bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Etnobotani Tikung Masyarakat Melayu Dusun Batu Rawan Kabupaten Kapuas Hulu dalam Budidaya Madu Secara Tradisional
Authors: Ayu Masha , Lovadi Irwan , Gusmalawati Dwi
Published: June 2024

Wild Honey is produced directly from the hives of Apis dorsata bees or wild bees that live in forest areas. Wild Honey is produced through traditional methods that utilize plants and are not livestock. Plants that are utilized in the form of plant wood as artificial nests called tikung and flowers from bee food trees. The purpose of this study was to determine the types of plants as tikung wood and bee food trees and document the knowledge of traditional honey farmers about the ethnoecology of Batu Rawan Hamlet, Kapuas Hulu Regency. This study used purposive sampling method in determining respondents and 15 respondents were obtained, then continued with semi-structured interviews. Data analysis was conducted with citation frequency. The results showed that there were 5 species of tikung wood and 15 species of bee food trees belonging to 12 families. Fagraea fragrans, Shorea belangaran, Litsea resinosa, Gluta renghas, Shorea sp., are plant species used as tikung wood trees, the dominant species reported by respondents is Litsea resinosa which is 93.3%. Mesua hexapetala, Syzygium claviflorum, Barringtonia acutangula, Ternstroemia sp., Carallia brachiata, Teysmanniodendron sarawakanum, Syzygium sp., Gomphia serrata, Eugenia sp., Syzygium inophyllum, Timonius flavescens, Ixora mentangis, Syzygium attenuatum, Memecylon edule, Crudia teysmannii are plant species used as bee fodder trees, bee fodder tree species reported dominantly by respondents are Barringtonia acutangula species which is 100%.
Analisis Faktor yang Berhubungan dengan Rendahnya Capaian Pengelolaan Air Bersih dan Higiene Sanitasi di Puskesmas Selaparang Kota Mataram
Authors: Smith Rizal , Sulaiman Lalu , Fathoni Akhmad
Published: June 2024

The existence of infrastructure at the Public Health Center must be supported by governance including planning management, implementation, operational procedures, human resources, budgeting and infrastructure that have been determined so that the management of service units for the Public at the Public Health Center is in accordance with the standards set by the Ministry of Health. influencing the water and sanitation hygiene facility improvement tool (WASH FIT) assessment in public Health Centers throughout the city of Mataram in 2022 with the lowest results in the Selaparang public Health Center ( 63.05%). So it is necessary to analyze factors related to the low achievement of clean water management and sanitation hygiene at the Selaparang Public Health Center, Mataram City. This research is a qualitative descriptive method, namely providing a direct and comprehensive description at Public Health Center in Mataram City. Based on the research results, it shows that the condition of clean water management and sanitation hygiene from planning management, implementation, standard operating procedures, human resource guidelines, budget and infrastructure still has many deficiencies. Selaparang Public Health Center has not implemented planning management for clean water and sanitation hygiene in a truly open manner based on needs and has not involved sanitation and clean water officers, which has an impact on the implementation of WASH which is still lacking in operations, complete SOPs are not available, which impacts on poor compliance , sanitation and clean water program holders who are not involved in planning also result in inadequate budgets for the provision of adequate infrastructure, insufficient sanitation and clean water personnel do not meet needs due to transfers and permanent illness so that the workload becomes more and heavier. From these results, the implementation of sanitation and clean water at the Selaparang Public Health Center does not meet the standards in accordance with the Regulation of the Minister of Health of the Republic of Indonesia Number 2 of 2023 concerning Implementing Regulations of Government Regulation Number 66 of 2014 concerning environmental health and Regulation of the Minister of Health of the Republic of Indonesia Number 43 of 2019 concerning Public Health Centers, with the results of this research, the Regional Head needs to make a policy, the head of the Mataram City Health Service and the Head of the Public Health Center need to review planning, SOPs, meeting needs and increasing the capacity of officers, increasing the budget through more objective planning through guidance to environmental health program managers and officers sanitation.
Keanekaragaman Spesies Amfibi (Ordo Anura) di Kawasan Taman Wisata Alam Kerandangan Kabupaten Lombok Barat
Authors: Agustini Putu Linda , Ilhamdi Mohammad Liwa , Hadiprayitno Gito
Published: June 2024

Amphibians are vertebrate animals that generally live in humid forest areas. Amphibians can be used as environmental bioindicators because of their sensitivity to environmental changes such as water pollution and destruction of native habitats. Anura is one of the group of amphibians. The occurrence of microclimate changes caused by the dynamics of biotic and abiotic factors can result in changes in the amphibian population in Kerandangan Nature Park. Recording and identifying the presence of amphibians will help maintain limited populations and potentially be managed for the better. The purpose of this study was to analyze the diversity index of amphibian species (order anura) in Kerandangan Nature Tourism Park. The method used is VES (Visual Encounter Survey). The research was conducted in 4 blocks, namely intensive utilization blocks, limited utilization, rehabilitation and protection. Data were analyzed using the Shanon-Wienner diversity index. The results of the study found 3 species of amphibians (order anura) namely Limnonectes kadarsani, Duttaphrynus melanostictus, and Polypedates leucomystax. with an amphibian diversity index (Ordo Anura) in Kerandangan Nature Tourism Park is Hꞌ = 1.07.
Minimally Invasive Approaches in Reoperations after Conventional Craniotomies : Case Series
Authors: Staribacher Daniel , Feigl Guenther C , Britz Gavin , Kuzmin Dzmitry
Published: June 2024

