bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Development and laboratory validation of a plant-derived repellent blend, effective against Aedes aegypti [Diptera: Culicidae], Anopheles gambiae [Diptera: Culicidae] and Culex quinquefasciatus [Diptera: Culicidae]
Authors: Wood Martyn J. , Bull James C. , Kanagachandran Kanagasooriyam , Butt Tariq M.
Published: March 2024

Mosquitoes of the genera Aedes, Anopheles and Culex vector a wide range of pathogens seriously affecting humans and livestock on a global scale. Over-reliance on insecticides and repellents has driven research into alternative, naturally-derived compounds to fulfil the same objectives. Steam distilled extracts of four plants with strong, yet attractive, volatile profiles were initially assessed for repellency in a dual-port olfactometer using Aedes aegypti as the model species. Picea sitchensis was found to be the most repellent, proving comparable to leading products when applied at 100% (p = 1.000). Key components of conifer-derived volatile profiles were then screened via electroantennography before those components eliciting an electrophysiological response were assayed individually in the olfactometer; according to WHO protocol. The most promising 5 were selected for reductive analyses to produce an optimised semiochemical blend. This combination, and a further two variations of the blend, were then progressed to a multi-species analysis using the BG-test whereby bite-attempt frequency on hands was assessed under different repellent treatments; assays were compared between Aedes aegypti, Anopheles gambiae and Culex quinquefasciatus. Efficacy was found against all three species, although it was found that Ae. aegypti was the most susceptible to the repellent, with An. gambiae being the least. Here, a novel, naturally-derived blend is presented with weak spatial repellency, as confirmed in laboratory assays. Further work will be required to assess the full extent of the potential of the products, both in terms of field application and species screening; however, the success of the products developed demonstrate that plant metabolites have great capacity for use in the repellent sector; both to improve upon known compounds and to reduce the usage of toxic products currently on the market.
The impact of carbon emissions from lag fertilization on wheat production
Authors: Rahim Atif , Peng Qianrui , Chen Huashuai , Liu Yuxi
Published: March 2024

This study examines the influence of lag fertilization techniques on Pakistani wheat production, highlighting the need to understand and mitigate the environmental impacts of farming methods. The basic purpose of this study is to investigate the impact of CO2 emission from fertilization and other factors on wheat production in Pakistan, using a time series of data from 1990 to 2020. CO2 emission from fertilization (CO2EF) is estimated using the default values provided by the IPCC guidelines. The ARDL approach analyses the short-run and long-run effects of CO2EF, technology level, energy use, agricultural land, and agricultural labor on wheat production. The results show that all factors have significantly impacted wheat production in Pakistan at levels of 1% and 5% significance, both in the short and long run. These findings suggest that reducing CO2EF, technology level, energy use, agricultural land, and agricultural labor on wheat production can help to increase wheat production in Pakistan. The study also highlights the importance of adopting sustainable and efficient fertilization practices, exploring alternative fertilizers, and using crop rotation systems to mitigate the adverse effects of carbon emissions from nitrogen fertilization, energy use, and the use of technology. These measures can contribute to a more sustainable and climate-resilient agriculture sector in Pakistan.
Implementation of evidence-based clinical practice and its associated factors among health care workers at public hospitals in Sidama regional state, southern Ethiopia
Authors: Yeheyis Tomas , Hoyiso Dawit , Borie Yacob Abraham , Tagesse Negash
Published: March 2024

Background

Health disparities, inconsistent outcomes, and underwhelming health services continue to be problems for all nurses and doctors. Studies from a variety of nations have found that doctors and nurses have little familiarity with evidence-based practice. There is a knowledge vacuum about the degree of evidence-based nursing practice and its contributing factors in Ethiopia as well as the current study region.

Objective

The study’s objective was to evaluate how healthcare professionals working in government hospitals in the Sidama regional state of 2022 are implementing evidence-based clinical practice and to identify associated factors.

Methods

From October 1 to December 30/2022, a cross-sectional institution-based study with a mix of quantitative and qualitative methods was carried out. A total of 422 healthcare workers were randomly selected to participate in the current study from 6 randomly selected public hospitals in the region. This study included 25 key informant interviews. The Friedman test and Funk’s BARRIER scale were adapted into a semi-structured questionnaire quantitative. Multivariable logistic regression was used to assess the significance of the association between the dependent and independent variables. A pretest was conducted on 22 healthcare workers from Shashmane Hospital.

Result

This study found that more than half, 51.7%, of the participants had a total implementation of evidence-based practice score below the mean score (40.4). only Access to the internet [having smart phone] (Adjusted Odds Ratio (AOR) = 3.03: 95% Confidence Interval (CI): (1.75–5.26))., favorable Attitude toward EBP of participants. (Adjusted Odds Ratio (AOR) = 1.84Confidence Interval (1.12–2.70)), inadequate Self-efficacy of Evidence-based practice skills (Adjusted Odds Ratio (AOR) = 0.29 Confidence interval = 0.19–0.46), and Knowledge of evidence-based practice (Adjusted Odds Ratio (AOR) = 0.45 Confidence interval = 0.30–0.77)were factors significantly associated with EBP implementation.

