bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Ultra-low dose CT reconstructed with the artificial intelligence iterative reconstruction algorithm ( AIIR) in 18F-FDG Total-body PET/CT examination: a preliminary study
Authors: Hu Yan , Zheng Zhe , Yu Haojun , Wang Jingyi , Yang Xinlan , Shi Hongcheng
Published: August 2022

Purpose: To investigate the feasibility of ultra-low dose CT (ULDCT) reconstructed with the artificial intelligence iterative reconstruction (AIIR) algorithm in total-body PET/CT imaging.Methods: The study included both the phantom and clinical part. An anthropomorphic phantom underwent CT imaging with ULDCT (10mAs) and standard-dose CT (SDCT) (120mAs) respectively. ULDCT was reconstructed with AIIR and hybrid iterative reconstruction (HIR) (expressed as ULDCT-AIIRphantom and ULDCT-HIRphantom) respectively, and SDCT was reconstructed with HIR (SDCT-HIRphantom) as control. In the clinical part, 52 patients with malignant tumours underwent the total-body PET/CT scann. ULDCT with AIIR (ULDCT-AIIR) and HIR (ULDCT-HIR) respectively was reconstructed for PET attenuation correction, followed by the SDCT reconstructed with HIR (SDCT-HIR) for anatomical location. PET/CT images quality were qualitatively assessed by two readers. The CTmean as well as the CT standard deviation (CTsd), SUVmax, SUVmean, and the SUV standard deviation (SUVsd) were recorded. The signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) were calculated and compared.Results: The image quality of ULDCT-HIRphantom was inferior to the SDCT-HIRphantom, but no significant difference was found between the ULDCT-AIIRphantom and SDCT-HIRphantom. The subjective score of ULDCT-AIIR in the neck, throax and lower limb was equivalent to that of SDCT-HIR. Besides the brain and lower limb, the CTmean of the lesion and other regiongs in ULDCT-AIIR didn’t fluctuate too much, while the CTsd of ULDCT-AIIR was lower than that of SDCT-HIR. Except for the brain, the CNR of ULDCT-AIIR was the same as the SDCT-HIR, but the SNR was higher. The SUVmax, SUVmean and SUVsd of PET-AIIR had a slightly change in the whole body. For the lesions, the SUVmax, SUVsd and TBR showed no significant difference between PET-AIIR and PET-HIR. Conclusion: The SDCT-HIR was not replaced by the ULDCT-AIIR, but the AIIR algorithm decreased the image noise and increased the SNR, which can be implemented under special circumstance in PET/CT examination.
Reasons Clinical Education Directors Intend to Leave their Jobs
Authors: Klein Alicia , Schrode Katrina , Kibe Lucy , Kayingo Gerald
Published: August 2022

Objectives
The goals of this study were to characterize clinical coordinators compared to other Physician Assistant (PA) faculty, and investigate factors associated with intent to leave their position, institution, and academia in the U.S.
Methods
This was a secondary analysis of data obtained from the 2019 PAEA Faculty and Directors Survey. We examined bivariate associations with faculty role and conducted multiple logistic regression to identify predictors of intent to leave among clinical directors.
Results
Clinical directors indicated an intention to leave their position more often than other faculty. Factors influencing intent to leave were a lack of satisfaction with professional development and moderate to high levels of burnout. Clinical directors with severe burnout had 27x the odds of intending to leave academia.
Conclusions
Our results suggest why clinical directors intend to leave and underscore the need for professional development opportunities and faculty mentoring. Faculty-centered work arrangements are needed to reduce burnout among clinical directors.
MAPKAPK2, a dynamic network biomarker of α-synuclein before its aggregation, was significantly highly expressed in both the brain and peripheral blood of PD patients
Authors: Ling Fei , Zhong Zhenggang , Li Jiabao , Zhong Jiayuan , Huang Yinlin , Hu Jiaqi , Zhang Piao , Zhang Baowen , Luo Wei , Liu Rui , Zhang Yuhu
Published: August 2022

One of the important pathological features of Parkinson's disease (PD) is the pathological aggregation of α-synuclein (α-Syn) in the substantia nigra. Preventing the aggregation of α-Syn has become a potential strategy for treating PD. However, the molecular mechanism of α-Syn aggregation is unclear. In this study, using the dynamic network biomarker (DNB) method, we first identified the critical time point when α-Syn undergoes pathological aggregation based on a SH-SY5Y cell model and found thatDNB genes encode transcription factors that regulated target genes that were differentially expressed. Interestingly, we found thatthese DNB genes and their neighbouring genes were significantly enriched in the cellular senescence pathway and thus proposed that the DNB genesHSF1andMAPKAPK2regulate the expression of the neighbouring geneSERPINE1. Notably, in GEO data obtained from substantia nigra, prefrontal cortex and peripheral blood samples, the expression level ofMAPKAPK2was significantly higher in PD patients than in healthy people, suggesting thatMAPKAPK2is an early diagnostic biomarker of diseases related to pathological aggregation of α-Syn, such as PD. These findings provide new insights into the mechanisms underlying the pathological aggregation of α-Syn.
High-performance photoelectrochemical hydrogen production using asymmetric quantum dots
Authors: Wang Kanghong , Wang Chao , Tao Yi , Tang Zikun , Benetti Daniele , Vidal Francois , Liu Yu , Rümmeli Mark , Zhao Haiguang , Rosei Federico , Sun Xuhui
Published: August 2022

