bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Food Security in Emerging Economies: Trends From Scoping Review Under the Sustainability Lens
Authors: Martins Flávio P. , Lourenço Carlos Eduardo , Mata Mayline M. , Santana André Bento Chaves , de Medeiros Maria Angélica Tavares , Batalhão André C.S.
Published: October 2022

The effects of food security issues are most evident in developing countries. The research topics influencing the debate on food security are not always easy to assess. Without a deeper understanding of the topics driving the food security research agenda may lead to bias. This study used a scoping review of the research themes associated with food security in two contexts: a world context and a developing country context. Using two sets containing 15,875 articles (for the world context) and 465 articles (for the Brazilian context), we obtained four thematic drivers in the world context (Covid-19 and civilisational socio-economic goals; climate change and food chains for sustainable development; nutrition and security health specifics; emerging economies and public policy) and four thematic drivers on the developing country context (climate change, bioenergy and biofuels; food security, nutrition and health; family farming and public policy; specific biomes and deforestation. Sustainable Development goals supported the assessment of the literature gap and two research directions were proposed as food security trade-offs and public food policy implications.
Effects of Ground Plane on a Square Graphene Ribbon Patch Antenna Designed on a High-Permittivity Substrate with PBG structures
Authors: BENDAOUDI Amina , BERKA Mohammed , Debab Mohamed , MAHDJOUB Zoubir
Published: October 2022

In this paper, a wide bandwidth (20 GHz) and small sized (200×200×50 µm3) terahertz (THz) square graphene ribbon antenna using Photonic Band Gap (PBG) substrate are investigated in the 0.6–0.8 THz band. The proposed antenna consists of graphene as radiating patch mounted on four types of ground plane. The important aim of this work is to eliminate the second resonance frequency by utilize a several types of ground plane and keep a single frequency by improving the performance of the proposed antenna. The effect of change ground plane on the performance of antenna is compared, in terms of reflection coefficient, bandwidth, directivity and radiation pattern. The antenna has achieved good gain (7.62 dB) and good directivity (6.38 dB) in comparison to work reported in the literature.
Revealing Topology in Metals using Experimental Protocols Inspired by K-Theory
Authors: Cheng Wenting , Cerjan Alexander , Chen Ssu-Ying , Prodan Emil , Loring Terry , Prodan Camelia
Published: October 2022

Topological metals are special conducting materials with gapless band structures and nontrivial edge-localized resonances, whose discovery has proved elusive because the traditional topological classification methods require (possibly incomplete) band gaps to define topological robustness. Inspired by recent theoretical developments that leveraged techniques from the field of C*-algebras to identify topological metals, here, we directly observe topological phenomena in gapless acoustic crystals and provide a general experimental technique to demonstrate their topology. Specifically, we not only observe robust boundary-localized states in a topological acoustic metal, but also re-interpret a composite operator, mathematically derived from the K-theory of the problem, as a new Hamiltonian, whose physical implementation allows us to directly observe a topological spectral flow and measure the topological invariants. Our observations and experimental protocols may offer insights for discovering topological behavior across a wide array of artificial and natural materials that lack bulk band gaps.
Effect of the one-shot cognitive behavioral therapy on insomnia and heart rate variability of health care workers at the time of Covid-19 pandemic: A randomized controlled trial
Authors: Amra Babak , Ghadiry Faranak , vaezei atefe , nematollahy alireza , radfar niayesh , haghjoo shaghayegh , penzel thomas , Morin Charles M
Published: October 2022

Objectives
The emergence of sleep disturbances in response to major stressful events has been documented previously. Insomnia and Heart rate variability (HRV) is an objective marker that provides insight into autonomic nervous system dynamics. The aim of the present study was to examine the preliminary efficacy and effectiveness of a one-shot session of cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBT-I) for frontline healthcare providers with acute insomnia.
Methods
This study was conducted from in 2020–2021 on fifty health care workers with insomnia, that were randomly allocated to receive one shot cognitive behavioral therapy or routine care. Insomnia Severity Index (ISI) and HRV were assessed before and one month after the interventions.
Results
ISI score decreased in the intervention group (from 13.32 to 6.74, P = 0.0001). The change before and after the intervention was significant between two groups for HFnu and LF/HF.HF nu increase in the intervention group (35.8 ± 21.5 vs 45.6 ± 19.79 before and after the intervention respectively), and decrease in the control group (43.9 ± 16.46 vs 39.8 ± 18.49, before and after the intervention respectively )
Conclusion
A single-shot session of CBT-I is effective in managing acute insomnia symptoms in health workers.
Detection and genetic characterization of canine kobuvirus from stray dogs in Shanghai, China.
Authors: Deng Bo , Song Yuying , Li Liang , Zhou Yumen , Zhu Chunyan , Zhang Weiyi , Feng Dongsheng
Published: October 2022

