bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Global Trends in Surrogacy Uptake by Destination and Nationality 2018–2020
Authors: EVERINGHAM Sam , WHITTAKER Andrea
Published: November 2022

Background: Cross-border surrogacy arrangements are an increasingly common means to family building globally amongst gay male singles and couples, as well as infertile heterosexual singles and couples who do not have significant access to other routes to parenthood. Research has shown that when regulation or affordability in a home state is too restrictive people will travel across borders for surrogacy extensively.

Establishing patterns of use has always been difficult. Accurate data is stymied by lack of documentation of international third-party reproductive care available to authorities. In addition, surrogacy destinations have been in a state of flux for some years.

Estimating the trends in source and destination countries will improve understanding of the populations whose reproductive care needs cannot be met in their home country. Such data can assist regulators, policymakers and professionals to understand these trends and provide education and policy to minimise risk.

Aim: Provide a quantitative estimate of the trends in relation to intended parents engaging in surrogacy arrangements per destination country, in the three calendar years 2018, 2019 and 2020, by country of residence.

Method: Surrogacy agencies in Canada, Colombia, Cyprus, Georgia, Guatemala, Kenya, Mexico, Thailand, Ukraine and USA were asked to complete an anonymised online survey providing aggregate data on the number of commissioning singles and couples who contracted for surrogacy services during each year by nationality of the biological parent(s).

Results: Over thirty agencies across eight nations reported on a total of 6550 clients commencing over these three calendar years. Clients from 96 source countries were represented. Results showed stark differences in the largest user nations of domestic and international surrogacy per capita, the most commonly used ‘destination’ countries and changes in patterns of engagement over time.

Conclusion: Some source countries showed far higher rates of update of domestic or international surrogacy than others. Differences are likely associated with varying access to alternative family building pathways, differences in kinship norms, average incomes and the lack of availability of surrogates in their own country due to obstructive laws and/or cultural norms.
The Blastocyst Creates a Specialized Microenvironment to Promote Endometrial Receptivity and Implantation
Authors: GURNER Kathryn , EVANS Jemma , HARVEY Alexandra J. , GARDNER David K.
Published: November 2022

Background: At the time of implantation, the blastocyst produces a significant amount of lactic acid (LA), creating a microenvironment characterized by high lactate and low pH. Historically considered a ‘by-product’ of metabolism, studies have revealed lactate to be a key regulator of cell function, with a lactate-specific receptor, GPR81, recently identified. Further, lactate is an important signalling molecule in cancers promoting ECM breakdown, angiogenesis and immunosuppression, processes vital for successful implantation. Hence, LA could be an early embryonic signal to facilitate endometrial remodelling for receptivity and implantation.

Aim: To determine the role of blastocyst-derived lactate on cellular functions/remodelling and transcriptional changes essential for endometrial receptivity and successful implantation.

Methods: To assess functional changes to the endometrium, hormonally primed ECC-1 and Ishikawa cells were exposed to LA, LA + neutralized pH (nLA) or acidic pH (pHL), before analysis of tight junction integrity (TER), cellular proliferation and changes to gene expression. LA’s effects on endometrial stromal cell decidualization and migratory capacity, as well as HUVEC endothelial tube formation/angiogenesis, were also determined.

Results: Cellular TER and proliferation were significantly downregulated in ECC-1 cells exposed to 2.5, 5 and 7.5mM LA ( P<0.01), while exposure to nLA or pHL alone had no effect. Upregulation of GLUT4, GPR81, VEGF, SNAI1, and RELA mRNA expression was observed following exposure of Ishikawa cells to combined LA + pHL(P<0.05), while MCT-1 expression decreased. Additionally, 5mM LA increased the migratory capacity of decidualized stromal cells (P<0.05) without changing the extent of decidualization. HUVEC tube formation was significantly increased by 5mM LA exposure ( P<0.01).

Conclusion: The specialized microenvironment created by the blastocyst, of both high lactate and low pH, enhances endometrial remodelling for receptivity and implantation through functional changes to epithelial, stromal and endothelial cells in the endometrium. Therefore, LA appears to be an important signalling molecule in the maternal-fetal dialogue underpinning implantation.
Micro-TESE Outcomes for Non-Obstructive Azoospermia — The First Australian Series
Authors: LANTSBERG Daniel , MIZRACHI Yossi , KATZ Darren
Published: November 2022

Background: Micro-dissection testicular sperm extraction (micro-TESE) for non-obstructive azoospermia (NOA) was shown to achieve the best sperm retrieval rate (SRR) compared to other techniques. However, to date there is no large series of published Australian data.

Aim: To study the incidence and predicting factors of successful sperm extraction in men with NOA undergoing micro-TESE in Victoria.

Method: We retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of all consecutive patients with confirmed NOA who were treated between August 2014 and April 2020 in a single medical centre in Melbourne, Victoria. None were excluded. Patients underwent micro-TESE and upon a successful sperm retrieval, sperm was either frozen for fertility preservation or used fresh for ICSI.

