yi Zhengfang , Sun Zhenliang
Published: January 2024

Background and Purpose: The transcription factor B cell lymphoma 6
(BCL6) is an oncogenic driver of diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL).
Blocking the protein-protein interactions of BCL6 and its corepressors
has been proposed as an effective approach for the treatment of DLBCL.
However, BCL6 inhibitors with excellent drug-like properties are rare.
Hence, the development of BCL6 inhibitors is worth pursuing.
Experimental Approach: We screened our internal chemical library by
luciferase reporter assay and Homogenous Time Resolved Fluorescence
(HTRF) assay and a small molecule compound named WK500B was identified.
The binding affinity between WK500B and BCL6 was evaluated by surface
plasmon resonance (SPR) assay and the binding mode of WK500B and BCL6
was predicted by molecular docking. The function evaluation and
anti-cancer activity of WK500B was detected by immunofluorescence assay,
Real-Time Quantitative PCR, cell proliferation assay, cell cycle assay,
cell apoptosis assay, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and
animal models. Key Results: WK500B engaged BCL6 inside cells, blocked
BCL6 repression complexes, reactivated BCL6 target genes, killed DLBCL
cells and caused apoptosis as well as cell cycle arrest. In animal
models, WK500B inhibited germinal centre (GC) formation and DLBCL tumor
growth without toxic and side effects. Moreover, WK500B showed
favourable pharmacokinetics and presented superior druggability compared
to other BCL6 inhibitors. Conclusions and Implications: WK500B showed
strong efficacy and favourable pharmacokinetics and presented superior
druggability compared to other BCL6 inhibitors. So, WK500B is a
promising candidate that could be developed as an effective orally
available therapeutic agent for DLBCL.
How to resist dry soil: transcriptional changes in a Mediterranean earthworm during aestivation
Authors: Tilikj Natasha , Novo Marta
Published: January 2024

Earthworms have a central role in ministering the terrestrial
ecosystems. Aestivation is a form of dormancy employed by the organisms
living in deserts and arid environments, when confronted with prolonged
periods of drought. As a survival tactic, aestivation has been studied
in sea cucumbers, land snails and frogs, however little is known about
aestivating earthworms. To understand the global metabolic adjustments
required for withstanding the harsh conditions of the ever more severe
Iberian drought, we performed a global transcriptomic exploration of the
endogeic earthworm Carpetania matritensis during aestivation. There were
a total of 6,352 differentially expressed transcripts in the aestivating
group, with 65% being downregulated. Based on GO and KEGG enrichment
analyses, downregulated genes seem to indicate an overall metabolic
depression during aestivation. We noted a reduction of protein turnover
and macromolecule metabolism coupled with suppression of digestion.
Upregulated genes, namely antioxidant genes and DNA repair genes showed
signs of abiotic stress caused by ROS generation. Abiotic stress led to
transcriptomic changes of genes involved in immune response, mostly
affecting the NF-κB signalling pathway and changes in apoptotic genes,
indicating the necessity of investigating these processes in a tissue
specific manner. Lastly we uncovered a possible mechanism for water
retention by nitrogenous waste accumulation. This study provides the
first ever transcriptomic investigation done on earthworms in condition
of prolonged drought and as such serves as a general framework for
investigation on other earthworm species and other soil invertebrates,
which is becoming increasingly important with the current scenario of
climate change.
LOW POWER RNS SYSTEM USING LUT DECOMPOSITION AND FSM BASED POST COMPUTATION FOR EEG SIGNAL CLASSIFICATION
Authors: M Balaji , N Padmaja
Published: January 2024