In this study, rectal samples from stray dogs (n = 60) collected from dog shelters were screened for the presence of kobuvirus and other enteroviruses by qRT-PCR. Canine kobuvirus were detected in 20 % (15/60) of the samples. Of 15 positive samples, the co-infection rates of canine distemper virus, canine coronavirus, canine astrovirus, canine norovirus and canine rotavirus was 26.67% (4/15), 20% (3/15), 73.33% (11/15), 0% (0/15), 20% (3/15), respectively. By phylogenetic analysis based on partial VP1, we found a novel canine kobuvirus which was recombined by canine and feline kobuvirus. Meanwhile, the result of Bayesian Evolutionary Analysis revealed the evolution rate of VP1 gene of CaKoV was 1.36 × 10−4 substitutions/site/year with 95% HPD interval [6.28× 10−7, 4.30× 10−4 substitutions/site/year] and divergence time of VP1 was aroud 19.44 years ago with 95% HPD interval [12.96, 27.57].
Bragg glass signatures in PdxErTe3 with X-ray diffraction Temperature Clustering (X-TEC)
Authors: Kim Eun-Ah , Mallayya Krishnanand , Straquadine Joshua , Krogstad Matthew , Bachmann Maja , Singh Anisha , Osborn Raymond , Rosenkranz Stephan , Fisher Ian
Published: October 2022

Making progress in studying the interplay between disorder and fluctuations is challenged by the complexity of extracting robust insights from experiments affected by noise and finite resolution.
This has hindered observations of the Bragg glass phase, which is predicted to occur in vortex lattices and charge density wave systems in the presence of disorder. Despite its sharp theoretical definition in terms of diverging correlation lengths, establishing the existence of the Bragg glass phase in a charge density wave system has been challenging. Here, we present the first bulk probe evidence of a Bragg glass phase in the systematically disordered
CDW material PdErTe<3> using comprehensive x-ray data and a novel machine learning data analysis tool,
X-ray Temperature Clustering (X-TEC).
Using data from 20,000 Brillouin zones readily analyzed using X-TEC, we establish a diverging correlation length in samples with moderate intercalation over a wide temperature range. To enable such comprehensive analysis, we introduced a new high-throughput measure of inverse correlation length: "peak-spread".
The detection of Bragg glass order and the resulting phase diagram advance our understanding of the complex interplay between disorder and fluctuations significantly. Moreover, the use of X-TEC to target fluctuations through a high-throughput measure of "peak spread" can revolutionize how the fluctuations are studied in scattering experiments.
Implementation of helicase-dependent amplification with SYBR Green I for prompt naked-eye detection of bacterial contaminants in platelet products
Authors: Yamket Warangkana , Sathianpitayakul Panuwat , Santanirand Pitak , Ratthawongjirakul Panan
Published: October 2022

Platelet transfusions may lead to more significant risks of infection and septic transfusion reactions that can be fatal to the recipient. Platelet products should be screened to limit or detect bacterial contamination before application to patients to minimise any adverse reactions. This study aimed to develop a helicase-dependent amplification (HDA) technique targeting a universal highly conserved bacterial gene, 16S rRNA, in combination with naked-eye detection using SYBR Green I (HDA/SYBR Green I) to detect bacterial contamination in platelet products. Thirty positive samples were obtained from spiked platelet products by five transfusion-relevant bacterial strains and were screened for bacterial contamination by HDA/SYBR Green I. HDA/SYBR Green I showed an enhanced yield of bacterial contaminant detection when performed with medium to late shelf life, Day 2 of storage or later platelet products (96% sensitivity and 100% specificity). The limit of detection of HDA/SYBR Green I was 1 ng, and there was no cross-reaction with other organisms that could likely contaminate platelet products. The developed HDA/SYBR Green I assay is rapid and simplistic and only requires an easy-to-find heat box, available in general blood bank laboratories, for the amplification step. This technique is suitable for further development as an alternative method to detect bacterial contamination in platelet products in the near future.
Prevalence and determination of risk factors of Heart Failure Preserve Ejection Fraction (HFpEF) in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) population in Hospital Al-Sultan Abdullah.
Authors: Zakaria Ahmad Firdaus , Hatta Sharifah Faradila Wan Muhamad , Abidin Hafisyatul Aiza Zainal , Ismail Zaliha , Ghani Rohana Abdul
Published: October 2022

Background: Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and heart failure are two entities that have reached epidemic proportions worldwide. It has been shown that the prevalence of preserved ejection fraction heart failure (HFpEF) seems to be increasing due to increasing number of metabolic diseases and T2DM. However, the data on prevalence and risk factors are currently limited, particularly within our population.
Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence and associated factors of HFpEF amongst T2DM patients attending the Endocrinology & Cardiology clinics in Hospital Al-Sultan Abdullah.
Method: A cross-sectional study on patients with T2DM of more than 18 years of age, from December 2021 to May 2022 was conducted. Baseline demographic data, anthropometric measurements, echocardiography and NTproBNP levels were obtained.
Results: A total of 262 T2DM patients with a mean age of 61+5.4 years were recruited. The prevalence of HFpEF amongst the study population was 21.7% (n=57). Multiple logistic regression analysis revealed that female gender (p:0.003, OR: 3.053 (CI, 1.107:5.455), chronic kidney disease (p:0.001, OR:3.625(1.537,8.550), anaemia (haemoglobin <12g/dL) (p:<0.008 OR:2.952(1.537,6.530) and use of > 3 antihypertensive medications (p:0.005, OR:2.612(1.345,5.332) were predictors for HFpEF in the study population.
Conclusions: The prevalence of HFpEF diagnosed with abnormal echocardiography findings and elevated NTproBNP as a surrogate marker, was notable in this group of T2DM patients. Female gender, CKD, low haemoglobin, and hypertension are demonstrated to be significant predictors. This study underscores the need for early detection, initiation of the necessary treatment for HFpEF and optimisation of the associated factors.
Efficacy and risk factor analysis of femoral neck system for femoral neck fractures：a retrospective study
Authors: Yin Jingyi , Ning Duan , Zhang Congming , Zhao Guolong , Qiang Zan , Zhang Weibao , Cheng Jinhan
Published: October 2022