Objective : Reoperations are part of neurosurgical practice. In these cases, an already formed craniotomy seems the most logical and appropriate. However, reoperations via large approaches can be quite traumatic for the patient. Then minimally invasive approaches, being less traumatic, can be a good alternative.Methods : We describe seven consecutive patients who underwent reoperations using minimally invasive approaches in the areas of conventional craniotomies. Surgical Theater® visualization platform was used for preoperative planning. The study evaluated the size of surgical approach, surgical efficacy, and the presence of complications.Results : The size of a minimally invasive craniotomy was significantly smaller than that of a conventional approach. The preoperative goals were achieved in all described cases. There were no complications in the early postoperative period. Although the anatomy of the operated brain region in reoperations is altered, keyhole approaches can be successfully used with the support of preoperative planning and intraoperative neuronavigation. Given that the goals of reoperations may differ from those of the primary surgery, and a large approach is more traumatic for the patient, minimally invasive craniotomy can be considered as a good alternative. The successful use of minimally invasive approaches in areas of conventional craniotomies reinforces the philosophy of keyhole neurosurgery. In cases where goals can be achieved using small approaches, it makes no sense to use large conventional ones.Conclusion : Minimally invasive approaches can be successfully used during reoperations in patients after conventional craniotomies.
Current status of pathogen handling in European laboratories: focus on viral inactivation process
Authors: Pastorino Boris , Touret Franck , Gilles Magali , De Lamballerie Xavier , Charrel Remi N.
Published: June 2024

For handling safely infectious agents, European laboratories must comply with specific EC Directives, national regulations and recommendations from the World Health Organization (WHO). To prevent laboratory acquired infections (LAIs) and pathogens dissemination, a key biosafety rule requires that any infectious material (clinical specimens or research samples) manipulated outside a biosafety cabinet (BSC) must be inactivated unless the lack of infectivity is proven. This inactivation process is a crucial step for biosafety and must be guided by a rigorous experimental qualification and validation procedure. However, for diagnostic or research laboratories, this process is not harmonized with common standard operation procedures (SOPs) but based on individual risk assessment and general international guidelines which can pose problems in emergency situations such as major outbreaks or pandemics. This review focuses on viral inactivation method, outlining the current regulatory framework, its limitations and a number of ways in which biosafety can be improved.
Evolutionary regulatory dynamics in a pluralist and polarized journalism landscape: a case study of the normative framework in Spanish media
Authors: Seijas Costa Raquel , Barredo Ibáñez Daniel , Cea Esteruelas Nereida
Published: June 2024

Within the European Union, the pluralist polarized journalistic model suggests the presence of journalistic cultures rooted in the connections between political parties and media organizations. In this classical framework, the state exerts significant intervention to influence a media system characterized by lower levels of professionalization. In this regard, Spain serves as a well-examined example of a pluralist polarized Western democracy. Our study entails a systematic review based on two distinct dimensions. Firstly, we scrutinized all legal documents pertaining to media regulation in Spain published between the Spanish transition and the present 1977–2024. From this perspective, we propose a chronological evolution to categorize this extensive collection of norms. Secondly, we complement our primary source assessment with an examination of secondary sources to validate the proposed evolution. Our findings indicate that the Spanish media regulation is evolving due to two pivotal factors: the influence of the European Union and the preservation of the narrative established during the transition to democracy. While contemporary communication grapples with issues such as the rise of artificial intelligence, journalistic instability, algorithmic communication, and fragmented user consumption, these areas are only addressed peripherally within the Spanish media normative context.
Optimizing offensive cyber operation planner‘s development: exploring tailored training paths and framework evolution
Authors: Arik Marko , Lugo Ricardo Gregorio , Ottis Rain , Venables Adrian Nicholas
Published: June 2024

This study aims to investigate Offensive Cyber Operations (OCO) planner development, focusing on addressing the need for tailored training paths and the continuous evolution of frameworks. As the complexity of global challenges and security threats grows, OCO planners play a pivotal role in operationalising and executing operations effectively. The research utilized a qualitative case study approach, combining literature reviews and interviews with OCO military professionals, to explore OCO planners' competencies and training frameworks at the operational level. Interviews emphasize the need for comprehensive training, trust, and standardized training pathways in OCO planning, with real-time exposure being the most effective approach for practical planning. The literature review highlights key OCO training options, including Cyber Range Integration, cognitive architectures, and Persistent Cyber Training Environment platforms. It emphasizes educational initiatives, industry contributions, and practical experience in developing expertise in OCO. Discussions highlight the importance of Cyber Range Integration, educational initiatives, and practical experience in OCO. It emphasizes the need for a dual skill set and a structured training path for OCO planners. Real-time exposure through exercises and courses is the most effective approach to becoming a practical OCO planner.
A novel method of swin transformer with time-frequency characteristics for ECG-based arrhythmia detection
Authors: Chen Siyuan , Wang Hao , Zhang Huijie , Peng Cailiang , Li Yang , Wang Bing
Published: June 2024

Introduction

Arrhythmia is an important indication of underlying cardiovascular diseases (CVD) and is prevalent worldwide. Accurate diagnosis of arrhythmia is crucial for timely and effective treatment. Electrocardiogram (ECG) plays a key role in the diagnosis of arrhythmia. With the continuous development of deep learning and machine learning processes in the clinical field, ECG processing algorithms have significantly advanced the field with timely and accurate diagnosis of arrhythmia.

