bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
ADHD Symptoms Among Adolescents: Factor Structure Based
on Mother and Adolescent Self-Ratings
Authors: Gomez Rapson , Watson Shaun , Brown Taylor
Published: November 2023

Background::

At present, there is little data on the factor structure of
ADHD symptoms in adolescents, especially as they are organized in the International
Classification of Diseases-10 (ICD-10) or the recently proposed ADHD S-1 bifactor
model. This study aimed to analyze how mother and adolescent self-ratings of ADHD
symptoms align with these models.

Methods::

This study utilized confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) on a group of 300
adolescents (ages ranging from 11 to 17 years) to examine the factor structure in
terms of mother ratings and adolescent self-ratings of ADHD symptoms (inattention
[IA], hyperactivity [HY], and impulsivity [IM]) presented in the Disruptive Behavior
Rating Scale (DBRS). Based on existing theory, the study examined five structural
ADHD models: (1) DSM-5/ICD-10 one-factor model (with all symptoms loading on
a single factor); (2) DSM-5 two-factor model (with IA and HY/IM factors); (3) ICD-
10 three-factor model (with IA, HY, and IM factors); (4) DSM-5 bifactor S – 1 model
(with HY/IM as the reference indicators for the general factor); and (5) ICD-10
bifactor S – 1 model (with IM as the reference indicators for the general factor).
Additionally, mothers and adolescents completed the five-item hyperactivity scale in
the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ).

Results::

The results showed the most support for the ICD-10 three-factor model, with
all three factors in this model showing adequate discriminant validity, good omega
coefficient reliability values, and significant and positive association with SDQ
hyperactivity. Furthermore, it is speculated that the ADHD structure in adolescents
might involve a general ADHD factor alongside an IA-specific factor, omitting an
HY component. Since the general factor was marked by the IM symptoms, this
suggests that ADHD at a latent level could be typified by IA and IM symptoms,
excluding HY symptoms.

Conclusion::

The theoretical implications of the findings are discussed.
Fabrication and Physiochemical Characterization of Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles via Citric Assisted Auto Combustion Synthesis
Authors: Gond Anuj Kumar , Kumar Atendra , Shekher Himanshu , Ansari Anees A. , Mandal K.D. , Lee Youngil , Singh Laxman
Published: November 2023

Background:

There are various synthetic routes to synthesize the ZnO particle. However,
none of the routes is best suited for the synthesis of ZnO nanoparticles. Moreover, ZnO nanoparticles
have potential industrial applications.

Aims:

In this research article, ZnO nanoparticles were synthesized by auto combustion route using
the low-cost reagents zinc nitrate hexahydrate and citric acid as a precursor at 90-120°C.

Objective:

Herein, we have synthesized ZnO nanoparticles via auto combustion route using the
low-cost reagents zinc nitrate hexahydrate and citric acid. The current route is very simple as well
as energy-saving with the requirement of using low-cost precursor as compared to the traditional
solid-state method and multi-step sol-gel route.

Method:

Citric-assisted auto-combustion synthesis was employed to fabricate the ZnO nanoparticles.

Result:

The formed precursor powder was calcinated at 500°C for 5 hours in an electrical furnace.
It was found that these particles were in a single phase, and the crystallite size of the nanoparticles
was found to be in the range of 10 to 15 nm.

Conclusion:

We synthesized ZnO nanoparticles at a lower temperature via the citric acid-assisted
combustion method. The thermal properties of ZnO nanoparticles were studied by TGA spectra,
representing the total weight loss of around 47.71% and their thermal stability after 900°C.
Application of Multi-scale Modeling Techniques in System Biology
Authors: Sharma Shweta , Kumar Dinesh
Published: November 2023

Systems biology intends to portray as well as comprehend biology around
the globe, where biological processes are acknowledged as the outcome of complex
mechanisms which occur on multiple dimensions beginning with the molecular level
and reaching to ecosystem level. Biological information in systems biology comes
from overlying but distinct scientific areas, each with its own style of expressing the
events under research. Simulation and modeling are computer-aided methods that are
precious for the quantitative and integrative description, prediction, and exploration of
these mechanisms. In addition, Multi-level and hybrid models have been developed to
meet both improved accuracy and capability of making good knowledge bases, which
turned out to be a valuable tool in computational systems biology. Various methods,
including the silicon model, have been developed in many scientific disciplines for
solving multi-scale problems, which is appropriate to continuum-based modeling
strategies. The association between system properties is depicted using continuous
mathematical equations in which heterogeneous microscopic elements, such as persons,
are modelled using individual units. We summarized multi-scale methodologies and
their application in biotechnology and drug development applications in view of
emphasizing the importance of studying systems as a whole with the role of artificial
intelligence and biostatistical aspects in this review.
System Biology and Livestock Gut Microbiome
Authors: Saikia Shyamalima , Puzari Minakshi , Chetia Pankaj
Published: November 2023

