bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The effect of peri-operative pain neuroscience education on post-operative pain and recovery in adult patients receiving laparoscopic inguinal hernia repair---A prospective randomized controlled trial
Authors: Peng Lihua , Wang wenjian , Zhang Dong , Liu Xiaonan
Published: January 2024

Background
Peri-operative pain neuroscience education(PNE) is emerging as a peri-operative pain-specific cognitive therapy. To optimize the efficacy of analgesia for patients receiving laparoscopic inguinal hernia repair, PNE was incorporated into multi-modal analgesia.
Materials and methods
A randomized controlled trial was conducted to compare conventionally peri-operative multi-modal analgesia (group CA) and the addition of pain neuroscience education into it (group PNE). Setting: this study was designed and conducted in a tertiary teaching hospital in Southwest China.patients receiving laparoscopic hernia repair. The peri-operative pain trajectory were investigated. Characteristics of peri-operative pain was evaluated with Douleur Neuropathique 4 questionnaire (DN−4), central sensitization inventory (CSI) and pain catastrophizing scale (PCS) post-operatively. Pressure pain threshold was also compared between two groups .Post-operative quality of recovery was measured with EuroQol five dimensions questionnaire (EQ-5D-5L).The incidence of chronic post-operative pain at 3 months after surgery was also recorded.
Results
A total of 184 patients consented to participate in this study and finished follow-up.Compared with those receiving conventional analgesia (group CA,N = 91), patients in group PNE (N = 93) reported reduced intensity of acute pain from 12 till 72 hours after surgery and less dosages of opioid during hospitalization (p < 0.05). Catastrophizing, sensitization of peri-operative pain were reduced in group PNE (p < 0.05). Quality of recovery was improved till one month after surgery(p < 0.05).
Conclusions
The addition of pain neuroscience education into peri-operative multi-modal analgesia improved analgesic effect and quality of recovery for patients undergoing laparoscopic inguinal hernia repair. This psychological analgesic regimen also helped reduce sensitization and catastrophizing of acute surgical pain in these patients.
In vivo magnetogenetics for cell-type specific targeting and modulation of brain circuits
Authors: Cheon Jinwoo , Choi Seo-Hyun , Shin Jihye , Park Chanhyun , Lee Jung-uk , Lee Jaegyeong , Yu Ri , Ambo Yuko , Shin Wookjin , Lah Jungsu , Shin Donghun , Kim Gooreum , Noh Kunwoo , Koh Wuhyun , Lee C. Justin , Lee Jae-Hyun , Kwak Minsuk , Kim Ju-Young
Published: January 2024

Neuromodulation technologies have been essential in investigating the roles of neurons and their connectivity and brain functions. While magnetic neuromodulation holds unique capabilities of wireless and remote deep brain stimulations which are lacking for optogenetics or electrode-based tools, some of the earlier magnetic approaches have faced controversies due to the limited understanding of the working principles and poorly designed magnetic operating system. Furthermore, despite its utmost importance in neuroscience research, cell-type specific magnetic neuromodulation has not been reported. Here, we develop a nanomaterials-based magnetogenetic toolbox for the selective activation of specific neural populations with robust and temporally regulated neuronal responses in vitro and in vivo. In conjunction with Cre-loxP technology, the torque force generated by the nanomagnetic actuators activate Piezo1 ion channels, which are selectively expressed in the targeted neuronal populations. We demonstrate the power of this cell-type-targeting magnetic approach for remote and spatiotemporally precise control of deep-brain neural activity in multiple behavior models, including bidirectional feeding control, long-term neuromodulation for weight control in obese mice, and wireless modulation of social behaviors in multiple mice in the same physical space. Our study proves the potential of cell-type specific magnetogenetics toward effective and reliable research tools of life sciences, especially in wireless, long-term, and freely behaving animal studies of various scales from mice to primates with the advantage of magnetism.
Comparison of clinical characteristics and pathologic complete response (pCR) rate after neoadjuvant chemotherapy in women under 35 years and older women with breast cancer
Authors: Dou He , Gao Tian , Li Zhao ting , Jia Si yuan , Luo Dan li , Ba Yu ling , Yu Ping yang , Li Fu cheng , Wang You yu , Chen Xing yan , Wang Jia nan , Xiao Min
Published: January 2024

Purpose
Age has been confirmed to be a very aggressive biological factor associated with the poor prognosis of breast cancer (BC) patients. But the understanding of young women's breast cancer (YWBC) is scarce. This study compares and evaluates the clinical characteristics and pCR rate after neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) in YWBC and older women with BC.
Patients and methods
We retrospectively analyzed the clinicopathological data, molecular subtypes, chemotherapy regimen, and pCR rates of 1419 non-metastatic BC patients from the Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Harbin Medical University from January 1, 2012, to December 31, 2019. Patients were classified according to age (35 years old and below vs above 35 years old) with the clinical parameters. Categorical data were compared using the chi-square test and Fisher's exact test for multivariate data using Logistic regression models. Any predictor variable with P < 0.05 in the univariate analysis was included in the multivariate regression analysis to study the relationship between different age groups and pCR.
Results
A total of 879 patients in this study were eligible for analysis, and 71(8.1%) female patients were ≤ 35 years old. YWBC were more likely to get pCR (25.4%vs15.6%, P = 0.033). The proportion of patients with a higher clinical stage was higher. Compared with elderly patients, YWBC patients were more likely to undergo breast-conserving surgery (BCS), multivariate analyses found similar results in different age groups, and more patients with HER-2 positive and triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). In the whole group, Age, PR expression, HER-2 expression, KI67 expression, and clinical stage were the independent predictors of pCR after NAC in BC patients (P < 0.05).
Conclusion
Our study found that age is the main factor affecting the achievement of pCR in patients with BC. YWBC has a higher clinical stage and a high proportion of HER-2 positive patients, which is the leading cause of poor prognosis. YWBC has a higher effect on chemotherapy. We need to pay more attention to this group and achieve individualized treatment, which will help us treat BC better and provide new targets and blueprints for our clinical therapy.
Protocol for a mixed methods process evaluation for a nurse-led model of care (SURC) to support individuals receiving systemic anti-cancer therapy
Authors: Dufton Polly Hypatia , Jarden Rebecca , Mellerick Angela , Down Graeme , Walkley Elizabeth , Naccarella Lucio , Krishnasamy Mei
Published: January 2024

