bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Tracer Study of Bachelor of Science in Accountancy Graduates
Authors: Sayson Cyrill Jick O. , Asilum Winriel G. , Pintacasi Joleah E. , Pepania Artchelene D. , Sumicad Jr. Eligen H.
Published: February 2024

The study primarily aims to trace the employability of the Bachelor of Science in Accountancy graduates. It focuses on determining their educational background, post-graduation activities, and employment. Moreover, the study is structured to assess the importance of undergraduate programs in fostering the skills development of graduates and the applicability of the curriculum's courses to their subsequent employment. A tracer study, elucidating graduates' educational and career paths, is a vital instrument in comprehending the outcomes of academic pursuits. Employing stratified sampling techniques, strata were derived from graduates spanning the years 2018 to 2022, ensuring comprehensive representation. In scrutinizing educational backgrounds, a notable 50.6% lacked specific certifications, with the Civil Service Examination emerging as the predominant certification at 28.1%. Influential factors in course selection were diverse, with parental influence (16.0%) and the allure of immediate employment (14.5%) exerting substantial impacts. A 14.6% of respondents in the professional training category chose the designation "Bookkeeping," indicating a substantial interest in acquiring skills related to bookkeeping. The study exposed a significant 68.4% of graduates currently employed, emphasizing the consequential impact of skill mismatches on job satisfaction. Notably, 67.8% of employment remained local, indicating a balanced representation of domestic and international work opportunities. The institutional contribution to graduates' personal growth was evident, as values like environmental responsibility and service to humanity strongly influenced professional behavior. In conclusion, this tracer study, methodically executed through stratified sampling, provides nuanced insights into graduates' educational and professional trajectories, underscoring the multifaceted influences shaping their career choices and emphasizing the integral role of education in fostering ethical and successful professionals.
Implementation of the Revitalized Tertiary Physical Education Program in a Higher Education Institution in Pampanga Grounded on the Statutory Policy of the Commission on Higher Education and UNESCO’s Quality Physical Education Model
Authors: Tolentino Julius Ceazar G. , Sinio Christian D.
Published: February 2024

The study aimed to evaluate the implementation of the revitalized tertiary physical education program known as the Physical Activity towards Health and Fitness (PATHFit) of a state university in Pampanga, Philippines relative to the statutory standard of the Commission on Higher Education and UNESCO’s Quality Physical Education (QPE) Model. A Mixed Methods Sequential Explanatory Design was utilized involving faculty members (n = 24) and a stratified sample of second-year college students (n = 114). Instrumentations were drafted based on the provisions of two standards considered in the study. The quantitative phase revealed that both the internal stakeholders evaluated the standards of the CMO 39, s. 2021 and the QPE standards and found them to be extremely evident and extremely effective. Additionally, t-tests revealed that there was a significant difference in the evaluation of the respondents. Regression analysis further identified that all five dimensions of the QPE which are assessed in concreteness are significant predictors of program effectiveness. The qualitative phase explored the two dimensions as actualized by the university in terms of notable practices and challenges encountered. It was suggested that the university may institutionalize mechanisms to foster quality physical education standards as embedded in the curriculum development cycle's planning, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation protocols.
Ready-to-Eat Food Environments and Risk of Incident Heart Failure: A Prospective Cohort Study
Authors: Xue Qiaochu , Li Xiang , Ma Hao , Wang Xuan , Heianza Yoriko , Qi Lu
Published: February 2024

BACKGROUND:

Food environments have been linked to cardiovascular diseases; however, few studies have assessed the relationship between food environments and the risk of heart failure (HF). We aimed to evaluate the association between ready-to-eat food environments and incident HF at an individual level in a large prospective cohort.

METHODS:

Exposure to ready-to-eat food environments, comprising pubs or bars, restaurants or cafeterias, and fast-food outlets, were individually measured as both proximity and density metrics. We also developed a composite ready-to-eat food environment density score by summing the densities of 3 types of food environments. Cox proportional analyses were applied to assess the associations of each single type and the composite food environments with HF risk.

RESULTS:

Closer proximity to and greater density of ready-to-eat food environments, particularly for pubs and bars and fast-food outlets (
P
<0.05 for both proximity and density metric) were associated with an elevated risk of incident HF. Compared with those with no exposure to composite ready-to-eat food environments, participants in the highest density score category had a 16% (8%–25%;
P
<0.0001) higher risk of HF. In addition, we found significant interactions of food environments with education, urbanicity, and density of physical activity facilities on HF risk (all
P
interaction
<0.05); the ready-to-eat food environments-associated risk of HF was stronger among participants who were poorly educated, living in urban areas, and without physical activity facilities.

