bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Factors influencing lateral margin diagnosis challenges in Barrett’s esophageal cancer: A bicenter retrospective study
Authors: Tanaka Ippei , Unno Shuhei , Yamamoto Kazuki , Nawata Yoshitaka , Igarashi Kimihiro , Matsuda Tomoki , Hirasawa Dai
Published: March 2024

Background
The endoscopic lateral diagnosis of Barrett's esophageal adenocarcinoma (BEA) has been reported as challenging. Therefore, we aimed to clarify the clinicopathological characteristics and cause of BEA with unclear demarcation.
Methods
We reviewed BEA cases resected endoscopically or operatively between January 2010 and August 2022 at two institutions. The lesions were classified into two groups: the clear demarcation group (CD group) and the unclear demarcation group (UD group). We then compared clinicopathological findings between the two groups. Furthermore, to elucidate the differences in pathological structures between the cancerous mucosa and the surrounding mucosa, we measured the length and width of foveolar, as well as the width of the marginal crypt epithelium (MCE).
Results
We analyzed 68 BEA cases, comprising 47 in the CD group and 21 in the UD group. Multivariate analysis revealed long-segment Barrett’s esophagus (LSBE) as the sole significant risk factor (OR; 10.38, 95% CI;2.14–50.19, p = 0.004). Regarding pathological analysis, significant differences were observed in the length and width of foveolar between the cancerous and surrounding mucosa in the CD group (p = 0.03 and 0.00). However, in the UD group, these measurements did not show significant differences (p = 0.53 and 0.72). Nevertheless, the width of MCE in the cancerous area was significantly shorter than that in the surrounding mucosa in both groups (p = < 0.05, and < 0.05).
Conclusions
The significant risk factor for UD group was LSBE. The width of MCE, showing significant differences between the cancerous and surrounding mucosa, may serve as an important asset in endoscopic diagnosis for BEA.
Efficient Elimination of Toxic Heavy Elements and Bacteria by Low Dimensional Boron Nitride Siblings: Next-Generation Environmental Guardians
Authors: Roondhe Basant , Ahuja Rajeev , Luo Wei
Published: March 2024

In the present investigation, we explored the properties of two recently predicted two-dimensional (2D) allotropes of boron nitride (BN), namely Haeck-BN and Twin-BN. These allotropes exhibit intriguing structural and electronic characteristics, such as highly conjugated π-electronic configurations, an excess of chemical bonds, superior carrier mobility, and robust stability, rendering them suitable candidates for sensing applications. It is a well-established fact that materials with a high surface area offer a multitude of affinity sites for heavy metal ions and toxic molecules, primarily through d − π and π–π interactions. Utilizing the principles of density functional theory (DFT), we embarked on an exploration of the adsorption mechanisms of a variety of inorganic and organic contaminants on both pristine and doped Haeck-BN and Twin-BN. Our observations revealed a pronounced adsorption of toxic heavy metals, specifically arsenic (As) and lead (Pb), on pristine Twin-BN sheets, with adsorption energies of -2.83 eV and − 2.03 eV, respectively. Conversely, Haeck-BN demonstrated relatively weaker interactions, with adsorption energies of -1.48 eV for As and − 0.64 eV for Pb. Furthermore, we noted substantial adsorption of certain specific amino acids, which are integral components of bacterial cell walls, on both pristine and silver-modified Haeck-BN and Twin-BN sheets. An examination of the electronic properties indicated significant shifts upon molecular adsorption, thereby affirming their sensitivity towards foreign contaminants. The elevated adsorption energies of amino acids on both pristine and Ag-modified sheets suggest potential applications in the efficient inactivation of bacteria for water purification. While acknowledging the challenges posed by real-world scenarios, our calculations in controlled environments provide valuable insights, thereby paving the way for the potential utilization of these nanosheets in the development of advanced water purification membrane technology.
Efficacy and safety of radical cystectomy with ileal conduit for muscle-invasive bladder cancer in the elderly: a multicentre retrospective study
Authors: Zhang Heqian , LI Anrui , Wang Wentao , Xu Songlin , Li Changfu , Teng Lichen
Published: March 2024

