bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Endovascular embolization techniques in acute thoracic and abdominal bleedings can be technically reproduced and trained in a standardized simulation setting using SLA 3D printing: a 1-year single-center study
Authors: Kaufmann Reinhard , Zech Christoph J , Deutschmann Michael , Scharinger Bernhard , Hecht Stefan , Hergan Klaus , Rezar Richard , Hitzl Wolfgang , Meissnitzer Matthias
Published: April 2022

Background

Endovascular embolization techniques are nowadays well established in the management of acute arterial bleedings. However, the education and training of the next generation of interventionalists are still based on the traditional apprenticeship model, where the trainee learns and practices directly at the patient, which potentially affects the patient’s safety. The objective of this study was to design and develop a standardized endovascular simulation concept for the training of acute bleeding embolizations, based on real-life cases.

Results

An adaptable and cost-effective endovascular simulator was developed using an in-house 3D print laboratory. All thoracic and abdominal acute bleeding embolizations over more than a year with appropriate pre-interventional computed tomography scans were included to manufacture 3D printed vascular models. A peristaltic pump was used to generate pulsatile flow curves. Forty embolization cases were engaged in this study, and 27 cases were fully reproduced in the simulation setting (69.23%). The simulation success was significantly lower in pulmonary embolizations (p = 0.031) and significantly higher in soft tissue (p = 0.032) and coil embolizations (p = 0.045). The overall simulation success was 7.8 out of 10 available points.

Conclusions

Using stereolithography 3D printing in a standardized simulation concept, endovascular embolization techniques for treating acute internal hemorrhages in the chest and abdomen can be simulated and trained based on the patient-specific anatomy in a majority of the cases and at a broad spectrum of different causes.
Unstable hemoglobin Montreal II uncovered in an adult with unexplained hemolysis exacerbated by a presumed viral infection: a case report
Authors: Medri Cesare , Méndez Adriana , Hammerer-Lercher Angelika , Rovó Alicia , Angelillo-Scherrer Anne
Published: April 2022

Background

Unstable hemoglobinopathies are rare inherited disorders of hemoglobin causing a reduction of hemoglobin molecule solubility. This results in an unstable hemoglobin tetramer/globin polypeptide, which precipitates within the red blood cell. Affected red blood cells have a reduced lifespan due to oxidative stress and cellular rigidity, and tend to be phagocytized by spleen macrophages more rapidly. Unstable hemoglobin is frequently under- or misdiagnosed, because its clinical presentation varies broadly. Therefore, testing for unstable hemoglobinopathies is indicated in cases of unexplained hemolytic anemia. However, this approach is not systematically followed in clinical practice.

Case report

A 25-year-old Caucasian man with a recent history of a presumed viral upper respiratory infection was referred to the hematology outpatient clinic because of hemolytic anemia. The patient had scleral icterus, moderate splenomegaly, and mild macrocytic anemia with high reticulocyte count. Unconjugated bilirubin and lactate dehydrogenase were elevated. Haptoglobin was undetectable. Direct antiglobulin test was negative. Blood smear examination revealed anisopoikilocytosis, polychromasia, bite cells, and basophilic stippling, but no Heinz bodies. High-performance liquid chromatography and capillary electrophoresis showed slightly increased hemoglobin A2, normal fetal hemoglobin, and a variant hemoglobin. Deoxyribonucleic Acid sequencing revealed the heterozygous mutation c430delC in the beta-globin gene hallmark of hemoglobin Montreal II and the heterozygous mutation c287C>T in the alpha-globin gene corresponding to hemoglobin G-Georgia, indicative of the not yet described combination of double-heterozygous hemoglobin Montreal II and hemoglobin G-Georgia variants. Hemoglobinopathy Montreal II was here not associated with β-thalassemia syndrome, and carriers did not show ineffective erythropoiesis. In addition to the case report, we provide information about the largest pedigree with hemoglobinopathy Montreal II identified to date.

Conclusion

We emphasize that a transitory acute condition may uncover an underlying inherited red blood cell disorder. In this regard, awareness should be raised among hematologists caring for adult patients that unstable hemoglobinopathies should be considered in the differential diagnosis of unexplained hemolytic anemias.
Evaluation of cabin energy consumption based on combination weighting and grey fuzzy comprehensive model
Authors: Ren Xinmin , Jiang Qinghua , Jiang Jun , He Zilin , Ouyang Bin , Peng Bao
Published: April 2022

Painting is the largest energy consumption unit in ship repair enterprises, with annual electrical energy costs amounting to millions of dollars. The energy-saving model of painting business based on artificial intelligence, Internet of Vehicles (IoV) and big data technologies has become a current research hot spot. This paper takes a cargo ship of Youlian Shipyard as an example to improve the quality of special coating construction, reduce cost and increase efficiency. In the process of special coating construction, a comprehensive analysis of equipment usage in different compartments is carried out, and a compartment energy consumption analysis model based on combined weighting and Gray Fuzzy Comprehensive Evaluation is proposed. The model uses factors such as energy consumption, hours, and number of devices as evaluation indicators. Based on the fuzzy comprehensive evaluation, the gray correlation coefficients and comprehensive weights were weighted to obtain the final comprehensive evaluation results of each planning scheme, and then compare them to determine the optimal scheme. The results show that the grey fuzzy comprehensive evaluation model with combined weighting has better results than other models, and the evaluation results are scientific and reasonable. It has certain application value in multi-objective scheme optimization.
Operator compression with deep neural networks
Authors: Kröpfl Fabian , Maier Roland , Peterseim Daniel
Published: April 2022

