bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A Mechanism for Apoptotic Effects of a Planar Catechin Analog on Cancer Cells
Authors: Ito Hiromu , Shoji Yoshimi , Matsumoto Ken-ichiro , Fukuhara Kiyoshi , Nakanishi Ikuo
Published: September 2024

Catechin is one of the representative antioxidants that shows physiological activities such as an anti-cancer effect. We have developed a chemically modified catechin analog possessing a planar structure, which shows an enhanced radical-scavenging activity as well as inhibitory effects on the proliferation and migration of cancer cells, compared to the parent (+)-catechin. In this study, the mechanism for cancer cell inhibition by the planar catechin was partly elucidated using a gastric cancer cell line. The planar catechin treatment induced an enhanced expression of an apoptotic marker, cleaved caspase-3, in addition to the mitigation of the intracellular accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and NF-κB expression. Furthermore, γH2AX, a marker of double-strand breaks in DNA, was also induced by the planar catechin treatment in a dose-dependent manner. These findings suggest that the removal of ROS by the planar catechin with a higher antioxidant ability executed NF-κB suppression and/or the planar catechin-injured DNA, leading to the induction of apoptosis in cancer cells.
Bioassay-Guided Isolation and Identification of Xanthine Oxidase Inhibitory Constituents from the Fruits of Chaenomeles speciosa (Sweet) Nakai
Authors: Li Kui , Xu Ruoling , Kuang Mengting , Ma Wei , Li Ning
Published: September 2024

Chaenomeles speciosa (Sweet) Nakai (C. speciosa) is a traditional Chinese herbal medicine that possesses not only abundant nutritional value but also significant medicinal properties. The extracts of C. speciosa fruits effectively reduce urate levels, but the specific chemical constituents responsible for this effect in C. speciosa fruits are still unknown. Therefore, this study aims to investigate and analyze the structure–activity relationships of these constituents to better understand their ability to lower uric acid. Activity-guided fractionation and purification processes were used to isolate compounds with xanthine oxidase (XO) inhibitory activity from C. speciosa fruits, resulting in three extracts: petroleum ether, ethyl acetate, and n-butanol. The ethyl acetate and n-butanol fractions showed strong activity and underwent further separation and purification using chromatographic techniques. Twenty-four compounds were isolated and identified, with nine showing potent activity, including chlorogenic acid, methyl chlorogenate, butyl chlorogenate, ethyl chlorogenate, cryptochlorogenic acid methyl ester, caffeic acid, p-coumaric acid, benzoic acid and protocatechuic acid. The docking analysis showed that these compounds interacted with amino acid residues in the active site of XO through hydrogen bonding and hydrophobic interactions. These findings suggest that these compounds help reduce uric acid in C. speciosa, supporting further investigation into their mechanism of action.
Regulation of Cecal Microbiota and Improvement of Blood Lipids Using Walnut Non-Dairy Creamer in High-Fat Mice: Replacing Traditional Non-Dairy Creamer
Authors: Wang Mingming , Zhang Feng , Tan Chunlei , Huang Si , Mu Hongyu , Wu Kuan , Chen Yinyan , Sheng Jun , Tian Yang , Wang Ya , Zhao Cunchao
Published: September 2024

Non-dairy creamer is a class of microencapsulated powdered fats and oils that are widely used in the food industry. However, the oils used in it are hydrogenated vegetable oils, which contain large amounts of saturated fatty acids and are extremely harmful to the human body. This study investigated the effects of replacing hydrogenated vegetable oil with walnut oil to prepare walnut non-dairy creamer on lipid levels and intestinal microorganisms in mice. The results show that low-dose walnut non-dairy creamer significantly decreased the contents of TC and TG in serum and increased the content of HDL-C (p < 0.01). The contents of MDA, ALT, and AST were significantly decreased, while the content of SOD was increased (p < 0.01). The abundance of Firmicutes in the walnut non-dairy creamer group decreased, and the abundance of Bacteroidetes/Firmicutes (B/F) increased, which significantly increased the richness of Lactobacillus and Oscillospira (p < 0.01). Allobaculum richness was significantly decreased (p < 0.01). In conclusion, a low dose of walnut non-dairy creamer can effectively promote the metabolism of blood lipids in vivo, alleviate oxidative stress injury and lipid accumulation damage to mouse hepatocytes, and ameliorate the adverse effects of a high-fat diet on the intestinal microbiota of mice. This study provides a theoretical basis for the replacement of traditional non-dairy creamer and the research and development of walnut deep processing.
Electrochemical and Optical Properties of D-A-A-A-D Azomethine Triad and Its NIR-Active Polymer
Authors: Roszyk Mateusz , Wałęsa-Chorab Monika
Published: September 2024

The azomethine TPA-(BTZ)3-TPA with a donor–acceptor–acceptor–acceptor–donor structure has been synthesized and characterized. Azomethine TPA-(BTZ)3-TPA exhibited luminescence properties and a positive solvatochromic effect. Electropolymerization on terminated triphenylamine groups was used to obtain a thin layer of the polyazomethine poly-[TPA-(BTZ)3-TPA]. Further investigation of oxidation/reduction properties of poly-[TPA-(BTZ)3-TPA] via cyclic voltammetry showed that the polymer undergoes two reversible oxidation/reduction processes due to the presence of tetraphenylbenzidine moieties. Electrochromic properties of the polyazomethine poly-[TPA-(BTZ)3-TPA] were investigated via spectroelectrochemistry. It was observed that the polymer in its neutral state is orange, and the color changes to green upon electro-oxidation. The stability of the polymer during multiple oxidation/reduction cycles, response times, and coloration efficiency were also investigated.
A Novel Compound from the Phenylsulfonylpiperazine Class: Evaluation of In Vitro Activity on Luminal Breast Cancer Cells
Authors: da Silva Fernanda Cardoso , Martinho Ana Clara Cassiano , Ferreira Helen Soares Valença , Siqueira Raoni Pais , Arruda Vinicius Marques , Guerra Joyce Ferreira da Costa , de Souza Maria Laura dos Reis , Landin Emanuelly Silva , Rezende Júnior Celso de Oliveira , de Araújo Thaise Gonçalves
Published: September 2024