Background
To analyze the efficacy of the femoral neck system (FNS) in treating patients with femoral neck fracture (FNF) after surgery and the risk factors leading to complications such as femoral head necrosis (FHN), fracture nonunion (FN), and hardware removal (HR).
Methods
The study retrospectively included 109 patients and 109 FNF that underwent closed reduction by FNS between January 2019 and December 2021 in our single tertiary medical institution. The complications and reoperation rate of FNS and the underlying risk factors were evaluated.
Results
There are 109 patients included in the study, The overall reoperation rate is 6.4% (5 patients with FHN and 2 patients with HR) and the overall complication rate is 10.09% (6 patients with FHN, 2 patients with HR, and 3 patients with FN). For the 109 patients in the study, risk factors for complication included patient’s gender, Pauwels angle, length of femoral neck shortening. Pauwels classification, length of operation, volume of blood loss, and length of incision are also related to complications.
Conclusion
FNS is a safe option for treating FNF, the reoperation rate and the complication rate of FNS are lower than other implants. Female patients, Pauwels angle, and length of femoral neck shortening are the main risk factors of complications. Excessive pursuit of anatomical reduction is also associated with the development of complications.
Spatial clustering for echinococcosis of Yak in China based on ArcGIS during the past 4 decades
Authors: Fan Shijie , Liu Anjing , Zhao Xialing , Dan Qulamu , Tang Wenqiang , Shi Bin , Dong Hailong , Xia Chenyang
Published: October 2022

Background: Objective The study on the infection of hydatid disease in yaks in China provides the general epidemiological information of hydatid disease infection in yaks, which is of great value for the formulation of prevention and control strategies for hydatid disease. Method The database of yak hydatid disease infection rate was established by WPS Excel (version 11.1.0.11045-release). The provincial boundaries are vectorized by ArcGIS10.8 software, and the national and provincial boundaries and center vector maps are obtained. Taking the total number of yaks in different regions of China and the infection rate of hydatid disease of yaks in recent 40 years as attribute data, the data were matched with the basic map, and the spatial distribution map was drawn. Finally, spatial autocorrelation analysis, spatial clustering analysis, clustering and outlier analysis were used to analyze the spatial distribution of hydatid disease infection rate in county yaks in China.
Results: Except for Yunnan Province, yaks were infected with hydatid disease in the other five provinces and autonomous regions. The infection rate of hydatid disease in yaks in the five provinces has shown a downward trend in the past 40 years. The species of Echinococcus granulosus and Echinococcus multilocularis infected by yaks in five provinces were Echinococcus granulosus and Echinococcus multilocularis. There was no Echinococcus multilocularis infection in yaks in Xinjiang. The results of spatial distribution of yak hydatid disease infection in counties of China showed that there were yak hydatid disease infection in 65 counties of five provinces in China. Most of the counties with high infection rate are concentrated at the junction of eastern, western and southeastern Qinghai province, and the average infection rate of hydatid disease in yak is more than 60%. However, the average infection rate of hydatid disease in yaks in western Xinjiang Autonomous region, Tianzhu County in Gansu Province and northeastern Qinghai Province is less than 10%.
Conclusions: This is the first time based on ArcGIS to study the infection of hydatid disease in yaks in recent 40 years in China. The advantage is obvious and the spatial distribution is clear immediately.
Memory for abstract Control States does not decay with increasing retrieval delays
Authors: Schiltenwolf Moritz , Kiesel Andrea , Frings Christian , Dignath David
Published: October 2022

Recent studies have suggested that abstract control-states (i.e., internal attentional states independent from concrete stimuli and responses) can be stored in episodic memory and retrieved subsequently. However, the duration of such a control-state memory remains unclear. Previous research has found a quick and complete decay for stimulus-response bindings after 2000–5000 ms. Here, we tested a possible decay of control-state bindings with retrieval-delays of 2000, 3000, or 5000 ms. Five preregistered experiments used a confound-minimized prime-target task to measure the congruency sequence effect (CSE) separately for trials in which a nominally irrelevant context feature changed or repeated across trials. Analyses of the individual experiments did not result in conclusive evidence. A mega analysis integrating the data of all experiments (Ntotal = 326) replicated evidence for binding and retrieval of control-states, in that larger CSEs were found for context repetition trials. Importantly, Bayesian analysis indicated that this effect was not modulated by the length of retrieval delay. While this finding suggests that bindings of abstract control-states can be relatively robust, we also discuss possible limitations of the present research.
Evaluation of distribution practices of temperature-sensitive products in Rwanda: A descriptive cross-sectional study at a medical supply company, Rwanda
Authors: Mutabaruka Ariane , Sezirahiga Jurdas , Nyirimigabo Eric , Hahirwa Innocent , Njunwa Kato Jonas
Published: October 2022

