bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Influence of MHC on genetic diversity and testicular expression of linked olfactory receptor genes
Authors: Kang Mingue , Ahn Byeongyong , Shin Jae Yeol , Cho Hye-sun , Lee Jongan , Park Chankyu
Published: September 2024

Background
Olfactory receptor (OR) genes are highly polymorphic and form extensive families that recognize a wide range of vertebrate odorants. Although OR gene clusters are dispersed across many regions of vertebrate genomes, ORs expressed in the testes exhibit major histocompatibility complex (MHC)-linked structural conservation.
Results
In this study, we selected nine MHC-linked OR genes based on their expression levels in pig testes and developed a sequence-based typing method for these genes. We then performed high-resolution typing of these OR genes, along with three major classical MHC class I genes (SLA-1, -2, and − 3), in 48 pigs across six breeds. We observed significantly higher allelic diversity (P < 0.01) in ORs with strong linkage disequilibrium (LD) to SLA compared to those with weak or no LD, and we identified 48 SLA class I-OR haplotypes using the expectation-maximization algorithm. The genetic diversity of SLA-linked ORs was positively correlated with their expression levels in the testis. Specifically, SLA-linked ORs with higher testicular expression (FPKM ≥ 0.1) exhibited an increase in the number of codons under mutually diversifying selection with SLA compared to those with lower expression (FPKM < 0.1).
Conclusions
Our results suggest the presence of evolutionary interactions between the MHC and linked OR genes. These characteristics of SLA-linked ORs support the potential involvement of MHC-linked ORs in MHC-based mate selection.
Stomach parasite burden and health status of stranded common dolphins, Delphinus delphis
Authors: Alwis H.A.S.S. , Albrecht Sofia , Murphy Sinéad , O'Donovan Jim , Berrow Simon , Daly Mags , Levesque Stephanie , O'Dwyer Katie
Published: September 2024

Short-beaked common dolphins are important top predators in marine ecosystems, and inevitably they encounter a range of pressures in their environment. Parasite infections pose one such possible pressure and examining parasite burdens of common dolphins, and any possible impacts of infection, enables us to better understand these pressures. Here we examined the stomach parasite burden of 69 stranded common dolphins collected along the Irish coastline between 2017–2019. After isolating the parasites from the stomachs, all were identified as nematodes belonging to the genus Anisakis. Additional to adult nematodes, L3 and L4 larval stages were observed. A total of 319,344 anisakid specimens were estimated from all stomach compartments of the animals. Parasite prevalence was 94%, mean abundance was 4,630 worms, and mean intensity was 4,910 worms. A generalised linear model with negative binomial error structure revealed that dolphin body length, nutritional status and year of stranding were significantly associated with parasite burden. The results presented highlight the high parasite burdens that may be carried by common dolphins and their potential interaction with health parameters such as nutritional status. To gain a comprehensive overview it is important to include parasite infection investigations along with other parameters when evaluating the health status of marine mammals.
Impact of Timing on Post-Operative Outcomes in Esophagectomy for Squamous Cell Carcinoma: A Prospective Observational Study Comparing Surgery Within 8 Weeks vs. After 8 Weeks Post-Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy in a North Indian Tertiary Care Centre
Authors: Singh Lovepreet , Tandup Cherring , Thakur Manish , Sekar Aravind , Samanta Jayanta , S.N. Satish , Sahu Swapnesh , Sakaray Yashwant , Santosh RN Naga , Kurdia Kailash , Thakur Vipul
Published: September 2024

Purpose-: Neoadjuvant chemotherapy followed by esophagectomy is the usual approach to manage esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). The optimal interval to operate after completion of Neoadjuvant Chemo-radiotherapy (NACRT) still remains controversial.
Methods:A prospective study was conducted to observe and compare post-operative complications and pathological outcomes in patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus who underwent NACRT followed by surgery within 8 weeks or after 8 weeks of NACRT completion. The pathological complete response was assessed using Mandard tumour regression grade. Morbidity and mortality were compared and were graded using Clavien-Dindo scale.
Results: The Study included 50 patients, 19 patients in within <8 week group and 31 in >8 week group study. Patients underwent thoracoscopy assisted esophagectomy with neoesophagus formation using gastric conduit. There was a significant difference between mortality between the two groups, with three mortalities in <8 week group and none in the other group (p=0.022). Postoperative complications and pathological outcomes did not have a statistically significant difference between the two groups.
Conclusion: The rate of post-operative complications and pathological response in ESCC cases do not appear to be impacted by the interval between NACRT and surgery; nevertheless, early surgery was associated with a higher risk of mortality.
Leveraging class-balancing techniques for predicting c-MET Inhibitors: Descriptor Calculation, Selection, and QSAR Model Optimization using Machine Learning
Authors: Mishra Gauri , Acharya Malika , Pandit Akansha , Mohbey Krishna Kumar , Sawant Devesh Madhukar
Published: September 2024

