bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Qualidade do sono, ciclo circadiano e obesidade
Authors: Texeira Ketlyn Mamede , Souza Meri Helen Lenharo de , Zarpellon Raquel Simone Maccarini , Bello Sergio Ricardo de Brito , Pazello Camila Tedeschi , Venturelli Amanda Caroline , Rodrigues Suelen Gonçalves dos Santos
Published: January 2024

Introdução: De acordo com a Organização Mundial da Saúde, a obesidade é um dos mais graves problemas de saúde a ser enfrentado. Muitos são os fatores que causam a obesidade e entre esses fatores, pode estar a qualidade do sono e alterações no ciclo circadiano.  Objetivo: Realizar uma revisão de literatura buscando relações entre a obesidade, qualidade do sono e ciclo circadiano. Metodologia: Foram realizadas buscas nas bases de dados PubMed e Scielo, usando os descritores: obesidade, qualidade do sono, ciclo circadiano, grelina, leptina e a associação entre eles. Resultados: Muitos estudos relatam a relação entre prejuízos do sono, alterações no clico circadiano e a influência dessas alterações na obesidade. Discussão: Os estudos e pesquisas ainda não conseguem comprovar, de modo eficiente, qual a relação e os mecanismos que aumentam o risco para obesidade em pessoas com ciclo circadiano alterado e/ou alterações no sono. Os estudos apontam para regulação dos hormônios como grelina e leptina, interferência nas escolhas alimentares e disposição para atividades físicas. Novas pesquisas precisam ser desenvolvidas para essas relações, contribuindo para melhores acompanhamentos e desenvolvimento de programas que contribuam para a redução dos índices de obesidade na população.
Educação em saúde para a prevenção de infecções sexualmente transmissíveis na população acima dos 18 anos
Authors: Anselmo Samuel Max do Nascimento , Silva Débora de Oliveira , Duarte Victoria Caroline de Carvalho , Gama Ivana Oliveira dos Santos , Caetano Aline Miguel , Gomes Stheffany Lopes , Martins Solange Soares , Rodrigues Silvana Bauer , Jesus Marilene Lopes de , Jesus Claudemir Santos de
Published: January 2024

O estudo retrata o conhecimento dos jovens sobre as infecções sexualmente transmissíveis e de como aborda esse tema em conjunto com a educação para a prevenção, e assim, construir bases para a implementação de medidas de prevenção na saúde pública, possibilita melhorar a qualidade de vida da população, principalmente dos jovens. Objetivo: Correlacionar a educação sexual com a prevenção de infecções sexualmente transmissíveis na população. Metodologia: esta pesquisa se caracteriza pelos métodos quantitativos, descritivos e longitudinais. Com voluntários com idade a partir de 18 anos de ambos o sexo, que responderam um questionário adaptado da Pesquisa de Conhecimentos, Atitudes e Práticas na População Brasileira (PCAP) 2013, com 37 perguntas de um formulário de avaliação de múltipla escolha, aplicado de forma virtual através da plataforma do Google Forms via link, compartilhado pelas redes sociais: Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp. Conclui-se, que os dados obtidos e a prevalência dos artigos chaves, evidenciaram o despreparo dos educadores e profissionais da saúde na educação sexual à população, na prevenção de infecções sexualmente transmissíveis, o que demonstrou a necessidade de inovações na forma do educar, o que requer dos profissionais a capacitação para interagir com diferentes culturas, credo, orientação sexual, faixa etária e condições econômicas.
Análise bibliométrica sobre nanomateriais aplicados à indústria de fertilizantes
Authors: Morgado Mariana Rodrigues , Pires Ricardo Francisco , Dantas Sandra Cristina
Published: January 2024

Com o constante aumento populacional gerou-se uma pressão nos sistemas agrícolas com o intuito de aumentar a produção e torná-la mais eficiente. Uma solução promissora para isso seria o uso de nanomateriais na produção de fertilizantes, visto que a nanotecnologia abrange uma gama de possibilidades quanto aos mecanismos e interações de matérias em nanoescala. Porém, por se tratar de uma tecnologia nova e de particularidades de mecanismos, em muitas vezes, ainda desconhecidas, os estudos encontrados atualmente acerca da nanotecnologia abrangem mais suas possibilidades de utilização do que seus mecanismos de ação. Para fertilizantes, há a necessidade de entender como as vias bioquímicas, moleculares e fisiológicas que envolvem as nanopartículas podem aumentar sua eficiência de desenvolvimento das plantas, e como consequência, sua produtividade. Dada a carência de revisões bibliométricas que abordem nanomateriais em fertilizantes, este estudo tem como objetivo avaliar a evolução histórica desse campo de pesquisa. Para isso, foi realizado um estudo bibliométrico das publicações sobre esse tema publicadas nos últimos 13 (treze) anos disponíveis nos bancos de dados Web of Science e Scopus. A partir da análise bibliométrica, identificou-se a expansão da nanotecnologia no âmbito agrícola, apontando para um potencial de resolução de obstáculos enfrentados pelos fertilizantes tradicionais. No entanto, observou-se uma necessidade de estudos que visem esclarecer as relações entre os fertilizantes e a fisiologia das plantas.
Antagonistas do Receptor de Histamina-2 e Inibidores da Bomba de Prótons: Eficácia e predileção medicamentosa na profilaxia de Úlcera de Estresse em pacientes internados na UTI Pediátrica Oncológica no Hospital Uopeccan
Authors: Abe Nathália Larissa de Matos , Fiori Carmem Maria Costa Mendonça , Michelon Isabella Cristina , Silva Luiza Morandini Gaspar da , Seibert Jhessica Martelli
Published: January 2024