Objective: Radical cystectomy with ileal conduit is the current mainstay of treatment for muscle-invasive bladder cancer and is also a high-risk procedure. Existing studies have limited targeted assessment of the efficacy and safety of this procedure, and the patient population appropriate for this procedure is poorly defined. We sought to longitudinally analyze differences in the efficacy and safety of radical cystectomy with ileal conduit by age subgroups to assess whether the age factor should be used as an exclusion criterion when selecting this procedure.
Materials and Methods: Clinicopathological data of patients with muscle-invasive bladder cancer who underwent radical cystectomy with ileal conduit at the Cancer Hospital of Harbin Medical University from February 2014 to October 2023 were used to retrospectively analyze the efficacy and safety of the surgical procedure. Pathological clinical data of patients diagnosed with muscle-invasive bladder cancer in the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database from 2000 to 2020 were used for external validation. information was used for external validation of the results of the surgical efficacy analyses. t-tests and non-parametric tests were used to analyze the measurement data, chi-square tests were used to analyze the count data, and Kaplan-Meier was used for the survival analyses and to plot survival curves.
Results: Define patients aged ≥70 at the time of diagnosis of bladder cancer as elderly patients and <70 as non-elderly patients. 152 patients from our center were included in the study, 119 non-elderly patients and 33 elderly patients. 416 patients from the Seer database were used for validation, 172 patients in the non-elderly group and 244 patients in the elderly group. By overall analysis and subgroup analysis, the results showed that elderly patients had a higher risk of ICU transfer but a smaller incidence of stoma inflammation postoperatively. Meanwhile, although the results of both analyses of overall survival (OS) for the two groups of patients were conflicting, data from our center and data from the SEER database confirmed the consistency of cancer-specific survival (CSS) between elderly and non-elderly patients, and that radical cystectomy with ileal conduit had the same efficacy for both elderly and non-elderly patients.
Conclusion: For longitudinal age subgroups, radical cystectomy ileocecal cystectomy for the treatment of elderly versus nonelderly muscle-invasive bladder cancer has consistent efficacy, and the generalisability of the results for elderly patients, despite the risks of surgery, needs to be further validated in targeted cohort studies. Advanced age should not be an absolute exclusion criterion for radical cystectomy with ileal conduit.
Angiolipoma associated with antiretroviral switch therapy: A Case Report
Authors: Taylor Gregory , Pandit Neha
Published: March 2024

Background
Angiolipomas have been well described in patients with HIV exposed to protease inhibitors with possible resolution after switching to non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor-based regimens. Resolution of symptoms have occurred with switches to non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NNRTI)-based regimens; however, little is known regarding the development of angiolipomas when switching from NNRTI- to modern, integrase strand transfer inhibitor-based regimens. We describe a patient who underwent switch therapy from tenofovir disoproxil fumarate/emtricitabine/efavirenz (TDF/FTC/EFV) to tenofovir alafenamide/FTC/bictegravir (TAF/FTC/BIC) who later developed angiolipomas.
Case Presentation:
A 55-year-old male had been on TDF/FTC/EFV for 8 years before switching to TAF/FTC/BIC. Nineteen months after antiretroviral switch, the patient presented with multiple lesions in the upper extremities and abdomen. Diagnostic biopsies revealed non-encapsulated angiolipomas and HHV-8 and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease was ruled out. New lesions continued to appear 29 months after ART switch, after which now lesions appeared and prior lesions remained stable with no increase in size noted. No surgical intervention or change in antiretroviral therapy was needed.
Conclusions
Angiogenesis may have been suppressed with TDF/FTC/EFV treatment, however when switched to TAF/FTC/BIC, promoted the growth of angiolipomas. Clinicians should be aware of the impact of switching to modern ART therapies resulting in possible adipogenesis.
Development of a nomogram for postoperative pneumonia after total hip or knee arthroplasty: a retrospective cohort study
Authors: Chen Yingjie , Liao Yanling , Chen Xiaoying , Gong Cansheng , Jiang Jundan , Zheng Xiaochun
Published: March 2024

Background: Postoperative pneumonia (POP) is a perioperative complication with a high incidence and mortality after total hip arthroplasty (THA) or total knee arthroplasty (TKA). This study aims to develop a prediction nomogram facilitating early detection of POP in patients undergoing THA or TKA.
Method: The study conducted a retrospective analysis of adult patients who underwent THA or TKA at Fujian Provincial Hospital from January 1, 2012, to December 31, 2021. Patients were randomly divided into either the training or validation cohort. We employed the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) regression and multivariate logistic regression model to identify independent variables and develop a nomogram. Both discrimination and calibration were assessed through bootstrapping with 1000 resamples.
Result: A total of 1344 patients with THA or TKA were included in this study. A regression analysis revealed the independent predictors for POP were age (OR 1.051, 95% CI 1.023-1.080), congestive heart failure (CHF) (OR 263.239, 95% CI 9.895-7003.231), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (OR 55.248, 95% CI 7.249-421.092), hypertension (OR 3.318, 95% CI 1.497-7.358), albumin level (OR 0.784, 95% CI 0.732-0.839), and operative blood loss (OR 1.007, 95% CI 1.005-1.009).The area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve (AUC) and the concordance index in the training cohort were 0.861 and 0.893 respectively. The Hosmer−Lemeshow test signaled a good fit for the model (P=0.190). The calibration curve of the nomogram leaned closely towards the ideal diagonal line. Moreover, the decision curve analysis (DCA) portrayed a satisfactory positive net benefit. The validation cohort's results also affirmed the reliability of this prediction nomogram
Conclusion: A nomogram was developed based on perioperative factors, to anticipate the occurrence of POP in patients who undergo THA or TKA. This model could provide a precise and highly effective predictive tool for early identification and intervention of POP.
Lipopolysaccharide-Mediated Effects of the Microbiota on Sleep and Body Temperature
Authors: Szentirmai Eva , Buckley Katelin , Massie Ashley R. , Kapas Levente
Published: March 2024