This paper studies the compression of partial differential operators using neural networks. We consider a family of operators, parameterized by a potentially high-dimensional space of coefficients that may vary on a large range of scales. Based on the existing methods that compress such a multiscale operator to a finite-dimensional sparse surrogate model on a given target scale, we propose to directly approximate the coefficient-to-surrogate map with a neural network. We emulate local assembly structures of the surrogates and thus only require a moderately sized network that can be trained efficiently in an offline phase. This enables large compression ratios and the online computation of a surrogate based on simple forward passes through the network is substantially accelerated compared to classical numerical upscaling approaches. We apply the abstract framework to a family of prototypical second-order elliptic heterogeneous diffusion operators as a demonstrating example.
Enablers and barriers to the secondary use of health data in Europe: general data protection regulation perspective
Authors: Vukovic Jakov , Ivankovic Damir , Habl Claudia , Dimnjakovic Jelena
Published: April 2022

Background

The General Data Protection Regulation is a regulation in EU law on data protection and privacy in the European Union. We aimed to provide an overview of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) enablers and barriers to the secondary use of health data in Europe from the research we conducted in the Joint Action InfAct (Information for Action!) WP10 Assessing and piloting interoperability for public health policy, as well as to provide an example of a national-level case study on experiences with secondary use of health data and GDPR on an example of the Austrian COVID-19 data platform.

Methods

We have identified a number of European initiatives, projects and organizations that have dealt with cross-border health data sharing, linkage and management by desk research and we conducted 17 semi-structured in-depth interviews and analyzed the interview transcripts by framework analysis.

Results

GDPR was seen as an enabler to the secondary use of health data in Europe when it comes to user rights over their data, pre-existing laws regarding data privacy and data sharing, sharing anonymized statistics, developing new data analysis approaches, patients` trust towards dealing with their health data and transparency. GDPR was seen as a barrier to the secondary use of health data in Europe when it comes to identifiable and individual-level data, data sharing, time needed to complete the process, workload increase, differences with local legal legislations, different (and stricter) interpretations and access to data.

Conclusion

The results of our analysis show that GDPR acts as both an enabler and a barrier for the secondary use of health data in Europe. More research is needed to better understand the effects of GDPR on the secondary use of health data which can serve as a basis for future changes in the regulation.
Association of miR-34a and miR-143 levels with PPARγ gene expression in adipose tissues of non-diabetic adults
Authors: Zarkesh Maryam , Tabaei Kimia , Akbarzadeh Mahdi , Daneshafrooz Afsoon , Zadeh-Vakili Azita
Published: April 2022

Background

Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ) is a promising therapeutic molecule. Epigenetic mechanisms, including non-coding RNAs, regulate the expression level of the PPARγ gene.

Objective

We aimed to examine the PPARγ expression in non-diabetic individuals in four body mass index (BMI) categories and its association with miR-34a and miR-143 expression.

Methods

Visceral and subcutaneous adipose tissues (VAT and SAT) samples were collected from patients undergoing bariatric or elective open abdominal surgeries. The subjects (mean age: 42±14.8 years) included 18 normal-weight, 19 overweight, 18 obese, and 19 morbidly obese individuals. The RNAs levels were determined by quantitative real-time PCR.

Results

The PPARγ expression was significantly upregulated in both adipose depots of the morbidly obese subjects compared to the normal group. SAT PPARγ level was significantly increased in the obese group compared to the normal-weight group (P<0.01); this increase was also significant in the SAT of morbidly obese subjects compared to the overweight cases (P=0.02). Differences in the regulation of PPARγ expression in both SAT and VAT were significant between the four groups (P<0.05). While miR-143 was overexpressed in the SAT of obese and morbidly obese individuals compared to the normal-weight group, the pairwise comparison showed no significant difference in the miR-34a expression of SAT between the four BMI groups (P>0.01). After controlling for the confounding factors, the expression of VAT PPARγ was directly associated with the miR-34a level in the normal-weight group (β=0.311, P=0.010). A negative association was observed between the VAT PPARγ expression and miR-34a expression in obese cases (β = − 0.594, P=0.039).

Conclusion

The results also confirmed the regulatory function of microRNAs in the PPARγ expression and adipogenesis.
Supporting tuberculosis program in active contact tracing: a case study from Pakistan
Authors: Shaikh Babar Tasneem , Laghari Ahmed Khan , Durrani Sulaiman , Chaudhry Alina , Ali Nabeela
Published: April 2022