Conclusion

More than half of the participants,51.7%, do not implement evidence-based practice in the care of their clients, which is unacceptable. The use of EBP has been significantly associated with access to the internet (having a smartphone), participants’ positive attitudes toward it, their level of skill efficacy in finding and accessing it, and their knowledge of it. Therefore, stakeholders ought to think about addressing these obstacles to the adoption of EBP.
Analysis of the quality of tunnel roof topography by automatic cutting control under the coupling of multiple factors
Authors: Lu Jinnan , Li Bo , Zhu Yun , Xie Miao , Meng Qingshuang , Liu Zhixiang , Dong Yufeng
Published: March 2024

The automatic cutting of coal and rock surface morphology modeling based on the actual geological environment of coal mine underground excavation and mining is of great significance for improving the surface quality of coal and rock after cutting and enhancing the safety and stability of advanced support. To this end, using the principle of coordinate transformation, the kinematic trajectory of the cutting head of the tunneling machine is established, and the contour morphology of the cutting head under variable cutting technology is obtained. Then, based on the regenerative vibration theory of the cutting head, a dynamic model of the cutting head coal wall is established, and the coordinate relationship of the cutting head in the tunnel coordinate system under vibration induction is analyzed. Based on fractal theory and Z-MAP method, a simulation method for the surface morphology of coal and rock after cutting is proposed, which is driven by the cutting trajectory Under the coupling effect of cutting vibration induction and random fragmentation of coal and rock, simulation of the surface morphology of comprehensive excavation tunnels was conducted, and relevant experiments were conducted to verify the results. A 1:3 similarity experimental model of EBZ160 tunneling machine was used to build a cutting head coal and rock system cutting experimental platform for comparative experiments of cutting morphology. Furthermore, statistical methods were used to compare and evaluate the simulated roof with the actual roof. The results show that the relative errors between the maximum range of peaks and valleys, the peak skewness coefficient of height standard deviation, and the kurtosis coefficient of the actual roof are 1.3%, 24.5%, 16%, and 2.9%, respectively. Overall, this indicates that the surface morphology distribution characteristics of the simulated roof and the actual roof are similar, verifying the effectiveness of the modeling and simulation method proposed in this paper, and providing theoretical support for the design and optimization of advanced support in the future.
Exploring the association between social determinants and aphasia impairment: A retrospective data integration approach
Authors: Jacobs Molly , Evans Elizabeth , Ellis Charles
Published: March 2024

Introduction

Traditionally, the study of aphasia focused on brain trauma, clinical biomarkers, and cognitive processes, rarely considering the social determinants of health. This study evaluates the relationship between aphasia impairment and demographic, socioeconomic, and contextual determinants among people with aphasia (PWA).

Methods

PWA indexed within AphasiaBank—a database populated by multiple clinical aphasiology centers with standardized protocols characterizing language, neuropsychological functioning, and demographic information—were matched with respondents in the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey based on response year, age, sex, race, ethnicity, time post stroke, and mental health status. Generalized log-linear regression models with bootstrapped standard errors evaluated the association between scores on the Western Aphasia Battery-Revised Aphasia Quotient (WAB-R AQ) and demographic, economic, and contextual characteristics accounting for clustering of respondents and the stratification of data collection. Region, age, and income specific models tested the sensitivity of results.

Results

PWA over age 60 had 2.4% (SE = 0.020) lower WAB-R AQ scores compared with younger PWA. Compared to White PWA, Black and Hispanic PWA had 4.7% (SE = 0.03) and 0.81% (SE = 0.06) lower WAB-R AQ scores, respectively, as did those and living in the Southern US (-2.2%, SE = 0.03) even after controlling for age, family size, and aphasia type. Those living in larger families (β = 0.005, SE = 0.008), with income over $30,000 (β = 0.017, SE = 0.022), and a college degree (β = 0.030, SE = 0.035) had higher WAB-R AQ relative to their counterparts. Region-specific models showed that racial differences were only significant in the South and Midwest, while ethnic differences are only significant in the West. Sex differences only appeared in age-specific models. Racial and ethnic differences were not significant in the high-income group regression.

Conclusion

These findings support evidence that circumstances in which individuals live, work, and age are significantly associated with their health outcomes including aphasia impairment.
Renal graft function in transplanted patients correlates with CD45RC T cell phenotypic signature
Authors: Bézie Séverine , Sérazin Céline , Autrusseau Elodie , Vimond Nadège , Giral Magali , Anegon Ignacio , Guillonneau Carole
Published: March 2024

Biomarkers that could predict the evolution of the graft in transplanted patients and that could allow to adapt the care of the patients would be an invaluable tool. Additionally, certain biomarkers can be target of treatments and help to stratify patients. Potential effective biomarkers have been identified but still need to be confirmed. CD45RC, one of the splicing variants of the CD45 molecule, a tyrosine phosphatase that is critical in negatively or positively regulating the TCR and the BCR signaling, is one marker already described. The frequency of CD8+ T cells expressing high levels of CD45RC before transplantation is increased in patients with an increased risk of acute rejection. However, single biomarkers have limited predictive reliability and the correlation of the expression levels of CD45RC with other cell markers was not reported. In this study, we performed a fluorescent-based high dimensional immunophenotyping of T cells on a cohort of 69 kidney transplant patients either with stable graft function or having experienced acute transplant rejection during the first year after transplantation or at the time of rejection. We identified combinations of markers and cell subsets associated with activation/inflammation or Tregs/tolerance (HLA-DR, PD-1, IFNγ, CD28) as significant biomarkers associated to transplant outcome, and showed the importance of cell segregation based on the CD45RC marker to identify the signature of a stable graft function. Our study highlights potential reliable biomarkers in transplantation to predict and/or monitor easily graft-directed immune responses and adapt immunosuppression treatments to mitigate adverse effects.
The CHD family chromatin remodeling enzyme, Kismet, promotes both clathrin-mediated and activity-dependent bulk endocytosis
Authors: Hendricks Emily L. , Liebl Faith L. W.
Published: March 2024

