bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Exposure therapy under psilocybin for general anxiety disorder and claustrophobia
Authors: THORENS Gabriel , PENZENSTADLER louise , FURTADO Leonice CAPRISTANO DE CARVALHO , SERAGNOLI Federico , ROTHEN Stephane , MABILAIS Cedric , ZULLINO Daniele
Published: May 2023

Case report of a patient with GAD and claustrophobia who underwent exposure therapy using psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy. The patient had failed to respond to conventional psychotherapeutic treatment. After three sessions of psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy, the patient experienced a reduction in anxiety and fear associated with closed spaces, elevators, and planes. The protocol included both an imaginary exposure exercise and a classic exposure therapy in an elevator during the psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy. the patient experienced a significant improvement in his score on the Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II), the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), and the Fear Questionnaire before and after therapy. He reported a generalization of the treatment effects, feeling more relaxed and having a greater willingness to confront fearful situations. He also described a shift in his perception of fearful stimuli, which may be explained as the development of new memory representations and a major disconfirmatory experience.
Enterprise risk management implementation challenges in the Zimbabwean medical laboratory industry
Authors: Vhanda Donald , Chinowaita Frank , Chinowaita Kudzai , Vhanda Reynold , Nherera Brenda , Dzinamarira Tafadzwa , Chitungo Itai James Blessing
Published: May 2023

Background.
Of late there has been increasing interest in risk management (RM) across the world due to the global financial crisis’s impact on the world economy and also the changing business environment characterized by threats from economic, political, natural and technical resources. Health care organizations including medical laboratories are environments characterised by high management complexity and they are subject to a constant exposure to risks. The objective of the study was to investigate the ERM implementation challenges in the Zimbabwe medical laboratories sector.
Methodology.
A cross-sectional survey through 41 self-administered questionnaires and interviews with medical laboratory staff from the 6 main medical laboratories in Zimbabwe.
Results.
The main challenges identified in the study included increased workload, staffing, organisational structures, timeliness of information, inadequate information technology support and insufficient financial support in ERM.
Conclusion.
The findings of this study give a critical insight into the key elements that need to be tackled as a starting point for a successful implementation of ERM in the medical laboratory sector in Zimbabwe. ERM is still a new approach in the sector and needs further research.
Divergently Access N-center 5,6,7-Perifused Cycle
Authors: Li Baosheng , Han Jingpeng , Yang Yongjian , Gong Yingjian , Tang Xuan , Tian Yi
Published: May 2023

Nitrogen-containing heterocycles are the key components in many pharmaceuticals and functional materials. In this study, we reported a transition metal-catalyzed high-order reaction sequence for synthesizing a structurally unique N-center 5,6,7-perifused cycle (NCPC). The key characteristics included the formation of a seven-membered ring by the 8π electrocyclization of various alkenes and aromatic heterocycles as π-components, in which metal carbene species generated that further induced the cleavage of the α-C-H or -C-C bond. Specifically, the latter could react with various nucleophilic reagents containing -O, -S, -N, and -C. The stereo-controlled late-stage modification of some complicated pharmaceuticals indicated the versatility of this protocol.
The effect of pelvicalyceal anatomy on reaching the lower calyx and comparison between reusable and single-use flexible ureteroscopes
Authors: Taguchi Makoto , Yasuda Kaneki , Kinoshita Hidefumi
Published: May 2023

Objective: To investigate reaching the lower calyx during flexible ureteroscopic lithotripsy (URSL) using flexible ureteroscopes (including single-use scopes (LithoVue) and reusable scopes (P5 and P7)) and examine the risk factors of pelvicalyceal anatomy on reaching the lower calyx with active deflection.
Methods: We performed a retrospective review of prospectively collected data for 162 patients who underwent URSL at our hospital. URSL was performed using 1.5 Fr basket and two laser fibers (200 μ and 365 μ). We measured the infundibular length (IL), infundibular width, infundibulopelvic angle, infundibular distance (ID), and infundibular angle (IDA) and recorded the success rate of reaching the lower calyx by four methods (channel free, 1.5 Fr basket, 200 μ laser, and 365 μ laser).
Results: When using the 365 μ laser, the success rates for reaching the lower calyx significantly differed: 84.3% (LithoVue), 55.1% (P5), and 60.5% (P7). Multivariate analysis revealed that the following significant factors affect the success of reaching the lower calyx with active deflection: using LithoVue, IDA, IL, and ID. The cut-off points of the receiver operating characteristic curve of IDA and IL were 30 degrees and 22.4 mm, respectively.
Conclusion: The type of scopes and pelvicalyceal anatomy strongly affect the success rate of reaching the lower calyx. If the IDA is sharp or the IL is long, flexible ureteroscopes may not reach the lower calyx with active deflection.
Detection of primary paleomagnetic remanence carriers in zircon crystals using high-resolution X-ray ptycho-tomography
Authors: Kupp Venkata Sree Charan , Ball Matthew , Batey Darren , Dodds Kathryn , Cipiccia Silvia , Wanelik Kaz , Fu Roger , Rau Christoph , Harrison Richard
Published: May 2023