With the recent advances in high throughput next-generation sequencing
technologies and bioinformatics approach, gut microbiome research, especially in
livestock species, has expanded immensely, elucidating the greatest potential to
investigate the unacknowledged understanding of rumen microbiota in host physiology
at the molecular level. The association of a complex aggregated community of
microbes to host metabolism is of great importance due to their crucial participation in
metabolic, immunological, and physiological tasks. The knowledge of this
sophisticated network of a symbiotic association of gut microbiota to host organisms
may lead to novel insights for improving health, enhancing production, and reducing
the risk of disease progression in livestock species necessary to meet the demands of the
human race. The full picture of microorganisms present in a particular area can be
achieved with the help of culture-independent omics-based approaches. The integration
of metagenomics, metatranscriptomics, metaproteomics, and meta-metabolomics
technologies with systems biology emphasizes the taxonomic composition,
identification, functional characterization, gene abundance, metabolic profiling, and
phylogenetic information of microbial population along with the underlying
mechanism for pathological processes and their involvement as probiotic. The rumen
secretions or partially digested feed particles, as well as fecal samples, are generally
employed for gut microbiome investigation. The 16S rRNA gene sequencing
amplicon-based technology is the most employed technique for microbiome profiling
in livestock species to date. The use of software and biological databases in the field of
gut microbiome research gives an accurate in-depth analysis of the microbial
population greatly.
Proteomics in Livestock Health and Diseases
Authors: Sandhu Padmani , Kumari Indu , Swargam Sandeep
Published: November 2023

Proteomics is a branch of science that allows us to study a whole expressed
protein pool from a cell or tissue. This has been helpful for many years in studying
microbial makeup, but in animals, this field has not been explored much due to factors
like the complexity and variation in genes of every cell depending upon their
specialized function and tissue organization. However, in recent years many new
techniques have been introduced in this area, which has added to the plethora of
knowledge about animal proteins and has made it easy to understand the diseases and
health-related aspects of livestock science. In this chapter, we will discuss the new
advancements in animal proteomics to discover the protein pool from the different
animal species of interest, branches of proteomics, and their role in livestock health and
diseases.
Single Cell RNA-Sequencing and Its Application in Livestock Animals
Authors: Verma Renu , Sahu Parameswar , Rana Aarti , Swargam Sandeep , Kumari Indu
Published: November 2023

Single cell RNA sequencing (ScRNAseq) is in its infancy. There are limited
studies in which this technique has been implemented to solve the scientific problem.
ScRNAseq involves well facilitated labs and high end computing facilities. The
ScRNAseq studies were mainly carried out in the clinical and biomedical areas. These
studies are carried out in cancer research, which involves the role of immune genes or
immunotherapy for cancer treatment. The human cell atlas programme is going on and
atlases for different human cells are being released as it is completed. However, in the
case of livestock animals, it has just started. In India, there are few ScRNAseq studies
that have focused on the different developmental stages of buffalo. The experimental
and bioinformatics analysis ScRNAseq involves various steps. Among this, the
alignment of reads to reference genome/transcriptome is important. There is a need to
develop a standardized reference genome/transcriptome for each type of cell present in
different domestic/commercial livestock. Once we have all the valuable information
from ScRNAseq, then this data can be integrated with system biology approaches to
understand the cellular processes at a larger scale. This integration of interdisciplinary
sciences will enhance the production, quality and health of the livestock animals and
may help for sustainable management of livestock.
AI-ML and System Biology for Drug Discovery in Livestock
Authors: Sahu Parameswar , Pradhan Dibyabhaba
Published: November 2023

Advanced research methods have enhanced the productivity and problem
solving abilities of scientific development in the field of drug designing and discovery.
Various diseases have been problematic for the survival of human civilisation and
livestock. Available methods that can provide results for diseases include; computer
aided drug designing, system biology, and machine learning. Due to the diversity of
livestock and multiple disease types, robust methods are required for drug discovery.
Artificial intelligence has paved the way for faster problem solving innovations and
discoveries in multiple aspects, such as economics, engineering, and healthcare.
Systems biology plays a pivotal role in the biological evaluation of living beings.
System-level understanding of livestock animals is the need of the hour for effective
drug discovery, which includes genomic, proteomic, enzymatic, and metabolic
pathways involved in a biological system. Livestock deaths due to diseases are reported
worldwide, which creates a demand for drug discovery solutions. Multiple diseases for
various livestock have been investigated, and drug discovery has been a great relief for
those specific diseases. In this context, we have communicated about the integration of
all the above mentioned aspects (artificial intelligence, machine learning, systems
biology, drug discovery) to come up with a better resolution for the livestock in terms
of drug development.
Genomics to Systems Biology in Livestock Management: its Applications and Future Perspective
Authors: Patil Bheemshetty S. , Kanthe Pallavi S. , Parvatikar Prachi P. , Patil Aravind V.
Published: November 2023

The recurrent and comprehensive study of biological systems as a single
entity in response to stimuli is known as systems biology. The introduction of high-throughput technology for studying an animal's DNA, proteome, and metabolome was
a blow to reductionism in livestock science. It is based on ideas formalized in models
derived from global functional genomics investigations of the genome, transcriptome,
proteome, metabolome, and other complex biological systems. The mapping of entire
sets of genes, transcripts, proteins, and metabolites from a variety of organisms has
driven the creation of novel '-omic' technologies for gathering and analyzing vast
amounts of data. This widely defined systems approach is being used to address a wide
range of issues and organizational scales, along with several elements of livestock
research. It is well established that the tools that relate genetic variations to their
cellular activities, pathways, and other biological roles will become even more essential
in the future. For each animal genomics research issue, a vision, current state of the art,
research needed to progress the field, expected outputs, and partnerships are required.
Modern computational tools capable of finding functional implications and biologically
meaningful networks complement the ever-increasing ability to generate massive
molecular, microbial, and metabolite data sets. The intricate inter-tissue responses to
physiological status and nutrition can now be seen at the same time. The knowledge
acquired from the application of functional analysis of systems biology data sets to
livestock management in order to improve productivity, quality, and yield.
Applications and Future Perspectives of Computational Approaches in Livestock Animals
Authors: Pathak Upasana , Das Abhichandan , Kumar Bora Pranjal , Rajkhowa Sanchaita
Published: November 2023