Background: The Symptom and Urgent Review Clinic is a nurse-led model of care that has been widely embedded into cancer services across Victoria, Australia. The model was implemented with the primary aim of creating a timely and accessible point of contact for patients and caregivers of patients receiving systemic anti-cancer therapy in the ambulatory setting. Since the initial pilot program to roll out these models in 2018, there are now over 20 Symptom and Urgent Review Clinics across Victoria. This protocol details a study to examine whether the model has achieved its goal of enabling timely access to care, under what conditions, or for what groups of people.
Methods: A mixed-methods process evaluation will be undertaken across seven health services in Victoria, Australia. Drawing upon Levesque’s framework for patient-centred access to health care, access to the Symptom and Urgent Review Clinic by people receiving systemic anti-cancer therapy in the ambulatory setting will be evaluated. Quantitative data will be collected by 1) a prospective cross-sectional survey of patients and caregivers; 2) a prospective cross-sectional survey of nurses working within the Symptom and Urgent Review Clinic; 3) a prospective cross-sectional survey of Nurse Unit Managers of Symptom and Urgent Review Clinics and; 4) a retrospective audit of episodes of care of individuals treated with systemic anti-cancer therapy in the ambulatory setting over a 12-month period, and SURC episodes of care over the same time period. Qualitative data will be collected via 1) semi-structured interviews with patients and their caregivers and 2) focus groups with nurses caring for individuals with cancer. An audit of documentation about the model of care available at each site will also be undertaken. Data will be collected concurrently and synthesised at point of interpretation.
Discussion: The Symptom and Urgent Review Clinic has been implemented to enable timely access to symptom management support for individuals receiving systemic anti-cancer therapy in the ambulatory setting. The results of this evaluation will provide guidance for future program delivery and evidence of how these models of care can be implemented to enable access to timely care.
Prevalence and geographic distribution of Eimeria species on commercial broiler farms in Guangdong, China
Authors: Liao Shenquan , Lin Xuhui , Zhou Qingfeng , Yan Zhuanqiang , Wu Caiyan , Li Juan , Lv Minna , Hu Junjing , Cai Haiming , Song Yongle , Chen Xiangjie , Zhu Yibin , Yin Lijun , Zhang Jianfei , Qi Nanshan , Sun Mingfei
Published: January 2024

Background
Coccidiosis is one of the most frequently reported disease in chickens, exerting a substantial economic impact on the poultry industry. This study aims to conduct an epidemiological investigation into the occurrence of Eimeria species and associated risk factors under intensive management conditions across four regions in Guangdong province, China.
Results
A total of 394 fecal samples were obtained from 89 broiler chicken farms, culminating in an overall positivity rate of 87.06%. The results showed that the identification of all seven Eimeria species, with E. acervulina (36.29%), E. mitis (35.03%), E. tenella (34.52%) and E. necatrix (30.96%) emerging as the most prevalent species. Remarkably, single-species infections were observed in 42.86% of instances, while two to three species mixed infections were detected in 39.94% of the samples. Moreover, brid age, farming practices, control strategies, farm locations, and the presence of necrotic enteritis (NE) proved significant risk factors. Notably, a strong correlation was observed between brid age, particularly in adult birds, and the occurrence of E. necatrix (p < 0.001). A significant correlation was identified between the infection of E. necatrix or E. acervulina and the presence of NE in flocks (p < 0.001). Flocks from northern Guangdong and Peal River delta displayed higher prevalence of E. necatrix (p < 0.05). Flocks under the control programs incorporating live vaccines correlated strongly with E. tenella–E. brunetti infections (p < 0.05).
Conclusions
Molecular analysis undertaken in this study, coupled with the correlation results, furnishes compelling evidence. Nevertheless, it is imperative to underscore the necessity for further surveys to delve deeper into the occurrence of different Eimeria species under intensive management conditions, which will contribute significantly to our knowledge of coccidia control in poultry.
Vegetation Change Detection and Recovery Assessment on Post-fire Satellite Imagery using Deep Learning
Authors: Rajendran R. Shanmuga Priya , K K. Vani
Published: January 2024