We present the first application of X-ray ptycho-tomography to perform high-resolution, non-destructive, three-dimensional (3D) imaging of magnetic inclusions in paleomagnetically relevant materials (zircon crystals from the Bishop Tuff ignimbrite). Correlative microscopy using quantum diamond magnetic microscopy combined with X-ray fluorescence mapping was used to locate regions containing Fe-bearing magnetic remanence carriers. Ptycho-tomographic reconstructions with voxel sizes 85 nm and 21 nm were achievable across a field-of-view > 80 µm; voxel sizes as small as 5 nm were achievable over a limited field-of-view using local ptycho-tomography. Magnetite particles 300 nm in size were clearly resolved. We estimate that particles as small as 100 nm – approaching single-domain threshold for magnetite – could be resolvable using this “dual-mode” methodology. Our combined magnetic and tomography results support the presence of primary magnetic inclusions in relatively young and pristine zircon crystals, majority of which are in the optimal size range for carrying strong and stable paleomagnetic signals.
Establishment and characterization of CSCRi006-A: An induced pluripotent stem cell line generated from a patient with Diamond-Blackfan Anemia (DBA) carrying ribosomal protein S19 (RPS19) mutation.
Authors: Rani Sonam , Thamodaran Vasanth , Nandy Krittika , Aboobacker Fouzia Nambiathayil , Maddali Madhavi , Rajesh Praveena , Vijayanand S , David Ernest , Velayudhan Shaji Ramachandran
Published: May 2023

Diamond Blackfan anemia (DBA) is a congenital hypoplastic anemia characterized by ineffective erythropoiesis. DBA is majorly caused by mutations in the ribosomal protein (RP) genes1. A suitable disease model that yields a continuous supply of erythroid cells is required to study disease pathogenesis and drug discovery. Towards this, we reprogrammed dermal fibroblasts from a DBA patient with a heterozygous mutation c.22-23delAG in the RPS19 gene identified through exome sequencing. To generate induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), we induced episomal expression of the reprogramming factors OTC3/4, L-MYC, LIN28, SOX2, and KLF4, and a p53 shRNA2. The DBA iPSC line CSCRi006-A generated during this study was extensively characterized for its pluripotency and genome stability. The clone retained normal karyotype and showed high expression levels of pluripotency markers, OCT4, NANOG, SOX2, TRA-I-60, TRA-I-81, and SSEA4. It could differentiate into cells originating from all three germ cell layers, as identified by immunostaining for SOX17 (endoderm), Brachyury (mesoderm), and PAX6 (ectoderm). IPSCs provide a renewable source of cells for in vitro disease modeling. CSCRi006-A, a thoroughly characterized iPSC line carrying heterozygous RPS19 c.22-23delAG mutation, is a valuable cell line for the disease modeling of DBA. This iPSC line can be differentiated into different blood cell types to study the mechanisms of disease development and identify potential treatments.
The Therapeutic Effect of Mesenchymal Stem Cells in Diabetic Kidney Disease
Authors: Habiba Umm E , Khan Nasar , Greene David Lawrence , Shamim Sabiha , Umer Amna
Published: May 2023

Diabetes mellitus (DM) often causes chronic kidney damage despite best medical practices. Diabetic kidney disease (DKD) arises from a complex interaction of factors within the kidney and the whole body. Targeting specific disease-causing agents using drugs has not been effective in treating DKD. However, stem cell therapies offer a promising alternative by addressing multiple disease pathways and promoting kidney regeneration. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) offer great promise due to their superior accessibility ratio from adult tissues and remarkable modes of action, such as the production of paracrine anti-inflammatory and cytoprotective substances. This review critically evaluates the development of MSC treatment for DKD as it moves closer to clinical application. Results from animal models suggest that systemic MSC infusion may positively impact DKD progression. However, few registered and completed clinical trials exist, and whether the treatments are effective in humans is still being determined. Significant knowledge gaps and research opportunities exist, including establishing the ideal source, dose, and timing of MSC delivery, better understanding of in vivo mechanisms, and developing quantitative indicators to obtain a more significant therapeutic response. This paper reviews recent literature on using MSCs in preclinical and clinical trials in DKD. Potent biomarkers related to DKD are also highlighted, which may help better understand MSCs’ action in this disease progression.
Complete plastid genome structure of thirteen Asian Justicia (Acanthaceae) species: comparative genomics and phylogenetic analyses
Authors: Niu Zhengyang , Lin Zheli , Tong Yi , Chen Xin , Deng Yunfei
Published: May 2023

