bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Casearia tomentosa fruit extracts exposed larvicidal activity and morphological alterations in Culex quinquefasciatus and Aedes albopictus under in vitro and semi field conditions
Authors: Mandal Priyanka , Chandra Goutam
Published: January 2024

Mosquitoes are notorious insects that transmit a wide range of infectious diseases, including zika, malaria, chikungunya, filariasis, and dengue. The overuse and incorrect application of synthetic pesticides to control mosquitoes has resulted in resistance development and environmental contamination, both of which have had a negative impact on human health. To address this issue, the larvicidal and pupicidal potential of acetone extract from Casearia tomentosa fruits was investigated. The extract was evaluated in a lab setting against all larval instars and pupa of Culex quinquefasciatus and Aedes albopictus, as well as against third instar larvae in a semi-field condition. Purified compounds through TLC were also tested against 3rd instar larvae of both mosquito and non-target organisms. The FT-IR and GC-MS analyses were used to characterise the extract. Morphological aberration caused by the acetone extract was observed using FESEM. The anal gills and respiratory siphon of both mosquitoes showed significant deformation from their normal state. 100 ppm was found to cause 100% larval mortality at 24 h of exposure in case of Cx. quinquefasciatus and at 72 h of exposure in Ae. albopictus larvae. After 72 h of exposure under in vitro conditions, the extract demonstrated considerable larvicidal activity with LC50 values of 38.33 and 47.56 against 3rd instar larvae of Culex quinquefasciatus and Aedes albopictus, respectively. The acetone extract can be considered as a highly effective mosquito larvicidal agent that is safe for the environment.

Graphical abstract
Digital Clock and Recall is superior to the Mini-Mental State Examination for the detection of mild cognitive impairment and mild dementia
Authors: Jannati Ali , Toro-Serey Claudio , Gomes-Osman Joyce , Banks Russell , Ciesla Marissa , Showalter John , Bates David , Tobyne Sean , Pascual-Leone Alvaro
Published: January 2024

Background

Disease-modifying treatments for Alzheimer’s disease highlight the need for early detection of cognitive decline. However, at present, most primary care providers do not perform routine cognitive testing, in part due to a lack of access to practical cognitive assessments, as well as time and resources to administer and interpret the tests. Brief and sensitive digital cognitive assessments, such as the Digital Clock and Recall (DCR™), have the potential to address this need. Here, we examine the advantages of DCR over the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) in detecting mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and mild dementia.

Methods

We studied 706 participants from the multisite Bio-Hermes study (age mean ± SD = 71.5 ± 6.7; 58.9% female; years of education mean ± SD = 15.4 ± 2.7; primary language English), classified as cognitively unimpaired (CU; n = 360), mild cognitive impairment (MCI; n = 234), or probable mild Alzheimer’s dementia (pAD; n = 111) based on a review of medical history with selected cognitive and imaging tests. We evaluated cognitive classifications (MCI and early dementia) based on the DCR and the MMSE against cohorts based on the results of the Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test (RAVLT), the Trail Making Test-Part B (TMT-B), and the Functional Activities Questionnaire (FAQ). We also compared the influence of demographic variables such as race (White vs. Non-White), ethnicity (Hispanic vs. Non-Hispanic), and level of education (≥ 15 years vs. < 15 years) on the DCR and MMSE scores.

Results

The DCR was superior on average to the MMSE in classifying mild cognitive impairment and early dementia, AUC = 0.70 for the DCR vs. 0.63 for the MMSE. DCR administration was also significantly faster (completed in less than 3 min regardless of cognitive status and age). Among 104 individuals who were labeled as “cognitively unimpaired” by the MMSE (score ≥ 28) but actually had verbal memory impairment as confirmed by the RAVLT, the DCR identified 84 (80.7%) as impaired. Moreover, the DCR score was significantly less biased by ethnicity than the MMSE, with no significant difference in the DCR score between Hispanic and non-Hispanic individuals.

Conclusions

DCR outperforms the MMSE in detecting and classifying cognitive impairment—in a fraction of the time—while being not influenced by a patient’s ethnicity. The results support the utility of DCR as a sensitive and efficient cognitive assessment in primary care settings.

Trial registration

ClinicalTrials.gov identifier NCT04733989.
Critical contribution of mitochondria in the development of cardiomyopathy linked to desmin mutation
Authors: Hovhannisyan Yeranuhi , Li Zhenlin , Callon Domitille , Suspène Rodolphe , Batoumeni Vivien , Canette Alexis , Blanc Jocelyne , Hocini Hakim , Lefebvre Cécile , El-Jahrani Nora , Kitsara Maria , L’honoré Aurore , Kordeli Ekaterini , Fornes Paul , Concordet Jean-Paul , Tachdjian Gérard , Rodriguez Anne-Marie , Vartanian Jean-Pierre , Béhin Anthony , Wahbi Karim , Joanne Pierre , Agbulut Onnik
Published: January 2024

Background

Beyond the observed alterations in cellular structure and mitochondria, the mechanisms linking rare genetic mutations to the development of heart failure in patients affected by desmin mutations remain unclear due in part, to the lack of relevant human cardiomyocyte models.