In this paper, memory optimization and architectural level modifications
are introduced for low power realization of the Residue Number
System(RNS) with improved flexibility for EEG signal classification. The
proposed RNS framework is intended to maximize the reconfigurability of
RNS for high-performance FIR filter design. By replacing the existing
power-hungry RAM-based reverse conversion model with a highly decomposed
LUT model which can produce the results without using any post
accumulation process. The proposed RNS design makes use of inherent
parallelism among residue channels and resources available of FPGA
devices, the reverse conversion block is modified with an appropriate
functional unit to accommodate FIR convolution results. The proposed
approach is formulated to design pre-computed reverse converters for
different moduli sets and implemented based on FPGA as target devices.
As a result, the proposed LUT-based direct computation-based post
accumulation technique for RNS-based multiplication offers
high-performance FIR filter architecture which can also allow
configuring the elements for different frequency responses. Experimental
results show the superior performance of decomposing LUT-based direct
reverse conversion over all other existing reverse conversion techniques
adopted for energy-efficient RNS FIR implementations.
Impact of anxiety, depression and disease-related distress on long-term glycaemic variability among subjects with Type 1 diabetes mellitus
Authors: Déniz Alejandro , Díaz-Artiles Alba , Saavedra Pedro , Alvarado-Martel Dácil , Wagner Anna M. , Boronat Mauro
Published: January 2024

Aims: Anxiety, depression, and disease-related distress are linked to
worse overall glycaemic control, in terms of HbA1c. This study was aimed
to evaluate whether these emotional disorders are associated with
long-term glycaemic variability in subjects with Type 1 diabetes.
Methods: Longitudinal retrospective study. Six-year HbA1c data
(2014-2019) from 411 subjects with Type 1 diabetes who had participated
in a previous study to design a diabetes-specific quality of life
questionnaire in the year 2014 were included. Scores for Spanish
versions of the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) and Problem
Areas in Diabetes (PAID) scale were obtained at baseline, along with
sociodemographic and clinical data. Long-term glycaemic variability was
measured as the coefficient of variation of HbA1c (HbA1c-CV). The
association between HADS and PAID scores and HbA1c-CV was analysed with
Spearman correlations and multiple regression models, both linear and
additive, including other covariates (age, sex, diabetes duration time,
type of treatment, use of anxiolytic or antidepressant drugs, education
level and employment status). Results: Scores of depression, anxiety and
distress were positively and significantly correlated to HbA1c-CV in
univariate analyses. Multiple regression study demonstrated an
independent association only for diabetes distress and anxiety scores
(p= 0.010 and p=0.015, respectively). Age, diabetes duration time,
education level and employment status were also significantly associated
with HbA1c-CV. Conclusion: There is a relationship between psychological
factors and long-term glycaemic variability in subjects with Type 1
diabetes.
Association of Complementary feeding practices and household food insecurity and anthropometric status of children aged 6-23 months old in Kabul city
Authors: Ahrar Gholam Reza , Azadbakht Leila
Published: January 2024

Abstract Introduction: Globally, only one in six children receive a
minimum acceptable diet (MAD). This study was designed to determine the
association of complementary feeding (CF) indicators and household food
insecurity and anthropometric status of Afghan children aged 6-23
months. Methods: We selected 300 children aged 6-23 months old in this
cross-sectional study through convenience method from governmental
health facilities and hospitals in Kabul, Afghanistan. Three 24-hour
dietary recalls were collected from mothers for CF practices
information. United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) food
security questionnaire was used through interview method. Results: 59%
of children received timely introduction of CF. MMF, MDD and MAD were
met by 87.7%, 44.7% and 42.3%, respectively. There was association
between food security with MDD (P=0.003) and MAD (P= 0.004). There was
association between (Length for Age Z-score (LAZ) with MMF [OR 2.73;
CI (1.20-6.20); P = 0.016]). Also, there were relation between Weight
for Age Z-score (WAZ) with MDD [OR 2.78; CI (1.73-4.46); P =
0.0001], Weight for Length Z-score (WLZ) with MDD [OR 2.94; CI
(1.77-4.87); P = 0.0001] and (LAZ) with MDD [OR 1.74; CI
(1.09-2.78); P = 0.019]. There was a connection between WAZ and MAD
[OR 3.12; CI (1.93-5.05); P = 0.0001], WLZ with MAD [OR 3.33; CI
(1.98-5.61); P = 0.0001] and LAZ with MAD [OR 1.84; CI (1.15-2.94);
P = 0.011]. There were significant associations between WAZ, WLZ and
LAZ with household food insecurity [OR 3.66; CI (1.44-9.32); P =
0.006], [OR 4.83; CI (1.96-36.25); P = 0.004], [OR 5.16; CI
(2.11-12.56); P = 0.0001], respectively. Conclusion: This study proved
high associations between complementary feeding indicators and
anthropometric measurements and household food insecurity. Key Words:
Complementary feeding, breastfeeding, Food insecurity, anthropometric
status, children 6-23 months, Afghanistan
Quantification of deformable gel particles transport behaviors in porous media
Authors: Wang Jing , Liu Huiqing , Zhao Wenjing , Zhao Wei , Liu Haomin
Published: January 2024