Breast cancer (BC) is the most common cancer in women, and is characterized by its histological and molecular heterogeneity. Luminal BC is an estrogen receptor-positive subtype, with varied clinical courses. Although BC patients are eligible for hormone therapy, both early and late relapses still occur, and thus there is a demand for new cytotoxic and selective treatment strategies for these patients. In the present study, inspired by the structure of phenylsulfonylpiperazine, a series of 20 derivatives were tested in bioassays against MCF7, MDA-MB-231 and MDA-MB-453 BC cells to discover new hit compounds. After 48 h of treatment, 12 derivatives impaired cell viability and presented significant IC50 values against at least one of the tumor lineages. Overall, the luminal BC cell line MCF7 was more sensitive to treatments. Compound 3, (4-(1H-tetrazol-1-yl)phenyl)(4-((4-chlorophenyl)sulfonyl)piperazin-1-yl)methanone, was the most promising, with IC50 = 4.48 μM and selective index (SI) = 35.6 in MCF7 cells. Compound 3 also presented significant antimigratory and antiproliferative activities against luminal BC cells, possibly by affecting the expression of genes involved in the epithelial–mesenchymal transition mechanism, upregulating E-Cadherin transcripts (CDH1). Our findings suggest that phenylsulfonylpiperazine derivatives are potential candidates for the development of new therapies, especially those targeting luminal BC.
Unrevealing Lithium Repositioning in the Hallmarks of Cancer: Effects of Lithium Salts (LiCl and Li2CO3) in an In Vitro Cervical Cancer Model
Authors: García-Acosta Juan Carlos , Castillo-Montoya Alejando Israel , Rostro-Alonso Gareth Omar , Villegas-Vázquez Edgar Yebrán , Quintas-Granados Laura Itzel , Sánchez-Sánchez Luis , López-Muñóz Hugo , Cariño-Calvo Lizbeth , López-Reyes Israel , Bustamante-Montes Lilia Patricia , Leyva-Gómez Gerardo , Cortés Hernán , Jacobo-Herrera Nadia Judith , García-Aguilar Rosario , Reyes-Hernández Octavio Daniel , Figueroa-González Gabriela
Published: September 2024

Lithium, a natural element, has been employed as a mental stabilizer in psychiatric treatments; however, some reports indicate it has an anticancer effect, prompting the consideration of repurposing lithium for cancer treatment. The potential anticancer use of lithium may depend on its form (salt type) and the type of cancer cells targeted. Little is known about the effects of Li2CO3 or LiCl on cancer cells, so we focused on exploring their effects on proliferation, apoptosis, migration, and cell cycle as part of the hallmarks of cancer. Firstly, we established the IC50 values on HeLa, SiHa, and HaCaT cells with LiCl and Li2CO3 and determined by crystal violet that cell proliferation was time-dependent in the three cell lines (IC50 values for LiCl were 23.43 mM for SiHa, 23.14 mM for HeLa, and 15.10 mM for HaCaT cells, while the IC50 values for Li2CO3 were 20.57 mM for SiHa, 11.52 mM for HeLa, and 10.52 mM for HaCaT cells.) Our findings indicate that Li2CO3 and LiCl induce DNA fragmentation and caspase-independent apoptosis, as shown by TUNEL, Western Blot, and Annexin V/IP assay by flow cytometry. Also, cell cycle analysis showed that LiCl and Li2CO3 arrested the cervical cancer cells at the G1 phase. Moreover, lithium salts displayed an anti-migratory effect on the three cell lines observed by the wound-healing assay. All these findings imply the viable anticancer effect of lithium salts by targeting several of the hallmarks of cancer.
Filbertone Reduces Senescence in C2C12 Myotubes Treated with Doxorubicin or H2O2 through MuRF1 and Myogenin
Authors: Jung Sumin , Ahn Byungyong
Published: September 2024

It has been demonstrated that filbertone, the principal flavor compound of hazelnuts, exhibits preventive effects against hypothalamic inflammation, obesity, neurodegenerative diseases, and muscle lipid accumulation. However, its influence on muscle aging has yet to be elucidated. The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of filbertone on muscle aging in C2C12 myotubes subjected to senescence induction by either doxorubicin or hydrogen peroxide. To ascertain the mechanisms by which filbertone exerts its effects, we conducted a series of experiments, including Western blot analysis, reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR), and senescence-associated β-galactosidase (SA-β-gal) staining. Filbertone was markedly observed to decrease not only the protein levels of p53 (p < 0.01) in senescence-induced skeletal muscle cells, but also the gene expression levels of p21 (p < 0.05), a direct target of p53. The expression of muscle-related genes, including myogenin and muscle RING-finger protein-1 (MuRF1), was found to be significantly enhanced in senescent muscle cells following treatment with filbertone (p < 0.05). In addition, the number of senescent skeletal muscle cells exhibiting β-galactosidase activity was found to be markedly reduced in the presence of filbertone (p < 0.01). Collectively, these findings suggest that filbertone plays a pivotal role in the regulation of muscle aging.
Adherence to Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) Diet as a Protective Factor for Ischemic Stroke and Its Influence on Disability Level: A Case–Control Study in Lebanon
Authors: El Masri Jad , Finge Hani , Baroud Tarek , Ajaj Najla , Houmani Mariam , Ghazi Maya , Younes Mahmoud , Salameh Pascale , Hosseini Hassan
Published: September 2024