Livestock is regarded as a critical point of access for enhanced food and
nutrition. With the population explosion, an increase in the successful fulfillment of
livestock production, including meat and dairy products, is necessary in the most
ethical way. Fundamentally keeping the overall nutrition intact along with the health of
both human and livestock animals is vital. Although there is an increment in
production, it contributes to rising greenhouse gas (methane) emissions, thus damaging
the environment. Inheriting novel technologies will not only help in the surplus
upliftment of livestock products but also the emission of greenhouse gases. Omics and
Systems Biology are such approaches. Omics is a combination of different aspects
dealing with complete molecular levels ranging from DNA to protein, protein to
metabolites, whereas Systems Biology is the analysis of both mathematical and
computational along with biological system modeling. Omics gives a broad overview
of both pathways and traits controlling various characters. Thus, showing detailed links
between genotype-phenotype. It can yield an enormous amount of data with incredible
speed. In addition, Systems Biology lines up to give an overview of the complete
biological system rather than just examining a single biological molecule. It combines
mathematical modelling, statistics, and bioinformatics for a better grip and
understanding of the enormous data sets. In this chapter, we discuss the latest cutting-edge technologies in the field of livestock and how omics can be implemented in
creating disease resistant livestock animals without hampering the quality of the
products. The chapter also discusses the various applications and future scopes
involving computational approaches towards animal science.
Descripción de la larva de Parachrysina parapatrica (Coleoptera: Melolonthidae: Rutelinae: Rutelini) de Puebla, México
Authors: Cuate Mozo Víctor Alfonso , Lugo-García Gabriel Antonio , Aragón García Agustín , Aragón-Sánchez Miguel , Pérez-Torres Betzabeth Cecilia
Published: November 2023

La larva de Parachrysina parapatrica Deloya y Morón, 1988 se describe por primera vez con base a especímenes procedentes del Valle de Tehuacán, localidad de Santa Ana, municipio de Teloxtoc, Puebla, México. Las larvas se recolectaron en raíces de amaranto (Amaranthus hipochondriacus L.) y se criaron hasta obtener pupas y adultos. Se incluyen ilustraciones de las estructuras de importancia taxonómica y comentarios sobre su biología.
Evaluación del potencial nutritivo de especies arbustivas tropicales para la alimentación de cerdos de traspatio
Authors: Alcívar Acosta Euster Herwinton , Fernández Romay Yulien , Vivas Walter Fernando , Cusme Rivas Karina Elizabeth , Verduga López Cristian Darío , Heredia Mendoza Joffre Danilo
Published: November 2023

La producción porcina es una de las actividades pecuarias de interés económico de diferentes familias dedicadas a esta actividad pecuaria. La investigación se desarrolló con el objetivo de evaluar la composición nutricional de especies arbustivas tropicales en la alimentación de cerdos de traspatio y se inició con la caracterización proximal de las especies arbustivas presentes en las fincas de los productores de cerdos de traspatio: Morus alba, Erythrina poeppigiana, Hibiscus rosa-sinensis, Trichanthera gigantea, Spondias anacardiaceae, Manihot esculenta, Cnidoscolus aconitifolius, Samanea saman, Gliricidia sepium y Moringa oleífera. Luego, se realizó una prueba de aceptabilidad a las especies con mejor contenido nutricional, a las que cualitativamente se les determinó la presencia de sustancias antinutricionales (alcaloides, fenoles, flavonoides, azucares reductores, mucílago y saponina), visitas según intervalos de tiempo, consumo de las diferentes especies y número de visitas totales. Los datos se analizaron mediante la utilización del programa estadístico Minitab®, versión 18.1, donde los resultados mostraron una mejor composición proximal en las hojas de Cnidoscolus aconitifolius, Morus alba y Moringa oleífera; el tamizaje fitoquímico de las cuatro especies de plantas muestra la ausencia de alcaloides y mucílago en la chaya y la presencia cuantiosa de fenoles en cada especie; la prueba de aceptabilidad mostró que durante los 10 primeros minutos se presentó el mayor número de visitas con un mayor consumo (495,35 g) en el alimento balanceado que incluyó harina de chaya y se concluye que la harina de chaya destaca como la de mejor preferencia alimenticia y el menor contenido de sustancias antinutricionales.
Evaluation of IL-32 and IL-37 levels in Rheumatoid Arthritis
Authors: Hatem Omran Raghda , Abdul-Raheem Ahmed Zahra’a
Published: November 2023