Deformable gel particles (DPGs) has been used for performance control in
petroleum industry. The filtration behaviors of DPGs including shearing,
plugging, deformation, and breakage, which is much different from Deep
bed filtration. Although some empirical knowledge or models have been
reported in literature, there have been few quantitative investigations
or mechanistic interpretations to such behaviors. Therefore,
quantification of DPG filtration in porous media is extremely essential.
In this paper, we first conducted experiments to directly observe and
measure the characteristics of a DPG transport in a variable-diameter
capillary. After that, experiments of DPG transport in pores were
conducted to study and quantify the plugging, shearing, and breakage
behaviors in different scenarios using sand packs. Finally, the above
quantitative knowledge were used to optimize DPGs treatment for EOR, and
oil displacement experiments of parallel sand packs with interlayer were
carried out to apply and validate the novel method.
Contribution of nitrification and denitrification to nitrous oxide turnovers in membrane-aerated biofilm reactors (MABR): A model-based evaluation
Authors: Liu yingrui , zhao tianhang , zhu tingting , xu yifeng , peng lai , liu yiwen
Published: January 2024

As a novel and sustainable technology, membrane-aerated biofilm reactors
(MABR) performing simultaneous nitrification and denitrification (SND)
face the challenge of undesirable nitrous oxide (N2O) emission. Thereby,
a comprehensive analysis of N2O turnover pathways and the affecting
parameters in MABR are demanded for N2O mitigation strategies. In this
work, a mathematical model describing three N2O turnovers pathways was
studied to uncover the underlying mechanisms and the impacts of
operational conditions on N2O turnovers in MABR system performing SND.
The modelling results demonstrate that higher oxygen surface loading,
longer hydraulic retention time (HRT) and lower influent chemical oxygen
demand (COD) significantly induce higher N2O production factor
(0.18%-3.3%). N2O turnovers are mainly regulated by the hydroxylamine
(NH2OH) pathway and heterotrophic bacteria (HB) denitrification,
accounting for 76%-87% and 10%-21%, respectively. In contrast, the
thicker biofilm (i.e., 400-600 μm) causes lower N2O production factor
(<0.13%), due to the shift of N2O turnover pathways to the
ammonium oxidizing bacteria (AOB) denitrification pathway (7.1%-9.3%)
and HB denitrification (90.7%-92.9%). Meanwhile, the result of
in-biofilm N2O conversion rates shows that the NH2OH pathway and HB
denitrification become the predominant N2O production pathway at the
inner zone (0-160 μm) and the outer zone (290-350 μm) of the biofilm in
MABR, respectively. The biofilm thickness at 160-280 μm can thus be
regarded as an optimal zone to reduce N2O production in MABR performing
SND, due to more electrons preferentially used for N2O reduction. The
relative low N2O production factor (<0.5%) together with
>80% total nitrogen (TN) removal in MABR can be achieved
by controlling the oxygen surface loading (1.821-3.641 g/m2/d) and
influent COD concentrations (285-500 mg/L) within a certain range.
Single sIgE for Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus ( Dp ) is a good screening tool for atopic sensitization
Authors: Lam Ki , Tung Edmund Kwok-Kwan , Ho Marco HK , Wong Wai-Yu , WK Ip , Au Elaine
Published: January 2024