Objetivo: analisar e obter resultados para profilaxia de úlcera de estresse com inibidores da bomba de prótons e antagonistas do receptor de histamina-2 em paciente na UTI pediátrica. O objetivo desse estudo revisa a predileção, existência de critérios e eficácia profilática de ambos. Métodos: desenvolve-se a partir de um estudo observacional retrospectivo composto por prontuários/coleta de dados de pacientes na unidade de terapia intensiva pediátrica no Hospital Uopeccan de Cascavel, entre janeiro de 2012 e janeiro de 2022. Foram avaliados dados referentes ao gênero, idade, diagnóstico, motivo do internamento, tempo de permanência na UTI e escolha do protetor gástrico. Resultados: foram analisados 43 casos de pacientes internados na UTI durante o período estipulado. Desses, a idade média dos pacientes da pesquisa realizada foi de 4 anos e 5 meses, sendo 39,53% (n=17) do sexo feminino e 60,46% (n=26) do sexo masculino com internação média aproximada de 10,6 dias. Cerca de 94,28% (n=33) dos pacientes recebeu algum tipo de profilático, sendo que, dentro dessa porcentagem, 91,42% (n=32) dos casos foi utilizado IBP, 2,85% (n=1) ARH2 e 5,71% (n=2) não foi utilizado nenhuma medicação. Conclusão: com base neste estudo, é possível concluir a carência de evidências científicas e de pesquisas abrangentes relacionadas aos inibidores de bomba de prótons (IBP) e antagonistas de receptores de histamina 2 (ARH2) na prática clínica. Essa lacuna de informações pode representar potencial desvantagem para os pacientes, dado a ausência de critérios específicos na profilaxia de úlcera de estresse em centros de terapia intensiva pediátrica.
Global incidence of adverse clinical events in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Le Michael H. , Le David M. , Baez Thomas C. , Dang Hansen , Nguyen Vy H. , Lee KeeSeok , Stave Christopher D. , Ito Takanori , Wu Yuankai , Yeo Yee Hui , Ji Fanpu , Cheung Ramsey , Nguyen Mindie H.
Published: January 2024

Background/Aims: Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is associated with a multitude of adverse outcomes. We aimed to estimate the pooled incidence of NAFLD-related adverse events.Methods: We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis of cohort studies of adults with NAFLD to evaluate the pooled incidence of adverse events.Results: 19,406 articles were screened, 409 full-text articles reviewed, and 79 eligible studies (1,377,466 persons) were included. Mean age was 51.47 years and body mass index 28.90 kg/m2. Baseline comorbidities included metabolic syndrome (41.73%), cardiovascular disease (CVD) (16.83%), cirrhosis (21.97%), and nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) (58.85%). Incidence rate per 1,000 person-years for mortality included: all-cause (14.6), CVD-related (4.53), non-liver cancer-related (4.53), and liver-related (3.10). Incidence for liver-related events included overall (24.3), fibrosis progression (49.0), cirrhosis (10.9), liver transplant (12.0), and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) (3.39). Incidence for non-liver events included metabolic syndrome (25.4), hypertension (25.8), dyslipidemia (26.4), diabetes (19.0), CVD (24.77), renal impairment (30.3), depression/anxiety (29.1), and non-liver cancer (10.5). Biopsy-proven NASH had higher incidence of HCC (P=0.043) compared to non-NASH. Higher rates of CVD and mortality were observed in North America and Europe, hypertension and non-liver cancer in North America, and HCC in Western Pacific/Southeast Asia (P<0.05). No significant differences were observed by sex. Time-period analyses showed decreasing rates of cardiovascular and non-liver cancer mortality and increasing rates of decompensated cirrhosis (P<0.05).Conclusions: People with NAFLD have high incidence of liver and non-liver adverse clinical events, varying by NASH, geographic region, and time-period, but not sex.
PEMANFAATAN LIMBAH ORGANIK UNTUK PENINGKATAN KETERAMPILAN DI BIDANG KEWIRAUSAHAAN SANTRI PANTI ASUHAN BAITURRAHMAH MALANG
Authors: Ramadan Anggik Gaguk , Deya Jayanti , Notian Notian , Napfiah Siti
Published: January 2024

