bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Factors influencing detection, distribution and population dynamics of the broad-snouted caiman (Caiman latirostris) in an altered environment in north-eastern Brazil
Authors: Mascarenhas-Junior Paulo B. , Strickland Bradley A. , Heithaus Michael R. , Simões Pedro I. , Correia Jozelia M. S.
Published: October 2023

Nocturnal spotlight surveys have been historically used to determine patterns in crocodylians’ space-time ecology. This approach provides reliable insights about their conservation, especially when is based on long-term monitoring. We assessed how weather, habitat features, and anthropogenic factors influence distribution and population trends of broad-snouted caiman (Caiman latirostris) in an altered Atlantic Forest habitat in north-eastern Brazil. From 2015 to 2022, we conducted night counts to detect caimans, measure several abiotic variables and assess human activity. To account for changes in encounter rates based on abiotic variables, we employed a Generalized Linear Modeling approach and a single-species occupancy model to predict caiman probability of occurrence within the reservoir. Average caiman encounter rate in the reservoir was 1.3 ind/km, consistent with estimates conducted in other locations in Brazil. The population size remained stable over the study period, although adults encounter rates increased. Water temperature and humidity positively affected caiman detection, whereas rainfall and cloud coverage had a negative influence on counts, likely due to their impacts on caiman metabolism and foraging behavior. Caimans were distributed throughout the reservoir, with a preference for the river channel and forested sectors, which offered protection from humans and possibly provided greater resources availability. The presence of gillnets was positively correlated with caiman distribution, explained by caimans opportunistically feeding on tangled fish. Our findings comprise the first long-term study of a broad-snouted caiman population dynamics in Brazil and provide useful guidelines for determining priority areas for caiman conservation within the highly threatened Atlantic Forest biome.
Couching of Intra-ocular lens in microphthalmic eyes with irido-fundal coloboma - Revisiting the historical technique
Authors: Kannan Naresh Babu , Goswami Ananya , Vallinayagam Muthukrishnan , Sarkar Avik Dey
Published: October 2023

Purpose: Cataract surgery in microphthalmic eyes is challenging due to anatomical restraints, hard bulky nucleus. This series aims to evaluate the safety and efficacy of couching of intraocular lens in irido-fundal coloboma with microphthalmos.
Setting: Tertiary care centre in South India
Design: Retrospective non-comparative study in eyes with irido-fundal coloboma, corneal diameter <7mm and brown cataract. Visual acuity less than 6/60 in other eye.
Methods: Anterior chamber entry made, zonules broken and lens dislocated into the vitreous cavity in a controlled manner. Baseline Clinico-demographic details, corrected distance visual acuity (CDVA), Intra-ocular pressure (IOP), corneal diameter, axial length, lens status and post-surgery CDVA, IOP and complications recorded and followed up for atleast 6 months.
Results: 15 eyes of 15 subjects were evaluated with a mean age 49.4 ±10.9 years. At baseline, mean IOP 14.5 ± 3.8 mmHg, mean axial length 19.3 ± 0.5 mm, mean corneal diameter was 6.5 ± 0.34 mm and CDVA 2 logMAR which improved to 1.5 logMAR at 3 months (p value 0.002). Transient spike in IOP in 33.3% subjects was medically managed with no significant difference in IOP (p > 0.05) at baseline (14.5 ± 3.8 mmHg), 3 months post-surgery (16±2.8 mmHg) and 6 months post-surgery (14.9 ± 2.5 mmHg). One patient underwent re-couching. No other major complications were noted.
Conclusion: Couching of Intra-ocular lens is an effective and safe method in microphthalmic eyes with irido-fundal coloboma with an ambulatory gain of visual acuity in previously non-ambulatory subjects. Corneal measurements help in determining the subset of patients where couching offers viable option.
A Model Based Material Removal Simulation for Vacuum Suction Blasting of Composites
Authors: Brieskorn Leander , Hintze Wolfgang , Rajanna Shivdeep Doddagopenahallli
Published: October 2023

Automated scarfing of carbon reinforced plastic (CFRP) layers is on its way to support commercial aircraft repair. In the industry, still, the manual scarfing operation is the qualified method. However, automated techniques as milling, laser removal and water jet cutting are in development and showed already good results. Another promising method is vacuum suction blasting (VSB) that was until now in particular used for the roughening of surfaces before adhesive bonding. To find the right adjustment for the parameters many experiments would be necessary accordingly to different CFRP parts with changing layer thicknesses. Simulation is a way to avoid this and to predict the removal result and the settings for the machining parameters. The VSB model uses a pixel method dividing the simulated part surface into smaller volume elements. Experimental data of VSB static blasting spots are the basic for the source matrix. The simulation feeds the matrix with the blasted depth and removal volume for different blasting times. A shifting of columns of the source matrix in the blasting movement direction simulates the movement of the blasting nozzle on the work piece surface. With this, the model can also predict the nozzle feed to remove exactly one complete layer for each scarfing step. In addition, it visualizes the seamless overlapping distance between two blasted tracks. With further adjustments, the model will predict the dynamic removal for varying input parameters such as negative pressure and nozzle distance or blasting agent.
CLASSIFICATIO CODES
MSC: 26B15, 65L12, 97G30, 15A24
JEL: C20
Sequential fusion-based defence strategy against sophisticated Byzantine attacks in cognitive IoT networks
Authors: ZEMO Flavien DONKENG , Bakkali Sara
Published: October 2023