Tuberculosis (TB) is on the rise in Pakistan and there could be multiple reasons including poverty, difficulty in access to TB treatment services, non-compliance with treatment, social stigma etc. According to the TB program managers, limited treatment and testing sites for tuberculosis and lack of trained human resources play a major role in compromising TB management. A major lacuna in the TB control program is the absence of active contact tracing strategy. This is essential for a disease where positive cases are known to be able to infect a further 10‒15 individuals in a year. Tackling tuberculosis in Pakistan has been beleaguered by funding challenges and other systems’ bottlenecks such as lack of skilled human resources and insufficient supply of medicines, despite the fact that disease burden is one of the highest in the world. Although it is a notifiable disease, active case finding, contact tracing and reporting is notoriously low throughout the country. Access to diagnostics and treatment facilities has been limited and stigma attached to the disease remains deeply entrenched among the communities. Researchers have shown that enhanced and active approaches to contact investigation effectively identifies additional patients with TB among household contacts at a relatively modest cost. USAID’s Integrated Health Systems Strengthening and Service Delivery Activity extended support to the Health Departments of Sindh and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provinces. In collaboration with the two provincial TB programs, community based active contact tracing was conducted on 17,696 individuals, based on the index cases. Among the contacts traced, 243 cases were diagnosed as drug sensitive or drug resistant TB. Awareness sessions were conducted to sensitize people on the various aspects of disease and importance of getting tested. The project also supported establishing three satellite Programmatic Management of Drug Resistant Tuberculosis (PMDT) sites for drug resistant TB treatment, enhancing the programs’ diagnostic and testing capacity.
Anticipating manic and depressive transitions in patients with bipolar disorder using early warning signals
Authors: Bos Fionneke M. , Schreuder Marieke J. , George Sandip V. , Doornbos Bennard , Bruggeman Richard , van der Krieke Lian , Haarman Bartholomeus C. M. , Wichers Marieke , Snippe Evelien
Published: April 2022

Background

In bipolar disorder treatment, accurate episode prediction is paramount but remains difficult. A novel idiographic approach to prediction is to monitor generic early warning signals (EWS), which may manifest in symptom dynamics. EWS could thus form personalized alerts in clinical care. The present study investigated whether EWS can anticipate manic and depressive transitions in individual patients with bipolar disorder.

Methods

Twenty bipolar type I/II patients (with ≥ 2 episodes in the previous year) participated in ecological momentary assessment (EMA), completing five questionnaires a day for four months (Mean = 491 observations per person). Transitions were determined by weekly completed questionnaires on depressive (Quick Inventory for Depressive Symptomatology Self-Report) and manic (Altman Self-Rating Mania Scale) symptoms. EWS (rises in autocorrelation at lag-1 and standard deviation) were calculated in moving windows over 17 affective and symptomatic EMA states. Positive and negative predictive values were calculated to determine clinical utility.

Results

Eleven patients reported 1–2 transitions. The presence of EWS increased the probability of impending depressive and manic transitions from 32-36% to 46–48% (autocorrelation) and 29–41% (standard deviation). However, the absence of EWS could not be taken as a sign that no transition would occur in the near future. The momentary states that indicated nearby transitions most accurately (predictive values: 65–100%) were full of ideas, worry, and agitation. Large individual differences in the utility of EWS were found.

Conclusions

EWS show theoretical promise in anticipating manic and depressive transitions in bipolar disorder, but the level of false positives and negatives, as well as the heterogeneity within and between individuals and preprocessing methods currently limit clinical utility.
Investigating pathogenic SNPs in androgen receptor with direct influence on polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) in women
Authors: Ramadhan Rehab S. , Algafari Rebah N. , Jarallah Aziz Latif
Published: April 2022

Background

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) became one of the main reasons for infertility in women. It has an obvious effect on phenotype represented by hirsutism, increased body mass index, obesity, and acne, while biochemical tests show adverse hormonal imbalance with hyperandrogenism as testosterone levels increases. From molecular level point of view, pathogenic SNPs may change CAG repeats number along androgen receptor (AR) resulting in altered function of the gene causing different affinity to androgen hormones.

Methods

Recruiting 150 patients diagnosed with PCOS for the study, genomic DNA was extracted and amplified using specifically designed exon 1 PCR primers employing gene walking technique. The resulting amplicons were sequenced and thoroughly analyzed for polymorphism and CAG repeats number.

Results

Data obtained from recruiting 150 patients diagnosed with PCOS showed that sequences X:67545209–67545742; X:67545503–67545739 of exon 1 harbored 7 SNPs altered secondary structure of the resulting protein and forced toward the use of CAA as synonymous codon instead of the normal CAGs stretches. This led to produced alternative mRNA that eventually changed nonsense-mediated mRNA decay mechanism.

Conclusion

Probability of PCOS in women with polymorphic AR gene is higher than others, especially women with high number of CAG stretches. The new finding and highlight of this study is that alternative codon usage (CAAs) to produce the same amino acid (Gln) and compensate the reduced number of CAG repeats number may be attributed to epigenetic mechanism to mitigate the adverse effect of such change and maintain a normal function of AR gene. This finding was not previously reported in former studies.
Atypical presentation of pulmonary embolism and deep vein thrombosis due to protein S deficiency in a young female with chest pain
Authors: Puri Saurabh , Grover Ashok Kumar , Narula Ankita Kaur , Choudhry Pankaj Nand , Gupta Arjun Prem
Published: April 2022

Venous thromboembolism has many risk factors including protein S deficiency, which poses a significant diagnostic challenge as it presents with atypical complaints. A treatable yet potentially fatal condition, acute pulmonary embolism, is currently third most common cause of cardiovascular death. Clinicians should include pulmonary embolism as differential diagnosis in young adults with atypical symptoms with 2 D ECHO findings of the dilated right atrium, right ventricle, and elevated pulmonary artery pressure, and diagnosis is confirmed by computed tomography pulmonary angiography (CTPA). Anticoagulants including NOACs should be initiated promptly to improve the outcome for patients.
Characteristics and patterns of adult and pediatric deep neck space infection in a tertiary care institute
Authors: Nassar Ahmed Amin , Othman Hazem , Eltelety Ahmad Mohamed
Published: April 2022

Background

Deep neck space infections are a serious but treatable group of infections affecting the fascial planes of the neck. The objective of this study is to determine various etiological causes, common sites, bacteriology, and complications in adult and pediatric patients suffering from deep neck space infections.