Background
Recent research suggests that microbial molecules translocated from the intestinal lumen into the host's internal environment may play a role in various physiological functions, including sleep. Previously, we identified that butyrate, a short-chain fatty acid, produced by intestinal bacteria, and lipoteichoic acid, a cell wall component of gram-positive bacteria induce sleep when their naturally occurring translocation is mimicked by direct delivery into the portal vein. Building upon these findings, we aimed to explore the sleep signaling potential of intraportally administered lipopolysaccharide, a primary component of gram-negative bacterial cell walls, in rats.
Results
Low dose of lipopolysaccharide (1 µg/kg) increased sleep duration and prolonged fever, without affecting systemic lipopolysaccharide levels. Interestingly, administering LPS systemically outside the portal region at a dose 20 times higher did not affect sleep, indicating a localized sensitivity within the hepatoportal region, encompassing the portal vein and liver, for the sleep and febrile effects of lipopolysaccharide. Furthermore, both the sleep- and fever-inducing effects of LPS were inhibited by indomethacin, a prostaglandin synthesis inhibitor, and replicated by intraportal administration of prostaglandin E2 or arachidonic acid, suggesting the involvement of the prostaglandin system in mediating these actions.
Conclusions
These findings underscore the dynamic influence of lipopolysaccharide in the hepatoportal region on sleep and fever mechanisms, contributing to a complex microbial molecular assembly that orchestrates communication between the intestinal microbiota and brain. Lipopolysaccharide is a physiological component of plasma in both the portal and extra-portal circulation, with its levels rising in response to everyday challenges like high-fat meals, moderate alcohol intake, sleep loss and psychological stress. The increased translocation of lipopolysaccharide under such conditions may account for their physiological impact in daily life, highlighting the intricate interplay between microbial molecules and host physiology.
Technological Speciation : Navigating New Needs through Trial and Error – A Rifle Case Study
Authors: Kim Jiyong , Yoon Jungsub , Lee Jeong-Dong
Published: March 2024

Technological speciation is a crucial concept for understanding the emergence of new technologies and describes the adaptation of existing technologies adapt to novel application domains in response to emerging needs. Prior research has primarily utilized case-centered qualitative approaches. While some quantitative studies have been conducted, they have not fully captured the complexity of technological speciation, with the methodologies used for observation also falling short. This study aims to enhance previous discussions by rigorously validating the process of technological speciation, focusing on Levinthal (1998) through empirical evidence, and uncovering the managerial strategic implications observable in the speciation process of emerging technologies. This study emphasizes products as intermediaries between markets and technologies, developing indicators based on the similarity between antecedent and descendant technologies, considering the path dependency of technology, and applying these to real product data. It hypothesizes that significant changes at the inception of these indicators mark the beginning of technological speciation. Analysis reveals that new technologies emerge through an adaptive process, systematically addressing needs through trial and error, with shifts in needs serving as the catalyst. This aligns with detailed discussions in existing qualitative studies on the technological speciation process. This study proposes an analytical method for examining technological speciation by exploring the interaction between markets and technologies from an evolutionary perspective, using product data as a mediator. Additionally, the study highlights the importance for companies aiming to enter new markets of accurately identifying new needs, exploring adjacent technologies, and adopting iterative, small-scale productization strategies to navigate the adaptation process effectively.
JEL : O32, O33
Jaw-opening dystonia in Parkinson’s disease improved by FOslevodopa-foscarbidopa Continuous Subcutaneous (FOCS) infusion
Authors: Okumura Motohiro , Mukai Yohei , Tanimura Jun , Takahashi Yuji
Published: March 2024

Background:
Jaw-opening dystonia (JOD) is an unusual manifestation of Parkinson’s disease (PD) appearing in on-periods or off-periods. We present the case of a PD patient who presented with episodic JOD considered as off- and on-dystonia based on L-dopa concentration and improved by FOslevodopa-foscarbidopa Continuous Subcutaneous (FOCS) infusion.
Case presentation:
A 55-year-old man with a 14-year history of PD was hospitalized for induction of FOCS infusion therapy to control motor complications and wearing-off phenomena. The symptoms of JOD began with mild tightness in the lower jaw, followed by sudden involuntary JOD lasting for a few seconds at off-periods. After initiating the treatment by FOCS infusion, mild JOD appeared, coinciding with a relatively lower level of L-dopa concentration in the afternoon, despite the patient’s relatively good movement symptoms. Optimizing the administration rates of FOCS infusion during the day and night by adding an additional dose resulted in near-complete relief of JOD.
Conclusions:
JOD can occur in both off-dystonia and on-dystonia in PD based on L-dopa concentration and is treatable with FOCS infusion, a new and minimally invasive device-aided therapy.
Adsorption studies of isoxazole derivatives as corrosion inhibitors for mild steel in 1M HCl solution: DFT studies and molecular dynamics simulation
Authors: ROUA Amal , HASSANI Anouar AMEZIANE El , FITRI Asmae , BENJELLOUN Adil TOUIMI , BENZAKOUR Mohammed , MCHARFI Mohammed , TANJI Karim
Published: March 2024