Solar-driven photoelectrochemical (PEC) reactions using colloidal quantum dots (QDs) as photoabsorbers have shown great potential for the production of clean fuels. However, the low H2 evolution rate, consistent with low values of photocurrent density, and their limited operational stability are still the main obstacles. To address these challenges, we report the heterostructure engineering of asymmetric rod/egg shaped CdSe/CdxZn1−xSe QDs with broad absorption and efficient charge extraction. By engineering the shell composition from pure ZnSe shells into CdxZn1−xSe gradient shells, the electron transfer rate increased from 4.0 × 107 s− 1 to 32.7 × 107 s− 1. Moreover, the rod/egg shaped architecture enables more efficient spatial carrier separation, yielding a saturated current density of 35 mA/cm2 under AM 1.5 G one sun illumination. This value is the highest ever observed for QDs-based devices and comparable to the best-known Si-based devices, perovskite-based devices and metal oxide-based devices. Furthermore, PEC devices based on heterostructured QDs maintained 96% of the initial current density after two hours and 82% after 10 hours under continuous illumination, respectively. Our results represent a breakthrough in hydrogen production using heterostructured asymmetric QDs.
Sexual health complaints associated with post-treatment gynecological cancer: qualitative research
Authors: Pizetta Luciane Machado , Reis Augusto Cunha , Méxas Mirian Picinini , Paula Carmen Lucia , Ferreira Edria Aparecida
Published: August 2022

Objective: Investigate the most important sexual health complaints of women after gynecological cancer treatment associated with the healthcare provided.Methodology: This is qualitative descriptive research, using semi-structured interviews with a group of 25 Brazilian women recruited by an ambulatory gynecology department in a public oncology hospital located in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Interviews were conducted on the major sexual complaints post-treatment and the challenges they face in meeting their needstheir needs associated with the disease. The data were analyzed using the content analytical method. To get the real experiences of the study, the researchers followed the Consolidated Criteria for Reporting Qualitative Research (COREQ) guidelines and organized the treatment method into categories and subcategories of themes. Results: Women survivors after gynecological cancer treatment experienced the most common complaints: the pain and changes in the body that prevented them from performing simple tasks, the undesirable effects of sexual dysfunction, psychological and emotional changes, and difficulties in their relationship with their partner. In addition, there was the sharing of relationships that were common among women and the specific specificities of the experience in the treatment performed. Conclusion: Many cancer survivors have sexual health problems and post-treatment concerns, thus, thus, access to effective interventions and the provision of survivorship care may improve your their health.
The characteristics of elevated blood pressure in abdominal obesity correspond to primary hypertension: a cross-sectional study
Authors: Taurio Jyrki , Hautaniemi Elina , Koskela Jenni K. , Eräranta Arttu , Hämäläinen Mari , Tikkakoski Antti , Kettunen Jarkko A. , Kähönen Mika , Niemelä Onni , Moilanen Eeva , Mustonen Jukka , Pörsti Ilkka
Published: August 2022

Background: Obesity-related hypertension and the associated metabolic abnormalities are considered as a distinct hypertensive phenotype. Here we examined how abdominal fat content, as judged by waist:height ratio, influenced blood pressure and hemodynamic profile in normotensive subjects and never-treated hypertensive patients.Methods: The 541 participants (20-72 years) underwent physical examination and laboratory analyses and were divided into age‑ and sex-adjusted quartiles of waist:height ratio. Supine hemodynamics were recorded using whole-body impedance cardiography, combined with analyses of radial tonometric pulse wave form and heart rate variability.Results: Mean waist:height ratios in the quartiles were 0.46, 0.51, 0.55 and 0.62. Radial and aortic blood pressure, systemic vascular resistance, pulse wave velocity, markers of glucose and lipid metabolism, leptin levels and C‑reactive protein were higher in quartile 4 when compared with quartiles 1 and 2 (p<0.05 for all). Cardiac index was lower in quartile 4 versus quartile 1, while no differences were seen in heart rate variability, augmentation index, plasma renin activity, and aldosterone concentration between the quartiles. Linear regression analyses showed independent associations of abdominal obesity with higher aortic systolic and diastolic blood pressure, systemic vascular resistance, and pulse wave velocity (p<0.05 for waist:height ratio in all regression models). Conclusions: Higher waist:height ratio was associated with elevated blood pressure, systemic vascular resistance, and arterial stiffness, but not with alterations in cardiac sympathovagal modulation or activation of the circulating renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system. Although obesity-related elevation of blood pressure has distinct phenotypic features, these results suggest that its main characteristics correspond those of primary hypertension.Trial registration: ClinicalTrails.gov NCT01742702 (date of registration 5th December 2012)
Effects of Informal Learner Handover in Clinical Dental Education
Authors: Shahid Mehvish , Khan Rehan Ahmad , Arooj Mahwish
Published: August 2022

