bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Evaluating adolescent outcomes and staff member injuries following treatment on a general psychiatric inpatient unit
Authors: Romani Patrick W. , Anjom Ava , Anderson Tyler , Ariefdjohan Merlin
Published: January 2024

Brief psychiatric hospitalization represents an intervention used to manage acute crisis behaviors (e.g., out-of-control behavior; suicidal ideation) exhibited by children and adolescents. To date, few studies have presented their clinical model of care in addition to key outcome metrics, such as patient outcome and staff injury. Studies sharing this type of information could provide descriptions of desperately needed clinical models to ensure that standards of care for both patients and staff are met on psychiatric inpatient units. The purpose of the current study was to describe one unit’s clinical model emphasizing group therapy grounded in the principles of dialectical behavior therapy within a brief psychiatric inpatient admission (mean length of stay = 8 days). We provide outcome data on patient symptoms of depression, anxiety, and anger upon discharge from the hospital, patient satisfaction with the hospitalization, and staff member safety on the unit. This programming produced statistically significant changes in adolescent symptoms of depression, anxiety, and anger at the time of discharge from their brief psychiatric hospitalization. Patients also reported a high level of satisfaction with the services received. While these outcomes were promising, we recorded a high rate of staff member injury while delivering care. We were unable to identify a patient profile that contributed to staff member injury but did identify relations between staffing ratios, time of day, and staff member injury. We hope to share this information in an attempt to provide additional evidence regarding the effectiveness of these brief inpatient programs as well as to draw awareness to variables that may influence staff member experience on these units.
How safe is safely managed on-site sanitation? What we need to know beyond global monitoring
Authors: Mills Freya , Foster Tim , Kome Antoinette , Munankami Rajeev , Halcrow Gabrielle , Ndungu Antony , Evans Barbara , Willetts Juliet
Published: January 2024

Halfway through the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) period, there has been little research on the criteria for monitoring safely managed sanitation under SDG target 6.2. For reporting against SDGs, global indicators are necessarily limited and exclude many safety aspects from a public and environmental health perspective. Primary survey data from 31,784 households in seven countries in Asia and Africa were analysed, comparing estimates of safely managed on-site sanitation based on global indicators with five complementary indicators of safety: animal access to excreta, flooding and overflow, groundwater contamination, emptying frequency, and the safety of emptying. Application of additional criteria reduced the population with safely managed sanitation by 0.4-38% for specific indicators, with the largest impact due to the risk of groundwater contamination, animal access, and containments overdue for emptying. Combining these indicators across the service chain, excluding transport and treatment, found three-quarters of on-site systems currently assessed as safely managed with global indicators were considered unsafe based on complementary indicators. A more comprehensive assessment of safety of on-site sanitation can be achieved through these indicators, which could be integrated into national monitoring systems and used to inform sanitation investments that address local health related risks.
Ice-assisted soft-landing deposition for van der Waals integration
Authors: Qiu Min , Sun Xinyu , Jin BinBin , Lu Yihan , Zhao Ding
Published: January 2024

Van der Waals integration enables the creation of electronic and optoelectronic devices with unprecedented performance and novel functionalities beyond the existing material limitations. However, it is typically realized using a physical pick-up-and-place process to minimize interfacial damages and is hardly integrated into conventional lithography and metallization procedures. Here we demonstrate a simple and ultra-clean in situ transfer strategy for van der Waals integration, in which a thin film of amorphous water ice acts as a buffer layer to shield against the bombardment of energetic clusters during metallization. After ice sublimation, the deposited metal film can be gently and in situ placed onto underlying substrates, e.g., 2D semiconductors, to form an atomically clean and damage-free metal-semiconductor interface. We use this strategy to demonstrate the non-destructive fabrication of high-quality contacts on monolayer MoS2, which is extremely beneficial to produce a high-performance 2D field-effect transistor with an ultra-high on/off ratio of 1010, mobility of 80 (cm2 V-1s-1), and also with reduced Fermi level pinning effect. Benefiting from the chemical residue-free and gentle fabrication approach, this strategy could also widen the existing range of materials for vdW integration. Our method can be easily integrated with mature semiconductor manufacturing technology and may become a generic strategy for fabricating van der Waals contacted devices.
Graphitic carbon nitride supported Fe single-atom nanozymes synergize with nitrate reductase for photobiocatalytic nitrate conversion
Authors: An Xiaoqiang , Bian Jiyong , Zhao Jing , Lan Xianen , Liao Yang , Liu Ruiping , Liang Minmin , Tang Junwang , Liu Huijuan , Qu Jiuhui
Published: January 2024