Methods

To shed light on the role of mitochondria in these mechanisms, we investigated cardiomyocytes derived from human induced pluripotent stem cells carrying the heterozygous DESE439K mutation that were either isolated from a patient or generated by gene editing. To increase physiological relevance, cardiomyocytes were either cultured on an anisotropic micropatterned surface to obtain elongated and aligned cardiomyocytes, or as a cardiac spheroid to create a micro-tissue. Moreover, when applicable, results from cardiomyocytes were confirmed with heart biopsies of suddenly died patient of the same family harboring DESE439K mutation, and post-mortem heart samples from five control healthy donors.

Results

The heterozygous DESE439K mutation leads to dramatic changes in the overall cytoarchitecture of cardiomyocytes, including cell size and morphology. Most importantly, mutant cardiomyocytes display altered mitochondrial architecture, mitochondrial respiratory capacity and metabolic activity reminiscent of defects observed in patient’s heart tissue. Finally, to challenge the pathological mechanism, we transferred normal mitochondria inside the mutant cardiomyocytes and demonstrated that this treatment was able to restore mitochondrial and contractile functions of cardiomyocytes.

Conclusions

This work highlights the deleterious effects of DESE439K mutation, demonstrates the crucial role of mitochondrial abnormalities in the pathophysiology of desmin-related cardiomyopathy, and opens up new potential therapeutic perspectives for this disease.
Knocking out Fkbp51 decreases CCl4-induced liver injury through enhancement of mitochondrial function and Parkin activity
Authors: Qiu Bin , Zhong Zhaohui , Dou Longyu , Xu Yuxue , Zou Yi , Weldon Korri , Wang Jun , Zhang Lingling , Liu Ming , Williams Kent E. , Spence John Paul , Bell Richard L. , Lai Zhao , Yong Weidong , Liang Tiebing
Published: January 2024

Background and aims

Previously, we found that FK506 binding protein 51 (Fkbp51) knockout (KO) mice resist high fat diet-induced fatty liver and alcohol-induced liver injury. The aim of this research is to identify the mechanism ofFkbp51in liver injury.

Methods

Carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced liver injury was compared betweenFkbp51KO and wild type (WT) mice. Step-wise and in-depth analyses were applied, including liver histology, biochemistry, RNA-Seq, mitochondrial respiration, electron microscopy, and molecular assessments. The selective FKBP51 inhibitor (SAFit2) was tested as a potential treatment to ameliorate liver injury.

Results

Fkbp51knockout mice exhibited protection against liver injury, as evidenced by liver histology, reduced fibrosis-associated markers and lower serum liver enzyme levels. RNA-seq identified differentially expressed genes and involved pathways, such as fibrogenesis, inflammation, mitochondria, and oxidative metabolism pathways and predicted the interaction of FKBP51, Parkin, and HSP90. Cellular studies supported co-localization of Parkin and FKBP51 in the mitochondrial network, and Parkin was shown to be expressed higher in the liver of KO mice at baseline and after liver injury relative to WT. Further functional analysis identified that KO mice exhibited increased ATP production and enhanced mitochondrial respiration. KO mice have increased mitochondrial size, increased autophagy/mitophagy and mitochondrial-derived vesicles (MDV), and reduced reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, which supports enhancement of mitochondrial quality control (MQC). Application of SAFit2, an FKBP51 inhibitor, reduced the effects of CCl4-induced liver injury and was associated with increased Parkin, pAKT, and ATP production.

Conclusions

Downregulation of FKBP51 represents a promising therapeutic target for liver disease treatment.

Graphical Abstract
Classification of drought severity in contiguous USA during the past 21 years using fractal geometry
Authors: Azizi Sepideh , Azizi Tahmineh
Published: January 2024

Drought is characterized by a moisture deficit that can adversely impact the environment, economy, and society. In North America, like many regions worldwide, predicting the timing of drought events is challenging. However, our novel study in climate research explores whether the Drought Monitor database exhibits fractal characteristics, represented by a single scaling exponent. This database categorizes drought areas by intensity, ranging from D0 (abnormally dry) to D4 (exceptional drought). Through vibration analysis using power spectral densities (PSD), we investigate the presence of power-law scaling in various statistical moments across different scales within the database. Our multi-fractal analysis estimates the multi-fractal spectrum for each category, and the Higuchi algorithm assesses the fractal complexity, revealing that D4 follows a multi-fractal pattern with a wide range of exponents, while D0 to D3 exhibit a mono-fractal nature with a narrower range of exponents.
Building capacity for network meta-analysis in Sub-Saharan Africa: reflections and future direction
Authors: Rohwer Anke , Ngah Veranyuy , Mavridis Dimitris , Young Taryn , McCaul Michael
Published: January 2024

Robust, relevant, comprehensive, and up-to-date evidence syntheses are the cornerstone for evidence-informed healthcare decisions. When considering multiple treatment options, network meta-analysis (NMA) systematic reviews play a key role in informing impactful decisions and clinical practice guidelines. However, the capacity and literacy to conduct NMA systematic reviews and interpret its results remains out of reach for many clinicians and review authors, especially in low-to-middle-income countries. Despite ample resources and guides, NMA capacity and training opportunities remain limited to non-existent in Sub-Saharan Africa. Towards solutions and strengthening evidence synthesis and NMA capacity in the Sub-Saharan African region, we describe and reflect on two courses that build NMA capacity and aim to address NMA literacy in Sub-Saharan Africa.