Background: Only a limited number of publications had evaluated
the Phadiatop application for aeroallergen screen in allergic
respiratory diseases (ARD) in the Chinese population. In our
retrospective cohort, through studying the Phadiatop versus total IgE
use in aeroallergen workups, and local aeroallergen sensitisation
profiles by reviewing aeroallergen sIgE, we aimed to derive a
cost-effective algorithm for ARD workup. Methods: We have
retrospectively identified 694 patients with ARD in 2010-2019, and
reviewed their Phadiatop test performed in our tertiary immunology
laboratory. Other associated workups including total IgE, and/or
allergen specific sIgE (sIgE), if available, were retrieved and
analysed. Besides, a further review was performed on 53 consecutive
samples collected during January 2021, for aeroallergen screening. Cost
effectiveness of the existing protocol (Phadiatop screening followed by
individual aeroallergen characterisation) was compared with a new
testing algorithm, which started with dust mite ( Dermatophagoides
pteronyssinus, Dp) allergy detection. Results: Phadiatop
positivity was 67.3%, while total IgE positivity was 66.7% in the 366
patients with the test done. Overall, the agreement of these two tests
was 73.5%. Asthmatic patients can be screened positive with total IgE
than Phadiatop (34.9%-45.6%). Dp was the most prevalent aeroallergen
(> 90%), and its sIgE level correlated best with the
Phadiatop sIgE level (R = 0.99, p < 0.001). Comparing to the
existing screening using Phadiatop, initial Dp detection is both
sensitive and cost effective for ARD in our locality.
Conclusions: Screening by Dp sIgE is as sensitive as Phadiatop
in aeroallergen screen but of lower running cost. It should be the
approach in our locality.
COVID-19 vaccination hesitancy among Brazilian adult population
Authors: Junior Henrique Pott , Pott Eveline Barbosa
Published: January 2024

Background: This study assessed the perceptions and attitudes of the
Brazilian adult population about COVID-19 vaccines, seeking to identify
which factors are associated with vaccine hesitancy and lack of trust in
vaccines, in order to support individual or collective strategies for
welcoming and guidance. Methods: This is a national survey using a
self-report web instrument in a representative sample of the Brazilian
adult population (N=1700). The survey included sociodemographic and
quality of life (QoL) questions, general information on COVID-19, and a
vaccine-specific questionnaire. Results: The vast majority of our sample
expressed favourable opinions regarding COVID-19 vaccination, but there
was also a small fraction (2.2%) of respondents who are hesitant about
COVID-19 vaccination. Most of them were males within age range of 30 to
59 years and reported that their reasons for vaccine hesitation are
mainly due to uncertainty about safety (57.9%) and efficacy (36.8%) of
vaccines, followed by concern with how they were developed, that is, the
issue of timing and the adoption of a new development technology
(28.9%). Further, while the impact of groups and peers on those who
hesitate to vaccinate was not clear, their perception of a low risk of
contracting the disease is evident. Conclusions: The uncertainty about
the safety and efficacy of vaccines, the issue of timing and the
adoption of a new development technology and the effect of these
perceptions on the vaccine COVID-19 acceptance suggests the need to
develop targeted strategies to increase effective communication about
the risks and benefits of COVID-19 vaccines.
Post-COVID Syndrome in Healthcare Workers
Authors: KAPLAN MERVE , Camurcu Aysegul Akkol , Erol Serpil
Published: January 2024

AIM: Some of the patients with COVID-19 disease have persistent symptoms
and there is limited information about the long-term health consequences
of those who have recovered. The aim of this study is to investigate
persistent symptoms of health care workers after COVID-19 disease and
the relationship with demographic and clinical characteristics of the
patients. METHOD: Healthcare workers who had symptomatic COVID-19
disease proven by RT-PCR and were diagnosed at least 12 weeks ago were
included in the study. Demographic characteristics, comorbidities,
symptoms at time of diagnosis and symptoms that persisted more than 3
weeks were examined in detail with a conducted questionnaire. RESULTS:
Of 121 patients included in the study, the mean age was 33.5 (22-59) and
the mean time since participants were diagnosed with COVID-19 disease
was 30.3 weeks (12.7-56.9). 92% (n=112) of the participants were
followed up as outpatients. 63.6% (n=77) of our patients had symptoms
lasting more than 3 weeks and the most common symptom were fatigue ,
loss of smell and attention deficit/concentration disorder. 19 of 77
patients (24.6%) stated that their persistent symptoms lasted longer
than 24 weeks, with the most common symptoms being loss of smell.
CONCLUSION: All these findings show that even in young patients with
mild and moderate COVID-19 infection, post-COVID symptoms are at a rate
that will affect their quality of life and health services should be
planned for the rehabilitation of these patients. WHAT’S KNOWN? The
initial symptoms and clinical course of COVID-19 are well known, but
information about the long-term follow-up post-COVİD symptoms,
especially in mild and moderate patients, is limited. WHAT’S NEW? Our
study contributes to the literature on the frequency of long-term
symptoms at 3 months and 6 months in most young patients with mild
COVID-19.It also provides data on the situation of post-COVID syndrome
in Turkey.
Design and optimization of river network in polder areas based on graph theory: A case study in Kunshan city, China
Authors: YAO Yizhong , FU Dafang , Zhang Junyu , Zhou You , Shen Xin , Singh Rajendra Prasad
Published: January 2024