Nitrate reduction is of paramount importance for both the restoration of natural ecosystems and the sustainable development of chemical industries, but faces challenges in the rate-limiting step of nitrate-nitrite conversion and the poor product selectivity of the multielectron reactions. Herein, we demonstrate a nitrate-to-nitrite photosynthesis route catalyzed by a biotic-abiotic nanoarchitecture composed of carbon nitride (C3N4) supported Fe single-atom nanozymes combined with native nitrate reductases. Under visible light irradiation, the photobiocatalyst exhibits a state-of-the-art capability for nitrate conversion, with nearly 100% selectivity of nitrate and an unprecedented reaction kinetic constant that far exceeds those of all reported visible-light-driven photocatalysts. The strong binding affinity of nanozyme to the reaction substrate contributes to the 68.9- and 20.2-fold enhancement in the activity compared to artificial C3N4 photocatalyst and natural NarGHI biocatalyst, respectively, far exceeding the biological enzymes and reported enzyme-mimicking nanomaterials for nitrate conversion. Mechanistic studies at the atomic- and molecular levels reveal that Fe single atoms and cyano (-C ≡ N) groups on C3N4 mimic the heme bD and heme bP in the NarI subunit and construct a unique electron transfer chain between the biotic-abiotic interface under visible light irradiation, contributing to efficient and selective nitrate reduction to nitrite via photobiocatalysis. This work represents a promising biotic-abiotic platform to address the bottleneck problems of nitrate conversion, offering new opportunities for the sustainable removal of nitrogen from water and ammonia energy production with low energy consumption and carbon emission.
Static Aeroelastic Rolling of a Highly Flexible Wing - Pazy Wing with Aileron
Authors: de Melo Felipe Buarque Cordeiro , Bussamra Flavio L. S. , Verri Angelo A.
Published: January 2024

There is an increasing trend towards the use of higher aspect-ratio wings on commercial transport aircraft over the years. The well-known effect of slender wings on reducing fuel consumption are leading wing designs to higher aspect ratios and higher flexibility. There are many studies about the effects of geometric nonlinearities on aeroelastic behavior of high aspect-ratio, very flexible, wings. However, geometric nonlinearities may also significantly impact wings’ aeroelastic behavior under nonsymmetrical conditions, specially when ailerons are deflected. Within this context, this work presents a static Fluid-Structure Interaction approach to evaluate the rolling characteristics of very flexible wings. First a modified version of the very flexible Pazy Wing, from Aeroelastic Prediction Workshop (AEPW-3), is proposed, now equipped with ailerons. Then, this work proposes a new framework to consider the geometric nonlinearity in a fluid-structure interaction, it loosely couples Full Potential aerodynamic solver with Implicit Nonlinear structural solver. The presented method was applied considering both linear and nonlinear structural analyses, with multiple aileron deflection angles. The results show that considering or neglecting geometric nonlinearities leads to qualitatively divergent predictions.
Rightward brain structural asymmetry in young children with autism
Authors: Cao Miao , Geng Shujie , Dai Yuan , Rolls Edmund , Liu Yuqi , Zhang Yue , Deng Lin , Chen Zilin , Feng Jianfeng , Li Fei
Published: January 2024

To understand the neural mechanisms of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and developmental delay/intellectual disability (DD/ID) that can be associated with ASD, it is important to include brain, behavioural and also genetic measures and to investigate individuals at an early age, but such research is still lacking. Here, using structural MRI of 1030 children under 8 years old, we employed developmental normative models to investigate the atypical development of gray matter volume (GMV) asymmetry in individuals with ASD without DD/ID, ASD with DD/ID, and individuals with only DD/ID, and their associations with behavioural and clinical measures and transcription profiles. By computing the individual deviations from typical controls, we found increased right- vs left laterality in ASD children in the inferior parietal cortex and precentral cortex, and also higher variability in temporal pole asymmetry. In addition, ASD with DD/ID children had some cortical regions (e.g. the isthmus cingulate) with leftward asymmetry; ASD without DD/ID children had some cortical regions (e.g. the parahippocampal gyrus) with higher variability in asymmetry; and children with DD/ID without ASD showed no significant differences in asymmetry. The GMV laterality of ASD without DD/ID children was associated with ASD symptoms, whereas the laterality of ASD with DD/ID children was associated with both ASD symptoms and verbal IQ. Last, the GMV laterality of all three groups was significantly associated with shared and unique gene expression profiles. Our findings provide evidence for rightward GMV asymmetry of some cortical regions in young children (1–7 years) in a large sample (1030 cases), show that these asymmetries are related to ASD symptoms, and identify genes that are significantly associated with these differences.
An Automatic Ametropia Examination based on EEG Signals
Authors: Zhou Huaixuan , Zhang Ruyi , Fan Chixuan , Ren Hongyi , Ma Qingkai , Han Yishi , Gong Jianyang
Published: January 2024

Regular ametropia examination of human eye can effectively prevent the aggravation of ametropia. However, the use of the traditional ametropia examination method is limited to complicated manual operations and necessary communication between doctors and patients. In this study, we proposed a novel ametropia examination method, which determine the degree of ametropia by automatically processing and analyzing the event-related potentials (ERP), one kind of evoked electroencephalogram (EEG) signal. Specifically, we studied the correlation between one’s ametropia degree and his ERP signal features, and established the ametropia classification model based on ERP for the first time. In order to stably induce ERP from subjects, we designed a compound visual stimulus paradigm, which integrated three types of stimulus pictures to provide non-single stimulus. Furthermore, to realize automatic signal processing, we devised the eye movement artifact removal algorithm based on standard deviation as the threshold, the ERP component location algorithm based on peak and valley, and feature extraction formulas. In the test experiment, the examination accuracy of the method for low, moderate, and high ametropia is 86.29%, 80.95% and 90.98% respectively. And the average time of ERP feature extraction is 0.012 seconds. When 1.5 standard deviation was set as the threshold, the method can effectively identify and eliminate eye movement artifacts, and retain effective EEG signals. Compared with the traditional ametropia examination method, a novel ametropia classification model based on ERP proposed in this study can realize automatic ametropia examination by oneself and is more suitable for daily family examination.
Pollutants Exceedances Modeling using Non-Homogeneous Poisson Processes: A Case Study for Medellín and Bogotá, 2018-2020
Authors: Montoya Karen Melissa Gómez , Sierra Biviana Marcela Suárez , Taimal Carlos A.
Published: January 2024