Background
A strong health system cannot function without a well-designed, well-operated, and well-maintained supply chain management system. Temperature-sensitive products within the supply chain are products that encompass pharmaceutical goods or products, which, when not stored or transported within predefined environmental conditions and/or within predefined time limits, are degraded and rendered not fully effective. The objective of this study was to evaluate the compliance to the good distribution practices of temperature-sensitive products in Rwanda.
Methods
A cross-sectional study was conducted at a medical supply company in Rwanda and involved 30 staff members managing temperature-sensitive products. The staff came from the Quality Assurance and quality control unit, Warehouse and logistics unit, Sales and marketing unit, Distribution unit, as well as some branch directors. Interviews were conducted and historical data on recorded temperature and humidity levels in storerooms and refrigerators/freezers as well as transit temperature data from representative district branches were collected for a period of three years (2017–2019). All data were analyzed using SPSS version 25. For compliance, temperature and relative humidity were compared with international standards.
Results
It was found that the Standard Operating Procedures were available but not updated to ensure compliance. The scarcity of trained staff was found to be the main factor hindering adherence to standards, hence monitoring of temperature and relative humidity sometimes had loopholes that need to be addressed. This study also discovered that adherence to recommended temperature ranges for the products was compromised by inconsistency in recording and reporting temperature and humidity, and a lack of temperature monitoring tools and qualified equipment.
Conclusions
The study revealed the weaknesses that exist in the process of distribution of temperature-sensitive products at the medical supply company, which mainly, are attributed to paucity of trained staff. Strategic planning for short, medium, and long-term remedies will require that all parties involved in the management of these products work together towards upholding the standard.
Effects of whole-body sorcin knockout on body weight and hypothalamic ER-stress in C57BL/6 male mice fed a westernized diet
Authors: Parks Steven Z. , Rutter Guy A. , Leclerc Isabelle
Published: October 2022

Background
Soluble Resistance Related Calcium Binding Protein (sorcin) is a calcium (Ca2+) binding protein which has been shown to play a role in maintaining intracellular endoplasmic reticulum (ER) Ca2+ stores and lowering ER stress. Recently, our lab has demonstrated that sorcin expression was downregulated in the islets of Langerhans of mice fed a high-fat diet or in human islets incubated with the saturated fatty acid palmitate. We also showed that overexpression of sorcin under control of the rat insulin promoter (RIP7) in C57BL/6J mice, or whole body sorcin deletion in 129S1/SvImJ mice, improves or impairs insulin secretion and pancreatic β-cell function respectively. The mechanisms behind this beneficial role of sorcin in the pancreatic β-cell might depend on protection against lipotoxic endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress through improved ER Ca2+ dynamics and activation of the Activating Transcription Factor 6 (ATF6) branch of the unfolded protein response (UPR). Whether sorcin is also implicated in hypothalamic ER stress during the progression of obesity is unknown.
Aim
To investigate a potential role of sorcin in hypothalamic ER stress, leptin resistance, hyperphagia and obesity.
Methods
Whole-body sorcin null mice, backcrossed onto the C57BL/6J genetic background, were used. Body weight, food intake and EchoMRI body composition were measured in vivo whereas qRT-PCR analysis of sorcin and ER stress markers expression were performed on the arcuate nucleus of the hypothalamus. Leptin signalling through STAT3 phosphorylation was measured by Western blots on sorcin-null HEK293 cells, engineered by CRISPR/Cas9, and transfected with leptin receptor (LepRb).
Results
Sorcin expression was not influenced in the arcuate nucleus (ARC) of the hypothalamus by diet-induced obesity. Whole-body sorcin ablation did not cause ARC ER stress nor changes in body weight, body composition or food intake in C57BL/6 male mice exposed to a high-fat, high-sugar diet. STAT3 phosphorylation (Y705) in response to leptin was not impaired in sorcin-null HEK293 cells.
Conclusion
In our model, whole body sorcin ablation did not increase hypothalamic ER stress nor influenced food intake or body weight.
Analysis of cytokine mRNA expression during Zika infection in Mesocricetus auratus
Authors: Mendes Wailla Rafaela Barros , de Melo Karla Fabiane Lopes , de Luna Francisco Canindé Ferreira , Santos Carolina Ramos dos , Franco Edna Cristina dos Santos , Vasconcelos Pedro Fernando da Costa , Casseb Samir Mansour Moraes
Published: October 2022

The Zika virus (VZIK) is a Flavivirus of the Flaviviridae family. With the ability to infect neural progenitor cells, microcephaly is the most serious and irreversible neurological complication associated with ZIKV. In this work, we evaluated the mRNA expression of cytokines involved in the inflammatory process that occurred during Zika virus infection in Mesocricetus auratus. The samples came from the real tissue of animals infected through sexual transmission and comprising 3 different groups of animals (TS-01, TS-02 and ZP-01).The project started with the extraction of viral RNA and mRNA from the kidneys of ZIKV-infected animals. After this step, RT-qPCR was carried out to quantify both the viral load and the expression of cytokines associated with the inflammatory process that occurred during the ZIKV infection. As can be seen in our results, this work corroborates different studies that demonstrate that ZIKV can infect and cause an inflammatory response to the kidneys, even causing a high viral load.
Friction to unconfined compression strength correlation for evaluating capacity of weak rock foundation sockets
Authors: MANOJ SUJATHA MANOJ , Choudhury Deepankar , Poulos Harry , AlZaylaie Marwan
Published: October 2022