Chromodomain helicase DNA binding domain (CHD) proteins, including CHD7 and CHD8, remodel chromatin to enable transcriptional programs. Both proteins are important for proper neural development as heterozygous mutations in Chd7 and Chd8 are causative for CHARGE syndrome and correlated with autism spectrum disorders, respectively. Their roles in mature neurons are poorly understood despite influencing the expression of genes required for cell adhesion, neurotransmission, and synaptic plasticity. The Drosophila homolog of CHD7 and CHD8, Kismet (Kis), promotes neurotransmission, endocytosis, and larval locomotion. Endocytosis is essential in neurons for replenishing synaptic vesicles, maintaining protein localization, and preserving the size and composition of the presynaptic membrane. Several forms of endocytosis have been identified including clathrin-mediated endocytosis, which is coupled with neural activity and is the most prevalent form of synaptic endocytosis, and activity-dependent bulk endocytosis, which occurs during periods of intense stimulation. Kis modulates the expression of gene products involved in endocytosis including promoting shaggy/GSK3β expression while restricting PI3K92E. kis mutants electrophysiologically phenocopy a liquid facets mutant in response to paradigms that induce clathrin-mediated endocytosis and activity-dependent bulk endocytosis. Further, kis mutants do not show further reductions in endocytosis when activity-dependent bulk endocytosis or clathrin-mediated endocytosis are pharmacologically inhibited. We find that Kis is important in postsynaptic muscle for proper endocytosis but the ATPase domain of Kis is dispensable for endocytosis. Collectively, our data indicate that Kis promotes both clathrin-mediated endocytosis and activity-dependent bulk endocytosis possibly by promoting transcription of several endocytic genes and maintaining the size of the synaptic vesicle pool.
Study on the methodology of emergency decision-making for water transfer project contingencies: A case-based reasoning and regret theory approach
Authors: Li Feng , Du Xuewan , Huang Xin , Fei Xiaoxia
Published: March 2024

To tackle the global water imbalance problem, a multitude of inter-basin water transfer projects have been built worldwide in recent decades. Nevertheless, given the complexity and safety challenges associated with project operation, effective emergency decision-making is crucial for addressing unforeseen incidents. Hence, this research has developed a two-stage emergency decision-making framework to tackle the uncertainty in the development trends of emergencies in inter-basin water transfer projects. (1) The first stage mainly utilizes case-based reasoning techniques to extract historical case information and disposal plans for inter-basin water transfer projects. Subsequently, a holistic similarity model is built by employing structural similarity and local attribute similarity algorithms to identify highly similar historical cases. (2) The second stage involves the optimization and adjustment of decision-making plans based on the dynamic evolution characteristics of emergencies. It utilizes the theory of decision-makers regret psychology and combines it with practical case studies to verify the scientific rationality of the method. This enables it to achieve effective multidimensional expression and rapid matching of scenarios, satisfying the decision-making requirements of "scenario response". Finally, this study compares the results obtained from this method with those computed using the traditional TOPSIS method and fuzzy comprehensive evaluation method, further validating its feasibility and effectiveness. In practice, this method can provide effective support for decision-makers work.
Simulated operant reflex conditioning environment reveals effects of feedback parameters
Authors: Kim Kyoungsoon , Oblak Ethan , Manella Kathleen , Sulzer James
Published: March 2024

Operant conditioning of neural activation has been researched for decades in humans and animals. Many theories suggest two parallel learning processes, implicit and explicit. The degree to which feedback affects these processes individually remains to be fully understood and may contribute to a large percentage of non-learners. Our goal is to determine the explicit decision-making processes in response to feedback representing an operant conditioning environment. We developed a simulated operant conditioning environment based on a feedback model of spinal reflex excitability, one of the simplest forms of neural operant conditioning. We isolated the perception of the feedback signal from self-regulation of an explicit unskilled visuomotor task, enabling us to quantitatively examine feedback strategy. Our hypothesis was that feedback type, biological variability, and reward threshold affect operant conditioning performance and operant strategy. Healthy individuals (N = 41) were instructed to play a web application game using keyboard inputs to rotate a virtual knob representative of an operant strategy. The goal was to align the knob with a hidden target. Participants were asked to “down-condition” the amplitude of the virtual feedback signal, which was achieved by placing the knob as close as possible to the hidden target. We varied feedback type (knowledge of performance, knowledge of results), biological variability (low, high), and reward threshold (easy, moderate, difficult) in a factorial design. Parameters were extracted from real operant conditioning data. Our main outcomes were the feedback signal amplitude (performance) and the mean change in dial position (operant strategy). We observed that performance was modulated by variability, while operant strategy was modulated by feedback type. These results show complex relations between fundamental feedback parameters and provide the principles for optimizing neural operant conditioning for non-responders.
Functional difficulty among young children in Bangladesh: An analysis of nationally representative data
Authors: Rahman Maisha Maliha , Alam M. Iftakhar , Mansur Mohaimen
Published: March 2024