Results: During the study period, 85 men with NOA underwent micro-TESE in our centre. The overall sperm retrieval rate (SRR) was 61.2% (52/85). All patients with a history of surgically treated cryptorchidism or childhood diseases had a successful sperm retrieval. Patients with Kleinfelter syndrome had a 75% SRR. Patients with Idiopathic NOA and patients with a history of chemotherapy had a 50% and 40% SRR, respectively. Among the different types of testicular pathology, the highest SRR was found in men with complete hyalinization (100%). Hypospermatogenesis was associated with a high SRR of 93.3%, while Sertoli-cell-only histology was associated with only 46.3% SRR. The SRR has significantly increased from 33.3% in 2015-2016 to 73.6% in 2019-2020 (p=0.003). On Multivariate logistic regression analysis, baseline FSH levels <20 IU and history of childhood disease or Klinefelter syndrome were significantly associated with successful sperm retrieval. The cumulative pregnancy rate was 23.7%.

Conclusion: This first report from Australia indicates that micro-TESE is an effective method for the treatment of NOA with high SRR and pregnancy rate. Our results can help patient management and counseling.
Endometrial Scratching in Australia, New Zealand and the UK: A Follow-up Survey
Authors: LENSEN Sarah , SARWARI Madina , BEILBY Kiri , HAMMARBERG Karin , HICKEY Martha
Published: November 2022

Background: Endometrial scratching is a common IVF add-on. In 2015, a survey in Australia, New Zealand and the UK reported that 83% of fertility specialists recommended endometrial scratching for IVF ( 1 ). Several large trials have since been published reporting no clear evidence for improved live birth rates following endometrial scratching before IVF.

Aim: To ascertain the current practices and views on endometrial scratching across Australia, New Zealand and the UK.

Method: An anonymous online survey was distributed via professional fertility societies and through emails sent directly to Medical Directors of IVF clinics in Australia, New Zealand and the UK. Responses were received between October and December 2020.

Results: 121 eligible responses were received (fertility specialists (n=61), embryologists (n=26) and fertility nurses (n=24)); at least one response was received from 40% of IVF clinics. Among fertility specialists, 34% currently offer endometrial scratching, primarily in the case of recurrent implantation failure. Most respondents (>90%) were neutral or did not believe endometrial scratching improved pregnancy and live birth rates. However, for women with recurrent implantation failure, 29% believed it was beneficial. More than half (55%) of respondents viewed reducing psychological distress as a benefit of endometrial scratching. Among fertility specialists who were not offering endometrial scratching, 51% previously did.

Conclusion: This study indicates the use of endometrial scratching has declined over the last five years, which may reflect a response to recent evidence reporting no benefit from the procedure. The major limitations of this study are the low response rate, and the potential for bias; professionals with strong views about endometrial scratching (for or against) may have been more likely to complete the survey.
Improving the Accuracy of Constant Temperature Monitoring of Open-Air Stereo Stages
Authors: GABRIEL Justine , IACOBELLI Daniela , GLAGE Eve , SORBY Kelli
Published: November 2022

Background: Temperature regulation and monitoring is critical in IVF laboratories. Constant temperature monitoring of open-air stereo stages has proven to be a difficult feat, as probes are exposed to ambient air, making readings irreflective of actual temperature within media.

Aim: To determine the substrate that most accurately reflects the temperature of culture media on an open stereo-stage.

Method: Media under oil was temperature logged on a stereo stage simultaneously with six different dish setups, each fitted with a temperature probe: empty dish, large steel spheres (5mm), small steel spheres (2mm), ultrasound gel, silicone mold and ceramic balls.

The dish set up that most consistently reflected media temperature was further assessed to determine how closely it mimicked the warming rate of media, measured in 1-minute intervals over a 20-minute period.

Results: The media logged an average temperature of 36.99°C with a tight range of 36.9°C−37.1°C. The commonly used empty dish recorded an average temperature of 35.44°C with a range of 35.06°C−35.81°C. The tested substrates, listed in ascending order of efficacy, measured as follows: ceramic balls −33.65°C (33.01°C−33.97°C), large steel spheres −33.16°C (35.03°C−35.31°C), silicone mold −35.67°C (35.40°C−36.01°C) and ultrasound gel −36.24°C (36.5°C−36.41°C). The small steel spheres replicated the media temperature most accurately, with an average temperature of 36.48°C and the least variation (36.38−36.60°C).

When warmed from room temperature to 37.0°C, the small steel spheres were closely comparable to the warming rate of the media, with rates of 0.94°C per minute and 1.1°C per minute, respectively. Both reached range within 12-minutes.

Conclusion: Small steel spheres can substitute for culture media during temperature monitoring, allowing accurate constant monitoring of open-air stage temperature, and are closely comparable to the warming rate of media.
Motivational Factors and Barriers for Infertile Patients and Their Partners to Seek Consultation and Treatment in Australia
Authors: HOLMES Anna
Published: November 2022

Background: Individuals and couples frequently wait years prior to seeking out medical advice and treatment for infertility, decreasing their chances of treatment success. The causes of delays to diagnosis, treatment and pregnancy are not well established amongst patients or their partners.

Aim: To understand the key drivers and barriers for infertile patients and their partners to see an infertility specialist and subsequently undergo treatment.

Method: An online quantitative survey collected data from 200 respondents in Australia in 2019. Average age was 35.7y (±10.5), 66% of patients were female, 47% of partners were female, 63% were married and 86% were heterosexual.

Results: Average time to diagnosis was 3.1y (±2.4), followed by an average 1.4y (±1.4) attempting natural conception before consultation, and an average 1.4y (±1.4) of treatment before successful couples achieved pregnancy.