River is one of the most important part of urban ecosystem while the
contradiction between the rapid urban growth and river protection is
usually inevitable, especially within developing polder areas with the
increasingly serious pollution problems. In addition to traditional
methods such as land planning or pollution control, the artificial
design of river connections is also a possible solution. In current
study, a method for designing river connection in polder areas was
proposed based on the graph theory, which utilizes the community search
as an optimization method. The polder river ‘communities’ was analyzed
by applying integrated water head loss as the weight in the network,
which enables the optimization and selection of connection plans. A case
study was carried out on 133 rivers in Wusong polder in China, where 8
candidate plans were identified. The performance of these plans was
hydrologically evaluated under the current water diversion plan. Results
indicates that the optimized connection plans could reduce the
proportion of dead channels (11.0% → 6.47%) and increase that of
activated channels (55% → 57.5%) with negligible impact on the maximum
and average velocity in the polder area.
The use of fondaparinux with mechanical mitral valve replacement in a HIT like situation: A case report
Authors: Tabbah Randa , Rachoin Rachoin
Published: January 2024

While there is currently no literature for the use of fondaparinux in
patients with mechanical heart valves, this drug may offer an option for
bridging of such patients who cannot use heparin due to severe
thrombocytopenia induced by chemotherapy and high thrombosis risk
concomitantly.
Genetic characterization of a novel sublineage (O/ME-SA/Ind-2001e) of foot-and-mouth disease virus recently circulating in Cambodia
Authors: Ryoo Soyoon , Lee HyunJi , Lim Da-Rae , Lee Jung-won , Bunnary Seng , Tum Sothyra , Lee DongSook , Hwang HyunWoo , Jeong SomGyeol , Nah JinJu , Ku Bok-Kyung , Kim Jae -Myung , Cha Sang-Ho
Published: January 2024

Foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) has been reported to be endemic in Cambodia
with numerous outbreaks in cattle, pigs, and other susceptible animal
species. These outbreaks are caused by the FMD virus (FMDV) of serotype
O PanAsia and Mya-98 lineages and serotype A Sea-97 lineage. However,
the recent trans-pool movement of FMDV has raised concerns regarding
infection with the new genotype or serotype of FMDV in this region. In
this study, clinical samples (n = 33) originating from FMDV-affected
cattle farms in Cambodia, in January through March, 2019 were
genetically characterized to investigate the possible circulation of
novel genotypes or serotypes. Phylogenetic analysis of VP1 sequences
revealed that all recent field viruses belonged to O/ME-SA/Ind-2001e
(15.8%), O/ME-SA/PanAsia (52.7%), and A/ASIA/Sea-97 (31.5%).
Importantly, field viruses of the novel sublineage, O/ME-SA/Ind-2001e,
were similar to strains that have caused recent outbreaks of FMD in
India and Myanmar with 95.7–96.8% nucleotide sequence similarity. This
is the first report of O/ME-SA/Ind-2001e infection in Cambodia,
suggesting that the trans-pool movement of the new genotype should be
closely monitored for efficient control of FMD.
Maternal Vitamin B12 Levels During Pregnancy and Their Effects on Maternal Neurocognitive Symptoms: A Systematic Review
Authors: Ramadan Eman , Grisdale Mackenzie , Morais Michelle
Published: January 2024