A series of organic compounds derived from isoxazole, namely 4a, 4b, 4c, 4d, 4e, 4f, 4g and 4h were studied as corrosion inhibitors for mild steel in order to investigate the influence of different substitutions on the overall intrinsic properties such as boundary orbital energies (EHOMO, ELUMO), energy gap ∆E, electronegativity χ, absolute hardness η, and softness σ, fraction of transferred electrons ∆N; and local such as natural atomic populations and Fukui indices. For this purpose, theoretical studies have been carried out by the DFT density functional theory at the level of the B3LYP functional and the 6-31G (d,p) basis set. As well as, the simulation study of the molecular dynamics was carried out on the surface of Fe (110) in order to understand in depth, the adsorption behavior of the studied inhibitors. Indeed, in this context, the impact of the different groups in the inhibitors before and after adsorption on the iron surface. The optimized structures, electronic parameters, FMOs, Fukui functions and thermodynamic parameters were evaluated to identify candidates appropriate for application as corrosion inhibitors. The results of the global descriptors of the eight isoxazole derivatives showed that these descriptors are almost similar except for compound 4c, these studied inhibitors act in a similar manner. Moreover, the molecular dynamics results also discovered that these inhibitors represent a better reactivity as a result of the negative value of the adsorption energy of all the studied compounds which shows that, these adsorbed systems are more stable and stronger. The results of the dynamic descriptors found by MDS were in excellent coherence with the quantum study results.
Seaweed inhibition to Vibrio and influences on the microbial communities
Authors: Liang Sijie , Zhang Shuangshuang , Lin Wei , Yao Jianting , Duan Delin
Published: March 2024

Vibrio can cause the diseases occurrence to marine aquaculture species when under unfavorable conditions. Here in this study, the high dissolved oxygen and high pH produced by seaweeds exhibited inhibitions on Vibriogrowth, and its inhibiting effects on Vibrio were varied with dissolved oxygen and pH value in the seawater. When co-cultured with seaweeds, the diversity of marine microorganisms decreased dramatically. The survival rate of the microorganisms diminishes with high dissolved oxygen and high pH value. High dissolved oxygen and high pH produced by the seaweeds could inhibit Vibrio, it provides references for mixed culture of aquatic animals and seaweeds. The influence of seaweeds on microorganisms provides an possibilities for seaweeds remediation to ecological aquaculture system in the future.
Array-based specific classification of bacterial species via the redox state transition of riboflavin
Authors: Li Xizhe , Xue Pengxin , Li Bingyu , Liu Ruirui , Fu Tao , Gao Jie , Zhang Lianbing , Wu Yayan
Published: March 2024

We observed redox state transitions of riboflavin (Rf) upon incubation with gram-positive (G+) or gram-negative (G-) bacteria. The consequent transitions based on the proton-coupled electron transfer (PCET) reaction alters the reducibility and oxidability of Rf, providing a novel mechanism for specific classification of G- and G+ bacterial species and discrimination of different bacterial strains. Thus, a colorimetric/fluorometric sensor array based on silver nanotriangles (AgNTs) and Rf was established, offering dosimetric identification of 14 bacterial and 12 mixed bacterial samples. G- and G+ bacteria could be easily classified by the color change in AgNTs; different bacterial strains were also well discriminated via the fluorescent variation of Rf. This rapid and efficient sensor array with dual detection modalities provides a biochemical mechanism for the rapid differentiation of bacterial species and strains and presents potential applications in both clinical microbiology and bacteriology.
Comparative Analysis of algorithm for big data classification
Authors: Singh Shashi Pal , Tiwari Ritu , Sharma Sanjeev
Published: March 2024

In today’s scenario where a vast amount of text, images and documents are sent and received mostly of which the data in unstructured textual form. We observe that every minute of the day a large amount of data is stored. This huge amount of data needs to be process which is impossible for human being to do it. The purpose of this comparative analysis is to reduce the classification errors using various algorithms by estimating the distribution of class by using vectors. Nowadays, to acquire meaningful, useful data from the vast variety of textual and documented data present it is necessary and viable to build techniques and algorithm better than before. Hence, in order to get interesting and needful information we use model classification, evolution and regression. The data is collected from records or created or taken from the organization to create the database then the pre-processing of data is done so that various classification algorithms can be applied and can be compared on the basis of precision, efficiency, accuracy, ROC curve and missing values and different results can be predicted to solve the problems.
Bioremediation of Nitrate in Agricultural Drainage Ditches: Impacts of Low-Grade Weirs on Microbiomes and Nitrogen Cycle Gene Abundance
Authors: Wang Hao , Strock Jeffrey , Ranaivoson Andry , Ishii Satoshi
Published: March 2024

Artificial drainage is essential for the success of modern agriculture, but it can also accelerate the movement of nutrients, especially nitrate, from soil to surrounding and downstream water bodies. Reduction of nitrate from agricultural drainage through the use of controlled drainage systems, such as ditches installed with low-grade weirs, has been shown to help reduce nutrient loading into watersheds. However, the effect of weir-installed ditch varies a lot, likely due to microbial structures and functions in the ditch. In this study, we analyzed the temporal and spatial dynamics of microbiomes in the weir-installed and uninstalled (control) ditches over two years by using the 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing and the high-throughput quantitative PCR targeting various N cycle-associated genes [the Nitrogen Cycle Evaluation (NiCE) chip]. The installation of the low-grade weir had a significant impact on the microbiome structure and the distribution of denitrifiers. Specifically, microbiome structures were different between the ditch inlets to the outlets. Denitrification functional genes were also more abundant in the inlet than in the other locations and in the channel installed with a low-grade weir. The ditch microbiomes sampled during high-flow seasons (i.e., spring and fall) exhibited greater similarity to each other than microbiomes sampled during low-flow seasons (i.e., summer). Taken together, this study indicates that the low-grade weirs have the potential to foster a more favorable environment for denitrifiers, resulting in an increase in the abundance of denitrification functional genes. These findings could offer valuable insights into system management and optimization strategies.
Open resection of 24 patients with diffuse tenosynovial giant cell tumor of the ankle and evaluation of long-term follow-up
Authors: Zhang Hanwen , Deng Wei , Zhou Qingsong , Yin Yong
Published: March 2024