The Primer in NMA systematic reviews aimed for participants to be able to find, appraise, interpret, and consider the use of NMA SRs of intervention effects. It is a 6-week online course for clinicians, policy-makers, and researchers wanting to learn more about using NMA systematic reviews. The Global NMA Masterclass workshop aimed for participants to be able to understand and apply pairwise and NMA in STATA and R, evaluate NMA assumptions and confidence in NMA results, and appropriately report NMA results. This course was offered over 5 weeks to clinicians, biostatisticians, and researchers with basic knowledge of epidemiology and biostatics. Although the bulk of learning occurred through self-study, we had weekly, synchronous question-and-answer sessions for both courses. Using relevant examples throughout the courses helped to enable an authentic learning environment.

This was the first NMA training developed in Africa for Africa. Development of the courses was a collaborative effort from a multi-disciplinary team. Both NMA courses were well received and attended by a diverse group of participants spread across Sub-Saharan African countries. Participants felt the courses were applicable to their setting. Although most participants appreciated the benefits of online learning, we also experienced some challenges. There is great potential to conduct NMA systematic reviews in Sub-Saharan Africa. The NMA Primer and NMA workshop can play an essential role in expanding and developing NMA SR capacity and literacy in SSA.
Climate change, biodiversity loss, and Indigenous Peoples’ health and wellbeing: a systematic umbrella review protocol
Authors: Brubacher Laura Jane , Chen Tara Tai-Wen , Longboat Sheri , Dodd Warren , Peach Laura , Elliott Susan J. , Patterson Kaitlyn , Neufeld Hannah
Published: January 2024

Background

Research that examines the intersections of Indigenous Peoples’ health and wellbeing with climate change and biodiversity loss is abundant in the global scholarship. A synthesis of this evidence base is crucial in order to map current pathways of impact, as well as to identify responses across the global literature that advance Indigenous health and wellbeing, all while centering Indigenous voices and perspectives. This protocol details our proposed methodology to systematically conduct an umbrella review (or review of reviews) of the synthesized literature on climate change, biodiversity loss, and the health and wellbeing of Indigenous Peoples globally.

Methods

A multidisciplinary team of Indigenous and non-Indigenous scholars will conduct the review, guided by an engagement process with an Indigenous Experts group. A search hedge will be used to search PubMed®, Scopus®, Web of Science™, CINAHL (via EBSCOHost®), and Campbell Collaboration databases and adapted for use in grey literature sources. Two independent reviewers will conduct level one (title/abstract) and level two (full-text) eligibility screening using inclusion/exclusion criteria. Data will be extracted from included records and analyzed using quantitative (e.g., basic descriptive statistics) and qualitative methods (e.g., thematic analysis, using a constant comparative method).

Discussion

This protocol outlines our approach to systematically and transparently review synthesized literature that examines the intersections of climate change, biodiversity loss, and Indigenous Peoples’ health and wellbeing globally.

Systematic review registration

This protocol was registered with the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO) on April 24, 2023 (registration number: CRD42023417060).
Random exponential attractor for a stochastic reaction-diffusion equation in $L^{2p}(D)$
Authors: Wang Gang , Hu Chaozhu
Published: January 2024

In this paper, we establish some sufficient conditions for the existence of a random exponential attractor for a random dynamical system in a Banach space. As an application, we consider a stochastic reaction-diffusion equation with multiplicative noise. We show that the random dynamical system $\phi(t,\omega)$
ϕ
(
t
,
ω
)
generated by this stochastic reaction-diffusion equation is uniformly Fréchet differentiable on a positively invariant random set in $L^{2p}(D)$

L

2
p

(
D
)
and satisfies the conditions of the abstract result, then we obtain the existence of a random exponential attractor in $L^{2p}(D)$

L

2
p

(
D
)
, where p is the growth of the nonlinearity satisfying $1< p\leq 3$
1
<
p
≤
3
.
Casimir preserving stochastic Lie–Poisson integrators
Authors: Luesink Erwin , Ephrati Sagy , Cifani Paolo , Geurts Bernard
Published: January 2024

Casimir preserving integrators for stochastic Lie–Poisson equations with Stratonovich noise are developed, extending Runge–Kutta Munthe-Kaas methods. The underlying Lie–Poisson structure is preserved along stochastic trajectories. A related stochastic differential equation on the Lie algebra is derived. The solution of this differential equation updates the evolution of the Lie–Poisson dynamics using the exponential map. The constructed numerical method conserves Casimir-invariants exactly, which is important for long time integration. This is illustrated numerically for the case of the stochastic heavy top and the stochastic sine-Euler equations.
The association between blood lipids and cognitive impairment in type 2 diabetes mellitus
Authors: Ma Li , Yuan Yue-Xing , Cheng Feng-Jin , Liu Yan , Wei Qiong , Peng You-Fan , Wang Yao
Published: January 2024

Objective

The study was performed to explore the association between blood lipids and cognitive impairment in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).