CONCLUSIONS:

Exposure to ready-to-eat food environments is associated with a higher risk of incident HF, suggesting the potential importance of minimizing unfavorable food environments in the prevention of HF.
Prevention of Vascular Contributions to Cognitive Impairment and Dementia: The Role of Physical Activity and Exercise
Authors: Dao Elizabeth , Barha Cindy K. , Zou Jammy , Wei Nathan , Liu-Ambrose Teresa
Published: February 2024

Vascular contributions to cognitive impairment and dementia, specifically cerebral small vessel disease (CSVD), are the second most common cause of dementia. Currently, there are no specific pharmacological treatments for CSVD, and the use of conventional antidementia drugs is not recommended. Exercise has the potential to prevent and mitigate CSVD-related brain damage and improve cognitive function. Mechanistic pathways underlying the neurocognitive benefits of exercise include the control of vascular risk factors, improving endothelial function, and upregulating exerkines. Notably, the therapeutic efficacy of exercise may vary by exercise type (ie, aerobic versus resistance training) and biological sex; thus, studies designed specifically to examine these moderating factors within a CSVD context are needed. Furthermore, future research should prioritize resistance training interventions, given their tremendous therapeutic potential. Addressing these knowledge gaps will help us refine exercise recommendations to maximize their therapeutic impact in the prevention and mitigation of CSVD.
On a small collection of caridean shrimps (Decapoda, Caridea) from Inhaca Island, Mozambique
Authors: Fransen Charles H.J.M. , Willems Max
Published: February 2024

During a series of irregular visits to Inhaca Island, Mozambique in the years 1982-1987, J.H.C. Walenkamp, often aided by students and staff of the Faculty of Biology in Maputo, made extensive collections of littoral and infralittoral invertebrates. Among the extensive collections of Brachyura, several caridean shrimps were encountered, upon which we herein report. Cuapetes cf. ensifrons is recorded from Mozambique for the first time.
Cyber-diplomacy: The Emergence of a Transient Field
Authors: Barrinha André
Published: February 2024

It is only in the last two decades that states have started to focus on the need to use traditional diplomatic means in discussions surrounding cyber-policy. This article explores how these discussions have been progressively ‘diplomatised’. Diplomatisation is proposed in this article as a process which involves external and internal dynamics of institutionalisation and positioning, both of which are essential for the successful creation of a new diplomatic field. Understanding the emergence of cyber-diplomacy is crucial to recognise the successes, frustrations and opportunities associated with the (lack of) regulation when it comes responsible state behaviour in this domain. This article does so based on 40 interviews conducted with diplomats and experts involved in the emergence of cyber-diplomacy. It looks at the idiosyncratic evolution of this field within specific nation states as well as overall developments at the international level, particularly within the context of the United Nations.
Segmenting and Exemplifying Potential Flex Route Transit Adopters
Authors: Yu Jingcai , Yin Zijuan , Zheng Yan , Guo Rongrong , Li Wenquan
Published: February 2024

Market segmentation has been considered an essential tool for evolving technology to examine for extensive adoption. Flex route transit (FRT) is a personalized transportation mode, which is expected to grow in the future. Therefore, FRT adoption has sparked a significant amount of research curiosity. This study endeavors to examine and identify potential FRT adopters considering attitudinal factors and socioeconomic characteristics by a framework of “perceived benefits–attitude–intention.” To this end, the technology acceptance model and theory of planned behavior are utilized to extract six attitudinal factors. The multiple indicators multiple causes model is employed to capture these attitudinal factors. Robust analytical procedures (e.g., clustering, multiple discriminant analysis, and chi-square test) are implemented to determine the number of clusters and validate the results by a survey in Beijing based on attitudinal factors and socioeconomic characteristics. Results show that potential FRT adopters are segmented into three clusters, that is, “conservatives,”“skeptics,” and “enthusiasts.” Attitudinal factors and socioeconomic characteristics for each cluster are compared and analyzed. A series of implications are recommended to policymakers, which might offer pertinent suggestions to encourage FRT adoption.
Research on optimization method for flyby observation mission adapted to satellite on-board computation
Authors: Wang Jiyuan , Xiao Yan , Ye Dong , Wang Zijun , Sun Zhaowei
Published: February 2024

In this paper, the optimization problem of orbital transfer strategy for orbital flyby observation missions is studied. A hybrid optimization method is proposed, which is improved to make it more suitable for satellite on-board computing. This new algorithm is designed to solve the initial value sensitivity problem of the sequential quadratic programming algorithm (SQP). It is consisted of the depth-first search algorithm (DFS) and the SQP algorithm and thus has the characteristics of fast convergence, high reliability, and good robustness. With this method, the DFS with a large step size is calculated first, and then the optimal value in the calculation result is used as the initial value of the SQP algorithm for further optimization. This method can obtain the approximate optimal solution available in engineering. The numerical simulation of an orbital transfer optimization problem is set to verify the effectiveness of the new hybrid algorithm. The simulation results compared with the genetic algorithm (GA) show that the proposed hybrid algorithm can effectively reduce the on-board resource occupation when getting similar results and thus can meet the needs of satellite on-board computing.
Magnitude of neonatal asphyxia and its predictors among newborns at public hospitals of Wolaita Zone in Southern Ethiopia, 2023
Authors: Gizachew Shewazerf , Wogie Girma , Getnet Mekasha , Lonsako Arega Abebe
Published: February 2024

Background

Neonatal asphyxia is one of preventable causes of neonatal mortality throughout the world. It could be improved by early detection and control of the underlying causes. However, there was lack of evidence on it in the study setting. Thus, the aim of this study was to assess the magnitude and predictors of neonatal asphyxia among newborns at public hospitals of Wolaita Zone in Southern Ethiopia.

Method

A facility-based cross-sectional study was done among 330 mothers with neonates in selected public hospitals. A systematic random sampling technique was used to select the study participants. Data were collected through an interviewer-administered questionnaire and checklist. The collected data were entered into EpiData version 4.6 and exported to SPSS version 26 for analysis. Logistic regression was fitted to examine the association between explanatory variables and outcome variable. In multivariable logistic regression, AOR with 95% CI was reported, and p < 0.05 was used to declare statistically significant variables.