The present study aimed to evaluate the serum level of interleukins 32 and 37
(IL-32 and IL-37) in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients. An ELISA was used to
measure the levels of cytokines in the blood of 56 RA patients and 44 healthy
volunteers who were enrolled in the study from November 2021 to March 2022.
Serum levels of IL-32 and IL-37 in the RA patients were significantly higher
compared to the control groups (IL32, p = 0.035; IL37, p = 0.011). In addition,
cytokine concentration levels were higher in RA patients under therapy than in
RA patients with a first diagnosis and without therapy, with significant differences in IL-37(141.389 ± 24.133 vs. 58.852 ± 7.806 ng/L). In comparison, there
were no significant differences in IL-32 (93.740 ± 10.835 vs. 76.722 ± 9.321
ng/L). The results suggest that pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines may play an essential role in the progression of RA.
Keywords: Autoimmunity, IL-32, IL-37, Rheumatoid arthritis.
Study the effect of the different doses from the laser on Staphylococcus aureus Bacteria growth in vitro
Authors: Ahmed Mustafa Elaf , S. Dawood Numan , Ismail A. Mohammed Khalil
Published: November 2023

Background: Laser is a novel physical therapy technique used to treat various
conditions, including wound healing, inhibition of bacterial growth, and postoperative wounds. High-power pulsed alexandrite laser therapy is one of the most
prevalent forms of laser therapy, which is a noninvasive method for treating various pathological conditions, thereby enhancing functional capacities and quality
of life. It is a modern medical and physiotherapeutic technology. Generally, the
Alexandrite laser emits infrared light with a wavelength of 755 nm, allowing it to
propagate and penetrate tissues. Objective: This study focused on the application
of a high-power pulsed alexandrite laser in vitro to evaluate the effect of a pulsed
alexandrite laser on antibiotic-resistant bacteria utilizing varying exposure times,
pulse durations, and laser fluencies to determine which dose is more effective on
S. aureus bacteria. Method: The laser used in this study was the alexandrite laser
which was considered a pulsed laser and had the following parameters: The
wavelength was 755 nm, the beam diameter was (14 mm), the exposure times
varied (30, 60, 90) seconds, the laser fluency (5, 10, 15 and 20 J.Cm-2). The
study was carried out after the bacteria were diagnosed as being antibioticresistant. They were exposed to different doses of Alexandrite laser. Three samples of bacteria were exposed to laser beams for 30 seconds with a 5ms pulse duration and with a laser fluency of 5J/cm2, and this process was repeated with laser fluencies of 10, 15, and 20. This procedure was repeated using exposure times
of 60sec and 90sec. As well as, this process was repeated by exposure with 30
sec, 60 sec and 90 sec exposure times, 10ms and 20ms pulse durations and with
different laser fluencies 5, 10, 15 and 20J/cm2, separately. Results: A significant
reduction (p = <0.0001) in the mean values of the colony was observed with the
increase of laser fluency doses compared with control at the same pulse duration.
A significant reduction (p = <0.0001) in the mean count of the colonies was observed in the comparison between two laser fluences at the same pulse duration.
In conclusion, the exposure times, pulse durations and laser fluencies of pulsed
alexandrite laser showed an effect on the mean count of the colonies of S aureus
bacteria and determined the effective dose.
Keywords: laser, Staphylococcus aureus, Bacteria growth
Studying the Genetic Parameters of Some Cultivars of Faba Bean
(Vicia faba L.) and Evaluating Their Performance under Different
Levels of Phosphorous
Authors: Algraishi Ali H. , Alogaidi Faez F.
Published: November 2023

A field experiment was carried out during the winter season of 2021-2022 in the
research station - College of Agricultural Engineering Sciences - University of
Baghdad in order to study the genetic parameters of some cultivars of faba bean
cultivars and evaluate their performance under different levels of phosphorus.
Spilled plots were arranged according to randomized complete block design
(RCBD) at three replications. The main plots included three levels of phosphorous
fertilizer (80, 120 and 160 Kg ha-1
) and the control treatment (without fertilizer). In
contrast, the subplots included four faba bean cultivars (Local, Spanish, Dutch and
New Zealand). The results showed highly significant effects of phosphorous fertilizer levels on the most studied traits, as adding phosphorous fertilizer at 160 Kg
gave the highest means of several pods per plant (17.78 pods plant-1
) and seed yield
(4.403 tons ha-1
). Also, the results showed that the faba bean cultivars were significantly different in most studied traits, as the Local cultivar achieved the highest
mean number of pods per plant (16.95pod plant-1
).
In contrast, the Dutch cultivar achieved the highest mean number of seeds per pod
(5.78 seed pod-1
), whereas the Spanish cultivar achieved the highest mean weight
of 100 seeds (86.95 g) and seed yield (5.295 ton ha-1
). The interaction between
studied factors had a non-significant effect on all studied traits except the number
of pods per plant. The genetic variance recorded greater values than the environmental variance in most of the studied traits, indicating that the genetic variance
significantly contributed to the phenotypic variance.
Keywords: Genetic indicators, phosphorous, Vicia faba L., G.C.V., PCV.
Effects of general and specific combining ability and interaction
between them for double crosses in zucchini squash (Cucurbita pepo
L.)
Authors: Hamdan Ayman H. , Al-Zubaae Hussein A.
Published: November 2023