Methods

This study included 336 patients with T2DM. Relevant clinical data including total cholesterol (TC), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), triglyceride (TG), apolipoprotein A1, apolipoprotein B were collected, and the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) score and Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) score were used to assess the cognitive function in patients with T2DM.

Results

Serum apolipoprotein A1 levels were significantly increased in T2DM patients with cognitive impairment compared with T2DM patients without cognitive impairment (p = 0.017). Serum apolipoprotein A1 levels were significantly negatively correlated with MoCA score (r = − 0.143, p = 0.009) and MMSE score (r = − 0.132, p = 0.016) in patients with T2DM. In multivariable-adjusted regression model, serum apolipoprotein A1 was independently associated with cognitive impairment in patients with T2DM (OR = 5.201, p = 0.024).

Conclusion

Serum apolipoprotein A1 is associated with cognitive impairment in patients with T2DM, but not TC, TG, HDL-C, LDL-C, and apolipoprotein B, indicating that increased serum apolipoprotein A1 may be a risk factor of cognitive impairment in patients with T2DM.
Assessment of lipolysis biomarkers in adipose tissue of patients with gastrointestinal cancer
Authors: Tambaro Federica , Imbimbo Giovanni , Ferraro Elisabetta , Andreini Martina , Belli Roberta , Amabile Maria Ida , Ramaccini Cesarina , Lauteri Giulia , Nigri Giuseppe , Muscaritoli Maurizio , Molfino Alessio
Published: January 2024

Background

Adipose tissue metabolism may be impaired in patients with cancer. In particular, increased lipolysis was described in cancer-promoting adipose tissue atrophy.

For this reason, we assessed the expression of the lipolysis-associated genes and proteins in subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT) of gastrointestinal (GI) cancer patients compared to controls to verify their involvement in cancer, among different types of GI cancers, and in cachexia.

Methods

We considered patients with GI cancer (gastric, pancreatic, and colorectal) at their first diagnosis, with/without cachexia, and controls with benign diseases.

We collected SAT and total RNA was extracted and ATGL, HSL, PPARα, and MCP1 were analyzed by qRT-PCR. Western blot was performed to evaluate CGI-58, PLIN1 and PLIN5.

Results

We found higher expression of ATGL and HSL in GI cancer patients with respect to controls (p ≤ 0.008) and a trend of increase for PPARα (p = 0.055). We found an upregulation of ATGL in GI cancer patients with cachexia (p = 0.033) and without cachexia (p = 0.017) vs controls. HSL was higher in patients with cachexia (p = 0.020) and without cachexia (p = 0.021), compared to controls. ATGL was upregulated in gastric cancer vs controls (p = 0.014) and higher HSL was found in gastric (p = 0.008) and in pancreatic cancer (p = 0.033) vs controls. At the protein level, we found higher CGI-58 in cancer vs controls (p = 0.019) and in cachectic vs controls (p = 0.029), as well as in gastric cancer vs controls (p = 0.027).

Conclusion

In our cohort of GI cancer patients, we found a modulation in the expression of genes and proteins involved in lipolysis, and differences were interestingly detected according to cancer type.
Eating disorder hospitalizations among children and youth in Canada from 2010 to 2022: a population-based surveillance study using administrative data
Authors: Toigo Stephanie , Katzman Debra K. , Vyver Ellie , McFaull Steven R. , Iynkkaran Ithayavani , Thompson Wendy
Published: January 2024

Background

Eating disorders (EDs) are severe mental illnesses associated with significant morbidity and mortality. EDs are more prevalent among females and adolescents. Limited research has investigated Canadian trends of ED hospitalizations prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, however during the pandemic, rates of ED hospitalizations have increased. This study examined rates of ED hospitalizations among children and youth in Canada from 2010 to 2022, by sex, age, province/territory, length of stay, discharge disposition and ED diagnosis.

Methods

Cases of ED hospitalizations among children and youth, ages 5 to 17 years, were identified using available ICD-10 codes in the Discharge Abstract Database from the 2010/11 to 2022/23 fiscal years. The EDs examined in this study were anorexia nervosa (F50.0), atypical anorexia nervosa (F50.1), bulimia nervosa (F50.2), other EDs (F50.3, F50.8) and unspecified EDs (F50.9). Both cases of total and first-time ED hospitalizations were examined. Descriptive statistics and trend analyses were performed.

Results

Between 2010/11 and 2022/23, 18,740 children and youth were hospitalized for an ED, 65.9% of which were first-time hospitalizations. The most frequent diagnosis was anorexia nervosa (51.3%). Females had significantly higher rates of ED hospitalization compared to males (66.7/100,000 vs. 5.9/100,000). Youth had significantly higher rates compared to children. The average age of ED hospitalization was 14.7 years. Rates of ED hospitalizations were relatively stable pre-pandemic, however during the pandemic (2020–2021), rates increased.