Historically, deep foundations in weak rock have been designed as friction elements using frictional resistance (fs) calculated from the unconfined compressive strength (UCS) of rock. Most of the published correlations of fs to UCS were developed based on load tests on low-capacity piles in specific geological conditions, using UCS values not necessarily representative over the test depth. There is a large variation in foundation design depths calculated using these correlations. This paper presents a correlation between fs and UCS of weak rock, developed using data from 44 bidirectional load tests from high-capacity deep foundations in weak rocks. The dataset used in this study, is one of the largest used for weak rocks, with high test loads in the range of 100 to 320MN and the depth of foundations mostly in the range of 20 to 87m below ground level. Bi-directional load test data from La Maison tower site is then simulated in Plaxis, and ultimate skin friction developed is compared against the skin friction calculated using the new corelation. The actual ground profile and foundation layout of La Maison tower is then modelled in Plaxis with the required foundation depth derived using the recommended corelation, to check serviceability limits. The resulting maximum settlements are found to be well within the acceptable limits. The correlation factor of 0.5 between fs and UCS is thus recommended for estimating rock socket friction for design of deep foundations in weak carbonate rock formations.
Exploring the purpose of educational supervision through the lens of Proctor’s model: pharmacy professionals’ perceptions
Authors: Styles Michelle , Schafheutle Ellen , Willis Sarah , Shaw Matthew
Published: October 2022

Background
Educational supervision plays a vital role in postgraduate medical education and more recently in pharmacy and advanced clinical practitioner training in England. Proctor’s three-function model of clinical supervision (consisting of normative, formative, and restorative functions) is assumed to also apply to educational supervision, but this has not been tested empirically. The aim of this study was to establish pharmacy professionals’ perceptions of the purpose of educational supervision using Proctor’s model of clinical supervision as its lens.
Methods
Using a concurrent embedded mixed methods design, data were collected using a validated 25-item online survey and respondents were invited to add comments explaining their ratings. A census survey was sent to all learners enrolled on a postgraduate training pathway for pharmacy professionals working in primary care in England. Principal components analysis (PCA) was used to determine the number of latent variables underlying the survey and framework analysis was used to identify themes from comments and aid interpretation of quantitative findings.
Results
187 pharmacy professionals responded (response rate 20.7%). PCA extracted three factors explaining 71.5% of the total variance. Factor 1 corresponded with survey items linked to the formative function of Proctor’s model, while factor 2 corresponded with survey items linked to the restorative function. No items corresponded with the normative function. Framework analysis of comments identified two themes: support for learning, which corresponded with factor 1; and personal support, which corresponded with factor 2.
Conclusions
This study identified that pharmacy professionals perceived educational supervision to perform two functions, formative and restorative, but did not perceive it to perform a normative function. Educational supervision has the potential to support allied health professionals advancing their roles and we suggest the need for more research to clarify its purpose.
Epilepsy Treatment Outcome, Adherence to Anti-seizure Medications and Predicting factors at the chronic care facility in Jimma Universtiy Medical Center: Cross-sectional study
Authors: Shuma Firafan , Terefe Behailu , Tekassa Tamirat
Published: October 2022

The aim of this study was to assess epilepsy treatment outcome, adherence to Anti-seizure medication (ASM), and its predictors among epileptic patients on follow-up at the chronic care unit of Jimma University Medical Center with a total of 168 epileptic patients enrolled in the study. Data was collected by data collectors using data abstraction formats, then entered and analyzed using SPSS version 26.0. Multiple logistic regression analysis was performed to identify the association between dependent and independent variable. In this study, 132(78.6%) patients were adherent to their ASMs. Seizure recurrence was identified in 120(71.4%) patients. Rural residence (AOR = 6.42, 95% CI: 1.32, 31.28, P-value = 0.02), chronic ASM therapy for above five years (AOR = 20.86, 95% CI: 2.66, 163.77, P-value = 0.00), and complaint of ASM-associated undesirable effect (AOR = 13.51, 95% CI: 2.72, 67.26, P-value = 0.00) significantly increased the probability of seizure recurrence. On the other hand, the presence of seizure triggering factor(s) (AOR = 0.12, 95% CI: 0.02, 0.64, P-value = 0.01) decreased the probability of seizure recurrence by 88%.
An Immunogenic Cell Death-Related Classification Predicts Prognosis and Response to Immunotherapy in Hepatocellular carcinoma
Authors: Wang Jianguo , Shen Bingbing , Liu Xinyuan , Zhang Shihang , Yang Chengxiao , Zheng Qingyuan , Hao Yiqun , Jiang Jianxin
Published: October 2022