Purpose:Learner Handover (LH) protocols to enable guided sharing of student performance amongst faculty can be especially useful in the transition from lab-to-clinic work in undergraduate dental training due to the build-up of skills required and a small, more manageable sized student body. However, there is an ongoing debate as to its benefits, disadvantages, and outright usefulness. Moreover, the extent of existing ‘Informal Learner Handover’ (ILH) in the form of faculty discussions is not actively researched. Exploring the nature of ILH may provide additional context to stakeholders. Furthermore, it can also provide insight into the nature of Learner Handover bias so that they can be minimized when designing a Formal Learner Handover (FLH) Protocol.Methods:A grounded theory study design was selected to review and identify relevant patterns in a series of semi-structured interviews and focus group discussions from January to March 2022. Voluntary participation of 16 active clinical dental faculty of a variety of designations and seniority were included in the study. No opinion was discarded.Results:Four themes were identified after the thematic analysis, with twelve subthemes. These were: 1) effect on Behavior (Direct Interaction, Disability Aid, and Mindset), 2) effect on Student Expectation (Knowledge base, Pre-formed Opinions, and Student Competence), 3) effect on teaching approach (Refresher, Progress of clinical rotations, Student capability management, and modifications), and 4) effect on feedback practices (Group problems identified, and communication).Conclusions:ILH has a minor impact on faculty interactions with their students in clinical dental training. Other factors that contribute to the student’s ‘academic reputation’ provide more of an impact in faculty perceptions and interactions with their students.
Enterocytozoon bieneusi in fecal samples from calves and cows in Austria
Authors: Lichtmannsperger Katharina , Harl Josef , Roehl Sarah Rosa , Schoiswohl Julia , Eibl Cassandra , Wittek Thomas , Hinney Barbara , Wiedermann Sandra , Joachim Anja
Published: August 2022

Enterocytozoon bieneusi is an obligate intracellular pathogen that infects livestock, companion animals and wildlife and has the potential to cause severe diarrhea especially in immunocompromised humans. In the underlying study, fecal samples from 177 calves with diarrhea and 174 adult cows originating from 70 and 18 farms, respectively, in Austria were examined for the presence of E. bieneusi by polymerase chain reaction targeting the Internal Transcribed Spacer 1 (ITS1) region. All positive samples were further sequenced for genotype determination. Overall, sixteen of the 351 (4.6%) samples were positive for E. bieneusi, two of the 174 samples from cows (1.2%) and 14 of the 177 samples from calves (7.9%). In total, four genotypes, BEB1 (n = 2), BEB2 (n = 12), BEB4 (n = 3) and BEB8 (n = 1), were identified. Two of the E. bieneusi positive calves showed an infection with two different genotypes. E. bieneusi occurred significantly more often in calves >3 weeks (8/59) than in calves ≤3 weeks (6/118) , respectively (p = 0.049). Calves with a known history of antimicrobial treatment (50 of 177 calves) shed E. bieneusi significantly more often than untreated calves (p = 0.012). There was no statistically significant difference in E. bieneusi shedding in calves with or without a medical history of antiparasitic treatment (p = 0.881). Calves showing a co-infection with Eimeria spp. shed E. bieneusi significantly more often than uninfected calves (p = 0.003). To our knowledge, this is the first report of E. bieneusi in cattle in Austria. Cattle should be considered as a reservoir for human infection since potentially zoonotic E. bieneusi genotypes were detected.
Ecological risk and health risk analysis of soil potentially toxic elements from oil production plants in central China
Authors: Gan Lu , Wang Jiangping , Xie Mengyun , Yang Bokai
Published: August 2022

In this study, the enrichment factor (EF) and pollution load index (PLI) were used to evaluate the pollution of potential toxic elements (PTEs) in the soil near the oil production plants in central China, and the potential ecological risk (PER) and human health risk (HHR) assessment model were used to evaluate the PER and HHR caused by the soil PTEs in the study area. The mean EFs of all PTEs were greater than 1, PTEs have accumulated to varying degrees. The average value of PLI was 2.62, indicating that the soil PTEs were seriously polluted. The average \({E}_{r}^{i}\) values of PTEs were Cr > Pb > Cd > Ni > As > Cu > Zn > Mn, of which Cr, Pb, Cd and Ni were at medium and above PER levels. Both adults and children in the study area suffered from varying degrees of non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic risks. The total hazard index (THI) values of children (7.31) and adults (1.03) were all > 1, and the total carcinogenic risk index (TCRI) of children (9.44E-04) and adults (5.75E-04) were also > 10 − 4. The results will provide scientific basis for environmental protection and population health protection in this area.
Plasmonic Metamaterial Absorber Based on MIM Structure for THz Detection
Authors: Bigbaghlou Reza Ghahramani , Salahandish Mohammad , Pourziad Ali
Published: August 2022

In this paper, the absorber is designed and analyzed based on MIM structure and the main idea of ​​this design is to create a different geometric structure on the upper metal layer to create absorption resonance at different frequencies and bring these resonances closer to each other to have an absorption spectrum. The absorber of the studied materials is composed of metal-dielectric-metal layers, in which gold is used in the upper and lower metal layers and alumina is used for the dielectric material between them. The thickness of the bottom, dielectric and top layers is 180 nm, 28 nm and 30 nm, respectively, and the unit cell dimensions of this adsorbent are 490 nm. The general purpose of studying this structure was to generalize it to the terahertz frequency range and to create an absorption of nearly 100% in the frequently used frequency range below 100 Terahertz.
Influence of the ultra-fine fly ash dosages on the mechanical properties of the sulfoaluminate cement-based high water backfill material at different curing conditions
Authors: Sun Yaohui , Xie Shengrong , Wu Chaowen , Cui Junqi , Chen Dongdong , Guo Fangfang , Jiang Zaisheng , Ren Yuxin , Lu Weiyong
Published: August 2022

To reduce the filling cost of the high water backfill material (HWBM) in mining backfill and improve the recycling utilization of the industrial waste such as the coal fly ash. The ultra-fine fly ash (UFA) was added to the HWBM as a partial replacement in this work. Therefore, a series of experiments were performed to investigate the effect of UFA on the mechanic properties of the HWBM at the different curing conditions, then the hydration mechanism of the HWBM blended with UFA was analyzed by XRD and SEM method. The result indicates that the strength of the HWBM decreased with the dosages of UFA increasing, but the addition of UFA can improve the strength decreasing of the initial HWBM decreased at the ages of 28 days. Additionally, the addition of UFA have no obvious effect on the hydration products under the standard curing condition, while the later mechanical properties increased as the dosages of UFA were less than 15 % at the ages of 28 days. It indicates that the addition of UFA can improve the weathering resistance of the HWBM with the curing time increasing effectively.
Effects of supplement therapy on HBV-related HCC: a case report of a significant tumour regression
Authors: Lwin Khin Maung , Linn Ye Htut , Dee Yamin Kyaw Swar
Published: August 2022