Methods

In this study, we combined the wavelet time-frequency maps with the novel Swin Transformer deep learning model for the automatic detection of cardiac arrhythmias. In specific practice, we used the MIT-BIH arrhythmia dataset, and to improve the signal quality, we removed the high-frequency noise, artifacts, electromyographic noise and respiratory motion effects in the ECG signals by the wavelet thresholding method; we used the complex Morlet wavelet for the feature extraction, and plotted wavelet time-frequency maps to visualise the time-frequency information of the ECG; we introduced the Swin Transformer model for classification and achieve high classification accuracy of ECG signals through hierarchical construction and self attention mechanism, and combines windowed multi-head self-attention (W-MSA) and shifted window-based multi-head self-attention (SW-MSA) to comprehensively utilise the local and global information.

Results

To enhance the confidence of the experimental results, we evaluated the performance using intra-patient and inter-patient paradigm analyses, and the model classification accuracies reached 99.34% and 98.37%, respectively, which are better than the currently available detection methods.

Discussion

The results reveal that our proposed method is superior to currently available methods for detecting arrhythmia ECG. This provides a new idea for ECG based arrhythmia diagnosis.
Targeting lymphatic function in cardiovascular-kidney-metabolic syndrome: preclinical methods to analyze lymphatic function and therapeutic opportunities
Authors: Fowler Joseph Wayne M. , Song LouJin , Tam Kelly , Roth Flach Rachel J.
Published: June 2024

The lymphatic vascular system spans nearly every organ in the body and serves as an important network that maintains fluid, metabolite, and immune cell homeostasis. Recently, there has been a growing interest in the role of lymphatic biology in chronic disorders outside the realm of lymphatic abnormalities, lymphedema, or oncology, such as cardiovascular-kidney-metabolic syndrome (CKM). We propose that enhancing lymphatic function pharmacologically may be a novel and effective way to improve quality of life in patients with CKM syndrome by engaging multiple pathologies at once throughout the body. Several promising therapeutic targets that enhance lymphatic function have already been reported and may have clinical benefit. However, much remains unclear of the discreet ways the lymphatic vasculature interacts with CKM pathogenesis, and translation of these therapeutic targets to clinical development is challenging. Thus, the field must improve characterization of lymphatic function in preclinical mouse models of CKM syndrome to better understand molecular mechanisms of disease and uncover effective therapies.
Prediction model of preeclampsia using machine learning based methods: a population based cohort study in China
Authors: Li Taishun , Xu Mingyang , Wang Yuan , Wang Ya , Tang Huirong , Duan Honglei , Zhao Guangfeng , Zheng Mingming , Hu Yali
Published: June 2024

Introduction

Preeclampsia is a disease with an unknown pathogenesis and is one of the leading causes of maternal and perinatal morbidity. At present, early identification of high-risk groups for preeclampsia and timely intervention with aspirin is an effective preventive method against preeclampsia. This study aims to develop a robust and effective preeclampsia prediction model with good performance by machine learning algorithms based on maternal characteristics, biophysical and biochemical markers at 11–13 + 6 weeks’ gestation, providing an effective tool for early screening and prediction of preeclampsia.

Methods

This study included 5116 singleton pregnant women who underwent PE screening and fetal aneuploidy from a prospective cohort longitudinal study in China. Maternal characteristics (such as maternal age, height, pre-pregnancy weight), past medical history, mean arterial pressure, uterine artery pulsatility index, pregnancy-associated plasma protein A, and placental growth factor were collected as the covariates for the preeclampsia prediction model. Five classification algorithms including Logistic Regression, Extra Trees Classifier, Voting Classifier, Gaussian Process Classifier and Stacking Classifier were applied for the prediction model development. Five-fold cross-validation with an 8:2 train-test split was applied for model validation.

Results

We ultimately included 49 cases of preterm preeclampsia and 161 cases of term preeclampsia from the 4644 pregnant women data in the final analysis. Compared with other prediction algorithms, the AUC and detection rate at 10% FPR of the Voting Classifier algorithm showed better performance in the prediction of preterm preeclampsia (AUC=0.884, DR at 10%FPR=0.625) under all covariates included. However, its performance was similar to that of other model algorithms in all PE and term PE prediction. In the prediction of all preeclampsia, the contribution of PLGF was higher than PAPP-A (11.9% VS 8.7%), while the situation was opposite in the prediction of preterm preeclampsia (7.2% VS 16.5%). The performance for preeclampsia or preterm preeclampsia using machine learning algorithms was similar to that achieved by the fetal medicine foundation competing risk model under the same predictive factors (AUCs of 0.797 and 0.856 for PE and preterm PE, respectively).

Conclusions

Our models provide an accessible tool for large-scale population screening and prediction of preeclampsia, which helps reduce the disease burden and improve maternal and fetal outcomes.
Shared genetic links between hypothyroidism and psychiatric disorders: evidence from a comprehensive genetic analysis
Authors: Zhou Jianlong , Zhu Lv
Published: June 2024

Background

Epidemiologic studies have suggested co-morbidity between hypothyroidism and psychiatric disorders. However, the shared genetic etiology and causal relationship between them remain currently unclear.