Results

We studied 80 patients retrospectively who were admitted and treated for deep neck space infections in the otolaryngology department in a tertiary care institute over 2 years between March 2019 and March 2021. The study cohort was divided into two major age groups; 20 patients belonged to the pediatric group, while 60 patients belonged to the adult group. In this study, odontogenic infection was the most common etiological factor, Ludwig’s angina and submandibular space abscess were the common sites of presentation. Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus was the most common isolated microorganism. Septicemia was the most common complication developed after drainage of deep neck space infections.

Conclusion

In the wake of an increase in the prevalence of deep neck space infections, close attention must be paid to the management of patients with deep neck space infections to prevent the complications.
Severe Hypoglycemia and Incidence of QT Interval Prolongation Among Adults With Type 2 Diabetes
Authors: Kaze Arnaud D , Yuyun Matthew F , Erqou Sebhat , Fonarow Gregg C , Echouffo-Tcheugui Justin B
Published: April 2022

Context

There is a paucity of large-scale epidemiological studies on the link between severe hypoglycemia (SH) and corrected QT (QTc) interval prolongation in type 2 diabetes (T2DM).

Objective

To evaluate the association of SH with QTc prolongation in adults with T2DM.

Methods

Prospective cohort analysis of participants enrolled in the ACCORD (Action to Control Cardiovascular Risk in Diabetes) study without QTc prolongation at baseline. SH was assessed over a 24-month period. Incident QTc prolongation was ascertained using follow-up electrocardiograms. Modified Poisson regression was used to generate the risk ratio (RR) and 95% CI for QTc prolongation.

Results

Among 8277 participants (mean age 62.6 years [SD 6.5], 38.7% women, 62.8% White), 324 had ≥1 SH episode (3.9%). Over a median of 5 years, 517 individuals developed QTc prolongation (6.3%). Participants with SH had a 66% higher risk of QTc prolongation (RR 1.66, 95% CI 1.16-2.38). The incidence of QTc prolongation was 10.3% (27/261) and 14.3% (9/63) for participants with 1 and ≥2 SH, respectively. Compared with no SH, RRs for patients with 1 and ≥2 SH episodes were 1.57 (95% CI 1.04-2.39) and 2.01 (95% CI 1.07-3.78), respectively. Age modified the association of SH with QTc prolongation (PInteraction = .008). The association remained significant among younger participants (<61.9 years [median age]: RR 2.63, 95% CI 1.49-4.64), but was nonsignificant among older participants (≥61.9 years: RR 1.37, 95% CI 0.87-2.17).

Conclusion

In a large population with T2DM, SH was associated with an increased risk of QTc prolongation independently of other risk factors such as cardiac autonomic neuropathy. The association was strongest among younger participants.
Cardiovascular Benefits of Empagliflozin Are Associated With Gut Microbiota and Plasma Metabolites in Type 2 Diabetes
Authors: Deng Xinru , Zhang Chenhong , Wang Pengxu , Wei Wei , Shi Xiaoyang , Wang Pingping , Yang Junpeng , Wang Limin , Tang Shasha , Fang Yuanyuan , Liu Yalei , Chen Yiqi , Zhang Yun , Yuan Qian , Shang Jing , Kan Quane , Yang Huihui , Man Hua , Wang Danyu , Yuan Huijuan
Published: April 2022

Context

Cardiovascular benefits of empagliflozin in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) have been reported; however, the underlying mechanism remains unknown.

Objective

We hypothesized that the cardiovascular benefits of empagliflozin are associated with altered gut microbiota and plasma metabolites, and that empagliflozin may be used as an initial treatment for patients with T2DM at risk of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs).

Methods

This randomized, open-label, 3-month, 2-arm clinical trial included 76 treatment-naïve patients with T2DM and risk factors for CVD who were treated with either empagliflozin (10 mg/d, n = 40) or metformin (1700 mg/d, n = 36). We investigated changes in clinical parameters related to glucose metabolism and CVD risk factors, gut microbiota using 16S rRNA gene sequencing, and plasma metabolites using LC-MS.

Results

We found significant and similar reduction in HbA1c levels and alleviation of glucose metabolism in both groups. However, only empagliflozin improved CVD risk factors. Empagliflozin significantly reshaped the gut microbiota after 1 month of treatment; this alteration was maintained until the end of the trial. Empagliflozin increased the levels of plasma metabolites such as sphingomyelin, but reduced glycochenodeoxycholate, cis-aconitate, and uric acid levels. Concurrently, empagliflozin elevated levels of short-chain fatty acid-producing bacteria such as species from Roseburia, Eubacterium, and Faecalibacterium, and reduced those of several harmful bacteria including Escherichia-Shigella, Bilophila, and Hungatella.