This study used six inbred lines of squash (Cucurbita pepo L.), which were introduced into a half-diallel crossing program to derive 15 single cross hybrids.
According to Rawlings and Cockerham's method of deriving 45 double-cross hybrids, single-cross hybrids were introduced into a double-cross. They included
them in various trial experiments and estimations of the general and specific
combining ability and gene action of the traits studied. The results showed highly
significant differences in the mean square deviations for the double-crosses in all
the studied traits. Inbred lines 6, 4 and 1 showed the highest general combining
ability with the desired direction on fruit diameter and plant yield, respectively.
Also, the double cross hybrids of order S1x2, t(23)(..), t(2.)(6.) showed the highest effect of the specific combining ability to combine on plant yield. Therefore,
the effects of the specific combining ability are more important than the effects of
the general combining ability in most of the studied traits, including the plant
yield, referring to the importance of the dominant genet action and the dominant
× dominant in the inheritance of these traits.
Keywords: Genetic, squash, half-diallel, combining ability, single cross, Doublecross, breeding plant, hybrids.
Relationship between Toll-like receptors and pathogenesis of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus
Authors: Ahmed Ratib Basma , Mohammed Saud Asmaa
Published: November 2023

Systemic Lupus Erythematosus is a chronic inflammatory disease characterized by a loss of self-antigen tolerance and the development of high titers of serum autoantibodies, with a wide range of clinical manifestations and complex etiologies. Its etiology is influenced by various genetic, hormonal, immunologic, and environmental factors. SLE affects around 90% of women of reproductive age. The study aims to evaluate the serum levels of Toll-like receptor 7 (TLR7) in a sample of Iraqi SLE patients and its potential relationship with other clinical and laboratory parameters. The study included 100 female patients and 50 healthy females with an age range of (16-65) years old and healthy individuals with an age range of (16-65) years old and mean ages of (35.72 ±11.66 and 35.72 ±11.66) respectively. The current study is performed to estimate the serum levels of (TLR7, ANA, Urea, creatinine, and Vitamin D3) and a laboratory investigation for ESR, hemoglobin, and white blood cells by using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA)and automated Fujifilm. Serum levels of TLR7 were increased in the SLE patients compared to the control, and a significant difference has been observed (P≤0.01) among SLE patients compared to the control. Urea, creatinine, and ESR were significantly higher. At the same time, the Vitamin D3, hemoglobin, and white blood cells were significantly lower (p< 0.01) among SLE patients compared to control. On the other hand, there was no evidence of any correlation between TLR7 serum level and disease laboratory investigation. Keywords: Antinuclear autoantibody, Haemoglobin, Interferon, SLE, Toll-Like Receptor-7, WBC.
Effect of P-glycoprotein inhibitor (Carvedilol) on pharmacological
and hematological effects of its substrate (methotrexate) on pregnant
and lactating rat mothers
Authors: Khalaf Shnawa Zaid , Hadi Abass Duraid Abdul
Published: November 2023

Sixty albino rats (40 female rats and 20 males) were allocated into four dosing
groups administered orally carvedilol (T1) 0.72mg/kg, methotrexate (T2)
0.36mg/kg, combined doses (T3) carvedilol + methotrexate and control group
(Distilled water) for 2 months in male and 2 weeks in female rats before mating
and after copulation and approval of pregnancy, dosing continued in female
groups during pregnancy and lactation periods. Half of the animal groups were
euthanized one day before parturation to determine P-gp concentration in the placenta and liver of pregnant mothers. In contrast, the other half was left for parturition and lactation to study the effects of carvedilol (P-gp inhibitor) on methotrexate (P-gp substrate) when given alone and in combination with some pharmacological, hematological, and biochemical parameters in lactating mothers and
pups at the end of lactation. The pharmacological results showed the highest significant antinociceptive responses both in the early and late phase in the T3
(CV+MTX) followed by the T2 (MTX) group. In contrast, the T1 (Cv) animal
group showed nearly resembling results as that of the control group in the early
and late phases of the formalin test. The written test also recorded the same result
as the Formlin test, indicating a significantly higher analgesic effect in T3 followed by T2 in comparison to T1 and control groups. The TNF alpha results supported the anti-inflammatory effect, recording a significant decline mainly in the
T3 and T2 groups. The hematological results recorded significantly more reduction in WBC levels in mother and their pups in comparison with T1 and control
groups. The serum electrolyte levels (Na+, K+, Ca+2) recorded in all treated
groups and pups showed a significant increase in potassium levels in the T1 and
T2 mother rat groups. The P-glycoprotein (P-gp) concentration measured in liver
and placenta of euthanized pregnant mother before delivery recorded potent inhibition of P-gp in T1 & T3 groups which might altered pharmacokinetic and
pharmacodynamic effects of substrate by carvedilol that considered a potent P-gp
inhibitor drugs, this might explain our results of increase in pharmacological effect of methotrexate and their side effect on electrolyte concentration and hematology in combined group of CV+ MTX.
Keywords: Carvedilol, Methotrexate, p-gp inhibitor, Anti-inflammatory, Hematology, Electrolyte.
Nanohydroxyapatite in enamel remineralization and tooth hypersensitivity
Authors: Hussein Abd Marwa , H. Jehad Rasha
Published: November 2023