In this paper, we present an alternative method to model the exceedances of the Colombian and global environmental standards for three pollutants, PM2.5, PM10 y O3, for the cities Colombia of Bogota´ and Medell´ın during the period of 2018-2020. The aforementioned is done using a stochastic model denominated the Non-Homogeneous Poisson Process with estimation employing Bayesian com putational methods. Through the usage of this methodology, it is intended to fit models with a highly predictive component for the case of Colombia and to allow interpretability through the parameters. Said methodology will allow for decisions to be made in terms of public policies. The best found models will, in the end, be all those that take into consideration the presence of two change-points or instants of variation. The change-points are given by the behavior of the country’s climate, public policies to mitigate pollution, the mandatory quarantine because of COVID-19 and infrastructure projects.
Seasonal dynamics and diversity of Antarctic marine viruses reveal a novel viral seascape
Authors: Piedade Gonçalo J. , Schön Max E. , Lood Cédric , Fofanov Mikhail V. , Wesdorp Ella M. , Biggs Tristan E.G. , Wu Lingyi , Bolhuis Henk , Fischer Matthias G. , Yutin Natalya , Dutilh Bas E. , Brussaard Corina P. D.
Published: January 2024

The Southern Ocean microbial ecosystem, with its pronounced seasonal shifts, is vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. Since viruses are key modulators of microbial abundance, diversity, and evolution, we need a better understanding of the effects of seasonality on the viruses in this region. Our comprehensive exploration of viral diversity in the Southern Ocean revealed a unique and largely uncharted viral landscape, of which 75% was previously unidentified in other oceanic areas. We uncovered novel viral taxa at high taxonomic ranks, expanding our understanding of crassphage, polinton-like virus, and virophage diversity. Our results indicate that Nucleocytoviricota viruses are an important and diverse group of Antarctic viruses, which regulate phytoplankton population dynamics. Our temporal analysis reveals complex seasonal patterns in viral populations, highlighting the interplay between bacteriophages, eukaryotic viruses, and their microbial hosts, whilst deepening our understanding of their roles in the world's most sensitive and rapidly changing ecosystem.
Integrative Radiomics Clustering Analysis in Breast Cancer: Deciphering Heterogeneity and Prognostic Indicators through multiparametric MRI
Authors: qi xuan , he yongsheng , Duan Shaofeng , wang Wuling , Yang Hongkai , Pan Shuya , Cheng Weiqun , Xia Liang
Published: January 2024

Background
Breast cancer diagnosis and treatment have been revolutionized by advances in imaging techniques, particularly multiparametric Magnetic Resonance Imaging (mpMRI). This study aims to leverage mpMRI to enhance the understanding of breast cancer heterogeneity and improve diagnostic accuracy.
Methods
We conducted a comprehensive analysis of 194 breast cancer patients using mpMRI, which included T2-weighted imaging (T2WI), ZOOMit-Diffusion weighted imaging (ZOOMit-DWI), and Dynamic Contrast-Enhanced (DCE) MRI phase 2 and phase 7. Radiomics features were extracted using the open-source Python package 'pyradiomics'. Unsupervised analysis was performed using the MOVICS package, integrating various multi-omics clustering methods. The patients were clustered into different subtypes, and the associations between the subtypes and clinical prognostic indicators were investigated using univariate analyses.
Results
In total, 194 patients were included in the study with a mean age of 54.9 years and a predominance of Luminal B subtype (47.7%), followed by Luminal A (22.3%). Two mpMR-based radiomics subtypes were identified. Patient demographics showed no significant age difference between Subtype1 (average age 55.3 years, n = 109) and Subtype 2 (average age 54.4 years, n = 84) (p = 0.57). A significant disparity in molecular subtypes was observed between the groups, particularly in Luminal A subtype distribution (16.514% in Subtype 1 vs. 29.762% in Subtype 2, p = 0.03). Significant differences were also noted in hormone receptor status, with estrogen receptor (ER) (p = 0.01) and progesterone receptor (PR) (p = 0.04) differing notably between two subtypes. Group 1 presented a larger mean tumor size (p<0.01) and more varied histological grades (p<0.01). Lymph node metastasis (LNM) and edema showed significant differences (p<0.05).
Conclusions
Our study underscores the potential of mpMRI in enhancing breast cancer diagnostics. The radiomics-based cluster analysis offers a novel approach to categorizing breast cancer, providing insights into tumor heterogeneity and aiding in the development of personalized treatment strategies.
Accounting for surge dynamics is key to modeling tropical cyclone-induced coastal flooding
Authors: Vogt Thomas , Treu Simon , Mengel Matthias , Frieler Katja , Otto Christian
Published: January 2024