The most frequently reported driver for considering treatment in respondents with a consultation (N=109) was an equal desire within couples to have a child by any means necessary (47%), followed by being comfortable with the treatment options and recommendations presented to them (45%). Among partners, 29% cited transparency of information from HCPs about treatment expectations as an important driver. Of respondents not seeking treatment after consultation (n=20), the most frequent reason was perceived cost (40%).

Post consultation, only 15% of respondents not seeking treatment (n=20) reported that their HCP offered supportive services, compared to 55% of respondents seeking treatment (p[Formula: see text]0.002).

30% of respondents not seeking treatment agreed that their HCP provided resources to find a suitable infertility specialist, compared with 68% among those receiving treatment (p[Formula: see text]0.003).

30% of respondents not seeking treatment agreed that their HCP provided them with resources about their diagnosis, compared with 67% among those receiving treatment (p[Formula: see text]0.004).

Conclusion: There were significant differences in perceived HCP services among respondents seeking treatment versus not seeking treatment.
Uterus Transplantation and Pregnancy Induction: An Approved Protocol at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital (RPA)
Authors: GEORGEVSKY Dana , LI Ying , PATHER Selvan , TEJADAS-BERGES Trevor , ROBINSON David , LAURENCE Jerome , CAMPBELL Neil , WYBURN Kate , LIYANAGAMA Keith , NARAYAN Rajit , LUTZ Tracey , CHAN Agnes , HEANEY Sally-Ann , KITZING Yu Xuan , ANDERSON Lyndal , TESTA Giuliano , JOHANNESSON Liza , MARREN Anthony
Published: November 2022

Background: Absolute Uterine Factor infertility (AUFI) can be congenital such as Mayer-Rokitansky Küster syndrome (MRKH), or acquired resulting from conditions rendering the uterus non-functional or hysterectomy. Prior to the year 2014, women with AUFI had limited opportunities to have a child with the options being either surrogacy or adoption. In 2014 the first successful uterus transplant (UT) was achieved in Sweden. RPA was the first site in Australia to receive ethical approval for a UT trial.

Objectives: To determine if UT is an effective, safe, and operationally viable option for women with AUFI in order to achieve live birth.

Methodology: Potential donor/recipient pairs will undertake a comprehensive screening process to assess suitability. The process will then involve:

1. Creation of embryos via IVF; 2. Donor Hysterectomy and Recipient Transplant; 3. Recovery with immunosuppression; 4. Embryo transfer; 5. Pregnancy care and delivery; 6. Post-delivery, potential second pregnancy, and explant with follow-up.

Conclusion: UT is a novel and promising procedure for women with AUFI to achieve parenthood. The process involves a comprehensive workup to assess suitability. A multidisciplinary team within a tertiary centre is essential for establishing a successful UT program. Due to the infancy of UT all centres need to be diligent in reporting clinical outcomes to establish the feasibility of UT as a future treatment option for AUFI.
Does Advanced Paternal Age Increase the Rate of Paternally Derived Aneuploidy as Detected by SNP Array?
Authors: SAMARASEKERA Tanya , HARDY Tristan , ROMBAUTS Luk , GREEN Mark P. , LIU Yanhe , ZANDER-FOX Deirdre , WILLATS Elissa
Published: November 2022

Objective: Recent studies have investigated the impact of paternal age on the incidence of embryo aneuploidy using young oocyte donors to control for maternal age, with conflicting results observed. This study takes a different approach, looking at the parental source of embryo aneuploidy as detected by SNP array. The aim was to determine whether the incidence and type of paternal-origin aneuploidy would increase with advancing paternal age.

Design: A retrospective study of PGT outcomes from 1541 embryos with trio SNP array linkage-based testing from 2012-2020 across three paternal age groups: <35yrs (n=410), 35-40yrs (n=789) and >40yrs (n=315). The primary outcome was frequency of paternally derived aneuploidy in each age bracket. The secondary endpoint was comparison of the complex abnormality rate and the rates of specific trisomies and monosomies of paternal origin.

Results: There was no association between advancing paternal age and prevalence of paternal-origin aneuploidy (<35yrs: 17.8%, 35–40yrs: 16.2%; >40yrs: 17.1%). Moreover, no differences were found between age cohorts in the occurrence of paternal-origin trisomy and paternal-origin monosomy. However, the rate of paternally derived complex abnormal embryos appeared increased with advancing paternal age (<35yrs: 2.9%; 35-40yrs: 3.8%; >40yrs: 4.4%) but did not reach statistical significance. Analysis of specific chromosomes showed the >40yrs cohort had a marked increase in rates of trisomy 4 (2.22% vs. 1.22% <35yrs; 0.63% 35–40yrs), trisomy 10 (0.95% vs. 0.49% <35yrs; 0.38% 35-40yrs), trisomy 12 (1.27% vs. 0.49% <35yrs; 0.51% 35-40yrs) and trisomy 19 (1.59% vs. 0.73% <35yrs; 0.76% 35-40yrs). Unlike previously reports, no clear difference was observed in the rate of trisomy 21 with advancing paternal age.