Wildfire are uncontrolled fires fueled by dry conditions, high winds and flammable materials that tends to have a profound impact on vegetation due to the intense heat generated by it which can cause the destruction of trees, small plants and other vegetation leading to significant consequences including noteworthy changes to ecosystems. Due to the periodic wildfires, vegetation communities in forest systems have changed adaptively to deal with ecological rebuilding. In this study we provide a novel methodology, to understand and evaluate post-fire effects on vegetation. In regions which are affected by wildfire, earth-observation data provided by various satellite sources can be very vital in monitoring vegetation and assessing the effect a wildfire tends to have on it. These effects can be understood by detecting the change of vegetation over years using an unsupervised method termed Deep Embedded Clustering (DEC), which enables us to classify regions on whether there has been a change in vegetation after fire. Appropriate vegetation indices can be used to evaluate evolution of vegetation pattern over the years, for this study we utilized Enhanced Vegetation Index (EVI) based trend analysis. Vegetation recovery maps can be created to assess re-vegetation in regions affected by fire which is performed via a deep learning based unsupervised method, Adaptive Generative Adversarial Neural Network Model (AdaptiGAN) on postfire data collected from various regions affected by wildfire. Through the results obtained from the study we can arrive at a conclusion that our approach tends to have notable merits when compared to pre-existing works.
Quantitative morphological and histogram characteristics associated with recurrent ischemic stroke after intensive medical therapy: a perspective 6-month follow-up study based on head&neck high-resolution vessel wall magnetic resonance imaging
Authors: Shi Zhang , Zhang Boyu , Miao Xiyin , Zhang Shujie , Li Jing , Liu Qi , Zeng Mengsu , Lin Jiang , Lu Jianping , Wang He
Published: January 2024

Intensive medical management has been recommended to ischemic stroke of intracranial atherosclerosis (ICAS), but 9.4–15% probability of recurrent stroke remains an inevitable reality. The characteristics of high-risk intracranial plaque that contribute to stroke recurrence after intensive therapy is unclear. The patients of acute ischemic stroke due to ICAS from two centers were prospectively analyzed, who underwent the 3D head&neck high-resolution vessel wall magnetic resonance imaging (hr-VW-MRI) at baseline and received intensive medical management within 90 days. The morphological features, such as minimal lumen area (MLA), and histogram parameters including entropy were assessed based on hr-VW-MR images. The recurrence of ischemic events after 6 months was defined as hyperintensity on diffusion-weighted images in the ipsilateral vascular territory. 222 patients (age, 59.5 ± 12.1; males, 153) were finally included, and 38 have recurrent stroke after 6 months. After adjusting the age and gender, Cox regression demonstrated that smoking (HR = 4.321; 95%CI, 1.838–10.161; P = 0.001), taking exercise (HR = 0.409; 95%CI, 0.198–0.843; P = 0.015), blood pressure management (HR = 0.180; 95%CI, 0.073–0.443; P = 0.001), MLA (HR = 0.771; 95%CI, 0.625–0.951; P = 0.015) and entropy (HR = 0.274; 95%CI, 0.130–0.576; P = 0.001) were significant predictors of recurrent ischemic stroke. However, the area under curve value of MRI parameters was significantly higher than that of traditional clinical factors (0.859 vs 0.789; P = 0.01). The plaque characteristics based on hr-VW-MRI may provide complementary values over traditional clinical features in predicting ischemic recurrence for ICAS.
Construction and validation of a predictive model for preoperative frailty risk in liver transplant recipients
Authors: Zhang Bingliang , Sun Huihui , lou Lianyu , Zhuang Jinshan , Liu Guofang , Sun Wenjuan , Lin Hui , Wei Lili
Published: January 2024

Objective:
Early frailty detection and tailored interventions to address frailty may increase the survival rate of liver transplant patients during the waiting period and lower infection and death rates following transplantation, with the aim of developing and testing a model to predict the likelihood that a liver transplant recipient would be too weak to undergo surgery.
Methods:
Facilitation of the procedure for patients on the liver transplant waiting list at a tertiary hospital in Qingdao from January 2021 to December 2022 was chosen for the study. The modeling group participants were recruited from January 2021 to June 2022 (258 cases), while the validation group participants were selected from October 2022 to December 2022 (65 instances). A nomogram was created to display the results of the risk prediction model's single-factor and logistic regression studies. The adequacy of the model was evaluated using the Hosmer-Lemeshow test, and its ability to make accurate predictions was evaluated using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves.
Results:
The incidence of preoperative frailty in liver transplant recipients was 39.32%. Age (OR = 0.121), serum ALB concentration (OR=-0.586), physical activity (OR=-0.002), depression (OR = 1.055), anxiety (OR = 0.557), and hepatic encephalopathy (OR = 1.731) were risk factors (P < 0.05). The Hosmer-Lemeshow test χ2 = 3.139, P = 0.925 (> 0.05) indicated that the model fit well. The AUC was 0.997, with a 95% CI ranging from 0.992 to 0.998 and P < 0.001. The optimal cutoff value was 0.630, the sensitivity was 0.993, and the specificity was 0.963. The external validation results showed a sensitivity of 0.889, specificity of 0.950, and accuracy of 84.7%.
Conclusion:
This risk prediction model has a high rate of accuracy, making it a useful benchmark for assessing patients' risk of developing postoperative frailty after receiving a liver transplant.
Knocking down of FANCI expression inhibits the biological behavior of glioma and mediates apoptosis by downregulating the Akt/Bcl2 pathway
Authors: Li Hanyun , Wang Mingyao , Liu Yinrui , Liu Jilan , Qin Xianyun , Sun Jikui , Jin Feng , Liu Yan
Published: January 2024