Results

The magnitude of neonatal asphyxia was 26.4% with 95% CI: (21.8, 30.9). In multivariable logistic regression analysis primiparity (AOR = 2.63 95%CI 1.47, 4.72), low-birth-weight (AOR = 3.45 95%CI 1.33, 8.91), preterm birth (AOR = 3.58 95%CI 1.29, 9.92), and premature rupture of membranes (AOR = 5.19 95%CI 2.03, 13.26) were factors significantly associated with neonatal asphyxia.

Conclusions

In this study, the magnitude of neonatal asphyxia was high. From the factors, premature rapture of the membrane, parity, birth weight of the newborn, and gestational age at birth were significantly associated with neonatal asphyxia. Attention should be given to early detection and prevention of neonatal asphyxia from complicated labor and delivery.
Prevalence and determinants of gestational diabetes mellitus among pregnant women in India: an analysis of National Family Health Survey Data
Authors: Chakraborty Aditi , Yadav Suryakant
Published: February 2024

Background

Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is a type of diabetes with its first recognition during pregnancy. GDM is a high-risk maternal and neonatal condition which increases the risk of Type 2 diabetes in mothers and their infants. It is essential to detect and treat GDM since its inception when mothers suffer from Type 1 diabetes while carrying the foetus during the gestational period.

Methods

The study analysed individual data from the National Family Health Survey (NFHS) surveyed in 2015–2016 (4th round) and 2019–2021 (5th round) covering a total of approximately 6 lakhs and 7 lakhs women, respectively. Among them, 32,072 women in 2015–2016 and 28,187 in 2019–2021 were pregnant, of whom 180 women in 2014–2015 and 247 women in 2019–2021 had diabetes during their gestational periods, allowing the percentage prevalence calculation of GDM. The analysis of Poisson regression estimates examined the socioeconomic and demographic risk factors for GDM among pregnant women.

Results

The overall prevalence of GDM in women showed an increase from 0.53% in 2015–16 to 0.80% in 2019–20 at the national level, and a similar increase in many states of India was witnessed, with a few exceptions. The GDM prevalence has shown a gradient over age, with a low prevalence in 15–19- and 25–29-year-olds and the highest prevalence in 40–44-year-olds. Concerning the rural and urban divide, its prevalence in both urban and rural areas has increased from 0.61 to 0.85% and 0.51 to 0.78% between 2015 and 16 and 2019–21. The results of the Poisson regression analysis reveal that older adults with high Body Mass Index (BMI), thyroid disorder, and heart disease have a greater risk of GDM among pregnant women in India. The states of Kerala, Meghalaya, and Goa show a high prevalence of GDM.

Conclusion

The low prevalence of GDM may not be clinically significant but has negative repercussions on the mother and her child cannot be overlooked. Thus, it is essential to curb GDM since its inception and save a generation ahead from the risk of diabetes and other diseases.
Metabolic heterogeneity in clear cell renal cell carcinoma revealed by single-cell RNA sequencing and spatial transcriptomics
Authors: Yang Guanwen , Cheng Jiangting , Xu Jiayi , Shen Chenyang , Lu Xuwei , He Chang , Huang Jiaqi , He Minke , Cheng Jie , Wang Hang
Published: February 2024

Background

Clear cell renal cell carcinoma is a prototypical tumor characterized by metabolic reprogramming, which extends beyond tumor cells to encompass diverse cell types within the tumor microenvironment. Nonetheless, current research on metabolic reprogramming in renal cell carcinoma mostly focuses on either tumor cells alone or conducts analyses of all cells within the tumor microenvironment as a mixture, thereby failing to precisely identify metabolic changes in different cell types within the tumor microenvironment.

Methods

Gathering 9 major single-cell RNA sequencing databases of clear cell renal cell carcinoma, encompassing 195 samples. Spatial transcriptomics data were selected to conduct metabolic activity analysis with spatial localization. Developing scMet program to convert RNA-seq data into scRNA-seq data for downstream analysis.

Results

Diverse cellular entities within the tumor microenvironment exhibit distinct infiltration preferences across varying histological grades and tissue origins. Higher-grade tumors manifest pronounced immunosuppressive traits. The identification of tumor cells in the RNA splicing state reveals an association between the enrichment of this particular cellular population and an unfavorable prognostic outcome. The energy metabolism of CD8+ T cells is pivotal not only for their cytotoxic effector functions but also as a marker of impending cellular exhaustion. Sphingolipid metabolism evinces a correlation with diverse macrophage-specific traits, particularly M2 polarization. The tumor epicenter is characterized by heightened metabolic activity, prominently marked by elevated tricarboxylic acid cycle and glycolysis while the pericapsular milieu showcases a conspicuous enrichment of attributes associated with vasculogenesis, inflammatory responses, and epithelial–mesenchymal transition. The scMet facilitates the transformation of RNA sequencing datasets sourced from TCGA into scRNA sequencing data, maintaining a substantial degree of correlation.