Methods

We assessed the genetic correlations between hypothyroidism and psychiatric disorders [anxiety disorders (ANX), schizophrenia (SCZ), major depressive disorder (MDD), and bipolar disorder (BIP)] using summary association statistics from genome-wide association studies (GWAS). Two disease-associated pleiotropic risk loci and genes were identified, and pathway enrichment, tissue enrichment, and other analyses were performed to determine their specific functions. Furthermore, we explored the causal relationship between them through Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis.

Results

We found significant genetic correlations between hypothyroidism with ANX, SCZ, and MDD, both in the Linkage disequilibrium score regression (LDSC) approach and the high-definition likelihood (HDL) approach. Meanwhile, the strongest correlation was observed between hypothyroidism and MDD (LDSC: rg=0.264, P=7.35×10-12; HDL: rg=0.304, P=4.14×10-17). We also determined a significant genetic correlation between MDD with free thyroxine (FT4) and thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) levels. A total of 30 pleiotropic risk loci were identified between hypothyroidism and psychiatric disorders, of which the 15q14 locus was identified in both ANX and SCZ (P values are 6.59×10-11 and 2.10×10-12, respectively) and the 6p22.1 locus was identified in both MDD and SCZ (P values are 1.05×10-8 and 5.75×10-14, respectively). Sixteen pleiotropic risk loci were identified between MDD and indicators of thyroid function, of which, four loci associated with MDD (1p32.3, 6p22.1, 10q21.1, 11q13.4) were identified in both FT4 normal level and Hypothyroidism. Further, 79 pleiotropic genes were identified using Magma gene analysis (P<0.05/18776 = 2.66×10-6). Tissue-specific enrichment analysis revealed that these genes were highly enriched into six brain-related tissues. The pathway analysis mainly involved nucleosome assembly and lipoprotein particles. Finally, our two-sample MR analysis showed a significant causal effect of MDD on the increased risk of hypothyroidism, and BIP may reduce TSH normal levels.

Conclusions

Our findings not only provided evidence of a shared genetic etiology between hypothyroidism and psychiatric disorders, but also provided insights into the causal relationships and biological mechanisms that underlie their relationship. These findings contribute to a better understanding of the pleiotropy between hypothyroidism and psychiatric disorders, while having important implications for intervention and treatment goals for these disorders.
Analysis of spatiotemporal land use change characteristics in the upper watershed area of the Qingshui River basin from 1990 to 2020
Authors: Wang Lei , Wang Na , Pang Min , Zhang Qing , Wei Dan , Li Yan , An Zhizhuang , Jin Liang
Published: June 2024

Introduction: Land use land cover (LULC) change is an important factor driving global change, influenced by the interaction between human activities and natural ecosystems. The upper watershed of the Qingshui River is adversely affected due to anthropogenic activities. Therefore, analyzing the driving factors of land use changes in this area is crucial for ecological protection and sustainable development.

Methods: Based on the long-term Landsat image data from 1990–2020, the spatiotemporal change characteristics of the LULC rate and its driving factors in the upper watershed of the Qingshui River basin were analyzed using the land use transfer matrix and dynamic degree of land use processes. The redundancy analysis was performed to investigate the links between LULC changes, socio-economic and climatic variables.

Results: From 1990–2020, the area under waters and woodland decreased by −2.94 km2 and −451.44 km2, respectively. Meanwhile, grassland, arable land, construction land, and unused land area increased by 278.71 km2, 115.72 km2, 46.48 km2 and 13.49 km2. In terms of the proportion area to the total land (2334.10 km2), woodland accounted for 63.43–44.09% of the total land and was mainly distributed in the east; arable land was 17.00–21.96% and was largely distributed on both sides of the middle and lower parts of the basin; construction land comprised 1.03–3.02% and was generally found in flat areas near the downstream and water area was only 0.1–0.01% which primarily covered the Qingshui River and its tributaries from 1990–2020. Construction and unused lands showed the fastest rate of change, followed by water area and grasslands. Accelerated urbanization, rapid socio-economic development, and the farmland-to-forest policy were the main driving forces behind the change in LULC in the upper reaches of the Qingshui River.

Discussion: The findings of this study can assist in planning strong management strategies for ecological protection and socio-economic sustainable development in the study area.
Developmental plasticity to desiccation risk in tadpoles of a tropical inselberg specialist
Authors: Delgadillo Méndez Alexandra , Amézquita Adolfo , Avellaneda Moreno Mayra Alejandra , González-Arango Catalina , Gomez-Mestre Ivan
Published: June 2024