Conclusion

Empagliflozin may be a superior initial therapy for patients with T2DM at risk of CVDs; its cardiovascular benefits may be associated with shifts in gut microbiota and plasma metabolites.
Loss of the Incretin Effect in Type 2 Diabetes: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis
Authors: Grespan Eleonora , Guolo Annamaria , Muscelli Elza , Ferrannini Ele , Mari Andrea
Published: April 2022

Context

Loss of the incretin effect (IE) in type 2 diabetes (T2D) contributes to hyperglycemia and the mechanisms underlying this impairment are unclear.

Objective

To quantify the IE impairment in T2D and to investigate the factors associated with it using a meta-analytic approach.

Methods

PubMed, Scopus, and Web-of-Science were searched. Studies measuring IE by the gold-standard protocol employing an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) and an intravenous glucose infusion at matched glucose levels were selected. We extracted IE, sex, age, body mass index (BMI), and hemoglobin A1c, fasting values, and area under curve (AUC) of glucose, insulin, C-peptide, glucose-dependent insulinotropic peptide (GIP) and glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1). In subjects with T2D, we also recorded T2D duration, age at diagnosis, and the percentage of subjects taking antidiabetic medications.

Results

The IE weighted mean difference between subjects with T2D and those with normal glucose tolerance (NGT) was −27.3% (CI –36.5% to –18.1%; P < .001; I2 = 86.6%) and was affected by age (P < .005). By meta-regression of combined NGT and T2D data, IE was inversely associated with glucose tolerance (lower IE in T2D), BMI, and fasting GIP (P < .05). By meta-regression of T2D studies only, IE was associated with the OGTT glucose dose (P < .0001). IE from insulin was larger than IE from C-peptide (weighted mean difference 11.2%, CI 9.2-13.2%; P < .0001; I2 = 28.1%); the IE difference was inversely associated with glucose tolerance and fasting glucose.

Conclusion

The IE impairment in T2D vs NGT is consistent though considerably variable, age being a possible factor affecting the IE difference. Glucose tolerance, BMI, and fasting GIP are independently associated with IE; in subjects with T2D only, the OGTT dose is a significant covariate.
Concurrent Use of Thyroid Hormone Therapy and Interfering Medications in Older US Veterans
Authors: Livecchi Rachel , Coe Antoinette B , Reyes-Gastelum David , Banerjee Mousumi , Haymart Megan R , Papaleontiou Maria
Published: April 2022

Context

Thyroid hormone management in older adults is complicated by comorbidities and polypharmacy.

Objective

Determine the prevalence of concurrent use of thyroid hormone and medications that can interfere with thyroid hormone metabolism (amiodarone, prednisone, prednisolone, carbamazepine, phenytoin, phenobarbital, tamoxifen), and patient characteristics associated with this practice.

Design

Retrospective cohort study between 2004 and 2017 (median follow-up, 56 months).

Setting

Veterans Health Administration Corporate Data Warehouse.

Participants

A total of 538 137 adults ≥ 65 years prescribed thyroid hormone therapy during the study period.

Main Outcome Measure

Concurrent use of thyroid hormone and medications interfering with thyroid hormone metabolism.

Results

Overall, 168 878 (31.4%) patients were on at least 1 interfering medication while on thyroid hormone during the study period. In multivariable analyses, Black/African-American race (odds ratio [OR], 1.25; 95% CI, 1.21-1.28, compared with White), Hispanic ethnicity (OR, 1.12; 95% CI, 1.09-1.15, compared with non-Hispanic), female (OR, 1.11; 95% CI, 1.08-1.15, compared with male), and presence of comorbidities (eg, Charlson/Deyo Comorbidity Score ≥ 2; OR, 2.50; 95% CI, 2.45-2.54, compared with 0) were more likely to be associated with concurrent use of thyroid hormone and interfering medications. Older age (eg, ≥ 85 years; OR, 0.48; 95% CI, 0.47-0.48, compared with age 65-74 years) was less likely to be associated with this practice.

Conclusions and Relevance

Almost one-third of older adults on thyroid hormone were on medications known to interfere with thyroid hormone metabolism. Our findings highlight the complexity of thyroid hormone management in older adults, especially in women and minorities.
Constitutively Active STAT5b Feminizes Mouse Liver Gene Expression
Authors: Lau-Corona Dana , Ma Hong , Vergato Cameron , Sarmento-Cabral Andre , del Rio-Moreno Mercedes , Kineman Rhonda D , Waxman David J
Published: April 2022