Tropical cyclone-induced storm surge is a major coastal risk which will be further amplified by rising sea levels under global warming. The surge-induced floodplains are commonly modeled using a two-step approach by first producing coastal water levels which are, secondly, translated into inundated areas. Here, we evaluate an alternative approach where ocean dynamics and coastal inundation are modeled in a single step using the open-source solver GeoClaw that accounts for the event-specific variation over time of flood drivers. We compute the surge-induced flood extents for a global set of 71 storms from 2000-2019. We show that GeoClaw better reproduces satellite observations and high water marks than two different common modeling approaches that lack a process-based representation of inundation dynamics: a state-of-the-art two-step approach combining a full-scale ocean dynamics with a static (bathtub-type) inundation model and a lightweight approach that directly translates parametric tropical cyclone wind fields into inundation maps using statistical relationships. GeoClaw does not reach the performance of the ocean dynamics model in reproducing coastal water levels, but this deficiency is overcompensated by the dynamic modeling of inundated areas. The computational efficiency of the one-step approach opens up new perspectives for global assessments of coastal risks from tropical cyclones.
Effect of SHAM on the activity of coumoxystrobin against Phytophthora litchii
Authors: Jing Suyue , Zhu Fadi , Wen Xiaodong , Zhang Jing , Feng Gang
Published: January 2024

Litchi downy blight, caused by Phytophthora litchii, presents significant challenges to litchi production, storage, and transportation. Previous studies have shown that coumoxystrobin exhibits effective inhibitory activity against P. litchii. Salicylhydroxamic acid (SHAM), an alternative respiratory pathway inhibitor, is commonly used to evaluate the efficacy of cytochrome respiratory pathway inhibitor like coumoxystrobin against fungal phytopathogens in vitro. In this study, the toxicity of SHAM on various developmental stages of P. litchii, including mycelial growth, sporangial germination, zoospore release, and cystospore germination, was assessed. The EC50 values for SHAM were determined as 166.72, 150.69, 333.97, and 240.91 μg/mL, respectively. Subsequently, the activity of coumoxystrobin against P. litchii was assessed in the presence of SHAM at a concentration of 50 μg/mL, which showed slight inhibition below 20% for all four developmental stages. The addition of SHAM significantly improved the inhibitory activity of coumoxystrobin against P. litchii at different stages, with reductions in EC50 values ranging from 7.55- to 122.92-fold. Moreover, respiration assays revealed that a concentration of 5 μg/mL coumoxystrobin inhibited P. litchii mycelial respiration to a lesser extent compared to the combined effect of coumoxystrobin and SHAM. SHAM also enhanced the control efficacy of coumoxystrobin against phytophthora blight development on litchi leaves. Previously, we reported that coumoxystrobin effectively controls postharvest downy mildew on litchi fruit. Consequently, coumoxystrobin holds promise as an agent for litchi downy blight control in the field and after harvest. Furthermore, similar to previous studies, SHAM, an alternative oxidase (AOX) inhibitor, was found to significantly enhance the activity of the two aforementioned QoI fungicides against P. litchii, both in vitro and in vivo. This suggests that further exploration of AOX inhibitors and the role of AOX in plant diseases could contribute to the rational use of QoI fungicides and improve control efficiency for plant diseases.
Why is stunting highest in Western Uganda?
Authors: Asiimwe John Bosco , Nzabona Abel , Tuyiragize Richard , Kakuba Christian , Sendege Susan Habert
Published: January 2024

Background
Stunted children have high risk of death and over 40 percent globally are in Sub-Sahara Africa. In Uganda, 29 percent of children under-five are stunted and this has remained high over the last one decade but worse in the Western region of the country.
Methods
We used pooled Uganda Demographic and Health Survey (UDHS) data from 2001 to 2016 to establish factors that could explain stunting among children aged 24 to 59 months by applying a logit regression model.
Results
Results show that children whose mothers had attained higher levels of education were significantly associated with reduced odds (0.3) of stunting compared to those with no education. Children whose mothers had no access to health information were significantly associated with increased odds (1.4) of stunting compared to those who had access. Children who had had diarrhea two weeks prior to the survey were associated with higher odds (1.5) of stunting compared to those who did not have it.
Conclusions
The findings call for increased education of the girl child, increased access to health information to mothers, prevention and prompt treatment of diarrhea.
Association of prenatal Cleft Lip and Palate ultrasound abnormalities with copy number variants at a single Chinese tertiary center
Authors: Yan Shujuan , Yu Qiuxia , Zhou Hang , Huang Ruibin , Wang You , Ma Chunling , Guo Fei , Fu Fang , Li Ru , Li Fucheng , Jin Xiangyi , Zhen Li , Pan Min , Li Dongzhi , Liao Can
Published: January 2024