Developmental plasticity evolves in heterogeneous environmental conditions as long as individuals can accurately perceive them. A paradigmatic example of developmental plasticity is the ability of amphibian larvae to alter growth and development in response to the risk of pond drying. Such responses are often found in amphibian species breeding in highly dynamic water bodies with high desiccation risk. The inselbergs of the Guianan Shield are rocky outcrops with extremely high and fluctuating temperatures and a marked seasonality in precipitation. During the rainy season, eroded depressions form precipitation-dependent pools with a high and variable risk of desiccation within the timeframe of a few days. The frog Leptodactylus lithonaetes specializes in breeding in this extreme environment, and its tadpoles are thus forced to cope with desiccation risk by adjusting their developmental trajectories and physiological performance. We experimentally assessed the effect of different levels of desiccation risk, under controlled temperature conditions, on developmental rate, growth, and temperature-dependent locomotor performance in tadpoles of Leptodactylus lithonaetes. We did not find an effect of desiccation risk on developmental rate, but under simulated drying conditions, tadpoles showed larger body size, greater body mass, and enhanced locomotor performance compared to constant (high or low) water levels. These results suggest that drying pools offer cues that trigger developmental and behavioral changes in these tadpoles, enabling them to enhance growth over a short time span without accelerating development. We discuss the potential compensatory mechanisms behind these responses and highlight the need for further investigations in species with semiterrestrial life histories in extreme environments.
Monitoring vegetation degradation using remote sensing and machine learning over India – a multi-sensor, multi-temporal and multi-scale approach
Authors: Sur Koyel , Verma Vipan Kumar , Panwar Pankaj , Shukla Gopal , Chakravarty Sumit , Nath Arun Jyoti
Published: June 2024

Vegetation cover degradation is often a complex phenomenon, exhibiting strong correlation with climatic variation and anthropogenic actions. Conservation of biodiversity is important because millions of people are directly and indirectly dependent on vegetation (forest and crop) and its associated secondary products. United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) propose to quantify the proportion of vegetation as a proportion of total land area of all countries. Satellite images form as one of the main sources of accurate information to capture the fine seasonal changes so that long-term vegetation degradation can be assessed accurately. In the present study, Multi-Sensor, Multi-Temporal and Multi-Scale (MMM) approach was used to estimate vulnerability of vegetation degradation. Open source Cloud computing system Google Earth Engine (GEE) was used to systematically monitor vegetation degradation and evaluate the potential of multiple satellite data with variable spatial resolutions. Hotspots were demarcated using machine learning techniques to identify the greening and the browning effect of vegetation using coarse resolution Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) of MODIS. Rainfall datasets of Climate Hazards Group InfraRed Precipitation with Station data (CHIRPS) for the period 2000–2022 were also used to find rainfall anomaly in the region. Furthermore, hotspot areas were identified using high-resolution datasets in major vegetation degradation areas based on long-term vegetation and rainfall analysis to understand and verify the cause of change whether anthropogenic or climatic in nature. This study is important for several State/Central Government user departments, Universities, and NGOs to lay out managerial plans for the protection of vegetation/forests in India.
A high-density genome-wide approach reveals novel genetic markers linked to small ruminant lentivirus susceptibility in sheep
Authors: Riggio Silvia , Tolone Marco , Sottile Gianluca , Tumino Serena , Portolano Baldassare , Sutera Anna Maria , Sardina Maria Teresa , Cesarani Alberto , Mastrangelo Salvatore
Published: June 2024

Visna/Maedi virus (VMV) is lentiviral disease of sheep responsible for severe production losses. Multiple genomic regions associated with infection were reported indicating genetic complexity. In this study, a combined genome-wide approach using a high-density SNP array has been performed, comparing VMV-infected (n = 78) and non-infected (n = 66) individuals of the Valle del Belice breed. The serological tests showed a seroprevalence of 26%. The comparison among results from different approaches (GWAS, Fisher’s exact test and the FST analysis) revealed two association signals: on OAR03 close to the GRIN2B gene and on OAR05 close to the TMEM232 gene. To the best of our knowledge, there has been no previous association between these genes and lentiviral infection in any species. The GRIN2B gene plays a role in pain response, synaptic transmission, and receptor clustering, while TMEM232 is involved in the development of immune-related disorders. The results highlighted new aspects of the genetic complexity related to the resistance/susceptibility to VMV in sheep, confirming that studies on different breeds can lead to different results. The ideal approach for validation of the markers identified in our study is to use samples from a population independent from the discovery population with the same phenotype used in the discovery stage.
The correlation between serum calcium levels and prognosis in patients with severe acute osteomyelitis
Authors: Liu Yunlong , Zheng Yan , Ding Sheng
Published: June 2024

Objective

To explore the relationship between serum calcium levels and the prognosis of severe acute osteomyelitis, and to assess the effectiveness of calcium levels in prognostic evaluation.

Methods

Relevant patient records of individuals diagnosed with severe acute osteomyelitis were obtained for this retrospective study from the Medical Information Mart for Intensive Care (MIMIC-IV). The study aimed to assess the impact of different indicators on prognosis by utilizing COX regression analysis. To enhance prognostic prediction for critically ill patients, a nomogram was developed. The discriminatory capacity of the nomogram was evaluated using the Area Under the Curve (AUC) of the Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curve, in addition to the calibration curve.