5G and 6G promise to be catalysts for the Internet of Things (IoT), enabling ultra-massive and mission-critical IoT. The requirements of new IoT applications and the large number of connected objects announced will exacerbate the thorny problem of spectrum scarcity in wireless communications. Cognitive radio is positioned as a revolutionary technology that promises to mitigate the problem of spectrum scarcity through more efficient use of spectrum. Integrating cognitive radio into the IoT allows objects to opportunistically access spectrum resources already allocated to another user (primary user, PU) without causing interference. Spectrum sensing allows objects to be aware of the spectrum occupancy status of the target PU. In radio environments where the PU signal is subject to multipath and shadowing effects, making spectrum sensing by a single object very difficult, cooperative spectrum sensing (CSS) has been proposed to improve detection performance. However, this cooperation between objects has opened the way to a new form of attack known as the Spectrum Sensing Data Falsification (SSDF) or Byzantine attack. In our paper, we propose a sophisticated Byzantine attack model that generalizes known simple attacks. Then we propose a new innovative and intelligent weighted sequential hypothesis testing scheme that ensures CSS security by significantly reducing the average number of samples required for global decision-making in a highly hostile IoT network. Simulation results under various attack scenarios clearly show that our security mechanism leads to better performance compared to other mechanisms such as classical WSPRT, SPRT and majority rule.
The Semi-implicit DLN Algorithm for the Navier Stokes Equations
Authors: Pei Wenlong
Published: October 2023

Dahlquist, Liniger, and Nevanlinna design a family of one-leg, two-step meth- ods (the DLN method) that is second order, A− and G− stable for arbitrary, non-uniform time steps. Recently, the implementation of the DLN method can be simplified by the refactorization process (adding time filters on the backward Euler scheme). Due to these fine properties, the DLN method has strong potential for the numerical simulation of time-dependent fluid models. In the report, we propose a semi-implicit DLN algorithm for the Navier Stokes equations (avoid- ing non-linear solver at each time step) and prove the unconditional, long-term stability and second-order convergence with the moderate time step restriction. Moreover, the adaptive DLN algorithms by the required error or numerical dis- sipation criterion are presented to balance the accuracy and computational cost. Numerical tests will be given to support the main conclusions.
Twelve-hour Normothermic Liver Perfusion in a Rat Model: Characterization of the Changes in the Ex-situ Bio-molecular Phenotype and Metabolism
Authors: Daniele Dondossola , Caterina Lonati , Michele Battistin , Luigi Vivona , Alberto Zanella , Marco Maggioni , Valentina Vaira , Laimdota Zizmare , Christoph Trautwein , Andrea Schlegel , Stefano Gatti
Published: October 2023

The partial understanding of the biological events that occur during normothermic machine perfusion (NMP) and particularly during prolonged perfusion might hinder its deployment in clinical transplantation. The aim of our study was to implement a rat model of prolonged NMP to characterize the bio-molecular phenotype and metabolism of the perfused organs.
Livers (n=5/group) were procured and underwent 4h (NMP4h) or 12h (NMP12h) NMP, respectively, using a perfusion fluid supplemented with an acellular oxygen carrier. Organs that were not exposed to any procedure served as controls (Native).
All perfused organs met clinically derived viability criteria at the end of NMP. Factors related to stress-response and survival were increased after prolonged perfusion. No signs of oxidative damage were detected in both NMP groups. Evaluation of metabolite profiles showed preserved mitochondrial function, activation of Cori cycle, induction of lipolysis, acetogenesis and ketogenesis in livers exposed to 12h-NMP. Increased concentrations of metabolites involved in glycogen synthesis, glucuronidation, bile acid conjugation, and antioxidant response were likewise observed.
In conclusion, our NMP12h model was able to sustain liver viability and function, thereby deeply changing cell homeostasis to maintain a newly developed equilibrium. Our findings provide valuable information for the implementation of optimized protocols for prolonged NMP.
Effects of Systemic Treatment on the Risk for Cardiovascular Diseases in Psoriasis: A Nationwide Population-Based Study in South Korea
Authors: Lee Yeon Seok , Lee Yu Jin , Lee Jung Min , Lee June Hyunkyung , Han Tae Young , Choi Jae Eun
Published: October 2023

Psoriasis has been linked to various comorbidities including cardiovascular diseases. Recently, biologics have become widely used for their remarkable effectiveness and favorable safety profile. Nonetheless, many patients with moderate-to-severe psoriasis persist in using immunosuppressants, often driven by insurance-related constraints; the use of immunosuppressants, such as cyclosporine, may give rise to concerns regarding the additional cardiovascular burden attributed to the drug. Thus, we aimed to investigate the effect of systemic treatment on the risk of hypertension, dyslipidemia, and major cardiovascular events (MACE) in patients with psoriasis. A customized database from the National Health Insurance Service of South Korea spanning the years 2002 to 2019 served as the primary data source for this study. Propensity score matching was conducted in a 1:1 ratio between patients diagnosed with psoriasis who underwent systemic treatment and those who did not. The diagnoses of psoriasis and individual cardiovascular diseases were established using International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision (ICD-10) codes. The systemic treatment group was divided into distinct and non-overlapping cohorts, including cyclosporine, methotrexate, mixed immunosuppressant, biologics, and phototherapy cohorts. We calculated the incidence rates of each cardiovascular disease and subsequently assessed the association between systemic treatment and the occurrence of cardiovascular diseases using a Cox proportional hazards model. Patients with psoriasis who received any systemic treatment had a significantly higher hazard ratio (HR) for hypertension, dyslipidemia and MACE than those who did not (HR 1.43, 1.60, 1.77). The mixed immunosuppressant cohort had the highest HRs for hypertension, dyslipidemia and MACE (HR 3.49, 4.08, 4.94), followed by methotrexate (HR 2.82, 2.73, 4.52), cyclosporine (HR 2.09, 2.36, 2.92), biologics (HR 1.46, 2.33, 1.98), and phototherapy cohorts (HR 1.00, 1.14, 0.96). In summary, our findings indicate that the mixed immunosuppressant cohort exhibited the highest risk of cardiovascular diseases, with methotrexate, cyclosporine, biologics, and phototherapy cohorts following in descending order. It remains unclear whether it is derived from the psoriasis itself or the treatment, as the disease severity could not be adjusted. Nevertheless, our results suggest that biologics may offer a more favorable choice for mitigating potential cardiovascular comorbidities in individuals with psoriasis when compared to immunosuppressant therapies.
Femoral neck system interferes less with the gluteus medius muscle than cannulated compression screws in patients with Pauwels' type III femoral neck fracture: a retrospective study of 103 cases
Authors: zhao gongyin , Wu Hao , Zhou Weibo , Chen Wei
Published: October 2023