Interpretation

Rates of pediatric ED hospitalizations in Canada increased significantly during the pandemic, suggesting that there may have been limited access to alternative care for EDs or that ED cases became more severe and required hospitalization. This emphasizes the need for continued surveillance to monitor how rates of ED hospitalizations evolve post-pandemic.
Improving motivation and treatment uptake behaviors of patients with eating disorders using patient narrative videos: study protocol of a pilot randomized controlled trial
Authors: Daugelat Melissa-Claire , Kimmerle Joachim , Hagmann Daniela , Schag Kathrin , Giel Katrin Elisabeth
Published: January 2024

Background

Patients with eating disorders (ED) typically report delays between the onset of symptoms and engagement with treatment services. Personal barriers including stigma, shame, and guilt, as well as the availability of social support may influence patients’ decisions to engage with treatment services. Patient narratives are personalized stories discussing the illness and recovery of previously affected persons. Such narratives can reduce self-stigma and provide current patients with hope for their own recovery.

Method

This pilot study will examine the effects of patient narrative videos on the treatment motivation and uptake of treatment services for patients with ED. Three narrative videos were developed from the perspectives of (a) a former patient with an ED, (b) an ED specialist, and (c) the same former patient discussing a somatic condition unrelated to ED. Patients will be randomized into three video viewing and one treatment-as-usual group. Effects on treatment motivation will be assessed using the University of Rhode Island Change Assessment Scale (URICA-S) immediately after viewing the videos, as well as one-week and three-month follow-ups. Treatment uptake will be assessed during follow-up using a questionnaire listing possible treatment interactions. A post-intervention questionnaire and semi-structured interviews will be used to assess the feasibility and acceptability of patient narrative videos for this population.

Discussion

There is an urgent need to encourage patients with ED to engage with specialized treatments as soon as possible. Patient narratives may be a pivotal approach to implementing cost effective and easy to disseminate early intervention programs to future patients with ED.
Unravelling the veil of appearance anxiety: exploring social media use among Chinese young people
Authors: Wu Yihan , Xue Ying , Zhao Xiaohan , Han Sijia , Wu Weiyun
Published: January 2024

The purpose of this study is to explore the relationship between appearance anxiety and social media use among Chinese adolescents. Using a grounded theory approach, the study conducted two-round online interviews with ten Chinese university students and subsequently constructed a theoretical model of social media appearance anxiety among Chinese young people. The results of the study indicate that social media has a dual impact on appearance anxiety. On one hand, increased social media engagement amplifies appearance anxiety by shaping aesthetic standards and fostering comparative environments. On the other hand, diverse aesthetic perspectives and authentic presentations on social media partially alleviate appearance anxiety by promoting acceptance of unique appearances and boosting self-confidence. It is emphasized in this study that there should be an in-depth understanding of the dual impact and complicated relationship of social media on the daily lives of Chinese adolescents to further develop relevant strategies that promote healthy social media behavior among youth. Furthermore, this study calls for efforts to actively promote the healthy image and psychological well-being of adolescents while alleviating the negative impact of appearance anxiety and overall mental health. Such efforts are needed to ensure a positive and healthy development for the younger generation.
Virtual vs. real: exploring perceptual, cognitive and affective dimensions in design product experiences
Authors: Pizzolante Marta , Bartolotta Sabrina , Sarcinella Eleonora Diletta , Chirico Alice , Gaggioli Andrea
Published: January 2024

Background

Virtual Reality (VR) has already emerged as an effective instrument for simulating realistic interactions, across various domains. In the field of User Experience (UX), VR has been used to create prototypes of real-world products. Here, the question is to what extent the users’ experience of a virtual prototype can be equivalent to that of its real counterpart (the real product). This issue particularly concerns the perceptual, cognitive and affective dimensions of users’ experiences.

Methods

This exploratory study aims to address this issue by comparing the users’ experience of a well-known product, i.e., the Graziella bicycle, presented either in Sumerian or Sansar VR platform, or in a physical setting. Participants’ Emotional Engagement, Sense of Presence, Immersion, and Perceived Product Quality were evaluated after being exposed to the product in all conditions (i.e., Sumerian, Sansar and Physical).

Results

The findings indicated significantly higher levels of Engagement and Positive Affect in the virtual experiences when compared to their real-world counterparts. Additionally, the sole notable distinction among the VR platforms was observed in terms of Realism.

Conclusions

This study suggests the feasibility and potential of immersive VR environments as UX evaluation tools and underscores their effectiveness in replicating genuine real-world experiences.
Prevalence and factors associated with potential drug-drug interactions in prescriptions presented at private pharmacies in Mbarara city, southwestern Uganda
Authors: Lule Allan Phillip , Delic Ogwal Basil , Katunguka Keneth , Muwonge Francis , Yadesa Tadele Mekuriya
Published: January 2024

Background

Drug-drug interactions (DDIs) influence the effectiveness of medication and thus determine the treatment outcomes of diseases managed with pharmacotherapy. This study aimed to determine the prevalence, severity, and factors associated with potential drug-drug interactions in prescriptions presented at private pharmacies in Mbarara city.

Methods

DDIs were identified and classified basing on risk and severity using Lexicomp drug interaction database. STATA version 13 was used to analyze the collected data. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize the severity of potential DDIs identified. Bivariate and multivariate logistic regression was employed to identify different factors associated with the presence of potential DDIs.