Purpose
Previous studies have shown that FANCI has cancer susceptibility, and high expression of FANCI promotes the progression of breast cancer, ovarian cancer, and other cancers. However, the potential mechanism of action of FANCI in glioma progression is unclear.
Methods
To explore the role of FANCI in glioma progression, we determined the expression of FANCI in glioma patients and its relationship with prognosis through database analysis and gene chip. And then further conducted in vitro functional experiments (overexpression and knockdown) and in vivo nude mouse xenograft model experiments.
Results
This study found that FANCI was significantly overexpressed in glioma, positively correlated with WHO grade, and closely related to patient prognosis. In vitro functional experiments showed that inhibiting the expression of FANCI could inhibit the proliferation, migration, and invasion of glioma and promote apoptosis. At the same time, the nude mouse xenograft model also confirmed that inhibition of FANCI could inhibit glioma in vivo. In addition, the low expression of FANCI inhibited the phosphorylation of Akt and the expression of Bcl-2 by western blotting.
Conclusion
FANCI promotes glioma growth and may mediate apoptosis by regulating Akt/Bcl-2. This study preliminarily explored the role of FANCI in glioma growth and provided data support for further application of FANCI in clinical practice.
LncRNA SNHG3 promotes the progression of cholangiocarcinoma by regulating miR-151a-3p/STAT5a axis
Authors: Wei Xiaoping , Cun Dongyun , Yang Danping , Yi Qianyao , Tian Daguang
Published: January 2024

Background
Cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) is a highly aggressive malignant adenoma. LncRNA SNHG3 was reported to be a prognostic biomarker for CCA. The aim of this study was to explore the function and potential mechanisms of SNHG3 in CCA.
Methods and Results
Clinical CCA samples were collected to detect SNHG3, miR-151a-3p, and STAT5a levels, and their correlation was evaluated by Pearson correlation analysis. IHC was used to assess STAT5a expression. CCK-8, TUNEL, wound healing, and transwell assays were used to identify cell viability, apoptosis, migration, and invasion. Dual-luciferase reporter experiment was conducted to verify the relation between SNHG3 and miR-151a-3p, STAT5a and miR-151a-3p.. SNHG3 and STAT5a levels were significantly up-regulated in CCA tissues and cells, while miR-151a-3p level was down-regulated in CCA tissues and cells. Inhibition of SNHG3 suppressed CCA cell proliferation, apoptosis, migration and invasion. Mechanically, SNHG3 directly targeted miR-151a-3p in CCA, and miR-151a-3p inhibitor reversed the inhibitory roles of inhibition of SNHG3 on the aggressive behaviors of HUCC-T1 cells. Furthermore, STAT5a was identified as a potential target of miR-151a-3p. Functionally, inhibition of STAT5a reversed the roles of inhibition of SNHG3 and miR-151a-3p on CCA cells aggressive behaviors.
Conclusion
SNHG3 promoted the progression of CCA by regulating miR-151a-3p/STAT5a axis, which provided a promising target for CCA treatment.
Estimating carbon stocks and woody perennials diversity in cropland agroforestry practiced at three different land ecosystems in Bangladesh
Authors: Hasan Mohammad Kamrul , Roshni Nasima Akther , Akter Rojina
Published: January 2024

Background
Cropland agroforestry practices are widely adopted over various land ecosystems in Bangladesh, offering the potential to capture carbon (C) and safeguard biodiversity. Lack of accurate assessments of biomass carbon and the diversity of woody perennials in cropland agroforestry practices across different land ecosystems presents a hurdle for the efficient execution of initiatives such as REDD + and comparable mechanisms. The present research sought to estimate biomass carbon stocks and diversity of woody species, exploring the influence of stand structure and diversity indices on these C stocks. We conducted woody perennials’ inventory in 180 sampling quadrates (10 m × 10 m) from cropland agroforestry practices in forest, plain land, and char land ecosystems.
Results
Altogether, we identified 42 woody species; however, the predominant species in three land ecosystems were Acacia auriculiformis, Gmelina arborea, and Tectona grandis. Swietenia macrophylla and Swietenia mahogany contributed the greatest amount of carbon stocks. Carbon stocks in woody perennials were 30–44% higher in plainland and forest land ecosystems compared to the char land ecosystem, attributable to significantly increased stand density, basal area, and diameter. The significantly highest Shannon-Wiener index (2.75) and Margalef’s richness index (3.37) were found in forest land compared to other ecosystems. The highest total carbon stocks (131.27 Mg C ha− 1) of cropland agroforestry were found in the forest land ecosystem, which had the greatest soil organic carbon, density, and richness of woody perennials. A rise in the richness and diversity index of woody species by one unit led to a concurrent increase of 12 and 8 Mg C ha− 1 in carbon stock, respectively.
Conclusions
Cropland agroforestry practices in the forest land ecosystem are more diverse and could sequester more carbon stock than in the other two land ecosystems in Bangladesh. The biomass C stocks of woody species were positively correlated with stand structure and diversity, having the potential to contribute to biodiversity conservation in Bangladesh and other similar countries.
Multi-omics Reveals Uninheritable but Widespread Bacterial Symbiont Mediates Insecticide Detoxification of a New Agricultural Invasive Pest
Authors: Zhang Yunhua , Ju Feng
Published: January 2024