Background
The femoral neck system (FNS) shows promise as an effective alternative for treating femoral neck fractures, particularly Pauwels type III fractures. However, limited literature exists on comparative studies investigating the effects of FNS versus cannulated compression screws (CCS) on the gluteus medius (GM) muscle. This study aims to compare the impact of FNS and CCS interventions on the GM in Pauwels type III femoral neck fracture treatment.
Methods
This study included 103 patients diagnosed with Pauwels type III femoral neck fractures, treated between January 2019 and September 2021. Among them, 54 patients underwent FNS treatment (FNS group), while 49 patients received CCS fixation (CCS group). Changes in GM area were assessed through ultrasound at 3 and 6 months postoperatively, and hip function was assessed by Harris hip score.
Results
At 3-, and 6-months post-surgery, the GM area was notably reduced on the operated side in the CCS group compared to the healthy side (p < 0.0001), while no significant disparity was observed in the FNS group (p = 0.402 at 3 months, p = 0.989 at 6 months). The Harris hip score, reflecting postoperative recovery, was significantly superior in the FNS group compared to the CCS group both in March (84.5 ± 3.9 vs. 82.7 ± 4.4, P = 0.029) and June (91.4 ± 4.4 vs. 89.7 ± 4.0, P = 0.037).
Conclusion
FNS internal fixation for Pauwels type III femoral neck fractures minimally impacts the GM compared to compression screws, suggesting its potential to improve hip function, facilitate gait, and enhance overall hip joint rehabilitation.
Congenital anomalies of the pulmonary arterial system in a paediatric cohort: a single- center 28-year experience
Authors: Brunet-Garcia Laia , Bellon Juan Manuel Carretero , Zuccarino Flavio
Published: October 2023

Background and objective
Congenital anomalies of the pulmonary arterial system are rare. They include left pulmonary artery sling (LPAS), unilateral absence of the pulmonary artery (UAPA) and anomalous origin of unilateral pulmonary artery from the ascending aorta (AOPA) or hemitruncus. Our aim was to review 21 paediatric cases and describe their presentation, , diagnosis, management and long-term follow-up.
Material and methods
A retrospective observational study of all paediatric patients with pulmonary arterial system abnormalities diagnosis (May 1995-March 2023) was conducted. Patients underwent systematic evaluation (medical and family history; echocardiogram; angiography and/or computed tomography or magnetic resonance angiography).
Results
21 paediatric patients with pulmonary arterial system abnormalities (LPAS n=11, UAPA n=6 and AOPA n=4) were included. The median age at diagnosis was 2.0 [0.1-12.0] months, the median follow-up time 2.4 [0.4-11.7] for all patients and 8.0 [0.7-12.5] years for survivors. 2 patients (9.5%) were prenatally diagnosed. Echocardiography diagnosed 18 patients (85.7%). The diagnosis was confirmed by MR (n=1), CT (n=17) or angiography (n=3). There were 5 deaths (23.8%) (median age 1.4 [0.6-5.9] months).
Conclusion
Prompt diagnosis and treatment of patients with pulmonary arterial system abnormalities is paramount to diminish post-operative residual lesions and morbidity, as demonstrated in our study. Nevertheless, further studies including larger cohorts are required not only to better define consensus regarding surgical management of congenital abnormalities of the pulmonary arterial system but also to improve their aetiology understanding and associated anomalies. These will enhance the clinical delineation of these entities leading to an increase of clinicians’ awareness.
Does enhanced recovery after surgery affect pain catastrophizing, depression, and anxiety in patients undergoing primary total hip arthroplasty?
Authors: Yin Jinneng , Xing Guangwei , Xu Mingjie , Jing Xiaobo
Published: October 2023

Purpose
The incidence of pain catastrophizing, depression and anxiety is not uncommon in patients undergoing primary total hip arthroplasty (THA), and Enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) schemes can improve peri-operative stress responses of the patients. The aim of this study is to to determine the effect of ERAS protocol on patient satisfaction, pain catastrophizing and hospital-related anxiety and/or depression following primary total hip arthroplasty.
Methods
Data were retrospectively reviewed for patients who underwent primary THA between 2017 and 2020. Patients in the control group who received conventional treatment were matched with the ERAS group following the ERAS protocol using a 1:1 ratio by baseline characteristics. All cases in both groups were evaluated and analyzed for pain catastrophizing, depression and anxiety using Pain Catastrophizing Scale (PCS) and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) at postoperative 1 weeks, 6weeks, 3 months, 6 months and 1 year.
Results
A total of 182 patients in the ERAS group and 182 patients in the control group were found using propensity score matching. When compared to preoperative outcomes, both groups experienced sizable improvements in all Patient Reported Outcomes (PROs) at the follow-up periods. Compared with the control group, the ERAS group’s satisfaction was significantly higher (p = 0.002), the pain catastrophizing degree of ERAS group was significantly decreased at 1 week (p < 0.001), 6 weeks (p < 0.001) and 3 months (p = 0.015), and the anxiety degree was significantly decreased at 1 week (p < 0.001) and 6 weeks (p < 0.001), respectively. Moreover, depression decreased significantly at 1 week (p < 0.001), 6 weeks (p = 0.004), 3 months (p < 0.001) and 6 months (p = 0.021), respectively. Patients in the ERAS group experienced faster relief from pain catastrophizing, depression, and anxiety disorders than those in the control group, and maintained a relatively stable mental state at minimum 1-year follow-up.
Conclusions
Patients undergoing THA following ERAS protocol have a better effect on improving peri-operative patient-reported depression, anxiety, and pain catastrophizing screenings than those following traditional scheme. Therefore, ERAS intervention and management may be beneficial for patients with pain catastrophizing, depression, and anxiety who are planning to undergo THA.
Level of evidence III.
Prediction of Benign and Malignant Thyroid Nodules Based on Multicenter Ultrasound Images
Authors: Liu Xueping , Ren Xinqu , Wu Lei , Fu Zuojun , Liu Xiaoying , Zhou Yuwang , Fang Yun , Yu Lingfei
Published: October 2023