Functional difficulty in children is a crucial public health problem still undervalued in developing countries. This study explored the socio-demographic factors and anthropometry associated with children’s functional difficulty in Bangladesh. Data for 2-4-year-old children, obtained from Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey 2019, were used in this study. The mixed-effects logistic regression model was used to analyse the data. Children whose mothers had functional difficulty were found to be 2.75 times more likely to have functional difficulty than children whose mothers had no functional difficulty (95% CI 1.63-4.63). Male children were more likely to experience functional difficulty than female children (OR = 1.48). Furthermore, stunting was found to be significantly associated with functional difficulty (OR = 1.50). The study also revealed that division and mother’s education, specifically, children with mothers having higher secondary + education, had significant association with the outcome variable. The findings provided a vital overview of child disability in a developing country.
Night-time neuronal activation of Cluster N in a North American songbird
Authors: Rudolf Jennifer , Philipello Natalie , Fleihan Tamara , Dickman J. David , Delmore Kira E.
Published: March 2024

Night-migrating songbirds utilize the Earth’s magnetic field to help navigate to and from their breeding sites each year. A region of the avian forebrain called Cluster N has been shown to be activated during night migratory behavior and it has been implicated in processing geomagnetic information. Previous studies with night-migratory European songbirds have shown that neuronal activity at Cluster N is higher at night than during the day. Comparable work in North American migrants has only been performed in one species of swallows, so extension of examination for Cluster N in other migratory birds is needed. In addition, it is unclear if Cluster N activation is lateralized and the full extent of its boundaries in the forebrain have yet to be described. We used sensory-driven gene expression based on ZENK and the Swainson’s thrush, a night-migratory North American songbird, to fill these knowledge gaps. We found elevated levels of gene expression in night- vs. day-active thrushes and no evidence for lateralization in this region. We further examined the anatomical extent of neural activation in the forebrain using 3D reconstruction topology. Our findings demonstrate that Swainson’s thrushes possess an extensive bilateral night-activated Cluster N region in the forebrain similar to other European avian species, suggesting that Cluster N is highly conserved in nocturnal migrants.
Mortality in patients with normal left ventricular function requiring emergency VA-ECMO for postcardiotomy cardiogenic shock due to coronary malperfusion
Authors: Kang Jagdip , Marin-Cuartas Mateo , Flo Forner Anna , Menon Priya R. , Ginther André , Saaed Diyar , de Waha Suzanne , Meineri Massimiliano , Ender Jörg , Borger Michael A.
Published: March 2024

Objectives

To analyze outcomes in patients with normal preoperative left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) undergoing venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA-ECMO) therapy due to postcardiotomy cardiogenic shock (PCCS) related to coronary malperfusion.

Methods

Retrospective single-center analysis in patients with normal preoperative LVEF treated with VA-ECMO for coronary malperfusion-related PCCS between May 1998 and May 2018. The primary outcome was 30-day mortality, which was compared using the Kaplan-Meier method and the log-rank test. Multivariable logistic regression was performed to identify predictors of mortality.

Results

During the study period, a total of 62,125 patients underwent cardiac surgery at our institution. Amongst them, 59 patients (0.1%) with normal preoperative LVEF required VA-ECMO support due to coronary malperfusion-related PCCS. The mean duration of VA-ECMO support was 6 days (interquartile range 4–7 days). The 30-day mortality was 50.8%. Under VA-ECMO therapy, a complication composite outcome of bleeding, re-exploration for bleeding, acute renal failure, acute liver failure, and sepsis occurred in 51 (86.4%) patients. Independent predictors of 30-day mortality were lactate levels > 9.9 mmol/l before VA-ECMO implantation (odds ratio [OR]: 3.3; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.5–7.0; p = 0.002), delay until revascularization > 278 minutes (OR: 2.9; 95% CI 1.3–6.4; p = 0.008) and peripheral arterial artery disease (OR: 3.3; 95% 1.6–7.5; p = 0.001).

Conclusions

Mortality rates are high in patients with normal preoperative LVEF who develop PCCS due to coronary malperfusion. The early implantation of VA-ECMO before the development of profound tissue hypoxia and early coronary revascularization increases the likelihood of survival. Lactate levels are useful to define optimal timing for the VA-ECMO initiation.
Combining diaries and accelerometers to explain change in physical activity during a lifestyle intervention for adults with pre-diabetes: A PREVIEW sub-study
Authors: Klos Leon , Stratton Gareth , Mackintosh Kelly A. , McNarry Melitta A. , Fogelholm Mikael , Drummen Mathijs , Macdonald Ian , Martinez J. Alfredo , Navas-Carretero Santiago , Handjieva-Darlenska Teodora , Bogdanov Georgi , Gant Nicholas , Poppitt Sally D. , Silvestre Marta P. , Brand-Miller Jennie , Muirhead Roslyn , Schlicht Wolfgang , Huttunen-Lenz Maija , Brodie Shannon , Jalo Elli , Westerterp-Plantenga Margriet , Adam Tanja , Siig Vestentoft Pia , Tikkanen Heikki , Quist Jonas S. , Raben Anne , Swindell Nils
Published: March 2024