Backgroud: A systematic analysis was conducted to investigate the molecular etiology of fetal cleft lip and/or palate (CL/CP) and the association between various types of CL/CP and copy number variations (CNVs), as well as their impact on birth outcomes.
Methods:In this retrospective study, a cohort of pregnancies diagnosed with fetal CL/CP was enrolled and comprehensive clinical data for all cases were extracted from our medical record database, including demographic data about the pregnancies, ultrasound findings, results of Chromosomal microarray (CMA), as well as relevant pregnant and perinatal outcomes.
Results:Among the 358 cases, 32 clinically significant variants in 29 (8.1%)fetuses with CL/CP were detected by CMA. In 338 singleton pregnancies, the diagnostic yield of CMA in the context of CL/CP fetuses was determined to be 7.7% (26/338). CP-only cases exhibited a relatively higher prevalence of pathogenic/likely pathogenic (P/LP) CNVs at a rate of 25% (3/12), followed by CLP-only cases at 8.0% (23/288). Notably, the CL-only group did not demonstrate any P/LP CNV findings among the examined cases (0/38). The diagnostic rate of clinically significant variants was significantly higher in the non-isolated CL/CP group than in the isolated CL/CP group (11/33, 33.3% vs. 15/305, 4.9%, p<0.001). In twin pregnancies, 3 clinically significant variants (15.0%) were detected in the other 20 twin pregnancies.
Conclusions: This study provides powerful evidence supporting the efficacy of CMA as a valuable tool for facilitating the prenatal genetic diagnosis of fetal CL/CP. The presence of CP and CLP in fetal cases demonstrated a relatively higher incidence of P/LP CNVs. Moreover, when these cases were accompanied by additional ultrasound abnormalities, the likelihood of identifying diagnostic CNVs significantly increased. Conversely, cases of CL alone might not be associated with positive CNVs. The present data may significantly enhance prenatal diagnosis accuracy and facilitate informed genetic counseling for individuals affected by fetal CL/CP.
Extended Monotonic Results Related to Fractional Derivatives
Authors: Ansary Md Abu Talhamainuddin , Shaw Barsha
Published: January 2024

In this paper, we discuss the monotonous results with fractional derivatives in interval (1,2). We have adopted some ideas of α-order Riemann-Liouville fractional derivative and Caputo fractional derivative in our derivations. Some theoretical results are developed in this context. In addition to this, some numerical examples are included to justify these results. Further, we extend these results for generalized intervals.
Mathematics Subject Classification (2010) 26A33 (primary) · 26A48 ·26A42
Aberrant course of the right petrous internal carotid artery (ICA) associated with right type 1 proatlantal artery and bilateral occipital arteries arising from the ICA diagnosed by computed tomography angiography
Authors: Uchino Akira , Tokushige Kazuo
Published: January 2024

Purpose
To describe a case of multiple extremely rare cervical arterial variations.
Methods
A 55-year-old man with a tentative diagnosis of right internal carotid artery (ICA) stenosis was examined using computed tomography (CT) angiography for the evaluation of vascular lesions in the neck and head region. A 64-slice CT machine was used.
Results
On CT angiography, there was laterally located and narrowed petrous segment of the right ICA, indicative of aberrant course of the petrous ICA. Right vertebral artery (VA) was small in caliber and a relatively large anomalous artery arose from the proximal right ICA. This anomalous artery entered the posterior fossa via the foramen magnum, indicative of a type 1 proatlantal artery. Right occipital artery (OA) arose from the proximal ICA. The left OA also arose from the proximal ICA.
Conclusion
An aberrant course of the petrous ICA is an extremely rare arterial variation which is formed by segmental agenesis of the cervical ICA, and the collateral channel passes through the middle ear cavity. It can be dangerous during middle ear surgery. The type 1 proatlantal artery is also an extremely rare arterial variation formed by the persistence of the proatlantal intersegmental artery. It is clinically significant because of its unique blood flow from the carotid system to the vertebrobasilar system. The OA rarely arises from the proximal ICA. Identification of these cervical arterial variations before surgery and vascular intervention are important to avoid complications during the procedure.
Successfully anticipated difficult airway management of a “can ventilate, but cannot intubate” situation for urgent laparoscopic appendectomy in a patient with Duchenne muscular dystrophy
Authors: Brunner Fabian Peter , Neth Philippe , Kaserer Alexander
Published: January 2024

Background: Airway management in Duchenne patients can be challenging. We present a case of an anticipated difficult airway in a Duchenne patient that was managed by planning different suitable strategies based on the unanticipated difficult airway algorithm of the Difficult Airway Society (DAS).
Case presentation: The patient initially presented with appendicitis, requiring laparoscopic appendectomy within 6 hours. Due to the underlying condition and a known difficult airway, we anticipated potential airway problems and successfully managed the "can ventilate but cannot intubate" situation using the algorithm. The difficult airway was attributed to reduced mandibular mobility, limited inclination or reclination, a large tongue, prominent incisors, and a posteriorly positioned epiglottis. Despite thorough preparation and team briefing, we experienced three failed intubation attempts. Considering limited nighttime resources, the urgency of surgery, the need for a tube for laparoscopy, and the risk of exacerbating airway issues, we made the decision to awaken the patient and wait for a second attempt after the epiglottis swelling had subsided. We used reversible, short-acting agents for induction, enabling us to continue with the algorithm within the allotted timeframe. In a second stage, we successfully performed fiberoptic-guided intubation via a supraglottic airway device using the Aintree intubation catheter, utilizing more favorable resources.
Conclusion: For a patient with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy and a difficult airway, advanced expertise is critical. Detailed anesthesia planning, clear team communication, and the use of reversible, short-acting agents are crucial. Adherence to the Difficult Airway Society guidelines is essential for safe airway management.
Effect of the Surface Dimples on the Exit Dynamics of a Sphere at a Constant Velocity
Authors: Ashraf Intesaaf , Dorbolo Stephane
Published: January 2024