Purpose Thyroid cancer is a prevalent form of cancer, ranking ninth in terms of incidence rate worldwide. To leverage the advancements in deep learning for medical imaging, we successfully developed a dynamic integration model that combines the transformer and convolutional neural network (CNN) architectures to estimate benignity or malignancy. Methods We recruited 202 patients with thyroid nodules from Quzhou People’s Hospital and 102 patients from the public Thyroid Ultrasound Images (DDTI) dataset. We randomly divided the data into a training set (429 ultrasound images) and testing set (70 ultrasound images) at a 7:3 ratio. To address the inherent imbalance in the dataset, we employed a data augmentation strategy that adds 1 noise as a compensatory measure. A dynamic integration strategy, DiTNet, which is based on Vision Transformer, ResNet, and DenseNet, is proposed, using a CNN and self-attention mechanism to extract image features. Results To evaluate the performance of DiTNet, its relevant indicators were assessed based on the Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC). ROC analysis revealed an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.95, accompanied by accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity values of 0.89. Conclusion DiTNet exhibited excellent performance in the face of imbalanced datasets and complex and diverse samples, verifying the effectiveness of data augmentation strategies and the ability of different basic models to learn different features.
A Novel Nutrition-Related Prognostic Biomarker for Predicting Survival in Patients with Colorectal Cancer
Authors: Cai Hao , Chen Yu , Jia Houjun
Published: October 2023

Background
Colorectal Cancer (CRC) is a major global malignancy with significant morbidity and mortality rates. Accurate prognostic assessment plays a vital role in the management of CRC patients. In this study, we aimed to investigate the prognostic significance of red blood cell count (RBC), and develop a comprehensive biomarker based on RBC and Onodera’s prognostic nutritional index (OPNI) to predict the prognosis of resectable CRC patients.
Methods
We retrospectively reviewed a cohort of 210 CRC patients who underwent radical resection between January 2015 and January 2017. Various clinical and hematological factors were assessed, including RBC, albumin, hemoglobin, and OPNI. A novel comprehensive biomarker, R-OPNI, was introduced, combining preoperative RBC with OPNI. The correlation between these factors and patient survival was analyzed, and the independent prognostic value of R-OPNI was assessed based on univariate and multivariate Cox models.
Results
Patients with higher RBC levels (≥ 3.9 x1012/L) experienced significantly improved overall survival compared to those with lower RBC levels (p < 0.001). High OPNI values were also associated with prolonged survival (p < 0.001). Notably, patients with lower R-OPNI scores (0 or 1) had notably poorer overall survival (p < 0.001). Multivariate analysis confirmed R-OPNI's independent prognostic significance (HR: 0.273, 95% CI: 0.098–0.763, p = 0.013). Furthermore, factors such as tumor site, albumin levels, albumin to globulin ratio, hemoglobin levels, and total protein levels demonstrated significant prognostic value in CRC survival.
Conclusion
R-OPNI is significantly associated with the survival of resectable CRC patients and serves as an independent prognostic predictor. The study also highlights the prognostic importance of RBC in CRC and emphasizes the value of assessing the preoperative nutritional status.
Prevalence of Composite Indicator Anthropometric Failures and Associated Factors among 6-59 Month Children Living In Mojo Town, Oromia, Ethiopia
Authors: Deybasso Haji Aman , Belda Eyerusalem Shiferaw , Habtewold Ephrem Mannekulih
Published: October 2023

Background: A composite index of anthropometric failures was developed to quantify the overall prevalence of overlapping burdens of anthropometric failures in a particular child in the population. The prevalence of composite index anthropometric failures and associated factors were not well studied in Ethiopia in general and the study site in particular.
Methods: A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted among randomly selected 461 childrenwith their mothers/caregivers. Data were collected using structured interviewer-administered questionnaires and anthropometric measurements. The collected data was checked, coded, and entered into Epi info 7 version 3.1 and exported to the statistical package for Social Science version 25 for further analysis. Descriptive statistics were used to describe the study population. Bivariate analysis was conducted, and the variables with p < 0.25 were fitted for multivariable logistic regression analysis. The strength of association was estimated using an adjusted odds ratio with a 95% confidence interval. Statistical significance was declared at p-value < 0.05.
Result: The prevalence of composite indicator anthropometric failures was 24.5% [95%CI: 20.8, 28.8] among 6-59 month children. Family size of >=5 [AOR = 1.75, 95% CI: 1.04, 2.97], presence of fever [AOR: 2.37, 95% CI: 1.39–4.08], dietary diversity score [AOR: 3.27; 95% CI: 1.73, 6.18], children age category of 48-59month [AOR: 2.59; 95%CI: 1.06, 6.37] and household food insecurity [AOR: 2.21; 95%CI: 1.38, 3.55] were significantly associated with composite index anthropometric failures.
Conclusion:- A quarter of children aged 6–59 months in the study area were exposed to composite indicator anthropometric failures. Family size, the presence of fever, dietary diversity, household food status, and child age were factors positively associated with composite index anthropometric failures.
Elucidating the Biochemical Role of Novel Enzyme Targets in Neurodegenerative Disorders
Authors: Al-Rubaye Abdullah Abbas Hamzah
Published: October 2023