The rapid emergence of resistance in cancer chemotherapy is a major challenge in the drug discovery of cancer, restricting the action of various important classes of inhibitors against EGFR, VEGF, BRAF, alkylating agents, and DNA damaging agents. c-MET plays an important role in the development of resistance to cancer. Identifying a potent c-MET inhibitor can improve therapeutic access to existing anti-cancer agents. In the current study, we propose a novel technique for the prediction of drug activity class by using class balancing and ML classifiers. This study utilizes 3091 molecules with c-MET inhibitory concentration value (IC50) publicly available from the ChEMBL Database. Using 14 descriptors and random oversampling for class balancing, we investigated seven classical ML models, i.e., decision tree (DT), Adaboost decision tree (ABDT), K-nearest neighbors (K-NN), support vector machine (SVM), Bernoulli Naïve Bayes (BNB), random forest (RF), and linear logistic regression (LLR) for activity prediction against c-MET. Of which SVM, LR, and RF were the top three models providing high predictability after applying balancing techniques and performing rigorous.hyperparameter tuning. Even though SVM, LR, and RF showed exemplary performance in terms of ROC-AUC and recall metrics, their validation on seven FDA-approved drugs demonstrated their susceptibility to high false negatives. Owing to this, we developed a consensus mechanism based on these three models. The consensus mechanism can work on a large, diverse database and screen potential inhibitors, prioritizing which molecule to be considered further for experimental testing. The consensus model proved beneficial as a drug design algorithm for c-MET inhibitor drug discovery and development.
Context-aware Learning and Background Activation Suppression for Weakly Supervised Semantic Segmentation
Authors: Mi Aizhong , Huang Xianru , Huo Zhanqiang , Liu Luyao
Published: September 2024

Weakly supervised semantic segmentation (WSSS) using only image-level labels has gradually become an emerging research hotspot in the field of computer vision in recent years due to its low annotation cost. Existing methods rely on Class Activation Maps (CAMs) from specific classification models to locate target regions. However, the classifiers tend to focus on the most discriminative regions of the input image and assign higher weights to these areas, leading to the problem of incomplete CAM target regions. To address this issue, we design a Siamese feature aggregation network, named SFA-Net, which introduces contextual information to activate more complete target regions while suppressing the similarly adjacent background regions. Specifically, the context-aware module in the SFA-Net is consisting of a multi-scale adaptive aggregation sub-module and a contextual linkage sub-module, which can uncover potential target features and identify global target areas. A background activation suppression loss is designed to minimize false activations in the background regions by measuring the similarity between the target object and background regions at the boundary. Extensive experiments on the challenging PASCAL VOC 2012 and COCO 2014 datasets show that our SFA-Net outperforms other state-of-the-art methods.
Post-transcriptional regulation in early cell fate commitment of germ layers
Authors: Gomes-Júnior Rubens , Horinouchi Cintia Delai Silva , Hansel-Fröse Aruana Fiuza Fagundes , Ribeiro Annanda Lyra , Pereira Isabela Tiemy , Spangenberg Lucia , Dallagiovanna Bruno
Published: September 2024

Background:Cell differentiation during development is orchestrated by precisely coordinated gene expression programs. While mechanisms such as the maintenance of pluripotent states are well-understood, others like lineage choice and cell-fate decisions remain poorly comprehended. Given that gene expression is influenced not only by transcriptional control but also by post-transcriptional events, we employed monolayer differentiation protocols to delineate early transcriptional and post-transcriptional events in human embryonic stem cell specification. This involved obtaining representative populations of the three germ layers, followed by sequencing of polysome-bound and total RNAs.Results:We observed a consistent similar distribution of gene upregulation and downregulation when comparing the transcriptome and translatome during the differentiation of all three germ layers. Notably, certain differentially expressed genes were exclusively detected in the polysome fractions, suggesting active post-transcriptional regulation. Upregulated genes in the translatome more accurately reflected the differentiation process. Additionally, genes such as DLX3, DHFR2, and UNC13D were identified as differentially expressed solely in the polysome fraction, indicating their post-transcriptional regulation during ectoderm commitment. Recruitment of these genes to polysomes was also confirmed.Conclusions:Substantial post-transcriptional modulation was found during germ layer commitment, emphasizing the translatome reliability in capturing nuanced gene expression regulation. These findings highlight the post-transcriptional regulation's critical role in early embryonic development, offering new insights into the molecular mechanisms of cell differentiation.
Systematic Review and Meta Analysis on Prevalence of Opticospinal Multiple Sclerosis in Asian Population
Authors: Rayan Benson , Swethakumar Mangaiyarkarasy , J Poongothai
Published: September 2024

Multiple sclerosis is a chronic, inflammatory disorder of the central nervous system which is prevalent across the Western population. Employing current technologies, it has been discovered that a subtype of MS which results in severe damage of spinal cord and optic nerves exists in Asian populations. A binary random-effect meta-analysis carried out in the scope of this study illuminates the mean prevalence rate of OSMS in Asia, including studies from regions East Asia, Sound-East Asia, Central Asia, Middle Eastern. The findings estimated a mean prevalence ratio of around 0.340 of the selected 25 studies out of 117 screened studies with a confidence level of 95%. Regarding regional disparities in MS prevalence, Japan serves as an example of a country with moderate rates and a significant portion of the data used in this study is derived from the Japanese population. In contrast, countries within the Indian subcontinent, such as India and Pakistan, as well as certain Middle Eastern nations Iran and Oman, tend to exhibit lower MS prevalence rates.
Magnetic-Based Integrated Sensing and In/Near-Sensor Processing:A Comprehensive Survey and Future Outlook
Authors: Tabrizchi Sepehr , Amin Md Hasibul , Najafi Deniz , Angizi Shaahin , Zand Ramtin , Roohi Arman
Published: September 2024