This article experimentally investigates the exit dynamics of two different spheres i.e. a smooth sphere and a sphere with dimples at a constant speed. Employing high-speed experimental observations, the study investigates the key characteristic lengths and hydrodynamic forces between the sphere's surface and water. The experiments were performed at different traveling speeds (or Froude numbers). The results shed light on the drag force coefficient, entrainment force coefficient, and cross-over force coefficient. In this paper, we have shown that the surface dimples not only affect the drag force but also the entrainment force. However, the cross-over force coefficient remains the same.
Design of Novel Saposin-like Bacteriocins Using a Hybrid Approach
Authors: Oftedal Thomas Førland , Diep Dzung B. , Kjos Morten
Published: January 2024

A multitude of approaches will be required to respond to the threat posed by the emergence and spread of antibiotic resistant pathogens. Bacteriocins have gained increasing attention as a possible alternative to antibiotics, as such peptide antimicrobials have mechanisms of action different from antibiotics and are therefore equally potent against antibiotic resistant bacteria as their susceptible counterparts. A group of bacteriocins known as saposin-like bacteriocins are believed to act directly on the bacterial membrane. Based on seven saposin-like leaderless bacteriocins, we have constructed a library of hybrid peptides containing all combinations of the N- and C-terminal halves of the native bacteriocins. All hybrid peptides were synthesized using in vitro protein expression and assayed for antimicrobial activity towards several pathogens. Of the 42 hybrid peptides, antimicrobial activity was confirmed for 11 novel hybrid peptides. Furthermore, several of the hybrid peptides exhibited altered antimicrobial spectra and apparent increase in potency compared to the peptides from which they were derived. The most promising hybrid, termed ISP26, was then obtained synthetically and shown to inhibit most of the Gram-positive species tested, including opportunistic pathogens and food spoilage bacteria. Additionally, ISP26 was shown to inhibit Acinetobacter, a species of Gram-negative bacteria frequently isolated from nosocomial infections. The activity of the hybrid library provides valuable insights into the design and screening of new active bacteriocins.
Peripheral blood lymphocyte subsets and heterogeneity of B cell subsets in patients of idiopathic inflammatory myositis with different myositis-specific autoantibodies
Authors: Pan Zhou , Li Mengdi , Zhang Panpan , Li Tianqi , Liu Rui , Liu Jia , Liu Shengyun , Zhang Yusheng
Published: January 2024

Objective
To explore the characteristics and clinical significance of lymphocyte subsets, especially B cell subsets in patients with idiopathic inflammatory myositis (IIM).
Methods
A total of 176 patients with IIM in active disease condition and 210 gender/age-matched healthy controls (HCs) were included in our study. Demographic characteristics and lymphocyte subset patterns were compared between the two groups. In addition, B cell subsets from 153 patients with IIM and 92 HCs were characterized. Based on principal component analysis (PCA) of B cell subsets, patients with IIM were classified into three different subgroups by hierarchical cluster analysis. Subsequently, demographic characteristics, antibody types and clinical characteristics were compared among the subgroups.
Results
Patients with IIM have reduced counts of peripheral lymphocyte subsets compared with HCs, which included T cells, B cells, and natural killer cells. Also, B cell subsets were altered in patients with IIM. The percentages of memory B cells and translational memory B cells were reduced, while CD19 + B cells, plasmablast and naïve B cells were increased. Moreover, to explore the heterogeneity of B cells in IIM patients, patients were categorized into 3 clusters based on B cell subset clustering analysis. Cluster 1 was dominated by CD19 + B cells, Bregs and Naïve B cells, cluster 3 was dominated by Memory B cells and plasmablast, and the proportion of B cell subsets in cluster 2 was in between. Notably, the patients of cluster 1 had the highest proportion of anti-TIF1-γ antibodies, whereas cluster 3 showed an elevated proportion of anti-MDA5 + antibodies. Chest tightness was more prominent in clusters 2 and 3 compared to clusters 1. Moreover, B cell subsets were correlated with multiple laboratory parameters.
Conclusion
Our study indicated that lymphopenia is a common manifestation in patients with IIM. B cell subsets are abnormally expressed and showed high heterogeneity in patients with IIM by cluster analysis. The clinical characteristics and laboratory parameters differed among the three clusters.
Determination and Validation of Tiaprofenic Acid in Human Plasma: A Detailed LC-MS/MS-Based Analysis Following ICH M10 Guidelines and the Accuracy Profile Approach
Authors: Bouchafra Houda , Orche Aimen El , Khabbaz Choukri El , Cheikh Amine , Faouzi My El Abbes , Cherrah Yahia , Zarayby Lhoussaine , Hirri Aziz
Published: January 2024