Self-report and device-based measures of physical activity (PA) both have unique strengths and limitations; combining these measures should provide complementary and comprehensive insights to PA behaviours. Therefore, we aim to 1) identify PA clusters and clusters of change in PA based on self-reported daily activities and 2) assess differences in device-based PA between clusters in a lifestyle intervention, the PREVIEW diabetes prevention study. In total, 232 participants with overweight and prediabetes (147 women; 55.9 ± 9.5yrs; BMI ≥25 kg·m-2; impaired fasting glucose and/or impaired glucose tolerance) were clustered using a partitioning around medoids algorithm based on self-reported daily activities before a lifestyle intervention and their changes after 6 and 12 months. Device-assessed PA levels (PAL), sedentary time (SED), light PA (LPA), and moderate-to-vigorous PA (MVPA) were assessed using ActiSleep+ accelerometers and compared between clusters using (multivariate) analyses of covariance. At baseline, the self-reported “walking and housework” cluster had significantly higher PAL, MVPA and LPA, and less SED than the “inactive” cluster. LPA was higher only among the “cycling” cluster. There was no difference in the device-based measures between the “social-sports” and “inactive” clusters. Looking at the changes after 6 months, the “increased walking” cluster showed the greatest increase in PAL while the “increased cycling” cluster accumulated the highest amount of LPA. The “increased housework” and “increased supervised sports” reported least favourable changes in device-based PA. After 12 months, there was only minor change in activities between the “increased walking and cycling”, “no change” and “increased supervised sports” clusters, with no significant differences in device-based measures. Combining self-report and device-based measures provides better insights into the behaviours that change during an intervention. Walking and cycling may be suitable activities to increase PA in adults with prediabetes.
Validation of the prevalence to incidence conversion method for healthcare associated infections in long-term care facilities
Authors: Vicentini Costanza , Ricchizzi Enrico , Russotto Antonino , Bazzolo Stefano , Bedosti Catia , Blengini Valentina , Ceccarelli Dario , Fabbri Elisa , Gamba Dario , Maddaleno Anna , Rolfini Edoardo , Tancredi Margherita , Zotti Carla Maria
Published: March 2024

Introduction

Residents of long-term care facilities (LTCFs) are a population at high risk of developing severe healthcare associated infections (HAIs). In the assessment of HAIs in acute-care hospitals, selection bias can occur due to cases being over-represented: patients developing HAIs usually have longer lengths of stays compared to controls, and therefore have an increased probability of being sampled in PPS, leading to an overestimation of HAI prevalence. Our hypothesis was that in LTCFs, the opposite may occur: residents developing HAIs either may have a greater chance of being transferred to acute-care facilities or of dying, and therefore could be under-represented in PPS, leading to an underestimation of HAI prevalence. Our aim was to test this hypothesis by comparing HAI rates obtained through longitudinal and cross-sectional studies.

Methods

Results from two studies conducted simultaneously in four LTCFs in Italy were compared: a longitudinal study promoted by the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC, HALT4 longitudinal study, H4LS), and a PPS. Prevalence was estimated from the PPS and converted into incidence per year using an adapted version of the Rhame and Sudderth formula proposed by the ECDC. Differences between incidence rates calculated from the PPS results and obtained from H4LS were investigated using the Byar method for rate ratio (RR).

Results

On the day of the PPS, HAI prevalence was 1.47% (95% confidence interval, CI 0.38–3.97), whereas the H4LS incidence rate was 3.53 per 1000 patient-days (PDs, 95% CI 2.99–4.08). Conversion of prevalence rates obtained through the PPS into incidence using the ECDC formula resulted in a rate of 0.86 per 1000 PDs (95% CI 0–2.68). Comparing the two rates, a RR of 0.24 (95% CI 0.03–2.03, p 0.1649) was found.

Conclusions

This study did not find significant differences between HAI incidence estimates obtained from a longitudinal study and through conversion from PPS data. Results of this study support the validity of the ECDC method.
Identification of the single and combined acute toxicity of Cr and Ni with Heterocypris sp. and the quantitative structure-activity relationship (QSAR) model
Authors: Su Chi , Hua Yilong , Liu Yi , Tao Shu , Jia Fei , Zhao Wenhui , Lin Wangyang
Published: March 2024

Mining wastewater with heavy metals poses a serious threat to the ecological environment. However, the acute single and combined ecological effects of heavy metals, such as chromium (Cr) and nickel (Ni), on freshwater ostracods, and the development of relevant prediction models, remain poorly understood. In this study, Heterocypris sp. was chosen to investigate the single and combined acute toxicity of Cr and Ni. Then, the quantitative structure-activity relationship (QSAR) model was used to predict the combined toxicity of Cr and Ni. The single acute toxicity experiments revealed high toxicity for both Cr and Ni. In addition, Cr exhibited greater toxicity compared to Ni, as evidenced by its lower 96-hour half-lethal concentration (LC50) of 1.07 mg/L compared to 4.7 mg/L for Ni. Furthermore, the combined acute toxicity experiments showed that the toxicity of Cr-Ni was higher than Ni but lower than Cr. Compared with the concentration addition (CA) and independent action (IA) models, the predicted results of the QSAR model were more consistent with the experimental results for the Cr-Ni combined acute toxicity. So, the high accuracy of QSAR model identified its feasibility to predict the toxicity of heavy metal pollutants in mining wastewater.
AE-GPT: Using Large Language Models to extract adverse events from surveillance reports-A use case with influenza vaccine adverse events
Authors: Li Yiming , Li Jianfu , He Jianping , Tao Cui
Published: March 2024