Conclusion: We conclude that there is no association between paternal age and the overall rate of paternal-origin aneuploidy. However, our findings suggest a possible effect of advanced paternal age (>40yrs) on the rate of paternally derived complex abnormalities, as well as increased rate of specific paternal-origin trisomies (4, 10, 12, 19).
Graph Learning for Anomaly Analytics: Algorithms, Applications, and Challenges
Authors: Ren Jing , Xia Feng , Lee Ivan , Noori Hoshyar Azadeh , Aggarwal Charu
Published: November 2022

Anomaly analytics is a popular and vital task in various research contexts that has been studied for several decades. At the same time, deep learning has shown its capacity in solving many graph-based tasks, like node classification, link prediction, and graph classification. Recently, many studies are extending graph learning models for solving anomaly analytics problems, resulting in beneficial advances in graph-based anomaly analytics techniques. In this survey, we provide a comprehensive overview of graph learning methods for anomaly analytics tasks. We classify them into four categories based on their model architectures, namely graph convolutional network, graph attention network, graph autoencoder, and other graph learning models. The differences between these methods are also compared in a systematic manner. Furthermore, we outline several graph-based anomaly analytics applications across various domains in the real world. Finally, we discuss five potential future research directions in this rapidly growing field.
Superconductivity and Local Inversion-Symmetry Breaking
Authors: Fischer Mark H. , Sigrist Manfred , Agterberg Daniel F. , Yanase Youichi
Published: November 2022

Inversion and time reversal are essential symmetries for the structure of Cooper pairs in superconductors. The loss of one or both leads to modifications to this structure and can change the properties of the superconducting phases in profound ways. Superconductivity in materials lacking inversion symmetry, or noncentrosymmetric materials, has become an important topic. These materials show unusual magnetic and magnetoelectric properties and can host topological superconductivity. Recently, crystal structures with local, but not global, inversion-symmetry breaking have attracted attention. Here, superconductivity can exhibit phenomena not naively expected in centrosymmetric materials. In this review, we first introduce the concept of locally noncentrosymmetric crystals and different material realizations. We then discuss consequences of such local symmetry breaking on the normal state electronic structure and the classification of superconducting order parameters. Finally, we review the expected and, in parts, already observed phenomenology of unconventional superconductivity and possible topological superconducting phases.
Fatty Acid Transport and Signaling: Mechanisms and Physiological Implications
Authors: Samovski Dmitri , Jacome-Sosa Miriam , Abumrad Nada A.
Published: November 2022

Long-chain fatty acids (FAs) are components of plasma membranes and an efficient fuel source and also serve as metabolic regulators through FA signaling mediated by membrane FA receptors. Impaired tissue FA uptake has been linked to major complications of obesity, including insulin resistance, cardiovascular disease, and type 2 diabetes. Fatty acid interactions with a membrane receptor and the initiation of signaling can modify pathways related to nutrient uptake and processing, cell proliferation or differentiation, and secretion of bioactive factors. Here, we review the major membrane receptors involved in FA uptake and FA signaling. We focus on two types of membrane receptors for long-chain FAs: CD36 and the G protein–coupled FA receptors FFAR1 and FFAR4. We describe key signaling pathways and metabolic outcomes for CD36, FFAR1, and FFAR4 and highlight the parallels that provide insight into FA regulation of cell function.
Electrochemical Synthesis and Characterization of Poly(Rhodamine B) Coating on FTO
Authors: Bahend K. , El Fazdoune M. , Ben Jadi S. , El Guerraf A. , Asserghine A. , Sánchez-Sánchez C. M. , Bazzaoui E. A. , García-García F. J. , Bazzaoui M.
Published: November 2022

In this paper we describe the conditions of electrochemical synthesis of a homogeneous and highly adherent pink film of poly(Rhodamine B) (PRhB) on a conducting glass substrate, which facilitates and enables its optical characterization. The electrosynthesis was performed by cyclic voltammetry, galvanostatic and potentiostatic techniques in 0.1 M KCl as supporting electrolytes and 1 mM Rhodamine B (RhB) as monomer on fluorine doped tin oxide (FTO) samples. The anodic peak associated with the RhB oxidation appears at 0.977 V during the first scan and shifts to 1.059 V in the following cycles, indicating the increase in the electrical resistance of the polymer coating until it reaches the overpotential to overcome the resistance. Chronopotentiometry and chronoamperometry show that the PRhB is obtained at applied current densities and potentials higher than 10μA cm-2 and 0.8 V, respectively and the polymer coating become thicker and darken with increasing the applied current and potential. Electrochemical methods show that the polymer growth is controlled by the maximum oxidation potential applied. The physico-chemical properties of generated PRhB film has been characterized by different microscopic and spectroscopic techniques such as scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and UV–visible spectrophotometry (UV-vis). The produced modified electrode would offer a promising candidate for future applications such as sensors and dye synthesized solar cell.
A Computational Characterization of 2,2′-bis(trifluoromethyl)-[1,1′-biphenyl]-4,4′-diamine Iodine Dopant for Improving Power-Conversion Efficiency of Perovskite Solar Cells
Authors: Slanina Zdeněk , Uhlík Filip , Feng Lai , Adamowicz Ludwik
Published: November 2022