Result

The study analyzed a total of 1,133 cases of severe acute osteomyelitis, divided into the survivor group (1,025 cases) and the non-survivor group (108 cases). Significant differences were observed between the two groups in terms of age, hypertension, sepsis, renal injury, and various laboratory indicators, including WBC, PLT, Ca2+, CRP, hemoglobin, albumin, and creatinine (P<0.05). However, no significant differences were found in race, gender, marital status, detection of wound microbiota, blood sugar, lactate, and ALP levels. A multivariate COX proportional hazards model was constructed using age, hypertension, sepsis, Ca2+, creatinine, albumin, and hemoglobin as variables. The results revealed that hypertension and sepsis had a significant impact on survival time (HR=0.514, 95% CI 0.339–0.779, P=0.002; HR=1.696, 95% CI 1.056–2.723, P=0.029). Age, hemoglobin, Ca2+, albumin, and creatinine also showed significant effects on survival time (P<0.05). However, no statistically significant impact on survival time was observed for the other variables (P>0.05). To predict the survival time, a nomogram was developed using the aforementioned indicators and achieved an AUC of 0.841. The accuracy of the nomogram was further confirmed by the ROC curve and calibration curve.

Conclusion

According to the findings, this study establishes that a reduction in serum calcium levels serves as a distinct and standalone predictor of mortality among individuals diagnosed with severe acute osteomyelitis during their stay in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) within a span of two years.
Regulation of anti-tumor immunity by metal ion in the tumor microenvironment
Authors: Gao Yaoxin , Liu Shasha , Huang Yifan , Li Feng , Zhang Yi
Published: June 2024

Metal ions play an essential role in regulating the functions of immune cells by transmitting intracellular and extracellular signals in tumor microenvironment (TME). Among these immune cells, we focused on the impact of metal ions on T cells because they can recognize and kill cancer cells and play an important role in immune-based cancer treatment. Metal ions are often used in nanomedicines for tumor immunotherapy. In this review, we discuss seven metal ions related to anti-tumor immunity, elucidate their roles in immunotherapy, and provide novel insights into tumor immunotherapy and clinical applications.
Efficacy and safety of PD-1 inhibitors plus chemotherapy with or without endostatin for stage IV lung squamous cancer: a retrospective study
Authors: Lv Chengliu , Wu Yahua , Gu Weiwei , Du Bin , Yao Na , Zhu Yingjiao , Zheng Jianping , Hong Yaping , Lai Jinhuo
Published: June 2024

Backgroud

The study aimed to analyze the efficacy and safety of PD-1 inhibitors plus chemotherapy with or without endostatin for stage IV lung squamous cell carcinoma (LUSC).

Methods

A total of 219 patients with stage IV LUSC were included. 120 received PD-1 inhibitors plus chemotherapy with or without endostatin (IC ± A), of which 39 received endostatin (IC+A) and 81 did not receive endostatin (IC-A). 99 received chemotherapy with or without endostatin (C ± A). Endpoints included overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS), adverse events (AEs), and immune-related adverse events (irAEs).

Results

The median PFS in the IC ± A group versus the C ± A group was 8 and 4 months (P < 0.001), and the median OS was 17 and 9 months (P < 0.001). There was no significant difference in any grade AEs between the IC ± A and C ± A groups (P > 0.05). The median PFS in the IC+A group versus the IC-A group was 11 and 7 months (P = 0.024), and the median OS was 34 and 15 months (P = 0.01). There was no significant difference between the IC+A group and the IC-A group for all grade AEs and irAEs (P > 0.05). The subgroup analysis showed that patients with LIPI = 0 had significant OS and PFS benefits in IC+A group, while for patients with LIPI = 1–2, there was no significant difference in OS and PFS benefits between the IC+A group and IC-A group.

Conclusions

PD-1 inhibitors plus chemotherapy with endostatin might be first-line treatment for patients with stage IV LUSC.
Structural diversity of Leiopathes glaberrima populations in the strait of Sicily: from pristine to declining forests
Authors: Giova Antonio , Canese Simonepietro , Donelli Benedetta Zoe , Romeo Teresa , Greco Silvestro
Published: June 2024

Introduction

The black coral Leiopathes glaberrima is a key component of deep-sea animal forests of the Western Mediterranean and North-Atlantic hard bottoms. Due to its ecological role, biological characteristics and sensitivity to fishing activities, it has been included in the Annex II of the Barcelona Convention, listed as an endangered species in IUCN Red Lists, and recognized as an indicator of Vulnerable Marine Ecosystems by the FAO.

Methods

During a survey conducted in the Strait of Sicily, 140 ROV transects were carried out allowing the characterization of environmental preferences, associated fauna and population structure of L. glaberrima in the study area.

Results and discussion

1020 colonies were distributed between 165 and 672 meters and arranged in 17 patches and isolated colonies. The average height was determined to be 40.9 ± 1.0 cm, with the range spanning from a minimum of 5 cm up to nearby 200 cm. Pristine colonies accounted for 62.9%, mainly constituted by small-sized individuals densely aggregated (up to 14.5/m2 in a single frame) in the eastern part of the area. 24.5% of the specimens were dead and localized in the western margin where we reported a rare case of mass mortality in the deep-sea environment and the first ever described for black corals, opening new scenarios regarding the possibility that these events can occur in environments previously considered safe from danger. The triggering causes of these events in inaccessible environments are actually only hypothesized, but it is not to be excluded that, sooner or later, a similar effect could potentially result from anthropogenic climate changes.
Post-COVID-19 condition: a sex-based analysis of clinical and laboratory trends
Authors: Delfino Carlos , Poli M. Cecilia , Vial Cecilia , Vial Pablo A. , Martínez Gonzalo , Riviotta Amy , Arbat Catalina , Mac-Guire Nicole , Hoppe Josefina , Carvajal Cristóbal , Muñoz Venturelli Paula
Published: June 2024

Background and aim

Post-COVID-19 condition (PCC) encompasses long-lasting symptoms in individuals with COVID-19 and is estimated to affect between 31–67% of patients, with women being more commonly affected. No definitive biomarkers have emerged in the acute stage that can help predict the onset of PCC, therefore we aimed at describing sex-disaggregated data of PCC patients from a local cohort and explore potential acute predictors of PCC and neurologic PCC.