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the world's malignant tumors with high mortality and a worse prognosis. Immunogenic cell death is caused by tumor cells stimulated by stressors to display or release Danger Associated Molecular Patterns (DAMPs)that attract and activate antigen-presenting cells. It would be advantageous to identify biomarkers associated with Immunogenic cell death(ICD) and stratify patients according to their benefits from ICD immunotherapy. Here, we identified two subtypes ICD-related by consensus clustering. ICD-high Subtype has an excellent clinical outcome, abundant immune cell infiltration, and highly active immune response signaling. In addition, we developed and validated an ICD-related risk model that predicts HCC patients' survival and correlates with the tumor immune microenvironment. In conclusion, we have established a new classification system for HCC based on ICD signatures. This stratification has significant clinical outcomes for estimating prognosis and immunotherapy in HCC patients.
Corrosion Behavior of AZ91/TiC/Al 2 O 3 Hybrid Composites
Authors: Singh Kamal Kant , Professor Dharamvir Mangal Research Assistant
Published: October 2022

In the current research, the corrosion behaviors of AZ91 Mg-hybrid composites amalgamated with titanium carbide and alumina reinforcing particles have been investigated. AZ91 Mg-hybrid composites have been developed by using the bottom pouring vacuum-based stir casting process to attain the homogeneous distribution of reinforcing particles in the AZ91-Mg matrix. The corrosion behavior of AZ91-hybrid composites has been evaluated by using corrosion potential (OCP) and potential dynamic polarization scans, as well as friction coefficient, has been deduced to examine the wear behavior of hybrid composites in sodium chloride (3.5%) solution. However, before and after each corrosion and wear test of AZ91-hybrid composites samples, the metallographic structures have been examined by using a scanning microscopic setup. The corrosive results reveal that the corrosion rate of the AZ91-Mg matrix has been greater than AZ91/TiC/Al2O3 composites. The results also confirm that the corrosion resistance increases with an increase in wt. % of TiC and Alumina. The prime reason for to increase in the corrosion rate is due to the increase in the number of matrix/reinforcement interfaces. However, the friction coefficient and wear rate of AZ91 Mg-hybrid composites rose with the increase in TiC wt. %. The type of wear mechanism of AZ91 Mg-hybrid composites has been demonstrated that initially abrasive wear has been observed but later it predominantly transforms to both (i.e. adhesive and abrasive wear) with an increase in TiC wt. %.
Synthesis, Optical and A.C Electrical Characteristics of Nanocomposites (Bi2O3/ZnO) Films Prepared by Thermal Evaporation Technique
Authors: Suhail Hassanein S. , Abdulridha Ali R.
Published: October 2022

In this paper, pure bismuth oxide (Bi2O3) and ZnO-doped with a ratio of (0, 0.12, 0.24, 0.36 and 0.48 wt.%) thin films are prepared by thermal evaporation methods under pressure 1×10− 7 bar with a rate of deposition 0.5 nm.s− 1, at ambient temperature on glass substrates (RT) with thickness 50 nm and annealed at temperature 573 K for 2 hours. The phase structures of Bi2O3 (monoclinic) and Bi2O3/ZnO NCPs are confirmed by X-ray diffraction (XRD) investigation. The concentration of ZnO-doping reduces the average crystallite size from 17,35 nm to 8.67 nm. Moreover, using XRD data, the average strain, stress, and dislocation density values are computed. The spectroscopy techniques such as Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) and scanning electron microscopy with field emission probes were used to examine the structures. The FT-IR results showed no chemical interactions between the (Bi2O3/ZnO) NPs. The results of the field emission-scanning electron microscope (FE-SEM) analysis the (Bi2O3/ZnO) NPs were distributed uniformly throughout. The actually result of optical characteristics for (Bi2O3/ZnO) showed that the absorbance, and absorption coefficient, increase with the increased concentrations of (ZnO). At the same time, the transmittance and energy band gaps were decreased with a rise in concentrations (ZnO) that have a high ability to absorb UV-light. The dielectric characteristics were checked in the frequency range from 100 Hz to 5 MHz. The results of the insulating characteristics showed that the dielectric constant and the dielectric loss of thin films (Bi2O3/ZnO) decreased with increasing frequency. In contrast, they increase when the concentration of (ZnO NPs) increases. The A.C conductivity of the thin films (Bi2O3/ZnO) increases with the frequency and concentration of (ZnO) NPs. Finally, the structural and insulating results the indicated characteristics of the (Bi2O3/ZnO) thin films may be helpful in various nano-electronic devices and sensors.
Weighted Randomn Forest Model for Significant Feature and Disease Progression Prediction
Authors: Rohini M. , Surendran D.
Published: October 2022

In recent studies, several machine learning and deep learning prediction models have been proposed for the early detection and classification of various stages of Alzheimer's Disease (AD). Many years before the actual onset of AD, there occur several structural changes in the brain. These structural brain features can be utilized in learning the disease progression from early stage of disease. The various stages of pathology cause mild cognitive impairment (MCI) from their normal cognition and AD from normal cognition. This chapter intends to develop a random forest learning model that utilizes a relevant subset of predictors to diagnose the progression of the disease. The conversion from normal cognition to MCI is identified at an early stage of the onset of structural brain changes. The importance of existing research works lies in more early identification of significant feature that increases the disease progression and appropriate inventions greatly improves subjects' recovery. The ADNI cross-sectional MRI data were analysed in this study that utilized brain curvature, grey matter white matter density, volume of cortical and sub cortical structures, shape of hippocampus, hippocampal subfield volume, Mini-mental state exam (MMSE), Clinical Dementia Rating (CDR), Estimated Total Intracranial Volume, Normalize Whole Brain Volume, and Atlas Scaling Factor for constructing randomized trees and thus predicting the features that cause the progression of disease stages from MCI to Alzheimer’s disease that causes dementia. This implementation model proved to give robust AD conversion probability and identifying significant features that are sufficient for future clinical inferences.
Emergency digital cholangioscope-assisted one-stage bedside endoscopic stone removal combined with biliary drainage for severe acute cholangitis in intensive care unit: experience from a tertiary Chinese academic hospital
Authors: Zhang Yin-qiu , Liang Yan , Pan Chun , Li Yuanyuan , Liu Yang , Ren Li-Hua , Xu Wei , Shi Rui-Hua , Feng Yadong
Published: October 2022