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a malignancy with a poor prognosis and is among the common causes of cancer-related deaths worldwide. The risk of HCC increases with several risk factors and co-factors. The well-known risk factors of HCC include cirrhosis, chronic hepatitis B virus infection (HBV), hepatitis C virus infection and metabolic liver disease. Many effective treatment modalities for HCC have been used in clinical treatment, such as hepatectomy, transhepatic arterial chemoembolization (TACE), radiofrequency ablation and chemotherapeutic agents. Herbal compounds could affect all phases of HCC, including initiation, promotion and progression. Therefore, herbal composite formula drugs are promising for preventing the invasion and proliferation of tumour cells. In this case report, we present a 71 years old Myanmar male patient with HCC with hepatitis B. Firstly, his hepatologists advised him to do TACE or liver resection. However, he did not agree with these treatment plans and decided to be treated with integrative medicines. He had been treated with tenofovir and herbal supplements such as milk thistle (silymarin), chamomile extract containing apigenin, luteolin, resveratrol, green tea extract containing epigallocatechin gallate, and lycopene. The patient is clinically stable with a reduction of AFP levels during follow-ups. After 6 months of treatment with integrative medicines, the AFP level reached normal, and there was no HCC on the CT scan 20 months after initiation of treatment. Moreover, the HBV DNA became undetected after 3 months of treatment. This case may provide helpful information for treating HCC with integrative medicine.
Non-destructive 3D pathology with analysis of nuclear features for prostate cancer risk assessment
Authors: Serafin Robert , Konyuncu Can , Xie Weisi , Huang Hongyi , Glaser Adam , Reder Nicholas , Janowczyk Andrew , True Lawrence , Madabhushi Anant , Liu Jonathan
Published: August 2022

Prostate cancer treatment decisions are heavily reliant upon the subjective visual interpretation (assigning Gleason patterns, or ISUP grade groups) of limited numbers of 2D histology sections. Under this paradigm, inter-observer variance is high, with ISUP grades not correlating well with the outcomes of individual patients, which contributes to the over- and under-treatment of patients. Recent studies have demonstrated improved prognostication of prostate cancer outcomes based on computational analyses of glands and nuclei within 2D whole slide images. Our group has also shown that the computational analysis of 3D glandular features, extracted from 3D pathology datasets of whole intact biopsies, can allow for improved recurrence prediction compared to corresponding 2D features. Here we seek to expand on these prior studies by exploring the prognostic value of 3D shape-based nuclear features in prostate cancer (e.g., nuclear size, sphericity). 3D pathology datasets were generated with open-top light-sheet (OTLS) microscopy of 102 cancer-containing biopsies extractedex vivofrom the prostatectomy specimens of n = 46 patients. A deep learning-based segmentation workflow for 3D nuclear segmentation and 3D glandular segmentation was used to segment nuclei within the glandular epithelium vs. stromal regions of the biopsies. 3D shape-based nuclear features were extracted, and a nested cross-validation scheme was used to train a supervised machine classifier based on 5-year biochemical recurrence (BCR) outcomes. Nuclear features of the glandular epithelium were found to be more prognostic than stromal cell nuclear features (AUC = 0.72 vs. 0.63). 3D shape-based nuclear features of the glandular epithelium were also more strongly associated with risk of BCR than analogous 2D features (AUC = 0.72 vs. 0.62). The results of this preliminary investigation suggest that 3D shape-based nuclear features are associated with prostate cancer aggressiveness and could be of value for the development of decision-support tools.
The Weighted AM-GM Inequality Is Equivalent To The Bernoulli Inequality
Authors: Chen Yijun
Published: August 2022

In this paper, we proved that the weigthed AM-GM inequality is equivalent to the Bernoulli inequality, which generalized a result of Lech Maligranda, and the method of proving is different completely from that Lech Maligranda used.
Efficient adsorptive removal of diclofenac sodium by acidified MIL101(Cr): optimizing the content of phosphotungstic acid (PTA), Flow loop thin film slurry flat plate reactor, Kinetic, thermodynamic and recycling studies
Authors: Sharifian Sina , Tabrizi Farshad Farshchi , Sardarian Ali Reza
Published: August 2022

The performance of Diclofenac sodium (DFs) adsorption by MIL101(Cr) and five different contents of PTA in PTA@MIL101(Cr) (encapsulated phosphotungstic acid (PTA) using one pot method) were investigated in a batch and a designed continuous flow loop thin film slurry flat plate reactor (TFSR). Excellent diclofenac sodium adsorption efficiency was achieved with 12 wt% PTA synthesized within the Metal Organic Framework (MOF) and using the Langmuir equation the maximum adsorption capacity of diclofenac sodium was 413.22 mg/g. The Langmuir model matched the isotherm adsorption data and the removal process was complemented with a pseudo–second–order kinetics model. According to the thermodynamic analyses, the process was found to be spontaneous and endothermic. In order to regenerate the MOF, 0.1 M HCl/EtOH (20/80 v/v) best performed as elution agent, regenerating the MOF to 88% of its originated maximum capacity after 5 times reusing. PTA (12 wt%) @MIL101 (Cr) showed to be a tremendous reusable adsorbent for removing DFs from aqueous media.
Incidence of traumatic sciatic nerve injury in patients with acetabular fractures and factors affecting recovery: a retrospective study
Authors: Liu Zhigang , Tao Fulin , Xu Weicheng , Liu Fanxiao , Dong Jinlei , Li Lianxin , Hao Zhenhai , Zhou Dongsheng , Lu Shun
Published: August 2022