Background: Hypertension is a major risk factor for ischemic stroke. An important strategy in controlling hypertension is dietary modification. The present study evaluates the effect of Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) diet on the risk of ischemic stroke. Methods: A case–control study was carried out, including 214 ischemic stroke cases recruited within the first 48 h of diagnosis and 214 controls, divided equally into hospitalized and non-hospitalized participants. Controls were matched to cases based on age and gender. Socio-demographic characteristics were assessed, in addition to adherence to the DASH diet, which was measured using a preconstructed DASH diet index (ranging from 0 (lowest) to 11 (highest)). For stroke patients, Modified Rankin Score (mRS) was measured to assess disability. Results: Smoking, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, atrial fibrillation, and myocardial infarction were significantly associated with ischemic stroke (p < 0.001). Higher adherence to the DASH diet was correlated to lower rates of stroke, where cases scored 5.042 ± 1.486 compared to 6.654 ± 1.471 for controls (p < 0.001). Eating more grains, vegetables, fruits, dairy products, nuts, seeds, and beans, and lower levels of fat, fewer sweets, and less sodium were associated with lower rates of ischemic stroke (p = 0.038 for sweets and p < 0.001 for all the remaining), while meat, poultry, and fish did not have any significant effect (p = 0.46). A multivariate analysis showed that lower adherence to the DASH diet (p < 0.001, OR: 0.526, CI95% 0.428–0.645) was associated with a higher incidence of ischemic stroke and an increased likelihood of having high disability levels (mRS 5–6) (p = 0.041, OR: 2.49 × 10−8, CI95% 0–2.49 × 10−8). Conclusions: The relation between the DASH diet and risk of stroke highlights the necessity for strict adherence to dietary restrictions, suggesting a protective role for the DASH diet in stroke pathogenesis and prognosis.
The Beneficial Effects of Regular Intake of Lactobacillus paragasseri OLL2716 on Gastric Discomfort in Healthy Adults: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Study
Authors: Yamada Naruomi , Kobayashi Kyosuke , Nagira Akika , Toshimitsu Takayuki , Sato Asako , Kano Hiroshi , Hojo Kenichi
Published: September 2024

We investigated the effects of Lactobacillus paragasseri OLL2716 on gastrointestinal symptoms in healthy adults with gastric complaints. In this randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, 174 healthy Japanese adults were randomly assigned to an OLL2716 or placebo group, and each group consumed 85 g of yogurt containing L. paragasseri OLL2716 or placebo yogurt daily for 12 weeks. The primary endpoint was the change in gastric symptoms from baseline as per the participants’ questionnaires at 6 and 12 weeks. The secondary endpoints were changes from baseline in the short-form Nepean Dyspepsia Index (SF-NDI), the Gastrointestinal Symptom Rating Scale (GSRS), and the Council on Nutrition Appetite Questionnaire-Japanese (CNAQ-J) scores at 6 and 12 weeks. The primary endpoint data showed that the changes in “epigastric pain” at 6 and 12 weeks were significantly decreased in the OLL2716 group compared with those in the placebo group. Additionally, the changes in “epigastric pain syndrome-like symptoms” were significantly decreased in the OLL2716 group compared with those in the placebo group at 6 weeks. The SF-NDI items that improved at 6 weeks were “irritable, tense, or frustrated”, “enjoyment of eating or drinking”, and “tension”, which are sub-scales related to mental stress. The items “Over-all” in the GSRS and “feeling hungry” in the CNAQ-J significantly improved in the OLL2716 group compared with the placebo group at 12 weeks. The results suggest that regular intake of L. paragasseri OLL2716 may improve both gastric discomfort and mental stress in healthy adults with gastric complaints, such as postprandial fullness or early satiety.
AMPK-Mediated Hypolipidemic Effects of a Salvia miltiorrhiza and Paeonia lactiflora Mixed Extract on High-Fat Diet-Induced Liver Triglyceride Accumulation: An In Vivo and In Vitro Study
Authors: Son Juah , Phong Nguyen Viet , Cha Mi-Ran , Oh Byulnim , Song Sukjin , Yang Seo Young
Published: September 2024

Background: This study investigates the hypolipidemic effects of a mixed extract of Salvia miltiorrhiza and Paeonia lactiflora (USCP119) in HFD-fed hamsters and in vitro cellular models. Methods: Over an 8-week period, HFD-fed hamsters were assigned to one of six groups: normal diet, HFD control, HFD with 50 mg/kg USCP119, HFD with 100 mg/kg USCP119, HFD with 50 mg/kg USCP119 twice daily (BID), and HFD with omega-3 fatty acids. Key outcomes assessed included body weight, serum triglycerides (TG), total cholesterol (TC), liver weight, hepatic TG levels, and epididymal fat. In cellular models, the impact of USCP119 on lipid accumulation and adipogenic markers was evaluated. Results: USCP119 treatment at 50 mg/kg BID resulted in the lowest weight gain (15.5%) and the most significant reductions in serum TG and hepatic TG levels compared to the HFD control. The 100 mg/kg dose also led to substantial reductions in serum TG and TC levels and notable decreases in low-density lipoprotein cholesterol. USCP119 at 50 mg/kg once daily reduced TG and TC levels but was less effective than the higher doses. In cellular models, USCP119 was non-toxic up to 400 µg/mL and effectively reduced lipid accumulation, modulated adipogenic markers, and enhanced AMPK signaling, improving lipid metabolism and insulin sensitivity. Conclusions: All USCP119 treatments demonstrated effectiveness in managing hyperlipidemia and related metabolic disorders, with variations in impact depending on the dosage. The ability of USCP119 to reduce fat accumulation, improve lipid profiles, and enhance insulin sensitivity highlights its potential as a valuable dietary supplement for addressing high-fat diet-induced hyperlipidemia and metabolic disturbances.
Comparative Analysis of Phytohormone Biosynthesis Genes Responses to Long-Term High Light in Tolerant and Sensitive Wheat Cultivars
Authors: Li Zhi-Ang , Fahad Muhammad , Li Wan-Chang , Tariq Leeza , Liu Miao-Miao , Liu Ya-Nan , Wang Tai-Xia
Published: September 2024