Though Vaccines are instrumental in global health, mitigating infectious diseases and pandemic outbreaks, they can occasionally lead to adverse events (AEs). Recently, Large Language Models (LLMs) have shown promise in effectively identifying and cataloging AEs within clinical reports. Utilizing data from the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS) from 1990 to 2016, this study particularly focuses on AEs to evaluate LLMs’ capability for AE extraction. A variety of prevalent LLMs, including GPT-2, GPT-3 variants, GPT-4, and Llama2, were evaluated using Influenza vaccine as a use case. The fine-tuned GPT 3.5 model (AE-GPT) stood out with a 0.704 averaged micro F1 score for strict match and 0.816 for relaxed match. The encouraging performance of the AE-GPT underscores LLMs’ potential in processing medical data, indicating a significant stride towards advanced AE detection, thus presumably generalizable to other AE extraction tasks.
Autoimmunity-associated allele of tyrosine phosphatase gene PTPN22 enhances anti-viral immunity
Authors: Orozco Robin C. , Marquardt Kristi , Pratumchai Isaraphorn , Shaikh Anam Fatima , Mowen Kerri , Domissy Alain , Teijaro John R. , Sherman Linda A.
Published: March 2024

The 1858C>T allele of the tyrosine phosphatase PTPN22 is present in 5–10% of the North American population and is strongly associated with numerous autoimmune diseases. Although research has been done to define how this allele potentiates autoimmunity, the influence PTPN22 and its pro-autoimmune allele has in anti-viral immunity remains poorly defined. Here, we use single cell RNA-sequencing and functional studies to interrogate the impact of this pro-autoimmune allele on anti-viral immunity during Lymphocytic Choriomeningitis Virus clone 13 (LCMV-cl13) infection. Mice homozygous for this allele (PEP-619WW) clear the LCMV-cl13 virus whereas wildtype (PEP-WT) mice cannot. This is associated with enhanced anti-viral CD4 T cell responses and a more immunostimulatory CD8α- cDC phenotype. Adoptive transfer studies demonstrated that PEP-619WW enhanced anti-viral CD4 T cell function through virus-specific CD4 T cell intrinsic and extrinsic mechanisms. Taken together, our data show that the pro-autoimmune allele of Ptpn22 drives a beneficial anti-viral immune response thereby preventing what is normally a chronic virus infection.
Editorial
Authors: Prior Ross W.
Published: March 2024

This editorial celebrates the Journal of Applied Arts & Health’s (JAAH) fifteenth anniversary, reflecting on its evolution and impact at the intersection of art, health and well-being. It reflects on the previous JAAH Special Issue (14:3) paying homage to Emeritus University Professor Shaun McNiff, a trailblazer in the field, whose fifty-plus-year career is highlighted. The journal’s role in promoting understanding of art’s diverse benefits, particularly in healthcare, is emphasized. Amid global challenges, the editorial acknowledges the world’s ongoing shifts and challenges to health and well-being, including the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, economic disruptions, geopolitical tensions and climate change concerns. It recognizes the role of JAAH in fostering exploration, understanding and advocacy in applied arts and health, while calling for continued innovation and inquiry in the next fifteen years. The editorial introduces the current journal issue’s content, which covers a range of research projects, an interview and reviews.
Concepções de professoras da Educação Infantil sobre as funções executivas e sua promoção na escola
Authors: Lepre Rita Melissa , Souza Débora De Hollanda
Published: March 2024

Este artigo expõe resultados de pesquisa que teve comoobjetivo conhecer e analisar as concepções de professoresda Educação Infantil sobre as funções executivas (FE) e suapromoção na escola, com foco nas possíveis contribuições daPsicologia do Desenvolvimento para uma formação docenteinterdisciplinar e integral, que considere a criança em toda a suapotencialidade. Para tanto, realizamos uma pesquisa com 31professoras de Educação Infantil de uma rede municipal de umacidade de médio porte do estado de São Paulo. Os resultadosapontam que as participantes reconhecem a importância deconhecer as funções executivas e sua relação com o processode desenvolvimento e aprendizagem, mas não apresentam clareza em suas concepções acerca dos processos envolvidos nas FE e de como poderiam desenvolver uma práxis pedagógica visando potencializar tais funções. Sugerimos, ao final, que o tema seja trabalhado na formação inicial e continuada de professores.
Note for the P versus NP Problem
Authors: Vega Frank
Published: March 2024

P versus NP is considered as one of the most fundamental open problems in computer science. This consists in knowing the answer of the following question: Is P equal to NP? It was essentially mentioned in 1955 from a letter written by John Nash to the United States National Security Agency. However, a precise statement of the P versus NP problem was introduced independently by Stephen Cook and Leonid Levin. Since that date, all efforts to find a proof for this problem have failed. Another major complexity class is NP-complete. It is well-known that P is equal to NP under the assumption of the existence of a polynomial time algorithm for some NP-complete. We show that the Monotone Weighted Xor 2-satisfiability problem (MWX2SAT) is NP-complete and P at the same time. Certainly, we make a polynomial time reduction from every directed graph and positive integer k in the K-CLOSURE problem to an instance of MWX2SAT. In this way, we show that MWX2SAT is also an NP-complete problem. Moreover, we create and implement a polynomial time algorithm which decides the instances of MWX2SAT. Consequently, we prove that P = NP.
Cytotopographic and histotopographic aspects of the distribution of CD38 enzyme in mast cells
Authors: Atyakshin D. A. , Kostin A. A. , Shishkina V. V. , Volodkin A. V. , Ignatyuk M. A.
Published: March 2024