Results

A total of 295 prescriptions from 18 private pharmacies were studied and the prevalence of clinically significant potential DDIs was 37.6%. About half (149, 50.5%) of the patients were females, the majority (199, 67.5%) were adults 18–59 years of age whereas most (208, 70.5%) had a comorbid condition. Over one half (162, 54.9%) of the prescriptions were received from hospitals and majority of the prescriptions had 4 drugs prescribed (n = 175, 59.32%). Having one or more comorbidities and prescribing of therapeutic drug categories including anti-fungal, antihypertensives, analgesics, or corticosteroids were significantly associated with potential DDIs.

Conclusions

The prevalence of potential drug-drug interactions in outpatient setting in Mbarara city was high and majority of the potential DDIs were of moderate severity. Having 1 or more comorbidities and prescribing of therapeutic drug categories including antifungals, antihypertensives, analgesics, or corticosteroids were significantly associated with potential DDIs.
Distinct forebrain regions define a dichotomous astrocytic profile in multiple system atrophy
Authors: Schneider Y. , Gauer C. , Andert M. , Hoffmann A. , Riemenschneider M. J. , Krebs W. , Chalmers N. , Lötzsch C. , Naumann U. J. , Xiang W. , Rothhammer V. , Beckervordersandforth R. , Schlachetzki J. C. M. , Winkler J.
Published: January 2024

The growing recognition of a dichotomous role of astrocytes in neurodegenerative processes has heightened the need for unraveling distinct astrocytic subtypes in neurological disorders. In multiple system atrophy (MSA), a rare, rapidly progressing atypical Parkinsonian disease characterized by increased astrocyte reactivity. However the specific contribution of astrocyte subtypes to neuropathology remains elusive. Hence, we first set out to profile glial fibrillary acidic protein levels in astrocytes across the human post mortem motor cortex, putamen, and substantia nigra of MSA patients and observed an overall profound astrocytic response. Matching the post mortem human findings, a similar astrocytic phenotype was present in a transgenic MSA mouse model. Notably, MSA mice exhibited a decreased expression of the glutamate transporter 1 and glutamate aspartate transporter in the basal ganglia, but not the motor cortex. We developed an optimized astrocyte isolation protocol based on magnetic-activated cell sorting via ATPase Na+/K+ transporting subunit beta 2 and profiled the transcriptomic landscape of striatal and cortical astrocytes in transgenic MSA mice. The gene expression profile of astrocytes in the motor cortex displayed an anti-inflammatory signature with increased oligodendroglial and pro-myelinogenic expression pattern. In contrast, striatal astrocytes were defined by elevated pro-inflammatory transcripts accompanied by dysregulated genes involved in homeostatic functions for lipid and calcium metabolism. These findings provide new insights into a region-dependent, dichotomous astrocytic response—potentially beneficial in the cortex and harmful in the striatum—in MSA suggesting a differential role of astrocytes in MSA-related neurodegenerative processes.
Analysis of the materials and processes of hanging sculptures in Guanyin Hall
Authors: Zhong Bochao , Qiao Chengquan , Yoo Dongyoung , Gong Decai , Gong Yuxuan
Published: January 2024

Changzhi Guanyin Hall, a folk temple from the Ming Dynasty, embodies the essence of the ‘unity of the three religions’ philosophy, centred around Guanyin Bodhisattva. Over 500 sculptures reside within a modest 70 m2 space, encompassing representations from Confucianism, Buddhism and Taoism. Ranging from a towering 2 m to a mere 10 cm, these sculptures depict an array of characters and mythological scenes, bestowing considerable importance upon the painted sculptures of Guanyin Hall. Varying degrees of deterioration have affected these sculptures due to the passage of time and suboptimal preservation conditions, highlighting the imperative need for meticulous restoration efforts. However, the absence of comprehensive analyses pertaining to the production process of Guanyin Hall sculptures has hindered the restoration groundwork. This study focuses on fallen hanging sculptures and debris, encompassing intact sculptures, clay fragments, wooden sticks, plant fibres, wires and pigments. Employing a series of techniques, including X-ray photography, microscopic analysis, mineral analysis (MLA), laser particle size testing, ion chromatography, X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy (XRF), X-ray diffractometer (XRD) and energy dispersive spectrometer (SEM–EDS) analysis, this research characterises the constituent materials used in crafting these artifacts. Instead of a full-body skeleton, the findings reveal that the small hanging sculpture is supported by delicate wires that hold specific areas, such as the arms and the gown hems. The hanging sculptures are made from a single type of clay and are reinforced with either mulberry bast or wheat straw fibres. A Pinaceae wood stick affixes the head to the body, and the sculpture is then suspended on the wall through nails inserted into the feet. The moulded clay undergoes a sequence of carving, drying and polishing and is coated with a white ash layer before receiving intricate painting. Mineral pigments, including cinnabar, red lead, iron red, cerussite, atacamite, brochantite and azurite, adorn the surface of the sculptures, with gold foil embellishing the golden elements. The intricate artisanry and multifaceted material composition of Guanyin Hall’s painted sculptures render them unparalleled artistic treasures, not solely within Shanxi but across the entire nation. Furthermore, this study establishes a dependable foundation for conservation and restoration endeavours.
Nine principles of green heritage science: life cycle assessment as a tool enabling green transformation
Authors: Elnaggar Abdelrazek
Published: January 2024