Conclusions

The tumor microenvironment of clear cell renal cell carcinoma demonstrates significant metabolic heterogeneity across various cell types and spatial dimensions. scMet exhibits a notable capability to transform RNA sequencing data into scRNA sequencing data with a high degree of correlation.
Targeting HDAC6 improves anti-CD47 immunotherapy
Authors: Gracia-Hernandez Maria , Yende Ashutosh S. , Gajendran Nithya , Alahmadi Zubaydah , Li Xintang , Munoz Zuleima , Tan Karen , Noonepalle Satish , Shibata Maho , Villagra Alejandro
Published: February 2024

Background

Cancer cells can overexpress CD47, an innate immune checkpoint that prevents phagocytosis upon interaction with signal regulatory protein alpha (SIRPα) expressed in macrophages and other myeloid cells. Several clinical trials have reported that CD47 blockade reduces tumor growth in hematological malignancies. However, CD47 blockade has shown modest results in solid tumors, including melanoma. Our group has demonstrated that histone deacetylase 6 inhibitors (HDAC6is) have immunomodulatory properties, such as controlling macrophage phenotype and inflammatory properties. However, the molecular and cellular mechanisms controlling these processes are not fully understood. In this study, we evaluated the role of HDAC6 in regulating the CD47/SIRPα axis and phagocytosis in macrophages.

Methods

We tested the role of HDAC6is, especially Nexturastat A, in regulating macrophage phenotype and phagocytic function using bone marrow-derived macrophages and macrophage cell lines. The modulation of the CD47/SIRPα axis and phagocytosis by HDAC6is was investigated using murine and human melanoma cell lines and macrophages. Phagocytosis was evaluated via coculture assays of macrophages and melanoma cells by flow cytometry and immunofluorescence. Lastly, to evaluate the antitumor activity of Nexturastat A in combination with anti-CD47 or anti-SIRPα antibodies, we performed in vivo studies using the SM1 and/or B16F10 melanoma mouse models.

Results

We observed that HDAC6is enhanced the phenotype of antitumoral M1 macrophages while decreasing the protumoral M2 phenotype. In addition, HDAC6 inhibition diminished the expression of SIRPα, increased the expression of other pro-phagocytic signals in macrophages, and downregulated CD47 expression in mouse and human melanoma cells. This regulatory role on the CD47/SIRPα axis translated into enhanced antitumoral phagocytic capacity of macrophages treated with Nexturastat A and anti-CD47. We also observed that the systemic administration of HDAC6i enhanced the in vivo antitumor activity of anti-CD47 blockade in melanoma by modulating macrophage and natural killer cells in the tumor microenvironment. However, Nexturastat A did not enhance the antitumor activity of anti-SIRPα despite its modulation of macrophage populations in the SM1 tumor microenvironment.

Conclusions

Our results demonstrate the critical regulatory role of HDAC6 in phagocytosis and innate immunity for the first time, further underscoring the use of these inhibitors to potentiate CD47 immune checkpoint blockade therapeutic strategies.
Toe brachial index and not ankle brachial index is appropriate in initial evaluation of peripheral arterial disease in type 2 diabetes
Authors: Singhania Pankaj , Das Tapas Chandra , Bose Chiranjit , Mondal Asif , Bhattacharjee Rana , Singh Archana , Mukhopadhyay Satinath , Chowdhury Subhankar
Published: February 2024

Background

Non-invasive clinic-based tools for assessing PAD are not without limitations. Therefore, costly tests like Doppler study, CT angiography and MR angiography are often required to make a diagnosis. Ankle brachial index (ABI), commonly used for assessment of PAD, has high false positivity rates in sclerosed, calcified arteries which render them non-compressible. Toe brachial index (TBI) can be an alternative, as digital arteries are relatively unaffected by these changes.

Aim

To compare the reliability of ABI and TBI in diagnosing PAD in type 2 diabetes using CT angiography (CTA) as the reference.

Methods

175 adults with T2D were selected. ABI &TBI were measured with an automated vascular Doppler XT 6 ports bilaterally for all subjects. For any subject, the limb with lower ABI and TBI was included for analysis. ABI < 0.9 & TBI < 0.6 were taken as evidence of PAD. CTA showing > 50% narrowing was taken as evidence of PAD.

Results

24% of our study subjects had CTA confirmed PAD. ABI has low sensitivity of 35.29% (95% CI 0.21–0.52) compared to TBI being 82.35% (95% CI 0.66–0.92). The specificity however was similar. ABI < 0.9 was able to detect CTA confirmed PAD, but ABI > 0.9, including the so-called normal ABI (0.9–1.3) was unable to detect PAD. ROC showed ABI at 1.005 has sensitivity 64.71% (95% CI 0.48- 0.79) and specificity 61.7% (95% CI 0.53–0.69) and TBI at 0.6 has sensitivity 82.35% (95% CI 0.66–0.92) & specificity 92% (95% CI 0.87–0.96). Utilizing Cohen’s Kappa, the reliability of ABI with respect to CTA showed fair agreement (K = 0.225, p = 0.001), whereas the reliability of TBI with respect to CTA showed substantial agreement (K = 0.759, p < 0.0001).

Conclusion

ABI < 0.9 detects PAD reliably, but presence of PAD in patients with ABI > 9.0 including the normal of ABI (0.9–1.3) can be confirmed with TBI, which correlated strongly with CTA. TBI is also non-inferior for PAD detection, when ABI < 0.9. TBI and not ABI can be utilized for initial assessment of PAD in subjects with T2D.

Graphical Abstract
Testicular mesothelioma disguised as hydrocele: a case report
Authors: Nazar Tanya , Gopalakrishnabhaktan Anupama , Tashrifwala Fatema Ali Asgar , Sathish Aroma , Dave Tirth
Published: February 2024

Background

Testicular tumors have many different manifestations. The majority of these cases are presented as an incidental finding during hydrocelectomy. Malignant mesotheliomas are uncommon tumours that can arise from the coelomic epithelium of the pleura, peritoneum, pericardium, and tunica vaginalis.