Background
Reports on traumatic sciatic nerve injury associated with acetabular fracture are rare. In this study, we investigated the demographics of these injuries, their clinical characteristics, management, and factors potentially influencing neurological recovery.
Methods
We retrospectively reviewed all patients diagnosed to have acetabular fracture at our trauma center between January 2014 and June 2021. Data on patient demographics, characteristics of sciatic nerve injury, neurological recovery, factors potentially influencing neurological recovery were analyzed.
Results
Eighteen patients met the diagnostic criteria for acetabular fracture combined with sciatic nerve injury (bilateral in one case). All of these injuries involved the posterior wall or posterior column, and most patients had posterior dislocation of the hip joint. Four of the 19 sides with traumatic sciatic nerve injury involved the common peroneal nerve division and 15 involved both the common peroneal and tibial nerve divisions. The mean common peroneal and tibial nerve division injury scores were 1.79 ± 0.92 and 2.68 ± 1.57, respectively. Seventeen patients (18 sides) underwent intraoperative nerve exploration, which revealed abnormalities in 7 sides and no obvious abnormality in 11 sides. At the last follow-up, 10 sides (52.6%) had complete recovery and 9 (47.4%) had partial recovery; the difference was statistically significant between those with or without abnormal nerve damage during exploration (P < 0.05). Linear regression analysis showed that a nerve abnormality detected intraoperatively was a predictor of nerve recovery (P < 0.05). The degree of neurological recovery was not related to sex, age, cause of injury, type of fracture, hip dislocation, or femoral head injury in patients whether recovery was partial or complete. The mean recovery time was significantly longer for partial recovery than for complete recovery (13.78 months vs 6.70 months; P < 0.05).
Conclusions
All the injuries in this series involved the posterior wall or posterior column, and most patients had posterior dislocation of the hip joint. Damage to the common peroneal nerve division was more severe than that to the tibial nerve division preoperatively. However, the degree of recovery of the common peroneal division was not worse than that of the tibial division. There was a relationship between the degree of neurological recovery and whether there was an abnormality at the time of intraoperative nerve exploration. Patients with partial recovery took longer to recover.
In vitro and In vivo Hypoglycemic Effect of Wild Edible Termite Mushrooms
Authors: Parajuli Achut , Paudel Mukti Ram , Aryal Hari Prasad
Published: August 2022

Objective
Diabetes mellitus is characterized by the increase in glucose levels in the blood and serum because of a change in carbohydrates, fat and protein metabolism. Termite mushrooms are consumed for high nutrition and traditional medicine. The methanol extract of the four termite mushrooms; Termitomyces albuminosus, T. eurhizus, T. robustus and T. striatus f. ochraceus was tested for inhibition of alpha-amylase by the starch-iodine method, and effect on blood glucose level and body weight in alloxan-induced diabetic mice.
Results
The secondary metabolites in the methanol extract of termite mushrooms were screened. Alkaloid, flavonoid, polyose, steroid, glycoside, terpenoid, fatty acid and emodin were found in all the termite mushrooms. The extract of T. straitus f. ochraceus has shown a strong inhibition against porcine pancreatic alpha-amylase by 61.4% at 200 µg/ml concentration. The extracts of all termite mushrooms at 500 mg/kg showed a significant reduction in the blood glucose level after 15 days of administration. Extract of termite mushrooms in two doses (250 and 500 mg/kg) intraperitoneally administered to the alloxan-induced diabetic mice indicated a significant enhancement in their body weight as compared to diabetic mice. Hence, termite mushrooms can be used as a substitute supplement for the management of diabetes mellitus.
Real life experience following combined excimer laser trabeculostomy and phacoemulsification in eyes with ocular hypertension or mild glaucoma and cataract
Authors: Papa-Vettorazzi Renato , Pascual Laia , Moura-Coelho Nuno , Freixes Silvia , Arrondo Elena
Published: August 2022

PURPOSE: To assess the efficacy and safety of combined phacoemulsification and excimer laser trabeculostomy (ELT) in eyes with cataract and mild controlled glaucoma or ocular hypertension. METHODS: Single-centre analysis of eyes that underwent phacoemulsification and ELT between 2017 and 2021. Change in intraocular pressure (IOP), glaucoma medication requirements, corrected distance visual acuity (CDVA), complications and re-interventions were evaluated. Success was defined as a reduction ≥20% from preoperative IOP, an IOP ≤14 mmHg or a reduction in glaucoma medication requirements with an IOP equal or lower than the preoperative IOP.RESULTS: Mean follow-up was 658 ± 64 days. Mean preoperative IOP was 17.76 ± 4.88 mmHg, it decreased to 15.35 ± 3.10 mmHg at 1 year (n=37) (p = 0.006) and to 14.00 ± 3.78 at 3 years (n=8) (p = 0.074). Mean number of glaucoma medication requirements decreased from 2.02 ± 1.0 preoperatively to 1.02 ± 0.96 at 1 year (n=37) (p < 0.001) and to 1.63 ± 0.92 at 3 years (n=8) (p = 0.197). Complete success was achieved in 17.7% of eyes and qualified success in 54.8%. Two eyes of 2 patients had early postoperative hyphema. Two eyes of 1 patient underwent filtering surgery 2 months after the procedure, and 2 eyes of 1 patient underwent laser trabeculoplasty 3.8 years after the procedure due to uncontrolled IOP. CONCLUSIONS: Combined phacoemulsification and ELT is effective and safe in eyes with mild glaucoma or ocular hypertension and cataract. It significantly reduced IOP and glaucoma medication requirements 1 year after surgery.
Deep Counterfactual-Guided MRI Feature Representation and Quantitatively Interpretable Alzheimer’s Disease Prediction
Authors: Oh Kwanseok , Heo Da-Woon , Mulyadi Ahmad Wisnu , Jung Wonsik , Kang Eunsong , Lee Kun Ho , Suk Heung-Il
Published: August 2022