This literature review presents a comprehensive review of life Cycle Assessmernt (LCA), as an emerging tool in the field of cultural heritage research and demonstrate how this tool could be useful to support the development of green heritage science into an environmentally responsible field of scientific endeavour. LCA is a standardised, structured, comprehensive, international environmental assessment tool and a rapidly evolving field of research that leverages and harmonises efforts across many sectors to inform environmentally-friendly solutions and choices. LCA has been growing in importance as an evidence-based tool in the field of heritage science, being used as a decision-support tool at micro level (typically for questions related to specific products/processes) and macro levels (e.g. strategies, scenarios, and policy options). This review explores applications of LCA (and the complementary Life Cycle Cost Assessment (LCC), and Social Life Cycle Assessment (S-LCA)) to a wide array of conservation and preservation actions. The paper also examines challenges associated with the application of these life cycle-based methods in heritage science, in order to put forward a set of recommendations to guide the domain of heritage science towards greener and more sustainable practices and impacts.

Based on a review of the principles of green chemistry, green analytical chemistry, green engineering, and nature conservation, the paper also attempts to formulate nine principles of green heritage science, taking into account the complexity of research challenges and the environmental and socio-economic sustainability.
Chemical, mineralogical and physical study of Late Iron Age ceramics from Nditam: Cameroon (West central Africa)
Authors: Zoila Luz Epossi Ntah , Giuseppe Cultrone
Published: January 2024

This paper studied Late Iron Age ceramic fragments from Nditam village (Centre Region, Cameroon), the technological features and deduced the type of the raw materials used to produce them by combining different analytical techniques based on X-ray fluorescence, powder X-ray diffraction, thermogravimetry, polarized optical microscopy, spectrophotometry and hydric tests. Macroscopic observations suggest the existence of three types of ceramics according to their colour, black, greyish and red, in the two opposite surfaces, outer (or external) and inner (internal). The chemistry indicates that non-calcareous clayey material was used for ceramic production. The correlation between mineralogy, petrography and the geology of the region suggests a local production of ceramics. Moreover, the chemistry of the samples confirms the existence of the three macroscopic groups and suggests the use of local raw materials for their production. From the mineralogical point of view, quartz, feldspar and mica (biotite and muscovite) were identified in all the samples, while kaolinite and amphibole were detected in some of them. The differences in the mineralogy may indicate some variations in the firing temperature, being lower in the ceramics containing kaolinite compared to the other samples. All the samples have similar water absorption behaviour. According to the colours of the ceramics, a prevalence of oxidising firing conditions was present in the kilns. However, partial reducing and short duration firing conditions were also possible. Comparative study with the mineralogy of ethnographic ceramics from southern Cameroon shows some similarities and suggests a continuity in the use of different local clay pits in this region over time.
Ethnic differentiation in the internal spatial configuration of vernacular dwellings in the multi-ethnic region in Xiangxi, China from the perspective of cultural diffusion
Authors: Ding Chuanbiao , Zhuo Xiaolan , Xiao Dawei
Published: January 2024

Understanding the cultural characteristics and evolution of traditional dwellings in the context of ethnic integration is of great significance for protecting the diversity of residential cultural heritage of ethnic minorities. This article compares the ethnic differences in the internal spatial configuration of vernacular dwellings in Xiangxi region, China, a typical multi-ethnic area where “line-shaped” dwellings are prevalent among the Miao, Dong, Yao, Tujia, and Han groups. This study found that the spatial sequence, ritual axis, importance of fireplace, spatial hierarchy, and privacy of bedrooms of each ethnic group's dwellings present a trend towards Han’s dwelling culture in the order of "Western Miao, Southern Dong, Northern Dong, Yao, Eastern Miao, Tujia". Based on the analysis of the lifestyles, ethnic customs, and historical development processes of ethnic minorities, this study identifies that the main reasons for the formation of the aforementioned sequence lie in the differences in the historical diffusion patterns and paths of Han culture in Xiangxi. This article analyses the ethnicity of minority residential culture in Xiangxi and its spatial configuration formation process, revealing the relationship between the spatial effect of Han cultural diffusion pattern and the spatial difference pattern of each ethnic group's vernacular dwelling space configuration, and expanding the connotation of "cultural genotypes" in multi-ethnic areas.
A diffusion probabilistic model for traditional Chinese landscape painting super-resolution
Authors: Lyu Qiongshuai , Zhao Na , Yang Yu , Gong Yuehong , Gao Jingli
Published: January 2024

Traditional Chinese landscape painting is prone to low-resolution image issues during the digital protection process. To reconstruct high-quality images from low-resolution landscape paintings, we propose a novel Chinese landscape painting generation diffusion probabilistic model (CLDiff), which is similar to the Langevin dynamic process, and realizes the transformation of the Gaussian distribution into the empirical data distribution through multiple iterative refinement steps. The proposed CLDiff can provide ink texture clear super-resolution predictions by gradually transforming the pure Gaussian noise into a super-resolution landscape painting condition on a low-resolution input through a parameterized Markov Chain. Moreover, by introducing an attention module with an energy function into the U-Net architecture, we turn the denoising diffusion probabilistic model into a powerful generator. Experimental results show that CLDiff achieves better visual results and highly competitive performance in traditional Chinese Landscape painting super-resolution tasks.
Facial reconstruction of a deformed skull from the Roman period of Juliopolis
Authors: Sertalp Evren , Moraes Cicero , Bütün Erge
Published: January 2024