Methods

A local cohort of consecutive patients admitted with COVID-19 diagnosis between June 2020 and July 2021 were registered, and clinical and laboratory data were recorded. Only those <65 years, discharged alive and followed up at 6 and 12 months after admission were considered in these analyses. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was performed to explore variables associated with PCC (STATA v 18.0).

Results

From 130 patients in the cohort, 104 were contacted: 30% were women, median age of 42 years. At 6 months, 71 (68%) reported PCC symptoms. Women exhibited a higher prevalence of any PCC symptom (87 vs. 60%, p = 0.007), lower ferritin (p = 0.001) and procalcitonin (p = 0.021) and higher TNF levels (p = 0.042) in the acute phase compared to men. Being women was independently associated to 7.60 (95% CI 1.27–45.18, p = 0.026) higher risk for PCC. Moreover, women had lower return to normal activities 6 and 12 months.

Conclusion

Our findings highlight the lasting impact of COVID-19, particularly in young women, emphasising the need for tailored post-COVID care. The lower ferritin levels in women are an intriguing observation, warranting further research. The study argues for comprehensive strategies that address sex-specific challenges in recovery from COVID-19.
Late-onset renal variant Fabry disease with R112H mutation and mild increase in plasma globotriaosylsphingosine: a case report
Authors: Tanaka Keiko , Sugiyama Hitoshi , Morinaga Hiroshi , Onishi Akifumi , Tanabe Katsuyuki , Uchida Haruhito A. , Maruyama Hiroki , Wada Jun
Published: June 2024

Fabry disease (FD) is an X-linked disorder resulting in a deficiency of α-galactosidase A (GLA) activity. The R112H mutation of GLA is relatively common in Japanese FD patients, characterized by a late-onset phenotype, almost normal to mild lyso-Gb3 elevation, and mild clinical symptoms, despite low GLA activity. This is due to the structural features of the R112H GLA protein. We herein report the case of a 42-year-old male patient with late-onset FD with a R112H mutation. The patient exhibited only renal involvement with no other organ damage and was successfully treated with galactosidase beta and subsequent migalastat for approximately 10 years. Especially, migalastat was clinically effective in normalizing plasma lyso-Gb3 levels and inhibiting the progression of renal damage associated with FD. Therefore, the use of migalastat in the FD patients with R112H mutation is highly recommended based on this case report.
Long-term prognostic implications of brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity in patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention
Authors: Kim Byung Sik , Ahn Jong-Hwa , Shin Jeong-Hun , Kang Min Gyu , Kim Kye-Hwan , Bae Jae Seok , Cho Yun Ho , Koh Jin-Sin , Park Yongwhi , Hwang Seok-Jae , Tantry Udaya S. , Gurbel Paul A. , Hwang Jin-Yong , Jeong Young-Hoon
Published: June 2024

Objective

The long-term clinical effect of arterial stiffness in high-risk disease entities remains unclear. The prognostic implications of brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV) were assessed using a real-world registry that included patients who underwent percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).

Methods

Arterial stiffness was measured using baPWV before discharge. The primary outcome was net adverse clinical events (NACE), defined as a composite of all-cause death, non-fatal myocardial infarction, non-fatal stroke, or major bleeding. Secondary outcomes included major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events (MACCE: a composite of all-cause death, non-fatal myocardial infarction, or non-fatal stroke), and major bleeding. The outcomes were assessed over a 4-year period.

Results

Patients (n = 3,930) were stratified into high- and low-baPWV groups based on a baPWV cut-off of 1891 cm/s determined through time-dependent receiver operating characteristic curve analysis. baPWV was linearly correlated with 4-year post-PCI clinical events. The high baPWV group had a greater cumulative incidence of NACE, MACCE, and major bleeding. According to multivariable analysis, the high baPWV groups had a significantly greater risk of 4-year NACE (adjusted hazard ratio [HRadj]: 1.44; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.12–1.85; p = 0.004), MACCE (HRadj: 1.40; 95% CI: 1.07–1.83; p = 0.015), and major bleeding (HRadj: 1.94; 95% CI: 1.15–3.25; p = 0.012).

Conclusion

In PCI-treated patients, baPWV was significantly associated with long-term clinical outcomes, including ischemic and bleeding events, indicating its value for identifying high-risk phenotypes.
Efficacy and safety of intranasal insulin on postoperative cognitive dysfunction in elderly patients after laparoscopic radical resection of colorectal cancer: a double-blind pilot study
Authors: Zhang Hailong , Zhao Liqin , Li Min , Li Xu , Li Ruofan , Wu Di
Published: June 2024

Objective

To evaluate the efficacy and safety of intranasal insulin on postoperative cognitive dysfunction (POCD) in elderly patients after laparoscopic radical resection of colorectal cancer.