In recent years, spintronic devices and non-Von Neuman architectures have emerged as two promising approaches to overcome the power, performance, and efficiency limitations of conventional computing architectures. Spintronic devices, such as Magneto-Electric FETs (MEFETs) and Spin-Orbit Torque Magnetic Random Access Memory (SOT-MRAM), offer unique advantages, including non-volatility, high-speed operation, and low-power characteristics, making them well-suited for various data and compute -intensive applications. On the other hand, in-sensor processing, which integrates computation and sensing into a single platform, offers significant improvements in energy efficiency, latency, and overall system performance by reducing data movement and offloading computation tasks to the sensor level. In this survey paper, we provide a comprehensive overview of recent advancements in magnetic-based integrated sensing and processing schemes, highlighting their key features, benefits, and potential applications. We discuss the challenges associated with integrating spintronic devices into sensing/processing platforms, including power management, reliability, and design complexity. We also review various design approaches and methodologies to optimize the performance and energy efficiency of these systems. Furthermore, we explore the impact of spintronic and in-sensor processing on various application domains, such as edge computing and artificial intelligence. Finally, we discuss future research directions and potential opportunities in this emerging field, emphasizing the need for further exploration and collaboration among researchers in the areas of device technology, circuit design, and system architecture.
Concrete Jungle to Urban Oasis: Scale, Greenspace Size and Patchiness Influence Wildlife in Cities of Eastern Los Angeles County, California
Authors: Elihu Adrianna J. , Ortiz Janel L.
Published: September 2024

Urban greenspaces are a haven for wildlife in densely populated cities. Wildlife use greenspaces for resource acquisition, shelter, and traveling across urbanized landscapes. Greenspace characteristics such as presence of woody or herbaceous landcover, size, edge density, and patchiness influence species richness. The goals of this study was to: 1) identify and quantify greenspace metrics to determine relationships with wildlife and 2) determine differences in greenspace patterns at various spatial scales. To monitor wildlife, twenty-six camera traps were set in eastern Los Angeles County, California; greenspace metrics were gathered using 3m land cover supervised classification. We used a generalized linear mixed model to determine the influence of greenspace metrics on richness at four scales (200m, 500m, 1km, and 2km). At larger scales, 1km and 2km, high herbaceous cover, whether as increasing aggregated patches or increased patchiness, and moderate levels of woody cover positively influence species richness. At smaller scales, 200m and 500m, low to moderate levels of herbaceous cover and high levels of woody cover strongly and positively influence species. These results suggest that wildlife are able to utilize urban areas with increasing fragmentation of greenspace habitat and require greenspace, either as a few, less fragmented patches or as many patches with high herbaceous cover in the urban matrix. From the perspective of urban planning, developing greenspaces from a broader ecological scale is important to ensure they function as stepping stones in the urban matrix. Understanding these patterns can improve greenspaces that support wildlife and therefore, ecological functions.
Novel Pediatrics Chief Program Utilizing Near-peer Teaching and Mentoring to Enhance Clerkship Curricula
Authors: Johnson Victoria , Craven Sarah , Pohren Lindsey Beard , Braukmann Nicholas , Hoburg Joslynn , Leyden Emily , Schmidt John
Published: September 2024

Introduction:
Near-peer teachers add many benefits to the academic, clinical performance, and enjoyment of near-peer learners in medical education. We describe and examine how the Creighton University School of Medicine Chief Program fills a gap in medical education by offering an organized and formal methodology for near-peer teaching. The Creighton University M4 Pediatrics Chief Program, launched in 2016, utilizes select 4th-year medical students (colloquially referred to as the “M4 Peds Chiefs”) to orient, teach basic clinical skills, mentor, and participate in curriculum development for the third-year pediatrics clerkship students.
Methods:
Third-year students (n = 43) in their pediatrics clerkship from September 2020 to February 2021 completed surveys at the end of the clerkship to assess the quality and effectiveness of the M4 Pediatrics Chief Program. Students rated effectiveness of the chiefs most highly as clerkship guides, teachers, and mentors.
Results:
Near-peer perspectives, education, provision of pertinent content, serving as a clerkship resource, and being a source of encouragement were the most beneficial aspects of the program. Students reported strong agreement all clerkships should have an M4 Chief Program.
Discussion:
Due to the positive reviews by the third-years students, the M4 Pediatrics Chief Program is a permanent part of the pediatrics clerkship. Additionally, other third-year clerkships at Creighton University School of Medicine have adopted this model. Finally, the M4 students acting as the chiefs gain valuable leadership and educational skills. Based on largely positive perceptions of the “M4 Chief Program”, the authors recommend other medical schools consider initiating similar programs within their third-year clerkships.
Self-Knowledge Distillation Enhanced Universal Framework for Physics-Informed Neural Networks
Authors: Li Ying , Yang Jiawei , Wang Dong
Published: September 2024