Introduction: Neurodegenerative disorders, characterized by progressive neuronal loss, remain a significant clinical challenge due to their multifactorial etiology. While numerous enzymes have been implicated in their pathogenesis, there remains a knowledge gap regarding the precise biochemical roles of several novel enzyme targets.
Methods: This study encompassed a multi-pronged approach, involving patient-derived samples from Alzheimer's and Parkinson's cases (n=156), an ALS mouse model (n=50), and a CRISPR-Cas9 edited Huntington's Disease zebrafish model (n=100). Enzyme activity assays, localization microscopy, and interaction pathway analyses were conducted.
Results: Elevated Aminotransferases activity was observed in 78% of Alzheimer's samples compared to controls (p<0.05). The ALS mouse model revealed a 30% reduction in motor neuron counts in tandem with altered enzyme activity (p<0.01). The Huntington's zebrafish model successfully displayed genetic markers post-CRISPR editing, indicating a 95% editing efficiency. Furthermore, novel interactions between the enzymes and established neurodegenerative pathways were identified.
Conclusion: Mine findings highlight the pivotal role of novel enzyme targets in neurodegenerative disorders, offering potential avenues for early detection and therapeutic interventions. The intricate interplay of these enzymes with known disease pathways underscores the need for an integrated approach to understand disease mechanisms holistically.
Suppressive antibiotic therapy for infectious endocarditis
Authors: Lemmet Thomas , Bourne-Watrin Morgane , Gerber Victor , Danion François , Hoellinger Baptiste , Lefebvre Nicolas , Mazzucotelli Jean-Philippe , Zeyons Floriane , Hansmann Yves , Ruch Yvon
Published: October 2023

Purpose: Suppressive antibiotic therapy (SAT) is a long-term antibiotic strategy sometimes used when an indicated surgical management of infective endocarditis (IE) is not possible. Our aim was to describe characteristics and outcomes of patients who received SAT for IE.
Methods: We conducted a monocentric, observational study at Strasbourg University Hospital, France between January 1st 2020 and May 30th 2023. We reviewed all medical files discussed at weekly meetings of the local Multidisciplinary Endocarditis Team (MET) during the study period. The primary endpoint was all-cause mortality at last follow-up. Secondary endpoints included all-cause mortality at 3 months and 6 months follow-up, infection relapse and occurrence of tolerance issues attributed to SAT.
Results: The local MET discussed 251 patients with during the study time, among whom we included 22 patients (9%) who received SAT. The mean age was 77.2 ± 12.3 years. Patients were highly comorbid with a mean Charlson index score of 6.6 ± 2.5. Fourteen patients (64%) had prosthetic valve endocarditis. Six patients (27%) had IE affecting cardiac implantable electronic devices. Median follow-up time was 249 days (IQR 95 – 457 days). At last follow-up date, all-cause mortality was of 23% (5/22). Three patients (14%) presented tolerance issues attributed to SAT, and 2 patients (9%) presented late infectious relapse.
Conclusion: Mortality at 3-month follow-up was low and tolerance issues were rare for patients under SAT for IE in this study. It might be a palliative approach to consider when conventional management involving surgery or device removal is not deemed possible.
Maternal Periodontitis May Cause Lower Birth Weight in Children: Genetic Evidence from a Comprehensive Mendelian Randomization Study on Periodontitis and Pregnancy
Authors: Chen Xixiong , Li Xiao , Yang Kun , Fang Jinlin
Published: October 2023

Objectives
This study aims to comprehensively investigate the potential genetic link between periodontitis and adverse pregnancy outcomes using a two-sample Mendelian Randomization approach.
Materials and Methods
We employed robust genetic instruments for chronic periodontitis as exposure data from the FinnGen database. Data encompassing various pregnancy stage outcomes, including pre-pregnancy conditions (irregular menstruation, endometriosis, abnormal reproductive bleeding, and female infertility), pregnancy complications (hemorrhage, spontaneous miscarriage, and abnormalities in products), and post-pregnancy factors (single spontaneous delivery, labor duration, and birth weight of the child), were obtained from the UK Biobank. The random-effects inverse-variance weighted (IVW) method was utilized to compute primary estimates while diligently assessing potential directional pleiotropy and heterogeneity.
Results
Our findings indicate a negative association between periodontitis and labor duration (odds ratio [OR] = 0.999; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.999 to 1.000; P = 0.017). Individuals with periodontitis are more likely to deliver lower-weight infants (OR = 0.983; 95% CI: 0.972 to 0.995; P = 0.005). We found no evidence of pleiotropy or heterogeneity in aforementioned two associations. We did not observe casual links with pre-pregnancy conditions and pregnancy complications.
Conclusions
This Mendelian Randomization study underscores the genetic influence of periodontitis on specific adverse pregnancy outcomes, particularly concerning labor duration and lower birth weight deliveries.
Clinical Relevance:
Our study emphasizes the critical importance of maintaining periodontal health during pregnancy and offers genetic evidence supporting these associations. Further investigation is required to delve deeper into the specific underlying mechanisms.
Construção de guia educativo sobre guarda responsável de animais domésticos para conscientização da população de Ceres e região
Authors: FARIA FILHO Fausto de Melo , MENESES Natália Santiago de , NASCIMENTO Maria do Socorro Viana do , SOUSA Denise Francisca de , SANTOS Tanita Maria Souza , SANTOS Gabrielle da Silveira , ROSA Vitor Silva
Published: October 2023