Background: Ankle tendon sheath giant cell tumor (TSGCT) is one of the ankle's most common soft tissue tumors. Among these tumors, diffuse tendon sheath giant cell tumor (D-TSGCT) has a low incidence rate but a high treatment recurrence rate and often affects ankle joint function and quality of life. The present study investigated patients' clinical characteristics, recurrence rate, complications, and postoperative function.
Methods: Twenty-four patients treated with open resection of ankle D-TSGCTs between 2011 and 2018 were retrospectively analyzed. Basic patient information, clinical case information, lesion site, treatment method, recurrence rate, function, and other evaluations were collected. The follow-up period ranged from 60-113 months, with a mean of 75.7 months.
Results: Of the 24 patients, 10 (41.7%) were male and 14 (58.3%) were female. The mean age was 36.5 years (range 24-53 years). The most common symptom was a palpable mass, followed by a visit to the clinic (54.2%), and the second most common symptom was ankle swelling and discomfort (29.2%). Postoperatively, 4 patients (17%) experienced pain in the surgical area, and 3 patients (12.5%) experienced ankle instability. Tumor recurrence was observed in 5 of 24 patients (21%).The American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons (AOFAS) score (preoperative, 78.5±5.6; postoperative, 85.8±5.0; P<0.0001) was significantly different from the Musculoskeletal Tumor Society (MSTS) score (preoperative, 66.8±9%; postoperative, 84.6±8.8%; P<0.0001)—the ankle joint functional assessment scale (AJFAT) score (preoperative, 34.0±4.1; postoperative, 33.1±5.8%; P=0.1187). The difference between the Foot and Ankle Function Scale (FAAM) score and physical activity score was not statistically significant (preoperative, 76.1±4.5; postoperative, 76.9±4.4; preoperative, 23.8±2.5; and preoperative, 25.0±2.9; P>0.05).
Conclusions: Surgical treatment of ankle D-TSGCT requires clearing the location of the lesion and the degree of diffusion and selecting an appropriate surgical approach to maximize the preservation of ankle function while reducing the recurrence rate. However, complete resection by the naked eye alone may destroy ankle joint stability, and postoperative follow-up and rehabilitation training should be considered.
Space rather than vegetation heterogeneity is responsible for structuring dragonfly assemblage at lentic water bodies in Brazilian subtropical grassland
Authors: Vareira Luísa , Ortega Jean Carlo Gonçalves , Juen Leandro , Sendoya Sebastian Felipe , Iserhard Cristiano Agra
Published: March 2024

For more than six decades, ecologists have been investigating how biological communities are structured and the implications for conservation. The Niche and Island Biogeography theories stand out as the basis for predictions related to diversity-environmental heterogeneity and diversity-area relationships, respectively. Although positive relationships are expected, the relative roles of environmental heterogeneity (EH) and area in structuring tropical lentic water body assemblages remain unclear, particularly for dragonflies. This knowledge shortfall is one of the factors which potentially limit biodiversity conservation. We sought to investigate the effects of area and EH, expecting that there would be a positive influence on dragonfly species richness and abundance. We sampled dragonfly adults for three months in 12 water bodies in the Pampa biome of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. We quantified water body area and vegetation cover (trees, plantations, shrubs, herbs, and aquatic plants), as an EH measure to evaluate how these predictors explained dragonfly species richness and abundance. We found that the water body area, but not EH, was relevant to dragonfly diversity. This indicates that dragonflies may perceive the vegetation as homogeneous and thus move across the landscape without barriers that would hinder new habitat colonization. Therefore, the structure of dragonfly assemblages at lentic water bodies in Pampas grasslands was more influenced by water body area than environmental heterogeneity.
Assessing COVID-19 Vaccine Effectiveness in Frail Long-Term Care Facilities Residents in a Middle-Income Country
Authors: de Alvarenga Joice Coutinho , de Moraes Flávia Lanna , de Carvalho Jáder Freitas Maciel Garcia , Santos Rodrigo Ribeiro dos , Tupinambás Unaí , de Moraes Edgar Nunes
Published: March 2024