Background
Host-symbiont co-evolution determines the fitness of holobiont under toxic stress and compensates for enhanced insecticide resistance well noted in many insects. However, the ecological causes and consequences of the symbionts involved in the global invasive success of agricultural pests remain unknown.
Results
Here, we discovered a widespread symbiont Enterococcus casseliflavus EMBL-3 of a significant invasive insect pest, Spodoptera frugiperda. Using multi-omics analysis, we indicated that EMBL-3 enhances host insecticide resistance to chlorantraniliprole by amide bond breaking and dehalogenation-related insecticide degradation. Complying with the increase in exposure risk of chlorantraniliprole, the E. casseliflavus isolates of insects’ symbionts but not those from mammals or environmental strains were notably enriched with putative chlorantraniliprole degradation genes. EMBL-3 widely infected (100%) field populations and can transmit horizontally with high efficiency through cross-diet and cannibalism.
Conclusion
This study revealed that EMBL-3 was an uninheritable but widespread symbiont in S. frugiperda that involved in host resistance by insecticide degradation. The results not only implies that an underlying symbiont-host co-evolution process driven by insecticide pressure might be underway but also provides a novel therapeutic target of agricultural pests based on symbiont-targeted insect control (STIC) for global crop protection.
Prioritizing Susceptibility Genes for the Prognosis of Male-pattern Baldness with Transcriptome-wide Association Study
Authors: Choi Eunyoung , Song Jaeseung , Lee Yubin , Jeong Yeonbin , Jang Wonhee
Published: January 2024

Background
Male-pattern baldness (MPB) is the most common cause of hair loss in men. It can be categorized into three types: type 2 (T2), type 3 (T3), and type 4 (T4), with type 1 (T1) being considered normal. Although various MPB-associated genetic variants have been suggested, a comprehensive study for linking these variants to gene expression regulation has not been performed to the best of our knowledge.
Results
In this study, we prioritized MPB-related tissue panels using tissue-specific enrichment analysis and utilized single-tissue panels from genotype-tissue expression version 8, as well as cross-tissue panels from context-specific genetics. Through a transcriptome-wide association study and colocalization analysis, we identified 52, 75, and 144 MPB associations for T2, T3, and T4, respectively. To assess the causality of MPB genes, we performed a conditional and joint analysis, which revealed 10, 11, and 54 putative causality genes for T2, T3, and T4, respectively. Finally, we conducted drug repositioning and identified potential drug candidates that are connected to MPB-associated genes.
Conclusions
Overall, through an integrative analysis of gene expression and genotype data, we have identified robust MPB susceptibility genes that may help uncover the underlying molecular mechanisms and the novel drug candidates that may alleviate MPB.
Seasonal Changes of Mélange Thickness Coincide With
Greenland Calving Dynamics
Authors: Meng Yue , Lai Ching-Yao , Culberg Riley , Shahin Michael , Stearns Leigh , Burton Justin , Nissanka Kavinda
Published: January 2024

Iceberg calving is a major contributor to Greenland’s ice mass loss. Ice mélange, tightly packed sea ice and icebergs, has been hypothesized to buttress the calving fronts. However, quantifying the mélange buttressing force from field observations remains a challenge. Here we show that such quantification can be achieved with a single field measurement: thickness of mélange at the glacier terminus. We develop the first three-dimensional discrete element model of m´elange along with a simple analytical model to quantify the mélange buttressing using mélange thickness data from ArcticDEM over 32 Greenland glacier termini. We observed a strong seasonality in mélange thickness: thin mélange (averaged thickness 34+17 −15 m) in summertime when terminus retreats, and thick mélange (averaged thickness 119+31 −37 m) in wintertime when terminus advances. The observed seasonal changes of mélange thickness strongly coincide with observed Greenland calving dynamics and the modeled buttressing effects.
Accuracy of Abott Freestyle Libre versus Dexcom G6 in a patient with pre-diabetes: a case report and review of literature
Authors: Kutoh Eiji
Published: January 2024

Abbott FreeStyle Libre and Dexcom G6 represent widely employed continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) systems globally. However, their precision remains unexplored concerning postprandial glucose levels in individuals with pre-diabetes following the consumption of diverse dietary regimens. A 58-year-old Japanese man diagnosed with pre-diabetes (postprandial hyperglycemia) underwent simultaneous monitoring using Abbott FreeStyle Libre and Dexcom G6 following the consumption of diverse diets. In the pre-meal state, both systems exhibited comparable and reliable values (around 80–100 mg/dl). However, around 60 minutes following meals containing specific amounts of carbohydrates (approximately above 50 g), FreeStyle Libre demonstrated a more pronounced acceleration in the increase and peak glucose values compared to G6. These discrepancies were further validated through self-monitoring of blood glucose (SMBG) measurements, confirming the less accurate performance of FreeStyle Libre under these conditions. To this end, it appears that fermented products (beans, yogurt, cheese) could suppress postprandial glucose spikes. The study results suggest that, when compared to G6, FreeStyle Libre yielded elevated glucose values and exhibited reduced accuracy in measuring postprandial glucose levels following the ingestion of a specific amount of carbohydrates in individuals with pre-diabetes.
Informing spatial distributions and temporal variations of grass pollen sources in urban landscapes using 10 m Sentinel-2 data
Authors: Liu Yuxia , Huete Alfredo , Xie Qiaoyun , Davies Janet M , Beggs Paul J , Abdollahi Abolfazl , Pradhan Biswajeet , Zhang Xiaoyang
Published: January 2024