Phytohormones are vital for developmental processes, from organ initiation to senescence, and are key regulators of growth, development, and photosynthesis. In natural environments, plants often experience high light (HL) intensities coupled with elevated temperatures, which pose significant threats to agricultural production. However, the response of phytohormone-related genes to long-term HL exposure remains unclear. Here, we examined the expression levels of genes involved in the biosynthesis of ten phytohormones, including gibberellins, cytokinins, salicylic acid, jasmonic acid, abscisic acid, brassinosteroids, indole-3-acetic acid, strigolactones, nitric oxide, and ethylene, in two winter wheat cultivars, Xiaoyan 54 (XY54, HL tolerant) and Jing 411 (J411, HL sensitive), when transferred from low light to HL for 2–8 days. Under HL, most genes were markedly inhibited, while a few, such as TaGA2ox, TaAAO3, TaLOG1, and TaPAL2, were induced in both varieties. Interestingly, TaGA2ox2 and TaAAO3 expression positively correlated with sugar content but negatively with chlorophyll content and TaAGP expression. In addition, we observed that both varieties experienced a sharp decline in chlorophyll content and photosynthesis performance after prolonged HL exposure, with J411 showing significantly more sensitivity than XY54. Hierarchical clustering analysis classified the phytohormone genes into the following three groups: Group 1 included six genes highly expressed in J411; Group 2 contained 25 genes drastically suppressed by HL in both varieties; and Group 3 contained three genes highly expressed in XY54. Notably, abscisic acid (ABA), and jasmonic acid (JA) biosynthesis genes and their content were significantly higher, while gibberellins (GA) content was lower in XY54 than J411. Together, these results suggest that the differential expression and content of GA, ABA, and JA play crucial roles in the contrasting responses of tolerant and sensitive wheat cultivars to leaf senescence induced by long-term HL. This study enhances our understanding of the mechanisms underlying HL tolerance in wheat and can guide the development of more resilient wheat varieties.
Introduction to the Special Issue of Plants on “The Application of Spectral Techniques in Agriculture and Forestry”
Authors: Xiang Youzhen
Published: September 2024

This Special Issue, titled “Applications of Spectral Technology in Agriculture and Forestry”, presents a collection of cutting-edge research findings exploring various applications of spectral analysis in agricultural and forestry environments [...]
Bilberry Expansion in the Changing Subalpine Belt
Authors: Zeidler Miroslav , Banaš Marek
Published: September 2024

Bilberry (Vaccinium myrtillus L.) expansion in subalpine and alpine ecosystems is increasing due to climate change and reduced land management. This review examines bilberry traits, environmental responses, and ecosystem impacts. As a stress-tolerant chamaephyte, bilberry thrives in acidic, nutrient-poor soils across various habitats. It propagates effectively through rhizomes and demonstrates a phalanx growth form. Bilberry’s growth and distribution are influenced by elevation, soil structure, pH, water availability, and nitrogen content. Mycorrhizal associations play a crucial role in nutrient uptake. The species modifies the microclimate, facilitates litter accumulation, and influences soil microbial communities, affecting nutrient turnover and biodiversity. Bilberry shows moderate tolerance to herbivory and frost, with the ability to recover through rapid emergence of new ramets. However, severe or repeated disturbances can significantly impact its abundance and reproductive success. Climate warming and atmospheric nitrogen deposition have accelerated bilberry growth in treeline ecotones. The management of bilberry expansion requires a nuanced approach, considering its resilience, historical land-use changes, and environmental factors. The goal should be to limit, not eliminate, bilberry, as it is a natural part of subalpine communities. Long-term comparative monitoring and experimental manipulation are necessary for effective management strategies.
Risk Factors Associated with Suicidal Ideation in Students of the Faculty of Medicine and Surgery, URSE
Authors: García-Montalvo Iván Antonio , Matías-Pérez Diana , López-Castellanos Silvia Lois , López-Ramírez Enrique , Martínez-López Moisés
Published: September 2024

Suicidal ideation is a process that is intertwined with suicidal behavior. It begins with the formation of an idea about whether it is worth continuing to live, an idea that can evolve and trigger a series of actions ranging from planning to the execution of the suicidal act. This is a descriptive observational study based on numerical measurements with its respective statistical analysis that established the behavioral patterns of the phenomenon studied. The research proposal was approved by the research committee of the Faculty of Medicine and Surgery, URSE; data collection was performed through the instruments: Beck Suicidal Ideation Scale, Beck Depression Inventory, Abbreviated Scale of School Bullying Questionnaire, Drug Dependence Identification Questionnaire, and Family Apgar. The prevalence of suicidal ideation was 5.4%; 19.7% of the medical students have been victims of bullying in any form; 22.2% reported regular use of alcohol, tobacco, drugs, and other addictive substances; in addition, 17.7% had mild family dysfunction, moderate in 9.9% and severe with 15.3%; depression was recorded to a mild degree with 6.4%, followed by moderate in 1.5% of cases. Suicidal ideation among medical students is of concern; these problems must be addressed comprehensively, promoting a supportive environment that promotes the mental health and well-being of medical students.
Relevance Pooling Guidance and Class-Balanced Feature Enhancement for Fine-Grained Oriented Object Detection in Remote Sensing Images
Authors: Wang Yu , Chen Hao , Zhang Ye , Li Guozheng
Published: September 2024