This community service activity was carried out at a children's orphanage called Baiturrahmah Al Amanah Malang. Based on the results of observations by the Baiturrahmah Al-Amanah Orphanage service team, it was found that students studying at junior high and high school levels had a lot of free time, this was because the school schedule was not too busy and the lack of activities made the students more productive. In fact, the Baiturrahmah Al-Amanah Orphanage has the potential for natural resources that can be developed into marketable products so that it can become a forum for students to improve their skills and increase the orphanage's income. The implementation of this service activity was carried out by students proposing PKM-PM. The activity begins with observing partners and coordinating with the parties concerned. Technical training activities were carried out for 5 months starting from preparation to evaluation. Meanwhile, the technical implementation of production includes the stages of cleaning, soaking, drying the water hyacinth, and the product manufacturing process. Next is the packaging and marketing training process. The final service activity is the evaluation of all activities that have been carried out. Based on the activities carried out, the partners gave a very positive response because this activity could improve the skills of the orphanage students
PELATIHAN ETIKA PROFESIONAL SDM SEBAGAI FAKTOR PENENTU KEBERLANJUTAN ORGANISASI PKBM MERAH PUTIH DI KABUPATEN MALANG
Authors: Setyabudi Deni Nugroho , Ningkeula Ririn , Dewantari Arinta Agnie , Mochsen Firmansyah
Published: January 2024

All organizations have an obligation to develop human resources in such a way that their desires are guaranteed. An organization is expected to be able to easily prepare and implement each program or work plan if it has quality human resources with an understanding and comprehension of professional ethics. All people who are directly involved in managing an organization must have an awareness of professional ethics so that their relationships can function well. Furthermore, organizational operations occur according to the vision, mission, goals and approaches that have been determined. Professional ethics training helps create an organizational environment and ecosystem that leads to effective and efficient organizational development. All of our employees are united by professionalism, courtesy, character and integrity. Human resources who have a good work ethic also make it easier to carry out activities such as developing human resource management, leadership development and entrepreneurship. By carrying out training and understanding professional ethics, it is hoped that the organization's desires based on good corporate governance can be achieved.
Translating Khora
Authors: Olesen Toft Kristian
Published: January 2024

Khora, as it figures in Plato’s Timaeus, as read by Jacques Derrida, poses a singular translation problem, not only for having more than one meaning, but also for having less than one. This might be thought of in terms of Derrida’s distinction between ‘polysemy’ and ‘dissemination’, in so far as any concept of translation will ‘re-mark’ a translation or reception of something like khora, the ‘all-receiving’. This means both that khora is untranslatable and that its translation into every language is inevitable, which has implications for the question of a ‘politics of khora’, as becomes particularly apparent in Derrida’s unpublished seminar from 1985–86.
A NOTE OF THE COMBINATORIAL INTERPRETATION OF THE PERRIN AND TETRARRIN SEQUENCE
Authors: Vieira Renata , Pereira Spreafico Elen Viviani , Alves Francisco Regis , Cruz Catarino Paula Maria Machado
Published: January 2024

The present study carries out an investigation around the Perrin and Tetrarrin numbers, allowing a combinatorial interpretation for these sequences. Furthermore, it is possible to establish a study around the respective polynomial numbers of Perrin and Tetrarrin, using the bracelet method. With this, we have the definition of combinatorial models of these numbers, contributing to the evolution of these sequences with their respective combinatorial approaches. As a conclusion, there is a discussion of theorems referring to the combinatorial models of these sequences, allowing the study of the mathematical advancement of these numbers.
PLANE KINEMATICS IN HOMOTHETIC MULTIPLICATIVE CALCULUS
Authors: ES Hasan
Published: January 2024

In this study, pole points of motion, pole trajectories, velocities, accelerations and relations

between velocities and accelerations are obtained. In addition we gave some new theorems
A simple and inexpensive laser dissection of fasciculated axons from motor nerve organoids
Authors: Ikegami Yasuhiro , Duenki Tomoya , Arakaki Ikuma , Sakai Ryo , Osaki Tatsuya , Ashihara Satoshi , Furushima Tsuyoshi , Ikeuchi Yoshiho
Published: January 2024

Motor nerve organoids could be generated by culturing a spheroid of motor neurons differentiated from human induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells within a polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) chip which guides direction and fasciculation of axons extended from the spheroid. To isolate axon bundles from motor nerve organoids, we developed a rapid laser dissection method based on localized photothermal combustion. By illuminating a blue laser on a black mark on the culture device using a dry-erase marker, we induced highly localized heating near the axon bundles. Moving the laser enabled spatial control over the local heating and severing of axon bundles. This laser dissection requires a black mark, as other colors did not produce the same localized heating effect. A CO2 laser destroyed the tissue and the device and could not be used. With this simple, economical laser dissection technique, we could rapidly collect abundant pure axon samples from motor nerve organoids for biochemical analysis. Extracted axonal proteins and RNA were indistinguishable from manual dissection. This method facilitates efficient axon isolation for further analyses.
Harnessing genetic engineering to drive economic bioproduct production in algae
Authors: Gupta Abhishek , Kang Kalisa , Pathania Ruchi , Saxton Lisa , Saucedo Barbara , Malik Ashleyn , Torres-Tiji Yasin , Diaz Crisandra J. , Dutra Molino João Vitor , Mayfield Stephen P.
Published: January 2024