The use of digital technologies in archaeological research has become considerably more widespread in recent years. While the earliest records of the use of electronic data in archaeology date from the 1950 and 1960s, the field has kept growing with the increasing interest in digital tools such as digital photography, three-dimensional imaging, GIS, virtual and artificial reality applications, CAD and facial reconstruction. Such digitization practices are used frequently for documenting, record keeping, and preserving and representing the data recovered from archaeological contexts, and are linked to other fields, such as cultural heritage studies and museology. Facial reconstruction is used to recreate the faces of individual from the past using their skeletal remains. It has been practiced for different reasons in the fields of forensics, anthropology, and archaeology. This study focuses on the facial reconstruction of a skull unearthed from Juliopolis. The reason for choosing this skull in this study is that it is the first and only known deformed skull dated to the Roman period in Anatolia. For the facial reconstruction application, authors created a 3D modelling of the skull by photogrammetry. Then, the missing parts of the skull are completed using the virtual donor library. The results are presented in different forms, as grayscale, in colour with eyes closed or open. Also, the type of deformation is demonstrated in the skull. This study adopts a digital process and is more strongly linked to data interpolation related to the external surface of the face. The prominent advantage of the methodology is being strongly supported by information obtained from computed tomography (CT) scans of living individuals, leaving a little room for the artistic issue in relation to the basic aspect resulting from the interpolation of data. The benefit of facial reconstruction is especially important since it is a way of preserving and presenting archaeological and anthropological data.
Solvent effects on terpenoid compositions and antioxidant activities of Cinnamomum camphora (L.) J. Presl extracts and the main antioxidant agent evaluation through in vitro and in vivo assay
Authors: Wang Yingying , Zhang Siyi , Ma Yuandan , Du Xianmin , Zong Qi , Lin Die , Lai Meng , Huang Tianyu , Luo Qingyun , Yang Lin , Li Zhanyong , Zuo Zhaojiang
Published: January 2024

Plant secondary metabolites can protect organisms against oxidative stress caused by adverse environmental conditions. Cinnamomum camphora (L.) J. Presl contains plentiful terpenoids and is subdivided into 5 chemotypes. To develop natural antioxidants using the plant terpenoids, the terpenoid composition and antioxidant abilities of methanol, ethyl acetate, n-hexane and petroleum ether extracts from linalool and eucalyptol chemotypes were investigated, and the solvent effects on in vitro antioxidant activity of 8 main terpenoids were analyzed. Meanwhile, the in vivo effects of two strong antioxidant terpenoids were evaluated. For the two chemotypes, the 4 solvents exhibited the same extracting effects on the terpenoid types, but methanol extracts contained the highest content of terpenoids, which should contribute to their strongest scavenging activity against 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and 2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) free radicals. In linalool and eucalyptol chemotype extracts, linalool, eucalyptol, ocimene, α-pinene, D-limonene, terpinene, β-pinene and longifolene were the 8 main terpenoids. Among the 4 solvents, the 8 terpenoids showed the strongest free radical-scavenging activity with methanol as the reaction medium, which might result from strong-polarity methanol easily activating C = C unsaturated bonds in these compounds. This might also contribute to the strongest scavenging activity of methanol extracts against free radicals. Among these main components, ocimene and longifolene separately showed the strongest activity in scavenging DPPH and ABTS free radical. In in vivo assay, the two compounds significantly lowered the reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii, a single-celled model organism, under H2O2 stress, and the lowering effects gradually enhanced with increasing the compound concentration, resulting in the corresponding promoting effect on the algal growth. At the same concentration, longifolene showed the strongest effect on protecting the algal cells against oxidative stress. Therefore, methanol was suitable for extracting terpenoids in natural antioxidant development, and ocimene and longifolene were two strong antioxidant terpenoids without cell toxicity, with the latter having stronger in vivo antioxidant activity.

Graphical Abstract
Three policy perspectives on Japanese female employment
Authors: Guo Yunwei , Yao Yiwei , Yu Xiao
Published: January 2024

With a detailed historical analysis of postwar Japanese female employment, this article presents three underlying policy perspectives that shape the fact that women have less chance for high-quality employment despite the rising labor force participation rate. The three assumptions of women's role in policy-making are as follows: (1) women as housewives—dependent on males, do not earn a living salary and are thus marginalized in the labor market; (2) women as individuals pursuing gender equality should be treated without discrimination in the workplace; and (3) women as key drivers for economic growth can contribute to the solution to labor shortages. The postwar history of Japanese female employment is full of interaction among these three policy perspectives. Generally, it passes through phases of the dominance of the housewife perspective, the reformation from the equality perspective and the counterattack from the housewife perspective, as well as the mainstreaming of the economic actor perspective.