Nas áreas urbanas, é evidente a presença de animais abandonados que vivem sem receber os cuidados básicos necessários. Essa condição afeta diretamente a saúde e o bem-estar desses animais, ao mesmo tempo que contribui significativamente para a propagação de doenças zoonóticas. Para tanto, o objetivo deste relato de experiência é apresentar as ações executadas em um projeto de extensão que visou a elaboração e difusão de material informativo sobre a guarda responsável de animais domésticos, buscando amenizar a problemática do abandono e maus-tratos de animais na cidade de Ceres e região, em Goiás. Para levantamento de dados, além da pesquisa bibliográfica, contou-se com o apoio de ONG's da comunidade local que atuam na proteção animal. Para a elaboração do guia foi utilizado o Canva, uma ferramenta online para criação de designs. O material foi intitulado Guarda Responsável de Animais Domésticos e divulgado em redes sociais e sites de divulgação de obras independentes.
El camino latinoamericano hacia la ciencia abierta
Authors: Laura Piovesan Suarez Sylvia , Maria de Sousa Pinto Juliana
Published: October 2023

El camino latinoamericano hacia la ciencia abierta
Objetivos de desenvolvimento sustentável: como impactam a publicação científica?
Authors: de Mello Rode Sigmar , Biojone Mariana
Published: October 2023

Objetivos de desenvolvimento sustentável: como impactam a publicação científica?
Türkiye’de Vatandaşlık Eğitiminin Yönü (II. Meşrutiyet Döneminden Günümüze 2022)
Authors: ŞİMŞEK Ahmet , KARADUMAN Esra
Published: October 2023

Bu çalışmanın amacı Türk modernleşmesi bağlamında II. Meşrutiyet’ten günümüze Türkiye’de eğitimin siyasal iktidarla ilişkisinin incelenerek vatandaşlık eğitiminin yönünü belirlemektir. Bu amaca uygun olarak çalışmada nitel yöntemlerden ilişkisel içerik analizi deseni kullanılmıştır. Çalışmanın dokümanlarını ders kitapları ile öğretim programları oluşturmaktadır. Veriler bunlardan toplanmış ve betimsel analiz tekniği ile analiz edilmiştir. Araştırmada elde edilen bulgulara göre II. Meşrutiyet döneminde verilen vatandaşlık eğitimiyle öğrencilerin meşruti yönetimin özelliklerini öğrenmeleri amaçlanmıştır. Cumhuriyet’in ilanından sonra tek parti dönemi boyunca (1923-1945) rejimin korunması için bireylerde toplumsal bilincin geliştirilmesi sağlanmaya çalışılmıştır. Çok partili siyasal hayata geçişle (1945-1960) birlikte millileşme hedefleri sürdürülürken ders kitaplarına demokrasi kavramı da girmeye başlamıştır. 1960 askeri darbesinden 1980 darbesine kadar olan dönemde ise demokratik yaşamın yüceltilmesinin yanı sıra askeri darbeyi olumlu karşılayan ifadeler de yer almıştır. 1982 Anayasasının ardından ders kitaplarında sunulan vatandaşlık kimliğine din olgusu eklenmiştir. 2000’lerden itibaren ise vatandaşlık eğitiminde güvenlik kaygıları ile birlikte aktif yurttaşlığı benimseyen bir anlayış hâkim görünmektedir. Sonuç olarak Türkiye’de yaşanan siyasi değişim ve dönüşümlerin vatandaşlık kavramını geleneksel veya modern karakterde şekillendirdiği söylenebilir.
Eleftherios Venizelos’un Hatıratında Paris Barış Konferansı Ve İzmir’in Yunanlara Bırakılma Kararı
Authors: ÖZSÜER Esra
Published: October 2023

1917 yılında Antant Güçleri yanında Büyük Savaş’a katılan Yunanistan, savaşın Antant lehine sonuçlanması ile birlikte Paris Barış Konferansı’nda, galip devletlerin masasında ulusal taleplerini oluşturdu. Dönemin Yunanistan Başbakanı Eleftherios Venizelos, Büyük Yunanistan için belirlediği hedeflerini Paris’in tüm siyasi kulislerinde bir propaganda aracı olarak kullanmaya çalıştı. Bilhassa Müttefikleri yanına çekebilmek amacıyla derlediği memorandum kitapçığında etnolojik ve tarihi mirasla hak iddia ettiği Batı Anadolu topraklarının Yunanistan’a bırakılmasını talep ediyordu. Bu isteklerini abartılı istatistiki bilgilerle destekleyerek Batı Anadolu’da Rum nüfusun Türk nüfusundan daha fazla olduğunu iddia ediyordu. Özellikle Venizelos bölgedeki Rumların kendi kaderini belirlemesini ve Wilson ilkelerinde yer alan self determinasyon hakkıyla da İzmir’in Yunanistan’a bağlanmasını önermişti. Ancak Yunan milli çıkarları Büyük Savaş’ın bir diğer galibi olan İtalya’nın ulusal menfaatleri ile çakışmaktaydı. Öte yandan gerek Avrupa’da Yunanperver teşkilatlanma gerekse İngiliz dış politikasında Doğu Akdeniz’in önemi bölgenin koşulsuz şartsız Yunanistan’a bırakılmasını zaruri kılıyordu. İtalya’nın konferans boyunca dışlandığı Paris Barış Görüşmelerinde İzmir’in Yunanistan’a bırakılmasına karar veren Yüksek Konsey, 12 Mayıs 1919 tarihinde İzmir işgali ile ilgili yeni bir akit oluşturdu. Bu makalede Yunanistan Başbakanı Eleftherios Venizelos’un Paris Barış Konferansı süresince kaleme aldığı tek yazılı hatıratı üzerinden inceleme yapılmıştır. Ayrıca, makalede, Yunanistan Dışişleri Bakanlığı, Yunanistan Devlet Arşivleri ve Benaki Müzesi Tarih Arşivinde yer alan gizli ve şifreli telgraflar incelenerek Paris Barış Konferansı sırasında Batı Anadolu topraklarının Yunanistan’a bırakılma kararı irdelenmiştir. Makalede elde edilen temel bulgular İngiliz dış politikası gölgesinde şekillenen Yunan dış politikasının İzmir’i bir oldubitti karar sonucunda işgal ettiği yönündedir. Yunanistan’ı İtalya’ya karşı destekleyen Büyük Güçlerin amacı Megali İdea hedefinin gerçekleştirilmesinden ziyade Doğu Sorunu ve Doğu Akdeniz politikasını kendi menfaatlerine göre şekillendirme isteğidir.
The Effect of the Modality on Students’ Computational Thinking, Programming Attitude, and Programming Achievement
Authors: Cetin Ibrahim , OTU Tarık
Published: October 2023