Our reliance on agriculture for sustenance, healthcare, and resources has been essential since the dawn of civilization. However, traditional agricultural practices are no longer adequate to meet the demands of a burgeoning population amidst climate-driven agricultural challenges. Microalgae emerge as a beacon of hope, offering a sustainable and renewable source of food, animal feed, and energy. Their rapid growth rates, adaptability to non-arable land and non-potable water, and diverse bioproduct range, encompassing biofuels and nutraceuticals, position them as a cornerstone of future resource management. Furthermore, microalgae’s ability to capture carbon aligns with environmental conservation goals. While microalgae offers significant benefits, obstacles in cost-effective biomass production persist, which curtails broader application. This review examines microalgae compared to other host platforms, highlighting current innovative approaches aimed at overcoming existing barriers. These approaches include a range of techniques, from gene editing, synthetic promoters, and mutagenesis to selective breeding and metabolic engineering through transcription factors.
Ergonomics of spatial configurations: a voxel-based modelling framework for accessibility and visibility simulations
Authors: Azadi Shervin , Bai Nan , Nourian Pirouz
Published: January 2024

How can we assess the ergonomic comfort of a sizeable spatial configuration such as the indoor space of a complex building or an urban landscape when we design, plan, and manage the space? Is there a fundamental difference between indoor [architectural] spatial configurations and outdoor [urban] spatial configurations with respect to ergonomics? Can we have a unified approach to the computational study of spatial ergonomics? This paper addresses these fundamental questions while providing a brief taxonomic review of the scholarly literature on these matters from a mathematical point of view, including a brief introduction to the modelling-based approaches to the computational ways of studying the fundamental effects of spatial configuration on human behaviours. Furthermore, the paper proposes a computational approach for ergonomic assessment of spatial configurations that explicitly allows for combined accessibility and visibility analyses in the built environment. The gist of this approach is the conceptualisation of spatial configurations as rasterised (voxelated) 2D manifold walkable terrains whose voxels have 3D vistas, unifying the simulations and analyses of accessibility and visibility. The paper elaborates on how such a representation of space can provide for conducting various sorts of computational queries, analyses, and simulation experiments for research in spatial ergonomics. The paper concludes with a mapping of the computational modelling approaches pertinent to the study and assessment of spatial ergonomics; and marks avenues of future research on various categories of exploratory, generative, and associative models for ex-ante and ex-post assessment of ergonomic matters at spatial scales.
Identification of 4 autophagy-related genes in heart failure by bioinformatics analysis and machine learning
Authors: Deng Xiwei , Yang Ziqi , Li Tongzheng , Wang Yang , Yang Qinchuan , An Rui , Xu Jian
Published: January 2024

Introduction

Autophagy refers to the process of breaking down and recycling damaged or unnecessary components within a cell to maintain cellular homeostasis. Heart failure (HF) is a severe medical condition that poses a serious threat to the patient's life. Autophagy is known to play a pivotal role in the pathogenesis of HF. However, our understanding of the specific mechanisms involved remains incomplete. Here, we identify autophagy-related genes (ARGs) associated with HF, which we believe will contribute to further comprehending the pathogenesis of HF.

Methods

By searching the GEO (Gene Expression Omnibus) database, we found the GSE57338 dataset, which was related to HF. ARGs were obtained from the HADb and HAMdb databases. Annotation of GO and enrichment analysis of KEGG pathway were carried out on the differentially expressed ARGs (AR-DEGs). We employed machine learning algorithms to conduct a thorough screening of significant genes and validated these genes by analyzing external dataset GSE76701 and conducting mouse models experimentation. At last, immune infiltration analysis was conducted, target drugs were screened and a TF regulatory network was constructed.

Results

Through processing the dataset with R language, we obtained a total of 442 DEGs. Additionally, we retrieved 803 ARGs from the database. The intersection of these two sets resulted in 15 AR-DEGs. Upon performing functional enrichment analysis, it was discovered that these genes exhibited significant enrichment in domains related to “regulation of cell growth”, “icosatetraenoic acid binding”, and “IL-17 signaling pathway”. After screening and verification, we ultimately identified 4 key genes. Finally, an analysis of immune infiltration illustrated significant discrepancies in 16 distinct types of immune cells between the HF and control group and up to 194 potential drugs and 16 TFs were identified based on the key genes.

Discussion

In this study, TPCN1, MAP2K1, S100A9, and CD38 were considered as key autophagy-related genes in HF. With these relevant data, further exploration of the molecular mechanisms of autophagy in HF can be carried out.
Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction and atrial fibrillation: clinical management in the context of recent therapeutic advances in heart failure and electrophysiology
Authors: Yang Eunice , Rashid Haroon
Published: January 2024

Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) and atrial fibrillation (AF) have emerged as major age-related epidemics within cardiology. Both conditions carry overlapping symptomatology, and delineating between AF and HFpEF from a diagnostic standpoint is challenging as echocardiographic and biomarker assessments used to diagnose HFpEF may be impacted by AF. Indeed, these two conditions are commonly found in the same individual, so much so that AF has been used in proposed diagnostic criteria for HFpEF. The frequent concomitant presence of these two conditions is associated with poorer quality of life, exertional capacity, as well as increased risk for decompensated heart failure and all-cause mortality. Though these deleterious effects of AF in HFpEF patients are well described, we currently have only a superficial understanding of the complex interplay between these two conditions. Preliminary studies on intervening in AF in HFpEF are very small, with mixed data on whether modifying the natural history of AF can lead to improvement in heart failure (HF) outcomes in HFpEF. In this review, we will describe the clinical implications of carrying both cardiovascular conditions, address recent advances in HFpEF and AF, and highlight preliminary studies targeted at reduction of effects associated with AF burden in HFpEF.
Dynamic coupling between transportation networks and urban vitality in the Lanzhou–Xining urban agglomeration
Authors: Yang Minan , Qian Yongsheng , Li Xin , Liu Zhen , Zeng Junwei
Published: January 2024