The validation of bioanalytical methods holds critical importance for regulatory agencies and organizations dedicated to ensuring the safety, efficacy, and quality of pharmaceuticals. In this context, the recent release of the ICH M10 guideline in May 2022 represents a significant milestone in standardizing bioanalytical method validation globally. However, this guideline lacks explicit experimental protocols for implementation. In this study, we address the practical implementation of the newly released ICH M10 guideline by providing a detailed validation protocol for a bioanalytical method. Our method specifically targets tiaprofenic acid, a widely used nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug. Tiaprofenic acid is a critical component in bioequivalence studies, underscoring the necessity for precise and accurate quantification within complex biological matrices. The integration of the accuracy profile approach, a statistical tool, enhances the significance of this work. This approach aids in assessing the accuracy and precision of bioanalytical methods, establishing confidence intervals around measured concentrations and quantifying the level of accuracy and precision expected when using the validated method. Overall, this study contributes to advancing bioanalytical science, aligning with the latest ICH guidelines, and emphasizing the importance of validated methods supported by modern statistical approaches like the accuracy profile. It underscores the commitment to maintaining the highest standards of quality and reliability in bioanalysis, which is crucial for ensuring public health and advancing drug therapies.
Economic Burden of Atrial Fibrillation Disease in Iran
Authors: Mohammadi Saeedeh , Rezapur Aziz , Azari Samad , Moein Mehdi
Published: January 2024

Background: Cardiovascular disease is recognized as the leading cause of death worldwide and is one of the most serious health problems worldwide. The sixth leading cause of death from CVD is atrial fibrillation. Atrial fibrillation has a major impact on public health, especially due to the increased risk of stroke and hospitalization as a result of increased costs. Healthcare policymakers and planners need awareness of the cost of the disease to make decisions to allocate resources optimally.
Methods: This cross-sectional study included 352 AF patients who were chosen at random from a specialist cardiovascular hospital in Iran. The cost of disease and human capital resources were used to calculate the direct and indirect costs of AF. To estimate direct and mortality costs, data were collected using a researcher-made checklist obtained from several sources, including structured interviews; the Statistical Center of Iran; Iran's Ministry of Cooperatives, Labor, and Social Welfare; the Central Bank of Iran; and data on global disease burden obtained from the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation. Iranian Rials (IRRs) were used to determine all expenditures.
Results: Atrial fibrillation disease imposes a significant economic burden on the economic system of Iran (study case). The total direct medical cost was calculated to be 718,095,752 riyals for each patient. The average cost of lost time created per patient day due to atrial fibrillation was estimated to be 16,357,092,258 rials. Most of the medical costs were related to hoteling costs (34/30), and the lowest amount of medical costs was related to nursing service costs (5/84). The economic burden for each patient was 1,712,049,0993 riyals during the year, for a discount rate of 3%. The economic burden of AF disease in West Azerbaijan Province was 31,552,693,043,034,628rials, and in Iran, it was 1,326,045,072,463 x 107 million.
Conclusion: AF has significant economic costs for society. The best way to address these diseases and therefore reduce costs is to change and correct risk-taking behaviors that make a person harmless to those diseases. Healthcare policymakers and planners need awareness of these expenses to make decisions to allocate resources optimally. Therefore, policymakers should take this into account in national health policies and, depending on the country’s capabilities, provide facilities and services to prevent and address dangerous behaviors and treat these groups of diseases.
The infectivity of AAV9 is influenced by the specific location and extent of chemically modified capsid residues
Authors: Milagros Sergio , de Erenchun Pablo Ramírez-Ruiz , Guembe Maite , Carte Beatriz , Mendez Miriam , Uribarri Ander , Aldabe Rafael
Published: January 2024

Background
Several treatments for genetic diseases utilizing recombinant adeno-associated viruses (AAVs) have recently gained approval. However, the development of a greater number of therapeutic AAVs is constrained by certain limitations. While extensive efforts have concentrated on screening AAV genetic libraries, an alternative strategy involves modifying the AAV capsid by attaching various moieties. The capsid of AAV plays a pivotal role in transducing target cells and evading immune responses, making modifications a key avenue for engineering improved variants.
Results
In our study, we replaced specific AAV9 capsid residues with an unnatural amino acid bearing a bioorthogonal group, identifying four positions with no adverse impact on production. Utilizing click chemistry, we attached varying proportions of Cy5.5 to these positions, allowing us to assess the impact of these modifications on AAV9 infectivity in cultured cells. Our findings reveal that both the position and degree of capsid modification significantly affect AAV transduction. While higher amounts of attached molecules lead to an increased number of AAV genomes within cells, this does not positively impact transgene expression. Conversely, a negative impact on transgene expression is observed when the AAV capsid is highly modified, with the degree of this effect associated with the modified residue.
Conclusion
Careful control of both the degree and specific position of capsid modifications is crucial for optimizing transduction efficiency and minimizing undesired effects on transgene expression. These results underscore the importance of precision in AAV capsid modification to achieve optimal transduction efficiency while mitigating potential drawbacks on transgene expression.
Transcriptome and metabolome analysis reveals mechanism of light intensity modulating iridoids biosynthesis in Gentiana macrophylla Pall.
Authors: Fu Huanhuan , Wang Yaomin , Mi Fakai , Wang Li , Yang Ye , Wang Fang , Yue Zhenggang , He Yihan
Published: January 2024