Background Justicia is the largest genus in Acanthaceae and widely distributed in Asia, Africa, Australia and South America. Previous phylogenetic studies have proposed a general phylogenetic framework for Justicia based on several molecular markers. However, their studies mainly focused on resolution of phylogenetic issues of Justicia in Africa, Australia and South America due to limited sampling from Asia. Additionally, although Justicia plants are of high medical and ornamental values, little research on its genetics was reported. Therefore, to improve the understanding of its genomic structure and relationships among Asian Justicia plants, we sequenced complete chloroplast (cp) genomes of twelve Asian plants and combined with the previously published cp genome of J. leptostachya for further comparative genomics and phylogenetic analyses.Results All the cp genomes exhibit a typical quadripartite structure without genomic rearrangement and gene loss. Their sizes range from 148,374 to 151,739 bp, including a large single copy (LSC, 81,434–83,676 bp), a small single copy (SSC, 16,833–17,507 bp) and two inverted repeats (IR, 24,947–25,549 bp). GC contents range from 38.1–38.4%. All the plastomes contain 114 genes, containing 80 protein-coding genes, 30 tRNAs and 4 rRNAs. IR variation and repetitive sequences analyses both indicated that Justicia grossa is different from other Justicia species because its lengths of ndhF and ycf1 in IRs are shorter than others and it is richest in SSRs and dispersed repeats. The ycf1 gene was identified as the candidate DNA barcode for Justicia phylogeny. Our phylogenetic results showed that Justicia is a polyphyletic group, which is consistent with previous studies. Among them, J. grossa belongs to subtribe Tetramerinae of tribe Justicieae while the other Justicia members belong to subtribe Justiciinae. Therefore, based on morphological and molecular evidence, J. grossa should be undoubtedly recognized as a new genus. Interestingly, the evolutionary history of Justicia was discovered to be congruent with morphology evolution of inflorescence position from terminal to axillary and spikes gradually shorten into cymes.Conclusion Our study not only elucidates basic features of Justicia whole plastomes, but also first sheds light on interspecific relationships of Asian Justicia plants.
Amharic Handwritten & Machine Printed Character Recognition Using Deep CNN with Random Search Hyperparameter Optimization Algorithm
Authors: Sinshaw Natnael Tilahun , Ejigu Biniam Ewnetu , Assefa Beakal Gizachew , Mohapatra Sudhir Kumar
Published: May 2023

The Amharic language is widely spoken in Ethiopia by over 31.8 million people as their mother tongue, and an additional 25 million as second-language speakers. It is also used to document a significant portion of Ethiopia’s historical and literary records. However, recognizing handwritten and machine-printed characters in Amharic has been a challenging issue. Several OCR technologies have been proposed to address this issue, but it remains unresolved. This study proposes a convolutional neural network (CNN) model for Amharic character recognition. The model was developed using 104,177 Amharic character images and subjected to data preprocessing activities such as binarization and noise removal. The dataset was partitioned into training, validation, and test sets, with each partition containing 80%, 10%, and 10% of the data, respectively. The proposed model's hyperparameters were optimized using three algorithms: random search, Bayesian optimization, and hyperband optimization. Results showed that the random search algorithm produced the best performance, achieving 96.02% accuracy when tested with unseen data. The study concludes that increasing the dataset size and tuning the hyperparameters under different scopes could further improve the model's performance. In general, this study provides a promising approach to Amharic character recognition using deep learning techniques.
Linear regression analysis of COVID-19 time-series data using the Gumbel distribution
Authors: Furutani Hiroshi , Hiroyasu Tomoyuki
Published: May 2023

This study uses the Gumbel distribution to model and analyze the daily number of COVID-19 deaths in 8 European and North American countries, as well as in the 7 NHS regions of England, during the first wave of the COVID-19 outbreak.Linear regression is used for parameter estimation and data fitting.The analysis focuses on the height and position of the peak as indicators of the effectiveness of the algorithm.The results of the proposed approach show that the Gumbel model reasonably reproduces the time-series data of COVID-19 deaths in many regions.The advantage of the proposed method is its simplicity and straightforwardness, which allow us to obtain preliminary results foran intuitive image of trends without the need for a sophisticated mathematical framework.
Noise and PVT Tolerant, High-Speed and Energy-Efficient Hybrid 4-2 Compressor in CNFET Technology
Authors: Maleknejad Mojtaba , Sharifi Fazel , Sharifi Hojjat
Published: May 2023

In this paper, a novel high-speed and energy efficient 4 − 2 compressor cell is proposed using Carbon Nanotube Field Effect Transistors (CNFETs). The proposed compressor is realized efficiently based on NAND-NOR gates and multiplexers. To estimate the performance of the presented design, simulations are carried out using Synopsis HSPICE under different conditions. The results demonstrate the performance improvement of the proposed design compared to the best reference designs in terms of delay and energy consumption, by 20 and 26%, respectively. Also, the susceptibility of the proposed design against the process, voltage, temperature (PVT), and noise variations is examined. It is robust against PVT variations and high amplitude of noises compared with its counterpart. Also, it displays the most robustness, in terms of PVT variations compared with its counterpart. Furthermore, it has the best results in large structures, such as a multiplayer. Furthermore, embedding the proposed compressor in an 8× 8-bit binary multiplier demonstrates that it has better speed and PDP with regard to its counterparts.
Short-chain fatty acid, Butyrate prevents Morphine and Paclitaxel induced peripheral hypersensitivity
Authors: Jessup Dawn , Woods Kareem , Thakker Sach , Damaj M. Imad , Akbarali Hamid I.
Published: May 2023