The purpose of the current study was to explore the effect of modality (constructionist mBlock, Scratch, and Python interventions) on six-grade students’ computational thinking, programming attitude, and achievement. The pre-test and post-test quasi-experimental design was used to explore the research questions. The study group consisted of 105 six grade students from three different classes. A constructionist learning environment was formed for Scratch, mBlock, and Python groups. All groups were given 8 week-instruction. Instruction included two forty-minute sessions each week. The data were collected through the programming achievement test, computational thinking test, and computer programming attitude scale. The results of the study showed that mBlock group outperformed the Scratch and Python groups with respect to computer programming attitude. Students who attended mBlock and Scratch groups had higher levels of programming achievement than those of the students who attended the Python group.  No significant differences with respect to computational thinking were observed between the groups. This study has implications for educators who are teaching computational thinking and programming. Further research was recommended to explore the effect of modality.
Genetic algorithm-based error correction algorithm for CNC turning machining of mechanical parts
Authors: Xue Qinghong , Miao Ying , Xue Zijian
Published: October 2023

This paper discusses how to improve the machining precision in the turning of slender shaft. The main cause of dimensional error in slender shaft machining is analyzed by establishing dimensional error model and using genetic algorithm to optimize cutting parameter selection. Based on this, the proportional-integral-differential control error compensation is proposed to reduce the error in the turning process of slender shaft. Through the simulation experiment, the machining size error of slender shaft under different cutting parameters is obtained. It is found that the increase of back blowing and feed rate will aggravate the dimensional error, while the increase of CS will reduce the dimensional error. The error after the proportional-integral-differential control error compensation is much smaller than that without the error compensation. The experimental results show that the method is reliable in reducing the errors in the turning of slender shaft, and can realize the machining mode with higher precision and efficiency. This is of great significance to the development of machinery manufacturing industry.
Artesunate Alleviates Chronic Hyperoxia-induced Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia by Suppressing NF-κB Pathway in Neonatal Mice
Authors: Weng Wenbo , Wang Xiaoying , Cui Yifei
Published: October 2023

Background:

Bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) is a chronic lung condition that
occurs in premature infants who undergo prolonged mechanical ventilation and oxygen therapy.
Existing treatment methods have shown limited efficacy, highlighting the urgent need for new
therapeutic strategies. Artesunate (AS) is a compound known for its potential anti-inflammatory
properties, and studies have shown its protective effects against acute lung injury. However, its
impact on BPD and the underlying mechanisms remain unclear.

Objective:

To investigate the effect and underlying mechanism of AS on chronic hyperoxiainduced
BPD in neonatal mice.

Method:

Full-term C57BL/6J mice were randomly assigned to the Air+lactate Ringer's solution
(L/R) group, O2 + L/R group, and O2 + AS group. Analysis was performed using assay methods
such as ELISA, RT-qPCR, hematoxylin-eosin staining, and Western blotting.

Results:

Compared with the O2+L/R group, the expression of inflammatory factors in the serum,
tissue, and BALF of the O2+AS group was significantly reduced, the lung function of the
mice was improved, and the inflammatory infiltrates were significantly alleviated. AS inhibited
the mRNA expression of inflammatory factors in mice. We found that the expression of nuclear
p65 and cytoplasmic p-IκBα in the NF-κB pathway was inhibited after adding AS.

Conclusion:

AS ameliorated chronic hyperoxia-induced BPD in neonatal mice probably by inhibiting
the expression of NF-κB pathway and inflammatory factors.
Articulating the Pharmacological and Nanotechnological Aspects of
Genistein: Current and Future Prospectives
Authors: Bansal Keshav , Singh Vanshita , Mishra Samiksha , Bajpai Meenakshi
Published: October 2023