Case presentation

We present a 51-year-old South Asian (Indian) male patient with a rare case of mesothelioma, presenting with right hydrocele, to whom a right hydrocelectomy was performed. Any history of trauma or asbestos exposure was not present. Histopathological and immunohistochemistry reports revealed a malignant mesothelioma of tunica vaginalis. There was no invasion of the tumour to the epididymis and spermatic cord. Imaging studies showed no signs of metastasis. 1 month later, a high inguinal orchidectomy was performed. The patient underwent adjuvant chemotherapy thereafter and is still on follow-up.

Conclusion

Although hydrocele is common, detailed evaluation is mandatory to rule out certain rare tumours-testicular and paratesticular variants.
Yield, functional properties and nutritional compositions of leafy vegetables with dehydrated food waste and spent coffee grounds
Authors: Jeon Young-Ji , Kang Yun-Gu , Eun Jin-Ah , Oh Taek-Keun
Published: February 2024

This study determined the fertilizer potentials of the dehydrated food waste powder (DFWP) and spent coffee grounds (SCGs) through assessing their effects on yield, antioxidant activities, mineral and proximate compositions of leaf lettuce and Japanese hogfennel their efficiencies to inorganic fertilizers (N-P2O5-K2O, NPK). In this study, both organic amendments were applied at rates that supplied half, double and recommended nitrogen (N) requirements of the leaf lettuce (15 Mg N/ha) and Japanese hogfennel (10 Mg N/ha) established in Daejeon, South Korea. The recommended treatment of DFWP produced the highest lettuce and Japanese hogfennel yields, respectively. Halving the application rates of the organic amendments generally limited the yielding capacities while doubling them invoked negative yield responses in both crops. The highest antioxidant activities, mineral and proximate contents in both crops were obtained with the recommended dosage of amendments. The SCGs outperformed NPK in all the parameters of the Japanese hogfennel assessed in this study even though its impact on the leaf lettuce was adverse. Therefore, both DFWP and SCGs can effectively supply plant nutrients but their application rates should be regulated so as to avoid NaCl toxicity and elevated phytotoxicity in DFWP and SCGs, respectively.
Effect of nutrition education intervention on nutrition knowledge, attitude, and diet quality among school-going adolescents: a quasi-experimental study
Authors: Raut Sagar , KC Dirghayu , Singh Devendra Raj , Dhungana Raja Ram , Pradhan Pranil Man Singh , Sunuwar Dev Ram
Published: February 2024

Background

Nutrition education is being used to encourage school adolescents to adopt healthy eating habits. To the best of our knowledge, very little study has been undertaken in Nepal to examine the effectiveness of nutrition education programs. This study aimed to assess the effect of nutrition education on nutritional knowledge, attitude, and diet quality among school-going adolescents in selected private schools in Nepal.

Methods

A quasi-experimental study was conducted among 226 students aged 12 − 19 years of two selected private schools in Banepa municipality of Nepal. Students (n = 113) from the first school were assigned to intervention and the same number of students from the second school were enrolled in the study as the control. Over 12 weeks, students in the intervention group received one hour of nutrition education in the form of mini-lectures and interactive discussions, whilst students in the control group received no education. The student’s two-sample t-test was used to compare two groups and to assess the effectiveness of the nutrition education program.

Results

Between the intervention and control group, the magnitude of difference in knowledge score was 1.80 (95% CI: 1.11 − 2.49), emotional eating was 0.98 (95% CI: 0.42 − 1.54), uncontrolled eating was 3.60 (95% CI: 2.10 − 5.09), and cognitive restraint of eating was 2.26 (95% CI: 1.51 − 3.01).

Conclusions

A tailored health education intervention was found to be effective in increase nutritional knowledge and attitude among school-going adolescents. Adopting nutrition education interventions as part of public health school intervention builds positive knowledge, attitudes, and healthy eating habits in school-going adolescents.
Antidiarrhoeal screening of Himalayan edible plant Begonia rubrovenia and its marker followed by its validation using computational analysis
Authors: Prasad Rupali S. , Kalita Jun M. , Rai Nitish , Yenorkar Nikhil Y. , Dhaswadikar Suhas R. , Sharma Pravesh , Dhobi Mahaveer , Laloo Damiki , Sinha Saurabh K. , Itankar Prakash R. , Prasad Satyendra K.
Published: February 2024

Background

Diarrhoea has become one of the major areas of concern due to its high mortality rate contributing it to be the second largest cause of death in world. To explore the effectiveness of medicinal plant, the present investigation was undertaken to scientifically justify the traditional claim of the ethanolic root extract of the plant Begonia rubrovenia (EBV) against diarrhoea.

Results

EBV was standardized using HPLC with quercetin as marker and was further subjected to normal fecal excretion study at 100, 200 and 300 mg/kg, p.o. along with quercetin and loperamide. The study confirmed the effectiveness of EBV at 200 and 300 mg/kg followed by quercetin. In castor oil induced diarrhoea rat model, EBV at 200 and 300 mg/kg significantly delayed onset of diarrhoea, reduced the diarrhoeal faecal output which contributed in higher % protection. The effectiveness of EBV at 200 mg/kg was also confirmed through gastrointestinal motility, fluid accumulation and PGE2 induced enteropooling tests. EBV and its marker quercetin also reduced the elevated level of NO and cytokines and restored the alterations in antioxidant enzymes, ions and enhanced Na+/K+–ATPase activity. Molecular docking, dynamics and network pharmacology study confirmed the role of quercetin in modulating the inflammatory mediators IL-1β, TNF-α and EP3 prostanoid receptor, where quercetin formed more stable complex with EP3 prostanoid receptor.