Fine-grained object detection in remote sensing images is highly challenging due to class imbalance and high inter-class indistinguishability. The strategies employed by most existing methods to resolve these two challenges are relatively rudimentary, resulting in suboptimal model performance. To address these issues, we propose a fine-grained object-oriented detection method based on relevance pooling guidance and class balance feature enhancement. Firstly, we propose a global attention mechanism that dynamically retains spatial features pertinent to objects through relevance pooling during down-sampling, thereby enabling the model to acquire more discriminative features. Next, a class balance correction module is proposed to alleviate the class imbalance problem. This module employs feature translation and a learnable reinforcement coefficient to highlight the boundaries of tail class features while maintaining their distinctiveness. Furthermore, we present an enhanced contrastive learning strategy. By dynamically adjusting the contribution of inter-class samples and intra-class similarity measures, this strategy not only constrains inter-class feature distances but also facilitates tighter intra-class clustering, making it more suitable for imbalanced datasets. Evaluation on the FAIR1M and MAR20 datasets demonstrates that our method is superior compared to other methods in object detection and achieves 46.44 and 85.05% mean average precision, respectively.
A Method for Extracting High-Resolution Building Height Information in Rural Areas Using GF-7 Data
Authors: Liu Mingbo , Wang Ping , Hu Kailong , Gu Changjun , Jin Shengyue , Chen Lu
Published: September 2024

Building height is important information in disaster management and damage assessment. It is also a key parameter in studies such as population modeling and urbanization. Relatively few studies have been conducted on extracting building height in rural areas using imagery from China’s Gaofen-7 satellite (GF-7). In this study, we developed a method combining photogrammetry and deep learning to extract building height using GF-7 data in the rural area of Pingquan in northern China. The deep learning model DELaMa was proposed for digital surface model (DSM) editing based on the Large Mask Inpainting (LaMa) architecture. It not only preserves topographic details but also reasonably predicts the topography inside the building mask. The percentile value of the normalized digital surface model (nDSM) in the building footprint was taken as the building height. The extracted building heights in the study area are highly consistent with the reference building heights measured from the ICESat-2 LiDAR point cloud, with an R2 of 0.83, an MAE of 1.81 m and an RMSE of 2.13 m for all validation buildings. Overall, the proposed method in this paper helps to promote the use of satellite data in large-scale building height surveys, especially in rural areas.
The Determination of On-Water Rowing Stroke Kinematics Using an Undecimated Wavelet Transform of a Rowing Hull-Mounted Accelerometer Signal
Authors: Geneau Daniel , Commandeur Drew , Brodie Ryan , Tsai Ming-Chang , Jensen Matt , Klimstra Marc
Published: September 2024

Boat acceleration profiles can provide valuable information for coaches and practitioners to make meaningful technical interventions and monitor the determinants of success in rowing. Previous studies have used simple feature detection methods to identify key phases within individual strokes, such as drive onset, drive time, drive offset and stroke time. However, based on skill level, technique or boat class, the hull acceleration profile can differ, making robust feature detection more challenging. The current study’s purpose is to employ the undecimated wavelet transform (UWT) technique to detect individual features in the stroke acceleration profile from a single rowing hull-mounted accelerometer. In this investigation, the temporal and kinematic values obtained using the AdMosTM sensor in conjunction with the UWT processing approach were strongly correlated with the comparative measures of the Peach™ instrumented oarlock system. The measures for stroke time displayed very strong agreeability between the systems for all boat classes, with ICC values of 0.993, 0.963 and 0.954 for the W8+, W4− and W1x boats, respectively. Similarly, the drive time was also very consistent, with strong to very strong agreeability, producing ICC values of 0.937, 0.901 and 0.881 for the W8+, W4− and W1x boat classes. Further, a Bland–Altman analysis displayed little to no bias between the AdMosTM-derived and Peach™ measures, indicating that there were no systematic discrepancies between signals. This single-sensor solution could form the basis for a simple, cost-effective and accessible alternative to multi-sensor instrumented systems for the determination of sub-stroke kinematic phases.
Research on Signal Noise Reduction and Leakage Localization in Urban Water Supply Pipelines Based on Northern Goshawk Optimization
Authors: Chen Xin , Jiang Zhu , Li Jiale , Zhao Zhendong , Cao Yunyun
Published: September 2024

In order to enhance the accuracy and adaptability of urban water supply pipeline leak localization, based on the Northern Goshawk Optimization, a novel joint denoising method is proposed in this paper to reduce noise in negative pressure wave signals caused by leaks. Firstly, the Northern Goshawk Optimization optimizes the decomposition levels and penalty factors of Variational Mode Decomposition, and obtains their optimal combination. Subsequently, the optimized parameters are used to decompose the pressure signals into modal components, and the effective components and noise components are distinguished according to the correlation coefficients. Then, an optimized wavelet thresholding method is applied to the selected effective components for secondary denoising. Finally, the signal components that have been denoised twice are reconstructed with the effective signal components, and the denoised negative pressure wave signals are obtained. Simulation experiments demonstrate that compared to wavelet transforms and Empirical Mode Decomposition, our method achieves the highest signal-to-noise ratio improvement of 12.23 dB and normalized cross correlation of 0.991. It effectively preserves useful leak information in the signal while suppressing noise, laying a solid foundation for improving leak localization accuracy. After several leak simulation tests on the leakage simulation test platform, the test results verify the effectiveness of the proposed method. The minimum relative error of the leakage localization is 0.29%, and an average relative error is 1.64%, achieving accurate leakage localization.
SMS-Based Active Surveillance of Adverse Events following Immunization in Children: The VigiVax Study
Authors: Gonella Laura Augusta , Moretti Francesca , Capuano Annalisa , De Sarro Caterina , Ferrara Lorenza , Geninatti Elisabetta , Guarnieri Greta , Hysolakoj Xhikjana , Lalli Margherita , Leoni Olivia , Mangano Antea Maria Pia , Marani Toro Patrizia , Mecchia Viviana , Merlano Maria Caterina , Palleria Caterina , Potenza Anna Maria , Rossi Paola , Rossi Marco , Sanità Francesca , Sapigni Ester , Scavone Cristina , Sommaro Claudia , Tuccori Marco , Zanoni Giovanna , Moretti Ugo ,   VigiVax Working Group
Published: September 2024