Background: During the COVID-19 pandemic, individuals residing in long-term care facilities (LTCF) are particularly vulnerable to adverse outcomes due to their higher rates of frailty, disabilities, cognitive impairment, dementia, and chronic illnesses. In low and middle-income nations, research on immunizing frail populations is lacking, while most studies on COVID-19 in LTCF come from wealthier nations and may not fully capture the situation in emerging countries.
Methods: We aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of first, second and third COVID-19 vaccine doses, against infections, hospitalizations, and deaths, and their association with frailty, age, sex and chronic disease, among older adults, in a social vulnerability context. This retrospective cohort study, comprises a total of 712 older adults, in a social vulnerability context, of 29 LTCF, in Brazil. Continuous variables were described by medians and interquartile ranges and categorical variables were represented by absolute and relative frequencies. The Mann-Whitney test was used. For evaluating the relation between categorical variables, Pearson's chi-square test was used. When comparing proportions, the Z test of proportion was applied. A significance level of 5% was considered.
Results: Median age was 81.37 years, 72.8% were female, 94.61% were frail, 79.97% had a cognitive impairment, 69.54% had a mobility impairment, 78.37% have, at least, one chronic disease and 72.73% use five or more medications per day. Before the vaccine, mobility impairment was associated with great contamination rates (p=.03); frailty (p=.02) and previous pulmonary disease (p=.03) with symptoms of gravity; frailty (p=.02), pulmonary disease (p=.04) and male sex (p=.02) with emergency care or hospital admission. After the third vaccine dose, only frailty remains associated with admissions (p=.03). The number of positive cases (p=.001), symptomatic patients (p<.001), admissions (p=.001) and deaths (p<.001) were substantially reduced after the three vaccine doses.
Conclusions and Implications: Even in a frail population, the vaccine was effective, in the reduction of positive cases, the number of symptomatic patients, admission to emergency or hospital care and deaths. Before the vaccine, frailty, previous pulmonary disease and male sex were associated with worse outcomes. After the vaccine, frailty remains associated with a major number of admissions.
UMSSNet: A Unified Multi-Scale SegmentationNetwork for Heterogeneous Medical Images
Authors: Xu Zerui , Chen Dechao , Gong Wenyan
Published: March 2024

Medical image analysis plays a pivotal role in diagnosis and treatment. However, the diverse characteristics of various imaging modalities often demand distinct processing approaches. In this study, we introduce UMSSNet, a versatile method for medical image segmentation that leverages data from heterogeneous medical images across different scales. By utilizing Gaussian pyramid-based image processing techniques, we transform the heterogeneous medical images into a uniform multi-scale image structure. Subsequently, UMSSNet integrates multiscale image features, encompassing contextual information, and adopts a dynamic and hierarchical approach to process images at various scales, emulating the decision-making process of human pathologists and facilitating precise image segmentation. We tested UMSSNet on publicly available datasets consisting of various forms of medical images, including WSI, Biopsy slides, CT, MRI, X-ray, Colonoscopy, Fundus, and CMR, as well as private datasets of Immunohistochemical staining, Immunofluorescence staining, and Masson staining sample images. UMSSNet demonstrated performance comparable to state-of-the-art medical image segmentation methods Furthermore, the generalizability of UMSSNet in segmenting heterogeneous medical images holds promise for future research in the analysis of multimodal medical data.
Investigating the Causal Relationship between Immune Cell Phenotypes and Pancreatic Cancer Risk: A Mendelian Randomization Study
Authors: Chai Weihao , Huang Kairui , Li Jiajia , Guo Fei , Wu Yizhan , Liu Jiangwei
Published: March 2024

Background
Pancreatic cancer (PC) is a highly lethal malignancy with poor clinical prognosis, whose development is associated with genetic and environmental factors. The immunophenotype, referring to the immune-related molecular markers on the surface of tumor cells, significantly impacts the progression, development, and treatment response of PC.
Objective
This study employed a two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) bidirectional analysis to explore the association between immunophenotype and the risk of PC.
Methods
We collected datasets on 731 immune cells associated with PC from the Finngen database and GWAScatalog database. Reverse-variance weighted (RVW), weighted median (WM), and MR-Egger methods were applied to analyze the causal relationship between immune cells and PC. Cochran's Q test, MR-Egger regression, MR-PRESSO, and Leave-one-out methods were used to evaluate the stability and reliability of the study results.
Results
After bidirectional FDR correction, we found no statistically significant impact of PC on the immunophenotype. However, when investigating the causal effect of immunophenotype on PC, we found that among four immunophenotype categories (MFI, RC, AC, MP), 26 immune phenotypes were causally associated with PC (P < 0.05). Among these, seven immune phenotypes could significantly inhibit the occurrence and development of PC (IVW ≥ 0.05, OR ≥ 1), while another 19 immune phenotypes might lead to the incidence of PC (IVW < 0.05, OR < 1).
Conclusion
This study preliminarily reveals the causal relationship between immune cells and pancreatic cancer from a genetic perspective, providing an important theoretical basis for precision medicine and individualized treatment in the future.
A secure VM Live migration technique in a cloud computing environment using blowfish and blockchain technology
Authors: Gupta Ambika , Namasudra Suyel , Kumar Prabhat
Published: March 2024