Throughout the past several centuries, herbal constituents have been the subject of
scientific interest and the latest research into their therapeutic potential is underway. Genistein is
a soy-derived isoflavone found in huge amounts in soy, along with the plants of the Fabaceae
family. Scientific studies have demonstrated the beneficial effects of genistein on various health
conditions. Genistein presents a broad range of pharmacological activities, including anticancer,
neuroprotective, cardioprotective, antiulcer, anti-diabetic, wound healing, anti-bacterial, antiviral,
skin, and radioprotective effects. However, the hydrophobic nature of genistein results in
constrained absorption and restricts its therapeutic potential. In this review, the number of
nanocarriers for genistein delivery has been explored, such as polymeric nanoparticles,
nanostructured lipid carriers, solid lipid nanoparticles, liposomes, micelles, transferosomes, and
nanoemulsions and nanofibers. These nano-formulations of genistein have been utilized as a
potential strategy for various disorders, employing a variety of ex vivo, in vitro, and in vivo models
and various administration routes. This review concluded that genistein is a potential therapeutic
agent for treating various diseases, including cancer, neurodegenerative disorders, cardiovascular
disorders, obesity, diabetes, ulcers, etc., when formulated in suitable nanocarriers.
Utilization of Computational Tools for the Discovery of Schiff Base-based
1, 3, 4-thiadiazole Scaffold as SGLT2 Inhibitors
Authors: Sharma Shivani , Mittal Amit , Khurana Navneet
Published: October 2023

Background::

High or abnormal blood sugar levels are the hallmark of diabetes mellitus
(DM), a metabolic disorder that will be one of the major causes of mortality in 2021. SGLT2
inhibitors have recently shown beneficial effects in the treatment of diabetes by reducing hyperglycemia
and glucosuria.

Objective::

Molecular docking and ADMET studies of Schiff base- based 1, 3, 4-thiadiazole
scaffold as SGLT2 inhibitors.

Methods::

Chem draw Ultra 16.0 software was used to draw the structures of newly designed
molecules of Schiff base-based 1, 3, 4-thiadiazole, which were then translated into 3D structures.
For the molecular docking study, AutoDock Vina 1.5.6 software was employed. Lazar in
silico and Swiss ADME predictors were used to calculate in silico ADMET characteristics.

Results::

We have designed 111 novel Schiff base-based 1, 3, 4-thiadiazole derivatives as
SGLT2 inhibitors. A total of 10 compounds from the thiadiazole series were found to have
higher binding affinity to the SGLT2 protein than dapagliflozin. SSS 56 had the best docking
scores and binding affinities, with -10.4 Kcal/mol, respectively. In silico ADMET parameters
demonstrated that the best binding compounds were found to be non-carcinogenic with LogP =
2.53-4.02.

Conclusion::

Novel Schiff base-based 1, 3, 4-thiadiazole were designed and binding affinity was
assessed against SGLT2 protein, which resulted in a new lead molecule with a maximal binding
affinity and estimated to be noncarcinogenic with an optimal partition coefficient (iLogP = 2.53-
4.02).
An Update on the Pathways and Aspects of Epilepsy Treatment Targets
Authors: Sande Ruksar , Kale Pravin , Godad Angel , Doshi Gaurav
Published: October 2023

Epilepsy is a neurological disorder characterized by spontaneously occurring
seizures known for several decades. Despite the availability of current anti-epileptic drugs,
including Phenytoin, Valproate, Carbamazepine, Lamotrigine, Gabapentin, Vigabatrin, etc., a considerable
30 % of the epileptic population are drug-resistant to the available conventional medications.
This suggests a need to find new drug therapy for the management of epilepsy. Moreover,
prolonged use of a single drug or monotherapy can also lead to therapeutic failure owing to the
inability of a single drug to exert the desired anti-epileptic effect. Hence, on the basis of the
knowledge and understanding regarding the existing targets, novel agents having the ability to
show therapeutic effects should be studied and investigated further. This article emphasizes the
need to investigate and repurpose drug molecules for the management of epilepsy. The review elaborates
on the potential targets, including Glutamate, EAAT (Excitatory nucleotide) Channel and
mTOR (Mammalian Target of Rapamycin) pathway. Moreover, the discussion on the EAAT (Excitatory
Amino Acid Transporters), RAS (Renin Angiotensin System), NHE (Na+/H+ exchangers),
HCN (Hyperpolarization-activated cyclic nucleotide) targets and treatment approach has been supported
by literature that sheds light on evidence which is validated via suitable preclinical and clinical
studies.
Toxicity Prediction for Immune Thrombocytopenia Caused by Drugs
Based on Logistic Regression with Feature Importance
Authors: Mentari Osphanie , Shujaat Muhammad , Tayara Hilal , Chong Kil To
Published: October 2023

Background:

One of the problems in drug discovery that can be solved by artificial intelligence
is toxicity prediction. In drug-induced immune thrombocytopenia, toxicity can arise in patients
after five to ten days by significant bleeding caused by drugdependent antibodies. In clinical
trials, when this condition occurs, all the drugs consumed by patients should be stopped, although
sometimes this is not possible, especially for older patients who are dependent on their medication.
Therefore, being able to predict toxicity in drug-induced immune thrombocytopenia is very important.
Computational technologies, such as machine learning, can help predict toxicity better than
empirical techniques owing to the lower cost and faster processing.

Objective:

Previous studies used the KNN method. However, the performance of these approaches
needs to be enhanced. This study proposes a Logistic Regression to improve accuracy scores.

Methods:

In this study, we present a new model for drug-induced immune thrombocytopenia using a
machine learning method. Our model extracts several features from the Simplified Molecular Input
Line Entry System (SMILES). These features were fused and cleaned, and the important features
were selected using the SelectKBest method. The model uses a Logistic Regression that is optimized
and tuned by the Grid Search Cross Validation.

Results:

The highest accuracy occurred when using features from PADEL, CDK, RDKIT, MORDRED,
BLUEDESC combinations, resulting in an accuracy of 80%.

Conclusion:

Our proposed model outperforms previous studies in accuracy categories. The information
and source code is accessible online at Github:
https://github.com/Osphanie/Thrombocytopenia