Underreporting is the main limitation of spontaneous reporting systems. This cohort-event monitoring study aims to examine the potential of short message service (SMS)-based surveillance compared to traditional surveillance systems. Using VigiVax software, parents of vaccinated children aged two years or younger, in the period March 2021–May 2022, received a single SMS inquiry about adverse events following immunization (AEFI). Responses were collected, validated by health operators and integrated with the information on electronic immunization registries. AEFI reports were automatically submitted to the Italian Pharmacovigilance system. Among 254,160 SMS messages sent, corresponding to 451,656 administered doses (AD), 71,643 responses were collected (28.2% response rate), and 21,231 of them (8.3%) reported AEFI. After a seriousness assessment based on clinical criteria, 50 reports (0.24%) were classified as serious. Among these, a causality assessment identified 31 reports at least potentially related to the vaccination (RR: 6.86/100,000 AD). Febrile seizures following MMRV (measles, mumps, rubella, varicella) vaccination accounted for 11 of these 31 cases, with an incidence of 32 per 100,000 AD. No fatal outcomes were reported. Our findings support the highly favorable risk profile of pediatric vaccinations and the possibility to improve spontaneous reporting through the integration of digital technologies.
Impact of an Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) program on the management of complications after laparoscopic or robotic colectomy for cancer
Authors: Weets Victoria , Meillat Hélène , Saadoun Jacques Emmanuel , Dazza Marie , de Chaisemartin Cécile , Lelong Bernard
Published: September 2024

Purpose: Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) reduces postoperative complications (POCs) after colorectal surgery; however, its impact on the management of POCs remains unclear. This study compared the diagnosis and management of POCs before and after implementing our ERAS protocol after laparoscopic or robotic colectomy for cancer and examined the short- and mid-term oncologic impacts.Methods: This single-center, retrospective study evaluated all consecutive patients who underwent laparoscopic or robotic colectomy for cancer between 2012 and 2021, focusing on the incidence of POCs within 90 days. We compared outcomes before (standard group) and after (ERAS group) the implementation of our ERAS protocol in January 2016.Results: Significantly fewer patients in the ERAS group developed POCs (standard vs. ERAS, 136 of 380 patients [35.8%] vs.136 of 660 patients [20.6%]; P<0.01). The ERAS group had a significantly shorter mean total length of stay after POCs (13.1 days vs. 11.4 days, P=0.04), and the rates of life-threatening complications (6.7% vs. 0.7%) and 1-year mortality (7.4% vs. 1.5%) were significantly lower in the ERAS group than in the standard group. Among patients with anastomotic complications, laparoscopic reoperation was significantly more common in the ERAS group than in the standard group (8.3% vs. 75.0%, P<0.01). Among patients with postoperative ileus, the diagnosis and recovery times were significantly shorter in the ERAS group than in the standard group, resulting in a shorter total length of stay (13.5 days vs. 10 days, P<0.01).Conclusion: The implementation of an ERAS protocol did not eliminate all POCs, but it did accelerate their diagnosis and management and improved patient outcomes.
Improving personal continuity in general practice: a focus group study
Authors: Groot Lex Jozef Johannes , Janssen Esther , Westerman Marjan , Schers Henk , Burgers Jako S. , Smalbrugge Martin , Uijen Annemarie A. , van der Horst Henriëtte , Maarsingh Otto R
Published: September 2024

Background Personal continuity is an important dimension of continuity of care in general practice and is associated with many benefits including a higher quality of GP care and lower mortality rate. Over time, changes in society and healthcare have challenged the provision of personal continuity. Especially older patients experience more negative consequences from receiving discontinuous care. Aim To explore perspectives of general practitioners (GPs), older patients, practice nurses, and assistants on improving personal continuity in general practice, and to identify barriers and facilitators that affect this improvement process. Design and setting A Qualitative study using focus groups was conducted from May to August 2019. Method We organised four focus groups: two with GPs (n=17), one with patients (n=7), and one with practice assistants (n=4) and nurses (n=2). Focus groups were analysed using reflexive thematic analysis. Results Personal continuity was viewed as being provided by the entire general practice team and not just by the own GP. To improve personal continuity, it was suggested to invest in team communication and stability (e.g., by efficient use of the EHR) and retaining availability and accessibility of the own GP (e.g., by delegating tasks). Barriers and facilitators were perceived on individual (e.g., GPs’ involvement in tasks), organisation (e.g., staff shortages) and societal level (e.g., payment system). Conclusion As general practice moves towards a more team-based approach to ensure personal continuity, efforts to improve personal continuity should focus on supporting team-based provision of continuous care.
FORMAÇÃO DE PROFESSORES PARA O ENSINO SUPERIOR MEDIADA PELO ESTÁGIO DE DOCÊNCIA
Authors: Paixao Jairo Antonio , Caetano Clarisse Silva
Published: September 2024