Conclusion

The study has scientifically justified the traditional use of the plants B. rubrovenia in treating diarrhoea, where quercetin played a critical role in the observed antidiarrhoeal potential of B. rubrovenia contributing in maintaining electrolyte balance, antioxidant status and inhibiting inflammatory mediators.
Multi-epitope-based vaccine designing against Junín virus glycoprotein: immunoinformatics approach
Authors: Praveen Mallari
Published: February 2024

Background

The Junín virus (JUNV) is well known for causing argentine haemorrhagic fever (AHF), a severe endemic disease in farming premises. The glycoprotein of JUNV is an important therapeutic target in vaccine design. Despite using drugs and neutralizing weakened antibodies being used in the medication, neither the severity reduced nor eradicated the infection. However, this constraint can be resolved by immunoinformatic approaches.

Results

The glycoprotein fasta sequence was retrieved from NCBI to anticipate the B cell and T cell epitopes through the Immune Epitope Database. Furthermore, each epitope underwent validation in Vaxijen 2.0, Aller Top, and Toxin Pred to find antigenic, nonallergic, and non-toxic peptides. Moreover, the vaccine is designed with appropriate adjuvants and linkers. Subsequently, physicochemical properties were determined in ProtParam including solubility and disulphide bonds in the SCRATCH server. The vaccine 3D structure was built using I-TASSER and refined in ModRefine. Docking between JUNV glycoprotein (PDB ID:5NUZ) with a built vaccine revealed a balanced docked complex visualized in the Drug Discovery studio, identified 280 hydrogen bonds between them. The docking score of − 15.5 kcal/mol was determined in the MM/GBSA analysis in HawkDock. MD simulations employed using the GROMACS at 20 ns resulted in minimal deviation and fewer fluctuations, particularly with high hydrogen bond-forming residues.

Conclusion

However, these findings present a potential vaccine for developing against JUNV glycoprotein after validating the epitopes and 3D vaccine construct through in silico methods. Therefore, further investigation in the wet laboratory is necessary to confirm the potentiality of the predicted vaccine.
Polygenic Scores for Adult Testosterone and SHBG Levels Are Associated With Reproductive Hormone Levels in Male Infants
Authors: Busch Alexander Siegfried , Ljubicic Marie Lindhardt , Upners Emmie N , Fischer Margit Bistrup , Odroniec Amadeusz , Hagen Casper P , Juul Anders
Published: February 2024

Context

The hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis's transient activity in infancy, i.e, minipuberty, is considered crucial for male reproductive function. Historically, minipuberty has been considered a passive response triggered by the withdrawal of placental steroids at birth. However, given its potential link to adult reproductive function, we hypothesize that minipuberty is a partially genetically regulated process, suggesting a link between the genetic architecture of reproductive hormone concentrations across lifespan.

Objective

To investigate the association of UK Biobank Study-based polygenic scores (PGS) of adult total testosterone (T) and sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) concentrations with trajectories of reproductive hormones concentrations in male infants.

Design

Prospective, longitudinal birth cohort (The COPENHAGEN Minipuberty Study, 2016-2018, ClinTrial: NCT02784184). Individual PGSs in male infants derived from published literature were calculated for total T and SHBG. The associations with mean SD scores (SDS) of reproductive hormone concentrations in infancy were tested.

Setting

Population-based.

Patients or other participants

Healthy, male, term, singleton newborns were followed with repeated clinical examinations including blood sampling during a 1-year follow-up (n = 109).

Main outcome measures

Circulating reproductive hormone concentrations.

Results

T-PGSadult were significant associated with mean T-SDSinfancy, mean SHBG-SDSinfancy, and mean LH-SDSinfancy (P = .02, <.001 and .03, with r2 = 0.05, 0.21 and 0.04, respectively). SHBG-PGSadult was significantly associated with mean SHBG-SDSinfancy (P < .001, r2 = 0.18). T-PGSadult explained 5% and 21% of the phenotypic variation in infancy of mean T-SDSinfancy and SHBG-SDSinfancy, respectively.

Conclusion

Our findings suggest that the genetic architecture underlying total T and SHBG in adults also associates with hormone concentrations and their trajectories during infancy.
Severe Hyperkalemia During a Robot-Assisted Total Radical Prostatectomy in a Patient with Stage 3a Chronic Kidney Disease: A Case Report
Authors: Gebara Sebastien , Adans-Dester Gilles , Bairy Laurent
Published: February 2024

A 63-year-old man with stage 3a chronic kidney disease (CKD) and mild hyperkalemia was scheduled for a robot-assisted prostatectomy. He was being treated with lisinopril. Owing to mild hyperkalemia (6.2 mmol/L), lisinopril was discontinued, and sodium polystyrene sulfonate was administered on the day before surgery. Three hours after incision, electrocardiographic signs of hyperkalemia manifested with the serum potassium concentration rising to 8 mmol/L. Although hyperkalemia is a common and well-documented side effect of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors in patients with CKD, we report an extreme increase in potassium within a very short time period despite prior drug discontinuation.
The Ubiquity of Asia: Cai Guo-Qiang's Fireworks and Spectral Marxism
Authors: Yapp Hentyle
Published: February 2024