This study is grounded in the coordinated development of the “transportation-urban vitality” coupling in county-level spaces within urban agglomerations. The research object is the Lanzhou–Xining urban agglomeration, a typical western region in China. The interactive relationship between the transportation network of county-level cities within the urban agglomeration and urban vitality is selected, and the vitality evaluation model and spatial syntax model are used to measure the functional vitality, socioeconomic vitality, and transportation network accessibility of the urban agglomeration. On this basis, the evolution characteristics of the coupling coordination level between the transportation network and the urban vitality of the Lanzhou–Xining urban agglomeration are studied. The research found that over the past decade, the transportation network accessibility of the Lanzhou–Xining urban agglomeration and the vitality of the nodal cities have significantly increased. However, the internal development of the urban agglomeration needs to be more balanced. The dual core-driven urban agglomeration has formed a distinct “ridge line” connection, but the polarization phenomenon caused by the “core-periphery” structure is still prominent. The coupling coordination level of spatial development in the county-level space of the Lanzhou–Xining urban agglomeration varies greatly, with approximately 80% of the county-level cities still in a state of imbalance, leading to a mismatch between the transportation network and urban vitality of the Lanzhou–Xining urban agglomeration. This research result is worthy of deep reflection by city managers and participants on the development path of urban agglomerations formed by “weak-weak” alliances.
Empowering examiners to develop doctoral assessment literacy: a situated learning perspective
Authors: Tan Wee Chun
Published: January 2024

Doctoral examiners play a pivotal role in upholding academic standards; therefore, they must be supported in their work. Drawing on situated learning theory, this paper proposes a conceptual training framework to empower examiners, particularly those participating in the PhD viva. The framework comprises three key initiatives: a professional development programme, a peer review, and an accreditation programme. The paper further highlights the potential benefits of the training initiatives and discusses implementation challenges aimed at fostering examiners’ continuous professional development, promoting a deeper understanding of assessment literacy, and maintaining the overall quality of doctoral assessment.
Ultra-processed foods consumption, depression, and the risk of diabetes complications in the CARTaGENE project: a prospective cohort study in Quebec, Canada
Authors: Sen Akankasha , Brazeau Anne-Sophie , Deschênes Sonya , Ramiro Melgar-Quiñonez Hugo , Schmitz Norbert
Published: January 2024

Introduction

This study aimed to assess the association between depression, ultra-processed food consumption (UPFs), and the risk of developing diabetes-specific complications in adults with type 2 diabetes (T2D).

Methods

Baseline data came from the CARTaGENE study, a health survey of adults (40–69 years) in Quebec, Canada. The incidence of T2D complications was examined in N= 683 participants with T2D without complications at baseline by linking survey data with administrative health data. Food and drink consumption was assessed using the Canadian Diet History Questionnaire and categorized by NOVA classification. Participants were categorized into tertiles of UPFs consumption. Depression was defined as having elevated depressive symptoms based on the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 or the use of antidepressant medications. Cox regression models were used to estimate the associations between UPFs, depression, and T2D complications.

Results

In total, 105 individuals developed diabetes-related complications over a 7-year period. Participants with high depressive symptoms and high UPFs consumption had the highest risk for diabetes complications (adjusted hazard ratio (aHR) 2.07, 95% CI: 0.91 – 4.70), compared to participants with low depressive symptoms and low UPFs consumption. Higher risks for diabetes complications were observed when high depressive symptoms and antidepressant use were combined with high UPFs consumption (aHR 2.59, 95% CI: 1.32 – 5.06).

Conclusion

This study indicates that those with co-occurring depression and high UPFs consumption have a greater risk of diabetes complications. Early management and monitoring of both risk factors might be essential to prevent diabetes complications.
Diversity, preference, and conservation priority of woody plant species in coffee agroforestry system in southwest Ethiopia
Authors: Kebebew Zerihun , Ozanne Claire
Published: January 2024

The natural forest in southwest Ethiopia is progressively modified to coffee agroforest. To this effect forest composition and diversity is simplified to local preferred coffee shade trees. Woody plant species that are less managed require the conservation priority in coffee agroforest. The study aims at assessing diversity of plant species, investigating local people preference and finally identify woody plants for conservation priority in coffee agroforest in southwest Ethiopia. Data were collected on ecological and ethnoecological information through field assessment and individual interview. Vegetation data were collected from 63 plots distributed across five sites. Ethnoecological data were collected from 96 individuals across five villages living adjacent to the forest through semi-structured interview. The result showed that 48 different woody plant species belonging to 27 families were recorded. Most of the families were represented by single species. The regeneration status of these woody plant species are unsatisfactory or poor. Three species; Cordia africana, Croton macrostachyus, and Milletia ferruginea were accounting for 41 percent of the total number of woody plant species in coffee agroforest. The aggregate relative preference score showed 15 most preferred woody plant species in coffee agroforest. The use value of these species were cited mainly for timber, hanging beehive and beehive making than coffee shade. The findings suggest that 12 woody plants need high conservation priority, 19 species need moderate conservation priority and 17 woody plants need low priority for conservation. The Spearman correlation showed negative correlation between woody plant abundance and conservation priority [rs (46) = −0.681, p = 000]. The study findings suggest that woody plant conservation priority in coffee agroforest should take into consideration local preference of woody plant species.
Strengths and limitations of non-disclosive data analysis: a comparison of breast cancer survival classifiers using VisualSHIELD
Authors: Tomasoni Danilo , Lombardo Rosario , Lauria Mario
Published: January 2024