Os estudos sobre a formação pedagógica de professores para atuarem no magistério superior têm sido tema de interesse na área educacional. O presente artigo apresenta os resultados de uma pesquisa que teve como objetivo identificar e analisar as ações formativas que são desenvolvidas pelos pós-graduandos no decorrer do estágio de docência na perspectiva de coordenadores e integrantes de comissões coordenadoras de programas de pós-graduação stricto sensu vinculados à área de Ciências Biológicas e da Saúde da Universidade Federal de Viçosa. Através de uma pesquisa qualitativa, em que foi empregada a entrevista semiestruturada para a coleta dos dados, foi possível identificar a ausência de relatórios, formulários e avaliação, que denota a não sistematização das atividades e ações realizadas pelo estudante no decorrer do estágio de docência nos programas de pós-graduação em questão. Conclui-se que a não regulamentação do estágio de docência entre programas poderá comprometer a intensidade e oportunidade de vivências no processo de formação pedagógica do futuro docente que irá atuar no magistério superior.
RELEVÂNCIA PEDAGÓGICA DO DIÁLOGO FRENTE À DIFUSÃO DA CULTURA DO ÓDIO E À VIOLÊNCIA
Authors: SILVA GIDALTI GUEDES DA , Síveres Luiz
Published: September 2024

Atualmente, através dos meios de comunicação e mídias sociais, bem como nos processos socializadores de famílias e comunidades, são difundidas crenças, afetos e atitudes preconceituosas, de intolerância e de violência. A sociedade contemporânea carece urgentemente de ferramentas pedagógicas que possibilitem o encontro cordial e colaborativo entre os diferentes. O objetivo do presente artigo é refletir sobre a relevância do diálogo, enquanto proposta pedagógica sistematizada, que estabelece o princípio central do processo de mediação da aprendizagem e, desse modo, torna-se uma prática pedagógica que pode fazer frente à difusão da cultura do ódio e à violência crescentes na atual geração. Para tanto, o texto está estruturado em duas partes: a primeira é dedicada a uma melhor compreensão e denúncia dos aspectos ontológicos e pedagógicos inerentes à cultura do ódio, enquanto a segunda parte está a serviço da proposição de pistas para uma pedagogia do diálogo.
CONVIVÊNCIA COMO APORTE TEÓRICO PARA FORMAÇÃO DOCENTE NO CAMPO DA PEDAGOGIA SOCIAL
Authors: Lopes Lucas Salgueiro , Ferreira Arthur Vianna
Published: September 2024

A formação do educador social é uma das questões centrais no contexto educacional brasileiro. A partir desta afirmação, este artigo tem como objetivo geral discutir a contribuição específica da Pedagogia Social para a formação dos educadores sociais a partir do conceito de convivência em Xesús Jares. Assim, este material traz uma reflexão sobre a organização do campo do saber da Pedagogia Social, sua história e importância, como fundamentação para uma reflexão mais aprofundada sobre as práticas educativas não escolares; os enfrentamentos presentes na formação dos educadores sociais no contexto brasileiro; e o breve desenvolvimento do conceito de convivência, a partir de Xesús Jares, como uma reflexão específica da Pedagogia Social. Como principal inferência, o artigo define o conceito de docência ampliada como expressão da intervenção da Pedagogia Social dentro do cotidiano formativo dos educadores sociais. Da mesma forma, apresenta os elementos da convivência como potencializadores das mudanças necessárias na organização dos currículos que direcionam os processos formativos dos educadores sociais e, consequentemente, as práticas socioeducativas com os grupos socialmente vulneráveis.
The Association of Heart Failure and Edema Events between Patients Initiating Sodium Zirconium Cyclosilicate or Patiromer
Authors: Desai Nihar R. , Kammerer Jennifer , Budden Jeffrey , Olopoenia Abisola , Tysseling Asa , Gordon Alexandra
Published: September 2024

Key Points

One previous study using claims data reported signals for higher hospitalizations for heart failures and severe edema in patients prescribed a potassium binder using sodium exchange.

In this study, sodium zirconium cyclosilicate use was associated with increased risk of prespecified encounters of hospitalizations for heart failure and major edema encounters.

Our findings highlight the need to weigh the benefits and risks of sodium zirconium cyclosilicate and patiromer in routine clinical practice.

Background

Sodium zirconium cyclosilicate (SZC) and patiromer (PAT) are potassium binders that differ by exchange ion, sodium, and calcium, respectively. There are limited data on whether using sodium exchange could affect the risks of hospitalizations for heart failure (HHF) or severe edema in patients with hyperkalemia. The goal of this study was to assess the occurrence rates of prespecified major encounters potentially related to electrolyte-/fluid-related imbalances (including HHF, edema) among new users of PAT or SZC.

Methods

Using Cerner Real World Data, we conducted a retrospective cohort study among adults (≥18 years) who were newly initiated on SZC or PAT between June 1, 2018, and December 31, 2021. Based on baseline demographic and clinical characteristics, one PAT initiator was propensity score matched with two SZC initiators. Primary outcomes were any HHF, primary HHF, major edema encounter, or death. Cox proportional hazard regression models were used to estimate the association between SZC or PAT use and each outcome in the overall population and subgroups with/without prior heart failure (HF).

Results

The final cohort included 9929 PAT initiators matched to 19, 849 SZC initiators. The mean age was 66 years; about 50% had a history of CKD stages 3–5 and 34% a history of HF. Incidence rates were significantly higher in the SZC cohort when compared with the PAT cohort for all outcomes. Risks of HHF (any/primary) (adjusted hazard ratios [HRs], 1.373; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.337 to 1.410), major edema encounter (HR, 1.330; 95% CI, 1.298 to 1.363), and death (HR, 1.287; 95% CI, 1.255 to 1.320) were also significantly higher in the SZC cohort compared with the PAT cohort (P < 0.05). These findings were consistent among subgroups with/without prior HF.