The paper presents ongoing density-functional theory (DFT) computational support to research of hybrid perovskite solar cells to facilitate their understanding at molecular level. Very recently, doping by a iodine salt, namely 2,2′-bis(trifluoromethyl)-[1,1′-biphenyl]-4,4′-diamine iodine BFBAI2, has been described that improves the power conversion efficiency and enhances device stability. As structural characteristics of BFBAI2 are not well known, they are supplied here through DFT calculations for both BFBAI2 monomer and dimer. The geometry optimizations are performed at the M06-2X/3-21G level, and energetics is refined with the M06-2X/Def2QZVP treatment. The dimerization potential-energy change is calculated as −6.2 kcal/mol. BFBAI2 exhibits highly non-uniform charge distribution, i.e., it is a clearly polar system that can strongly modulate surface conditions when adsorbed. The adsorption-energy gain for BFBAI2 on CsPbI3 perovskite is DFT evaluated as −13.2 kcal/mol.
A Study of Structural Parameters Effects on Pressure Differential to Roll Titanium Diaphragm for a Spacecraft Propellant Tank
Authors: Ma Tianju , Gu Sendong , Zhao Jipeng , Yu Bin , Zhang Jianjun , Yang Wenbo
Published: November 2022

A range of titanium diaphragms for spacecraft propellant tanks are designed in detail, and two typical titanium diaphragms were manufactured and corresponding reversal tests were developed. A series of finite element models of the reversal process of these titanium diaphragms is developed based on the arc-length method and a finite element analysis software. With the aid of the models, this paper analyzes the characteristics of pressure drop during the whole reversal process and investigates the effects of the structural parameters on pressure differential to roll titanium diaphragm. The results show that simulated values of the critical pressure and the overturning pressure show good agreement with measured ones. In addition, the critical pressure increases with increasing thickness, decreasing bottom diameter and chamfering radius. The thickness and the bottom diameter are the main influence factors for the critical pressure. The overturning pressure increases with increasing thickness and arc radius. These effects of the bottom diameter, the chamfering radius, and arc radius become sharper with increasing thickness.
On the Performance of Rate-Compatible LDPC Codes under All-Integer Quantization Decoding
Authors: Muangkammuen Patinya , Vongjampa Wongpram , Suthisopapan Puripong
Published: November 2022

From a practical point of view, quantization is necessary for the design of any low-complexity LDPC decoder. However, the quantization scheme with the minimum computational complexity called all-integer quantization has not been well investigated since, intuitively, it seems to significantly degrade the decoding performance. It is found in this work that the utilization of 4-bit all-integer quantization for MSA-based LDPC decoder is adequate to achieve the decoding performance of the nonquantized case which can be considered as the lower bound on the decoding performance. Moreover, this simple quantization scheme can also be applied to the hardware and cost-efficient rate-compatible LDPC codes.
Pharmacological Aspects and Biological Effects of Cannabigerol and Its Synthetic Derivatives
Authors: Calapai Fabrizio , Cardia Luigi , Esposito Emanuela , Ammendolia Ilaria , Mondello Cristina , Lo Giudice Roberto , Gangemi Sebastiano , Calapai Gioacchino , Mannucci Carmen
Published: November 2022

Cannabigerol (CBG) is a cannabinoid from the plant Cannabis sativa that lacks psychotomimetic effects. Its precursor is the acidic form, cannabigerolic acid (CBGA), which is, in turn, a biosynthetic precursor of the compounds cannabidiol (CBD) and Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). CBGA decarboxylation leads to the formation of neutral cannabinoid CBG, through a chemical reaction catalyzed by heat. On the basis of the growing interest in CBG and with the aim of highlighting scientific information on this phytocannabinoid, we focused the content of this article on its pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic characteristics and on its principal pharmacological effects. CBG is metabolized in the liver by the enzyme CYP2J2 to produce hydroxyl and di-oxygenated products. CBG is considered a partial agonist at the CB1 receptor (R) and CB2R, as well as a regulator of endocannabinoid signaling. Potential pharmacological targets for CBG include transient receptor potential (TRP) channels, cyclooxygenase (COX-1 and COX-2) enzymes, cannabinoid, 5-HT1A, and alpha-2 receptors. Pre-clinical findings show that CBG reduces intraocular pressure, possesses antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-tumoral activities, and has anti-anxiety, neuroprotective, dermatological, and appetite-stimulating effects. Several findings suggest that research on CBG deserves to be deepened, as it could be used, alone or in association, for novel therapeutic approaches for several disorders.
Physical Inactivity and Food Insecurity Are Associated with Social Capital: A Large-Scale Population-Based Study in Tehran
Authors: Nakhostin-Ansari Amin , Akbari Paria , Selk-Ghaffari Maryam , Memari Amir Hossein , Vaez-Mahdavi Mohamad-Reza , Asadi-Lari Mohsen
Published: November 2022

Background. There are limited studies on food security, physical activity, and social capital in the Iranian population. This study aimed to evaluate the social capital’s associations with physical inactivity and food insecurity in a large-scale study in Iran, Urban HEART-2. Methods. This cross-sectional study was conducted in 22 districts of Tehran, the capital of Iran. Residents of Tehran who were 15 years or older were selected by a multi-stage, stratified, and random sampling method. Food insecurity and physical activity were evaluated using Household Food Security Scale and Global Physical Activity Questionnaire, respectively, and their associations with social capital were evaluated. Results. A total of 5030 individuals were included in this study, with 3139 (62.4%) males. The mean age of participants was 44.08 years (SD = 16.33, range = 15–90). Participation in social events (OR = 0.893, 95% CI = 0.819–0.974,