Preserving data privacy is an important concern in the research use of patient data. The DataSHIELD suite enables privacy-aware advanced statistical analysis in a federated setting. Despite its many applications, it has a few open practical issues: the complexity of hosting a federated infrastructure, the performance penalty imposed by the privacy-preserving constraints, and the ease of use by non-technical users. In this work, we describe a case study in which we review different breast cancer classifiers and report our findings about the limits and advantages of such non-disclosive suite of tools in a realistic setting. Five independent gene expression datasets of breast cancer survival were downloaded from Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) and pooled together through the federated infrastructure. Three previously published and two newly proposed 5-year cancer-free survival risk score classifiers were trained in a federated environment, and an additional reference classifier was trained with unconstrained data access. The performance of these six classifiers was systematically evaluated, and the results show that i) the published classifiers do not generalize well when applied to patient cohorts that differ from those used to develop them; ii) among the methods we tried, the classification using logistic regression worked better on average, closely followed by random forest; iii) the unconstrained version of the logistic regression classifier outperformed the federated version by 4% on average. Reproducibility of our experiments is ensured through the use of VisualSHIELD, an open-source tool that augments DataSHIELD with new functions, a standardized deployment procedure, and a simple graphical user interface.
Recurrent “outsider” intronic variation in the SLC5A6 gene causes severe mixed axonal and demyelinating neuropathy, cyclic vomiting and optic atrophy in 3 families from Maghreb
Authors: Mansour-Hendili Lamisse , Gitiaux Cyril , Harion Madeleine , Latouche Céline , Heron Bénédicte , Stojkovic Tanya , Rama Mélanie , Smol Thomas , Sophie Jourdain Anne , Mention Karine , Nadjar Yann , Schiff Manuel , Lemale Julie , Ghoumid Jamal , Gottrand Frédéric , Talbotec Cécile , Rötig Agnès , Funalot Benoît , Desguerre Isabelle
Published: January 2024

Sodium dependent multivitamin transporter (SMVT) deficiency is a very rare autosomal recessive disorder characterized by multisystemic clinical manifestations due to combined biotin, panthotenic acid and lipoic acid deficiency. About 10 families have been described so far. Accurate diagnosis is crucial because of the possibility of a supplementation treatment with proven efficacy. Here we describe 4 new patients (3 additional families) originating from the same world region (Algeria, Maghreb). All patients, born form consanguineous parents, were homozygous carriers of the same intronic variation, outside of canonical sites, in the SLC5A6 gene encoding SMVT. RNA study in one family allowed confirming the pathogenic effect of the variation and re-classifying this variant of uncertain significance as pathogenic, opening the possibility of genetic counseling and treatment. The identification of the same variation in three distinct and apparently unrelated families is suggestive of a founder effect. The phenotype of all patients was very similar, with systematic optic atrophy (initially considered as a very rare sign), severe cyclic vomiting, and rapidly progressive mixed axonal and demyelinating sensory motor neuropathy.
Case report: Refractory Evans syndrome in two patients with spondyloenchondrodysplasia with immune dysregulation treated successfully with JAK1/JAK2 inhibition
Authors: Gernez Yael , Narula Mansi , Cepika Alma-Martina , Valdes Camacho Juanita , Hoyte Elisabeth G. , Mouradian Kirsten , Glader Bertil , Singh Deepika , Sathi Bindu , Rao Latha , Tolin Ana L. , Weinberg Kenneth I. , Lewis David B. , Bacchetta Rosa , Weinacht Katja G.
Published: January 2024

Biallelic mutations in the ACP5 gene cause spondyloenchondrodysplasia with immune dysregulation (SPENCDI). SPENCDI is characterized by the phenotypic triad of skeletal dysplasia, innate and adaptive immune dysfunction, and variable neurologic findings ranging from asymptomatic brain calcifications to severe developmental delay with spasticity. Immune dysregulation in SPENCDI is often refractory to standard immunosuppressive treatments. Here, we present the cases of two patients with SPENCDI and recalcitrant autoimmune cytopenias who demonstrated a favorable clinical response to targeted JAK inhibition over a period of more than 3 years. One of the patients exhibited steadily rising IgG levels and a bone marrow biopsy revealed smoldering multiple myeloma. A review of the literature uncovered that approximately half of the SPENCDI patients reported to date exhibited increased IgG levels. Screening for multiple myeloma in SPENCDI patients with rising IgG levels should therefore be considered.
Causal relationship between immune cells and neurodegenerative diseases: a two-sample Mendelian randomisation study
Authors: Tang Chao , Lei Xiaoyang , Ding Yaqi , Yang Sushuang , Ma Yayu , He Dian
Published: January 2024

Background

There is increasing evidence that the types of immune cells are associated with various neurodegenerative diseases. However, it is currently unclear whether these associations reflect causal relationships.