This study evaluates the advantages of employing nano-hydroxyapatite in dentistry, particularly for preventive treatment applications. Only electronically published papers were searched within this review. Sources: "PubMed" website was the only source used to search for data. Ninety-two of the most relevant papers were selected, significantly the original articles and review papers, from 1990 till the 1st of April 2022. The morphology of nano-hydroxyapatite, as well as the structure of its crystals, are close to that of dental enamel. As a result, hydroxyapatite can biomimetically replace the natural enamel mineral element. Keywords: remineralization of enamel, nanotechnology, nanohydroxyapatite, hypersensitivity.
The effect of vitamin D deficiency on the cellular immunity of patients in the early stage of COVID-19 disease
Authors: Sadeg Ali , Arrak Abbas
Published: November 2023

COVID-19 is a disease with a wide range of symptoms and severity due to the
ability of SARS-COV-2 to infect many kinds of tissues and organs in the patient's
body. The disease begins commonly with symptoms of respiratory tract infection
that may be mild and limited or progress to severe infection with fatal consequences. Vitamins play essential roles in our biology, including supporting immunity. Vitamin D deficiency became a public problem, and its effect as an immunomodulator in many viral infections was approved. This study investigated the
effect of vitamin D deficiency on cellular immunity, especially lymphocytes, in
COVID-19 patients when the disease is in its early stages. Tests were done for the
complete blood count lymphocyte proliferation assay in response to non-specific
mitogen and immunoglobulin levels. The study revealed no significant effect of
vitamin D deficiency on the T-lymphocyte activation at the early stage of the infection. Vitamin D deficient patients have lower immunoglobulin levels, necessitating vaccination against COVID-19 infection.

Keywords: COVID-19, lymphocyte proliferation, mitotic index, vitamin D
Genotyping of rs228666 SNP of the human gene ACE2 in mild,
moderate and severe COVID-19 patients.
Authors: M. Kradi Amer , Hussein M. AlFaisal Abdul , M. Turki Ahmed
Published: November 2023

The ACE2-converting enzyme has been identified as the specific receptor for
coronavirus, but the effect of the ACE2 gene polymorphism is still unknown, so
the expression of human ACE2 independently may affect the susceptibility to infection with COVID-19. Coronavirus is an infectious and pandemic disease
caused by it. To evaluate the association between the ACE2 gene polymorphism
and the severity of COVID-19 infection, we used PCR polymerase reaction and
polymorphism methods to examine 80 patients classified into severe infection
based on symptoms and 80 control factors. Results demonstrated statistical significance in this high-risk group and the function of rs228666 SNP in the risk of
infection with the independent ACE2 gene rs228666. Individuals who have the
variation A allele may be more vulnerable to infection than those who carry G in
a condition with the GA genotype when compared to other genotypes GG and
GA.
In contrast, the AA genotype was not significant. Coronavirus susceptibility and
disease severity were related to inflammation and genetic polymorphism, while
there was no clear evidence linking this rs228666 SNP to the severity of COVID19 infection. At the 0.01 % probability level, the prediction of the GG genotype
for control was not significant. In the case of mild infections, the ACE2 rs228666
SNP genotype was found to be a protective factor for infection with COVID-19
illness in Iraqi patients. Furthermore, patients with this GA genotype are more
likely to develop COVID-19 illness than the other genotypes, although the AA
genotype had no significant effect on this disease. Individuals with the A allele
are also more likely to be infected with COVID-19 than those with the G allele,
according to the findings. The GG genotype of the ACE2 rs228666 SNP was substantially more significant at the 0.01 % probability level in the medium cases
compared to the control group, showing that the GG genotype of the ACE2
rs228666 SNP is a protective factor against the incidence of infection. With
COVID-19 in Iraqi patients, however, the values of the AA genotype are not significant, implying that an individual who carries the A allele is more likely to get
COVID-19 disease than those who possess the GG allele.
Keywords: Coronavirus, SNP, ACE2.
Exploring the Incorporation of a Novel Cardiotoxicity Mobile Health App Into Care of Patients With Cancer: Qualitative Study of Patient and Provider Perspectives
Authors: Gregory Megan E , Cao Weidan , Rahurkar Saurabh , Jonnalagadda Pallavi , Stock James C , Ghazi Sanam M , Reid Endia , Berk Abigail L , Hebert Courtney , Li Lang , Addison Daniel
Published: November 2023

Background

Cardiotoxicity is a limitation of several cancer therapies and early recognition improves outcomes. Symptom-tracking mobile health (mHealth) apps are feasible and beneficial, but key elements for mHealth symptom-tracking to indicate early signs of cardiotoxicity are unknown.

Objective

We explored considerations for the design of, and implementation into a large academic medical center, an mHealth symptom-tracking tool for early recognition of cardiotoxicity in patients with cancer after cancer therapy initiation.

Methods

We conducted semistructured interviews of >50% of the providers (oncologists, cardio-oncologists, and radiation oncologists) who manage cancer treatment-related cardiotoxicity in the participating institution (n=11), and either interviews or co-design or both with 6 patients. Data were coded and analyzed using thematic analysis.

Results

Providers indicated that there was no existing process to enable early recognition of cardiotoxicity and felt the app could reduce delays in diagnosis and lead to better patient outcomes. Signs and symptoms providers recommended for tracking included chest pain or tightness, shortness of breath, heart racing or palpitations, syncope, lightheadedness, edema, and excessive fatigue. Implementation barriers included determining who would receive symptom reports, ensuring all members of the patient’s care team (eg, oncologist, cardiologist, and primary care) were informed of the symptom reports and could collaborate on care plans, and how to best integrate the app data into the electronic health record. Patients (n=6, 100%) agreed that the app would be useful for enhanced symptom capture and education and indicated willingness to use it.