P

 = 0.011), social network (OR = 0.849, 95% CI = 0.786,

P

 < 0.001), and voluntary activities (OR = 0.865, 95% CI = 0.812–0.921,

P

 < 0.001) were all negatively associated with food insecurity. Also, voluntary activities (OR = 0.823, 95% CI = 0.776–0.872,

P

 < 0.001) and participation in the associations activities (OR = 0.665, 95% CI = 0.582–0.759,

P

 < 0.001) were negatively associated with physical inactivity. Conclusion. The prevalence of food insecurity and physical inactivity is relatively high among Tehran residents. As a factor affecting the physical activity and food security, social capital can be targeted in interventions to improve physical activity and food security among Iranians.
An Enhanced P&O MPPT Algorithm for PV Systems with Fast Dynamic and Steady-State Response under Real Irradiance and Temperature Conditions
Authors: Harrison Ambe , Nfah Eustace Mbaka , de Dieu Nguimfack Ndongmo Jean , Alombah Njimboh Henry
Published: November 2022

This paper presents an enhanced perturb and observe (P&O) method for reconciling the trade-off problem between the dynamic response and steady-state oscillations in maximum power point tracking (MPPT). The constraint of having to sacrifice either the dynamic response or the steady-state oscillations has been solved. The method uses the relationship between the open-circuit voltage and maximum power voltage from the fractional open-circuit voltage (FOCV) MPPT method to establish a valid, reduced, and confined search space within which an enhanced P&O via dynamic adaptive step size terminates the search for the maximum power point. The feasibility of the proposed method has been validated by comparing its performance with the conventional P&O algorithm. It was noted that the proposed method increased the operational efficiency of the PV module to 99.89%, reduced the tracking time to 1.8 ms, and preserved the good steady-state response with a power attenuation of less than 0.10 W or relative 0.16% under MATLAB environment. An experimental setup was used to collect real irradiance and temperature data which was used in real-time simulations. The enhanced P&O method was able to resist abrupt changes in irradiance and temperature as it effectively and efficiently followed the maximum power point (MPP). Finally, to appreciate the supremacy of the proposed method, it was compared to nineteen different MPPT methods from literature. The comparison showed that the enhanced P&O MPPT method is highly efficient and effective for MPPT in photovoltaic (PV) generation systems.
“Moving on to an Open World”: A Study of Participants’ Experience in Meaningful Activities and Recovery (MA&R)
Authors: Tepavicharov Nanna Kaas , Christensen Jeanette Reffstrup , Møller Tom , Eplov Lene Falgaard , Bjørkedal Siv Therese Bogevik
Published: November 2022

Background. Meaningful activities and Recovery (MA&R) is a peer coled occupational therapy intervention, to support occupational engagement among persons with psychiatric disabilities. Aim. To investigate participants’ perspectives on how MA&R influenced occupational engagement and recovery processes. Material and Methods. A qualitative study with a phenomenological-hermeneutic design. Individual semistructured interviews were conducted with three women and ten men who had participated in MA&R. Participants were recruited from community mental health centres and municipality mental health services in two Danish municipalities. Analysis strategy was based on Malterud’s Systematic Text Condensation. Results. MA&R was perceived as a practical approach to recovery, by providing an opportunity for reorientation, meaning, making in mundane activities, and a new outlook on everyday life. Participating in MA&R challenged a black and white approach to activities, put emphasis on “the little things”, and enhanced curiosity, presence, and joy in occupational engagement. Conclusion. MA&R supported participants in developing a new “lens” on meaningful activities. The lens enhanced occupational engagement and made it possible to live according to personal preference. Results can inform further development and delivery of recovery-oriented occupational therapy interventions and add to the understandings of how occupational engagement and recovery are intertwined and manifested through everyday experiences. Thus, occupational engagement is an important target for recovery-oriented interventions. Occupational therapists and peer-workers coleading such interventions is feasible and makes good sense to the participants.
Aggressive Acute Marjolin’s Ulcer Arising in a Burn Scar
Authors: Alvarez Rio Adela , Roca Mas Josep Oriol , Navarro Sanchez Daniel , Monge Castresana Ivan , Soroa Moreno Gonzalo Joaquin , Estrada Cuxart Jaime
Published: November 2022

Marjolin’s ulcer is one of the clinical variants of squamous-cell carcinoma. It is a highly aggressive disease that develops from chronic wounds. Almost 65% of these lesions have been diagnosed on underlying burn scars. Although the mean latency time between the primary lesion and the apparition of the ulcer is around 25 years, some cases with an early debut have been described. Squamous-cell carcinomas arising in chronic wounds are typically aggressive and are related with a poor prognosis due to their late diagnosis. Therefore, it is important to recognize symptoms that indicate malignant degeneration of chronic wounds, allowing the clinician to make an early diagnosis in order not to delay the surgical treatment that is required to improve the global survival of the patient. The time elapsed between our patient’s burn and the appearance of Marjolin’s ulcer was only 7 months, drawing attention to its fast and aggressive progression.
Handwritten Geez Digit Recognition Using Deep Learning
Authors: Ali Nur Mukerem , Abebe Mesfin , Rajendran Rajesh Sharma
Published: November 2022