With the advancement of machine learning and deep learning, Physics-Informed Neural Networks (PINNs) have emerged as a prominent approach for solving partial differential equation (PDE) problems. In this article, we introduce a novel distillation framework specifically designed for PINNs, termed Self-Knowledge Distillation for PINNs (SKD-PINNs). Within this framework, knowledge distillation techniques are integrated into PINNs. Unlike traditional knowledge distillation approaches, the method is focused on regression tasks and transfers knowledge only when the predictions of the teacher model are reliable. Additionally, the SKD-PINNs framework utilizes self-distillation techniques, which iteratively extract knowledge from the model. This process not only enhances supervised information during training but also significantly speeds up network convergence. To our best knowledge, the proposed method is the first to incorporate a knowledge distillation mechanism into physics-informed learning. Notably, the method provides a versatile approach that enhances various existing PINN methodologies. The experimental results show that the method can significantly improve prediction accuracy and accelerate network convergence.
Two-Mode Subharmonic Generating System with Coherent and Thermal Light
Authors: Tirfie Lemma , Hirpo Deribe
Published: September 2024

The statistical and squeezing characteristics of the light generated by a two-mode subharmonic generating system in a cavity pumped by two-mode coherent light and coupled to a two-mode thermal reservoir through a singleport mirror have been studied in this study. We construct the c-number Langevin equations linked to the normal ordering using the master equation for the system under discussion, and we establish the correlation characteristics of the noise forces. The mean and variance of the photon number of the cavity light are then determined using the solutions of the resulting differential equations. We have discovered that the cavity light mode’s photon statistics are super-Poissonian because the variance of the photon number is more significant than the mean of the photon number. Additionally, using the same solutions, we were able to extract the antinormally ordered characteristic function, which is used to calculate the Q function. In addition, the photon number distribution for the cavity mode is computed using the Q function. The variance of the plus and minus quadrature of the two-mode cavity light generated by the two-mode subharmonic generating system is also obtained. It is discovered that the cavity mode’s squeezing characteristics are unaffected by the two-mode driving coherent light, however, the thermal light has the effect of decreasing the squeezing of the cavity light and the squeezing takes place in the plus quadrature. Finally, we discovered that when the cavity is coupled to a vacuum reservoir, there is a 50 % maximum squeezing of the two-mode cavity at a steady state and at the threshold. The nondegenerate subharmonic generator generates a two-mode cavity light that is 50 % entangled.
Single-cell characterization of intra-tumoral heterogeneity and the immunosuppressive microenvironment in uterine serous carcinoma
Authors: Bai Fan , You Xuewu , Dong Yangyang , Liu Xuerun , Li He , Li Liwei , Zhang Xiaobo , Wang Jiaqi , Zhou Jingyi , Zhang Guo , Deng Hao , Wang Yiqin , Wang Jianliu
Published: September 2024

Uterine serous carcinoma (USC) has a much worse chemotherapy response and prognosis than endometrioid endometrial carcinoma (EEC). A comprehensive understanding of the intra-tumoral heterogeneity and tumor-specific ecosystem of USC is essential for improving diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis. In this study, we performed 5′ single-cell RNA sequencing, along with T-cell receptor and B-cell receptor sequencing, on 16 USC samples and 5 normal endometrial samples. We then integrated data from 15 EEC samples obtained from public databases for comparative analysis. USC malignant cells exhibited novel subclonal genomic complexities and unique transcriptional states, with significantly activated MYC signaling and cell cycle-related pathways. Treatment with the CDK12 inhibitor (CDK12-IN-3) effectively inhibited cell viability and increased the chemotherapy sensitivity of USC cell lines. Additionally, we characterized the stromal niche and immune environment of USC and EEC, finding a higher degree of CD8+ T-cell exhaustion and SPP1+ macrophage infiltration in USC. USC-derived fibroblasts were found to promote malignant cell proliferation through CNTN1-NRCAM, THBS2-CD47, and THBS2-SDC4 interactions. In summary, our study provides a comprehensive single-cell transcriptome analysis of USC and its tumor microenvironment in comparison with EEC, explores intra-tumoral heterogeneity, and identifies CDK12 and CAF-CNTN1 as potential therapeutic targets for USC.
A data-consistent model of the last glaciation in the Alps achieved with physics-driven AI
Authors: Leger Tancrède , Jouvet Guillaume , Kamleitner Sarah , Mey Jürgen , Herman Frederic , Finley Brandon , Ivy-Ochs Susan , Vieli Andreas , Henz Andreas , Nussbaumer Samuel
Published: September 2024