Conclusions

Providers and patients agree that a patient-facing, cancer treatment-related cardiotoxicity symptom-tracking mHealth app would be beneficial. Additional studies evaluating the role of mHealth as a potential strategy for targeted early cardioprotective therapy initiation are needed.
A Novel Evaluation Model for Assessing ChatGPT on Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery Certification Examinations: Performance Study
Authors: Long Cai , Lowe Kayle , Zhang Jessica , Santos André dos , Alanazi Alaa , O'Brien Daniel , Wright Erin D , Cote David
Published: November 2023

Background

ChatGPT is among the most popular large language models (LLMs), exhibiting proficiency in various standardized tests, including multiple-choice medical board examinations. However, its performance on otolaryngology–head and neck surgery (OHNS) certification examinations and open-ended medical board certification examinations has not been reported.

Objective

We aimed to evaluate the performance of ChatGPT on OHNS board examinations and propose a novel method to assess an AI model’s performance on open-ended medical board examination questions.

Methods

Twenty-one open-ended questions were adopted from the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada’s sample examination to query ChatGPT on April 11, 2023, with and without prompts. A new model, named Concordance, Validity, Safety, Competency (CVSC), was developed to evaluate its performance.

Results

In an open-ended question assessment, ChatGPT achieved a passing mark (an average of 75% across 3 trials) in the attempts and demonstrated higher accuracy with prompts. The model demonstrated high concordance (92.06%) and satisfactory validity. While demonstrating considerable consistency in regenerating answers, it often provided only partially correct responses. Notably, concerning features such as hallucinations and self-conflicting answers were observed.

Conclusions

ChatGPT achieved a passing score in the sample examination and demonstrated the potential to pass the OHNS certification examination of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada. Some concerns remain due to its hallucinations, which could pose risks to patient safety. Further adjustments are necessary to yield safer and more accurate answers for clinical implementation.
A Virtual Reality Serious Game for the Rehabilitation of Hand and Finger Function: Iterative Development and Suitability Study (Preprint)
Authors: Bressler Michael , Merk Joachim , Gohlke Tanja , Kayali Fares , Daigeler Adrien , Kolbenschlag Jonas , Prahm Cosima
Published: November 2023

BACKGROUND

Restoring hand and finger function after a traumatic hand injury necessitates a regimen of consistent and conscientious exercise. However, motivation frequently wanes due to unchallenging repetitive tasks or discomfort, causing exercises to be performed carelessly or avoided completely. Introducing gamification to these repetitive tasks can make them more appealing to patients, ultimately increasing their motivation to exercise consistently.

OBJECTIVE

This study aims to iteratively develop a serious virtual reality game for hand and finger rehabilitation within an appealing and engaging digital environment, encouraging patient motivation for at least 2 weeks of continuous therapy.

METHODS

The development process comprised 3 distinct stages, each of which was subject to evaluation. Initially, a prototype was created to encompass the game’s core functionalities, which was assessed by 18 healthy participants and 7 patients with impaired hand function. Subsequently, version 1 of the game was developed and evaluated with 20 patients who were divided into an investigation group and a control group. On the basis of these findings, version 2 was developed and evaluated with 20 patients who were divided into an investigation group and a control group. Motivation was assessed using the Intrinsic Motivation Inventory (IMI), while the application’s quality was rated using the Mobile Application Rating Scale and the System Usability Scale. User feedback was gathered using semistructured interviews.

RESULTS

The prototype evaluation confirmed the acceptance and feasibility of the game design. Version 1 significantly increased motivation in 2 IMI subscales, effort (P<.001) and usefulness (P=.02). In version 2, a significant increase in daily performed exercises was achieved (P=.008) compared to version 1, with significantly higher motivation in the IMI subscale effort (P=.02). High Mobile Application Rating Scale scores were obtained for both versions 1 and 2, with version 2 scoring 86.9 on the System Usability Scale, indicating excellent acceptability. User feedback provided by the semistructured interviews was instrumental in the iterative development regarding improvements and the expansion of the playable content.

CONCLUSIONS

This study presented a virtual reality serious game designed for hand and finger rehabilitation. The game was well received and provided an environment that effectively motivated the users. The iterative development process incorporated user feedback, confirming the game’s ease of use and feasibility even for patients with severely limited hand function.
Early Identification of Cognitive Impairment in Community Environments Through Modeling Subtle Inconsistencies in Questionnaire Responses: Machine Learning Model Development and Validation (Preprint)
Authors: Gao Hongxin , Schneider Stefan , Hernandez Raymond , Harris Jenny , Maupin Danny , Junghaenel Doerte U , Kapteyn Arie , Stone Arthur , Zelinski Elizabeth , Meijer Erik , Lee Pey-Jiuan , Orriens Bart , Jin Haomiao
Published: November 2023

BACKGROUND

The underdiagnosis of cognitive impairment hinders timely intervention of dementia. Health professionals working in the community play a critical role in the early detection of cognitive impairment, yet still face several challenges such as a lack of suitable tools, necessary training, and potential stigmatization.

OBJECTIVE

This study explored a novel application integrating psychometric methods with data science techniques to model subtle inconsistencies in questionnaire response data for early identification of cognitive impairment in community environments.