STAT5 is an essential transcriptional regulator of the sex-biased actions of GH in the liver. Delivery of constitutively active STAT5 (STAT5CA) to male mouse liver using an engineered adeno-associated virus with high tropism for the liver is shown to induce widespread feminization of the liver, with extensive induction of female-biased genes and repression of male-biased genes, largely mimicking results obtained when male mice are given GH as a continuous infusion. Many of the STAT5CA-responding genes were associated with nearby (< 50 kb) sites of STAT5 binding to liver chromatin, supporting the proposed direct role of persistently active STAT5 in continuous GH-induced liver feminization. The feminizing effects of STAT5CA were dose-dependent; moreover, at higher levels, STAT5CA overexpression resulted in some histopathology, including hepatocyte hyperplasia, and increased karyomegaly and multinuclear hepatocytes. These findings establish that the persistent activation of STAT5 by GH that characterizes female liver is by itself sufficient to account for the sex-dependent expression of a majority of hepatic sex-biased genes. Moreover, histological changes seen when STAT5CA is overexpressed highlight the importance of carefully evaluating such effects before considering STAT5 derivatives for therapeutic use in treating liver disease.
Determinants of Metabolic Syndrome and Type 2 Diabetes in the Absence of Obesity: The Jackson Heart Study
Authors: Mongraw-Chaffin Morgana , Saldana Santiago , Carnethon Mercedes R , Chen Haiying , Effoe Valery , Golden Sherita Hill , Joseph Joshua , Kalyani Rita R , Bertoni Alain G
Published: April 2022

Context

Multiple studies suggest that adults who were normal weight at diabetes diagnosis are at higher risk for all-cause mortality than those who had overweight or obesity at diagnosis.

Objective

While obesity is a known risk factor for cardiometabolic disease, differences in body fat distribution in those without obesity are understudied, especially in African Americans.

Methods

In 1005 participants of the Jackson Heart Study, without cardiovascular disease at baseline, we used logistic regression to investigate the longitudinal association of body fat distribution by CT scan with metabolic syndrome (MetS) or type 2 diabetes (T2D). We used the harmonized International Diabetes Federation criteria to define MetS. We included only normal weight or overweight participants (BMI: 18.5 to < 30.0 kg/m2). We created separate models for MetS and T2D adjusted for a standard set of covariates. We excluded participants with prevalent MetS or T2D, respectively in sensitivity.

Results

Higher visceral fat, subcutaneous fat, BMI, and insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) were significantly associated with MetS and T2D after adjustment. Visceral fat was strongly associated with both outcomes (MetS OR = 2.07 [1.66-2.68]; T2D OR = 1.51 [1.21-1.88]), and the association for MetS persisted in the normal weight only group. Estimates were robust to sensitivity analysis and were only modestly mediated by insulin resistance. Physical activity was not associated with MetS or T2D.

Conclusion

Visceral fat is strongly associated with developing MetS, even in normal weight individuals, suggesting that excess visceral fat plays a role in cardiometabolic risk beyond that of overall adiposity and obesity in African Americans.
Continuous Glucose Monitoring Profiles in Healthy, Nondiabetic Young Children
Authors: DuBose Stephanie N , Kanapka Lauren G , Bradfield Brenda , Sooy Morgan , Beck Roy W , Steck Andrea K
Published: April 2022

Context

Continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) is increasingly being used both for day-to-day management in patients with diabetes and in clinical research. While data on glycemic profiles of healthy, nondiabetic individuals exist, data on nondiabetic very young children are lacking.

Objective

This work aimed to establish reference sensor glucose ranges in healthy, nondiabetic young children, using a current-generation CGM sensor.

Methods

This prospective observational study took place in an institutional practice with healthy, nondiabetic children aged 1 to 6 years with normal body mass index. A blinded Dexcom G6 Pro CGM was worn for approximately 10 days by each participant. Main outcome measures included CGM metrics of mean glucose, hyperglycemia, hypoglycemia, and glycemic variability.

Results

Thirty-nine participants were included in the analyses. Mean average glucose was 103 mg/dL (5.7 mmol/L). Median percentage time between 70 and 140 mg/dL (3.9-7.8 mmol/L) was 96% (interquartile range, 92%-97%), mean within-individual coefficient of variation was 17 ± 3%, median time spent with glucose levels greater than 140 mg/dL was 3.4% (49 min/day), and median time less than 70 mg/dL (3.9 mmol/L) was 0.4% (6 min/day).

Conclusion

Collecting normative sensor glucose data and describing glycemic measures for young children fill an important informational gap and will be useful as a benchmark for future clinical studies.
Espalhamento inelástico da luz por portadores no plasma em semicondutores. I Cálculo da Função Dielétrica
Authors: Andrade-Neto A. V.
Published: April 2022

Neste trabalho, utilizando a aproximação de banda parabólica, obtemos expressões analíticas para as partes real e imaginária da função dielétrica longitudinal de um plasma em estado sólido no limite de altas temperaturas, onde podemos substituir a função de Fermi-Dirac por uma distribuição dotipo Maxwell-Boltzmann. Em seguida, analisamos seus casos particulares, casos estático e de altas frequências, e recuperamos expressões conhecidas na literatura.
Espalhamento inelástico da luz por portadores no plasma em semicondutores. II Cálculo do Espectro Raman
Authors: Andrade-Neto A. V.
Published: April 2022

Neste trabalho é discutido o espalhamento inelástico da luz por portadores no plasma simples em semicondutores. Calculamos a seção de choque do espalhamento Raman, a qual está diretamente relacionada, via teorema de flutuação-dissipção, com a função dielétrica do sistema. Nossos cálculossão comparados com resultados experimentais do GaAs nos quais são evidenciados o amortecimento de Landau.
Physical Characteristics Of The Krueng Seunagan Watershed And River Storage Capacity Against Peak Discharge
Authors: Ihsan Afriadi , Rusdi Muhammad , Basri Hairul
Published: April 2022