25 thousand years ago, the European Alps were covered by a kilometre-thick body of ice, commonly described as the Alpine Ice Field. Numerical modelling of this glaciation has been challenged by persistent model-data disagreements, including large overestimations of its former thickness. Here, we tackle this issue by applying the Instructed Glacier Model, a three-dimensional, high-order, and thermo-mechanically coupled model enhanced with physics-informed machine learning. This new approach allows us to produce an ensemble of 100, Alps-wide and 17 thousand-year-long (35-18 ka) simulations at 300 m spatial resolution. Unfeasible with traditional models due to computational costs, our experiment substantially increases model-data agreement in both ice extent and thickness. The model-data offset in ice thickness, for instance, is here reduced by between 200% and 450% relative to previous studies. The results yield implications for more accurately reconstructing former ice velocities, ice temperature, basal conditions, glacial erosion processes, glacial isostatic adjustment, and climate evolution in the Alps during the last glaciation. Furthermore, this study demonstrates that physics-informed AI-driven glacier evolution models can overcome the bottleneck of high-resolution continental-scale modelling required to accurately describe complex topographies and ice dynamics.
FitzHugh–Nagumo Model in Neutral Delay Differential Equation Representation
Authors: Elfouly M. A. , Sohaly M. A. , Fares M. E.
Published: September 2024

Action potentials are a crucial physiological event for body regulation and sensory information detection. This study represented a modification of FitzHugh-Nagumo model as a neutral delay differential equation. We proposed three nonlinear models and a linear model that explain the interaction between the time delays of the effects on the membrane potential and the stimulated current. To detect Hopf bifurcation, we determined fixed points and calculated eigenvalues. We identified regions of stability, instability, and oscillatory solutions for the proposed models. This paper shows how changing certain parameters can change the way a system works, how stable nerve firing is, and what role the time delay of the response to the stimulating current plays in nerve impulse firing. Gaining this understanding is critical for building diagnostic models and potential treatments for neurological disorders characterized by irregular firing patterns. We performed numerical simulations of the proposed models. Regular spike neurons have a strong tendency to adapt to large time delays of the stimulating current, whereas intrinsic bursting neurons make rapid spikes. Chattering neurons respond to the stimulating current with high-frequency bursts but exhibit moderate time delays in their responses. Fast-growing neurons, in contrast, show a rapid firing rate at high frequencies. Low-threshold neurons adapt significantly to high frequencies with only a low time delay to stimulation, which gives lots of insight into the dynamics of neuronal firing. Significantly, the time delay affects the stability or oscillatory solutions of the proposed models, and it is necessary for the critical role of synchronization between distinct brain loops and circuits.
Influence of polygenic risk on height and BMI in adults with a 22q11.2 microdeletion
Authors: Ying Shengjie , Heung Tracy , Morrow Bernice , Thiruvahindrapuram Bhooma , Yuen Ryan K. C. , Bassett Anne S.
Published: September 2024

Background
Adult height and body mass index (BMI) are highly heritable traits that can be influenced by both common variants, captured collectively in a polygenic risk score (PRS), and by rare variants of large effect. In this study, we aimed to investigate the modifying effect of PRSs for height and BMI in individuals where there is a baseline increased risk for short stature (<3rd percentile height) and obesity (BMI ≥30) conferred by the 22q11.2 microdeletion.
Methods
Genetic analyses were performed in 259 adults of European ancestry with a typical 22q11.2 microdeletion and available genome sequencing and phenotypic data. We applied published PRSs for height and BMI and tested for association using multivariable linear regression models, adjusting for clinical/demographic variables and 22q11.2 microdeletion extent.
Results
In multivariable linear regression models, the PRSs for height and BMI were significantly associated (p<0.001) with their respective traits, explaining 25.8% and 5.7% of the variance (ΔR2). The overall models (p<0.001) explained 33.9% and 14.7% of the variance (R2) for height and BMI, respectively. Significant additional covariate predictors of shorter sex-standardized height were longer (LCR22A-D) deletion extent, congenital heart disease, intellectual disability, and the first principal component of ancestry; for BMI, they were female sex and older age. When applying the height-PRS to stratify risk for short stature, we found that significantly more of those in the lowest PRS quintile had short stature, compared to those in the highest quintile (odds ratio=11.46, p=1.74E-05). Using logistic regression models to predict short stature, a receiver operating characteristic curve analysis showed that a model combining height-PRS and clinical/demographic covariates achieved an area of the curve of 0.78, performing significantly better than a covariate-only model.
Conclusions
The results demonstrate that adult height and BMI can be influenced by the effects of both a 22q11.2 microdeletion and genome-wide common variants. The findings contribute to growing evidence that polygenic risk together with other standard factors can shape adult outcomes of a high-impact rare variant. For height in 22q11.2 microdeletion, PRS may be approaching clinical utility.
Immunogenicity and safety of the domestic and imported live-attenuated varicella vaccine in healthy Chinese population: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Yuan Yemin , Wang Tong , Xia Yiqi , Shi Zhenyu , He Ping
Published: September 2024