Peripheral hypersensitivity is a significant side effect with the chronic administration of opioids as well as chemotherapeutics. Both opioid-induced hypersensitivity (OIH) and chemotherapy induced hypersensitivity (CIH) are characterized by an increased sensitivity to painful stimuli which can significantly reduce the quality of life for individuals on either drug(s). Here we demonstrate the peripheral hypersensitivity associated with chronic morphine (opioid) and paclitaxel (chemotherapeutic) treatment can be reversed by oral supplementation with the short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) sodium butyrate. In two separate mouse behavioral models for peripheral hypersensitivity, we found that thermal hyperalgesia (for OIH) and cold allodynia (for CIH) were prevented by co-treatment with oral butyrate. Electrophysiological recordings of small diameter dorsal root ganglia (DRG) neurons from morphine and paclitaxel treated mice showed an increase in neuronal hyperexcitability in both drug models which was likewise prevented by oral butyrate treatment. Using colonic conditioned media obtained from excised colon segments we found that gut mediators of morphine treated mice can induce hyperexcitability in naïve DRG neurons, but such enhanced excitability is not present when animals are co-treated with butyrate suggesting gut derived mediators modulate neuronal hyperexcitability. In-vitro butyrate treatment did not prevent morphine induced excitability, suggesting an indirect role of sodium butyrate in modulating neuronal hypersensitivity. These data taken together suggest that gut derived mediators affect opioid and chemotherapeutic induced neuronal hypersensitivity that is prevented by the SCFA butyrate.
Real-World Study on the Use of Continuous Glucose Monitoring in Insulin-Treated Older Adults with Type 2 Diabetes
Authors: Leite Silmara A O , Silva Michael P , Lavalle Ana C R , Bertogy Maria C V , Bastos Murilo , Kuklik Suelen C V , Umpierrez Guillermo
Published: May 2023

Background Few studies have reported on the adherence and efficacy of continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) in improving diabetes management in insulin treated older adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).Methods Prospective observational cohort study using FreeStyle Libre Flash CGM in insulin-treated adults > 65 years with T2DM and with HbA1c between 7% and 9%. Participants wore the CGM during a 6-weeks study period. Primary outcome was time in range (TIR) between 70–180 mg/dl. Secondary outcomes included time below range (TBR), glycemic variability (GV), as well as adherence and use of glucose data for self-insulin adjustment.Results A total of 66 participants completed the 6 weeks trial (age 72·8 ± 5·3 years; BMI 27·8 ± 3·6 kg/m2), HbA1c: 8·0 ± 0·6%, with an overall sensor utilization of 93·1 ± 6·0%. Compared to baseline, we observed TIR (67% vs 70%, p = 0.190, glucose variability (34·9 ± 7·2 vs 32·9 ± 6·8, p = < 0.001), and in a significant reduction in TBR (4% vs 2%, p = 0.008).Conclusion The use of FreeStyle Libre Flash CGM was well accepted by older adults with T2DM and allowed participants to make therapy decisions to improve TIR, reduce TBR and glycemic variability. This real-world study indicates that the use of CGM is safe and effective in improving glycemic control and should be offered to insulin treated older adults with T2DM.
Wine and grape fingerprinting based on chemical compounds and data analysis – insights from bibliometric analysis and text mining
Authors: Costa Nattane Luíza , Lima Márcio Dias
Published: May 2023

This paper explores the growing field of wine and grape authenticity based on chemical compounds and data analysis. A total of 468 studies published in the last 45 years were collected from the Web of Science. The results indicate that the geographic origin of wines is a key theme, involving authenticity, terroir, and fingerprinting. Studies were conducted on wines from around the world, with Europe being the most studied continent, followed by Asia, North America, South America, Australia and Africa. Some countries such as China, Spain, Italy, France, Portugal, Romania, Brazil, Argentina, Chile and Australia have been identified as regions with high wine production volume and scientific studies. The most commonly used terms in this area include exploratory data analysis, PCA, cluster analysis, ICP-MS, pattern recognition, and LDA. On the other hand, newer terms such as feature selection, support vector machines, neural networks, machine learning, and data mining have attracted the attention of authors and emerged as trendy and important terms in publications. The applied methodology provides a broad perspective on wine and grape authenticity research and is a guide for future projects.
Genotype by environment interaction for nut yield and associated traits in cashew (Anacardium occidentale L)
Authors: Eradasappa E. , Mohana G. S. , Poduval M. , Sethi K. , Rani Aneesa , Lourdusamy I. K. , Velmurugan S. , Manjusha M. , Bhat M. G. , Raviprasad T. N. , Anilkumar C
Published: May 2023

Cashew is cultivated in varied agro-ecological regions of India and yield levels vary with regions. Therefore, to identify stable genotype for yield, 18 genotypes were tested in four environments for nut yield and related traits during 2008 to 2018 in randomized block design with two replications. The data of 6th annual harvest and cumulative nut yield of six years was analyzed employing AMMI and GGE methods. Analysis of variance for 6th annual harvest indicated significant differences (p < 0.01) for eight traits. Environments varied significantly (p < 0.01) for seven traits. G x E interactions were significant (p < 0.01) for all traits. Analysis of variance for cumulative yield revealed significant variations between genotypes, environments, G x E interactions. About 95% of variability was captured by IPCA 1 (84.39%) and IPCA 2 (10.27%) in the G× E interaction. Genotypes, environments and G x E interaction were accounted for 16.18%, 4.50% and 77.22% respectively of total variation. The environment Pilicode discriminated better while Vridhachalam was representative. BPP-8 and Vengulra-7 were the winning genotypes in Bhubaneswar while Kanaka and Priyanka in Pilicode, Vengurla-4 in Jhargram and UN-50 in Vridhachalam. As per ASV (AMMI stability value,) K-22-1 was stable genotype followed by Bhubaneswar-1. As per YSI (yield stability index), Bhubaneswar-1 was stable and high yielding followed by K-22-1 and BPP-8. The study concludes that genotypes Bhubaneswar-1, K-22-1, BPP-8 may be suggested for cultivation in west and east coast regions of India.
Neutron spin echo spectroscopy with a moving sample
Authors: Gvaramia Manuchar , Gutfreund Philipp , Falus Peter , Faraone Antonio , Nagao Michihiro , Wolff Max
Published: May 2023