Objective

To elucidate the causal relationship between immune cells and neurodegenerative diseases, we conducted a two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis.

Materials and methods

The exposure and outcome GWAS data used in this study were obtained from an open-access database (https://gwas.mrcieu.ac.uk/), the study employed two-sample MR analysis to assess the causal relationship between 731 immune cell features and four neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer’s disease (AD), Parkinson’s disease (PD), amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and multiple sclerosis (MS). All immune cell data was obtained from Multiple MR methods were used to minimize bias and obtain reliable estimates of the causal relationship between the variables of interest and the outcomes. Instrumental variable selection criteria were restricted to ensure the accuracy and effectiveness of the causal relationship between species of immune cells and the risk of these neurodegenerative diseases.

Results

The study identified potential causal relationships between various immune cells and different neurodegenerative diseases. Specifically, we found that 8 different types of immune cells have potential causal relationships with AD, 1 type of immune cells has potential causal relationships with PD, 6 different types of immune cells have potential causal relationships with ALS, and 6 different types of immune cells have potential causal relationships with MS.

Conclusion

Our study, through genetic means, demonstrates close causal associations between the specific types of immune cells and AD, PD, ALS and MS, providing useful guidance for future clinical researches.
Rapid low-resource detection of Plasmodium falciparum in infected Anopheles mosquitoes
Authors: Hugo Leon E. , van Huyssteen Karla , Oloniniyi Olamide , Donnelly Laura , Conn Anna , Collins Katharine A. , Mitchell Hayley , McCarthy James S. , Macdonald Joanne
Published: January 2024

Vector surveillance of Plasmodium falciparum is critical for monitoring and reducing one of the most severe forms of malaria, which causes high morbidity and mortality in children under five and pregnant women. Here we developed a rapid and highly sensitive test for the detection of P. falciparum (Pf)-infected mosquitoes (Rapid Pf test), with high suitability for low-resource vector surveillance implementation. The Rapid Pf test had similar analytical sensitivity to laboratory-based tests, detecting down to 4 copies/μL of a 18S rRNA DNA standard. In addition, the Rapid Pf test could be completed in less than 30 minutes, and only required a liquid sample preparation reagent, pestle, tube, and 39°C heating block for operation, indicating amenability for low-resource implementation. Diagnostic testing was performed using Anopheles stephensi mosquitoes, either uninfected, or fed with P. falciparum gametocyte cultures. These P. falciparum fed mosquitoes were determined to have 79% infection prevalence based on parallel microscopy and qPCR testing on a subset of 19 mosquitoes. However, our Rapid Pf test determined a 90% positive test rate when testing individual infected mosquitoes (n=30), and did not detect 40 uninfected mosquitoes regardless of blood-fed status (n=40), suggesting the true prevalence of infection in the mosquitoes may have been higher than calculated by qPCR and microscopy. The Rapid Pf test was demonstrated to detect infection in individual mosquitoes (both fresh and frozen/thawed), as well as pools of 1 infected mosquito mixed with 19 known uninfected mosquitoes, and individual mosquitoes left in traps for up to 8 days. After testing on infected and uninfected mosquitoes (n=148) the Rapid Pf test was conservatively estimated to achieve 100% diagnostic sensitivity (95% confidence interval, CI: 91%-100%) and 97% diagnostic specificity (CI: 92%-99%) compared to the estimated prevalence from combined microscopy and qPCR results. These results indicate the Rapid Pf test could provide a highly effective tool for weekly surveillance of infected mosquitoes, to assist with P. falciparum monitoring and intervention studies.
An urgent call for more ambitious ocean literacy strategies in marine protected areas: a collaboration project with small-scale fishers as a case study
Authors: Salazar Janire , Gómez Sílvia , Vendrell-Simón Begoña , Pulgar Miroslav , Viladrich Núria , Ambroso Stefano , Baena Patricia , Santín Andreu , Montseny Maria , Biel-Cabanelas Marina , Gili Josep-Maria
Published: January 2024