Conclusions

SZC use (versus PAT) was associated with an increased risk of prespecified encounters that were potentially sodium-/fluid-related, including among patients with/without preexisting HF.
COVID-19 Hastalık Nedeni Algısı ile COVID-19 Aşısına Yönelik Tutumlar Arasındaki İlişki
Authors: Yılmaz Zeynep , Yılmaz Çiğdem , Akben Cantürk
Published: September 2024

Giriş ve Amaç: COVID-19 pandemisinde ve gelecekte meydana gelebilecek pandemilerde aşı uygulama stratejisinin başarıya ulaşabilmesi için aşıların geliştirilmesi tek başına yeterli değildir. Toplumda aşıya karşı oluşabilecek dirençler bu stratejiyi etkileyebilir niteliktedir. Bu bağlamda da aşılama oranlarının artması için aşıların temini kadar aşılara karşı tutum da önemlidir. Bu çalışmanın amacı, aşılara yönelik tutumlarda etkili olabilecek değişkenleri ve bu değişkenlerin etkileşimlerini tespit ederek COVID-19 hastalığı nedenine ilişkin algının COVID-19 aşısına yönelik olumlu ve olumsuz tutumları yordayıp yordamadığını test etmektir.

Gereç ve Yöntemler: Tanımlayıcı tipte ilişkisel bir çalışma olan bu çalışma Haziran-Temmuz 2021 tarihleri arasında Bolu Abant İzzet Baysal Üniversitesinde ve 271 katılımcı ile gerçekleştirilmiştir. Veriler "Demografik Bilgi Formu", "COVID-19 ve Aşıları Deneyimleri Formu", "COVID-19’un Nedenleri Algısı Ölçeği" ve "COVID-19 Aşısına Yönelik Tutumlar Ölçeği" aracılığıyla kolayda örnekleme yöntemiyle çevrimiçi olarak toplanmıştır. COVID-19 aşılarına yönelik olumlu ve olumsuz tutum ile COVID-19 hastalığının nedenlerine ilişkin algılar arasındaki ilişkiler hiyerarşik regresyon analizleri aracılığıyla incelenmiştir.

Bulgular ve Tartışma: Hastalığın nedenlerine ilişkin komplo algısının aşıya yönelik olumlu tutum ile negatif, olumsuz tutum ile pozitif yönde ilişkili olduğu bulunmuştur. Hastalığın nedenlerine ilişkin inanç algısının ise aşıya yönelik olumlu tutum ile pozitif ilişkide olduğu görülmüştür. Ayrıca katılımcıların aşı olma durumu ile hastalığın nedenlerine ilişkin algılar arasında çeşitli etkileşimler gözlemlenmiştir. Komplo algısı ile aşıya yönelik olumlu tutum arasındaki negatif ilişki yalnızca aşı olmayanlarda görülmüştür. Hastalığın nedenine ilişkin inanç algısı ile aşıya yönelik olumlu tutum arasındaki pozitif ilişki ve inanç algısı ile olumsuz tutum arasındaki negatif ilişki de yalnızca aşı olmayanlarda görülmüştür.

Sonuç: Bu çalışmada önemli sayılabilecek bir sonuç olarak hastalığın nedenlerine ilişkin algılar ile aşıya yönelik tutumların ilişkisinin, aşı olanlar ve olmayanlar arasında ne şekilde farklılaştığı ortaya koyulmuştur. Aşı olma durumu ile hastalığın nedenlerine ilişkin algıların etkileşimlerinin gelecek pandemilerde geliştirilebilecek halk sağlığı politikalarına kaynak olacağı düşünülmektedir.
Akut Miyeloid Lösemi’li Olgularda inv(3)/t(3;3) ile 7.Kromozomun Anomalilerinin Prognoza Etkisi
Authors: Bayrak Tokaç Ayşe Gül , Bağatır Gülçin , Erdem Simge , Çefle Kıvanç , Öztürk Şükrü , Yenerel Mustafa Nuri , Yavuz Akif Selim , Nalcaci Meliha , Palanduz Şükrü
Published: September 2024

Akut Miyeloid Lösemi (AML), neoplastik klonal miyeloid kök hücrelerin aşırı üretimiyle karakterize bir kök hücre hastalığıdır. Etyolojisindeki en önemli etkenler kromozom anomalileri veya izole gen mutasyonları yoluyla oluşan genetik bozukluklardır. Dünya Sağlık Örgütü’nün (DSÖ) sınıflandırmasına göre, AML’de görülen genetik anomalilerin tanımlanması, hastalığın risk sınıflandırmasında ve tedavi seçeneklerinin belirlenmesinde önemli bir rol oynar. DSÖ’nün sınıflandırmasında yer alan inv(3)(q21q26.2)/t(3;3)(q21;q26.2), AML’li olguların %1-2’sinde görülür. Ayrıca, de novo yada tedavi sonrası Miyelodisplastik Sendrom’dan (MDS) ya da blast kriz Kronik Miyeloid Lösemi’den (KML) AML’ye dönüşüm gösteren olgularda da görülen bir anomalidir. De novo gelişen inv(3)/t(3;3), kemoterapiye yanıt vermeyen, prognozu kötü olan agresif bir lösemi formuna neden olur ve 5 yıllık yaşam süresi %10’dan azdır. İnv(3)/t(3;3) anomalisine sıklıkla monozomi 7 ya da del(7q) eşlik eder. Sekonder anomali olarak monozomi 7/del(7q)’nun varlığı; prognozu daha da kötüleştiren bir bulgudur. Bu anomaliye sahip olgularda kemoterapiye direnç sebebiyle en uygun tedavi seçeneğinin allojenik kemik iliği transplantasyonu (Allo-KİT) olduğu bildirilmiştir.
Bu çalışmada, 734 AML ön tanı/tanılı olgu (KML ya da MDS’den transforme AML dahil) arasından inv(3)/t(3;3) ve 7.kromozomun anomalilerinin birlikte saptandığı olgular tartışılmıştır. Sonuç olarak bu anomalilerinin birlikte saptandığı durumlarda Allo-KİT hastayı yaşama bağlayan tek tedavi seçeneği olabilir.