Peak discharge information is indispensable for flood control planning by taking into account the physiographic factors of the watershed. Flood occurs because the capacity of the watershed and river channels is smaller than the flood discharge. One of the causes of rivers' reduced flood flow capacity is vegetation cover and land use that cannot store rainfall. Thus, this paper aims to determine the peak discharge from the watershed's physical characteristics and land-use changes by comparing the river storage capacity in the Krueng Seunagan watershed. The rational method is used to calculate the peak discharge. Some of the data used in this study are the shapefile map provided by Geospatial Information Agency, land use, rainfall, soil types, and Landsat 8 OLI/TIRS digital imagery. Analysis of the physical characteristics of the watershed consists of morphology and morphometry. Land use in the area of the Krueng Seunagan watershed increased the peak discharge during the observation year (2003-2017). Besides the land-use factor, discharge is also influenced by high rainfall intensity and runoff coefficient obtained from land use analysis. In the Krueng Seunagan watershed area, the C value obtained was 0.0505 – 0.0720, indicating that the Krueng Seunagan watershed area was classified as good or harmless. The river flow density of 0.53 belongs to the medium category. The river flow increases and decreases in the flood water level, which is neither too fast nor too slow. The roundness index of the Seunagan watershed of 1.0004 indicates that the basins are widened or circular and, consequently, the rate and volume of surface runoff are fast. Krueng Seunagan watershed runoff coefficient increased by 42.51% and rainfall intensity by 37.05%, while discharge increased by 95.31%. The discharge capacity that the Krueng Seunagan River Basin can accommodate from the measurement results in the downstream watershed is 158.47 m3/sec. While the peak discharge using the rational method gets a value that varies in each year of observation from (2003-2017). The peak discharge value in 2003 amounted to 183.52 m3/sec, and the highest in 2017 amounted to 358.44 m3/sec. This shows that the river holding capacity in the Krueng Seunagan watershed will not accept the amount of peak discharge, and consequently, the flood will always occur.
Storage of Text Messages on e-Book Files using Least Significant Bit and Haar Wavelet Method
Authors: Hasanudin Muhaimin , Kuswoyo Deni , Yuliadi Boy
Published: April 2022

This study uses the technique of incognito data and information into a container in the form of images combined with the addition of the password by using the method of Least Significant Bit (LSB) and the method of Haar Wavelet. Testing the system by sending a message in the form of a text file and an image file with the process of the original image are transformed to wear haar wavelet divided into four zones of frequency, namely LL, LH, HL and HH. Where Bit-bit Readings are planted in a zone LL and attempted insertion of the bit of the file reading into the last bit in each byte of the image file as well as can show you back the results of the message. The results of the research, i.e. images that have been processed by the method of LSB and Haar Wavelet does not change the file size, resolution, dpi and physical form image. The advantage of this method is very simple computing, oriented computers, which need less space to store and time efficient.
Evaluation of interfacial Adhesion between concrete substrate and self-compacting concrete as a repair material
Authors: Chibani Nawel , Beroual Ahmed
Published: April 2022

This paper focuses on using self-compacting concrete (SCC) as a material in the repair technique given the advantages it presents in the fresh state, namely: stability, homogeneity, and deformability, because it perfectly matches the shapes of the surfaces to be repaired. The interest is mainly focused on the evaluation of bond strength at the interface: Repair/Substrate. The assessment is made via a repair applied to a half-cylinder of the ordinary concrete substrate (OC), by using as a repair material two classes of self-compacting concrete (SCC) of different strength (30 and 40 MPa), the interface bond strength obtained in this case is compared to that of a half-cylinder (BO) repaired with vibrated concrete (OVC) used as a reference control concrete. The rheological properties of the (SCC) used were determined with the aid of the Slump-flow, L-Box, V funnel, and stability under sieve tests. Mechanical properties include compressive strength, and tensile strength. The test to assess the interface bond strength of the specimens is based on a splitting tensile test (indirect tensile). Finally, to determine the type of failure produced after the test. The results obtained showed that self-compacting concrete appears to be a very promising material in the repair and rehabilitation of concrete structures. SCC offers good interfacial bonding and therefore gives satisfactory interface bond strengths.
Personalized Al-Quran Memorization Testing System Using Group Decision Support System
Authors: Rajagede Rian Adam , Hisyam Yuanda Hanif , Yulianto Muhammad Ichlasul Amal , Ridwanto Farid Amin , Putranto Alfian Try , Danar Muhammad Rifqi Fatchurrahman Putra
Published: April 2022

Memorizing Al-Quran is one of the most important acts of worship for Muslims. After memorizing some parts of the Al-Qur’an, the hafiz or Al-Qur’an’s memorizer is recommended to repeat or muraja’ah their memorization to strengthen it. This process is usually done in pairs by listening to each other’s memorization or testing by asking questions about Al-Quran. This study proposes a system that can help memorizers test their memorization independently without a partner. The system will perform a memorization test to support the user’s process of memorizing the Al-Quran. The system records and analyzes user data and uses it to personalize memorization testing from time to time. The system was made using the Group Decision Support System (GDSS) approach with the help of several Al-Quran memorizers as decision-makers. The GDSS algorithm used combines Technique for Order of Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS) and Weighted Geometric Mean to rank surahs based on provided user data. The evaluation was conducted with the help of human evaluators, and the evaluators showed 78% agreement with the system decision.
Increasing Preparedness Against Earthquake and Tsunami Hazards by Educating and Training a Community in Sipora Island, Indonesia
Authors: Putra Rusnardi Rahmat , Ono Yasuke , Edidas . , Rani Iskandar G , Utama Rizky Indra
Published: April 2022