Neutron spin echo spectroscopy is a high resolution inelastic neutron scattering method probing nanosecond dynamics. It is well suited to study the atomistic motion in polymer systems and contributes to our understanding of viscoelasticity. However, for samples under shear, or moving samples in general, Doppler scattering has to be considered. We compare the measured phase shift and depolarisation due to Doppler scattering from a rotating graphite disk to simulations and analytical calculations and find excellent agreement. This allows to take into account Doppler scattering during the data processing and makes longer Fourier times as well as higher shear rates and Q ranges possible with neutron spin echo spectroscopy, enabling for example the study of polymers under high shear. Moreover, it allows to extract information on the velocity profile of a liquid under shear and thereby monitoring of macroscopic flow instabilities.
Azolla meal as an alternative protein source in the diet of Etroplus suratensis
Authors: Gaidhane Sumit , Ahilan B. , Chidambaram P. , Jayakumar N.
Published: May 2023

An experiment of 60-days duration was conducted to evaluate the effect of plant protein source by replacing fish meal protein with Azolla meal protein on growth performance, feed utilisation, survival, enzymatic activity and cost-effective feed for Etroplus suratensis fingerling. The mean initial average weight of fish 5.48±0.015g was stocked in plastic troughs (60 L) at a stocking rate of 10 fishes per trough. Three diets were formulated by inclusion of AZM protein by replacing fish meal (FM) protein at 0 (control diet), 7.5, 15, and 22.5 level. Each diet was fed to three replicate group fish at the rate of 5% of the total fish biomass, daily for a period of 60 days. Etroplus suratensis fed with AZM 15% diet attained highest weight gain, specific growth rate, and average daily growth, protein efficiency ratio (p<0.05) and elevation in digestive enzyme activity. Fish fed with AZM 22.5% diet showed the best feed conversion ratio, Feed efficiency ratio, highest survival rate and cost-effective diet, there is no significant difference (p>0.05) observed. According to the finding of current study, Azolla meal can be candidate feed ingredient to replace fish meal without compromising growth performance.
Immune cell population dynamics following neonatal BCG vaccination and aerosol BCG revaccination in rhesus macaques
Authors: Sibley Laura , Sarfas Charlotte , Morrison Alexandra L , Williams Jessica J , Gkolfinos Konstantinos , Mabbutt Adam , Eckworth William , Lawrence Steve , Dennis Mike , White Andrew D , Sharpe Sally
Published: May 2023

The BCG vaccine is given to millions of children globally but efficacy wanes over time and differences in the immune systems between infants and adults can influence vaccine efficacy. To this end, 34 rhesus macaques were vaccinated with BCG within seven days of birth and blood samples were collected over 88 weeks for quantification of blood cell populations. Overall, the composition of cell populations did not change significantly between BCG vaccinated and unvaccinated groups, and that BCG vaccination did not perturb normal development. In comparison to adult macaques, higher numbers of CD4+ T-cells, Tregs and NK cells were measured in the infant age group, suggesting a potential bias towards immunosuppressive and innate immune populations. Antigen-specific IFNγ secreting cell frequencies in infant BCG vaccinated animals were detectable in peripheral blood samples for 36 weeks after vaccination but declined following this. To evaluate the long-term impact of infant BCG vaccination on subsequent revaccination with BCG, a pilot study of three adult macaques received an aerosol BCG revaccination approximately three years after their initial BCG vaccination as infants. This induced an increase in PPD-specific IFNγ secreting cells, and increased secretion of the cytokines IFNγ and IL-1β, following stimulation with other microorganisms, which are signals associated with trained innate immunity. (206 words)
Fall Risk Assessment and Ranking using Survival Analysis
Authors: Lillelund Christian Marius , Harbo Michael , Pedersen Christian Fischer
Published: May 2023

Falling is the second leading cause of unintentional injury-related deaths, but fall injuries in older adults are often underreported, reported too late or reported with a lack of detail due to the stigma that surrounds falling. This makes it hard to locate and target the right citizens with fall prevention programs. In this paper, we propose a novel approach to assess fall risk over time and thus identify who would benefit from such a program. Using survival analysis, we train machine learning models to rank citizens by their predicted risk of getting a personal alarm within six months based on home care observations. Data were gathered from July 2021 to December 2021 for 57 types of home care from a large municipality in Denmark. After preprocessing, a total of 5713 observations for 346 citizens with mean age 81 (std. 5 years) are available for model training. Results show that a plain Cox proportional hazards model obtain a mean concordance index of 0.76 (95\% CI: 0.7-0.82), Random Survival Forest obtain 0.84 (95\% CI: 0.76-0.92) and XGBoost obtain 0.94 (95\% CI: 0.88-1) over 25 randomized folds using cross-validation. Censoring rate is 94.5\% on average. Most predictive features are help with personal hygiene, administration of medicine, excretions, cleaning and dispensing of medicine according to a SHAP summary plot. We also identify correlations between care usage in minutes per week and risk using SHAP dependency plots, but the correlation is not always positive. With our method, professionals at municipalities in Denmark or elsewhere, where home care services are recorded, will have a noninvasive decision-support tool that can predict individual fall risk over time.
The prevalence and modifiable lifestyle factors of central obesity among white-collar workers of different genders: A cross-sectional study
Authors: Xiaoqian Dong , Li Ying , Li Jie , Duan Yinglong , Wang Sha , Kang Yue , Luo Yating , Wang Jiangang , Chen Zhiheng , Huang Dawei
Published: May 2023