Objectives
This study aimed to synthesize the available evidence to compare the immunogenicity and safety of domestic and imported live-attenuated varicella vaccine (VarV) in healthy Chinese population.
Methods
PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, China National Knowledge Internet (CNKI), Wan Fang Database, and Chinese Biomedical Literature Service System (SinoMed) were searched using predefined search terms to identify relevant studies. The included articles reported varicella vaccine administration in healthy Chinese population. We calculated the pooled proportion of seroconversions and adverse events, and assessed the quality of each study using the modified Jadad Scale and Newcastle Ottawa Scale (NOS).
Results
The pooled seroconversion proportion of domestic Varv was 89% (95%CI: 86%-91%) and that of imported Varv was 93% (95%CI: 88%-98%). The difference was not statistically significant. The pooled proportion of systemic reactions for domestic Varv (11%, 95%CI: 10%-13%) was higher than that of imported Varv (8%, 95%CI: 6%-10%; χ2 = 8.04, P < 0.001), but the results were opposite for local reactions (domestic Varv: 3%, 95%CI: 2%-3%; imported Varv: 7%, 95%CI: 3%-10%; χ2 = 5.30, P = 0.020).
Conclusions
Both domestic and imported varicella vaccines are effective and safe in the Chinese population. More evidence on imported vaccines is needed in the future to supplement our findings.
Zero Trust-Based Detection of Ransomware Spread in Distributed Clinical Systems
Authors: Kicokop Matthew , Ochoa David , Torres Christopher
Published: September 2024

Healthcare systems face increasingly severe ransomware threats as the digital infrastructure of clinical environments becomes more distributed and interconnected. A novel approach has been developed to address this growing vulnerability through the implementation of a zero trust architecture specifically designed to detect and contain ransomware spread within healthcare networks. The system leverages continuous device authentication, micro-segmentation, and real-time traffic monitoring to provide comprehensive protection against known and unknown ransomware variants. By integrating machine learning algorithms and behavioral analysis into the detection framework, the system can adapt dynamically to emerging threats while maintaining minimal false positives and rapid response times. Experiments conducted in simulated clinical environments demonstrated the system's high accuracy in ransomware detection, rapid containment capabilities, and low overhead, highlighting its scalability and effectiveness for large-scale healthcare networks. The findings demonstrate the importance of adopting a zero trust-based cybersecurity framework to ensure the protection and resilience of critical healthcare infrastructure.
Causal Associations Between Imaging-derived Phenotypes and Risk of Alzheimer’s Disease and Other Neurodegenerative Disorders: A Mendelian Randomization Study
Authors: Chen Zhichun , Liu Jun , You Yong
Published: September 2024

Background Accumulating observational studies have suggested associations between imaging-derived phenotypes (IDPs) and common neurodegenerative disorders, especially Alzheimer’s disease (AD). The goal of this study is to evaluate the causal associations between structural and functional IDPs and 4 neurodegenerative disorders, including AD, Parkinson’s disease (PD), Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), and Multiple sclerosis (MS).Methods Bidirectional two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) studies were conducted using summary statistics obtained from genome-wide association studies of 3909 IDPs from UK biobank and 4 neurodegenerative disorders.Results Forward MR analysis showed that volume of cerebral white matter in the left hemisphere was associated with increased risk of ALS (odds ratio [OR] = 1.15, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.09–1.22, P = 3.52 x 10− 6). In reverse MR analysis, we revealed genetically determined risk of AD and MS were associated with multiple IDPs (all P < 1.28 x 10− 5[0.05/3909], 9 IDPs in AD and 4 IDPs in MS). For example, genetically determined risk of AD was causally associated with reduced volume of gray matter in right ventral striatum (OR = 0.95, 95% CI = 0.93–0.97, P = 4.68 x 10− 7) and lower rfMRI amplitudes in several nodes (ICA25 node 9, ICA25 node 8, and ICA100 node 11). Additionally, genetically determined risk of MS was causally associated with reduced volume in left putamen (OR = 0.97, 95% CI = 0.97–0.98, P = 4.47 x 10− 7) and increased orientation dispersion index in right hippocampus (OR = 1.03, 95% CI = 1.01–1.04, P = 2.02 x 10− 6).Conclusions Our study suggested plausible causal associations between risk of NDDs and brain IDPs. These findings might hold promise for identifying new disease mechanisms and developing novel preventative therapies for NDDs at the brain imaging levels.
TASKS-SKILLS MAPPING ELABORATION IN THE IVORIAN EDUCATIONAL CONTEXT: METHODOLOGY AND EXPERIENCE WITH THE MATHEMATICS DISCIPLINE
Authors:   National Pedagogical Institute for Technical and Vocational Education, Abidjan, Cote dIvoire., Arthur Richmond Gono Denon , Francoise Odile Trey Zacrada ,   Felix - Houphouet-Boigny University, Abidjan, Cote dIvoire., Abel Assielou Kouame ,   National Polytechnic Institute - Houphouet-Boigny, Yamoussoukro, Cote dIvoire., Tra Goore Bi ,   National Polytechnic Institute - Houphouet-Boigny, Yamoussoukro, Cote dIvoire.
Published: September 2024