Cold-Water Corals play a paramount role in marine benthic ecosystems, increasing their complexity and providing spawning and nursery habitats to many species. However, due to their sessile lifestyle and ramified shape they are commonly entangled in nets and even by-caught during the practice of bottom-contact fishing, which includes impacts from both large-scale activities such as trawling and small-scale fishing (e.g., trammel nets or pots). In this context, passive and active restoration measures are crucial to avoid their damage and disappearance, which might cause the consequent loss of complexity and biodiversity of marine benthic communities. With the aim of modifying these fishing practices in the Marine Protected Area of Cap de Creus (North-Western Mediterranean), small-scale fishers and scientists (marine biologists) started a Participatory Process in which they agreed to develop a joint marine conservation program combining two distinct projects: a restoration project of the Cold-Water Corals incidentally captured on fishing nets for their subsequent reintroduction at sea (RESCAP project) and also a project on mitigation of fishing impacts on marine benthic communities (MITICAP project). Collaborative actions were carried out including interviews and exchanges of information with the purpose of collecting all the knowledge required for conducting the actions of the projects. This study shows the results of the assessment throughout five years (2017-2022) of cooperative work and highlights how crucial it is to develop long-term and revisable ocean literacy strategies for ensuring a sustainable ocean governance. An ocean literacy test evaluated the scientific knowledge of fishers at the end of the projects and revealed that despite all the efforts applied, still more work is needed, which reinforces the importance of improving the strategies of knowledge transfer for MPA management. Under the coordination of marine social anthropologists, a Cultural Consensus Analysis was conducted with the fishers. Results revealed a protoculture that should be characterized and considered when developing management strategies in the area. Additionally, the Personal Network Analysis showed that fishers have become agents of change and transmitted the learnings of the projects to their communities, fishers from nearby guilds, local educational centers and even the press. Furthermore, a list of recommendations is provided to optimize the multisector opportunities emerging from collaborative projects with marine scientists and fishers in MPAs.
Stratification and summer protist communities in the Arctic influenced coastal systems of Nunavik (Québec, Canada)
Authors: Jacquemot Loïc , Tremblay Jean-Éric , Morency Carlee , Lovejoy Connie
Published: January 2024

Phytoplankton and other protists in the 3 µm to 50 µm size fraction are grazed on by zooplankton and form the base of Arctic marine food webs essential for local indigenous communities. Anthropogenic climate change is increasing stratification over much of the Arctic Ocean and surrounding seas, but the influence of stratification on protist communities in more coastal regions along Eastern Hudson Bay, Hudson Strait and Ungava Bay is little known. We used 18S rRNA and rDNA amplicon sequencing during two consecutive summers (2017 and 2018) and detailed water column properties to compare the 3 µm to 50 µm protist communities under contrasting stratification regimes in the Eastern Hudson Bay Complex. We found that the surface mixed layer in Eastern Hudson Bay, which is under the influence of river runoff, was strongly stratified and dominated by mixotrophic and bacterivorous taxa, mostly the dinoflagellates Heterocapsa rotundata and Gymnodiniales spp., and a more diatom-dominated community at the Subsurface Chlorophyll Maximum (SCM), which persisted in deeper colder and more saline water. The massive sequencing effort retrieved seven putative toxic algae from the upper warmer waters of eastern Hudson Bay. These included Pseudo-nitzschia spp. and potentially harmful dinoflagellates, most notably Alexandrium sp. The persistent weaker stratification conditions in Hudson Strait and Ungava Bay in summer favored a different diatom community, dominated by Chaetoceros spp. and Thalassiosira spp., and small photosynthetic flagellates including Phaeocystis pouchetii and Micromonas polaris. As freshwater input increases and stratification intensifies in the Arctic, our findings suggest the summer dinoflagellate-based community seen in coastal Hudson Bay may also be favored in other regions receiving increased river runoff. These conditions could also favor harmful algal events. The Hudson Strait and Ungava Bay protist communities were found nearer the surface and consisted of diverse species able to profit from ongoing nutrient input due to tidal mixing. These results suggest greater resilience in this and other tidally influenced coastal Arctic Bays lacking larger rivers inputs.
Oral squamous cell carcinoma detection using EfficientNet on histopathological images
Authors: Albalawi Eid , Thakur Arastu , Ramakrishna Mahesh Thyluru , Bhatia Khan Surbhi , SankaraNarayanan Suresh , Almarri Badar , Hadi Theyazn Hassn
Published: January 2024

Introduction

Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma (OSCC) poses a significant challenge in oncology due to the absence of precise diagnostic tools, leading to delays in identifying the condition. Current diagnostic methods for OSCC have limitations in accuracy and efficiency, highlighting the need for more reliable approaches. This study aims to explore the discriminative potential of histopathological images of oral epithelium and OSCC. By utilizing a database containing 1224 images from 230 patients, captured at varying magnifications and publicly available, a customized deep learning model based on EfficientNetB3 was developed. The model’s objective was to differentiate between normal epithelium and OSCC tissues by employing advanced techniques such as data augmentation, regularization, and optimization.

Methods

The research utilized a histopathological imaging database for Oral Cancer analysis, incorporating 1224 images from 230 patients. These images, taken at various magnifications, formed the basis for training a specialized deep learning model built upon the EfficientNetB3 architecture. The model underwent training to distinguish between normal epithelium and OSCC tissues, employing sophisticated methodologies including data augmentation, regularization techniques, and optimization strategies.

Results

The customized deep learning model achieved significant success, showcasing a remarkable 99% accuracy when tested on the dataset. This high accuracy underscores the model’s efficacy in effectively discerning between normal epithelium and OSCC tissues. Furthermore, the model exhibited impressive precision, recall, and F1-score metrics, reinforcing its potential as a robust diagnostic tool for OSCC.

Discussion

This research demonstrates the promising potential of employing deep learning models to address the diagnostic challenges associated with OSCC. The model’s ability to achieve a 99% accuracy rate on the test dataset signifies a considerable leap forward in earlier and more accurate detection of OSCC. Leveraging advanced techniques in machine learning, such as data augmentation and optimization, has shown promising results in improving patient outcomes through timely and precise identification of OSCC.