Grass pollen is a globally prevalent allergen, known to trigger allergic reactions such as hay fever and asthma. Australia, in particular, exhibits one of the highest rates of asthma and hay fever prevalence and morbidity. Accurate mapping of grass pollen sources is crucial for enhancing the capabilities of grass pollen forecast systems. This is especially important in urban landscapes, where the allergenicity associated with urban grass spaces has recently garnered increased attention. However, the spatial distribution of grass in urban landscapes is not well represented in existing coarse-resolution land cover maps. In this study, we evaluated the uncertainties inherent in coarser land cover maps, i.e., Dynamic Land Cover Dataset (DLCD) and Australian Land Use and Management Classification (ALUM) land maps, by comparing them with a 10-m grass map generated from Sentinel-2 data. Subsequently, we characterized the seasonal and inter-annual variations in grass pollen sources surrounding a pollen trap in Sydney, Australia, based on the correlations between the Enhanced Vegetation Index (EVI) of grass and grass pollen concentrations. Our results show that (1) the 10-m Sentinel-2 grass map effectively excludes non-grass features, thereby improving correlation with in-situ grass phenology observations; (2) the correlations between grass EVI, filtered by Sentinel-2 grass map, and grass pollen concentrations varied across different land plots with varied grass fractions, but the grass fraction was not the primary controlling factor; (3) The pollen trap station exhibited significant seasonal and inter-annual variability in grass pollen sources, necessitating further investigation into the meteorological influences on grass phenology and pollen emissions. This study demonstrates the promising performance of Sentinel-2 data in identifying the spatial distribution of grasses, improving the characterization of grass greenness, and mapping grass pollen sources with finer spatial resolution. These findings provide robust data support to enhance our understanding of grass pollen aerobiology in urban areas.
Hack your Curricula
Authors: Hančl Mirek
Published: January 2024

Um Making auch im Fachunterricht, der einen hohen Lehrplanbezug aufweist, umsetzen zu können, ist aus Sicht einer Lehrperson eine Öffnung des Unterrichts, verbunden mit dem schrittweisen Verlassen der ‹curricularen Komfortzone›, notwendig. Diese Öffnung kann auf verschiedene Arten wie Making im fächerübergreifenden Unterricht, Making im Projektbasierten Lernen (PBL) und ‹Making Vanilla› mit jeweils unterschiedlicher Distanz zur ‹curricularen Komfortzone› und unterschiedlicher Berücksichtigung vorgegebener Lernziele stattfinden. Es ist empfehlenswert, die Sichtbarkeit der Lernziele im Making im Voraus zu überdenken. Ob die Lernziele versteckt, offen, oder beliebig montiert sind, legt die Mitbestimmungsfähigkeit der Schüler:innen beim Making bereits in der Vorbereitung des Unterrichtsvorhabens, aber auch den Lehrplanbezug selbst fest. Um einen gemeinsamen Standpunkt zum Making zu definieren, eignen sich verschiedene Vorgehensweisen zum Verbinden der Lernziele aus verschiedenen Fachbereichslehrplänen. Offensichtliche Querverweise zu Lernzielen, gleiche Themen für Lernziele, ähnliche Operatoren in Lernzielen und zufällige Kombinationen von Lernzielen bieten unterschiedlich kreative, für die Lehrperson auch unterschiedlich ‹komfortable›, problemorientierte Fragestellungen für Making-Vorhaben und -Projekte an. Methoden des Design Thinking sind gut geeignet, solche problemorientierten Fragestellungen zu finden, seien es Alltagsphänomene oder andere authentische Probleme.
Illitization of smectite influenced by chemical weathering and its potential control of anatase formation in altered volcanic ashes
Authors: Liu Chen , Fang Qian , Hong Hanlie , Song Qian , Ji Kaipeng , Gong Nina , Shen Xibing , Algeo Thomas J.
Published: January 2024

Illitization of smectite in sedimentary systems, a process akin to “reverse weathering,” is a diagenetic process that has significant implications for sediment paragenesis and hydrocarbon exploration. However, the potential influence of chemical weathering on the illitization of smectite and its possible control of the neogenesis of titanium (Ti)-oxides remain unclear. Altered volcanic tephra layers (i.e., K-bentonites) characterized by an interstratified illite-smectite (I-S) clay mineralogy serve as an excellent medium to investigate the illitization of smectite. In this study, we first investigated the fine structure of clay minerals and in situ nano-mineralogy of Ti-bearing minerals from altered volcanic ashes and then undertook a meta-analysis of geochemical compositional data for bentonites spanning a wide range of ages and depositional environments globally. We found that Ti mainly occurs as discrete micrometer-scale magmatic srilankite and nanoscale authigenic anatase crystals. During the weathering process, the magmatic srilankite partly dissolved under acidic conditions, resulting in a local buildup of Ti in porewaters. The I-S displays a platy habit and curved edges and is found closely associated with anatase crystals under TEM. Our compilation results combined with microscopic evidence suggest that chemical weathering may potentially promote the illitization reaction by changing the chemical composition of the fluids through increased terrestrial inputs and by creating larger pore spaces through the decomposition of weatherable components. Positive correlations between K and Ti are especially common in (K-)bentonites that are dominated by I-S, suggesting that I-S can adsorb Ti during the weathering process and provide a suitable site for the nucleation of anatase. Our study highlights the role of chemical weathering in the illitization of smectite and their combined effect on the formation of Ti-oxides.
Antioxidant activity, phytochemical screening and GC-MS profile of Abies marocana Trab.
Authors: ZIRARI Malak , AOUJI Marouane , ZOUARHİ Meryem , DERMAJ Ahmed , ERRAMLİ Hamid , HMOUNİ Driss , EL MEJDOUB Nouredine
Published: January 2024