Amharic language is the second most spoken language in the Semitic family after Arabic. In Ethiopia and neighboring countries more than 100 million people speak the Amharic language. There are many historical documents that are written using the Geez script. Digitizing historical handwritten documents and recognizing handwritten characters is essential to preserving valuable documents. Handwritten digit recognition is one of the tasks of digitizing handwritten documents from different sources. Currently, handwritten Geez digit recognition researches are very few, and there is no available organized dataset for the public researchers. Convolutional neural network (CNN) is preferable for pattern recognition like in handwritten document recognition by extracting a feature from different styles of writing. In this work, the proposed model is to recognize Geez digits using CNN. Deep neural networks, which have recently shown exceptional performance in numerous pattern recognition and machine learning applications, are used to recognize handwritten Geez digits, but this has not been attempted for Ethiopic scripts. Our dataset, which contains 51,952 images of handwritten Geez digits collected from 524 individuals, is used to train and evaluate the CNN model. The application of the CNN improves the performance of several machine-learning classification methods significantly. Our proposed CNN model has an accuracy of 96.21% and a loss of 0.2013. In comparison to earlier research works on Geez handwritten digit recognition, the study was able to attain higher recognition accuracy using the developed CNN model.
Influence of Antibiotic Administration on the Urinary Bladder Cancer Early Recurrence Rate
Authors: Kowalski Filip , Drewa Tomasz , Adamowicz Jan , Wilamowski Jacek , Ostrowski Adam , Ostrowska Magdalena , Kamecki Krzysztof , Miklas Marcin , Szlaga Michal , Mikolajczak Witold , Pokrywczynska Marta , Juszczak Kajetan
Published: November 2022

Bladder cancer tends to recur, making treatment one of the most expensive in oncology. The limited efficacy and high cost of adjuvant therapies in the treatment of bladder cancer prompt research on new drugs which could replace them. In vitro studies have established that antibiotics can have a cytostatic and cytotoxic effect on urinary bladder cancer cells. The objective of the study was to investigate the influence of antibiotics on the recurrence rate of bladder cancer. In a retrospective study, we analyzed a group of 199 patients with urinary bladder cancer from four urological centers. The study groups consisted of 40 patients who received ciprofloxacin and 83 patients who received beta-lactams as perioperative antimicrobial prophylaxis. The control group included 76 patients who did not get perioperative antimicrobial prophylaxis. The groups were analyzed for risk stratification, degree of malignancy, and size of the primary tumor. The average follow-up time was 24 months. The main focus of the study was to investigate the early recurrence rate of bladder cancer among studied groups, which could correlate with the effectiveness of currently used intravesical instillations. Additionally, cancer’s early progression was examined. Regardless of the division used, the highest recurrence rate was found in the ciprofloxacin group. There were no statistical differences in the recurrence rate between patients who received beta-lactams and patients who did not receive any antibiotics. In addition, there were no differences due to the progression rate between the groups. Perioperative antibiotic administration does not influence the early recurrence rate in patients with nonmuscle invasive urothelial bladder cancer.
Pharmaceutical Assessment of Watermelon Rind Pectin as a Suspending Agent in Oral Liquid Dosage Forms
Authors: Owusu Frederick William Akuffo , El Boakye-Gyasi Mariam , Bayor Marcel Tunkumgnen , Osei-Asare Christina , Johnson Raphael , Osei Yaa Asantewaa , Asare Victoria Agyeibea , Mensah Kezia Akoley , Acquah Prince George , Otu Desmond Asamoah Bruce , Asante Rocklyn
Published: November 2022

Pectin is a high molecular weight polymer which is present in virtually all plants where it contributes to the cell structure. Pectin is a high valuable food ingredient widely used as a gelling agent and thickening agent with limited use in the pharmaceutical industry. The objective of this study is to evaluate the suspending properties of pectin from watermelon rind. Tragacanth was used as a standard suspending agent to which the suspending properties of pectin from watermelon rinds were compared with. The extracted pectin was subjected to phytochemical and physiochemical characterization for its safety and suitability to use as a suspending agent. Paracetamol suspensions were formulated using tragacanth concentrations of 0.5% w/v, 1% w/v, and 2% w/v and compared with paracetamol suspensions containing the same concentrations of watermelon pectin. The suspensions were all tested for their pH, sedimentation rate, sedimentation volume, flow rate, and ease of redispersibility over a period of 4 weeks. At the end of the 4‐week period, all formulated suspensions had no changes in their pH values. Suspensions containing the extracted pectin had a lower rate of sedimentation and ease of redispersibility compared to that of tragacanth. In addition, their sedimentation volumes as well as flow rates were comparable to that of the tragacanth formulations. Ultimately, pectin from watermelon rind can serve as a suitable alternative to tragacanth in formulation of pharmaceutical suspensions.
Diagnosing Intravascular Large B-Cell Lymphoma: A Tale of Hide and Seek
Authors: Dong JiaXi , Barnett Daniel , Adjei-Kyeremeh Nathanael , Bartz Heather
Published: November 2022