Background: Central obesity is strongly associated with obesity-related and metabolic diseases, which is a common health problem in sedentary adults, particularly in women, but the mechanisms remain unclear. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence and factors associated with central obesity in white-collar workers Chinese population, and explore potential sex differences.
Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted between 2017 and 2019 at two large general hospitals in northern and southern China. Totally 6,081 white-collar workers underwent a physical examination and completed an online health self-report questionnaire, which included demographic variables, lifestyle factors and blood lipid test. Multilevel logistic regression analysis was performed to assess the prevalence and factors of central obesity.
Results: A total of 4,973 male and 1,108 female white-collar workers were included in this study, and the incidence of central obesity was 67.5% and 30.1%, respectively.
In male white-collar workers, increasing age, chronic disease, higher levels of total cholesterol, salt intake and BEE, social engagement, eating spicy food and animal offal were risk factors for central obesity, while a higher HDL-C level, eating fish, and high vegetable intake were protective factors. In female white-collar workers, increasing age, higher total cholesterol level, higher BEE, and overeating were risk factors for central obesity, while a higher HDL-C level, and drinking milk were protective factors.
Conclusions: Central obesity was a significant public health concern and the prevalence was high in Chinese adults. Healthy lifestyles and dietary measures to control the rates of central obesity should be undertaken to circumvent the growing disease burden in Chinese people..
Interaction between physical activity and sleep quality at midterm after total knee arthroplasty: a Japanese retrospective cohort study
Authors: Hamai Satoshi , Harada Satoru , Tsushima Hidetoshi , Kozuma Ryutaro , Yamate Satoshi , Kawahara Shinya , Akasaki Yukio , Harada Tetsunari , Kokubu Yasuhiko , Konishi Toshiki , Nakashima Yasuharu
Published: May 2023

Purpose No report has clarified the frequency and interacting factors affecting sleep disturbance among Asian patients at midterm after total knee arthroplasty (TKA). This study aimed to evaluate the frequency of sleep disturbance at midterm after TKA in a Japanese cohort and to identify intervening factors for sleep. We hypothesized that residual knee pain and decreased physical activity negatively interact with sleep quality after TKA.Methods A total of 209 Japanese participants (average age: 77.1 ± 8.3 years; postoperative follow-up period: 4.5 ± 1.9 years) who underwent primary TKA for knee osteoarthritis were included in this study. Sleep quality, satisfaction, pain, physical activity, joint awareness, and mental condition were evaluated using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), Knee Society Score (KSS) 2011, Forgotten Joint Score (FJS)-12, and 12-Item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-12) Mental Component Summary (MCS). Multivariate analysis was performed to determine the influencing factors on PSQI.Results The scores for the PSQI, satisfaction with pain level while lying in bed, pain during level walking, functional activity category in the KSS 2011, awareness of the artificial joint in bed at night in the FJS-12, and SF-12 MCS were 6.7 ± 3.0, 5.8 ± 1.8, 1.6 ± 2.3, 62 ± 22, 1.5 ± 1.4, and 56 ± 9.3 on average, respectively. Sleep disturbance (PSQI ≥ 5.5) occurred in 54% of the Japanese participants. Multivariate analysis revealed that high activity was a significant interacting factor for sleep quality improvement (p < .05).Conclusion Decreased physical activity, not residual knee pain, negatively interacted with sleep quality. The sleep disturbance rate was high during the middle postoperative period after TKA in the Japanese cohort, suggesting that interventions that promote daytime exercises may be effective.
A clinical model to predict the risk of distant metastasis in intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma and to explore the benefits of radiotherapy and chemotherapy
Authors: Zhang Yan , Lin yun , Wang Yan-Chun , Lin Hang-Ying , Guo Wang-Ting , Chen Shao-Ting , Yao Xia , Wu Zhang-Cai , Wang Xiao-Yang , Chen Xi , Li Dong-Liang
Published: May 2023