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Clinical case: multimix profiling of a tissue sample of adenocortical cancer in order to clarify the diagnosis and selection of options for antitumor therapy
Authors: Yemelyanova A. G. , Pugacheva P. A. , Yemelyanova A. A. , Buzdin A. A.
Published: March 2024

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Clinical case: multimix profiling of a tissue sample of inoperable medullary thyroid cancer in order to clarify the diagnosis and select options for antitumor therapy
Authors: Sorokin M. I. , Suntsov M. V. , Buzdin A. A.
Published: March 2024

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A clinical case of melanoma with metastatic pancreatic lesion
Authors: Lugovskaya A. Yu. , Gurevich L. E. , Shikina V. E. , Ilovaiskaya I. A.
Published: March 2024

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Iodine-induced thyroid dysfunction: an unaccounted factor of cardiovascular toxicity of polychemotherapy
Authors: Lysovolenko N. L. , Alekseev I. E. , Moldovanova Yu. V. , Terekhova S. V. , Kondrashkina A. D. , Stanoevich U. , Stanoevich I. V.
Published: March 2024

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Development of artificial intelligence algorithms for morphological diagnosis of thyroid tumors
Authors: Lysukhin D. D. , Yakimov B. P. , Shirshin E. A. , Kovaleva E. V. , Varlamov A. V. , Pachuashvili N. V. , Porubaeva E. E. , Urusova L. S.
Published: March 2024

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Metastatic neuroendocrine tumor of the rectum: a clinical case
Authors: Nechaeva M. N. , Molnar S. M. , Rakhmankulova G. G. , Staritsyn D. E.
Published: March 2024

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Cancerous organoids in the development of thyroid cancer treatment methods
Authors: Petrova D. A. , Bastrich A. N. , Bondarenko E. V. , Urusova L. S. , Nikiforovich P. A. , Beltsevich D. G. , Kuznetsov N. S. , Mokrysheva N. G.
Published: March 2024

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Secondary malignant tumors in surviving patients with neuroblastoma. The experience of the Dmitry Rogachev National Medical Research Center of Pediatric Hematology, Oncology and Immunology
Authors: Utalieva D. T. , Kachanov D. Yu. , Moiseenko R. A. , Grachev N. S. , Vorozhtsov I. N. , Babaskina N. V. , Merkulov N. N. , Shamanskaya T. V.
Published: March 2024

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Large-sized medullary cancer
Authors: Khanova A. F. , Turkina I. A.
Published: March 2024

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Comparison of imaging methods for ACTHsecreting lung tumor: a clinical case
Authors: Ebanoidze L. G. , Pigarova E. A. , Dzeranova L. K. , Slashchuk K. Yu. , Sheremeta M. S.
Published: March 2024

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The first experience of obtaining microRNAs from formalin-fixed and paraffin-filled thyroid tissue in the Republic of Belarus
Authors: Yakubovsky S. V. , Kipen V. N. , Fridman M. V. , Kondratovich V. A. , Burakova A. A. , Dobysh O. I. , Lemesh V. A. , Kondratenko G. G.
Published: March 2024

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Alternative products for controlling Sclerotinia sclerotiorum in vivo AND in vitro in canola crops
Authors: Henipman Hagata Siqueira , Pria Maristella Dalla , Rinaldi Polyana Elvira Christmann , Jacques Filipe Lemos , Reis Letícia
Published: March 2024

Products that activate plant defense mechanisms, such as white mold, may increase the disease control spectrum in canola crops as an alternative to chemical control for disease management, aiming at lower environmental impacts and selection pressure on pathogens. This study evaluated Sclerotinia sclerotiorum control and resistance induction in canola crops with alternative products. In vitro and detached leaf experiments were conducted in a laboratory, and in vivo experiments occurred in a greenhouse. High Roots®; V6®; Maxi Flor®; Wert Plus®; potassium, manganese, and copper phosphites; manganese; procymidone fungicide; and Ascophyllum nodosum, Bacillus subtilis, and Bacillus thuringiensis extracts assessed S. sclerotiorum mycelial growth in vitro in detached leaves, white mold severity in a greenhouse, and enzymatic analysis in leaf tissues. The last two experiments also received the acibenzolar-S-methyl and Trichoderma asperellum treatments.  S. sclerotiorum mycelial growth showed 100% inhibition under B. subtilis and Wert Plus® at 1000 ppm and procymidone at 100 and 1000 ppm in vitro. The procymidone and B. subtilis treatments in detached leaves inhibited 100% of fungus growth. The greenhouse experiments with lower severity were procymidone, copper phosphite, B. thuringiensis, B. subtilis, manganese phosphite, potassium phosphite, High Roots®, and V6®. Higher peroxidase enzyme activity occurred in plants treated with acibenzolar-S-methyl, copper phosphite, and fungicide 48 hours after pathogen inoculation. The polyphenol oxidase enzyme did not show activity. Alternative products were responsive and may aid the chemical control of white mold in canola crops.
Multiple primary cancers: a case report and literature review
Authors: Kambouche Faouzia , Riadh Mohammed Mokhtar
Published: March 2024