Light intensity is a key factor affecting the synthesis of secondary metabolites in plants. However, the response mechanism of metabolites and genes in G. macrophylla under different light intensities have not been determined. In the present study, G. macrophylla seedlings were treated with LED light intensities at 15 µmol/m2/s (low light, LL), 90 µmol/m2/s (medium light, ML) and 200 µmol/m2/s (high light, HL), and the leaves were collected at 5-day for further investigation. A total of 2162 metabolites were detected, in which, the abundant metabolites were identified as flavonoids, carbohydrates, terpenoids and amino acids. A total of 3313 and 613 differential expression genes (DEGs) were identified after HL and LL groups, respectively, compared to the ML group, enriched in KEGG pathways such as carotenoid biosynthesis, carbon metabolism, glycolysis/gluconeogenesis, amino acids biosynthesis, plant MAPK pathway and plant hormone signaling. In which, the transcription factors GmMYB5 and GmbHLH20 were found to be significantly correlated with loganic acid biosynthesis; the expression of photosystem-related enzyme genes was changed under different light intensities, regulating the expression of enzyme genes involved in the carotenoid, chlorophyll, glycolysis and amino acids pathway and thus affecting their metabolic biosynthesis. As a result, low light inhibited photosynthesis, thus, delaying glycolysis, accumulating certain amino acids and decreasing loganic acid production, while high light got an opposite trend. Our research contributed significantly to understanding the molecular mechanism of light intensity in controlling metabolic accumulation in G. macrophylla.
MicroRNA320e augments the synthetic lethality of olaparib by regulating homologous recombination repair via PI3K-AKT-mTOR pathway
Authors: Zheng Wei , Meng Qianlong , Deng Yunhan , Liu Ruizhen , Bai Siyu , Jia Lonyu , Wang Jing , Bai Huimin
Published: January 2024

Background: With the increase of drug resistance in ovarian cancer(OC), poly ADP-ribose polymerase inhibitors (PARPi) for the treatment of homologous recombination repair defects (HRD) have faced new challenges. MicroRNA320e (miR-320e) plays a negative regulatory role in the progression of many cancers. Therefore, we overexpressed miR-320e in both A2780 cells with HRD and SKOV3 cells without HRD.
Methods: 20 patients with high-grade serous ovarian cancer (HGSOC)and 20 patients with benign conditions were included in the experiment, and the expression
of miR-320e and FN1 were measured through fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) and immunohistochemistry experiments. CCK8, clone formation experiment, EdU assay and Transwell experiment were used to determine the proliferation, invasion, and migration ability of OC cells. The determination of the degree of cell apoptosis were achieved through flow cytometry and immunofluorescence experiments. The effects of miR-320e on the PI3K-AKT-mTOR signaling pathway and autophagy and cell apoptosis were validated through Western Blot experiments. In addition, the xenograft tumor growth study in nude mice investigated how miR-320e affects ovarian cancer progression in vivo. In addition, this study also investigated whether miR-320e affects the sensitivity of OC cells to Olaparib treatment in vitro and in vivo.
Results: The expression level of miR-320e is low, while the expression level of FN1 is actually high in the HGSOC patients. The results showed that after transfection with miR-320e, the proliferation, invasion, and migration abilities of both cells were significantly reduced, while the degree of autophagy and apoptosis increased(all p<0.05). The PI3K-AKT-mTOR signaling pathway was also significantly inhibited in the two-cell treatment groups (all p<0.05). Meanwhile, overexpression of miR-320e significantly inhibited tumor growth in nude mice(P<0.05). At the same time, the experimental results showed that overexpression of miR-320e could enhance the sensitivity of OC cells to olaparib therapy (all p<0.05).
Conclusions: Our study showed that miR-320e, as a key signaling molecule upstream affecting the malignant progression of ovarian cancer, inhibits the activation of PI3K-AKT-mTOR signaling pathway by negatively regulating the expression of downstream FN1 gene, thereby inhibiting the malignant development of ovarian cancer and promoting the sensitivity of cancer cells to olaparib therapy in vivo and in vitro.
Continuous training in young athletes decreases hepcidin secretion and is positively correlated with serum 25(OH)D and ferritin
Authors: Kobayashi Yukiko , Taniguchi Rikako , Shirasaki Emiko , Yoshimoto-Segawa Yuko , Aoi Wataru , Kuwahata Masashi
Published: January 2024

Purpose Iron deficiency is known to impair muscle function and reduce athletic performance, while vitamin D has been reported to induce iron deficiency. However, the mechanism underlying exercise-induced changes in iron metabolism and the involvement of vitamins in this mechanism are unclear.Methods We examined changes in biological iron metabolism induced by continuous training and the effects of vitamin D on these changes. Diet, physical characteristics, and blood test data were collected from 23 female high school students in a dance club over a 2-month period of continuous training and rest periods.Results Serum hepcidin-25 levels were significantly lower during the training period than the rest period (p = 0.013), as were the red blood cell count, hemoglobin, and hematocrit (all p < 0.001). Serum erythropoietin was significantly higher (p = 0.001) during the training period. Significant positive correlations were observed between 25(OH)D levels and serum iron, serum ferritin, and transferrin saturation during the training period.Conclusion Multiple regression analysis with serum 25(OH)D level as the dependent variable and serum ferritin and iron levels as independent variables during the training period revealed a significant association with serum ferritin. Therefore, the relationship between serum 25(OH)D and iron in vivo may be closely related to metabolic changes induced by the exercise load.