The aim of this research was to explore the chemical composition and antioxidant activities of etheric extracts of Abies marocana. A Soxhlet apparatus was used to extract bioactive molecules from the various parts of the plant. Furthermore, the levels of antioxidant compounds were quantified, while the Gas chromatography was utilized to determine the chemical constituents of the extracted molecules. The extracts were evaluated for their antioxidant properties using the DPPH radical scavenging method and the total antioxidant capacity test. The levels of polyphenols varied across different parts of the plant, ranging from 2.474 ± 0.029 mg.g-1 DM in needles to 4.207 ± 0.008 mg.g-1 DM in twigs. Flavonoids were most abundant in needles 0.140 ± 0.001 mg.g-1 DM and least abundant in cones 0.069 ± 0.007 mg.g-1 DM. Tannins had the highest concentration in twigs 2.608 ± 0.114 mg.g-1 DM, followed by cones 1.948 ± 0.037 mg.g-1 DM and needles 1.512 ± 0.09 mg.g-1 DM. A chromatographic analysis revealed that 56 components were in the samples, with terpene compounds being the most abundant in the different organs. In terms of antioxidant activity, the extract derived from twigs exhibited the strongest antioxidant capacity 49.377 ± 0.371 mg EAA.g-1 DM, followed by cones 35.129 ± 0.084 mg EAA.g-1 DM and needles 13.663 ± 0.084 mg EAA.g-1 DM. Alternatively, the IC50 values for the three organs were found to be in the range of 3844 to 5047.67 µg.mL-1. The results highlight the potential phytopharmaceutical value of A. marocana due to the presence of diverse phyto-components.
YOLOv8 Deep Learning Model for Diabetic Retinopathy Fundus Image Segmentation and Disease Classification
Authors: Moura Carlos , Cortez Paulo , Assis Debora , Motta Pedro , Silva Bruno
Published: January 2024

Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is a set of retinal and vitreous changes caused by diabetes which causes visual acuity loss in its later stages, and many patients remain undiagnosed even when the disease is already causing damage. Diabetic retinopathy can be diagnosed in its earlier stages by analysis of that it performs close to the state-of-the-art on at least half of the testing dataset but performed worse in a few more complex cases a fundoscopy examination image, in which the ophthalmologist searches for exudates and microaneurysms, which are early lesions caused by DR. Ophthalmologists have several difficulties in providing accurate and reliable diagnoses to all patients examined. Thus, computer vision can assist ophthalmologists in diagnosing this disease using procedures such as image segmentation and classification. This work uses the YOLOv8 deep learning model to segment and classify DR retinal lesions in fundoscopy examination images using the e-ophtha dataset. Four models were trained, one segmenting and classifying exudates, other microaneurysms, and the last two segmenting both lesions together, one trained using the whole dataset, and the other trained using only the lesion images of the dataset without the healthy images. The segmentation results were quantitatively measured using the sensitivity, intersection-over-union, and DICE coefficient metrics. The exudates model obtained the best segmentation results, with 95.37% mean sensitivity and intersectionover-union and 97.62% mean DICE coefficient. The models were able to classify all images correctly between two classes, lesion and healthy, where images with one or more lesions segmented were classified as lesion images, and images without lesions were classified as healthy. The microaneurysms model obtained high median metrics results compared to its mean results, indicating that it performs close to the state-of-the-art on at least half of the testing dataset but performed worse in a few more complex cases.
Surrogate Model and Multi-objective Evolutionary Algorithm Applied to Automotive Stamping
Authors: Silva Bernard , Carneiro Ana Paula , Tepedino Jose Osvaldo , Miranda Fabiano , Silva Filho José Francisco , Parpinelli Rafael
Published: January 2024

Automotive parts stamping is a process of forming metallic parts that are used in the manufacture of automobiles, such as the Internal Tailgate. The problem is characterized as a multi-objective optimization problem, as it involves the optimization of multiple antagonistic objectives simultaneously. In this study, we used the Extra Trees multivariate regression algorithm to characterize the problem and use it as a surrogate model for the Non-dominated Sorting Genetic Algorithm II. Our goal is to explore the possibilities of simultaneously minimizing Fracture, Insufficient Elongation, and Wrinkling. In addition, we apply data correlation analysis and machine learning model sensitivity analysis tools to assess the quality of the surrogate model and allow preliminary decision-making. The tools of data correlation analysis and sensitivity analysis of the Machine Learning model are applied to assess the quality of the surrogate model and allow prior decision-making. The results achieved when using the proposed approach with these auxiliary tools help to establish an efficient model, identify suitable stamping parameters, and reduce the costs associated with conducting empirical research conducted by experts in the field.
KİLİS HALK KÜLTÜRÜNDE DOĞUM ÂDETLERİ
Authors: ALPTEKİN Mehmet , ÖZ Zeynep Dilek
Published: January 2024