The fortuitous discovery of synchronous double primary cancers of the lung and stomach is relatively rare, but the discovery of triple primary cancers in one patient remains exceptional.
The discovery of triple primary cancers in a single patient remains exceptional. This coexistence corresponds to the syndrome of multiple primary malignancies or multiple primary cancers (MPC). We present a case of synchronous association of squamous cell carcinoma of the lung and gastric adenocarcinoma with a history of mature squamous cell carcinoma of the larynx.
Unravelling the Enigma: A Study on Exploring the Idiopathic Surge in Serum Alkaline Phosphatase Level
Authors: KR Vishal
Published: March 2024

A 73 year old Indian female with type O blood group came for routine checkup when it was discovered she had elevated levels of serum alkaline phosphatase (600 mg/dL). Other liver function tests were within normal limits. Abdominal imaging revealed grade I fatty liver but an extensive serological search for significant hepatobiliary disease was negative. She is currently under medication for diabetes and hypertension, association with raised enzyme level couldn't be interpreted due to paucity of testing.
Solitary Pattern Solutions of gBBM Equation using New Iterative Method (NIM)
Authors: Zureigat Hamzeh
Published: March 2024

In this study, we focus on the solitary pattern solutions of the generalized Benjamin-Bona-Mahony equations (gBBM) and propose a new iterative method (NIM) for their numerical solution, given suitable initial conditions. Our proposed NIM approach generates numerical solutions in the form of a convergent power series with computationally simple components. Our results demonstrate that the NIM approach exhibits exceptional performance in terms of accuracy, efficiency, simplicity, stability, and reliability.
A reassessment of the geochemical, phylogeny, morphology, and taxonomy of two crocodilian jaw remains of Paleogene from central Europe (Germany and Austria)
Authors: Karl Hans-Volker , Tichy Gottfried , Safi Amtyaz
Published: March 2024

Crocodiles are a conservative group of reptiles regarding their morphology and behaviour. Available Fossils are hence important to be studied for phylogeny, taxonomy and morphology. A fossil fragmentary crocodilian skull was found in lignite clay in the Paleogene sedimentary area from the Middle Oligocene Epoch of Sieglitz near Camburg at Saale river in Central Germany. This 20th century discovery documents a new species of Diplocynodon (Diplocynodon Haeckeli, described by Seidlitz in 1917). Another crocodile fossil was unearthed in 1878 from the Eocene Epoch, of Haunsberg near Sankt Pankraz in the province of Salzburg in Austria, which had been missing since 1970 and was recently rediscovered and identified. This rediscovered specimen, representing a crocodile mandible and an isolated tooth, which could belong to Asiatosuchus and not Diplocynodon. However, the morphology of isolated tooth is not a reliable source to identify it up to the generic level, so open taxonomy is used here for identification, it may be associated to the same or a new species. The new discoveries of fossils provide new characters enhancing our knowledge on a particular taxon and on the whole group.
Is there a relationship between emotional Intelligence and students' mathematics learning outcomes?
Authors: Ramadhani Diana Intan , Putranto Sumbaji
Published: March 2024

Students with good emotional Intelligence have adaptability and can develop social relationships with teachers and other students more easily. It is predicted to have an impact on student academic achievement. The study aims to determine whether there is a positive influence of emotional Intelligence on the mathematics learning outcomes of students at one of MAN in Yogyakarta on geometric lines and series. This study uses a quantitative approach to the type of correlational research. This research was conducted at one of MAN in Yogyakarta. The population in this study was class XI Agama 1 and XI Agama 2. The sampling technique used simple random sampling with a sample of 42 students. The instrument used in this study is a questionnaire of emotional Intelligence and a written test of learning outcomes, both of which had passed the content validity and reliability tests. The data analysis technique in this study uses simple regression analysis that has gone through classical assumption tests such as the normality test, heteroscedasticity test, and linearity test, followed by hypothesis testing such as t-test, coefficient of determination, and model interpretation. Data analysis was carried out with the help of the SPSS 25 software application. The results of this study indicate a positive influence of Emotional Intelligence on students' mathematics learning outcomes, with the magnitude of emotional Intelligence on learning outcomes of 12.8%, while other factors outside of this research influence the remaining 87.8%.
Mathematical critical thinking ability reviewing from domicile, gender, and adversity quotient
Authors: Sartika Putri Natalia Dinda , Alyani Fitri
Published: March 2024

Students' mathematical achievement in mathematical critical thinking skills is still in the low category. This study analyses mathematical critical thinking skills based on domicile, gender, and adversity quotient. This research is a qualitative case study. The subjects selected through purposive sampling came from high schools in the Jakarta and Tangerang class XI areas. The data were analyzed using the Rasch Model, namely Winstep through the stages of reduction and categorization, presentation, and conclusion. The results of the study obtained the ability to think critically mathematically based on domicile, the subject of urban domicile was able to meet all indicators of Critical thinking well. Based on gender, subjects of the female and male genders have the same mathematical abilities on critical thinking indicators. According to the adversity quotient, the subject in the subject climber type can solve the problem properly and precisely, and in the camper type the subject can solve the problem precisely however, in the inference indicators the two subjects do not describe the requested graph and are in the dominant camper type, while the quitter type has a low AQ ability with indicators that are met only interpretation.