Deep learning for Alzheimer's disease (AD) prediction has provided timely prevention of disease progression yet still demands attentive interpretability. Recently, counterfactual reasoning has increasingly been exploited in medical research by providing refined visual explanatory maps. However, such visual explanatory maps alone are not self-sufficient unless we can intuitively demonstrate their validity via quantitative features. For this, we first synthesize the counterfactual-labeled structural MRI using our proposed framework. We further transform it as a gray matter density map to precisely measure its volumetric changes over the parcellated region of interests (ROIs). Furthermore, to boost the effectiveness of selected ROIs while promoting interpretability and achieving comparable predictive performance to deep learning methods, we devise a novel lightweight counterfactual-guided attentive feature representation constructed to a linear classifier. Thus, our framework provides an AD-relatedness index for each ROI, offering an intuitive understanding of brain status for an individual subject and across subjects regarding AD.
Relationship between climate and land use land cover change over West Africa
Authors: MORTEY Eric Mensah , ANNOR Thompson , ARNAULT Joël , INOUSSA Maman Maarouhi , MADOUGOU Saïdou , KUNSTMANN Harald , NYANTAKYI Emmanuel Kwesi
Published: August 2022

The relationship between climate and land use land cover change over West Africa has often been assessed with climate simulations, although the model-based approach suffers from the limitations of climate models specifically for West Africa. In this paper, an alternative approach based on physical analysis of historical land cover data and standardized climatic indices is used to investigate climate-land interactions to establish the climatic thresholds and their corresponding land use impacts. Annualized land change intensities and the climatic indices are first estimated separately and then linked at various spatiotemporal scales. The result shows that climate-induced land cover change results from abrupt changes in climatic conditions. A regional change of (-1.0–1.0)\(℃\), (0–1.5)\(℃\),(-0.5–0.5)\(℃\), and up to \(\pm\)50 mm changes in precipitation and climatic water balance leads to (45039–52133) km2, (20935–22127) km2 and approximately 32000 km2 changes respectively, while a \(\pm\)0.5\(℃\) and \(\pm\)20 mm change represents normal climate conditions with changes below 20000 km2. Conversely, the plausible pathways through which West African land surface impacts the climate is the conversion of cropland, forest, grassland, and shrubland. The average climatic risk ranges from − 0.025 to 0.025 yr−1 while the probability of occurrence ranged variably from 0 to 0.833. The results offer the basis to re-evaluate land and climatic information necessary for improving the reliability of climate models over West Africa. For sustainable development, this work reveals the need for policy-driven interventions for efficient resource management and the prevention of degradation and deforestation in the region.
Beneficial effects of curcumin in the diabetic rat ovary: A stereological and biochemical study
Authors: Tüfekci Kıymet Kübra , Kaplan Suleyman
Published: August 2022

Study investigated the effects of curcumin treatment on diabetic ovaries at different periods of the disease. Fifty-six female Wistar albino rats (250–300 g) aged 12 weeks were divided into seven groups. No treatment was applied to the control group. The sham group was given 5 mL/kg of corn oil, and the curcumin group 30 mg/kg curcumin. In the DM groups, diabetes was induced by a single intraperitoneal dose of 50 mg/kg streptozotocin (STZ). The DM-treated groups received 30 mg/kg curcumin after either seven days (DC1 group), or 21 days (DC2 group), or simultaneously with STZ injection (DC3 group). Numbers of follicles in the ovaries were estimated using stereological method. FSH, LH, and SOD levels and CAT activity were measured in serum specimens. Follicle numbers and volumes of corpus luteum, blood vessel and cortex volumes, gonadosomatic index, and FSH and SOD levels all decreased significantly in diabetic ovaries, while relative weight loss, connective tissue volume, and CAT activity increased (p < 0.01). Curcumin treatment had a protective effect on the number of primordial follicles in the DC2 group and on antral follicle numbers in the DC3 group. Curcumin also exhibited positive effects on CAT activity and SOD levels, blood glucose levels, and corpus luteum, connective tissue and blood vessel volumes in the DC2 and DC3 groups. Curcumin also ameliorated FSH levels in the DC1 and DC3 groups (p < 0.01). Curcumin exhibits protective effects on ovarian structures and folliculogenesis, especially when used concurrently with the development of diabetes or in later stages of the disease.
Calcium induces death is associated with Pyroptosis and the anti-tumor immunity in breast cancer
Authors: Wei Zhao , Chunxiang Lin , Kexuan Wei , Liuli Chen , Qiulu Song , Huaying Zhang
Published: August 2022