Objective: To develop a clinical prediction model for the risk of distant metastasis in patients with intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma, to assess the risk of distant metastasis and prognosis of patients, and to explore the efficacy of radiotherapy and chemotherapy in people with different risks of distant metastasis.
Method: Clinicopathological data of 15,497 patients diagnosed with intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma from January 2000 to December 2018were extracted from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database, and all eligible patients were randomly divided into a training cohort and a validation cohort in a 7:3 ratio. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed on the training cohort to identify independent factors for distant metastasis. A prediction model for distant metastasis in patients with intrahepatic ductal carcinoma was constructed based on the independent risk factors for distant metastasis. Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) and calibration curves were used to assess the predictive accuracy of the model, and Decision Curve Analysis (DCA) was used to evaluate the clinical utility of the column line graphs.Tumor distant metastasis risk stratification and subgroup survival analysis were performed according to the model, and the benefits of radiotherapy and chemotherapy were explored with the help of the model.
Result: Multivariable logistic analysis showed that age, T-stage, N-stage, degree of differentiation, and tumor size were independent risk factors for distant metastasis. The area under the ROC curve (AUC value) was 0.733 (CI95%: 0.713-0.753) and 0.750 (CI95%:0.721-0.780) for the training and validation sets, respectively, and the calibration curves indicated good agreement between predicted and actual values, and the decision curves showed good clinical utility of the model.Subgroup survival analysis suggested that the prognosis is poor in the intermediate and high risk groups, and that radiotherapy and chemotherapy canimprove the prognosis in these groups, with no benefit for the low risk groups.
Conclusion: The prediction model of distant metastasis in patients with intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma based on the SEER database has good prediction accuracy, which helps physicians to assess the risk of distant metastasis and prognosis of patients, thus providing a reference for individualized clinical treatment decisions for patients. Chemotherapy and radiotherapy can significantly improve the survival prognosis of patients with intermediate and high risk of distant metastasis.
Night-time hot spring bathing is associated with a lower systolic blood pressure among Japanese older adults: A single-institution retrospective cohort study
Authors: Yamasaki Satoshi , Tokunou Tomotake , Maeda Toyoki , Horiuchi Takahiko
Published: May 2023

Hot spring bathing is practiced helping manage hypertension. We analyzed patients’ medical records to investigate the preventive effects of hot spring bathing on hypertension with the aim of identifying a novel approach to prevent and manage hypertension. The study cohort comprised 99 patients aged ≥ 65 years who were admitted to the Department of Internal Medicine of Kyushu University Beppu Hospital between December 1, 2021, and November 30, 2022; who could walk by themselves; and who used hot springs for 3 days or more. We retrospectively calculated the odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) of the influence of night-time hot spring bathing using the multivariate logistic regression model. The changes in both systolic and diastolic blood pressure were significantly decreased in the night-time bathing group (n = 21) compared to those in the noontime (n = 26) and afternoon (n = 52) groups. The female sex (OR 7.540; 95% CI 4.280–13.30), hypertension (OR 0.397; 95% CI 0.245–0.644), and arrhythmia (OR 12.20; 95% CI 5.340–28.00) were independently and significantly associated with night-time hot spring bathing. Night-time hot spring bathing was significantly associated with a reduced systolic blood pressure in older adults. Prospective randomized controlled trials on night-time hot spring bathing as a treatment for hypertension are warranted to investigate whether night-time hot spring bathing can prevent hypertension among adults aged ≥ 65 years.
Evaluation of the Ovicidal Activity and Fasciolicidal Activity of the Extract of Ethyl Acetate from Artemisia Ludoviciana Nutt. Spp. Mexicana and of Artemisinin Against Adult Parasites of Fasciola Hepatica
Authors: Ezeta-Miranda Alonso , Avila-Acevedo José Guillermo , Vera-Montenegro Yolanda , Francisco-Marquez Gerardo
Published: May 2023

The objective of this work was to evaluate the effect of the ethyl acetate extract of A. ludoviciana and artemisinin against adult parasites and eggs of F. hepatica. Extract from A. ludoviciana were obtained by using ethyl acetate. To carry out the ovicidal assay, cell culture boxes were used, and 90 to 110 F. hepatica eggs were placed in each well. The eggs were exposed in triplicate to concentrations of 100, 200, 300, 400 and 500 mg/L of the extract, and they were incubated for 14 and 16 days at a temperature of 28°C and 80% humidity. Adult flukes were exposed to concentrations of 125, 250, 375 and 500 mg/L ethyl acetate extract of A. ludoviciana. Additionally, triclabendazole was used as a reference drug at concentrations of 10 and 50 mg, and at the same time the response of artemisinin at concentrations of 10 and 20 mg was assessed. The results of the percentage of ovicidal action of the eggs exposed to triclabendazole showed 3.23% and 16.13% at 14 days of incubation, 3.89% and 17.03% at 16 days, artemisinin showed 57.75% and 65.95% at 14 days, 59.10% and 68.23% at 16 days. Finally ethyl acetate extract of A. ludoviciana showed 83.55% at 14 days and 93.65% at 16 days (P < 0.05). The fasciolicidal activities of triclabendazole and artemisinin showed 100% of efficacy at 24 hours of exposure. ethyl acetate extract of A. ludoviciana showed 100% of efficacy at 48 and 72 hours of exposure (P < 0.05).
Fluid evolution and related fluid–rock interactions of the Oligocene Zhuhai Sandstones in the Baiyun Sag, North Margin of the South China Sea
Authors: Tian Bing , Yuan Yihan , Tang Jun , Zuo Shanshan , Zheng Youwei , Liu Ming , Guo Cheng
Published: May 2023