Data centers have proven to be the infrastructure's backbone to deliver cloud services. With the emerging paradigm of cloud computing, VM live migration is the process of migrating a running virtual machine across specific hosts with no client-visible interruption. Security, vulnerability, resource optimization, and maintaining the quality of service are many issues in live VM migration. Maintaining security in VM live migration is one of the important concerns. For creating a secure environment, this paper proposes a secure live migration technique by applying one of the cryptographic algorithms that are blowfish for generating an encryption-decryption-based system, and blockchain technology which provides a solution to address many challenges like decentralization, data privacy, and VM security to prevent from side-channel attack, and a man in the middle attacks. The algorithms namely Key Management Blowfish Encryption (KMBE), Access Control Searchable Encryption (ACSE), Protected Searchable Destination Server (PSDS), and Key Expansion Blowfish Decryption (KEBD) improve security in VM live migration in terms of various parameters like data center request servicing time, response time and data transfer cost. The proposed technique KMBE improves migration cost ($) by 60–70%, ACSE reduces overall energy consumption by 70–80%, PSDS reduces make span by 40–50% and KEBD improves the security in live VM migration by 30–40%.
Adaptation and domestication of endangered wild betta fish (Betta channoides) originating from East Kalimantan, Indonesia
Authors: Permana Asep , Priyadi Agus , Nur Bastiar , Cindelaras Sawung , Murniasih Siti , Ginanjar Rendy , Rohmy Sulasy , Lukman Lukman , Said Djamhuriyah S , Yamin Muhamad , Sholichah Lili , Hayuningtyas Erma Primanita , Murdinah Murdinah , Fopp-Bayat Dorota Katarzyna , Suciyono Suciyono , Budi Darmawan Setia
Published: March 2024

Betta channoides is an endemic freshwater fish species in Indonesia; however, it has been classified as endangered due to its declining wild populations. As part of the efforts in conserving wild B. channoides populations, this study was conducted to establish a methodology for adapting and domesticating B. channoides through breeding and restocking initiatives. B. channoides samples were successfully acclimated and bred in captivity in Depok City, West Java, Indonesia, which is significantly distant from its native habitat in Pampang Village, Samarinda City, East Kalimantan, Indonesia. A glass aquarium was the most suitable rearing container for inducing minimal stress, as indicated by the lowest blood glucose levels recorded (43.67 ± 8.34 mg/dL in males and 59.00 ± 9.00 mg/dL in females). Chironomus sp. larvae served as the optimal nutrition source for gonadal maturation, resulting in enhanced weight gain (0.32 ± 0.07 g in males and 0.38 ± 0.12 g in females) and the highest number of mature fish (seven males and six females). The size of males exhibited a more significant effect on egg production, as demonstrated by higher R2 values for length (0.3311) and weight (0.2749). After the yolk absorption period of 7 days, the larvae were fed for the first time. The detailed analysis of the reproductive traits and early developmental stages of B. channoides contributes to our understanding of its biology and serves as a foundation for further improvements in captive breeding and aquaculture methodologies.
Clinical and Epidemiological Features of Imported Loiasis found in Beijing
Authors: Li Xiaoli , Huang Minjun , Zou Yang , Wang Fei , Zheng Xiaoyan , Wang Lei
Published: March 2024

Background Loiasis, a filarial disease primarily affecting rural populations in forested and adjacent savannah regions of central and west Africa, is rarely identified in China. There is a lack of comprehensive research on the clinical features of imported loiasis cases reported. The study aimed to enhance awareness of this rare parasitic disease.
Methods Between July 2014 and July 2023, a retrospective survey was conducted in Beijing. All the patients’ epidemiological, clinical, and biological data, as well as their treatment and outcome, were gathered. Blood samples were analyzed for Loa loa detection using microscopy and molecular methods.
Results Loiasis disease was diagnosed in 21 case reports who traveled to Africa. Most patients (95.2%) were male and their ages ranged from 24 to 53 years with the mean age of 38.19 ± 9.58 years. The vast majority of migrants (n=20; 95.2%) stayed for more than six months in their destination and worked outdoors. Calabar swelling (n=19; 90.5%) and pruritus (n=11; 52.4%) were the most common clinical presentation followed by pain (n=7; 33.3%) and skin rash (n=2; 9.5%). Adult worms were seen in the eyelid or subconjunctiva (n=2; 9.5%) and subcutaneous tissues (n=2; 9.5%). All patients had high eosinophil counts (> 0.52×109/L), but only two cases had microfilariae in their blood and tested positive for filarial antigen. A section of adult worm was found in the skin lesional, surrounded by lymphocytes, plasma cells and eosinophils. All patients tested positive for L. loa-specific PCR. Phylogenetic tree of the ITS-1 region sequences clustered closely with that described L. Loa sequences endemic in Africa. All patients recovered after treatment with albendazole and diethylcarbamazine and had no recurrence of symptoms or eosinophilia.
Conclusions Imported loiasis individuals have a distinct clinical profile, which is characterized by Calabar swelling and various non-specific symptoms (recurrent pruritus, pain and skin rash) along with predominant eosinophilia. Since most of them lack microfilariae in their blood, nucleic acid detection could be used as a diagnostic tool for hidden infection.
Documentation of Medical Errors in Nigeria: A Review
Authors: Gabriel Akinwande Opeyemi , Faith Alenbesunu
Published: March 2024