Asia is everywhere. Asia feels ubiquitous, from soft to hard power; from high to low culture; and from the Americas to Africa. In the American cycle of capital accumulation, under Giovanni Arrighi's schema, the overrepresentation of the United States was marked through representation-based and symbolic notions like Disneyfication (Jean Baudrillard) and “the ascendancy of whiteness” (Rey Chow). Under our contemporary Asian cycle of capital accumulation, this geographic area's affective ubiquity appears much like that of the US by saturating global public sentiment. However, considering that Asia's ubiquity emerges across sites like China, South Korea, India, and Japan, among others, what might we use to capture this sense of affective intensity and spread beyond representation-based frames? More specifically, how do we contend with geographic space within racial capital today, and how might we update our models for understanding race and capital so as to fully grapple with this transitional moment from American empire to Global Asia? Under the American cycle, representational frames like Orientalism and white supremacy emerged to understand Asian racialization. Can these frames still help explain the ubiquity of Asia today? This essay explores how we might discuss the subject beyond representation and in light of the ubiquity of Asia and what methods we deploy for Marxist analysis. This essay focuses less on Asian bodies and Asian spaces and turns toward aesthetic objects and practices that engage the affective sublime. More specifically, it examines the aesthetics of fireworks for what they might offer as a lexicon to contend with the transition in cycles of capital accumulation and changes in our ideas of space and race. The article thus turns to the artist Cai Guo-Qiang for insight on the subject amid contemporary racial capital and the methods available for critique.
Protecting the Body, Living the Good Life: Negotiating Health in Rural Lowland Laos
Authors: Elliott Elizabeth M.
Published: February 2024

In rural lowland Laos, aspirations to a good life and visions of well-being are defined and impacted by the process of negotiating health. The state of sabai  (well-being) situates the person in relation to their family, social, and spiritual worlds, and the associated practices have taken on increasing importance as new vulnerabilities and social struggles emerge in the late-socialist era. Traditional healers are rapidly disappearing while public biomedical health services have not yet fully evolved into a trusted alternative, leaving rural people in a healthcare gap involving complex care-seeking trajectories at high personal and familial cost. Differing experiences of the therapeutic encounter show how healthcare choices are closely associated with relationships. These experiences are influenced by the practitioner's motives for providing care, guided by the desire for a life that is both meaningful and judged as “good” according to social principles. Although lacking in financial compensation, providers who feel otherwise rewarded are likely to provide care that is acceptable to the patient and allied with the production of well-being. Village healers find satisfaction in personal and spiritual attainment and occupy a high social status where they experience reciprocity through care from others, while rural health staff lack agency and professional reward. Achieving a “good life” in rural Laos is thus highly interdependent with the good lives of others.
Development of novel enzymatic tools for the production of xylose- based products within a lignocellulosic biorefinery concept
Authors: Ιωάννου Ελένη
Published: February 2024

Ο πρωταρχικός στόχος αυτής της διατριβής ήταν η ανάπτυξη ενός "ειδικά σχεδιασμένου" ημικυτταρολυτικού πολυλειτουργικού ενζύμου που θα στοχεύει σε ένα πολύπλοκο υπόστρωμα πλούσιο σε ημικυτταρίνη. Οι ημικυτταρινάσες είναι βασικά συστατικά των κοκτέιλ ενζύμων που χρησιμοποιούνται σε βιοδιυλιστήρια λιγνοκυτταρίνης και ως εκ τούτου προτείνονται συχνά από εμπορικούς παραγωγούς ενζύμων ως «ενισχυτές» της δράσης των κυρίως κυτταρινασών.Τα ένζυμα που έχουν ως υπόστρωμα τη βιομάζα είναι ζωτικά συστατικά των διεργασιών του βιοδιυλιστηρίου και επομένως, μεγάλη προσπάθεια έχει επικεντρωθεί στη βελτίωση των χαρακτηριστικών τους (δραστηριότητα, σταθερότητα, κόστος παραγωγής, κ.λπ.) καθώς και στην ανακάλυψη ή/και ανάπτυξη νέων ενζύμων. Ένα βακτήριο που αναπτύσσεται σε περιβάλλον πλούσιο σε κυτταρίνη και ημικυτταρίνες είναι ιδανικός υποψήφιος για την αναζήτηση νέων κυτταρολυτικών και ημικυτταρολυτικών ενζύμων. Η χρήση της μεταγονιδιωματικής για την ανίχνευση μικροβιακών κοινοτήτων που μέχρι τώρα δεν έχουν εξερευνηθεί, ιδιαίτερα εκείνων σε περιβάλλοντα ζωικού εντέρου, έχει αποκαλύψει έναν μεγάλο αριθμό ενζυμικών συστημάτων που αποτελούνται από πολλαπλές επικράτειες και νέα παραδείγματα ενζυματικής ποικιλομορφίας. Ένας προηγούμενος έλεγχος (screening) για νέες λειτουργίες μιας μεταγονιδιωματικής βιβλιοθήκης εντέρου τερμιτών αποκάλυψε μια σειρά τέτοιων ενζύμων (που αποτελούνται από πολλαπλές επικράτειες), συμπεριλαμβανομένης μιας ιδιαίτερα πρωτότυπης ξυλανάσης GH10. Το ιδιαίτερο χαρακτηριστικό που σχετίζεται με αυτό το ένζυμο ήταν ότι δύο διαδοχικές επικράτειες δέσμευσης υδατανθράκων (CBM domains) παρεμβάλλονται εντός της καταλυτικής επικράτειας (GH10 domain), μιας οργάνωση επικρατειών με την οποίο, είναι γνωστό, ότι δημιουργούνται οι λεγόμενες πρωτεΐνες παρεμβαλόμενης επικράτειας. Προκειμένου να αποκτηθούν πληροφορίες σχετικά με τη σχέση δομής-λειτουργίας αυτού του ασυνήθιστου ενζύμου, χρησιμοποιήθηκαν μοντελοποίηση ομολογίας (homology modeling) και Σκέδαση ακτίνων Χ μικρής γωνίας (SAXS) για την πρόβλεψη της δομής του. Επιπλέον, το ένζυμο πλήρους μήκους καθώς και μια σειρά από μικρότερου μήκους παραλλαγές του χαρακτηρίστηκαν περαιτέρω βιοχημικά. Αυτή η υποθετική δομή χρησίμευσε ως βάση για τον ορθολογικό σχεδιασμό ενός διλειτουργικού χιμαιρικού ενζύμου όπου οι επικράτειες CBM αντικαταστάθηκαν από μια πρωτεΐνη με δραστηριότητα ξυλοσιδάσης. Αυτή η νέα χίμαιρα υπερεκφράστηκε με επιτυχία και αποδείχθηκε ότι διατήρησε και τις δύο γονικές ενζυμικ΄πες δραστικότητες όταν αναλύθηκε σε ένα πολύπλοκο υπόστρωμα βιομάζας.
Market Thickness in Online Food Delivery Platforms: The Impact of Food Processing Times
Authors: Zhao Yanlu , Papier Felix , Teo Chung-Piaw
Published: February 2024