Background Vitamin B12 deficiency has been linked to neurocognitive
symptoms. Vitamin B12 deficiency in pregnancy may be associated with
antenatal or postpartum depression along with other neurocognitive
symptoms including restless leg syndrome. Objectives: To systematically
review the literature regarding vitamin B12 deficiency and insufficiency
in pregnancy and effects on the maternal neurocognitive state. Search
Strategy: Medline, Embase, and SCOPUS were searched from inception to
October, 2020. Selection Criteria: Reports on vitamin B12 deficiency in
pregnancy were searched. Data Collection and Analysis: Data were
synthesized and presented narratively. Main Results: The five studies
included in the analysis did not demonstrate a statistically significant
link between vitamin B12 deficiency or insufficiency and either restless
leg syndrome or depression in pregnancy. Conclusions: To date, evidence
is lacking that would support a causal link between suboptimal vitamin
B12 serum levels and maternal restless leg syndrome or depression.
An intrinsically disordered peptide tag that confers an unusual solubility to aggregation-prone proteins
Authors: Jo Byung Hoon
Published: January 2024

There is a high demand for the production of recombinant proteins in
Escherichia coli for biotechnological applications but their
production is still limited by their insolubility. Fusion tags have been
successfully used to enhance the solubility of aggregation-prone
proteins; however, smaller and more powerful tags are desired for
increasing the yield and quality of target proteins. Herein, NEXT tag, a
53 amino acid-length solubility enhancer, is described. The NEXT tag
showed outstanding ability to improve both in vivo and in
vitro solubilities with minimal effect on passenger proteins. The
C-terminal region of the tag was mostly responsible for in vitro
solubility, while the N-terminal region was essential for in vivo
soluble expression. The NEXT tag appeared to be intrinsically disordered
and seemed to exclude neighboring molecules and prevent protein
aggregation by acting as an entropic bristle. This novel peptide tag
should have general use as a fusion partner to increase the yield and
quality of difficult-to-express proteins.
The role of management systems on Haematological profile of Southern giant pouched rat (Cricetomys ansorgei) under the tropical setting in Morogoro, Tanzania
Authors: Mahimbo Hamad , Madoshi Philbert , Katakweba Abdul , Muhairwa Amandus
Published: January 2024

Introduction: The study explored the effect of management system on the
haematological profiles of African giant pouched rats (Cricetomys
ansorgei) as compared to the natural environment standard procedures
were observed in determining haematological parameters. Method: The
blood samples were collected from the rats both wild and captivity rats,
analyzed using statistically the descriptive statistics and analysis of
variance were done using SPSS version 20. Results: The southern giant
pouched rats in the wild had higher counts (mean ± standard deviation)
for RBC (6.5±1.5) and lymphocytes (38.1±15.7) than housed rats. The rats
in captivity had high reading of total white blood cell counts
(8.7±2.4), neutrophils (3.5±2.4) and eosinophil (1.4±1.01) than the wild
rats. The blood indices showed that wild rats have relatively higher
reading on PCV (42.1±7.4) and HBC (18.5±1.8); whereas the rats in
captivity had high reading on MCV (72.9±6.7), Thrombin concentration
(380.2±104.5) and MPV (7.6±0.9). The determination of sex versus blood
cells and indices; it was shown that female wild rats had high reading
on RBC (7.2±1.3), WBC (7.8±1.7) and lymphocytes (35.0±1.8) compared to
males; the male rats had high reading on monocytes (3.3±1.9),
neutrophils (2.3±1.3) and eosinophil (1.0±0.5). The relation of sex to
the determined heamotological parameters had no significant difference.
The blood indices with respect to se of the rats; it was shown that wild
male rats had high reading on MCV (67.0±18.8), PCV (39.8±9.6), HBC
(14.9±4.4) and thrombin concentration (387.0±109.0); meanwhile the rats
in captivity the reading were not significant different. Conclusion: The
present study presents preliminary haematological profiles of southern
giant pouched rats in Morogoro which could be useful to researchers in
animal physiology. The authors are adamant that these findings provide
an insight on further research areas for laboratory based animals and
studies on human parameters involving rats or mine in the tropics