Background:
Medical errors can lead to a consequential number of deaths, which can have great repercussions on public health and patient safety. Medical errors must be reported as soon as they occur, especially in developing countries such as Nigeria, which lack proper reporting systems. This review aimed to identify studies and summarize and make recommendations on improving the reporting of medical errors.
Methods
An extensive search of electronic databases (PubMed and Medline) was performed. Studies were included if they described the reporting of medical errors by healthcare practitioners in hospitals in Nigeria and excluded if there was no full-text English version available or if the research was not conducted in a Nigerian healthcare setting.
Results
The database search yielded a total of 95 studies, and only seven were included in this review. The research designs used in the included studies were cross-sectional surveys and descriptive surveys. A high prevalence of medical errors which ranged from 42.8 to 89.8% was reported across all studies and the reporting rate was as low as 30% in one study. Fear was reported as the most common barrier to reporting medical errors by healthcare practitioners.
Conclusion
This is the first review to assess the evidence on medical error reporting in hospitals in Nigeria. This review identified ways to improve medical error reporting in Nigerian hospitals. Due to the essential role that medical error reporting plays in learning and preventing reoccurrence, additional research needs to be done in this area.
The Impact of Tetrodotoxin (TTX) on the Gut Microbiome in Juvenile Tiger Pufferfish, Takifugu rubripes
Authors: Wassel Mai A. , Makabe-Kobayashi Yoko , Iqbal Md Mehedi , Takatani Tomohiro , Sakakura Yoshitaka , Hamasaki Koji
Published: March 2024

Tetrodotoxin (TTX) is a potent neurotoxin that accumulates in Takifugu rubripes, commonly known as pufferfish, through the ingestion of TTX-bearing organisms as part of their food chain. Although it is believed that pufferfish use TTX to relieve stress, there are currently no data available on the impact of TTX on the gut microbiota of pufferfish. To address this gap, our study aimed to investigate whether administering TTX to fish could alter their gut microbiota and overall health under various salinity conditions, specifically, 30.0 ppt, 8.5 ppt, and 1.7 ppt salinity, which represent full-strength, isosmotic, and low-salinity stress, respectively. We analyzed the effects of TTX ingestion on the community structure, core microbiome, and metabolic capabilities of the gut microbiome using high-throughput sequencing technologies. The predominant bacterial taxa within the gut microbiome were Firmicutes (21-85%), Campilobacterota (2.8-67%), Spirochaetota (0.5-14%), and Proteobacteria (0.7-9.8%), with Mycoplasma, uncultured Arcobacteraceae, Brevinema, Vibrio, Rubritalea, and uncultured Pirellulaceae as core genera. Our findings indicated that the impact of TTX on high-abundance genera at 30.0 ppt and 8.5 ppt salinity levels was negligible, indicating their stability and resilience to TTX ingestion. However, at 1.7 ppt, TTX-fed fish showed a significant increase in uncultured Arcobacteraceae, which was reportedly beneficial for the host, implying that the ingestion of TTX can shape the gut microbiota and contribute to T. rubripes juveniles’ ability to cope with salinity stress conditions. Furthermore, our analysis of TTX-fed fish revealed taxonomic alterations in low-abundance taxa, which altered the predicted functions of the gut microbiota at all salinity levels. These results suggest that TTX administration could cause subtle effects on the metabolic functions of gut microbial communities, which in turn could affect host physiology. Overall, our study provides insights into the complex relationship between a TTX-accumulating animal, T. rubripes, and its gut microbiota.
Determine the impact of Training and Development Programs on Employee Performance: An Empirical study on Bangladesh Banking Employee
Authors: Shakib Shahriar
Published: March 2024

The Executive Summary provides an overview of the comprehensive study conducted on the impact of Training and Development Programs on Employee Performance within the banking sector of Bangladesh. The research delved into understanding the relationship between training initiatives, development programs, and employee performance through a quantitative analysis encompassing a detailed survey of banking professionals. The study revealed encouraging insights into the engagement levels of banking employees in various training programs, showcasing an acknowledgment of the necessity of continuous skill enhancement within the industry. Overall, these programs were perceived as beneficial, contributing significantly to skill augmentation, job performance, and career progression among participants. However, obstacles such as time constraints, limited accessibility to resources, and communication challenges were identified, potentially impeding the effectiveness of these programs. A notable correlation emerged between participation in development initiatives and career advancement, emphasizing the importance of targeted developmental programs in fostering employee growth within the banking sector. Leadership development initiatives were particularly influential in improving leadership skills, consequently bolstering employee motivation and organizational performance. Despite positive perceptions regarding the impact of training programs on job performance, areas for refinement were identified, emphasizing the need for better customization and alignment with individual job roles. In summary, the research underscores the pivotal role of Training and Development Programs in shaping the performance and growth of banking employees in Bangladesh. While acknowledging their overall benefits, there's a need for ongoing improvement to optimize program quality, customization, and addressing challenges encountered by employees. The study advocates for continual enhancements, strategic alignment with organizational objectives, and the cultivation of a supportive learning culture within banking institutions to maximize the potential of these programs for employee development and organizational success. The insights gleaned from this study offer valuable guidance for future initiatives aimed at optimizing Training and Development Programs within the banking sector, facilitating the development of a skilled, motivated, and efficient workforce in Bangladesh.