Problem definition: Online food delivery (OFD) platforms have witnessed rapid global expansion, partly driven by shifts in consumer behavior during the COVID-19 pandemic. These platforms enable customers to order food conveniently from a diverse array of restaurants through their mobile phones. A core functionality of these platforms is the algorithmic matching of drivers to food orders, which is the focus of our study as we aim to optimize this driver-order matching process. Methodology/results: We formulate real-time matching algorithms that take into account uncertain food processing times to strategically “delay” the assignment of drivers to orders. This intentional delay is designed to create a “thicker” marketplace, increasing the availability of both drivers and orders. Our algorithms use machine learning techniques to predict food processing times, and the dispatching of drivers is subsequently determined by balancing costs for idle driver waiting and for late deliveries. In scenarios with a single order in isolation, we show that the optimal policy adopts a threshold structure. Building on this insight, we propose a new k-level thickening policy with driving time limits for the general case of multiple orders. This policy postpones the assignment of drivers until a maximum of k suitable matching options are available. We evaluate our policy using a simplified model and identify several analytical properties, including the quasi-convexity of total costs in relation to market thickness, indicating the optimality of an intermediate level of market thickness. Numerical experiments with real data from Meituan show that our policy can yield a 54% reduction in total costs compared with existing policies. Managerial implications: Our study reveals that incorporating food processing times into the dispatch algorithm remarkably improves the efficacy of driver assignment. Our policy enables the platform to control two vital market parameters of real-time matching decisions: the number of drivers available to pick up and deliver an order promptly, and their proximity to the restaurant. Based on these two parameters, our algorithm matches drivers with orders in real time, offering significant managerial implications.

Funding: This research is supported by the Ministry of Education, Singapore, under its 2019 Academic Research Fund Tier 3 grant call [Award ref: MOE-2019-T3-1-010].

Supplemental Material: The online appendix is available at https://doi.org/10.1287/msom.2021.0354 .
Evaluation of a Split Flow Model for the Emergency Department
Authors: David Gomez Juan Camilo , Cochran Amy L. , Patterson Brian W. , Zayas-Cabán Gabriel
Published: February 2024

Problem definition: Split flow models, in which a physician rather than a nurse performs triage, are increasingly being used in hospital emergency departments (EDs) to improve patient flow. Before deciding whether such interventions should be adopted, it is important to understand how split flows causally impact patient flow and outcomes. Methodology/results: We employ causal inference methodology to estimate average causal effects of a split flow model on time to be roomed, time to disposition after being roomed, admission decisions, and ED revisits at a large tertiary teaching hospital that uses a split flow model during certain hours each day. We propose a regression discontinuity design to identify average causal effects, which we formalize with causal diagrams. Using electronic health records data (n = 21,570), we estimate that split flow increases average time to be roomed by about 4.6 minutes (95% confidence interval (95% CI): 2.9, 6.2 minutes) but decreases average time to disposition by 14.4 minutes (95% CI: 4.1, 24.7 minutes), leading to an overall reduction in length of stay. Split flow is also found to decrease admission rates by 5.9% (95% CI: 2.3%, 9.4%) but not at the expense of a significant change in revisit rates. Lastly, we find that the split flow model is especially effective at reducing length of stay during low congestion levels, which mediation analysis partly attributes to early task initiation by the physician assigned to triage. Managerial implications: A split flow model can improve flow and may have downstream effects on admissions but not revisits.

Funding: This work was supported by the National Institutes of Health [Grants KL2TR002374 and UL1TR002373].

Supplemental Material: The online appendix is available at https://doi.org/10.1287/msom.2022.0003