Methods

Older patients scheduled for laparoscopic radical resection of colorectal cancer at Beijing Luhe Hospital, Capital Medical University, between August 2023 and November 2023, were enrolled in this double-blind pilot study. Patients were randomized to the control and insulin groups at a 1:1 ratio. The primary outcome was the rate of POCD at postoperative 7 days.

Results

A total of 61 patients (30 in the insulin group) were analyzed. The insulin group had a significantly lower POCD rate compared with the control group at postoperative day 7 [4(13.3%) vs. 12 (38.7%), p = 0.024]. The serum levels of IL-6, TNF-α and S100β at T2-5 in the insulin group were significantly lower than those of the control group (IL-6: mean difference at T2, −4.14, p = 0.036; T3, −3.84, p = 0.039; T4, −3.37, p = 0.013; T5, −2.57, p = 0.042; TNF-α: mean difference at T2, −3.19, p = 0.002; T3, −2.35, p = 0.028; T4, −2.30, p = 0.019; T5, −1.96, p = 0.0181; S100β: mean difference at T2, −8.30, p = 0.019; T3, −23.95, p = 0.020; T4, −20.01, p = 0.023; T5, −17.67, p = 0.010). No insulin allergic reactions, nasal irritation, or hypoglycemic reactions were observed in either of the groups.

Conclusion

Intranasal insulin may decrease the risk of POCD and inhibit the elevated serum IL-6, TNF-α, and S100β levels in elderly patients after laparoscopic radical resection of colorectal cancer, which proves that intranasal insulin may be a promising therapeutic option for POCD.

Clinical trial registration

Identifier, ChiCTR2300074423.
Risk factors for falls in Parkinson's disease: a cross-sectional observational and Mendelian randomization study
Authors: Zhang Yifan , Zhang Yuehui , Yan Yuexin , Kong Xiangxu , Su Shengyuan
Published: June 2024

Background

Patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) exhibit a heightened risk of falls and related fractures compared to the general population. This study aims to assess the clinical characteristics associated with falls in the patient with PD and to gain further insight into these factors through Mendelian randomization analysis.

Methods

From January 2013 to December 2023, we included 591 patients diagnosed with Parkinson's disease at Shenzhen Baoan People's Hospital. Using univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses, we identified clinical variables associated with falls. We constructed a nomogram based on these variables and evaluated the predictive efficacy of the model. Additionally, we employed summary statistics from genome-wide association studies to conduct two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) analyses on key variables influencing falls.

Results

Compared to the control group, we identified osteoporosis, motor dysfunction, higher Hoehn and Yahr scale as significant risk factors for falls in PD patients. Conversely, treatment with levodopa and a higher level of education exhibited a protective effect against the risk of falling. MR analysis further confirmed a causal relationship between osteoporosis, education level and falls in PD patients.

Conclusion

Osteoporosis and educational attainment are correlated with falls in Parkinson's disease.
A new online detection method of tobacco impurities for tobacco robot
Authors: Zhang Lei , Li Dailin , Xu Dayong , Zhang Erqiang , Liu Zhenyu , Li Jiakang , Du Jinsong , Li Shanlian
Published: June 2024

In the tobacco industry, impurity detection is an important prerequisite for ensuring the quality of tobacco. However, in the actual production process, the complex background environment and the variability of impurity shapes can affect the accuracy of impurity detection by tobacco robots, which leads to a decrease in product quality and an increase in health risks. To address this problem, we propose a new online detection method of tobacco impurities for tobacco robot. Firstly, a BCFormer attention mechanism module is designed to effectively mitigate the interference of irrelevant information in the image and improve the network's ability to identify regions of interest. Secondly, a Dual Feature Aggregation (DFA) module is designed and added to Neck to improve the accuracy of tobacco impurities detection by augmenting the fused feature maps with deep semantic and surface location data. Finally, to address the problem that the traditional loss function cannot accurately reflect the distance between two bounding boxes, this paper proposes an optimized loss function to more accurately assess the quality of the bounding boxes. To evaluate the effectiveness of the algorithm, this paper creates a dataset specifically designed to detect tobacco impurities. Experimental results show that the algorithm performs well in identifying tobacco impurities. Our algorithm improved the mAP value by about 3.01% compared to the traditional YOLOX method. The real-time processing efficiency of the model is as high as 41 frames per second, which makes it ideal for automated inspection of tobacco production lines and effectively solves the problem of tobacco impurity detection.
An ERP study on the late stage of Chinese metaphor processing
Authors: Xu Xinyi , Zhang Jingting , Wang Yuling , Jiang Minghu
Published: June 2024

Psycholinguistic models of metaphor processing remain a subject of debate. A prime-probe design using Chinese materials with a specific time span (300 ms) was applied to test the mechanisms of metaphor processing. Conventional and familiarized metaphors were designed as primes, followed by a probe word semantically related to the prime metaphor (MT), a probe word related to the literal meaning of the final word of the prime metaphor (LT), control/unrelated probe word (UT), or non-word. Event-related potentials (ERPs) elicited by the probes were recorded to examine metaphor processing. In N400, results revealed that UT and LT elicited significantly more negative waveforms than MT in both primes. MTs and LTs showed no difference between conventional and familiarized metaphors, suggesting that metaphorical meaning may be accessed directly, regardless of whether conventional or familiarized metaphors. The results were generally compatible with the direct processing model.