We are reporting the first documented case of intravascular large B-cell lymphoma (IVLBCL) manifesting in the endomysial and perimysial capillaries with its associated diagnostic dilemma. Our patient presented with progressive paraplegia. Initial laboratories were remarkable for hyponatremia, hypochloremia, lactic acidosis, elevated C-reactive protein, and lactate dehydrogenase. The bone marrow biopsy was unrevealing. However, a subsequent muscle biopsy confirmed the diagnosis of IVLBCL. As hyponatremia, endocrinopathies, connective tissue disease, rheumatological disorders, and occult cancer could all present similarly, our patient is a unique diagnostic dilemma. Randomized skin biopsy remains the best way to diagnose this disease, and rituximab-based chemotherapy with high-dose intrathecal methotrexate has proven to be a safe and effective regimen. With this initial evidence of IVLBCL involving the endomysial and perimysial capillary, we believe that muscle biopsy could be of value in diagnosing IVLBCL patients with neuromuscular symptoms.
Diabetic Ketoacidosis as the Initial Presenting Symptom of Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma: A Discussion about Screening Utilizing ENDPAC Scoring Coupled with CT Scans and Endoscopic Ultrasound
Authors: Menakuru Sasmith R. , Priscu Adelina , Dhillon Vijaypal Singh , Salih Ahmed
Published: November 2022

Pancreatic adenocarcinoma is often discovered at an advanced stage due to a lack of early symptomology, resulting in this being the fourth leading cause of cancer-related death in the USA. The relationship between diabetes mellitus and pancreatic cancer has been known for many years; however, it is not well understood. Studies have suggested that long-standing type 2 diabetes mellitus can increase the risk of pancreatic cancer by 1.5–2.0-fold. However, patients with new-onset diabetes over 50 years of age have an 8-fold higher risk of pancreatic cancer. Evidence has shown that pancreatic cancer causes diabetes, with the majority being new onset. Diabetic ketoacidosis, which occurs in long-term hyperglycemia, as an initial presentation of pancreatic adenocarcinoma is rare, and only a few cases have been reported. It is postulated that pancreatic cancer prevents insulin-producing cells of the pancreas from responding to insulin resistance. The enriching new-onset diabetes for pancreatic cancer (ENDPAC) score may be utilized as a screening tool for pancreatic carcinomas as an early diagnosis may lead to cure by surgery instead of the grave prognosis associated with it. In this case report, we discuss a 52-year-old female presenting with symptoms of diabetic ketoacidosis who was then subsequently found to have stage-4 pancreatic adenocarcinoma. We concluded that if a patient presents with new-onset diabetes, abdominal imaging with CT scans and endoscopic ultrasound may be warranted to rule out pancreatic carcinoma.
Diffuse Metastatic Melanoma in the GI Lumen Following Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor Colitis Treatment
Authors: Sperling Gabriel , Wang Yinghong
Published: November 2022

We describe the unique case of a 73-year-old man who developed diffuse metastatic melanoma throughout the GI tract following potent immunosuppressive treatment for his immune-mediated colitis. Diagnosis of his metastatic GI luminal disease was confirmed with colonoscopy and EGD biopsies. Immunosuppressive therapy including corticosteroids and vedolizumab is the mainstay treatment for immune-mediated colitis and has generally been thought to have a safe toxicity profile. This unique case of diffuse luminal metastasis of melanoma after intensive immunosuppressant treatment raised the concern of their long-term safety on the cancer outcome and the need for safer alternatives.
An Unusual Presentation of HCC in a Patient with No Underlying Liver Disease: A Case Study
Authors: Osyntsov Anton , Zemel Melanie , Cohen Nir , Cooper Jonah M. , Krenawi Muhammad , Krayim Bilal , Kian Waleed , Marei Ranin , Shalata Walid , Sebbag Gilbert , Abu-Swis Shadi
Published: November 2022

Pedunculated hepatocellular carcinoma (P-HCC) is a rare subtype of HCC. P-HCC may occur in patients without underlying liver cirrhosis and can be present with negative serum tumor markers. With a growing worldwide incidence of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, non-cirrhotic HCC will likely become more prevalent. We report a patient presenting to the hospital with nonspecific symptoms of weight loss, abdominal discomfort, and early satiety. Abdomen palpation found a large firm mass in the right middle abdomen. Computed tomography imaging showed a large right abdominal mass without evidence of liver attachment. The patient underwent a diagnostic laparotomy where a single 17 cm exophytic mass originating from the left liver lobe was found and resected. Clear margins were attained, and pathology demonstrated HCC. Early diagnosis of HCC is critical to achieving curative treatment, and physicians should keep P-HCC in mind when presented with a similar patient.
Rapid Emergence of Appetite and Hunger Resulting in Weight Gain and Improvement of Eating Disorder Symptomatology during and after Short-Term Off-Label Metreleptin Treatment of a Patient with Anorexia Nervosa
Authors: Gradl-Dietsch Gertraud , Milos Gabriella , Wabitsch Martin , Bell Rebecca , Tschöpe Franziska , Antel Jochen , Hebebrand Johannes
Published: November 2022

Off-label treatment of a 15-year-old female patient with anorexia nervosa (AN) with human recombinant leptin (metreleptin) for nine days was associated with self-reported increments of appetite and hunger resulting in rapid weight gain and substantial improvement of eating disorder cognitions and of depression. The results further substantiate the effects of metreleptin on both AN and depression. We contrast these results with the widespread view that leptin is an anorexigenic hormone. Randomized controlled trials are warranted to confirm the described effects.