Background and Aim: To date, Optimal endoscopic management of severe acute cholangitis (SAC) caused by choledocholithiasis remains controversial. The aim of our study was to assess the safety and efficacy of digital cholangioscope-assisted one-stage bedside endoscopic stone removal combined with biliary drainage for patients with SAC in intensive care unit (ICU).
Methods: Patients admitted to the ICU for SAC caused by choledocholithiasis were prospectively included. Initial ICU treatment, including fluid resuscitation, antibiotics and organ support, was administered to improve the patient's conditions, followed by emergency digital cholangioscope-assisted emergency stone removal and biliary drainage at the ICU bedside. Data on treatment effectiveness, procedural complications, mortality, length of hospital stay, and follow-up were collected and analyzed.
Results: From June 2020 to February 2022, twenty patients (8 men and 12 women; mean age, 74.8 ± 12.5 years) were enrolled into the study. Mean APACHE II and SOFA scores at ICU admission were 26.4 ± 6.5 and 12.5 ±3.2, respectively. Besides initial ICU treatment, all patients underwent sucessesfully cholangioscope-assisted one-stage stone removal and biliary drainage within 24 hours of admission, with a mean time of 7.2 ± 4.9 hours. The mean APACHE II and SOFA scores on days 1, 3, and 7 after endoscopic intervention were 21.7 ± 6.5 and 10.6 ±2.9, 17.2 ± 6.8 and 8.4 ±3.0, and 12.7 ± 7.7 and 5.4 ±3.7, respectively (P＜0.001, respectively). Only one adverse event (mild pancreatitis) was reported. The mean antibiotic therapy duration was 12.1 ± 4.4 days. The mean duration of ICU and hospital stay were 9.7 ± 5.0 days and 12.8 ± 4.5 days, respectively. The overall in-hospital mortality was 15% (3/20). During 6 months of follow-up, 2 patients died (one from pneumonia and one from myocardial infarction), and 15 patients remained alive without recurrence of cholangitis and no residual biliary stones were detected on imaging.
Conclusion: This study provides evidence for the feasibility and efficacy of emergency cholangioscope-assisted bedside stone removal combined with biliary drainage in patients with SAC in ICU.
Indications for involuntary hospitalization for refusal of treatment in severe anorexia nervosa: A survey of physicians and Mental Health Care Review Board members in Japan
Authors: Takimoto Yoshiyuki
Published: October 2022

Background
When a patient with anorexia nervosa refuses treatment despite a physically critical condition, the therapist considers involuntary inpatient treatment under the Mental Health Law. However, ethical and practical problems arise from its application. In this study, a survey of treatment providers for eating disorders and psychiatric review board members was conducted regarding indications for involuntary hospitalization under the Mental Health Act for refusal of treatment for anorexia nervosa.
Methods
A survey of 212 physicians affiliated with the Japanese Society for Eating Disorders and 180 members of Mental Health Care Review Boards across Japan was conducted using six vignette cases of patients with anorexia nervosa refusing treatment.
Results
Regardless of the duration of illness or age of the patient, few physicians chose compulsory hospitalization with or without the consent of the family, while the largest number of physicians chose hospitalization for medical care and protection when there was family consent. Among committee members, only hospitalization for medical care and protection was determined to be appropriate when there was family consent. Both hospitalization for medical care and protection, and compulsory hospitalization were deemed appropriate in the absence of family consent. Committee members who adjudged refusal of treatment for anorexia nervosa as self-injurious behavior suggested that compulsory hospitalization was indicated.
Conclusions
When a patient with life-threatening anorexia nervosa refuses inpatient treatment, hospitalization for medical care and protection is actively chosen if the patient's family consents. Mental Health Care Review Board members considered this acceptable. However, if the family does not consent, the physicians did not choose compulsory hospitalization, and the psychiatric review board was divided on this. Consensus was not achieved in this regard.
Upregulated complement receptors correlate with Fc gamma receptor 3A-positive natural killer and natural killer-T cells in neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder
Authors: Nishiyama Shuhei , Wright Amy Elizabeth , Lotan Itay , Mikami Takahisa , Paul Friedemann , Aoki Masashi , Levy Michael
Published: October 2022