METHODS

This study analyzed questionnaire response data from participants aged 50 years and older in the Health and Retirement Study (waves 8-9, n=12,942). Predictors included low-quality response indices generated using the graded response model from four brief questionnaires (optimism, hopelessness, purpose in life, and life satisfaction) assessing aspects of overall well-being, a focus of health professionals in communities. The primary and supplemental predicted outcomes were current cognitive impairment derived from a validated criterion and dementia or mortality in the next ten years. Seven predictive models were trained, and the performance of these models was evaluated and compared.

RESULTS

The multilayer perceptron exhibited the best performance in predicting current cognitive impairment. In the selected four questionnaires, the area under curve values for identifying current cognitive impairment ranged from 0.63 to 0.66 and was improved to 0.71 to 0.74 when combining the low-quality response indices with age and gender for prediction. We set the threshold for assessing cognitive impairment risk in the tool based on the ratio of underdiagnosis costs to overdiagnosis costs, and a ratio of 4 was used as the default choice. Furthermore, the tool outperformed the efficiency of age or health-based screening strategies for identifying individuals at high risk for cognitive impairment, particularly in the 50- to 59-year and 60- to 69-year age groups. The tool is available on a portal website for the public to access freely.

CONCLUSIONS

We developed a novel prediction tool that integrates psychometric methods with data science to facilitate “passive or backend” cognitive impairment assessments in community settings, aiming to promote early cognitive impairment detection. This tool simplifies the cognitive impairment assessment process, making it more adaptable and reducing burdens. Our approach also presents a new perspective for using questionnaire data: leveraging, rather than dismissing, low-quality data.

CLINICALTRIAL
Floral indumentum of Miconia: in search of diagnostic characters for the tribe Miconieae
Authors: Gonçales Raisa , Carmo Amanda Aparecida O. do , Santos Anderson F. dos , de Souza Luiz Antonio
Published: November 2023

The tribe Miconieae was composed of a few genera, such as Miconia, Clidemia, Leandra, and Ossaea, but recent works have recognized Miconia as the only genus of the tribe. The morphological diversity of trichomes in Melastomataceae have been employed for systematic purposes, especially the foliar indumentum. In the present paper, hypanthium trichomes of 24 species of Miconieae were investigated, 8 species of Miconia sensu stricto and 16 species of Leandra, as a contribution to the taxonomy of the tribe. Samples were obtained from herbarium and plant specimens collected in a state park in Paraná, Brazil. The hypanthium indumentum of the samples was analyzed using a scanning electron microscope. Our results revealed that long-peduncle stellate trichomes appear only within Miconias.s., while dendritic eglandular trichomes and glandular trichomes appear only in Leandra. Mixed trichomes with a lateral gland are less frequent and were found in both genera. It is not surprising, therefore, that the hypanthia of the investigated species possess indumentum of potential taxonomic significance. The characters of the indumentum of Miconia s.s., and Leandra may be useful in the infrageneric taxonomy of the new proposal for the tribe Miconieae.
Pendampingan Pemenuhan Persetujuan Kegiatan Pemanfaatan Ruang bagi Pelaku Usaha
Authors: Kurniawan Kukuh Dwi , Luthfi Muhammad
Published: November 2023

Pelaku usaha dalam menjalankan usahanya pasca diterbitkan UU Ciptaker diwajibkan mempunyai perizinan berupa persetujuan kegiatan pemanfaatan ruang atau PKKPR. Perihal pengusulannya diajukan secara online melalui portal oss.go.id dengan mencukupi kebutuhan dokumennya terlebih dahulu. Perizinan PKKPR ini bertujuan untuk memberikan jaminan agar pelaku usaha tidak melampaui batas-batas terlarang yang telah ditetapkan dalam ketentuan perundang-undangan, sehingga dapat terjaminnya keseimbangan pembangunan sosial dan lingkungan yang baik. Metode pendampingan ini dilakukan dengan tahapan persiapan, sosialisasi kegiatan, pendampingan pengusulan, diskusi berkala, evaluasi dan monitoring. Meskipun pengusulan perizinan ini relatif mudah, namun dikarenakan perizinan ini masih baru diperlukan pencermatan atas dokumen-dokumen yang dibutuhkan dan detail pengurusannya karena lintas instansi pemerintahan. Pengabdian ini diharapkan dapat menjadi memudahkan para pelaku usaha dalam melakukan pengurusan PKKPR dan dapat menjalankan usahanya dengan baik dikarenakan sesuai dengan ketentuan hukum yang berlaku.
Abstract
Assistance in Fulfilling the Approval of Space Utilization Activities for Business Actors
Business actors in carrying out their business after the issuance of the Ciptaker Law are required to have a license in the form of approval of space utilization activities or PKKPR. The proposal is submitted online through the portal oss.go.id by fulfilling the document requirements first. The PKKPR license aims to provide a guarantee that business actors do not exceed the prohibited limits set out in statutory provisions, so that a good balance of social and environmental development can be guaranteed. This assistance method is carried out with stages of preparation, socialization of activities, assistance with proposals, periodic discussions, evaluation and monitoring. Although proposing this license is relatively easy, because this license is still new, it is necessary to look at the documents needed and the details of the management because it is across government agencies. This service is expected to make it easier for business actors to manage PKKPR and be able to run their business well in accordance with applicable legal provisions.