Background: Calcium (Ca2+) binds to the intracellular receptor calmodulin (CALM) as an intracellular messenger， Activates multiple downstream signalling pathways. In addition, previous studies report that the Ca2+/CAMK（calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase） family plays an essential part in metabolic homeostasis. However, few studies have systematically analyzed the parts of the CALM and CAMK families in cancer. Therefore, CALMs/CAMKs were examined to determine their molecular characteristics and potential clinical significance in pan-cancer and to validate the connection between CAMK4 and pyroptosis of breast cancer cells.Methods: We downloaded the data from public databases, including cBioPortal for Cancer Genomics, GSCALite tool, UALCAN databases and Human Protein Atlas (HPA). Based on the Kaplan-Meier plotter platform, bc-GenExMiner and R 4.2.0, DRUGSURV database, prognosis in BRCA was analyzed. Individual CAMK4 and Pyroptosis related genes were respectively enriched on different pathways and biological processes via the GeneMANIA. Additionally, based on the TIMER, UCSC Xena, and TISIDB databases, we evaluated the relationship between CAMK4 and the immune microenvironment. GSCALite tool and CMap database were applied to predict small molecule compounds. Results: The different expression patterns of CALMs and CALMKs may be related to the different frequencies of genetic mutations, and these genes were involved in tumorigenesis pathways, which were closely connected to the prognosis of breast cancer. Furthermore， upregulation of CAMK4 expression correlated with progression of the tumor for patients with BRCA. CAMK4 and PRGs were connected with the tumor immune infiltration status of BRCA, which co-enriched genes can predict small molecule compounds for breast cancer treatment, such as ELAVL1, fasudil, ADC, PTPN1, etc.Conclusions: In breast cancer, the prolonged prognosis caused by upregulation of CAMK4 expression was assessed to be due to high immune infiltration. CAMK4 and PRGs co-regulate the tumor immune infiltration status of BRCA, which can be used as an intervention target for breast cancer anti-tumor immunotherapy.
Photonic System for Real Time Detection, Discrimination, and Quantification of Microbes in Air
Authors: Tatavarti Rao , Nadimpalli Sridevi , Mangina Gowtham Venkata Kumar , Machiraju Naga Kiran , Pachiyappan Arulmozhivarman , Hiremath Shridhar , Jagannathan Venkataseshan , Viswanathan Pragasam
Published: August 2022

This article reports the successful results from the recently developed non-invasive photonic system AUM - for real time, discrimination and quantification of different pathogenic bacterial strains, and mixtures of bacterial species in air. The uniqueness and novelty of the AUM photonic system, lies in its ability to innovatively apply the concepts of elastic light scattering, statistical mechanics, artificial intelligence, and machine learning to identify, classify and quantify various microbes present in the scattering volume in real time; and therefore, can become a potential tool in the control and management of diseases caused by pathogenic microbes.
Biological proof of a hit-and-run tumour formation in oropharyngeal cancers
Authors: Ferreira Danyelle , Idris Adi , McMillan Nigel
Published: August 2022

It has long been wondered if viruses cause cancer via a “hit-and-run” mechanism. We examined this in HPV-driven oropharyngeal cancer (OPC) using CRISPR to delete the viral oncogene, E7. Tumours regressed yet regrew over 3 months, despite the lack of E7, and had formed new mutations commonly found in HPV- OPC patient tumours. This is the first biological proof that HPV- OPCs can be formed via a hit-and-run HPV infection.
Mapping of Digital Health Interventions to address latent Tuberculosis Infection: A Scoping Review protocol
Authors: Kumar Rohitashwa , Kumar Devendra , Joshi Ashish , Verma Ashwani , Bharath CNV Sai , Islam KM Monirul
Published: August 2022

Introduction:
Globally, TB is one of the top 10 causes of mortality due to a single infectious agent “Mycobacterium Tuberculosis”, responsible for more than 10 million global infections each year and it is estimated that around 170 million people’s LTBI will develop active TB in future. Digital health interventions are gradually being integrated into TB care and are tested and evaluated in trials focused specifically on TB and very few on LTBI care. This review outlines the globally published literature on digital health interventions implemented to address LTBI and to describe various components of digital health interventions.
Methods
Arksey and O’Malley’s scoping review methodological framework will be followed to conduct this review. Searches will be conducted in five databases and hand search of references studies included. Two independent reviewers will be conducting title and abstract screening followed by full-text screening, data extraction, and quality appraisal. Results will be summarized to generate findings of the digital health interventions to address LTBI and reported in a tabular format and narrative synthesis conducted.
Conclusion
This review will be beneficial for synthesizing evidence of the role of digital health interventions, opportunities and challenges to address LTBI care and facilitate decision-making across diverse stakeholders such as clients, health care providers, health systems or resource managers, and data services. This scoping review will inform researchers, policy makers, and decision makers to design, develop and expand the use of an innovative and evidence based digital health technology intervention for improved LTBI care.
Good Tidings for the King: Liutprand of Cremona on the Symbolic Representation of the Power of Otto I
Authors: Ануфриева А.С.
Published: August 2022

В статье подробно рассматривается один из эпизодов исторического сочинения Лиутпранда Кремонского «Антаподосис» – сцена получения государем Восточно-Франкского королевства Оттоном I известия о гибели мятежных герцогов Эберхарда и Гизельберта в битве при Андернахе 939 г. Историограф представил этот эпизод в качестве своего рода публичного символического акта, включающего диалог короля с посланцем и молитву государя под открытым небом. Лиутпранд «сконструировал» сцену по своему усмотрению, вводя в повествование различные детали, позволяющие представить Оттона I в качестве высокообразованного государя, пользующегося поддержкой народа и имеющего особую мистическую связь с Богом. При этом историограф, по-видимому, не столько ориентировался на вкусы своего покро-вителя, сколько сам стремился привить ему вкус к «правильной» репрезентации власти, ориентируясь на собственную систему ценностей.