Background and objectives.
Inhibition of terminal complement in neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) using eculizumab helps prevent relapses, but the exact mechanism of action of the drug remains unclear. Similarly, genetic variants in the Fc Gamma receptor 3A (FcGR3A), also known as CD16, are correlated with outcomes in NMOSD, but the immune cells expressing those CD16 are unknown. We compared CD16 expression on immune cells modulated by complement activity in Natural Killer (NK) cells and Natural Killer-T (NKT) cells in NMOSD to disease and normal-healthy controls.
Methods.
Peripheral blood cell (PBMC) samples from 45 patients with NMOSD with aquaporin 4 (AQP4)-IgG, 18 disease controls, and 19 normal controls were analyzed for FcGR3A expression and complement receptors in vitro.
Results.
At baseline, the number of NKT cells was increased in NMOSD (p < 0.001), but the proportion that was CD16 positive was lower compared to normal and disease controls (p=0.0012). NK cell count was normal, but the ratio that was CD16 positive was also significantly lower (p < 0.001). In both NK cells and NKT cells from NMOSD, C5 complement receptor expression was much higher than normal and disease controls (p < 0.001 for both). We also evaluated activation markers CD69 and CD83, which were also significantly higher in NK and NKT cells from NMOSD patients. FcGR3A p158 V/V genotype group in NMOSD patients showed decreased NK cell proportion with activation, and fewer CD16 expressed NKT cells than the F/F genotype group.
Discussion.
Our results support an immunopathogenesis model in which complement pathway activation in NK/NKT cells upregulates CD16 expression that binds to antibody/antigen complexes. In the context of NMOSD, these complement-sensitive cells may be responsible for the escalating autoimmune activity.
Revealing a gap in the clinical competence of nursing staff in nursing homes: A cross-sectional study with the Ms. Olsen test
Authors: Vikström-Dahl Irén , Bing-Jonsson² Pia Cecile , Rauhala³ Auvo , Fagerström Lisbeth
Published: October 2022

Background: The elderly population and their life expectancy have increased, and current long-term care (LTC) for frail older people has limited capabilities because of many diseases among the patients. The nursing staff needs to have a certain level of clinical competence to identify diseases at an early stage and to assess and provide good nursing care to patients with different diseases. In Finland, nursing care in nursing homes is based on evidence-based and high-quality nursing care. However, earlier inspections by the National Supervisory Authority for Welfare and Health showed many discrepancies between the nursing staff’s clinical competence and adequate and continuous education.
Aim: This study aimed to explore nursing staff, i.e the clinical competence and decision-making skills of registered and practical nurses in nursing homes for older people in Finland and to analyse the association between nurses’ clinical competence and fundamental background factors
Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study of 337 participants in 50 nursing homes in the western part of Finland. The instrument used was the validated Ms. Olsen test, an extraction of NOP-CET. Statistical analyses were conducted with descriptive statistics and correlations and a cut-off for clinical competence.
Results: The clinical competence test, Ms Olsen test was used in Finland for the first time to evaluate the nursing staffs´ clinical competence in nursing homes. This study disclosed that nursing staff showed worrisome limitations in their clinical competence in the LTC in the western part of Finland and the Ms. Olsen test revealed that only one-fourth of the RNs and a third of the PNs passed the cut-off for the clinical competence test. In the self-evaluation, almost all (98.9%) of the participants evaluated themselves as having pretty good to very good clinical competence, which differed remarkably from the results of the Ms. Olsen test. The Finnish Current Care Guidelines were used on a daily basis by 7.4% and weekly by 30%. A statistically significant moderate correlation was found for the nursing staff between Swedish as a working language and mother tongue and the score for clinical competence. No statistically significant correlations were found between the nursing staff’s clinical competence and their use of the Finnish Current Care Guidelines. Previous research has argued that continuous education will enhance nursing staff’s status and clinical competence; however, according to our study, continuous education was not prioritised.
Prognostic Implication of Stress Hyperglycemia in Patients with Acute Coronary Syndrome Undergoing Percutaneous Coronary Intervention
Authors: Wang Man , Su Wen , Cao Ning , Chen Hui , Li Hong-Wei
Published: October 2022

Background Previous studies have reported that stress hyperglycemia is associated with adverse outcomes in hospitalized patients. We aimed to investigate the association between a novel index of stress hyperglycemia and the risk of mortality in acute coronary syndrome (ACS) patients who underwent percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Methods This cohort study consisted of 5,316 ACS patients who underwent PCI from the Cardiovascular Center Beijing Friendship Hospital Database Bank (CBDBANK) from January 2013 to January 2021. Stress hyperglycemia was defined by the glucose/glycated albumin (GA) ratio, calculated as admission fasting plasma glucose divided by GA. The patients were divided into four groups according to glucose/GA ratio quartiles (Q1-Q4). Cox proportional hazards regression and restricted cubic spline were used to evaluate the association between glucose/GA ratio and all-cause and cardiovascular (CV) mortality. Results During a median follow-up of 4.0 years, 322 (6.1%) all-cause deaths and 180 (3.4%) CV deaths were reported. After adjustment for potential confounders, the risk of all-cause mortality increased in both the lowest (HR, 1.43; 95% CI, 1.01–2.01) and highest (HR, 1.53; 95% CI, 1.05–2.21) glucose/GA ratio quartiles as compared that of Q2. The restricted cubic splines showed that the association between glucose/GA ratio and all-cause mortality was J-shaped after full adjustment (Pnonlinear= 0.010). Similar results were observed for CV deaths. In subgroup analyses, the J-shaped relationship was only significant in patients with diabetes mellitus. Conclusion In ACS patients undergoing PCI, both low and high glucose/GA ratio levels were associated with an increased all-cause and CV mortality, especially in those with diabetes mellitus.