This research introduces ways of preparing the community to play a direct role in reducing the risk of earthquake and tsunami disasters. Nagari Matobe is a village located in South Sipora. This location is in an earthquake tsunami-prone area. The regional government has prepared Matobe village to be a disaster-resilient village. A previous survey from 2019-2020 showed that the community of Matobe village lacked knowledge of earthquakes, tsunamis, and disaster mitigation systems. This research aimed to improve preparation for earthquake and tsunami disasters by making the people of Matobe village resilient to disasters. The steps taken to improve community preparedness were: 1. An initial survey on community conditions, buildings, soil characteristics, and the community’s preparedness to face earthquakes and tsunamis; 2. The creation of a topographic map; 3. Education and training for elementary school students, with simulations, on the mechanism of earthquakes and tsunamis, on how to evacuate and prepare for evacuation, through stories using Doraemon, Nobita, and Dorami, comic characters from Japan; 4. Providing education and training on building materials under the 2002 Indonesian building planning standards and plans for earthquake-safe buildings following the 2016 earthquake-safe building structure standards; 5. Education and training to strengthen existing buildings; and 6. A proposal for a tsunami evacuation map and the location of evacuation signs. The community in Nagari Matobe was very cooperative and took an active role during the implementation of this research. The evaluation questionnaire distributed to elementary school students showed that the students were delighted and, on average, thought that the education and training in preparedness were beneficial. This education and training became an important reference for the community and government in developing Matobe village to become a disaster-resilient village.
Renewable Energy Transition: A panacea to the ravaging effects of climate change in Nigeria
Authors: Bello Usman , Livingstone Udofia , Abdullahi Auwal M , Sulaiman Ibrahim , Yahuza Khuzaifah M.
Published: April 2022

Environmental issues linked to climate change and global warming have been at the center stage of discussion all over the world. This is due to their magnitude and a broader scope of consequences. The catastrophic effects of greenhouse gases (GHGs) such as CO2, CO, water vapor, and ozone, coupled with other artificially induced chemicals like CFCs have shifted weather patterns across the globe, thereby threatening the environment unpleasantly. In Nigeria, the unprecedented utilization of fossil-based fuels as the main energy source for electricity, transportation, industrial, agricultural, and domestic purposes is one of the contributory factors of climate change. As a result, air pollution, land spills by oil, and increasing heatwaves negatively impacted the ecosystem by intimidating the environment, counteracting biodiversity, decelerating the economy, and provoking human comfort while simultaneously antagonizing socio-economic growth and sustainable development. Recently, the abrupt seizure of rainfall in northern Nigeria left many farmlands burning while many other places where been wiped out by heavy flooding. These scenarios have heightened food shortage, economic hardship and rendered thousands homeless. Thus, the government needs to intensify the campaign for afforestation by planting many trees to support green conservation of biodiversity and unleash the huge potentials of renewable energy resources in the country, as the plausible options to remediate the lingering energy failure and ravaging effects of climate changes. Therefore, this short review of communications X-rayed some recent devasting incidences caused by climate change, its impacts on various sectors, and the need to explore renewable energy resources in the country.
Family practices in non-cohabiting intimate relationships in China: doing mobile intimacy, emotion and intergenerational caring practices
Authors: Qiu Shuang
Published: April 2022

This article applies David Morgan’s work on ‘family practices’ to the non-cohabiting intimate relationships in China. Through the lens of living apart together (LAT) relationships, I carried out in-depth interviews to examine the family life of working-away men and staying-at-home women in Chinese society. The activities which ‘doing’ family and disclosing intimacy involved when intimate couples are split geographically are contextually varied and, within this regard, three dimensions of family practices are teased out: practices of mobile intimacy, emotion and caring. While many of the studies on the practices approach emphasise ‘doing’, this research provides insight on how acts of not doing (emotion) can also be articulated as a way of doing family. It is argued that by focusing on the everyday ‘doing’ families can be experienced and constructed differently, while also being informed by cultural discourses and social institutions of family and gender.
Designing fast and efficient electrically driven phase change photonics using foundry compatible waveguide-integrated microheaters
Authors: Erickson John R. , Shah Vivswan , Wan Qingzhou , Youngblood Nathan , Xiong Feng
Published: April 2022

Phase change chalcogenides such as Ge2Sb2Te5 (GST) have recently enabled advanced optical devices for applications such as in-memory computing, reflective displays, tunable metasurfaces, and reconfigurable photonics. However, designing phase change optical devices with reliable and efficient electrical control is challenging due to the requirements of both high amorphization temperatures and extremely fast quenching rates for reversible switching. Here, we use a Multiphysics simulation framework to model three waveguide-integrated microheaters designed to switch optical phase change materials. We explore the effects of geometry, doping, and electrical pulse parameters to optimize the switching speed and minimize energy consumption in these optical devices.