Improving the quality of learning, particularly the adaptation of curricula to socio-economic realities, has always been a concern for the education-training sector. Recent studies, notably by PASEC and CREMIDE, have highlighted significant shortcomings in Cote dIvoires educational programs, underlining the inadequacy of the tasks proposed to master basic skills, as well as the gap between the skills taught and those required by the job market. With this in mind, this paper proposes a methodological framework for developing task-skills mappings, also known as Q-Matrices, based on the curricula of the Cote dIvoire Ministry of Education. The study involved 11 teachers and two (2) cohorts of learners from Khalil High School, Daloa. In contrast to previous work focusing on learner evaluation, this study introduced teacher evaluation in terms of affinity and satisfaction with learning tasks. The results show an 86% improvement in the mapping proposed by the experts after comparison with that based on Academic Affinity Scores (AAS) and Skill Affinity Scores (SSS). In addition, the mapping based on these scores performed better than that developed by the experts. This work opens up new prospects for the cognitive diagnosis of learners and the validation of pedagogical models.
OVARIAN TERATOMAS DURING PREGNANCY A CASE REPORT AND REVIEW OF LITERATURE
Authors:   MBCHB-HIGH DIPLOMA OG-GBOG, Consultant, German Board (OBS& Gyn) and Breast Diseases, Chairman Obs/Gyne Sulaiman Al Habib Hospital, Dubai UAE., Schett Azhar , Azim Faiqah ,   MBBCH-Dubai Medical College, Arab Board (OBS &Gyn) UAE, Specialist Latifa Women and Children Hospital.
Published: September 2024

The mature teratoma or dermoid cyst of the ovary is a benign tumor with a good prognosis which constitutes less than 1% of ovarian tumors. Its association with pregnancy is rare however. [1] Mature cystic teratomas are rarely the cause of adnexal torsion during pregnancy and can be difficult to diagnose. [2] Immature teratoma is one of the rare malignant germ cell tumour presented in pregnancy. [3] Here we present a case of 28years old lady pregnant with her second child who was found to have right sided ovarian cyst during second trimester anatomy scan. Follow up ultrasounds however demonstrated right sided complex ovarian cyst measuring 13.9x17.2cm. She had undergone Caesarean section at 37weeks of gestation and hight side salpigoophorectomy . Histopathology showed mature and immature teratoma.
ScienceArt Commune 1: Whirling with Waters
Authors: Wong Joseph Tin Yum
Published: September 2024

Most dinoflagellates have complex life cycles (figures 5, 12), comprising free swarmer cells, non-mobile coccoid forms, and resting cysts (figures 24,25). Many species exhibit bioluminescence (’blue tears’ figures 15-19) and may produce toxins that accumulate through the food chain, manifesting as shellfish poisoning syndromes (Note 2). Most free-living forms are mixotrophic, with capacity of photosynthesis and obtaining nutrients from their environment. Symbiotic dinoflagellates form a symbiotic relationship with corals; cessation of the two-way operatives will lead to coral bleaching (figures 11-14), and demise of our coral reef ecosystems. The dinoflagellate swarmer cells have two flagella which perform a whirling movement (Greek = dino) (figures 1-4), enabling them to conduct vertical migration between different water bodies to access better nutrient patches. Many species are counter-intuitively sensitive to turbulence, and tend to aggregate in stagnant water, or as in the case of symbiotic dinoflagellates habituated inside their coral hosts. Vast ’blooms’ of dinoflagellates often end as waters shallow, or they transform into ’resting’ cysts that sink to benthic sediments to await more favourable conditions. This bloom-to-cyst life cycle is adopted as the storyline in this ScienceArt Commune, focusing on the concept of ’self-one’ and ’farewell my concubine’ (figure 6). Individuals within a bloom (Figure 18), despite appearances, are not identical, as different parts within the water body is different. Some cells are closer to the surface with higher irradiance and exposure, while others are screened by the bloom and face potential anaerobic conditions near the bottom. The moving average(s) are composed of different self-ones, as well as perceived self-images, perhaps photo-acclimatised and changing in photopigment composition. Fare-well con combine the different life cycle stages, they are all the same dinoflagellates, with different epigenetics and transcriptomes.
Evidence-Based Study into the Coping Demands of Headmistresses in Selected Senior High Schools in the Kumasi Metropolis: A Mixed Method Study
Authors: Gyamfua Kessie Agyekum Adu
Published: September 2024

Management of academic institutions is a daunting task since humans are placed at the center of all activities carried out in that space. Despite the continuous supply of human and material resources by various governments to supervise, plan, strategize, and implement structures for an expected result, there still exist loopholes. This study uses the mixed method technique to examine the coping demands of headmistresses in selected senior high schools in the Kumasi metropolis of Ghana. Using the cross-sectional study design with purposive sampling, this study was conducted on 14 female headmistresses from 14 senior high schools with the use of interview-based structured questionnaires with one-on-one interviews with headmistresses. Study results reveal that headmistresses’ ambition and drive on their pathways to leadership, study results indicate that 57% of respondents agree is it through academic qualifications, followed by progressive promotion (36%) and finally intrinsic motivation (7%). On headmistresses coping mechanisms in their world of work, 50% reveal they ignore any form of negativity, followed by gender biases (48%) and personal reflection (2%). Again, study results revealed that headmistresses treat their critics as though they do not exist in dealing with negativity. This study recommends that upcoming research should consider these coping demands of female headmistresses relative to the demands of managing academic institutions zand state policies on education.
Perspectives of Administrators, Middle Managers and Classroom Teachers of Competency-based Leadership Training Initiatives on Self-efficacy
Authors: Coates-Brown Maxine , Pickens Lissett
Published: September 2024