The article discusses in detail an episode from the historical work of Liutprand of Cremona “Antapodosis” – the scene in which Otto I., king of the East Francia, receives the news of the death of rebellious dukes Eberhard and Gilbert at the battle of Andernach in 939. Author depicted this episode as a kind of public symbolic act, including dialog between the king and a messenger, and prayer of the king under the open sky. Liutprand “constructed” this scene at his discretion, using different details, thanks to which he represented Otto I. as a highly-educated ruler, supported by the people and mystically connected with God. Herewith the historiographer apparently was not so much guided by the tastes of his patron as he himself sought to instill in the king a good taste for the "decent" representation of power, focusing on Liutprand’s own system of values.
Russian Orientology in Crimea in the Fates of its Creators
Authors: Сидоров А.В.
Published: August 2022

В контексте развития истории исторической науки в России в первые послереволюционные годы рассматривается монография А.А. Непомнящего «Восточный факультет: неизвестные страницы истории крымоведения». Показано, как автору через судьбы профессоров и преподавателей, оказавшихся в Крыму в результате революционных потрясений, удалось воссоздать историю институционального оформления центра изучения ориенталистики в Крымском (Таврическом) университете.
"War Culture" in German Postcards of 1914-1918
Authors: Канинская Г.Н.
Published: August 2022

В статье рассматривается монография доктора исторических наук А.С. Медякова, изданная в 2021 г. В ней автор, на основе анализа солидного массива немецких открыток периода Первой мировой войны, показал, как формировалась «культура войны» в визуальной форме, как конструировался, поддерживался и эволюционировал в немецком обществе образ врага и союзника. Военный дискурс в книге представлен по многим срезам: социокультурному, историко-генетическому, идейно-пропаган-дистскому, сравнительному, лингвистическому.

The article discusses the monograph of Doctor of Historical Sciences Alexander S. Medyakov, published in 2021. The author, who devoted a quarter of a century to collecting old postcards, for the first time in Russian historical science, showed based on the analysis of a solid array of German postcards from the period of the First World War, how the “culture of war” was formed » in visual form, how the image of the enemy and ally was designed, maintained and evolved in German society. The military discourse in the book is presented in many sections: socio-cultural, historical-genetic, ideological-propaganda, comparative, linguistic. The practice of distribution of printed materials is disclosed in detail, much attention is paid to the state and private press, competition in the postcard market, and censorship.
Grounding crashworthiness of an inland floating structure
Authors:   ”Dunarea de Jos” University
Published: August 2022

Considering the morphological and hydrological phenomena that occur within the inland navigation waterways and the constant maintenance required to ensure safe navigation limits, the risk of grounding of ships can be considered imminent at any given moment. The latter, combined with the year-round fluctuations in the water depth, increases furthermore the risk of accidents. The purpose of the current paper is to evaluate the crashworthiness of a typical inland structure under different grounding scenarios. The study numerically analyses the grounding effect on a river-barge structure. To calibrate the numerical model, a benchmark collision study has been reproduced and the obtained results have been compared. Based on the previous studies of the Danube riverbed, the shape of the indenter has been chosen and employed within the framework of this paper. The analysis study has been performed considering the structure without preload, as well as the ballast and full loading pre-stressed conditions, for a transversal angle of attack of the indenter. Following the grounding impact analysis sets, the damage of the subjected structure has been evaluated using the maximum displacement of the indenter and the total internal deformation energy consumed.
Pengaruh Konsentrasi IAA dan Air Kelapa terhadap Pertumbuhan Biji Anggrek Dendrobium phalaenopsis secara In Vitro
Authors: Permatasari Utari Dwi Ayu , Restiani Ratih , Prasetyaningsih Aniek
Published: August 2022

Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengetahui pengaruh variasi konsentrasi air kelapa dan Indole- 3-AceticAcid (IAA) terhadap pertumbuhan biji anggrek Dendrobium phalaepnopsis secara in vitro. Bahan tanaman yangdigunakan adalah buah anggrek D.phalaenopsis umur 4 bulan setelah polinasi yang diperoleh dari NurseryTiti Orchid di Pakem, Yogyakarta. Perlakuan terdiri dari variasi konsentrasi air kelapa (0, 5, 10, dan 15) % danIAA (0, 0,5, 1, 1,5) ppm dalam media MS. Setiap perlakuan diulang sebanyak 2 kali. Pengamatan dilakukanselama 6 minggu untuk menentukan fase pertumbuhan biji dan penghitungan persentase pertumbuhanbiji anggrek D.phalaenopsis. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa biji anggrek dapat tumbuh pada semuamedia perlakuan termasuk kontrol namun pertumbuhan hanya dapat mencapai fase 3 (embrio mengalamipembengkakan, berwarna hijau dan sudah terlepas dari testa). Selain itu, perlakuan yang menunjukkanpertumbuhan biji tertinggi adalah variasi air kelapa 10% dan IAA 1 ppm yaitu sebesar 38,75% dibandingkankontrol (24,21%). Berdasarkan hasil tersebut dapat disimpulkan bahwa penambahan air kelapa dan IAA padaberbagai konsentrasi berpengaruh terhadap pertumbuhan dan perkembangan biji anggrek D.phalaenopsis.Konsentrasi air kelapa dan IAA yang memberikan respon pertumbuhan biji anggrek tertinggi adalah airkelapa 10% dan IAA 1 ppm yaitu sebesar 38, 75%.