Geçiş dönemlerinin ilkini oluşturan doğum, Türk toplumunda birlik ve beraberliği pekiştiren ana unsurlardan olup neslin devamı olarak kabul edilmektedir. Bu nedenle doğumun sağlıklı şekilde yürütülmesi amacıyla doğum etrafında farklı âdet ve pratikler gerçekleştirilmektedir. Nitekim ailenin büyümesinin, soyun genişlemesinin ve güçlü olmasının sembolü olan doğum, toplumsal hayatta kutsal bir olgu olarak sayılmıştır. Türkmen yerleşim bölgesi olan Kilis’te de Türk dünyasının tamamında olduğu gibi doğumla ilgili birçok ritüel gerçekleştirilmektedir. Doğumla ilgili bu uygulamalarda İslamiyet öncesi döneme ait inançların ve İslamiyet’in izleri görülmektedir. Teknolojik gelişmelerle birlikte geleneksel uygulama ve pratiklerin yerini modern tıbbın alması bu uygulama ve pratiklerin bazılarının değişime uğramasına veya yok olmasına neden olmaktadır. Kilis kültür hayatında canlılığını koruyan doğumla ilgili uygulama ve pratiklerin derlenip kayıt altına alınması, kültürel belleğin gelecek nesillere aktarılması konusunda önem arz etmektedir. Bu çalışmada Kilis halk kültüründe doğumla ilgili hâlen varlığını devam ettiren inanç ve uygulamaları tespit etmek amaçlanmıştır. Bu doğrultuda konuyla ilgili bilgi sahibi olan kişilerle görüşme yapılmış ve elde edilen veriler içerik analiziyle incelenmiştir. Veriler “doğum öncesi, doğum sırası ve doğum sonrası uygulamalar” olmak üzere üç başlıkta değerlendirilmiştir. Sonuç olarak yöredeki doğumla ilgili âdetlerin gelişen teknoloji ve değişen yaşam şartlarına rağmen varlığını devam ettirdiği sonucuna ulaşılmıştır.
Extrusion and Co-extrusion: A Technology in Probiotic Encapsulation
with Alternative Materials
Authors: Homayouni-Rad Aziz , Mortazavian Amir M. , Pourjafar Hadi , Moghadam Saba Kamalledin
Published: January 2024

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Encapsulation, in particular extrusion and co-extrusion, is a common practice to protect
probiotics from the harsh conditions of the digestive tract as well as processing. Hydrocolloids,
including proteins and carbohydrates, natural or modified, are a group of ingredients used
as the wall material in extrusion. Hydrocolloids, due to their specific properties, can significantly
improve the probiotic survivability of the final powder during the microencapsulation process
and storage. The present article will discuss the different kinds of hydrocolloids used for microencapsulation
of probiotics by extrusion and co-extrusion, along with new sources of novel
gums and their potential as wall material.
Convection-enhanced Diffusion: A Novel Tactics to Crack the BBB
Authors: Dhanawat Meenakshi , Garima  , Wilson Kashish , Gupta Sumeet , Chalotra Rishabh , Gupta Nidhi
Published: January 2024

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Although the brain is very accessible to nutrition and oxygen, it can be difficult to deliver
medications to malignant brain tumours. To get around some of these issues and enable the use of
therapeutic pharmacological substances that wouldn't typically cross the blood-brain barrier (BBB),
convection-enhanced delivery (CED) has been developed. It is a cutting-edge strategy that gets beyond
the blood-brain barrier and enables targeted drug administration to treat different neurological
conditions such as brain tumours, Parkinson's disease, and epilepsy. Utilizing pressure gradients to
spread the medicine across the target area is the main idea behind this diffusion mechanism. Through
one to several catheters positioned stereotactically directly within the tumour mass, around the tumour,
or in the cavity created by the resection, drugs are given. This method can be used in a variety
of drug classes, including traditional chemotherapeutics and cutting-edge investigational targeted
medications by using positive-pressure techniques. The drug delivery volume must be optimized for
an effective infusion while minimizing backflow, which causes side effects and lowers therapeutic
efficacy. Therefore, this technique provides a promising approach for treating disorders of the central
nervous system (CNS).
Towards Antiviral Potential of Biomolecules Derived from Adhatod avasica
as Competent Natural Molecules to Treat COVID-19 Virus Variant
Authors: Asif Mohammad , Yusuf Mohd , Almehmadi Mazen , Alsaiari Ahad Amer , Allahyani Mamdouh , Aljuaid Abdulelah , Alsharif Abdulaziz
Published: January 2024

Adhatoda vasica (L.) (Acanthaceae) has essential therapeutic roles and is widely used in
the indigenous medicine system or Ayurvedic system of medicine. The important goals of the present
study are to report the in-silico anti-corona (COVID-19) activity of different phytochemicals
present in A. vasica. This study will help to find specific bioactive compounds, and their use as anti-
COVID-19 action for human welfare. A. vasica has chemical phytoconstituents with diverse pharmacological
activities. These phytoconstituents have been found active against many diseases such as
antibacterial, antitubercular, antivirus, antitussive, hepatoprotective, antiinflammatory, antiulcer, antiurolithiatic,
abortifacient, radio modulator, cardio-protection, antidiabetic, antioxidant, anticancer,
thrombolytic, antimutagenic, etc. Researchers have been lured to the use of natural and sustainable
products with substantial therapeutic potential in the current climate of environmental preservation
and safe use. These materials permit biological activity, safety, and compatibility with the environment.
Using the SARS-CoV-2 spike receptor (6M0J), we evaluated Adhatoda vasica biomolecules
for the Covid-19 variant (RBD- COV-2-S). This study is very encouraging and indicates that herbs
should be studied more extensively for their therapeutic benefits.