The primary aim of this study is to determine whether or not middle managers' self-efficacy levels impact their leadership effectiveness and to also determine to what extent competency-based training needs exist among middle managers. Additionally, the study seeks to ascertain whether a compulsory competency-based approach to middle managers training can be taken to resolve training needs. Studies have shown that self-efficacy, the extent to which an individual believes tasks can be accomplished, is a fairly new concept, worth researching, as it adds much value to the areas of education and psychology. Effective leadership at all educational organizations is paramount to guarantee greater success in Jamaican schools. Middle managers in primary and secondary schools in Jamaica are senior teachers, with Posts of Special Responsibilities (POSR); these leaders hold strategic leadership posts and execute multiple job functions. The overall purpose of this research is to encourage research and bring about greater awareness to the area of middle managers’ self-efficacy, leadership and competency-based training in public schools in Jamaica. Exploring this concept, the research will seek to address areas of concern, provide much-needed information and support structures aimed at exploring the areas of concern, address training needs, and serve as a pointer for further research. The researcher seeks to collect the viewpoints of administrators, middle managers and classroom teachers in Jamaican public schools; using a structured and quantitative research approach, specifically employing a survey method.
Assessment of the Factors Associated with the Integration of Nutrition Care Services into the Health Care System in Ntungamo District
Authors: Hope Katusiime , BK Valentine Birungi , Benja Twinomuhwezi
Published: September 2024

This study explored the integration of nutrition care services into the Health Care System in Ntungamo District. The study also described the knowledge and attitude of staff on the integration of Nutrition care services in Public Health facilities, to identify the systems and structures in place for promoting the integration of nutrition care services into Health Care system in Public Health Facilities and to examine the available policies and guidelines on integration of Nutrition care services in Public Health facilities in Uganda, and their utilization in Ntungamo District. It was a cross-sectional descriptive study involving 196 respondents and carried out in one hospital and three HCIVs. Quantitative data was analyzed using SPSS version 16.0 while qualitative data was analyzed using thematic and content analysis. Most of the respondents, 151, (77%), said that some facilities don’t conduct nutrition care community mobilization and sensitization while 45 (23%) of the respondents mentioned that they conduct nutrition care community mobilization and sensitization. It can be concluded that there was minimal integration of Nutrition care services in Public Health facilities in Ntungamo District. It is recommended that the district should increase funding to nutrition activities in the district budget and work plan as well as conduct training to improve on capacity building of all health workers including Doctors and clinical officers.
Exploring the Knowledge, Attitude and Practice of Covid-19 Vaccination and Associated Factors in Relation to Covid-19 Vaccine Uptake among Residents of Abakaliki Metropolis in Ebonyi State, Nigeria
Authors: Uju Eze Stella
Published: September 2024

This study assessed knowledge, attitude, and practices of COVID-19 vaccination and other factors about vaccine uptake among residents of Abakaliki metropolis in Ebonyi State, Nigeria. A semi-structured questionnaire was used to collect data from four hundred (400) residents who formed the sample for the study. The majority of the respondents showed good knowledge of the non-legality of the COVID-19 vaccine. A few had adequate information and knowledge on the benefits of COVID-19 vaccine. Also, knowledge gaps exist among the respondents on vaccine eligibility and when protective immunity against COVID-19 will be achieved. The findings showed that news from TV/Radio, Government agencies, social media and discussions amongst friends, family and healthcare providers play important roles in influencing the respondents’ opinions regarding vaccination. It revealed that the general public’s intention to accept the COVID-19 vaccine is influenced by availability, storage and quality issues as well as the capacity of healthcare workers. It further suggests that attitude towards the COVID-19 vaccine has an important influence on the intention to take it. The findings showed that protection against COVID-19 infection; vaccines being available at no cost and eradicating COVID-19 infection were the main perceived benefits. Nigeria needs to employ different approaches to ensure that citizens exhibit positive attitudes towards the vaccine including using community meetings to pass information to the masses; training and using community members to increase access to correct information; conducting community engagement activities to improve acceptance; and using social media to provide correct information on personal risk and susceptibility to COVID-19 disease
Knowledge, Perception, and Preparedness of Ghanaian Nurses Towards a Pandemic or Another Wave of Covid-19: A Cross-sectional Study
Authors: Collins Wutor Victor , Banga N’guessan Benoit
Published: September 2024

This significant study aimed to determine Ghanaian nurses' knowledge, perception, and preparedness for a pandemic or another wave of COVID-19. This comprehensive, cross-sectional study was conducted between May and July 2023. The questionnaire, a crucial tool, was distributed through Facebook, WhatsApp, and other social media links. A total of 1347 responses from the nurses, a substantial number, were collected from all 16 regions of Ghana. The inclusion criteria, a key aspect, are based on the in-service nurses directly linked with hospitals and medical facilities who had direct contact with patients. About twice the number of female nurses (906, 67.3%) responded to the survey compared to 441, 32.7% (males). As the study reveals, Ghanaian nurses were knowledgeable, had a good perception, and were prepared for a pandemic or another wave of Covid-19. There was a strong correlation, a significant finding, between the nurse's years of practice and the risk of perception. Also, female nurses (67.3%) know more about the virus spread and treatment than their male counterparts (32.7%). Unfortunately, the level of preparedness for a pandemic or another wave of COVID-19 was low.