The pore fluids control the diagenetic processes and storage spaces of the deep clastic rock reservoirs and have become a major area of interest within the fields of sedimentology and petroleum geology. This paper aims to relate diagenetic processes of the Oligocene Zhuhai sandstones in the Baiyun Sag, to pore fluids varying with burial depth. The types and distribution patterns of authigenic minerals are investigated by analyzing petrographic, mineralogical, and geochemical features, to illustrate the originand flow patterns of pore fluids and their influences on reservoir diagenesis. Strong cementation of eogenetic carbonate cement near the sandstone–mudstone interface was a consequence of material migration from adjacent mudstones on a large scale. The pore fluids were mainly affected by microbial methanogenesis and carbonate mineral dissolution in adjacent mudstones during eogenesis. It was diffusively transported in a relatively open geochemical system within a local range. Support for this model is provided by heavier stable isotopic values in eogenetic calcite and dolmite. Feldspar dissolution during early mesogenesis is spatially accompanied by the precipitation of authigenic quartz and ferroan carbonate cement. Pore fluids in this period were rich in organic acid and CO2, and its migration mechanism was diffusive transport. The obviously lighter carbon and oxygen isotopic compositions of ferroan calcite supports this deduction. During late mesogenesis, the input of deep hydrothermal fluid might be partly responsible for the precipitation of ankerite, barite and authigenic albite. Oil charge may inhibit the carbonate cementation and compaction, accordingly preserving porosity, and together with the authigenic kaolinite, might promote the reservoir from water wet to oil wet, to the benefit of oil entrapment. The findings reported here shed new light on the evaluation and prediction of sandstone reservoirs that have experienced multiple periods of fluid flow.
Gene selection for single cell RNA-seq data via fuzzy rough iterative computation model
Authors: Li Zhaowen , Zhang Jie , Wang Yuxian , Liu Fang , Wen Ching-Feng
Published: May 2023

A single cell gene decision space (scgd-space) means a real-valued decision information system that the samples, features and information values are cells, genes and gene expression values where gene expression data (ge-data) is single cell RNA-seq data (scrs-data), respectively. Because scrs-data have the characteristics of small samples, high dimension and noise, the existing gene selection methods based on an equivalence relation are often powerless for scrs-data owing to the strictness of the equality between gene expression values. This study explores fuzzy rough iterative based gene selection in a single cell gene decision space. In order to overcome the strictness of the equality between gene expression values, the equality between gene expression values is replaced by the distance between gene expression values, and the fuzzy symmetric relation on the cell set of an scgd-space are first established with the help of “The relationship between gene expression values is fed back to the gene set”. In this fuzzy symmetric relation, two variable parameters are introduced: one controls the similarity between cells, the other dominates the distance between gene expression values. Then, fuzzy rough approximations in an scgd-space are introduced. Moreover, some evaluation functions such as fuzzy rough approximations and dependency functions are presented. Next, fuzzy rough iterative computation model (F RIC-model) is given and a gene selection algorithm based on this model is designed. This model applies the iterative computation strategy to define some evaluation functions such as fuzzy positive region and fuzzy dependency. At last, the designed algorithm is testified in several publicly open scrs-data sets to estimate its performance. The experimental results show that the designed algorithm is more effective than some existing algorithms, is fast and does not occupy too much memory.
Buccolingual alveolar bone condition of mandibular molar distalization in skeletal class III patients
Authors: Jiang Liya , Weng Luxi , Xu Liqi , Lin Jun
Published: May 2023

Objective:
To investigate the alveolar bone condition of mandibular molar distalization in skeletal Class III patients from buccolingual direction.
Methods:
45 skeletal class III patients were recruited. The alveolar bone volume, buccal cortical bone thickness and lingual cortical bone thickness were measured in five planes from mesial to distal and at five depths from gingival to root. The effects of the gender of the patients, the second molar lingual inclination, and wisdom tooth on alveolar bone volume and cortical bone thickness were evaluated. To explore the effect of wisdom tooth extraction on alveolar bone condition, the measurements before and after wisdom tooth extraction were compared.
Results:
The impacted wisdom tooth had significantly greater alveolar bone volume and thicker buccal cortical bone at cervical third of molar, while the erupted wisdom tooth had greater alveolar bone volume at apical third. After wisdom tooth extraction, these advantages would weaken owing to the reconstruction of alveolar bone. Patients with lingual inclined molar were observed to own thicker lingual cortical bone. Male tended to have greater alveolar bone volume, but no significant differences were shown in this study.
Conclusions:
The growth of wisdom tooth and the second molar lingual inclination can effectively make the alveolar bone condition more favorable for mandibular molar distalization, but gender has trivial effects on alveolar bone condition. Shortly after the wisdom tooth extraction surgery, the better bone condition can be maintained.
Pandemic Exposure and Adolescent Anxiety: Roles of Negative Media Exposure and Negative Coping Styles
Authors: Chen Zhanjie , Li Qian , Li Tianchang , Chen Bo , Wang Jingxi , Zhen Rui
Published: May 2023

The COVID-19 pandemic threatened people’s mental health, especially for adolescents, because their adjustment mechanisms of cognition and emotion are not perfect. They are more likely to have psychological health problems such as anxiety. The existing researches have carried out relevant discussions on this issue, indicating that excessive exposure to public health emergency events and negative coping styles are important factors causing psychological and behavioral problems such as anxiety. In this study, self-report questionnaires were distributed to 983 middle school students from Hubei province in China. This study focused on the role of negative media exposure and negative coping styles, so as to reveal the mechanism of adolescent anxiety during the pandemic. The results showed that pandemic exposure had a predicative effect on adolescent anxiety. The mechanism of this effect included the direct effect of pandemic exposure, the indirect effect of negative media exposure and negative coping styles.